Correction
In the Progress Report insert in last weekend’s edition, it was mistakenly reported that St. Joseph of the Palisades Elementary School on Palisade Ave. is under consideration for sale to West New York. The school is actually in the process of growing and redefining itself for increased service to the growing West New York, Guttenberg, and North Bergen communities. The building under consideration for sale is the high school building on Broadway and 54th Street, which closed in June of 2009.
School board candidates file for April election
Board of Education candidates filed in both North Bergen and Guttenberg for the upcoming April 27 election this past week.
In North Bergen, incumbents Luis Diaz, Elaine Nicoliello, and Kanaiyalal Patel filed to run for re-election for three-year terms, while once again Herbert Shaw, along with Adrian Cepero and Cesar Vega, filed to oppose them.
In Guttenberg, Dr. Michael Baruch and Gonzalo Perez, both incumbents, are seeking re-election to their three-year terms, while board member Robert Tholen, former Anna L. Klein School principal, has chosen not to seek re-election. Delores Loppe is running for his seat. All offices are uncontested.
Klein and Horace Mann Schools win Elementary Basketball Championships
Guttenberg’s Anna L. Klein School’s Mustangs boys’ basketball team won the North Bergen Elementary Basketball Championships against Robert Fulton School’s team on March 4 with a score of 55 to 39. Horace Mann’s Cougars girls’ basketball team was triumphant against Anna L. Klein’s Mustangs at a score of 45 to 22.
For the boys, Jafet La Mouf, who earned 11 points, was the game’s most valuable player, while Icies Hammer was named the girl’s MVP, earning 17 points.
Alexi Dominguez and Jean-Paul Cano were the boys all-tournament players, while the girls all tournament players were Ivana Negron and Michelle Reyes.
High Tech gets high scores
The state Department of Education recently released the School Report Card data for New Jersey, and Hudson County Schools of Technology’s High Tech High School and County Prep High School received high scores once again on the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) standardized test.
Over 25 percent of students scored advanced proficient in the language arts section, up from the state’s average of 18.7 percent. Ninety-five percent received advanced proficient or proficient in language arts. In mathematics, nearly 88 percent of students were advanced proficient or proficient, compared to the state’s average of 74 percent.
“Our students are truly special young men and women. They work remarkably hard and combine that with natural talent and aptitude to become inspiring leaders in the community,” said Hudson County Schools of Technology Superintendent Frank J. Gargiulo. “Their abilities combined with our dedicated faculty at both schools make test scores like these possible.”
Director Frank Licato offers March acting sessions
March acting sessions with Frank Licato, artistic director of Hudson Theatre Works in New Jersey, will start Sunday, March 27. Licato recently won an Applause Award from The New Jersey Theater Alliance for his directing. For more information, call (646) 522-5689 or e-mail frank@franklicato.com
NAMI announces mental health awareness meetings, classes
The Hudson County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) holds a meeting in English and a meeting in Spanish each month for family members of those with mental illness, and for consumers.
The English group meets on the second Tuesday of each month in Hoboken near the hospital. The Spanish group meets at Catholic Community Service, 2201 Bergenline Ave., second floor, Union City. Contact NAMIHudson@msn.com or call (201) 861-0614.
In addition, Family to Family classes will be starting on Wednesday, March 16. Classes are held in Hoboken University Hospital, Willow Ave., Hoboken. This is a 12-week free course, once a week, for family and friends of individuals with serious mental illness. Classes will be from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in a second floor classroom. Contact Mary at gaughranmary@yahoo.com or call (201) 403-0643.
Also, “In Search of Our Well Being: Conference on Mental Health in the Latino community,” which is NAMI NJ en Español’s third Spanish language conference, will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 9 in New Brunswick. Registration is now open at www.Naminj.org.
NJMC offers Watercolor 101 classes
New Jersey Meadowlands Commission will offer Watercolor 101: Nature Painting for Beginners I and II from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 19 and Saturday, March 26 for ages 12 and up, including adults. They will provide the materials and subject matter (water, branches, and birds).
Registration is required. The cost is $12 per session or register for both for $20; MEC members $10/$16. Supplies included.
Classes will take place at the Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Plaza, Lyndhurst.
For more information, call (201) 460-8300 or go online at www.njmeadowlands.gov/ec.
NJMC and BCAS offer First Day of Spring Bird Walk is March 20
The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society are offering their free two-hour First Day of Spring Bird Walk on Sunday, March 20 at 10 a.m. Participants will look for the (possibly nesting) common ravens, raptors, waterfowl, and herons on the Hackensack River.
The walk starts at the ball fields of Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus. Meet at the big parking lot by the Laurel Hill ball fields at 10 a.m. or at the first parking lot in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst at 9:20 a.m.
Participants must sign a standard liability release for this event. To RSVP, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or (201) 636-4022. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates.