October 2019
Family Newsletter
Stay current with Marist news and events
Letter from the Principal
October 2019
 
Dear Marist Families,
 
As returning families have realized, we said goodbye to Mr. Chris Cassaro, our Dean of Academics of the last few years, this past summer.  His replacement is our valued and competent history teacher, Mr. Jeremy Kay. Mr. Kay has already established himself in his new role. Questions regarding scheduling, grading or portals?  Reach out to Mr. Kay at [email protected] .  
 
Our CollegeNOW program continues to grow. Twenty-nine of our current freshmen have joined the program; they are now enrolled in Dual Credit Computers.  Eighteen of our sophomores are continuing their pursuit of their Associate's Degree, and are now working on Intro to Composition. Sophomores who complete that course successfully will have ten college credits through Marist's agreement with Hudson County Community College.
 
Likewise, our Dual Credit classes, also run in conjunction with HCCC for our juniors and seniors, have our largest enrollment ever.  We are offering college courses in Business, English, and Psychology.  
 
Like last year, we've partnered the Walk-a-thon with our Student Council sponsored Homecoming Events this year!  You can read all about Homecoming later in this newsletter. As far as the Walk-a-thon goes, it's not just a fundraiser.  It's a day filled with fun, school spirit, and memory-making! Support the Walkathon by ensuring that your son/daughter submits the $100 donation and permission slip by October 9.  The actual Walk-a-thon will take place on Friday, October 11. School will begin at 10:00 that day.  
 
By being active participants, you put the "family" in the Marist Family spirit.  I just loved seeing so many of you come out to the Back-to-School Mass and Barbecue! I hope to see many of you at the Homecoming Game on Saturday, October 5, and again at our second annual MPA sponsored Haunted House on the 25th and 26th!  Let's all recommit ourselves to supporting future events and spreading the word about this great school of ours!!
 
Tell everybody you know that if they missed our September 29h Open House, they can come check us out on Tuesday, October 8th at 7pm.  Get the word out!!


 
  
Ms. Alice J. Miesnik
Principal
Academic News
Mr. Jeremy Kay

PSAT:  On Wednesday, October 16th, The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Tests (PSAT's) will be administered to all underclassmen at Marist.  These students will be taking these tests in order to gain the maximum exposure to the types of questions that are on the standardized test in an effort to raise student scores.  Be sure your sons/daughters are well-rested and have eaten a nutritious breakfast that day.  Students will be dismissed after the test between 12pm and 1pm.  Good luck to all our students taking these tests!
 
College Visiting Day:  Wednesday, October 16th will be a school designated college visit day for seniors.  Since all underclassmen will be taking the PSAT, seniors will not be attending classes that day.  However, seniors will be expected to arrange college visits or tours. College tours must be arranged with each college ahead of time.  Visit the college's website and follow the link to instructions for arranging a tour.  Group visits are strongly encouraged.
 
September Challenge:   All September Challenge Skills Tests were administered at the end of September to all freshmen, sophomore and junior students. Mastery of these tests will be indicated on the first progress report.  The students who have "met the challenge successfully" will receive a wristband, depending on their grade level!  Those who have not will be scheduled for remediation.
 
Progress Reports:  Reports will be e-mailed home on Thursday, October 10th.  These grades are an assessment of how your son/daughter is doing at the mid-point of this first quarter.  If you do not receive your son's/daughter's progress report, please call Mrs. DePoalo at 201-437-4545 Ext. 201.  Also, please contact a teacher if your son/daughter did not do as well as expected.  Now is the time to remedy any problems that may exist. The end of the 1st Quarter is November 1st.
 
Communication:   Communication between home and school is very important.  Please don't hesitate to contact a teacher or administrator if you have a concern or question.  You can leave a voice mail message or an e-mail message.  All messages are expected to be returned within 24 hours.  You can also use the Parent Portals as a way to keep up-to-date on what is going on within the classroom.
 
Cap and Gown :  Measurements will take place during Senior lunch periods on Tuesday, October 8th. All seniors should make every effort to be present on that day.
 
Class Ring :  Herff Jones will have an information session for the juniors on Tuesday, October 8th during 4th period.  They will return during lunch periods on October 15th for students to place their ring orders. It is not mandatory to buy a class ring to participate in the Junior Leadership Ceremony on Thursday, March 19th.

Campus Ministry News 
Mr. Michael Power
Celebrating the Mass of the Holy Spirit:  The Marist Family gathered together for the Mass of the Holy Spirit last week before our Back to School BBQ. We asked the blessing of the Holy Spirit to unite us as a family in service to one another and to our larger community. We enjoyed an outside mass with great weather and great people! Father Alfie from St. Henry's in Bayonne was our celebrant. Thank you to all those who made the event so successful!
 
Freshmen Community Day:  Over 55 freshmen attended the first retreat of the year! We were very excited with the success of this retreat! The freshmen were welcomed into their new "family" and enjoyed every aspect of it, great lunch, silly games and much more! If money is ever an issue, please see Campus Ministry. Never let finances be the reason a student does not go to Esopus.
 
Sophomore Retreat:  Sophomores will have their first retreat of the year in Esopus on October 24th. Mr. Power will visit the Religion classes over the next few weeks to give out permission slips and information about this retreat. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Mr. Power at (201)437-4545 ext. 220.
 
LaValla Weekend:  Some of our Upperclassmen will spend Columbus Day weekend giving service to the Marist Brothers Center of Esopus. They will be learning about issues that concern us all around the world while giving back to the local community. We look forward to hearing about this experience when they return!

Counseling News 
Ms. Miriam Eisenmenger
Counseling Overview:   For those new to Marist, the School Counseling Department would like to welcome you to the family! It is the goal of our department to provide a holistic approach to working alongside your son or daughter throughout his/her time at Marist. We provide individual, group, and classroom sessions for all year levels, starting with Freshmen Orientation and continuing through the distribution of the diploma at the Senior Breakfast. 
 
We monitor both academic growth and personal and social well-being, while facilitating college and career planning.  Our department consists of three full-time counselors. We look forward to working with parents, so please do not hesitate to reach out to your counselor at any time via phone or email. We would be happy to meet with you face-to-face, but please schedule an appointment first to ensure that we can give you the full attention you deserve. We look forward to hearing from you!
 
Financial Aid Night:   Senior parents had a wonderful time on September 18th, learning from Ms. Dorothy Gilliard, of New Jersey's HESAA organization. She highlighted the changes to the FAFSA and gave invaluable advice on how to work through this tedious process. Her PowerPoint presentation will be made available on the Marist website in the coming weeks.



ALL SENIOR PARENTS: don't forget to sign up with your daughter/son at  www.fafsa.gov
 to ensure they get the financial aid, scholarships, or grants they deserve for college.  The form goes live, October 1st.  
 
Freshmen Peer Counseling:     In the next few weeks, the Freshmen class will be meeting for the first time in their Peer Counseling groups. This program helps ease the transition into Marist. The groups are led by trained Seniors. Freshmen will meet on a weekly basis for five weeks, and will focus, on a variety of topics-providing insight into the ins-and-outs of Marist life. Parents of Freshmen, please check in with your son or daughter about their Peer Counseling group to discover what they've been learning.
 
SAT:   On Saturday, November 2nd, Marist will be hosting the SATs. If your son or daughter has not yet taken the test, please have them see their counselor IMMEDIATELY to get signed up for the November and/or December sitting.  The deadline for November is October 3rd. Fee waivers are still available if you are eligible.  Contact your counselor today if you have any questions or concerns.  We have free practice books in the Student Counseling Center. But, if you're looking for more free help and practice, check out this exciting new  FREE resource .
 
College Admissions Process:  The counselors have started their weekly workshops in the Senior Religion classes, focusing on the college admission process. Many Seniors have already started the process, and we look forward to a smooth experience this Fall. Please encourage your son or daughter to maintain open lines of communication with their counselor throughout this year, and to turn in all Transcript Request forms, and any acceptances that they receive in a timely fashion. Take advantage of the upcoming days off to visit colleges and get a feel for what is out there.
 
Monitor application deadlines, and make sure to get request forms in early.  Please note, that colleges have begun their on-site Lunch Visits, and we look forward to taking the Seniors to another College Fair on October 22nd at NJCU. Please keep an eye out for permission forms in the coming weeks. We will also be attending the HBCU College Fair in November. More information will go out as we get closer to the date.
 
STUDENT COUNCIL: 
 
September was off to a busy start for our Student Council Executive Board, who planned, and followed through on, getting Senior Lunch in the Quad as a Senior Privilege.



They also successfully organized and planned a Car Wash for the Senior class, raising funds to help offset the cost of Prom.  Their motivation and enthusiasm has been a wonderful asset to the school community, and has helped to make the year get off on the right foot. 



Student Council also helped to host the Back to School BBQ, and has some exciting plans for Homecoming Week, to keep the excitement going throughout the Fall.  


 
Homecoming week kicks off on Saturday, October 5th with our Home Football game at 
Veterans stadium.  We then go into the following schedule for the school week:
 
  • Monday, October 7th- BLUE Day: All students wear Royal Blue gear.
 
  • Tuesday, October 8th - TWIN Day: Students pair off with their friends, and dress EXACTLY the same.
 
  • Wednesday, October 9th - GOLD Day: Wear your best Golden outfit to show your school pride!
 
  • Thursday, October 10th - GENDER SWAP Day: Dress like someone of a different orientation, no matter who you see yourself as now.
 
HOMECOMING DANCE - Thursday evening, from 7-10:30pm, in the Royal Café. Tickets are $5, and will be sold during lunches all week, and at the door.  An up-and-over bus will be provided, but ONLY to students who sign-up beforehand in the Main Office. If not enough students sign-up, we will not be getting a driver.
 
  • Friday, October 11th - 10AM START -  WALK-A-THON and PEP RALLY 
Important Dates

  • October 2 - Dress Down for Breast Cancer Awareness. Wear pink and donate $1.00
  • October 5 - Homecoming Game
  • October 8 - Open House at 7:00pm in the cafeteria. Tell your neighbors!
  • October 8 - Cap and Gown Measurements
  • October 9 - Activity Period, ask your son/daughter about it.
  • October 10 - Homecoming Dance
  • October 11 - Walkathon 10:00am-2:30pm
  • October 14 - No school, Retreat Day for Faculty
  • October 15 - Ring orders taken
  • October 23 - 1pm Dismissal - Faculty Professional Development
  • October 25-October 26- MPA Haunted House
Athletic News
Mr. Mauro DeGennaro
On behalf of the Marist High School Athletic Department, I would like to welcome you back to another year of Marist Athletics. As a member of the Marist athletic family, my expectations are similar to your own personal family's expectations. Act responsibly, study, practice hard and do your best to excel. Take pride in the opportunity to represent yourself, your family and Marist High School.
 
Football:  Under New Head Coach Ray Marshall and his staff, they are working hard and competing at the high level, as evident by our exciting 13 - 12 win versus Tenafly High School on September 14th. Please come out and support the team on October 5th. for our Homecoming Game versus Immaculate Conception High School at 2:00pm at Vet's Stadium in Bayonne.
 
Girls' Volleyball:  Head Coach Jeremy Kay and the Lady Knights remain competitive in the very tough HCIAL League and look to create a solid foundation for future teams.
 
Boys' Coed Soccer:    With Head Coach Carlos Carvajal and Assistant Coach Alfredo Cervantis at the helm, our soccer team, plays with heart every time they step on the field. Their exciting plays shows in their come from behind win versus Snyder High School.
Marist Parents' Association News
Parents of the MPA

Unbelievably, we are already in the second month of the school year! We hope that by now you and your son/daughter are embracing this new school year. It was exciting to meet all of you at Orientation. I also got a chance to meet the parents who volunteered to work at the Karate Tournament. Thank you so much for your commitment and support. 
 
Please be aware that the MPA meeting for the month of October was rescheduled due to the Marist High School Open House event on October 8th.   The MPA meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 9th from 6:45pm-7:30pm. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter. We hope you can join us.
 
EVENTS
Our next event will be the Halloween Haunted House, Friday, October 25th and Saturday, October 26th. The theme for this year will be Marist Haunted Asylum. We are working on the initial plans of what we will be presenting to our visitors. Last year's Marist Haunted House was amazing. The 2018-2019 MPA board, the student council and the seniors did a great job. This year we don't want to fall short. We will need your help all along the way. 


 
The MPA is currently requesting volunteers for the following days and time 
 
Tuesday         October 22nd              3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday         October 22nd             5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday   October 23rd              3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday   October 23rd              5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Thursday       October 24th              3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Thursday       October 24th                   5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Friday             October 25th              2:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Friday             October 25th               5:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Saturday        October 26th              2:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Saturday        October 26th               5:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Sunday          October 27th              11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
 
Let's make another successful Halloween haunted experience! Please text 201-736-8108 or email [email protected] with your volunteer availability. We are also in need of the following donations: Wheelchairs (2), Medical coats, candy, food for the concession stand and sponsors. 
 
 
Please save the date for the following:
Events: November 16th and December 7th
MPA Meetings: 
2019: November 12th, December10th
2020: January 14th, February 11th, March 10th, April 14th and May 12th
 
If you are unable to come to the meetings, volunteer, or be present, there are other ways you can help raise money. You can:
 
  • Donate items for the tricky trays (electronics, household items, sport memorabilia, etc.)
  • Donate food for the events
  • Sell ads to your place of employment for our journal ad in March
  • Help get donations from companies to the school
  • Donating gift cards (Party City, Restaurants, Amazon, etc.)
 
Anything will be really appreciated! Lastly, please like our Marist Parents Association Facebook Group, we share updates and event photos every Wednesday. 

Advancement
Ms. Tiffany McQueary
President's Gala


Marist High School will be hosting the President's Gala on

Saturday, October 5, 2019
from 6:00-9:00pm at
Liberty Prime Steak House
111 Montgomery Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302.

This year, we are pleased to present the Distinguished Educator Award to two honorees:

Bro. William Maske
Teacher Emeritus, Marist High School

Kenneth Kopacz
Assistant Superintendent, Bayonne Board of Education

Featuring a cocktail reception and live music.

If you would like to attend, place an ad, or sponsor the event, please see our website.


Frank Anderson Alumni Soccer Game

 


2019 marks an important year in Marist sports! This year, we're celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Frank Anderson Alumni Soccer Game.
 
This year's alumni game will be held on
Saturday, October 26th, 2019 at 11:00am at Marist High School
 
Please save the date for this year's game! We hope you can attend and celebrate with us.
The event is open to all male and female soccer players. Contact your teammates and get them to join us for a day of fun and excitement. Spectators are more than welcome to attend. Come out and show our Royal Knight Pride!


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