THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF SOUTH ORANGE & MAPLEWOOD
BOARD RECOGNITION
PUBLIC BOARD MEETING
April 19, 2010
ColumbiaHigh School seniors Jonathan Kaplowitz and Daniel Solecki each had their junior thesis papers published in The Concord Review, a very prestigious international history journal for high school students. Since 1987, the journal has accepted 879 papers from 44 states and 36 countries and, from all accounts, this is the first time it has accepted two papers from the same high school in a single edition. The students, who each took two AP History courses in their junior year, were taught by Mr. Jeffrey Boni and Mr. J.D. Robinson.
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ColumbiaHigh School junior, Michael Jenkins, won first place in the 2010 NJ Horticultural Expo held in March. The award was given by the Future Farmers of America (FFA) Union County Chapter. Michael attends both UnionCountyVocationalTechnicalSchool and ColumbiaHigh School.He is studying horticulture and hopes to make his living doing landscaping and floral arranging upon graduation.
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ColumbiaHigh School senior Jackson Klein was selected to receive one of six $1,000 scholarships given by the New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling. Jackson’s name was submitted by his guidance counselor, Dave Frick, who will introduce Jackson at a luncheon honoring the winners in June. Jackson will attend BabsonCollege in Wellesley, MA, where he will be majoring in business and playing soccer.
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ColumbiaHigh School seniors Jordan Otis and Faizah Muhammad are being honored as Essex County Scholar Athletes. Along with their top academic achievements, Jordan is a member of Columbia’s winning football team and Faizah is a member of Columbia’s top-rated fencing team.
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The Columbia High School Chess Team took third place in the junior varsity division of the NJ High School Championship held at RutgersUniversity. The team members include senior Joseph Zwetchkenbaum, chess club captain, and freshmen Crosby Junkins, Neil Miller, Miguel O’Malley and Russell Wong. Joseph, Neil and Russell each won individual second place trophies. Ms. Janet Kahn, special education teacher, is the chess club advisor.
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The ColumbiaHigh School Honors Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Mr.Peter Bauer, director of bands for ColumbiaHigh School, won a gold rating, the highest honor awarded by the New Jersey Music Educators Association and the National Band Association at the2010 Region Band Festival at RandolphHigh School. The wind ensemble performed along with six other bands from North Jersey and was evaluated by distinguished college band directors.
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The Columbia High School Boys’ Fencing Team, under the direction of Coach George Jantos, won the State title, its fourth in seven years. The team was ranked number one by the Star-Ledger, won first place at the Centrulo Tournament, first place at the District Tournament and enjoyed an undefeated dual meet record.
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Columbia High School juniorBrian Kaneshige, the current2010 U.S. Junior Olympics foil champion was selected for the 2010 U.S. Cadet Men’s Foil World Team and attended the 2010 Junior World Fencing Championships in Azerbaijan.
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Columbia High School Track Coach Lisa Morgan was selected as The Star-Ledger Girls Indoor Track Coach of the Year. A ColumbiaHigh School graduate, Coach Morgan began her track career in high school where she won numerous section and county titles. Under Coach Morgan’s leadership, the team won a second consecutive NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 title, and the overall Group 4 state championship. The team also won EssexCounty relay championships, set a meet record at the Meet of Champions, and ended its season by placing second in the Nike National meet in Boston.
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ColumbiaHigh School senior, Henry Scott, who will attend Cornell in September, was a multiple-event winner at the NJSIAA 88th Meet of Champions on March 7 at the Gloucester County Institute of Technology in Sewell. He won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:42.14 and the 100 butterfly in 50.59. The last time a CHS swimmer won 2 events at Meet of Champs was 53 years ago. Scott was named Essex County Swimmer of the Year and was named to First Team All-State. Ms. Carly Orpurt is the CHS swim team coach and a CHS English teacher. She was named Essex County Coach of the Year.
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Ms. Patricia Johnson, District Food Services Director and chairperson for the Policy & Legislation for New Jersey School Nutrition Association, led a team of six New Jersey school food services directors to meet with key leaders in Congress. Ms. Johnson and her group were invited to speak on adequate funding for school meal reimbursements, national school nutrition standards and defining appropriate expenses for school meal programs.
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