Montgomery High School Student Activities Read on to discover the amazing variety of Student Activities available at Montgomery High School. There is something for everyone...athletics to debate club...theater to robotics! Descriptions of each program are listed alphabetically.
For specific information on a student activity please contact the advisor listed under each activity.
For general information about the Student Activities offered at Montgomery High School contact: Mr. Damian Pappa, MHS Vice Principal, dpappa@mtsd.us
--------------------------------------- Academic League Advisor: Mr. Bulusu, Science, rm. E-2306 Email: rbulusu@mtsd.us Attention seniors, sophomores and juniors; are you interested in testing your trivia knowledge? Come and join the Academic League! This league is hosted by the Somerset County Academic League. Every Thursday, ten high schools meet for a competition at one of the host schools. Competitions are similar to Jeopardy, where students are asked to answer questions in multiple subject areas. Students are asked to answer questions in twenty-five disciplines such as geography, math, science, mythology, English literature, songs, movies, sports, arts, and entertainment. Students are also expected to meet one week for practice starting early October. --------------------------------------- Audio/Visual (A/V) Advisor: Mr. Brooks, A/V room Email: JBrooks@mtsd.us In this group, you can be responsible for planning, designing and running sound and lighting during the school musical and drama, plus school concerts and assemblies. You can also learn to video tape activities that use the MPAC. If this sounds interesting, come and join the A/V club. You will be trained on how to use the equipment and what equipment is needed for each event. The students meet sporadically, and have scheduled meetings during project rehearsals or programs. --------------------------------------- Band Advisors: Mr. Warshafsky, and Mr. Kahalehoe, Music Department Email: awarshafsky@mtsd.usand kkahalehoe@mtsd.us
STAGE BAND: Students meet two times per week for two hours from December to June. In order to join, students need to play an instrument of the ensemble. An audition is required to join the band. Students participate in curricular band competitions and performances: Big Band Bash, Jazz Festival, and raise money for events.
JAZZ BAND: Students need to play an instrument in the Jazz band ensemble. They meet three days a week (2:30-5:10pm) from December to June.
PIT ORCHESTRA: Students are required to play an instrument that is in the orchestra. The students meet from January to March. There are no regular scheduled rehearsals, unless there is an upcoming performance. The students perform at shows and graduation
MARCHING BAND: Do you play an instrument? Then Marching Band needs you. Marching Band begins with a two-week camp in late August. Students are required to play an instrument in the band to join. Students meet on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2:30-5:00pm and on Fridays from 2:30-game end during the months of September to November. The Marching Band participates in competitions, festivals, and in the parade in Philadelphia, PA. The Marching Band placed superior and outstanding during competitions over the last four years. Students who have good attendance at practices and games can receive a Varsity letter. --------------------------------------- Chess Club Advisor: Mr. Buszka, Science, rm. E-2314 Email: cbuszka@mtsd.us Do you like to play chess? Come and play chess with the best of MHS. This club has a friendly and informal atmosphere. Competitions are between students. Meetings are once a week all year.
--------------------------------------- Choraliers / Men’s Chorus Advisor: Mr. Woodworth, Choral room Email: jwoodworth@mtsd.us Do you like to sing? Choraliers is a great opportunity to display your talent. There are 2-3 evening performances per year and practices are one day per week from 2:30 to 5:30.
--------------------------------------- Debate Team Advisor: Mr. Washburn, History, rm. 2224 Email: jwashburn@mtsd.us The Debate Team is a fun, relaxed atmosphere where we discuss topics of interest to the debaters, such as current events. Student who participate engage in Lincoln-Douglas style debate, which means that two people debate the points and counterpoints of a particular issue. We meet once a week and discuss the current topic, do research, and practice debating. Students also participate in tournaments to debate against students from other schools.
--------------------------------------- Docents Advisor: Mrs. Lieu, rm. B-2220 Email: blieu@mtsd.us The Docents Club (Live Historians Club) is a community service based club and meets most Tuesdays after school. We have two major events each year. One event is “Candlelight Christmas” in December where students dress in colonial attire and provide tours throughout the Rockingham House. The other event is “Children’s Day” in May. “Children’s Day” focuses on the life of children in colonial America. Here, students will learn children’s games of the time period and teach them to the visitors at Rockingham.
--------------------------------------- Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Advisor: Mrs. Cohen, rm. B-1101 Email: kcohen@mtsd.us FBLA is the premier student business association. Our mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs. In FBLA you will get an opportunity to help run the school store and participate in activities that develop competent business leadership, strengthen confidence, build understanding of the American business enterprise, and practice efficient money management.
--------------------------------------- Interact Advisor: Ms. D’Amore, rm. B-1106 Email: cdamore@mtsd.us The Interact Club is a group of hardworking students who want to show they care about their community, their country, and their world. As a high school branch of the Rotary club, Interact works to serve both the local and greater community. Following the motto: “service above self” the Interact club is proud to help make a difference in many people’s lives. Our “Man of the Year” show is a Montgomery tradition and a profitable fundraiser for a different charity each year. We also hold a prom for the ARC each June. If you are interested in joining this fun and enthusiastic group of students, our meetings are held every other Wednesday immediately after school.
--------------------------------------- The International Club Advisors: Mrs. Hlubik, rm. A-2206 and Mrs. Asral, rm. B-1125, world language Emails: jhlubik@mtsd.us and sasral@mtsd.us The primary goal of the International Club is to spread cultural awareness in the community. The club has hosted a variety of events ranging from auctions to performances. Activities have included an international dance where MHS students were exposed to music and styles of dancing from other cultures and the annual International Night, which attracts many members of the community. The proceeds for these events were used to award student scholarships for international travel through an application process. International Club has sparked student interest in foreign traditions and has helped students embrace their different heritages. International Club meets every other week, beginning the third Thursday after school starts. A point system records the attendance and participation of the members in club meetings and events. Students are expected to be active and contribute to the planning and preparations for the activities. Food is served at every meeting!
--------------------------------------- Literary Magazine Advisors: Miss Kim and Mrs. Johnson Emails: tkim@mtsd.us and jljohnson@mtsd.us, rm B-1110 Each spring the “Lit Mag Club” publishes a literary magazine that celebrates the writing and artwork of MHS students. We hope to publish a variety of writing genres in the magazine including short stories, memoirs, character sketches, flash fiction, essays, and poetry. We also hope to publish visual and performing art genres such as drawings, paintings, photographs of sculpture, photography, and musical compositions. There are three ways to be involved: • The first will be a writer’s workshop. These meetings are not homework sessions, but a place for writers to gather and discuss their original works with other writers. Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings and share their creative pieces or to just listen. • The second will be meetings committed to publishing the magazine. Students who wish to join the staff must attend these publishing meetings. The staff will advertise for and review submissions as well as edit and design the publication. Meetings begin in October and are posted outside room B1110. • The third way to participate is to submit your work. EVERY student is welcome to submit to the magazine. We want to get as many students involved as possible, so please choose a piece of art, whether it be writing, visual, or musical and submit!
--------------------------------------- Math League Advisor: Dr. Fishman, Math, rm. B-2219 Email: dfishman@mtsd.us The Montgomery Math League Club is a group of about 35 students that meet on alternate Wednesdays to enjoy solving and discussing math puzzles. Puzzles of all types are welcome at the meetings. Meetings are held in room B-2219 from 2:30 to 4:00 The Montgomery Math League Club is an outgrowth of the Montgomery Math League Team. The Team comprises ten student team members and ten student alternates that travel once per month from September through April to Central Jersey Math League (CJML) meets. The Montgomery Math League Club will host a meet about every other year. Two hundred students from twenty schools attend a meet. Any high school student may be a member of the Club, but the Team is selective. A qualifying exam is given in early September to determine who will be a Team member or an alternate Team member. Team members that attend enough meets and that earn good scores are eligible to attend the CJML trip to the American Regions Math League (ARML) contest in June. Sample ARML questions and solutions can be seen on the wall in the hallway above the commons.
--------------------------------------- Mock Trial Advisor: Mr. Oosting, History, rm. B-2206 Email: joosting@mtsd.us Do you want to learn about the court system? Join the Mock Trial club! In this club, the students participate in a county wide tournament in a mock court room setting. Students play lawyers and witnesses in civil or criminal cases and try to solve mock cases. The Tournament takes place at the end of June in the Somerset County Courthouse. To join, students must try out for roles during late October and early November. This is a great resume builder for anyone who wishes to learn about the current legal system or pursue a career in law.
--------------------------------------- Model U.N. Advisor: Mr. Washburn, History, rm. B-2224 Email: jwashburn@mtsd.us Model United Nations is an academic club that simulates the inner workings of the United Nations and the diplomatic relations between member countries. Students debate, negotiate, and produce resolutions to solve international crises. Members participate in an annual conference where they interact with students who share similar interests and have the opportunity to run for leadership positions such as Secretary General of the conference or chairs of numerous committees. Each committee focuses on specific topics and joins with others to form the collective body of the United Nations. Delegates work to enhance their writing skills, cooperative abilities, debating, compromising, reaching consensus. Plus they learn to use primary UN sources and investigate careers in government and international relations. The MHS Model UN is a renowned club that has won many awards including the Superior Country and the Premier Delegation Award. Weekly meetings are from September through early January. A practice session at TCNJ is usually in Nov. and the YMCA Model UN Conference is in Jan. at Hershey, PA. --------------------------------------- Montgomery Students for Environmental Action (MSEA) Advisor: Mr. Resch, rm. E-2304 Email: cresch@mtsd.us MSEA is a club that focuses on many aspects of our environment. Our activities range from spreading community awareness in events such as our annual Trash-to-Art competition and participating in an environmental science competition called “The Envirothon”. MSEA members also volunteer in many environmentally related causes, such as animal rights walks or planting trees for our community.
--------------------------------------- National Art Honors Society (NAHS) Advisor: Ms. McGrail, Studio Art room Email: dmcgrail@mtsd.us The National Art Honors Society is open to all students who have had at least a half a year of art, art related community service, and/or demonstrate excellence/interest in the arts. This is an established Art club for any student to expand their artistic knowledge or simply make an aesthetically pleasing project for any subject. Students meet every Wednesday and meetings are led by the National Art Honor Society president. Students need to fill out an induction packet for admission to this club.
--------------------------------------- National Honor Society (NHS) Advisor: Ms. Matthews, English, rm. B-1103 Email: smatthews@mtsd.us The National Honor Society is open to all sophomores who have maintained a 90 average un-weighted. Students are invited into this club at the end of their sophomore year. This club meets once a month and is involved in community service, and tutoring. Students, who are not invited to attend at the end of sophomore year, are able to apply for membership in junior or senior year of high school, if all the requirements are met. For more information, please contact the club advisor or refer to the National Honors Society section in the student handbook.
--------------------------------------- Paw Print School Newspaper Advisor: Mrs. Stalowski, LA, rm. A-1138 Email: kstalowski@mtsd.us Attention Serious aspiring journalists! Come and join the Paw Print team! Students are responsible for designing, writing and, creating a newspaper for the school. The students meet about five times a year, every other month, however, the week prior to any publication, students meet everyday. Anyone can join, but interest in the field of journalism is encouraged as students are evaluated based on their performance. There is no publication guarantee on work submitted to the Paw Print.
--------------------------------------- Photography Advisor: Ms. Dornbach, rm. F-1132 Email: mdornbach@mtsd.us Do you enjoy taking pictures? Well, come and join the Photography club on Thursdays after school; meetings consist of student critiques of photo shoot assignments. Members who have an 80% attendance record have the opportunity to attend a field trip to see a photo exhibit and Forrest Shoot at the Philadelphia Art Alliance in June. In addition, students have the opportunity to learn about photography from Professional Photographers who are often invited to the club as guest speakers. Club members also sell photography supplies to raise money for the field trip, and participate in an annual thematic photography contest. All students are welcome.
--------------------------------------- Reaching Everyone By Exposing Lies (REBEL) Advisor:
Email:
REBEL is a statewide anti-tobacco initiative whose mission is to reach, educate, and empower NJ youth to make healthy lifestyle decisions and to support non-smoking as a norm. Students plan and implement activities, projects and/or special events to creatively stress a tobacco-free school and community. Members are offered the opportunity to represent the school on the County Youth Advisory Board, State Youth Advisory Board, and NJ REBEL magazine.
--------------------------------------- Robotics Advisor: Mr. Leicht, rm. F-1142 Email: tleicht@mtsd.us This is a rewarding opportunity to build robots, work as a team, and problem solve in preparation for the Robotics competition. Students meet twice per month in the fall and every day after school during January and February. All ages and abilities are welcome; however, members need to attend 50-75% of meetings. If you do not like to work on robots you may choose to be a part of the Animation team, Website team, Strategy team, Electrical team, Mechanical team, or Spirit team. For more information contact the advisor or go to “us first.org”
--------------------------------------- SAT Math Advisor: Ms. Newbury, Math, rm. B-2227 Email: dnewbury@mtsd.us Do you want to improve your scores in SAT Math? This is the club for you. This club meets twice a week from 2:30-4:00pm every Tuesday and Thursday during the months of October, November, December, January, February, March, April, and June. In the beginning, students start with a warm up, and practice for a test. Later, they take a timed section of the SAT. With hard work and consistent attendance, this club will help you improve your score on the SAT.
--------------------------------------- SAT VERBAL Advisor: Mrs. Marshall, rm. B-1127 Email: kmarshall@mtsd.us Do you want to improve your SAT Verbal score? Check out this free SAT Verbal club. Students meet twice a week on Tuesdays, and Thursdays. This club offers quality of instruction, simulated test conditions, timed drills, tips, and techniques for the SAT Verbal test. The group covers all aspects, including critical reading, how to write the essay, and how to fix common grammar mistakes. Everyone is welcome to attend. The club will help you improve your score if you work hard and consistently attend the meetings.
--------------------------------------- Science Bowl Advisor: Mr. Sullivan, Science, rm. E-2300 Email: jsullivan@mtsd.us Science Bowl is a team competition, jeopardy style, quiz bowl that tests knowledge of physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and math. Practices for the February meet are located in the science conference room before school.
--------------------------------------- Science League (Chemistry/Biology/Physics Club) Advisor: Mr. Bulusu, Science, rm. E-2306 Email: rbulusu@mtsd.us This club is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors who are interested in Science. Based on availability, knowledge, and skills students start practicing once a week in November to take tests in AP Chemistry, AP Physics, Chemistry 1, and Physics 1 on the second Thursday during the months of January, February, March, and April. Every student that participates in three or more events in County wide and state wide tournaments gets a certificate. The individual or team that gets the highest points wins a certificate and an award shield.
--------------------------------------- Science Olympiad Advisor: Mr. Sullivan, rm. E-2300 Email: jsullivan@mtsd.us Freshmen contact: Mrs. Kleinfeld-Hayes. UMS Science Email: hhayes@mtsd.k12.nj.us Science Olympiad is a multifaceted organization that competes on the regional, statewide, and national level. There are opportunities for builders, test takers, and laboratory enthusiasts in subjects such as Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Geology, Meteorology, and Physics. Tryouts begin in November, and meetings are on a weekly basis. Last year every student who competed in the state competition won a medal.
--------------------------------------- Sports For more information on the MHS sports programs see the athletic department website: www.mtsd.k12.nj.us Mr. Maselli, Director of Athletics Email: tmaselli@mtsd.us
Fall Sports: • Practices for most teams begin Aug. 17 Cross country track: Boys and Girls Cheerleading: Varsity and JV Field Hockey: Varsity and JV Football: Varsity and JV Gymnastics: Varsity Boys Soccer: Varsity, JV, and Freshman Girls Soccer: Varsity, JV, and Freshman Girls Tennis: Varsity and JV
Winter Sports: • Practices for swimming and Ice Hockey begin approximately November 15 • Practices for Basketball begin the Friday after Thanksgiving • Practices for Track begin the Monday after Thanksgiving Boys Basketball: Varsity, JV, and Freshman Girls Basketball: Varsity, JV, and Freshman Cheerleading: Varsity and JV Ice hockey: Varsity and JV Swimming: Boys and Girls Winter Track: Boys and Girls Wrestling: Varsity and JV
Spring Sports: • Practices begin approximately March 2 Baseball: Varsity, JV, and Frosh Softball: Varsity and JV Golf: Boys and Girls Boys Lacrosse: Varsity, JV, and Freshman Girls Lacrosse: Varsity, JV, and Freshman Boys Tennis: Varsity and JV Track and Field: Boys and Girls
--------------------------------------- Stage Crew Advisor: Mr. Mylowe, rm. F-1154 Email: nmylowe@mtsd.us The Stage Crew is responsible for designing, constructing, and painting the sets for two plays per year: the Fall Play and the Spring Musical. Students begin to prepare for the Fall Play during September when they meet two or three days per week. In October, the students are required to meet five days per week. In preparation for the Spring Musical, the students meet three to four days per week in December and January. In February, the students meet five days a week. During the last two weeks prior to the play, students practice moving sets and props onto and off of the stage during the play. Students interested in this club need to have a commitment to attendance throughout the duration of the play, and it is recommended but not required to be mechanically or artistically inclined. Students can work on one or both of the plays.
--------------------------------------- Student Council / Student Government Advisors: Mrs. Kriger & Mrs. Fattoruso, rm. B-1107 Emails: vkriger@mtsd.us, kfattoruso@mtsd.us Student Council gives leadership experience in planning and execution of numerous events including a flag football tournament, Homecoming Events (including spirit week activities), Cougar spirit week (with the Cougar Olympics as the culminating event), a spring dance, a human rights week (culminating in a student chosen speaker), locks of love, and Autism Awareness. Additionally, the executive board runs a leadership training day and at least 1-2 fundraisers to help raise awareness or goods for a particular cause. Membership to student council demonstrates leadership and interest. Students who join have to participate in the Homecoming events and at least one other activity during the year. Student council generally meets every 1-2 months.
--------------------------------------- Turning Recreational Excitement in New Directions (TREND) Advisor: Ms. Tosti, English, rm. B-1106 Email: jtosti@mtsd.us TREND is an organization devoted to community service and all of the members pledge that they do not and will not use drugs or alcohol. The requirements are to attend 5 meetings and participate in at least 3 activities. Meetings are on the first Thursday of every month – usually there is one morning meeting (for students who cannot make the afternoon meeting) and one after-school. Students are welcome to join at any time. This past year TREND ran a food drive, and sponsored a Giving Tree in December and donated the gifts to four different charities. In addition, TREND is involved in Special Olympics and Relay for Life.
--------------------------------------- Theater Arts Advisor: Mrs. Handschin, Dramatic Arts Email: thandschin@mtsd.us Do you like to act, sing and/or dance? Come try out for the school plays. MHS produces a fall drama or comedy for those interested in only acting. For those who want to act/sing/dance MHS produces a full-scale Spring musical. Auditions for the fall play are in September and auditions for the Spring musical are in November. Everyone is welcome to participate. Give it a try. Once selected for a role, members are given a rehearsal schedule and are required to attend all of the rehearsals specific to their roles. Leading roles are major time commitment. Rehearsals are generally Monday-Thursday after school for two months prior to performance, plus occasional Friday and Saturday rehearsals close to the performance date. Students are required to attend the entire “tech week” before the opening night performance when all of the shows elements comes together (actors, singers, costumes, makeup, orchestra, scenery, lighting and sound). Last year the students performed Arsenic and Old Lace and Wizard of Oz.
--------------------------------------- Yearbook Advisor: Ms. Boyer, Art, rm. A-137 Email: tboyer@mtsd.us This is an extremely rigorous and demanding student run program. By using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Indesign students will design the yearbook. There are opportunities for students to take pictures, write articles, plan the entire book, and market the product. Good for Future Business leaders.
