OCHS Principal’s Report

December, 2013

Classroom Activities Mr. Bristol and Mrs. Daniel’s classes joined an international holiday card exchange. We sent cards and class photographs to schools in Taiwan, Spain, Russia, Australia, Belarus, and Slovenia.

World Cultures, World History classes and a lunch time coin drop raised enough money to buy 3 almost 4 goats for needy families. Goat milk provides nutrients and excess can be sold to pay for educational supplies. Goats are hardy and can survive in almost any terrain. We will be continuing our change collection into early next year.

CLUB ACTIVITIES SADD Students and advisor, Mrs. Cathcart, visited Mrs. Sharon Naplacic’s third grade class at

the primary school. SADD Students spoke with the younger students about making the right decisions in life in regards to a healthy lifestyle that is drug and alcohol free. The high school students then worked individually

on a Thanksgiving Day craft with the third graders, allowing them to talk one-on-one and provide advice and share positive insight on school and life.

The OCHS Peer Mediators attended the 18th annual Peer Leadership Conference at the

Wildwood Convention Center. The students participated in a variety of workshops and seminars that included leadership skills, communication skills, trust challenges, problem solving, drug prevention and more. The theme was “Modeling Healthy Habits” and our students created a display featuring Freshman Field Day and won 2nd place.

French and Spanish clubs went ice skating at Skate Zone

The Psychology Club held their annual International Holiday Dinner on Thursday, December 5th in the cafeteria. Ten clubs represented different countries. They brought ethnic food and gave a short speech about the holiday traditions in their chosen country. The entry fee was a toy for the charity “Waves of Caring”. We collected 90 gifts and a monetary donation for our local children. The clubs participating and their sponsors are listed below. A special thanks to Mimi Fleming for purchasing food for the event.

Leadership Club (Amy DePasquale)

History Club (Barb Daniel) Spanish Club (Gina DiLorenzo)

French Club (Sharon Elco) Graphics Club (Rubina Dombrosky)

National Honor Society (Michelle Dill) Student Council (Matt Purdue)

SADD (Debbie Cathcart) Extension Program (Margo Corcoran)

Psychology Cub (Lisa O’Neill)

NHS conducted the 3rd Annual Clothing Drive! Students were encouraged to bring used clothing in good condition to their 5th period class. The clothes will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City and Jewish Family Services. A total of 2,604 clothing items were collected. Third place with a total of 291 items was Mrs. Sera’s Class, Second place was Mrs. Palmer’s class collection 297 items The winning class receiving a pizza party was Mrs. Cox’s class collecting 490 items! .

Student Council The month of November was a great success for Student Council. Our three big events were the Scholarship Dinner, the Amazing Race and the Food Drive. The Scholarship Dinner was held on November 14th and was run by the Leadership Club. Local chefs came out and served a delicious dinner for families. The money that was raised will be put toward senior scholarships. It was a very nice night.

Our next big event was the Amazing Race. The Amazing Race is very popular among all of the clubs. Each club is in charge of creating an event and can enter a team into the competition. The teams compete in all events, and the top three teams receive a cash prize. First place went to National Honor Society, second place went to DECA and in third place was FCA. National Honor Society took a check home for $500. This event was a lot of fun, and the money will be for a good cause. Our biggest event for the month of November was the Food Drive. We started collecting cans during first period on November 11th. Students could donate non- perishable items, and

the top three first periods would receive a rewards breakfast. We collected a record

items! All of the items were brought to St. Peter’s Church and donated to the needy. It was really nice to see our school come together and help make a difference in other people’s lives. November was a month full of food, fun and giving. We had a great month and look forward to the events of the holiday season.

Life skills The students in Mrs. O’Neill and Mrs. Masters Life Skills Program have been very busy this fall. They visited Mrs. Maguire’s Period 3 Child Development class in October. Students were partnered and together made felt Halloween bags and delicious caramel apples. Jordan Allegretto, Kaitlyn Blair, Kirsten Blair, Cassidy Buch, Lauren Camp, Brianna DiMaren, Grace- Ann Jones, Megan Manley, Katelyn McLaughlin, Breanna Palzer, Erin Stremme and Haley Vernon assisted Victoria Bonino, Derek Frasca, Sydney Lagerholm, Dillon Haskins, Destiny McKeiver, Ryan Prettyman, Georgie Rauner, Joey Parral and Stephen Schuler.

American Sign Language The ASL Honor Society held its first annual Deaf art competition for ASL students during the Fall semester. Named for the gifted and beloved Deaf artist, Chuck Baird, this competition promoted the study and appreciation of the fine arts in ASL education. Reproduction: Painting or Drawing The artwork shall be a reproduction of a drawing or painting by De'VIA artist, Chuck Baird. Watercolor, colored pencils, charcoal, oil, and pencil sketch entries will be accepted. Artwork must be entirely of the student's own creation. Clipart or images taken from the internet are not acceptable. Congratulations to Maliha Chowdury, "ASL Left and Right Brain" Ocean City High School as the First Place winner of the 2013 Chuck Baird Memorial Deaf Art Competition!

Maliha's winning replica. This is a Chuck Baird piece of artwork that shows how ASL is processed on the right side of the brain and is a colorful, visual language whereas English is processed on the left side of the brain. Below is a link to information about the competition and the ASL Honor Society. This year we have 40 students who

qualified with a 3.0 overall GPA, 3.5 ASL GPA and completion of a written essay application. http://aslhonorsociety.org/docs/ASLHSCompetitionFlyer.pdf These are the students I will be taking to Gallaudet University in April and they surely deserve it! While studying signs relating to “Sports and Activities” American Sign Language 2 classes also learned about sports in Deaf Culture and the Deaflympics, where Deaf athletes from all over the world compete. Raymonda Azrelyant, originally from the Ukraine and profoundly Deaf immigrated to America during High School. American Sign Language was her 3rd

language with Ukranian Sign Language being her first. Raymonda competed in Bulgaria as a cyclist in the Summer Deaflympics 2013 and agreed to join the ASL 2 classes via video

conferencing! She was selected as one of two female competitors on the United States Deaf cycling team competing at Deaflympics Summer, 2013. The Deaflympics were held Sofia, Bulgaria from July 26 through August 4, 2013. Raymonda competed in 2 events-40Km Individual Time Trial, and a 40-mile Road Race

ASL 2 students watched Mrs. Azrelyant sign about the Deaflympics and her participation in this world class competition right in their classroom via the projector and iPad! Students developed their own questions, translated them into ASL and signed live with Mrs. Azrelyant, an experience they will not soon forget! On December 18th, the ASL Honor Society students were part of a FaceTime video conferencing connection with Mr. Bruce Bucci, the Director of the Deaf Studies Program at Boston University. Mr. Bucci discussed the significance of sports in Deaf Culture, the history of Gallaudet University and his own participation in the historical protest of 1988 at

Gallaudet. He offered advice to students as hearing individuals wanting to enter the culture of the Deaf. Mr. Bucci discussed possible careers like ASL Interpreters, Teachers of the Deaf, psychologists for the Deaf or audiologists.

Signing for themselves in their second language, ASL students were able to pose their own questions to Mr. Bucci and receive immediate answers right back in ASL! Mr. Bucci challenged students to enter the world as ambassadors for the Deaf community, spreading awareness about ASL as a true and cherished language and the culture of Deaf people as a community we should all embrace not oppress or discriminate

against. Mr. Bucci was inspiring, uplifting and a true gift to our ASL students! Please click the Quicktime movie icon below for more information.

IMG_2724.MOV

Come get a cup of coffee and enjoy the work of OCHS Photography classes

(now - dec.22) You can also purchase Holiday cards to benefit the Photography Club

Senior Scholarships

STUDENT OF THE MONTH Each student was chosen to be Student of the Month because of exemplary behavior

character and performance. We appreciate the support of each of the community organizations. There is a critical connection between a successful public high school and a strong relationship with its community.

Isabel Benvenuti was the Rotary Club Student of the Month. Lauren Vetter was the Exchange Club Student of the Month.