by gabriela romanelli

Testing season, in an ironic twist of fate, coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month. Students may be feeling anxious as AP season progresses, but it is important to remain calm in order to perform well on the exams. I’ll be making an effort to not sound too cliche, but here are some tips to help manage test stress:

1. Try to engage in some physical activity! Whether or not you enjoy gym class, it is very important to get moving at least once a day. You don’t have to spend hours lifting weights to get your blood pumping. Go for a walk around your neighborhood, learn to skateboard, or convince your friends to play volleyball!

2. Sleep. Stop taking naps and just get to sleep at least an hour earlier. Naps throw off your sleep schedule, so just get your homework done during naptime so that you can get to sleep as soon as possible. Being well-rested improves your concentration and allows for better focus throughout the test day.

3. Don’t cram! It won’t actually help, it’s just going to stress you out more. You’ve spent the year studying (hopefully), this is just an opportunity to show how much you’ve learned. Cramming often has worse results than simply being well-rested. Do not sacrifice your bedtime the night before the test to review flashcards.

4. Make sure to eat on the morning of your exam. Taking a test on an empty stomach makes it difficult to focus on the material on hand. Whether it’s a bagel or a three-course meal, it is very important to get something in your stomach.

5. Lastly, remember to take a deep breath (extra cliche, I’m sorry) and relax. Listen to your favorite music, watch a comfort movie, or spent time with friends and family. Whatever the case, make a real effort to chill out. 

Good luck everyone! You got this.

This past Monday, March 27th, High Tech’s Interact Club invited guest speaker Brenda Greene to share her experiences in community service as an adult working a 9 to 5 in addition to running two nonprofits. This event, in honor of women’s history, was meant to inspire anyone interested in attending to participate in acts of service throughout their lifetimes. One of the Interact members had worked with Brenda in one of her annual Blessing Bag projects and thought to reach out to her as she expressed similar values to what the club represents. She spoke for a little over an hour about how she began her work, how she juggles her family life, and the various paths one can take to establish themselves in the volunteer community. Brenda came prepared with many valuable tips that were perfectly catered to high school students interested in community service. She appealed to introverted students, explaining how she overcame her fear of public speaking. She had suggestions for students who had difficulty managing their time and provided resources for future projects the Interact Club plans on pursuing. Overall, the event was a success! We hope to have Brenda visit again sometime in the future.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Laser is spotlighting a variety of female-owned businesses throughout Hudson County. Our first spotlight is Jessica Nisler, founder and owner of Mojo coffee shop with two locations in Hoboken. Jess grew up in Hoboken and was very passionate about coffee. Her parents had owned multiple restaurants, so she had experienced some of what went on behind the scenes of a business such as this one. When inspiration struck, she set about looking for the perfect space and conducting market research to get a better understanding of the coffee industry. Unfortunately, right when she was prepared to open the first Mojo, the pandemic hit. This was a difficult obstacle to overcome, but she persevered, saying “What I learned was that there was never going to be a 'perfect time' to open - but it's about overcoming the fear of getting started.  A huge part of being a business owner is constantly dealing with challenges, and what sets you apart is how you address those setbacks.” She found inspiration in many other female entrepreneurs, such as Sarah Blakely of Spanx, Whitney Wolfe Herd of Bumble, Ali Bonar of Oat Haus, and Stacy Madison of Stacy's Pita Chips. There is also a vibrant community of business owners throughout Hoboken that are always willing to support one another. She ended up making the decision to open several months later with a staff of just six people. As its success grew, Jess was able to open a second location. To conclude, some closing advice from Jessica Nissler: “You'll never have it all figured out - but the important part is to get started with an idea you believe in.  There will always be challenges and unknowns in your business, but that's part of the process -and how you address those challenges sets you apart. Do your research, become an expert in your industry, and hone in on the problem you are solving for your customers.“ Make sure to check out Mojo on 230 Willow Ave and 801 Bloomfield Street to show some support!

With genres such as R&B and Hip-Hop, with their smooth rhythms and clever wordplay, being ever-so-popular in this day and age, the question of “where did this sound originate from?” is often overlooked unless you are well-versed within the world of music. The answer, very often, is jazz.

Jazz has not only had influence on music and the birth of different genres, but it has even spread to American culture, from fashion, to poetry, to the civil rights movement, and so much more. It’s nods of rhythmic accentuation found within African music and traces to harmonies in European music, has made jazz one of the most contributive musical genres of all time.

This women’s history month, I found it fitting to honor the women of jazz and even provide a few song recommendations for anyone looking to expand their playlist a bit. 

Billie Holiday

Legendary jazz singer from Philadelphia, PA, Billie was born on April 7th, 1915. Known for her unique vocal style and emotional delivery, she rose to fame in the 1930’s and 1940’s with hits such as “Lady sings the Blues” and “Solitude”.

Song Recommendations

• “Blue Moon”

• “Lover Man”

• “Them There Eyes”

Ella Fitzgerald 

Known as the “First Lady of Song”, Ella was born in Newport News, VA, on April 25th, 1917. Over the course of her career, she recorded over 200 albums and had accumulated 13 Grammys. Fitzgerald was known for her vocal range, scat singing, and improvisational ability. 

Song Recommendations

• “Cheek to Cheek” 

• “Oh Lady Be Good” 

• “Mack The Knife” 

 Dom DiNardo and Matteo Amy.

In honor of mental health awareness month, I decided to highlight Simone biles who has been known lately for speaking out and standing up for herself. 

Simone Biles is known for her fabulous and impressive gymnastic skills. She has won four olympic gold medals and is an inspiration for girls everywhere who want to achieve a career in gymnastics. What a lot of people didn’t know is that she actually has diagnosed ADHD. This wasn’t known until she tweeted about it, saying that she wasn’t ashamed because there’s nothing to be ashamed about. This is an impactful statement, because sometimes all it takes is one person to come out and say that they have a mental illness and other people are influenced to do the same. In a lot of sports, it’s all about your physical body, and physical health. Now, people like Simon Biles are making it not only about just the physical, but the mental health that is involved in sports. 

Simone biles also has recently been taking time for herself and prioritizing her mental health. In July of 2021 during the Tokyo Olympics, she was performing shakily. She wasn’t being herself, missing her mark, and things of the like. During the qualifying round, she withdrew at the end of the day. This shocked everyone because they believe that olympians never take time for themselves, but she did. This vulnerability is so beneficial to not only herself, but everyone around her. She has become a great influence on young people and an icon for mental health awareness. 

This year’s annual puppy bowl, aired on Animal Planet several hours before the human alternative, was a raging success.  For the 19th year in a row, these puppies traveled far and wide to compete in this display of pure animal talent. Puppies compete to see which team is able to bring the most toys into the end zone within a time limit. Team Fluff continues their winning streak for the second year in a row, beating Team Ruff 87-83. This year was the first time in the history of this event that went into overtime. A Rottweiler, Siberian Husky, and Neapolitan Mastiff mix, that goes by the name of Vivianne, scored the winning touchdown. Furry-anna, a mystical young cat that has been in showbusiness for years, starred in the half-time show, descending gracefully on an artfully constructed UFO. However ridiculous, this event provides a wonderful platform to raise awareness for these abandoned animals. Over one hundred rescue dogs competed in this event in an effort to find them homes all throughout the country. According to Animal Plant, every animal that has competed since 2004 has been adopted.

The semi-finals and the finals of the Hudson County Boys Tournament were played at High Tech High School from February 17—26, 2023. On Saturday, we crowned a new champion with the Saint Peter's Prep Marauders taking down the Hudson Catholic Hawks, 61-46, in a rematch from last year’s final. Saint Peters defeated Union City in a 62-32 blowout in the semifinals while Hudson Catholic defeated Bayonne in a 44-29 in their semifinal to reach the finals. 

It was a hyped final and the gymnasium was electric minutes prior to tip off. We expected a battle for the championship trophy and were given exactly that. The game started off fast, with scores from each side as both teams wasted zero time getting on the scoreboard. However, as the first quarter passed, both sides focused on defense. Both coaches made their defensive emphasis clear and it was apparent. The Hawks seemed strong in the 1st half, with a 19-18 lead going into halftime. Junior Alex Massung led the team and had an electric showing for the first half and everything was clicking on their side. On Prep’s side it looked pretty bleak, lots of deep threes being shot and not many going in. Their backs were on the wall going into the halftime break. They hadn’t faced much adversity in this tournament with a destructive path they were on to get to this year's final with 30-point victories in the quarterfinal (Hoboken) and semifinal with Union City. However, sure enough, Coach Mirabel made those second half adjustments and they took over in the third quarter. Freshman Mason Santiago flying on the court from coast to coast and making sure to get his Marauders back in this one. They outscored the Hawks 17-11 in the third quarter and the momentum totally shifted their way. 

It almost felt like Prep had a home-field advantage because of the out-pouring support from their students section. They may not have cheerleaders but those kids sure do replace the void. They took that momentum into the fourth and it was over before it even started; they ended it with a 26-point fourth quarter. The team did a complete 180, because they looked completely different in the second half. Both sides had impressive showings and could possibly see each other again in the state championship. 

Sophomore Peyton Miller was the leading scorer for the Marauders with a 18 point and 6 rebound performance. As previously mentioned, Alex Massung led the Hawks with a fantastic 16-point performance. It came to a surprise to many that it wasn’t junior Tahaad Pettiford, who has committed to Auburn University. This was his first game back from a devastating knee injury that demanded surgery that sidelined him for the whole season. His status for this game was up in the air. It was a rough game for him as he got into foul trouble very early in the game and it affected his aggressiveness late in this one. Additionally, they were without star senior, and University of Virginia hopeful, Elijah Gertrude, who is still rehabbing from a torn ACL. Overall, it was a great showing for both sides but the Marauders struck back, taking this year's county championship after falling short last year to their rival Hudson Catholic Hawks. We are excited to see what next year brings, congratulations to the Saint Peter's Prep Marauders on their championship performance.

By: Sofia Waldron

Mr. Vincent Nardiello Jr. has been teaching at HTHS for over twenty years. During that time, Mr. Nardiello has also balanced a separate career as a stand-up comedian and writer, having had his work produced on stage and television. In 2015, his play The Boom had a successful run at the Theater for the New City in Manhattan. His latest play, Diving Horses, was recently staged for a reading at Theater for the New City. In this interview, Sofia Waldron (SW) talks with Mr. Nardiello (VN) about his latest work and the evolution of his career as a teacher-by-day and writer-by-night. 

Interview 

SW: How did the new show go in your opinion?

VN: It went great. We did a reading instead of a full production, which was the first step to putting on a play. It's to generate interest beyond just the reading, to bring out theater companies, literary agents, groups like that who would want to stage it as a full 

production. Since we did the show, we are now doing another production in Englewood [NJ], a theater there, in January. So we gained some interest based on the reading. We have another theater company interested in full production in the fall. The show went great as a first step to doing something more; it served its purpose. Now, it's a matter of generating more interest, to get more people willing to put the money out to do a show. It’s a financial decision. 

SW: Is there anything/topic you wished you approached in Diving Horses that you did not? 

VN: Hmm, I haven't really thought about that. I will say this, there's a section about YouTube families, you know those families, YouTubers. Not that I wish I did it differently, but my concern is that it is going to become very dated at some point. We will move on to something else, and these YouTube families will become, you know, [like] when you're making fun of reality television, it will feel the same. It has been well-trodden. Many people make fun of reality television; I don’t wish I did it differently. I think it's still very relevant, but I believe it will become a point where these YouTube families will become parodied, commented on so much it won’t feel as much as a fresh idea. So, I wouldn't say I wish I did it differently. In the back of my mind, if it is put on stage, I want it done sooner than later. Eventually, other people will be doing it as well. 

SW: How do you balance your identity as a playwright with that of a teacher here at High Tech? 

VN: Well, I have been doing stand-up comedy for a long time. I was always the stand-up comic who taught, and I always tried to keep those things very separate. I did have a comedy class, but I tried to separate the ideas. I never performed any of my shows here. For example, I'm finding now that I am embracing the concept, taking some of the experiences I have outside of here, and bringing it into the class. This is why I do a good amount of screenplays and screenwriting [in my classes]. Being a part of the art academy has also helped, so I have embraced the idea. 

The most challenging part of it is that it is hard to find the time to write while working full time, and having kids, family, and the time factor. It isn't really about separating the two things, but it can be hard to find the time to switch modes, from teaching mode to writing mode. The key is to treat the writing like it's a natural job. Like, I have to do it during this amount of time. Not to look at it like, oh, who benefited from the time I have now. No, this is my job. 

SW: Is there anything this experience has taught you? 

VN: I've never been an actor, and I've done other plays before. *Points to The Boom poster* That was five years ago, and I was never really involved with the rehearsal process. Whereas this one, I sat in more rehearsals, and I've really come to appreciate the process actors go through in prepping and learning the roles. That's actually helped me as a writer, what an actor will bring to it, and I enjoy it. Working with the actors and their process, that's what I've learned the most.

SW: Are you planning to write more plays in the future? 

VN: I think so. I've always been writing, all along. I had a couple TV pilots that were produced. I wrote a Weekend Update for a season [of Saturday Night Live], so I've had a lot of writing experience. I’ve enjoyed writing plays now, because it seems to have a crooked path to writing, to actual staging. Whereas, doing a television show, financially there's a lot more money and people involved. You have to worry about more production: Who’s going to buy it? There are a lot more masters to serve in television and film. Finding work in theater, the path from me writing to being on stage seems to be much more of a straight line. I'm not that patient; I like moving faster in the process. 

SW: Anything you would say to someone who is interested in writing plays? 

VN: Get involved in a creative community, don't just think ‘I'm going to write,’ and suddenly everyone is going to see it. Put it on, and produce it! I benefited from understanding that, being involved with many actors and creative people with whom I have been able to collaborate and work. For anyone that wants to be a writer: don’t just write. Get involved with theater companies. Meet people working in theater, try to help each other out. Collaboratively you all will move ahead and work with each other. Help each other find productive avenues to get your work done. Wiring can be a very solitary, secluded process. To get out of the seclusion and immerse yourself in the community as well.

[Jose]: How was the preparation for today's activities?

[Brianna]: The preparation for today’s activities started since the start of February. It was honestly fun to hear everyone’s ideas on ways to educate our peers about these talented and influential Black figures! We set up a schedule and visualization on how we want each academy’s part to look like. For the arts, we wanted to exemplify the amazing works that those in the visual, performing, and written art have done. With that, we set up boards of information about their impact and talent while providing examples of their work! As well as letting people have a taste of what it’s like to do one of their artistic creations such as Jean-Michael Basquiat's artwork. While setting it all up in the morning, some ideas had to be knocked out due to time such as more decorations for the boards but we’re glad that things went out as it is! 

[Jose]: Compared to last year's activities, do you feel satisfied with this year's activities?

[Brianna]: I definitely am satisfied with this year’s activities compared to last year because I believe there wasn’t any notable activity to showcase the importance of Black history month for last year. We only had a showcase with the StuCo Instagram and information about influential Black celebrities and figures in the announcements, if I recall correctly. Working on this project with peers made me satisfied by truly showcasing the importance since it’s my first time in a school that created an event centered on it. However, I always believe that there are ways that we could improve, not only as peers but as a school to continue showcasing Black History Month’s importance. 

[Jose]: What does Black History Month mean to you?

[Brianna]: Black History Month to me means a celebration and pride of a wonderful culture that has created an immense impact. The celebrities and figures who are Black and African American have pushed through in order for future generations of minorities to achieve what they believe is right, to achieve their dreams, and to achieve success. Black History Month would encourage people to not only learn and appreciate more in February, but to learn and appreciate to a great extent all year round, 365. Because learning about their impact and importance has showcased how different everyone’s lives would be without their amazing contribution and their beautiful culture. Traffic lights, rap, jazz, the light bulb, and so much more wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the thinking and creativity of Black people. It truly shows that no matter where you’re from or what your background is, you could create something beautiful to assist not only your current generation, but future generations.

What better way to show some school spirit than to display it on your clothes? High Tech has officially opened its brand new merch store! Located right across from the first floor entrance to the C wing, the new store has a variety of clothing with different styles, colors, sizes, and fonts for everyone to enjoy. Although we have had HTHS merch in the past, we've never invested in an in-school store, so this is a very exciting addition for many students and staff. Currently, the store is only open during the fourth and fifth periods and is run by High Tech senior, Julie-Ann Cartegena. 

The prices are as follows: sweatpants ($25), hoodies ($20), crew necks ($20), and T-shirts ($15). 

As of this writing, all purchases are cash only. Even if you are not ready to buy, students are encouraged to browse and get a feel for what's available . So come on down, represent your school spirit to the fullest, and buy yourself some High Tech merch.

By: The Laser Editors

New Jersey’s school mask mandate expires on Monday, March 7, but nearly 44% of High Tech students who responded to a recent survey indicated they would continue to wear their face-coverings. 

After being required to wear masks throughout the last two school years, the expiring mask mandate means that students will now have the option to ditch their face-coverings while in school. Given this major shift, reporters at The Laser were curious about whether students would keep masking when it was no longer required. To understand this, a poll was sent to the entire HTHS student body on March 2nd asking, “Do you plan to keep wearing a mask in school?” Of the 321 students who responded, 36.4% said “maybe,” while 19.6% indicated that they would no longer continue to wear a mask on campus. 

Reasons for continuing to mask included several responses of ongoing concern about the continued presence of COVID-19 and fears of bringing the virus home to vulnerable family members. Those choosing to unmask indicated that they were feeling safe given the low numbers of the virus or that they were simply tired of the physical and symbolic burdens of masking. 

While the mask mandate will be lifted, students are still expected to maintain safe practices including staying home when sick, washing their hands frequently, and socially distancing where possible. Questions about COVID-19 can be directed to Nurse Hall, our COVID expert, and you can follow school-related COVID updates on the district website, hcstonline.org. 

Whether you choose to mask or not, we hope everyone stays safe and healthy this spring. 

By: Cathy Lau

There is more to Superintendent Amy Lin-Rodriguez than just running the show at the Hudson County Schools of Technology. For instance, did you know that Ms. Lin-Rodriguez is half Chinese and half Italian? Given that Lunar New Year has just dawned for the year of the tiger, we sat down with Ms. Lin-Rodriguez to learn more about the holiday and her experiences with this annual tradition as a Chinese-American. 

First, it’s important to understand how Lunar New Year—sometimes called Chinese New Year—got its name. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is used throughout the US and many other countries, the lunar calendar is based on the movement of the moon. For instance, the first day of each month is a new moon, and the month ends fifteen days later, on the full moon. During the fifteen days of the New Year, Chinese culture celebrates the Lantern Festival. Wearing red and gold during the New Year represents China’s good luck colors and scares away spirits of bad fortune. Chinese are very superstitious about bad spirits. For example, if you wear white or black clothing during Lunar New Year, it usually means someone died or had misfortunes. 

According to Ms. Lin-Rodriguez, she learned about Chinese culture from her Asian father, who tried his best to teach her about her heritage after her parents divorced. So her memories of the Lunar New Year bring memories of her father. In Amy Lin’s family, they would eat noodles and give out red envelopes to celebrate. This is because, in Chinese culture, noodles represent happiness and longevity, and it is a long-standing tradition to give the gift of bright beautiful red envelopes filled with money to your friends and family. This gesture symbolizes good wishes and luck for the new year. 

On that note, we wish everyone celebrating Lunar New Year a happy and prosperous year of the tiger!

By: Sarah Jaafar

Beyonce Norris graduated HTHS in 2020 and is now a sophomore at Howard University. We reached out to this former Lasercat to learn about the ways her experiences at High Tech prepared her for college life at a historically Black college/university (HBCU). We hope her words will inspire students who are considering applying to HBCUs and can guide staff in supporting their students from throughout the African diaspora. A huge thank you to Beyonce for giving us some of her time!

SJ: What is your major and what do you hope to do with your degree? 

BN: I am a Communications, TV & Film major. In the future, I plan to become a Television or Movie Producer and hopefully work behind the scenes on a significant film or production. 

SJ: How did you come to the conclusion of what you wanted to major in? 

BN: My passion for Media stemmed from my love to travel. Since I was young, I have been visiting the Caribbean Islands. I have been to Jamaica, the Bahamas and, recently, Puerto Rico and Aruba. My desire to know more about life in other countries and experience the beauty of different cultures continues to grow. Along with that, I am a huge people person, so I knew I wanted to do something where I could work amongst others while still fulfilling my media interest. At High Tech, I studied Visual Arts and Technology which confirmed my liking of Broadcasting and Video. It allowed me to experiment with the different areas of my field and further appreciate the creative side of my major. I love being in such a diverse field, and I take joy in having the flexibility to go down many different paths. 

SJ: Do you participate in any extracurriculars (fraternity/sorority, clubs, internships, etc.) and, if so, what can you tell us about them? 

BN: Yes, I am currently a resident assistant, where I spend most of my time ensuring the wellbeing of my residents and facility. A part of my responsibilities includes holding floor meetings and running community events. This past fall, I ran two successful events as a part of the Health and Wellness Committee at Howard. The first was a weekly fitness club where residents got together and enjoyed an upbeat workout led by myself and another RA. We encouraged them to make healthier decisions throughout their days and ensured that they were equipped with the knowledge to work out on their own. In addition to the Fitness Program, I helped run monthly HIV testing events which take place right in our residence hall. Here, I helped educate residents on the importance of sexual health and the ways to navigate sexual relationships as a college student. Being a resident assistant is something I take a lot of pride in, and I am thankful I get to help my residents as a mentor, advocate, and friend. 

SJ: What have been your most memorable experiences in college so far?

BN: My most memorable experience in college so far would be Freshman-Sophomore Week. This week was dedicated to giving students time to adjust to the campus, the staff, and our peers. There were events, parties, and this was the first time I met many of the people I had been talking to all summer. It was a breath of fresh air to finally be on a college campus and be able to enjoy the direction my life was heading. 

SJ: How much did your experiences at HTHS influence your choice to attend an HBCU? 

BN: When I graduated from High Tech in 2020, the black student population was quite small. For that reason, I wanted to venture out and be taught by black professors, amongst black students, in a predominantly black neighborhood. Thankfully, I was able to get advice from some High Tech staff including my former health teacher, Ms.Gilmartin, who reassured me that going to an HBCU would be a life-changing experience. To say the least, she was right. 

SJ: What advice would you give to current HTHS students who are considering applying to HBCUs? 

BN: My advice for any HTHS students considering applying to an HBCU is to go for it! Do your research and find which HBCU’s are most fitting for you and apply to those. Reach out to alumni and watch videos that will give you a feel for the University’s culture. Don’t be afraid, and allow yourself to explore this option when it comes to higher education. I have learned more about Black culture and the Black Diaspora in my two years of attending Howard than I did in all my academic history. These universities are designed specifically for you, and you should take advantage of that. 

SJ: What are some things the staff (teachers, guidance, admin, etc.) can do to support current students who are applying to HBCUs? 

BN: The first step in supporting students who are applying to HBCUs is becoming knowledgeable about them. Staff at High Tech should take the necessary steps to inform themselves about the history of HBCUs and the particular schools during the 20th century. Along with that, staff can try to incorporate those schools in conversation about universities as they are not traditionally advertised when students are applying to schools. Lastly, I know many students would benefit from having alumni come in and talk about their HBCU experience so allowing students to get information first hand can be crucial.

By: Selah Maple

From the underground railroad to historic landmarks, here are some historically black places in New Jersey you may not have known about. 

Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church/ St. Peter’s College 

Martin Luther King Jr. frequently visited New Jersey. Barely a week before his death, King addressed almost 2,000 people in a speech encouraging them to support his newest “Poor People’s Campaign”. He also received an honorary Doctor of Law from St. Peter's College.

Hinchliffe Stadium, Paterson

Hinchliffe Stadium was home to the New York Black Yankees, a negro baseball league. It’s the only remaining Negro League stadium in the mid-Atlantic states. 

Underground Railroad

 New Jersey was known as the last slave state of the North and was a dangerous place for runaway slaves. Slaves seeking refuge through the Underground railroad often passed through Jersey City as the last stop in New Jersey before reaching New York.

T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center

T. Thomas Fortune was born into slavery and freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. He later became the editor of the nation’s leading black newspaper and a leading economist in the black community. His home is now a historic landmark with the mission to  “preserve and further the civil rights and social justice legacy of T. Thomas Fortune through community outreach, education, the arts, and public programming.”

By: Grace Conlin

The spotted lanternfly—an invasive species to New Jersey—has been taking over the environment egg by egg. But, thanks to the High Tech Environmental Science seniors, our students won’t have to worry as much about these Lanternflies at school. Our Science seniors, with help from the Secaucus Environmental Department, expertly removed thirty-eight Spotted Lanternfly egg masses from trees around the Frank J. Garguilo campus. If these seniors didn’t remove the eggs, the egg masses could have killed or harmed the trees they were in and, once hatched, would have led to approximately 1,500 adult Spotted Lanternflies. The removal occurred on December 15, 2021, and since then we haven’t seen any of these flies or their eggs on our campus thanks to them. To learn how to take care of these Lanternflies, our environmental teachers, Shelly Witham, Cathy Yuhas, and Samantha Doria teamed up with Ava Mroz and High Tech’s very own alumni Sean Heaney who graduated in 2017, who both work for the Secaucus Environmental Department and to successfully teach our students how to squash these bugs once and for all. 

By: John Rosado

High Tech senior band THERMADORA just released their very first single and we had the opportunity to ask them a couple of questions regarding the release. 

JR:. For those who don’t know about your band, give us a little introduction about it all. 

T: We are Thermadora! Our members consist of Tobin Harrison, Joaquim Pereira, Joshua Ibarra, and Luke Rodriguez.

JR: Awesome, how about when you guys first formed? And how about genres, what music do you guys play?

T:  We formed our band in November of 2018, and have been going strong ever since. We mostly play indie-rock/alternative music.

JR: Cool, so you guys just released your first single right? Tell us about the process you guys went through.

T: Yeah, we just released our first single, HOW I FEEL, on all platforms. We've been working on music for the past 3 years together, trying to find our sound. And after tons of different demos and working together we finally started writing songs we all really liked and wanted to release as soon as we could. After making it through the pandemic we were able to contact some producers eventually leading us to Michael Cosine (Clown, Baby) a very good friend of the band.

JR: Yeah, that’s good, take as much time as you need to perfect your sound. So, give us some more info on HOW I FEEL. What inspired you guys?

T: We ended up recording our first song HOW I FEEL which has just been released on all platforms. Our song takes lots of inspiration from The Cure, inner wave, and Queens of the Stone Age. This song is about a girl, but no girl in particular. 

Alright well, thanks for your time, THERMADORA. To everyone reading, make sure to check THERMADORA’s new single HOW I FEEL out now on all major platforms.

https://open.spotify.com/track/2Y0km9csCyfyjimgriGrwX?si=6fbb488b604048e0 

https://youtu.be/nzMrpsRcP7Q 

Welcome to High Tech, Ms. Petito!

By: Rachel Chowanec & Kimani Culbreath

Ms. Petito is a new teacher at High Tech, who teaches English to the Freshmen and Sophomore classes. Talking to Ms. Petito we were able to learn a lot about her life outside of school. Ms. Petito grew up in the classroom with her mom being a teacher. She always loved being in school and the interaction with teachers. From a young age she knew she wanted to follow in her mothers footsteps. Being a new teacher to High Tech can be scary due to the large size of it, despite this she loves that the teachers and students are so tight-knit and welcoming. She is beyond happy to be here and looking forward to encouraging others to see the value in learning. 

Get to know more about Ms. Petito:

Favorite Color: Purple 

Favorite Holiday: Halloween. Due to Halloween being her favorite holiday Ms. Petito wants to go big. Some of her ideas are Dolly Parton, Cruella or Bride of Frankenstein

Favorite Hobby: Ms. Petito loves branching out and trying new things, she enjoys reading, plants and is currently learning how to crochet.

Favorite Movie: The Birdcage (1996)

Favorite Animal: Racoon 

Music: Listens to all genres(is warming up to country), enjoys pop the most

Favorite Artists: Amy Winehouse 

By: Sofia Waldron

Mr. Rod Shepard—better known as “Shep” to the HTHS community—is the head of the music & audio technology department here at High Tech. He has over 20 years of professional experience and has worked with many different names in the music industry. Recently, Shep has assisted tremendously with the performing arts productions going on, and is currently working our Winter Showcase which includes all of the Performing arts departments. In an interview with Shep, I (SW) set out to learn more about his experiences and perspectives. 

SW: How would you introduce yourself to others? 

Shep: I would introduce myself as a music educator, music producer, & musician. - 

SW: How did you first get into music? 

Shep: Through my family because my uncle & dad were big influences, my dad played guitar, my uncle played guitar, bass, saxophone, that’s what I play now. In 4th grade, I started to play guitar class with Mr. Fineberg and he taught me how to play. 

SW: When did you know that you wanted to pursue a career in music? 

Shep: From the beginning, always. I had two main loves: art & music, I was always doing art. 

SW: What are the biggest differences between today's music and the music from when you were a teenager? 

Shep: Stylistically, there’s a lot of changes that happened. Right now, there’s a lot of technology to influence today’s music compared to when I was a kid, although it began when Stevie Wonder and Erbie Hancock, [who] were very important figures in terms of introducing technology to music. I had to learn that later, because it was not a part of my interests at the time. I was just interested in playing my guitar and rocking out. And later I started being like, oh, what is that kid doing with the weird sounds, and how does that guitar plug into there?

SW: Did you have any influential music teachers growing up? If so, who? Do you take after them in any way? 

Shep: I would say Mr.Fineberg,  because he had a very open mindset about the approach to music, and from there I found similar teachers that had a similar approach. My vocal teacher, Meryl, had a huge influence on me, she’s amazing. My guitar teacher, who I still take lessons from today, he kicked my butt. He has a very calm nature when it comes to approaching things, so much so it is intimidating, but I got used to working with him. He told me a lot of very valuable things. I study jazz, specifically, and he taught me if you really want to get good at playing Jazz, don’t spend all your time listening to jazz guitarists, listen to other jazz musicians and hear what they do. That was the best advice I ever got. It helped me with a lot of what I do today—even with teaching—listen to what is outside your bubble. I wish I had learned that earlier on, because it would have helped me earlier, but I’m glad that I met him and to have him in my life as a teacher. 

SW: What would you say is your mission when you teach? And why is it important? 

Shep: Every teacher wants their students to learn something and, in Performing Arts, we want people to enjoy what they are doing. My main objective is for people to find value in what they are doing. There is a stigma about being in performing arts that is not serious, it’s just fun, but there is a lot of intrinsic value in performing arts that really is important for every student to translate that into every aspect of their life. And I think that is my main goal, that whatever you end up doing, you take the values of performing arts with you. 

SW: How does it feel to be back in school after teaching virtually last year?

Shep: Refreshing. We missed so much, but at the same time it is a little bit difficult [to be back], because I feel like I’m starting from the beginning but everything is still familiar. And, of course, seeing students again in person is the best part. I missed my students. 

SW: 

What are the biggest challenges you are facing this year? What would you like to accomplish?

Shep: There’s two ways to approach this. One of the biggest challenges is to deal with the changes here and being able to catch up with what we are doing while dealing with the changes. I’m hoping to be able to establish what we do in our program and make it solid. What I have been pushing for in the past few years is growth in the program. That has been a major goal for me. Not growth in the population of students in the program, but growth in the opportunities for students in the program, realistic to what is in the business. Continue to grow the program and aim it more towards the music industry and production. 

SW: Name your top 4 artists right now 

Shep: That’s a hard question. It’s hard. Everyday there’s hundreds of new artists, statistically. I can’t listen to them all, and I wish I could because there’s so much good stuff out there. There is also some stuff out there that I don’t think is as good as it could be. So it’s hard to filter through and be like, “Oh I like them.” But I can tell you a handful of artists that I like listening to: Bornes, I was surprised when I went to his concert two years ago, [in] 2019, I was only familiar with two of his songs. I was surprised by the stage presence and sound, I paid attention to the music and thought it was really good, being objective I thought it was fantastic. I try to be objective which is why I frown upon commercial pop stuff because it all sounds the same, which leads me to another artist that I like a lot because of the quality, who is Dua Lipa. I love her music. I think that the quality and production of her music is higher than the other artists out there, and not as sensationalized. I like her work. I think she is gonna be one of the artists that stand the test of time, but we will see. I also like Bruno Mars, he is one of my favorites. I like him as a performer because it is not about the technical stuff, it’s more about let’s get on the stage and do well, which is what I appreciate. There’s some jazz artists that I like. One of my favorites for a while now is Christian McBride. I had the pleasure of meeting him because I have a few jazz students who attend a private jazz school in Montclair, and I have sent a few students to work there over the years. And his wife, Melissa, founded that program, so I met him in a staff meeting [and] he was a very cool guy, and he said he liked what I do in this program. I was happy to get that response.

Here at high tech, we had a blast at not one, but two “Roaring 20’s” themed homecomings. The first one, on Friday, December 3, was just for the freshman and sophomores. The second dance took place on Saturday, December 4, for the juniors and seniors. Both nights, everyone danced non stop from 6pm until 10 pm! Not to mention, everyone was in their best classy Great Gatsby themed outfits. Check out these awesome pictures taken by Mr. Gongora, to go along with all the wonderful decorations put up by our spectacular decoration committee. The party was kept alive thanks to our wonderful DJ Jojo, a student here at High Tech who totally knows how to get high school students going. We definitely “Danced like Gatsby”! All this is thanks to our amazing student council for planning and orchestrating the evening, and to all the administrators, teachers, staff, and security that made sure everything ran smoothly. Both events definitely went off without a hitch. We hope to see everyone at our next school dance...stay tuned!

By: Misha Godha

Students and teachers at High Tech High School have been utilizing the school´s exquisite, state-of-the-art hydroponic lab. The lab also doubles as a greenhouse classroom which furthers students’ education by providing a hands-on learning experience. Our hydroponic labs’ equipment includes a Nutrient Film Technique system (NFT), multiple grow towers, two Dutch Bucket systems, and a Deep Water Culture System (DWC); these systems utilize thin films with pumps and net pots. There are different variations on how to grow the crops in our lab, along with the best suitable systems for specific crops. Over the course of the school year, students monitor levels of temperature, electrical conductivity, and nutrient levels. In addition, some of the crops harvested are brought down to the kitchen to be served during lunch so all school community members can enjoy it. My class grew radish, basil, romaine, spring mix, arugula, and kale during this year’s fall harvest. To celebrate our achievements thus far we had a salad party!

By: Taylor Shaw, Jonathan Ortega, and Leah Garcia

2020 felt like a fever dream. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, people began to wear masks like accessories and us students found ourselves learning remotely from the comfort of our homes. In the Fall of 2021, we had believed the pandemic pandemonium of virtual learning was over and eradicated, until last week, when the Omicron variant of the coronavirus ushered us back into the unconventional yet innovative way of learning. This return to remote learning created a spectrum of love and hate towards virtual school. 

Some students at the Laser, “personally hate it.” Specifically, Sarah Jafaar dislikes online learning because she is “an extroverted butterfly.” Meanwhile fellow senior Dana Rosen was more open to it, saying that “in moderation, [I] absolutely love virtual learning.” Given the divide, Laser staffers Jonathan Ortega and Taylor Shaw weighed the compromise of safety over social interaction, discussing the pros and cons of the virtual “pandemication” they experienced over the last two years.

Jonathan Oretga debated the pros of virtual learning as he felt it benefited students in many ways, “Zoom School in December was definitely a deja-vu moment for me. I was instantly transported back to online school last year. Although many are opposed to the idea of online school, I found that I was able to better prioritize a lot of personal endeavors as well as maximize my time. I believe that as human beings we are constantly moving and constantly working. Sometimes slowing down can be very beneficial to our clear-headedness and mental health.”

On the other hand, Taylor Shaw felt that virtual learning harmed students in more ways than it benefited them. According to Taylor, she said: “This week I've been struggling to adapt to online learning. Us returning to virtual learning is reminding me of when I was at my lowest struggling with depression, anxiety, and OCD. It's reminding me of when I used to cry everyday for seven months straight and felt extremely unmotivated. While I may not enjoy virtual learning for many reasons, I understand the importance of it as the new variant is highly transmissible and we are trying to stop the spread of COVID-19.” In other words, she ultimately felt it negatively impacted students' mental health, but recognizes why virtual learning is still a viable option for students to receive an education.

While these past two years have brought about many ups and downs in the educational realm, it has taught us how to adapt to given circumstances. Let us know how you feel during these tough times!

Halloween Fest at High Tech was super “ghoul.” From a very entertaining costume contest with the best costumes in school, to Mr. Fuda getting his hair cut by our students, everything was so festive and in full Halloween spirit. 

We also can’t forget the 90’s era dance in the gym held by the wonderful sophomore student council, where the super-talented bands Thermadora and Israel’s Chair performed for our students! 

Also in the gym was the costume contest hosted by the seniors! This contest was filled with our more creative and outgoing students. 

The costume that was the scariest goes to Michael Casais as the ever-so-frightening plague doctor. For the best group costume, the winners were Daniel Tobar and Liz Garcia with the dynamic duo of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy! 

For the category of best character representation the winner was Kayla Lavilette with an amazing costume of Hatsune Miku. 

For the next category, we all know it’s always important to be creative and make your own costume during halloween, so the winner for the most creative/DIY costume goes to Brogan Donston with a spectacular rendition of catwoman. 

For the last category, but certainly not the least, is the funniest costume awarded to Henrik Van Tassell with Dat Boi. This contest was definitely so well run and all the people who participated looked “spooktacular”! 

Another event that is definitely noteworthy is that our very own Mr. Fuda allowed students to cut pieces of his hair. Yeah, you heard that right, he let teenagers use scissors to cut his hair––definitely the MVP of the event! The Juniors also hosted so many fun games in the cafeteria and a super spooky dance party. 

High Tech Halloween Fest was definitely a great distraction from all the hard work our students and staff have been doing, and we can’t wait for next year.

While High Tech High School is known for its school spirit, to accentuate that the student body came together for the Club Fair in the resource room on October 5th and 6th from 4th to 7th periods. With over 1200 students back on campus after a year and a half, the fair offers students opportunities to engage in the school community and explore student organizations. Students were able to stop around numerous tables to speak with club officers and representatives. Representatives gave brief overviews about the club and answered any questions. The tables of clubs included: Students in Action, Yearbook, Science League, Junior State of America, Culinary Club, and Council on Diversity. 

There was a wide variety of clubs and worked to promote student awareness in the community. Several attending students noted the Club Fair had new opportunities to get involved that they were not familiar with before. Some new organizations were established; Girl Up and Female Empowerment Through Fitness. After returning from over a year of online schooling, incoming students may not know the extent of clubs provided at the school. The Club Fair allowed students––new and old––to integrate and socialize in a way that hasn’t been seen since before quarantine. It is essential to show all that High Tech has to offer with the amenities available, and the Club Fair is just one way.