At the end of another completed school day in Wall High School, today, the Computer Club held a meeting in Room A-10. Mrs. Parsons, a Technology Department teacher, patiently waited for her students to arrive while having a conversation with Mrs. Badecker, a Business teacher, to fill in the time void. One student appeared and took a moment to examine the room, then stepped outside into the hallway to use his cellphone. He returned only to explain to Mrs. Parsons that he has no means of transportation for going back home if he were to stay for the meeting, so he must leave pronto. After he had left, the computer lab returned to its original state and became devoid of any club members, once again.
Such occurrences are the normal routine for several after-school activities, and the Computer Club is no exception. In actuality, the Computer Club is probably more prone to such tendencies. The club, being small in size, only comprises of four members. The quartet meets together only twice a month. Although diminutive, the club provides a window of opportunity for its members, who demonstrate their enthusiasm toward the functioning of 21st Century technology.
“We discuss new technologies like operating systems, gadgets [and] work on websites,” Mrs. Parsons explained. Students often research some type of technology to increase their knowledge in what may become a future field of study for them. “Essentially anything they want to do with technology -- this is their time,” she said about the club members.
Following in the same trend that the majority of school clubs share, the Computer Club is always open to accepting new members at any time during the school year. Any student that is interested in technology should be encouraged to keep his or her options open and be susceptible to feeling an inclination toward joining the club.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Relay for Life Resurfaces Once Again
I've recently received an event invitation on Facebook. The event is a kickoff party for Relay for Life -- a fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. I personally can't say that I'm really familiar with this event, but I guess that it may be worth checking out. Maybe -- just maybe -- I will be able to attend the event and write another article. Apparently, it's headed by Wall High School senior Deanna Lapp and, if you want to attend, you have to contact her and let her know that you will be present and want to sign up. Below is descriptive information which I copied from my invitation and pasted here:
Relay for Life: Kickoff Party! Come join our tribe!
Date: Wed., Feb. 18, 2009
Time: 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Location: Wall Community Center (Next to the Library)
Only a few days left until Kickoff! To RSVP call 1-800-ACS-2345. Get prepared for our Kickoff Party! Mark your calendars for Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. Join us in the Library next to the Wall Community Center to find out how you can be a part of 25 years of Hope! It's really important to get as many people (especially Team Capts.) out to this meeting! Let's make this year even better than the last!
Relay for Life: Kickoff Party! Come join our tribe!
Date: Wed., Feb. 18, 2009
Time: 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Location: Wall Community Center (Next to the Library)
Only a few days left until Kickoff! To RSVP call 1-800-ACS-2345. Get prepared for our Kickoff Party! Mark your calendars for Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. Join us in the Library next to the Wall Community Center to find out how you can be a part of 25 years of Hope! It's really important to get as many people (especially Team Capts.) out to this meeting! Let's make this year even better than the last!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
A Much Needed Blog Update
Happy Valentine's Day!
I want to apologize for the lack of recent posts on my blog. I know that I haven't been a very good blogger this past week. In my defense, though, school has not been in session since Fri., Feb. 6. Evidently, my "beat" centers itself around school clubs and organizations, which have not been holding new meetings due to the current break that Wall Township public schools are on. Therefore, due to the circumstances, it was really just out of my hands to write a new blog entry for the past few days. I think that I now am beginning to understand the difficulty that Marissa Block endured for her blog last year, which other students and Mr. Ketelaar described to me, since she had a "beat" similar to mine.
I did not forget about my blog and kept it mind while I was going about my activities on break. It was just difficult for me to access and use a computer to log into my blog account and compose a new entry because I've been busy during this break. Not to mention, is the fact that my family keeps interrupting me when I want to have some time to be alone and concentrate on my work.
Anyway, I went to another Teen Action Group (TAG) meeting on Sun., Feb. 8. I already have written an article on TAG, so I thought it would be too soon to write another article on the organization. I also went to Montclair State University on Wed., Feb. 11, to visit a friend for a few days. I thought about writing an article comparing and contrasting the extracurricular activities of both Wall High School and Montclair State University, but that plan never quite came through. Basically, Montclair State University boasts more activities than Wall High School could ever muster is all I can say for now, being that it is much larger in size than our high school. My experience at Montclair State University was quite fun and enjoyable.
I want to apologize for the lack of recent posts on my blog. I know that I haven't been a very good blogger this past week. In my defense, though, school has not been in session since Fri., Feb. 6. Evidently, my "beat" centers itself around school clubs and organizations, which have not been holding new meetings due to the current break that Wall Township public schools are on. Therefore, due to the circumstances, it was really just out of my hands to write a new blog entry for the past few days. I think that I now am beginning to understand the difficulty that Marissa Block endured for her blog last year, which other students and Mr. Ketelaar described to me, since she had a "beat" similar to mine.
I did not forget about my blog and kept it mind while I was going about my activities on break. It was just difficult for me to access and use a computer to log into my blog account and compose a new entry because I've been busy during this break. Not to mention, is the fact that my family keeps interrupting me when I want to have some time to be alone and concentrate on my work.
Anyway, I went to another Teen Action Group (TAG) meeting on Sun., Feb. 8. I already have written an article on TAG, so I thought it would be too soon to write another article on the organization. I also went to Montclair State University on Wed., Feb. 11, to visit a friend for a few days. I thought about writing an article comparing and contrasting the extracurricular activities of both Wall High School and Montclair State University, but that plan never quite came through. Basically, Montclair State University boasts more activities than Wall High School could ever muster is all I can say for now, being that it is much larger in size than our high school. My experience at Montclair State University was quite fun and enjoyable.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Potential Teen Issue Feature
This may not be related to my "beat," per se, but it is a homework assignment for my Print Journalism I class, after all. The assignment is to select a teen issue for feature writing. I'm choosing to write about bullying, as overdone as that may already appear. I, however, still think that it's an important issue that most teens will probably have to face and deal with at least once in their lifetimes. I'm sure that there are plenty of personal stories concerning this issue that I can draw from when writing my feature which can enhance the issue's significance and highlight its potential harmful effects to the readers.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Meetings Cancelled Due to Inclement Weather
I orignally wanted to post another article today, but recent inclement weather has caused school club and organization meetings to be cancelled for the past two days. I can understand that since the snow began to fall from the sky, yesterday, all after-school activities had to be dismissed so that students and faculty alike could leave the building and head back home as soon and safely as possible. Snowfall continued into the night and accumulated on the ground, resulting in all Wall Township public schools to run on a two-hour delay this morning. I really cannot fathom why school club and organization meetings had to be cancelled again today, since the weather had already cleared up hours before all scheduled classes ended. I was planning on staying after school to attend a meeting for either the Human Relations Club or the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), but both were cancelled. Perhaps, other school clubs and organizations had meetings today which I am unaware of and totally oblivious to, but I didn't hear about any scheduled meetings over the intercom.
Anyway, I will see if I can try to post one more article by Fri., Feb. 6, although I can make no guarantee. What I can promise is to keep on the lookout for news during the upcoming weeks. I believe that I can muster a couple more articles to be written before the month of February ends, even if they may not be used for the school newspaper, The Crimson Courier.
Anyway, I will see if I can try to post one more article by Fri., Feb. 6, although I can make no guarantee. What I can promise is to keep on the lookout for news during the upcoming weeks. I believe that I can muster a couple more articles to be written before the month of February ends, even if they may not be used for the school newspaper, The Crimson Courier.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
TAG Continues to Hold Successful Meetings
Okay, so this may not be specifically related to Wall High School activities, but it is related to an organization that involves several Wall High School students (including myself).
On Sun., Feb. 1, the St. Rose Teen Action Group’s (TAG) members gathered to watch Super Bowl XLIII on a flat, wide, plasma-screen TV in their Parish Center located in Belmar, N.J. As time progressed closer to the airing of the event, the students' anticipation toward watching the National Football League's (NFL) highest-rated game of the year was building to monumental proportions, but only to be unduly greeted to no avail as their hopes were crushed by technical difficulties that had suddenly arisen. The problem caused the members to relocate to a smaller room and watch the Super Bowl on a TV that had a screen which was no larger than seven-by-seven inches. This, however, was not news to the members of TAG though, who had experienced the same exact situation during a previous year.
TAG is an organization dedicated to Christian teens who want to help their community through various charity services. It was formed about six years ago by Jersey Shore resident Jean Riley, who was the former leader of the group. “I worked for a year with Jean Riley,” said Maryann Trez, current leader of TAG. Trez, a citizen of Wall since 1994, heads the group while locals Joann Fossani and Brandon Marone assist her.
“It [TAG] was formed for public school high school parishioners who don’t have CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) anymore [and] who have made their Confirmation,” explained Trez. “But now it also includes people who attend St. Rose [High School, N.J.].”
TAG is involved in the catering of numerous community service projects and charities ranging from cooking and serving food to the poor of Ocean Grove, N.J., to raising over $4,000.00 for the construction of community centers and the importing of necessary supplies for survival to the Ugandan countryside. The organization also holds many holiday-oriented events, including the creation of a haunted house for Halloween and carolling to an audience for Christmas.
“I think TAG is a great place to be yourself and to get to know other people and to experience and share faith together,” said Wall High School senior Mary Ragan. When asked if students should be encouraged to join TAG, she agreed wholeheartedly. “Definitely,” she said, “but you have to make sure you come in with an open mind.”
TAG usually holds meetings every Sunday after the 5 p.m. mass service at St. Rose Church, unless otherwise stated by group leader Trez. Meetings generally last for two hours from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. New members are always welcome to join anytime!
On Sun., Feb. 1, the St. Rose Teen Action Group’s (TAG) members gathered to watch Super Bowl XLIII on a flat, wide, plasma-screen TV in their Parish Center located in Belmar, N.J. As time progressed closer to the airing of the event, the students' anticipation toward watching the National Football League's (NFL) highest-rated game of the year was building to monumental proportions, but only to be unduly greeted to no avail as their hopes were crushed by technical difficulties that had suddenly arisen. The problem caused the members to relocate to a smaller room and watch the Super Bowl on a TV that had a screen which was no larger than seven-by-seven inches. This, however, was not news to the members of TAG though, who had experienced the same exact situation during a previous year.
TAG is an organization dedicated to Christian teens who want to help their community through various charity services. It was formed about six years ago by Jersey Shore resident Jean Riley, who was the former leader of the group. “I worked for a year with Jean Riley,” said Maryann Trez, current leader of TAG. Trez, a citizen of Wall since 1994, heads the group while locals Joann Fossani and Brandon Marone assist her.
“It [TAG] was formed for public school high school parishioners who don’t have CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) anymore [and] who have made their Confirmation,” explained Trez. “But now it also includes people who attend St. Rose [High School, N.J.].”
TAG is involved in the catering of numerous community service projects and charities ranging from cooking and serving food to the poor of Ocean Grove, N.J., to raising over $4,000.00 for the construction of community centers and the importing of necessary supplies for survival to the Ugandan countryside. The organization also holds many holiday-oriented events, including the creation of a haunted house for Halloween and carolling to an audience for Christmas.
“I think TAG is a great place to be yourself and to get to know other people and to experience and share faith together,” said Wall High School senior Mary Ragan. When asked if students should be encouraged to join TAG, she agreed wholeheartedly. “Definitely,” she said, “but you have to make sure you come in with an open mind.”
TAG usually holds meetings every Sunday after the 5 p.m. mass service at St. Rose Church, unless otherwise stated by group leader Trez. Meetings generally last for two hours from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. New members are always welcome to join anytime!
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