by Allison Oh & John Kang Ms. Olga Berkin is one of the new additions to Palisades Park High School’s faculty. Her new perspective on science has already freshened up things in the Science Department. She currently teaches 3 classes: Biology, Biology Honors, and Environmental Science. Although she teaches biology and environmental science, her personal favorite areas of science are anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and pathology. Ms. Berkin was born in Kazakhstan, which is located in Central Asia, and was raised in Israel. Even though she is a teacher now, as a student, she did not like school. She describes herself as “a horrible procrastinator” which also played a role in her college years and is even still a habit. She attended a liberal arts college called Hood College which is located in Maryland. She double-majored in Communication Arts and English, and she also minored in Journalism. After that, she took some classes at William Paterson University for Science. Along with William Paterson University and Hood College, she attended a medical school in Missouri, where she realized that medical school was not enjoyable and dropped out after 2 years. In spite of the fact that she did not like medical school, it was there that she found her passion for teaching. There was an opportunity to teach an adult class about dissection and dissection techniques. While instructing the class, she found that she enjoyed it quite a bit and thought, “well if I’m really good at something, maybe I can translate it into teaching.” Ms. Berkin did not initially plan to become a teacher, but later found an interest in it. Unlike others who may have found inspiration for teaching from someone or found it to always be their calling, Ms. Berkin stumbled into teaching— evidence of the twists and turns of life.Before being a teacher at Palisades Park Jr./Sr. High School, Ms. Berkin had a variety of jobs including an office manager which she disliked. In addition to currently being a science teacher, she was an English teacher at Eastside High School located in Paterson. So far, Ms. Berkin said she likes it here at PPHS. She likes the school and the students. The one thing she said she was not too fond of was how long the commute was from her house to the school. She would also like for there to be more equipment at hand for use in science classes, but overall, she loves teaching here. When asked what her goals are regarding her students, she stated that she wants her students to be “engaged in learning.” She understands that many students are not really engaged when they are in class. She wants to change that and hopes to be a great teacher who would be able to ignite a spark in at least one person who would want to be more engaged in a subject, in this case, science. “I like the fact that [I get] to see somebody that actually learns something— gets interested and gets excited, like if I see that sort of spark, that makes me happy. That gives me satisfaction,” commented Ms. Berkin on her experience as a teacher. Ms. Olga Berkin’s experiences in life have given her interesting perspectives on teaching. She hopes to be a very helpful teacher to all her students, and continues to work to inspire more sparks and learning opportunities.
PPHS Welcomes New Nurse
by Sharon Lee, Naidelyn Morales, and Chrystal Peralta One of our newest staff members is our school nurse, Ms. Agresta. She decided to become a nurse because her parents and most of her family members are also nurses. Ms. Agresta says that as a nurse, she “fills many different roles, and wears many different hats.” She helps students who are feeling sick or have gotten injured, and she also deals with the physical paperwork needed for all sports. She is currently going back to school to get her master’s degree in nursing. She plans to be a Nurse Practitioner by this summer, which is one of the highest levels of nursing. After she becomes a Nurse Practitioner, she hopes to open a school-based health center, which is a doctor’s or nurse’s office in the school. She wants parents to know that if their child is sick, that child will be able to be taken care of quickly and efficiently. Working with high-school aged students keeps her busy, and is not without challenges. “As a medical professional, I have to translate to them what’s going on with their bodies which also could be complicated,” commented Ms. Agresta. Even though it might be hard, Ms. Agresta always tries her best to educate her students about their health needs. Ms. Agresta is in her first year at PPHS, but she hopes to meet everybody in the school and get to know them. When she is going through students’ information, she learns something new about the student and hopes to learn even more in person. She also wants to get to know her other faculty members and hopes to develop positive professional relationships with all of them. Ms. Agresta describes herself as ambitious and has many goals she wishes to accomplish. In a short time, she has already managed to make a positive impact, with the implementation of such programs as the Jets Upstander of the Week Program, which rewards PPHS students that have had a positive influence on the school environment with Jets tickets and recognition for their good deeds. As she continues to work hard, her ambition and professionalism will undoubtedly have a positive impact during her time here.
A Meritorious New Teacher: Ms. Lewris
by Maria Garcia Reyes and Esther An Ms. Lewris, the newest addition to the PPHS community, is an exceptional person who aims to be a good mentor to students. Ms. Lewris was born in Teaneck, New Jersey and was raised in Palisades Park. She remembers that her desire to become a teacher began when she witnessed her teacher, former PPHS science teacher, Mrs. Reale’s way of teaching. Mrs. Reale’s inspiration and enthusiasm transferred into her. Her admiration for her teacher stemmed from the work and effort Mrs. Reale put into helping and teaching her students. Surprisingly, she also walked the halls at PPHS during her teenage years. During her years here, she was a member of the school newspaper, Tiger Tales, and worked as an editor. She also participated as a class officer and a class secretary officer; she was a very involved student. Just like any other person, Ms. Lewris also had other interests other than a teaching career. She attended Fairleigh Dickinson University where she studied criminal justice and earned a master’s degree in the field. Also, she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is currently studying for her second masters in education. Additionally, she worked as an intern as an advocate for victim witnesses in criminal cases. As for her experience as an intern, she explains “it was fascinating. I had previously interned as a senior counselor in a prison, so I got to see the other side of the coin working with witnesses and victims. Some of the cases were heart wrenching, but it was just as rewarding being able to help victims and their families through the court proceedings.” Prior to coming to PPHS, Ms. Lewris was observing middle school classes in Leonia. Her experience so far has been great; she loves the atmosphere of the school. Also, she likes the teachers and students of the community. What Ms. Lewris finds challenging are the phones and video games that students use and play with during class, “The most difficult aspect of teaching is trying to compete with phones and video games. To combat this, I have students place their phones in pockets at the front of the classroom and keep my lessons as engaging as possible. Luckily I teach science, which lends itself to lots of interactive labs and fun demonstrations.” Here are some fun facts that Ms. Lewris would like to share: she has four cats, she likes kayaking and knitting, and she makes a fantastic homemade cheesecake. Even years from now, Ms. Lewris would like to continue being a teacher in this school and continue with her studies, “in five to ten years, I'd like to still be teaching science at PPHS and I will have earned my second Master's degree. I've always been interested in teaching a course at a local college, so that could be in the cards, too,” she comments. Lastly, the advice she would like to share with students is, “I believe students should study and not be afraid to ask questions. It’s important for students to ask questions because sometimes, concepts are difficult to understand and clarification needs to be given. Other students may also have the same question, but for whatever reason, are reluctant to ask.” Ms. Lewris will undoubtedly continue to endeavor to teach her students to be lifelong learners.
New Teacher in the Science Department: Mr. Farnese
by Hector Camaja and Mohamed Hassan Mr. Farnese is a new face in the science department at Palisades Park High School. His stature makes him at first appear like an imposing, serious guy, but it becomes apparent to anyone who speaks to him, that he is humorous and easy-going. He has been working at PPHS for 4 months now beginning last spring, when he became a replacement for two science teachers who have been out of school on maternity leave. He now teaches Geophysical Science and Biology, but his favorite area of study in science is plant science. Mr. Farnese explained what made him become a teacher: “Back in the day, people said I was good with kids and that I would be a great teacher,” he said. “When I was 17 in high school, a teacher of mine asked what I’d like to do. I always wanted to become a teacher. I always liked school. It’s like a social experiment and a social experience. I love speaking, I loved horticulture, and it seemed like the right choice.” Farnese received his education at Rutgers University where he majored in Botany. “I worked at a plant nursery when I was in high school, which got me into plants. I was able to diagnose what was wrong with plants, so botany became my hobby.” His passion for science doesn’t stop at plants: “I also like psychology a lot,” he said. Farnese has taught in both Paterson and West Milford before landing at PPHS. “I love the teachers and students here at PPHS, I could really see myself teaching here at PPHS the coming years.” His approach is appreciated by his students, as he treats his students the same way he is with everyone-- open-minded and kind. He passionately believes that science is a valuable area of study. “I think that in the world today, to meet the needs of ever growing populations, we need to find technologies and [make] discoveries that can carry the population. Producing food to feed a growing population, understanding genetically modified organisms-- the good and the bad, and how we can sustain life are all important lessons to take away from science. If I can get anybody hooked on science, I’d like to inspire young scientists to continue to find ways to help keep balance in nature.” He will continue to try to inspire students at PPHS to fill these important positions in the world as the next generation moves up. “I like it alot here. A lot of the staff have personalities similar to mine, and a great sense of humor. Most of the kids are respectful, and so far I’m very happy. Although we definitely need more paper,” said Farnese with a smile on his face.
Mrs. Voorhis Brings Fresh Ideas to Vice Principal Position
by Gya Perez Mrs. Voorhis is the new Vice Principal at Palisades Park High School. Mrs. Voorhis comes from Montclair High School, where she had the role of assistant principal— a position that is quite similar to being Vice Principal. One of the differences is that she now has a smaller student count then in Montclair, because Palisades Park has a smaller student population. Montclair High School has approximately 2,013 students, while Palisades Park has 700 7th-12th grade students. Mrs. Voorhis mentioned that having a smaller number of students in the Palisades Park school community is quite amazing, as she intends to have more one-on-one time with all the students and faculty and the opportunity to get to know everyone individually. As she is truly a newcomer to Palisades Park, Mrs. Voorhis did not know what to expect, but she was very pleased by the welcome she received. She mentioned that she loves the atmosphere here at PPHS, and that the students are fantastic and welcoming, as are the teachers. She was very impressed with how teachers are supportive of all their students, in order to help them succeed in all the ways possible to help them grow. Apart from that, she was pleased with how helpful the faculty has been in helping her to fit in and adjust to her new atmosphere. Becoming our school’s new vice principal has opened a whole new door for her, where she can learn many new things that can help others grow, as well as herself as a professional. When asked about what she will improve this 2018-2019 school year she responded, “my first year here is more about getting used to my new surroundings and listening to everything.” She mentioned that, for her personally, she is going to listen more than anything else, to see what changes can be done to improve for the following school year, as well as how efficiency can be increased to provide more things for our school community. Apart from not seeing her husband at work and going to lunch with him (he was a teacher at Montclair High School), she is very happy to have been given the opportunity to join the PPHS family and become a Tiger administrator. “I am very excited to see what we can become as a community, and how we can help the students excel in more ways than before.”
Ms. Hong: A Fresh Face in the Math Department
by Jenny Estrada, Ariadnalie Torres, Angela Saban Cax Unlike most of the teachers we know that are born and raised in the United States, Mrs. Hong is of Korean descent, and, interestingly enough, was born in Paraguay, South America. If you are wondering where that might be, Paraguay is a country between Argentina and Brazil. “I lived there for six years and I can partially understand Spanish,” Mrs. Hong says, “it is very common for people from Latin America to travel to the United States for a better education.” Her parents moved to Paraguay before she was born for business purposes. Growing up, she enjoyed watching basketball. She was a very good and athletic student, and she played volleyball and basketball at nearby Fort Lee High School. After high school, she considered the careers of accounting and business. Mrs. Hong was accepted into Rutgers University due to her academic success, but while there, she decided to become a math teacher as out of all the classes she took, math was the one she preferred. Before teaching at Palisades Park High School, she taught at a school in Paterson. She left her job in Paterson and came to teach at PPHS. She likes it here-- “everyone is friendly,” she commented. “Every day it's different, you never know what to expect.” She prefers to teach high school students because elementary kids need more attention and it's more difficult for them to learn. As she says, her idea of a “good day” in the life of a teacher consists of waking up, getting ready, the teenagers being well behaved, understanding the lesson quickly and behaving appropriately. She said “the students in the morning are more focused than the kids in the afternoon; the ones in the afternoon get easily distracted”. Hong is not just a teacher in Palisades Park, she is a “teacher” outside the high school as well, “especially with my nieces and nephews” she says. She would love for her students to remember her as the “teacher who didn’t make them hate math.” “Math is an extremely important subject to teach because it’s something you will use very often in life, especially when you get older. If you want to buy a house or car, open up a credit card, get a loan, or even just go shopping, you need to be able to understand math in order to get the best deal,” she explained. The start of a new year in a new school has presented the usual challenges. For all teachers, it’s difficult at the beginning to remember all the kid's names since many teachers interact with over 100 students in a single day, but as the semester goes on, Ms. Hong has gotten to know all of her students. Like most people, she enjoys vacations and travelling to different places every year. If she could enroll another teacher’s class she would do anything that is not related to math to gain a new perspective. While scoring tests and worksheets, she likes to “watch tv shows or listen to music,” depending on the day she is having. Ultimately, she is thrilled with her position at PPHS: “Due to the friendly staff and great students, my experience at PPHS has been great. So I can only say that I’m feeling pretty good at this point.”
Teacher Tea with New Guidance Counselor, Mr. Sanchez
by Kimberly Reyes and Brisleidy Amparo It seems that Mr. Sanchez was destined to be a guidance counselor, but many would be surprised to know that he is a former police officer. His journey to become a guidance counselor was not simple. He attended a number of colleges-- Bergen Community, SUNY New Paltz, and William Paterson University-- from which he earned multiple degrees. He was originally a guidance counselor but left that behind to become a police officer. “Finding the right career wasn’t easy at first," says Mr. Sanchez. Mr. Sanchez has a lot of qualities that make him a valuable addition to PPHS. For one, he is relatable to many of the students. His parents hail from the Dominican Republic, and he speaks Spanish fluently. His hobbies are similar to the students he helps-- he plays Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Madden Football on his PS4. And like most, he’s been in tough situations. When he was in 3rd grade, he admits to cheating on a vocabulary test (he got into big trouble with his parents and teacher!). And he had a reputation of being a talkative class clown in the 7th grade, which contributes to his humor today. His favorite season is summer; he dislikes cold weather a lot. He absolutely loves the book “Tuesdays with Morrie.” The advice Mr. Sanchez would give to his younger self is “Stick to the process. One thing that I knew back then is that I wanted to help people, and I am in the right career as a school counselor helping young people who look like me, act like me, and ARE me.” “The experience I have had at PPHS has been amazing. From the very first day I met staff, they have welcomed me with open arms, which has allowed me to be comfortable and work hard. Now the experience I have had with students-- especially my 7th and 8th graders-- has been awesome. They know I believe in tough love and they’re all about it, which makes them work hard, which makes me work harder, which makes our community of Palisades Park be great.” The quote that he lives by is “If you rest you rust. The way I take it is there is always somebody behind me that wants to do what I do, and is trying to be better than me so I have to constantly work harder whether it’s at home, whether it’s working with kids, whether it’s learning new things to implement at Palisades Park Jr/Sr High School.” Mr. Sanchez’s passion for what he does is contagious. The seventh grade students, who are as new to PPHS as he is have benefitted from this positive energy. “He is cool.” says Zakir Phelps. “I like that he’s not mean to us and he has a different personality than most other adults.” He greets all students with a smile, a fist-bump, or a high five, and helps all students, reaching even beyond the middle school population. Lesley Quiroa, senior, has been able to rely on the new face in the guidance department for the push she needs to get college apps done. “He’s very motivational, and pushes me to do my college work. He finds me in the hallway and is just there. He’s a very positive and uplifting person.” Mr. Sanchez can also be credited with decorating the second floor of the academic wing with countless college posters, sending a subtle message to all students that attending a college or university is the next step of their educational career. Mr. Sanchez is undoubtedly a valuable asset here at PPHS. “He knows what we need; he can relate to us. It’s valuable to have a male counselor,” said senior Julio Mancilla.