Kenyerlin Ng

High Tech is back to offering its most exciting summer program, Fun Fit! Hosted by our physical education teachers, Fun Fit is a summer long program that promotes fitness, fun, and learning. Starting on July 15th up until August 14th, students learn how to apply healthy habits onto their lifestyle and have active play. They can choose between sports, yoga classes, and games! This program is mostly popular with our underclassmen, allowing them to meet and build friendships with other students before the new school year begins. The program has left a positive impact on our student body.

Allowing others to gain strength for their bodies and create long lasting memories with friends, leaving the students with a positive attitude. Fun Fit coordinator and High Tech high school physical education teacher, Mr. Adam Fitzgibbons, highly encourages his students to join the program. He believes that “exercise is the key to longevity and fun fit will prepare you for that.” Their mission statements inspire students to adapt to a healthier lifestyle that would create a fun environment with games. Siegfried Jalink, has attended Fun Fit and expressed it as a “beneficial” program to all students. Siegfried described Fun Fit as a fun summer program and “didn't feel like a waste of my summer.”

Check the fliers around the school or the HighTech website to sign up.

Isabella Conde

On December 12th, High Tech’s Chess Club hosted the Mah-Mood Cup. The tournament was a bracket style competition with first place winning a $15 gift card or a one month Diamond chess.com membership, second place receiving a $10 gift card or a one month Platinum chess.com membership, and third place receiving a $5 gift card or a one month Gold chess.com membership. 

After an intense day of competition Raunak Verna came through to win first place. Omar Sampigeadi took second place and Nicolas Nogueras rounded out the top three.

The Mah-Mood Cup was hosted in memory of senior Shayaan Mahmood who sadly passed away in early November of this year. Shayaan loved chess and was a member of the Chess Club, along with many of his close friends. Junior Raunak Verma, a friend of Shayann’s, told The Laser about Shayaan’s deep appreciation for chess and how he especially loved the “analytical side of it”.  Verma stated, “Before competitions, Shayaan would look up the other players and analyze their strategies” showing his deep dedication and enthusiasm for chess. While he is no longer with us, what better way to honor him and his legacy than by watching or participating in an event hosted by his friends, in his honor, that is about one of his favorite things?

Alyssa Paulino 

On October 31st, our school was filled with laughter and excitement during the annual halloween costume contest. The gym was packed as students and teachers came together to see amazing costumes that showed off everyone's creativity and spirit of our school. The contest was hosted by Landen Madelena and Zeinab Fardos who both kept the crowd entertained with their funny jokes. Everyone was very eager to show off their costumes on stage and this year, the contestants brought their best ideas. There were solo costumes, duo costumes, and group costumes. The winner of the solo costume was Mr. Illustrator portrayed by Connor Wolenski. The group costume that won first place was the U.S president's. Sara Papa, Jenima Charles, Valerie Ruiz, Israah Zafar, Isabel Rivera, Savannah Omare and Hazelle Glinoga dressed up as our former leaders. Tyler Gomes-Inacio dressed as Groot and Rocket from Guardians of the Galaxy also won for  “most accurate.” 

Even those that didn’t win made a memorable mark. David Castillo was dressed as Iron Man and he amazed everyone with the effort he put into his costume. Others were disco girls, a basketball Kyrie impersonator, an inflatable chicken, a monster high group, a vampire, and strawberry shortcake. Even the teachers joined in on the fun and dressed up. The teacher judges, Dr. Diamond, Mr. Nocum, Mr. Fuda, Ms. Medina and Ms. Franco had a tough job choosing the winners but they recognized the creativity and effort that all the participants put into their costumes. As the event came to an end, students left with big smiles and the Halloween spirit in the air. We can’t wait to see what costumes will be worn next year! 

Gabriella Castillo 

The Junior Student Council's inaugural Fright Fest Outdoor horror movie nights were a thrilling success, bringing students together for a memorable evening of chills, popcorn, and community spirit!

Over the course of two nights, students gathered in the schoolyard, transforming it into a cozy outdoor cinema. On October 18th, the haunting atmosphere of "A Quiet Place" captivated the audience. With blankets, pillows, and pajamas in tow, attendees created a perfect setting for fright-filled fun. The next film will be The Visit on October 25th.

The event saw an enthusiastic turnout, with many students opting for the **$15 bundle** to enjoy both films. The popcorn and water provided added to the experience, keeping everyone fueled for the scares. Students were buzzing with excitement, sharing their favorite moments and reactions to the film.

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing appreciation for the chance to connect with friends in such a festive atmosphere. The Junior Student Council received numerous compliments for organizing such a fantastic event, successfully blending entertainment with community spirit.

Ticket sales began on October 7th, and the early buzz around the event helped generate interest. Many students lined up to purchase their tickets during lunch, ensuring they wouldn’t miss out on the horror movie nights.

The success of Fright Fest has set a promising precedent for future events, and the Junior Student Council is already considering more themed nights to keep the fun going.

Isabella Conde

At the senior meeting for class of 2025 Ms. Franco, the testing supervisor, announced that this year students will have to pay for AP testing. This news shocked the student body as last year the exams were free for all students, so why the sudden change? 

According to Ms. Franco students last year were mandated to take the AP exam and every test was paid for by the school. Some students decided that because their chosen school did not accept credits from those courses, they would attempt to skip the exam or just sit and not even open the booklet. 

To rectify this, this year’s upperclassmen have to pay the price, quite literally. AP tests are around $99 dollars each and for students taking multiple AP classes this can create a huge problem. When asked about his opinion on the new policies AP World History teacher Adrian Nocum stated “I like that it’s optional because the pressures of junior and senior year can be overwhelming.” Mr. Nocum also told The Laser that his curriculum will be slightly shifting this year as now he can “ slow things down” and “emphasize other topics”. 

An email was sent out on Wednesday, September 18th stating that for seniors High Tech will be covering half the cost of the exams. The new amounts are $49 for a standard exam and $73.50 for students in AP Seminar and AP Research. Students must put down a non-refundable deposit of $20 for normal APs and $53.50 for AP Seminar and AP Research before October 30th and the rest of the amount is due on November 12th. There is a cancellation fee of $40 so be sure you’re going to take the test before making the deposit. To pay for the exams, seniors can go on My School Bucks and pay the invoice there.

It appears that this affects only seniors and 11th graders will continue to take their tests for free. While this is great news for most, some students are not in the financial position to spend an extra $50 plus all the other expenses senior year can bring, so if they can’t pay what can they do? Well, some students may qualify for reduced cost depending on their financial situation. The criteria for these reductions is on the official CollegeBoard website so get out those chromebooks and check because you could save your money and still get to take the exam. If you don’t qualify, don't worry, ask your guidance counselor as they've stated that they will be happy to help with your AP needs, though do be patient as they’re a bit swamped this year. For all students who will be taking the exam let your teachers know by November 12th.

by Valeria Camino & Sienna Mello

As we get settled into the new year, check out what’s in and what’s out for 2024 at High Tech…

Ins:

• Bringing a charger to school

• Cleaning up after lunch

• Ordering your sandwiches online

• Drinking more water

• Judo 

• Attending school performances 

• The Lasercat mascot 

• Reusable water bottles 

• To Do lists

• More sleep!

• Senior Advisory

• Checking emails

Outs:

• Wearing pajamas or slides to school 

• Taking other people's lunch tables 

• PDA at school

• Slow walkers in the halls

• Bathroom TikToks 

• Comparing yourself to others 

• Loitering in the hallway 

• Cutting class

• Mass emails from students 

• Cutting people in the lunch line

by Davin Abraham

Deck the doors with bows of holly, but only if you can beat Mr. DePierro, who has been Door Decorating Champion for, not one, but TWO years in a row and is aiming to have an unstoppable 3-year winning streak this year. The Door Decorating Contest is a yearly contest taking place at High Tech High School, where participating teachers decorate their doors with festive creations. The winner is selected for having the best door decorations and crowned the door decoration winner of the year. 

I interviewed reigning champ Mr. DePierro to check in on what he was planning to do this year and to try to learn what his secret was to winning two years in a row. 

“It’s a very scientific method. I kind of asked the students and they tell me,” said Mr. DePierro. He went on to explain, “The first time we did it we went with a Polar Express theme, featuring a train exiting the door, snowy elements, and a bus schedule display. I did a voiceover announcing bus arrivals. The following year, we went with a Grinch theme, using cutouts, wreaths, and a video of the Grinch. It all came together successfully.” 

Mr. DePierro then told us what he’s planning to do this year. “We’re doing Charlie Brown Christmas. We knocked around a couple of themes. And I think this one really hit home and we're excited about that. We already have the art department cutting out shapes and sizes and coloring and a few things they've already done. It already looks fantastic. Top notch.”

Mr. DePierro also wanted to thank his students for helping him out as he believed they were the true creative minds of the class, while also thanking the administration for letting him and his class be as creative as possible. “Overall, the class is very engaging. Teachers and administrators are hands-off, allowing students the freedom to pursue their interests. Despite concerns about the decorations being excessive, there were no complaints. The second-floor wing, adorned with hanging items, looked impressive. And the whole floor was decorated really well. Our whole wing, at least on the second floor, looked really good. I mean, just walking down a hallway was kind of an adventure. You turn to your right and left and you know, each teacher had something going on with their door.”

And so with this, we can only wish the best of luck for Mr. DePierro and his creative class. The contest will end after Christmas break, so tune in for the Follow Up!

The grass is greener on all sides of our school’s garden, thanks to the assistance of HTHS Supervisor and Environmental Science teacher, Mrs. Doria and her interns Shannon Anderson, Mason Castillo, and Alexandra Panfilov. They support Mrs. Doria's compost initiative, addressing the cafeteria's growing food waste problem. Initially, High Tech introduced green compost bins, but as waste accumulated, collaboration with a specialized company became necessary. Mrs. Doria stated, “We didn't separate waste before, but now we have separate bins for food waste, trash, and recyclables in the cafeteria thanks to our initiative and the rocket composter. However, the rocket composter can only handle about 20 pounds of food waste per day, while our school generates around 300 pounds.” To address this, High Tech High School has partnered with a local female-owned business, Community Compost Company, in Hudson County that collects food waste from local businesses and converts it into composted soil to sell. Furthermore, Mrs. Doria, an environmental scientist, initiated a compost program employing her interns. Through their contributions, we can observe students' involvement, the positive environmental impact of this initiative, and its vital role in our community.

Every day during 4th period the interns devote their time to a significant cause."I rarely get the opportunity to contribute to my community or school economically, but now I can, and it also provides me with a break from school-related stress, allowing me to focus solely on my internship," said Mason as he explained how his involvement in participating in the initiative has positively affected him by allowing him to contribute to this cause. Not only has the interns' participation allowed them that great feeling of giving back, but it has also allowed them to learn something more about themselves. “I think it's important because it teaches us to be involved in something. It teaches how to work and communicate with people. And I think it's just a good experience overall, especially when going out into the real world. And going into college as well since you can have this in your background,” Shannon stated as she expressed how this initiative has shaped her views on the world along with the other interns such as Alexandra.

Alexandra stated, “It feels great, knowing that we're kind of helping back and helping the environment, it's better than knowing that the food waste is just getting thrown away on top of more waste. And it feels good to know that I'm part of that initiative to kind of help out.” With this, we can see that thanks to Mrs. Doria, she not only helped create a big contribution to our environment but also helped her interns in having positive viewpoints on the environmental status of the world. 

Mrs. Doria as she explained how this initiative has been helping our school environment: “I think as a whole, students, you know, from my experience, they were always questioning, are we recycling? What impact are we making? And you know, we weren't doing enough here. So I think students are happier that we're actually making an environmental impact by diverting that food waste, and also, we're recycling more paper and plastics, so that's helpful.” 

Moreover, through this investigation, I learned that, thanks to the initiative, they were able to help the department/facilities and the school as a whole to save money since they’re able to not throw away food waste, reducing our dumpster pickups from once a week to now only once a month. It goes to show that no matter how insufferable or ridiculous the world may seem, there’s always people who want to help, and because of that, they’re able to spread hope to many others. With the help of just a few hands, this initiative is able to reveal just how impactful something can be and how much of a difference it can make on the environment.