Welcome to Lawrence Together, your community podcast for Lawrence Township, New Jersey. Today’s episode covers news and updates from News from the Nest, the Lawrence High School newsletter, dated October 27th, twenty twenty six. Let’s get started.
It’s a busy and spooky season at Lawrence High School, so let’s begin with a look back at some recent highlights.
On Saturday, October 24th, the Student Council hosted its annual Laps for a Cause fundraiser on the high school track. With help from our generous community, they raised nine thousand, one hundred twenty-seven dollars for breast cancer research. Thank you to everyone who walked, ran, supported, or donated to this worthy cause.
Earlier this month, the Green Action Team jumped into action to clean up the school campus. One of their goals is to be the change they want to see in the world, and they’re encouraging all students to take pride in their school and community by cleaning up after themselves. Want to help? The next Cardinal Clean-Up is today, October 27th. Meet in Room one oh one after school to help beautify the courtyards.
The Lawrence High School Advocates For Innocence Club held its Spookies cookie decorating contest last Friday as a fundraiser for the Innocence Project. Students and community members enjoyed a sweet and spooky evening decorating Halloween-themed treats and watching scary movies, and the contest winner received a Visa gift card. The club is advised by Mr. Christopher Lonzson.
This month’s Tri-M Coffee House brought out a major talent pool, with twenty-six performers, including singers, musicians, members of the marching band, and even a hula hoop performance. Photos from the event, courtesy of volunteer photographer Iyanna Parker, are linked in the newsletter. Keep your ears peeled for the next Coffee House event.
Now let’s look at what’s happening this week.
It’s Halloweek! Students can earn points for their class by joining in Student Council’s Halloween spirit days. Monday was Wrong Holiday, where students dressed as a holiday. Today is Red Ribbon Day, so wear red. Wednesday is Travel Back, so dress as a decade. Thursday is Lawrence High School in the Wild, with animal print or animal ears. And Friday is Hallow’s Eve, so wear your Halloween costume. A running class point tally is posted on the Student Council bulletin board in the five hundred hall.
Seniors, today is also the day for your senior class picture in the stadium bleachers. Wait for the announcement toward the end of period three, which will dismiss you to the field. You’ll be released for lunch from the field after the photo, so bring your belongings with you. Vocational and technical school students who wanted to return for the photo were asked to email Mr. Donnelly by ten this morning, so he could contact Mercer County Community College on their behalf. Buses are staying on their current schedule, so returning seniors need their own transportation.
Parents, the scheduling portal for fall teacher conferences opened today at ten in the morning, and it closes on Tuesday, November 10th, at three in the afternoon. Scheduling is done directly in your Genesis Parent Portal. Once you’re logged in, look for the Conferences tab at the top of the page, then click Schedule Conferences at the bottom of the page. If you can’t get a time slot that works for you, please reach out to the teacher directly by email. Conferences will be held on Monday, November 23rd, from twelve thirty to two forty in the afternoon and again from five to eight in the evening, and on Tuesday, November 24th, from twelve thirty to two forty in the afternoon. Students have early dismissal on both conference days.
And a quick reminder. Daylight Savings Time ends this Sunday, November 1st. Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour at two in the morning.
Next, let’s look ahead to November.
The annual powderpuff football game is on Wednesday, November 4th, at six in the evening on the stadium turf field. Come support the juniors and seniors as they battle for this year’s bragging rights. Admission is five dollars, but if you wear your Powderpuff shirt, you get in free.
There will be no school on Thursday, November 5th, and Friday, November 6th, for the New Jersey Education Association Convention.
The Lawrence High School Theater Company will bring the literary classic The Great Gatsby to life on November 12th, 13th, and 14th, at seven in the evening in the auditorium. It’s not a musical, but there will be plenty of Roaring Twenties style dancing. Tickets are available through the link in the newsletter. If you see a sold out message online, tickets will still be available at the door for ten dollars.
The Lawrence Middle School and Lawrence High School Parent Teacher Organization is hosting a fall craft fair on Saturday, November 21st, from nine in the morning to three in the afternoon in the Lawrence High School cafeteria. Enjoy a fun autumn day of shopping, community, and some good food.
And mark your calendars for Thanksgiving recess. School is closed Thursday, November 26th, and Friday, November 27th, with an early dismissal on Wednesday, November 25th.
Now for some announcements.
The Parent Teacher Organization is collecting K-Cup donations for the school faculty lounges. All flavors are welcome. Please drop off donations by November 10th, or use the link in the newsletter to make a cash donation instead.
Give your leftover Halloween candy a new life. The Lawrence High School Sunshine Club is collecting unopened, individually wrapped Halloween candy to send to troops serving overseas, as a sweet reminder that they are appreciated and remembered back home. Donations may be dropped off in the Main Office through November 6th.
Students taking an approved Rowan College at Burlington County dual-enrollment course must register by October 30th. No late registrations will be accepted. Contact your school counselor with any questions, and look for a letter from Dr. Fischer and the Guidance Department linked in the newsletter.
The late bus runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays and leaves at four in the afternoon. Students must sign up in Room three nineteen by twelve forty-five each day they wish to ride.
The school is also asking families to complete a short attendance survey. Your input will help shape the school’s plan for helping every student attend regularly. And the music department’s fall newsletter is out now, packed with news, scheduling updates, and helpful links.
Did you know that Lawrence High School is one of five designated Title One schools in Lawrence Township Public Schools? Title One helps ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. Families can help by attending school functions and teacher conferences, joining parent organizations, keeping the school informed of events that might affect their child’s behavior or work, and learning about the Title One program.
Now, it’s time for some well-deserved bragging.
Congratulations to Lawrence High School Security Monitor Billy Chester, who was honored by the New Jersey School Boards Association on October 20th at its annual convention in Atlantic City. Mister Billy received the Unsung Superhero in Education Award, in recognition of his unwavering commitment to students and his extraordinary impact throughout the entire Lawrence community. He is a lifelong resident, active volunteer, and coach, and a proud Lawrence High School alumnus from the class of nineteen seventy-two. He’s on the school’s Wall of Honor, is a retired detective and Officer of the Year from the Lawrence Township Police Department, was a Black History Month Trailblazer honoree, and is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame. Congratulations, Mister Billy, and thank you for all you do for our Cardinal community.
Junior Karina Godovanyy and senior Isaiah Walker-Underwood have both qualified as nominees for the New Jersey Governor’s Award in Vocal Music, earning one of the two highest audition scores in their voice parts for the twenty twenty six to twenty twenty seven New Jersey All-State Chorus. Having two eligible students from the same school in the same year is an unprecedented and remarkably rare honor. On top of that, Lawrence High School had a record-breaking eleven students accepted into All-State Chorus, the most in school history, and five of them scored in the top ten statewide in their voice parts. Congratulations to Karina, Isaiah, Ms. Mandy St. Pierre-Johnson, and the entire music department.
In August, junior Wade Bullard started collecting new and gently used books as part of an Eagle Scout project to promote childhood literacy. In just over two months, he gathered nineteen thousand, two hundred twenty books for the nonprofit BookSmiles, which helps build classroom libraries, gives free books to children, and keeps books out of landfills. To support Wade’s mission, watch for a collection bin in the school’s front vestibule soon, or drop off books at the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville. We’re so proud of you, Wade!
Know someone who deserves a little extra recognition? Send your good news, with a picture if possible, to K Roche at L T P S dot org.
Next, let’s run through some fundraisers.
Tickets are on sale for the Lawrence Township Education Foundation’s fifteenth annual Handbag Bingo, held Friday, November 13th, at the West Trenton Volunteer Fire Company. This one is for adults twenty-one and over, with a silent auction, tricky tray raffle, door prizes, dessert, and Bingo games where the prizes are genuine designer handbags. It’s likely to sell out, so get your tickets early.
Support the class of twenty twenty seven by dining at Fedelo’s tomorrow, Wednesday, October 28th. Be sure to show the flyer when ordering. Questions can go to Mr. Verga at J Verga at L T P S dot org.
On Thursday, November 12th, visit Candela Brothers Pizza between four and eight thirty in the evening, and a portion of your purchase will go to the school’s chapter of Students Helping Honduras. You must show the flyer for the chapter to receive the benefit.
The Parent Teacher Organization’s Texas Roadhouse fundraiser runs until November 15th. Buy bread, butter, or gift cards, and a portion of the proceeds goes back to the Parent Teacher Organization.
Several fundraisers wrap up this Friday, October 30th. The Athletic Booster Club’s online fall spirit wear store is open until then, and spirit wear sales help sponsor two senior scholarships each year. To join the Booster Club, email L H S athlete booster club at gmail dot com. Also due October 30th are cash-only Terhune Orchards orders, turned in to Mr. Foster in Room one thirty-two, with pies, donuts, cookie boxes, and more, all supporting the student publications Tangents and Lawrencian.
This week, the Science and Healthcare Academy is selling five dollar Boo Grams during lunches through Thursday, October 29th, filled with Halloween stickers, temporary tattoos, and mystery bags. And the Advocates For Innocence Mini Mart is open Wednesdays after school at staff sign-in, with chips, candy, granola, ramen, drinks, and more.
Before we go, a little something just for fun. The newsletter asked readers to name their favorite scary movie era, and the top answer, at thirty-six percent, was “None, I don’t like scary movies.” Readers also had to choose between having fall leaves for hair or mini pumpkins for ears, and fall leaves won big at eighty-one percent. Here’s a spooky word of the week: yuputka, from the Ulwa language of Nicaragua, which describes the creepy feeling of something crawling on your skin, especially when walking through the woods at night. And finally, what kind of pants does a ghost hunter wear? Just a paranormal pants.
Past editions of News from the Nest are always available on the high school website and Facebook page. You can reach the school at L T P S dot org slash L H S, or call six oh nine, six seven one, five five one oh.
That’s all for this edition of Lawrence Together. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe so you never miss an update from our community. Thanks for listening, and we’ll see you next time.