Cranford High School | Special Announcements

We are pleased to announce the latest rankings by Newsweek Magazine of the Top High Schools in the country. Once again, CHS has made the list. This year, we are ranked #524, our highest ranking yet. We were the tenth ranked high school in New Jersey and second in Union County. Last year, we were ranked #568.
Our program for the disabled children in town, "Pathways for Exceptional Children" has been recognized by the Character Education Partnership in Washington, DC as one of its "Promising Practices" for the 2009-2010 school year.
Congratulations to Mr. Eaton and our theater Tech students!
At the Montclair University Theatre Night Awards, Cranford High School was presented the award for Outstanding Achievement in Set Design for our fall production of The Crucible. Congratulations to Mr. Eaton and his Technical Theater students!
Maddie Johnstone was named a finalist in the 15th Annual Wallenberg Honors Program. She was one of five finalists chosen from Union & Hudson County High Schools. She was chosen as the top honoree amongst this group, receiving a $500 award, plaques and a certificate. She was recognized with a proclamation with the 9 other honorees chosen from across the state in Trenton.
Congratulations to Students and Staff of the CHS Production of Into The Woods for the following Nominations from the 2010 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards: Honorable Mention for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical, Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Erica Morreale, Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Maeve Brady, Outstanding Scenic Achievement Doug Eaton and Julie Roffe Barkin, Outstanding Hair and Make-Up Achievement Michelle Massa, Honorable Mention for Outstanding Costuming Achievement Lynn Berry & Christine Stawnychy.
CHS juniors: Pat Cassidy, John Flynn, Eric Walano, Justin Van Ostenbridge, and Bobby Anstatt have been selected to attend Boys State at Rider University. For more information on Boys State, please see their web site: here
CHS juniors, Carrie Bilenker, Kelly Miller, Jackie Monteagudo, Kim LaFronz, Olivia Salinardo and Nicole Maturo have been selected to attend Girls State during the week of June 20th at Georgian Court University.
Girls State offers training in the processes of self government and good citizenship as practices in a democratic society.
Girls State selections must be sponsored by an American Legion Auxiliary chapter. Fortunately, the Linden chapter is sponsoring our selections.
The Cranford Youth and Government Delegation won the following awards at this year's conference in Trenton.
Carrie Bilenker was elected next year's Youth Governor.
Andrew O'Neill, Taylor Sanzone, Brendan Szefinski, and Amy Negrin all passed their bills and had them signed into law by the Youth Governor.
Billy Daly was awarded Outstanding Statesman.
Patrick Cassidy and Billy Daly were nominated as alternates to attend the Conference on National Affairs. (CONA)
Andrew O'Neill was nominated to attend the Conference on National Affairs (CONA).
The Cranford Delegation was named Outstanding Delegation.
Thank you for all of your support throughout our preparation for this year's conference.
Congratulations to Cranford High School junior, Bridget McCoy, who will receive The New Jersey Governor's Award in Arts Education. The award honors New Jersey students and educators for outstanding achievement in the Arts. Bridget received one of the best audition scores in the 2009 All-State Chorus and has consistently been ranked as one of the top singers in the state. She has also been part of All-Eastern and All-National honor choirs, as well as Region and All-State band and orchestra as a French horn player. Bridget was honored in a ceremony in Trenton.
Congratulations to the following Cranford High School students whose visual artwork has been selected for display at:
The NJ State Teen Arts Festival was at Monmouth University:
Christopher McNerney
Mike Stark
The Union County Teen Arts Showcase at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway followed by the Union County Touring Exhibit:
Jackie Labrutto
Corina Lupp
Rose Papandrea
Congratulations to Brian Buontempo, Nick Romano and Anthony Deczynski, CHS students in Mr. Rosenblum's Pre-Engineering and Robotics class. They have won a place in the finals of the Panasonic/NJIT Robotics Design Challenge, having successfully beaten some 50 schools with their prototype of a machine that sorts recyclables from the Pacific Floating Garbage Patch, design logos, written report, and an oral presentation.
The following students for they have each participated in, and won the Farleigh Dickinson University Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competition. Each student formulated a business idea and submitted it to the competition to be judged.
The winners and prizes are:
Raymond El-Khoury: Finalist (Conveyor Slayer)
Wesley Ditzel: Semi-finalist (Training Center for Civil Service Professionals)
Anthony Bevilaque: Semi-finalist (Smart-Speed)
Ryan Lopes & Daniel Espuga: Semi-finalists (Temperature Laser Sensor)
Chloe Connelly: Semi-finalist (Chillerator)
Dina Mansour: Semi-finalist (Some Kind Words)
The Cranford High School Concert Choir competed in the Festival Disney competition in Orlando, Florida. The choir sang for a distinguished panel of judges which included professors from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and Duquesne University. The choir received a superior rating, the highest possible, won "Best in Class," and received "The Bronze Award," taking first place in their division and third place among the 24 choirs in the entire competition.
Congratulations to our theater students and Mr Eaton for our 2009 Fall Production of The Crucible. The production was submitted to the Montclair University Theater Night Awards Program, and the nominations are in!
Nominations have been received for:

Outstanding Achievement in Properties Design
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
Outstanding Achievement in Set Design
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Drama
Maeve Brady as Elizabeth Proctor
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Drama
Erica Molfetto as Tituba
Outstanding Production of a Drama
Awards in these categories were announced at the Theater Night Awards Program at Montclair University.
The Academy of Performing Arts at Cranford High School presented the 2nd Annual Evening of Dance. The concert featured Academy Dance students as well as students from the CHS Dance Club performing in works by dance faculty member Emily Eger Donahue and student choreographers Katie Bradford, Brandon Rosario, Brittany McDyer and Esmerelda Fyhr. This year the Academy Dancers performed at Universal Studios in Florida, the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway and represented Cranford High School at the State Teen Arts Festival at Monmouth University. Styles range from hip-hop and modern to tap and ballet.

Congratulations to the student dancers:

Nicole Beresford
Katie Bradford
Jenna Capizzi
Katrina Countryman
Samantha Falco
Jessica Felciano
Emma Fyhr
Deanna Hehl
Alessandra LoConte
Brittany McDyer
Dominique McDyer
Brandon Rosario
Maggie Trapani
The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities awarded the 2010 Community Building Awards. Mrs. Gia Calabrese-Roberts and Mrs. Megan Earl won for the Fellowship in Inclusive Education. Ms. Calabrese, a Biology teacher and Ms. Earl, a special education teacher work together in a inclusive setting. The award consists of a grant that will provide additional materials for inclusive classroom settings. The awards ceremony will take place in Trenton.
CHS senior, Anthony Deczynski, has received the Field Ecology Award for his work with Dyrinid wasps in the 27th North Jersey Regional Science Fair this past weekend. He also received honorable mention in the environmental science category. This is all part of his work in the University program research seminar.
Junior Cathy Schwartz and Sophomore Kevin Hernandez-Rives received The Japanese Language Study Award from NJATJ (New Jersey Association of Teachers of Japanese) at a ceremony at Seton Hall University.
At the Crown Plaza Hotel in Clark, the Crane's Ford Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented its History Teacher of the Year Award to Larry Fuhro, Cranford High School teacher of social studies and Cranford Township Historian. Also present was a representative of State Assemblyman John Bramnick's office who additionally presented Fuhro with a joint Legislative Resolution (Senate & Assembly) commending him for his achievements. It was also announced that Fuhro had won the New Jersey State History Teacher of the Year contest and it will be awarded to him at the annual D.A.R. convention in Mr. Holly on April 30th. To view the website, click here.
Emily Nesi had her photograph selected for the Morris Museum's Fresh Perspectives exhibit. It is a juried high school art exhibit. Approximately 50 works are selected from over 300 pieces submitted from NJ high schools.
The New Orleans Saints became the Super Bowl Champions for the 2009-2010 Season. This gave the Saints their first ever Super Bowl win.
Congratulations to the following Music Students for being selected to perform with the following NJ Music Groups:

Region II Orchestra
MaryKate Muller - Violin
Bridget McCoy - French Horn
Kyle Gautieri - Bassoon
Region II Mixed Chorus
Maeve Brady
Emily McGurk
Erica Morreale
Avi Kopla
Kishan Shah
Matthew Stoke
Region II Women's Chorus
Erin McAuliffe
Congratulations to Kyle Gautieri and Bridget McCoy for auditioning and qualifying for a position in the 2010 New Jersey All-State Band. Kyle took 5th place overall on Bassoon, and will be placed in the Symphonic Band. Bridget took 10th place overall on French Horn, and will also be placed in the Symphonic Band.
Congratulations to senior Kelly Burke for being selected as "Scholar-Athlete of the Week" by News 12 NJ. This distinction is due to Kelly's outstanding performance on the track and field team (pole vault and triple jump) and in the classroom. Kelly was featured on News 12 on January 6th. She is now elegible to receive a $1,000 scholarship as well as being named "Scholar-Athlete of the Year".
Congratulations to Sarah Armstrong and her teacher Ms. Knego! Sarah's entry was selected to be published as the poster for Youth Art Month.
Students participated in the Blankets for Babes Program. Students made 180 blankets for children with terminal illnesses and 134 blankets for premature babies in the NICU unit.
The New York Yankees became the 2009 World Champions of Baseball. This accomplishment marks their 27th World Series title.
Congratulations to the University Program for being awarded a Promising Practice Award by the Character Education Partnership.
Congratulations to the following CHS Music Students for being accepted into the 2009 All-State Chorus and Orchestra. Students will perform at the NJEA Convention in Atlantic City, November 6 and again at NJPAC on November 15.

NJ 2009 All-State Mixed Chorus
Cara Costa
Erica Morreale
Alissa Mustillo
Kyle Aslin
Maeve Brady
Bridget McCoy - 1st Alto2 in NJ
Kishan Shah
Matthew Stoke

NJ 2009 All-State Orchestra
Kyle Gautieri - Bassoon
Congratulations to the Cranford High School Marching Band for receiving First Place in the Group II division of the USSBA Festival held at J.P. Stevens High School on Sunday, October 4, 2009. The Cranford High School Marching Band received three first place recognitions for: Best Music, Best Effects and Best in Show.