Don't Fret: SATs and College

One of the most important and highly feared tests of your high school career: the SAT. Formerly an abbreviation for Scholastic Aptitude/Assessment Test, the SAT serves to assess the college-readiness of a student by evaluating his or her: 1) skills in Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing in the Reasoning Test, or 2) knowledge in other subject areas in the Subject Tests (SAT II). As a senior, I would recommend that you begin studying even as early as the summer before junior year. Even though this might seem a dull way to spend summer, studying ahead of time can reduce your workload by the time you apply to college, and you’ll have more free time when it’s over! 

Even though it does play an important role in college admissions, especially in highly selective schools, the SAT is not something that you should painfully stress over, because it’s not the only factor involved in your college application. Don’t forget that extracurricular activities are extremely important as well, especially if your roles highlight your skills in leadership and other areas.

All in all, don’t stress out too much; if you plan your time and effort appropriately, your SAT results and college applications will turn out just fine.

By Vikram Chandrashekhar

Rant or Rave: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Kunal’s movie review of Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes 

Rise of the Planet of the Apes, an amusing and cutting edge film set in present-day San Francisco, centers around how a man's personal experiments with genetic engineering led to the development of super-intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy. Now the story line may seem corny and futuristic at first, but the setting’s time period is the same as our own. Almost everything that occurs in the film seems realistic; most people tend to spit at an overly dramatic, non-realistic film. If it was possible to alter a human’s brain function to divert the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, as a researcher in the film successfully accomplished, then the scientific rationale of this film wouldn’t be so “kablooby,” especially if that researcher can alter the potential brain function of an ape to that of an intelligent human’s capability.

 

Overall, I must say the film is an intense sci-fi, action thriller and draws the attention of the viewer from the beginning. However, the ending, in my opinion, is quite weak. Nobody died, besides the thousands of cops trying to contain the situation. Oops, did I give something away? 

Watch the trailer, Watch the film!

No animals were harmed in the making of this film.

By Kunal Manocha

New Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Policy in New Jersey

On September 1, 2011, district boards of education were required to transmit copies of the new Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) policy to appropriate executive county superintendents (ECS) state-wide. After Gov. Chris Christie signed into law P.L.2010, Chapter 122, known as the Anti-bullying Bill of Rights, on January 5, 2011, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) assisted districts by amending its model HIB policy to be applicable to grades kindergarten through twelve. As per requirement, school district officials were to:

1. Clearly inform their students of the policy and preferred behaviors

2. Ensure that staff members were "trained in skills and strategies for developing student self-discipline and to apply best practices for positive behavioral interventions".

While meant to serve as a means for school faculty to intervene in bullying issues, the law is also intended to serve as an effective prevention tool. As NJDOE states, "for students to demonstrate preferred behaviors, it is important that they have a clear understanding of the school district's expectation under the policy, the reasons for and benefits of the policy, the consequences for violations of the policy, as well as have opportunities to learn preferred behaviors, both before and after the advent of conduct problems" (4).

For more information, read the Model Policy and Guidance for Prohibiting Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying on School Property, at School-Sponsored Functions and On School Buses.

This year, Biotechnology High School introduces Mr. Vincent Sasso (Guidance Counselor) and Mr. Tony Schaible (Assistant Superintendent) as our Antibullying Building Specialist and our Antibullying District Coordinator, respectively. Together, they seek to provide moral support and protection for their students. 

By Stacey Damito

Alimera Sciences in the stock market

With the economy on a downfall, the stock market has had its share of sharp declines and inclines. BioBusiness markets have had their share of falls too.

Among the biobusinesses in the market is the Alimera Sciences, Inc. It is a biopharmaceutical company that researches, develops, and commercializes prescription medications for the eye, specifically for the retina, which is the back part of the eye that contains cones to aid in sight.

Alimera Sciences’s stocks have fallen among the chaos in the stock market. During the past year, the highest stock price was $12.70. However, during the past few months, the price has continued to drop steadily until it hit a low of $6.40. The price rose once more but again steadily dropped from $9.00 on July 21, 2011 to $6.64 on August 10, 2011. The price continues to fluctuate but it seems to have much more difficulty increasing than decreasing drastically in the way it does. As of August 24, the stock price has gone back up to $7.90 and has been lingering in that range ever since.

America’s double recession has been impacting a whole variety of companies. Whether Alimera’s survival depends on its stocks can only be determined over time.

Retrieved from Alimera Sciences, Sept 2011: http://investor.alimerasciences.com/stockquote.cfm

By NaYoung Yang

The New Guidance Counselor Makes Landfall at Biotech

Mr. Vincent Sasso Joins the Biotech Staff

Starting this fall, Mr. Vincent Sasso will be replacing Ms. Ciccarone as the counselor for students of last names K – Z here at Biotech.  Hailing from Bordentown, NJ, Mr. Sasso received his Bachelor’s in psychology from Rider University and his Master’s in school counseling.  Interestingly, his drive to become a counselor stems from his less than great high school experiences with his own counselors. In addition, Mr. Sasso will be the school’s bully counselor under the new Harrassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) policy.  As the HIB counselor he wants to make sure that everyone feels comfortable going to him for help and wants everyone to feel safe coming to school. He is determined to help students in every way possible and qualm any of their fears.   

Before coming to Biotech, Mr. Sasso worked at South Brunswick High School as a special education assistant and interned in counseling during his time there.  He is excited to be teaching Leadership, Exercise and Personal Growth (LEAP) as his first real class, advising Key Club, and learning everyone’s names. In all honesty, he thinks that his biggest challenge will be learning what all of Biotech’s different classes are.  

Outside of Biotech, Mr. Sasso is quite busy at home with his new wife and two dogs, namely a golden retriever named Mylesm and a mini-poodle named Tucker.  In high school Mr. Sasso played all kinds of sports, and he still enjoys playing many sports recreationally.  These include football, basketball, and golf.  He enjoys playing the guitar, practicing martial arts, and reading Dean Koonz.  His favorite book is Watchers by Dean Koonz and his favorite movie is the original Karate Kid.  

A most sincere welcome, Mr. Sasso!

By Julia Dreifus and Alexa Avitto