East Brunswick High School

"For other schools named Brunswick High School see Brunswick High School (disambiguation)."Infobox School
name = East Brunswick High School
native_name =

motto = "Justi, Fideles, Elati"
established = 1958
location = 380 Cranbury Road
city = East Brunswick
state = NJ
zipcode = 08816
country = USA
campus =
type = Public high school
principal = Robert T. Murphy
asst principal = Leslie J. Szukics (10th)
Joseph J. Csatari (11th)
Trudy A. Atkins (12th)
enrollment = 2,298 (as of 2005-06)
faculty = 163.3 (on FTE basis)
ratio = 14.1
grades = 10-12
address =
district = East Brunswick Public Schools
oversight =
accreditation = Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
mascot = "Grizzly" the Bear
colors = Green and White
newspaper = "The Clarion"
yearbook = "Emerald"
free_label_1 = Average SAT Scores (2006-07)
free_1 = 581 Math
537 Verbal
544 Essay [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc07/dataselect.php?c=23;d=1170;s=050;lt=CD;st=CD&datasection=all East Brunswick High School 2006-07 School Report Card] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 4, 2008.]
free_label_2 = National Merit Scholars (2005)
free_2 = 12 Finalists, 34 Commended
free_label_3 = Athletics
free_3 = 25 Teams
information = 732-613-6904
website = [http://www.hs.ebruns.k12.nj.us/ School website]
footnotes =
picture =

East Brunswick High School is a comprehensive public high school in East Brunswick Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It is part of East Brunswick Public Schools. The school has been recognized by the Blue Ribbon Schools Program. It consists of grades 10 through 12 and has received accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The school motto is "Justi, Fideles, Elati." (Justice, Faith and Joy.)

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,298 students and 163.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 14.1. [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3404110&ID=340411003294 East Brunswick High School] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed November 13, 2007.]

History

East Brunswick High School opened for the 1958-59 school year. Previously, students living in the Township attended South River High School in neighboring South River. In that first year, the school housed grades six through nine. When the first class graduated in June 1962, the school housed grades eight through twelve. The next year, it became a nine-through-twelve school. Because the school exceeded its intended capacity of 1,700 students, freshmen were dropped into the town's two junior high schools in 1967. Enrollment reached a peak of about 2,600 in 1973 before dropping. By 1990, the school had less than 2,000 students, falling to around 1,700 by 1997. At that point, the enrollment began rising again, to its present total.

Additions to the school were built in 1965, 1971 and 2001, in efforts to ease overcrowding. The 2001 expansion included a second level of classrooms, over the administrative offices; a corridor connecting three "buildings" that had previously been connected only by a covered outdoor walkway; and expanded facilities for the cafeteria, library, arts and athletic departments. Currently, a large portion of the building does not have air conditioning and are supplied with fans instead. In the winter, the heating system in several rooms do not function well. As a result, it may get hot in the summer and cold in the winter.

chool day

The school day at East Brunswick High School begins at exactly 7:26 AM and ends at 2:12 PM. It operates its daily bell schedule on a 12 period system. Periods 1, 3, 4, and 12 are 42 minutes long. The 47-minute long Period 2 is homeroom, when attendance is taken and daily announcements are broadcasted. Lunch periods are 5, 7, 9, and 11. These periods are 25 minutes long. Periods 6, 8, and 10 are 17 minutes long and are lunch preparation periods for cafeteria staff. Classes that are in session during these periods are still 42 minutes long. For example, a student with period seven lunch would have classes periods five and six, then go to lunch period seven, head to another class periods eight and nine, and finally class periods ten and eleven. All students get eight blocks to take classes and yet have room for a quite short lunch.

Following events having to do with school security, principal Robert Murphy instituted an ID system in which the students must possess their IDs at all times. Starting 2008, the Student Committee issued required lanyards for all students to wear in addition to the ID.

Academic excellence

East Brunswick High School was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive, during the 1990-91 school year. [ [http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF)] , United States Department of Education. Accessed May 11, 2006.]

In "Newsweek's" May 22, 2007 issue, ranking the country's top high schools, East Brunswick High School was listed in 997th place, the 30th-highest ranked school in New Jersey. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18757087/?sort=State&count=1257&search=&start=700&limit=100&year=2007& "The Top of the Class: The complete list of the 1,200 top U.S. schools"] , "Newsweek", May 22, 2007. Accessed May 24, 2007.] The school was ranked 886th in "Newsweek's" May 8, 2006, issue, listing the "Top 1,200 High Schools in The United States". [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12532678/site/newsweek/?s=800&np=12&sort=raa Top 1,200 High Schools in The United States] , "Newsweek" May 8, 2006.]

For the 1996-97 school year, East Brunswick High School was named a "Star School" by the New Jersey Department of Education, the highest honor that a New Jersey school can achieve. [ [http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/education/ss/ss3.pl?string=id=036&maxhits=10000 New Jersey Department of Education Star School Award recipient detail 1996-97 school year, East Brunswick High School] , accessed May 26, 2006.]

In the April 1996 issue, the high school was cited as best in the state by "Redbook Magazine". [http://www.hs.ebruns.k12.nj.us/ A Message from the Principal] , accessed January 13, 2007.]

During the 2001-02 school year, East Brunswick High School's Intergenerational Program was honored by the Best Practices Program in the state of New Jersey. [ [http://www.nj.gov/cgi-bin/education/oipp/bp3.pl?string=recid=0307&maxhits=10000 Intergenerational Studies: Linking Senior Citizens and High School Students] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed January 13, 2007.]

The school was the 76th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 314 schools statewide, in "New Jersey Monthly" magazine's September 2008 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools". The school was ranked 60th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state. [ [http://njmonthly.com/articles/towns_and_schools/highschoolrankings/top-new-jersey-high-schools-by-rank.html "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank"] , "New Jersey Monthly", September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.]

Curriculum

In addition to regular, honors, and Advanced Placement classes, the curriculum also includes numerous electives in Humanities, Business, Visual Arts, Music, Drama, Family and Consumer Science, and Technology Education. Two Cooperative Education programs are available, as well as a shared time program at the East Brunswick campus of the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical High School. Students are encouraged to elect courses outside their major interests. Students may receive credit for private music lessons.

Extracurricular activities

East Brunswick High School offers a full range of clubs and events. Clubs include Model United Nations, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Key Club, Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Math Team, Programming Team, Fencing Club, Women's Club, "Clarion" (The School Newspaper), "Emerald" (The Yearbook), Drama Club, Jazz Ensemble, [http://www.ebmarchingband.org Marching Band] , African American Club, Asian American Club, Spanish Club, French Club, German Club, Amnesty International Club, and various honor societies. East Brunswick High School is also one of the growing number of schools in the country that has various religious clubs such as According to Jesus (A2J, formerly known as Bible Club), Islamic Club, Coptic Orthodox Club, and the Jewish Student Union. [ [http://www.hs.ebruns.k12.nj.us/hs/orgs.html East Brunswick High School: Clubs and Organizations] , accessed July 6, 2006.] East Brunswick High school also has a well-received Drama Club. This year they put on the production of The Pirates of Penzance.

Pay2Play

In the 2006-2007 school year, a Pay2Play policy was implemented for all extracurricular activities. This was due to the situation of the school budget. The cost to participate in a club is $15. For an athletic activity, or an activity needing regular school transportation, the cost is $50. This program has continued into the 2007-2008 school year. [ [http://sportsdonerightmaine.org/newsdetail.jsp?contentType=SportsDoneRight&newsid=123 Maine Center for Sport and Coaching] , accessed October 9, 2007.] However, some clubs have returned to being free. This is likely to continue as long as the annual school budget continues to pass.

Athletics

The boys volleyball team won the NJSIAA South state sectional championship with a 25-19, 31-29 victory against Southern Regional High School. [ [http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=221882&tclass=South 2007 Boys Volleyball - South] , NJSIAA. Accessed June 12, 2007.] The team moved on to win the 2007 State Championship, defeating St. Peter's Preparatory School, 25-21, 25-22. [ [http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=221882&tclass=State%20Final 2007 Boys Volleyball - State Final] , NJSIAA. Accessed June 12, 2007.]

The East Brunswick Girls Soccer team has been one of the most successful programs in New Jersey. The Bears have won 26 of 29 County/Conference tournament championships, including 21 consecutive championships from 1980-2000. East Brunswick has won the last five Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Championships, including a 2-1 final victory over Old Bridge in 2007. East Brunswick finished the 2007 season with a 19-2-1 record.

The Lady Bears Bowling Team won the title of Group IV Champions in their 2007-2008, after bowling a 1077 in their last game.

Football coach prayer controversy

On October 7, 2005, shortly after being informed by Superintendent of Schools Jo Ann Magistro that he would not be permitted to join his football team in prayer as he had done in the past and that some parents had complained about the prayers, East Brunswick High School coach Marcus Borden resigned from his position. Borden, also a tenured Spanish teacher,cite news|last=McKenzie|first=Doug|title=EBHS coach's resignation sparks nationwide debate|url=http://ebs.gmnews.com/news/2005/1013/Front_Page/002.html|work=East Brunswick Sentinel|date=2005-10-13|accessdate=2008-08-03 had by then had a distinguished 23-year career with East Brunswick Public Schools. District spokeswoman Trish LaDuca told the East Brunswick newspaper "Home News Tribune" that " [a] representative of the school district cannot constitutionally initiate prayer, encourage it or lead it."cite news|title=Coach resigns after high school bans pregame prayer|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=2188313|work=ESPN.com|publisher=Associated Press|date=2005-10-11|accessdate=2008-08-03 The East Brunswick football team lost its game in a shutout on the day Borden resigned. Following Borden's resignation, nearly 100 players, parents, and coaches arrived at his house on a rainy day pleading for his return. Borden agreed and received "pro bono" legal representation the next week.cite news|last=Grossfeld|first=Stan|title=An issue of fair pray|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/schools/football/articles/2006/11/07/an_issue_of_fair_pray/|work=The Boston Globe|date=2006-11-07|accessdate=2008-08-03 He filed a lawsuit against the district on November 23 that year alleging that it was violating his constitutional rights; lawyer Ronald Riccio represented Borden. [cite news|last=Schmidt|first=Michael S.|title=Coach Sues Over Right to Pray With Team|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/23/sports/23prayer.html|work=The New York Times|date=2005-11-23|accessdate=2008-08-03

Judge Dennis M. Cavanaugh of the United States District Court for New Jersey ruled on July 26, 2006 that Borden could bow his head and bend his knee when the team captains (i.e., students) lead the players in prayer. [cite news|last=Finley|first=Bill|title=Coach Is Allowed to Pray With Team|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/27/sports/27preps.html|work=The New York Times|date=2006-07-27|accessdate=2008-08-03] However, this decision was overturned on April 15, 2008 by a unanimous decision in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, in which Judge D. Michael Fisher concluded that "a reasonable observer would conclude that he is continuing to endorse religion when he bows his head during the pre-meal grace and takes a knee with his team in the locker room while they pray." [cite news|last=Kelley|first=Tina|title=Coach in New Jersey Cannot Pray With Players |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/sports/16prayer.html|work=The New York Times|date=2008-04-16|accessdate=2008-08-03]

Grades and Parent Connect

The school district currently has all its staff input their students' grades into a computer program called InteGrade Pro. Students' grades in classes are calculated using this program. At the end of a quarter, the grades are exported by teachers to administration, where they are formally presented to the parents/guardians of students through a formal report card.

Grade Point Average Calculations are weighted three different ways: Standard scale, Honors Scale, and AP scale.

Standard GPA Scale [http://www.hs.ebruns.k12.nj.us/hs/sthndbk/index.html EBHS Student Handbook 2007-2008] . Accessed October 9, 2007. ] The Honors Scale transposes GPA values to their respective letter grades by a factor of 1.15, while the AP scale transposes by a factor of 1.25.

At any point during the school year, class assignment scores and averages are viewable from home through an internet gateway known as Parent Connect. Each student has his/her designated username and password for this utility. As teachers enter grades from assignments into InteGrade Pro in school, students may view them from home.

AT mean scores and National Merit semifinalists

50th Anniversary

In the 2008-2009 school year, EBHS will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. In celebration, the name "Grizzly" was selected for its mascot, the Bear. The school stadium, Jay Doyle Field, has been renovated with artificial turf, a new track, and other minor enhancements.

Administration

Core members of the school's administration are: [ [http://www.hs.ebruns.k12.nj.us/hs/staff.html Staff 2007-2008] , East Brunswick High School. Accessed August 20, 2008.]
*Robert T. Murphy, Principal
*Trudy A. Atkins, Assistant Principal (grade 12)
*Joseph J. Csatari, Assistant Principal (grade 11)
*Leslie J. Szukics, Assistant Principal (grade 10)

Notable alumni

*Mina-Jacqueline Au (born 1980), author and acclaimed luxury lifestyle connoisseur.Fact|date=April 2008
*Dedrick Dodge (born 1965), safety for eight NFL seasons, from 1991-1998. [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DODGEDED01 Dedrick Dodge] , database Football. Accessed December 8, 2007.]
*Jesse Eisenberg (born 1983), actor, whose films include "The Squid and the Whale". [Ross, Mary Anne. [http://suburban.gmnews.com/news/2006/1214/Front_page/054.html "‘Same sweet kid,’ but now he’s a movie star: Jesse Eisenberg, 23, tells local audience about his roles in major films"] , "Old Bridge Suburban", December 14, 2006. Accessed December 9, 2007. "Growing up in East Brunswick, Eisenberg attended the Frost and Hammarskjold schools and Churchill Junior High School. He went to East Brunswick High School for one year before switching to a performing arts school in New York."]
*Josh Miller (born 1970), punter for the Tennessee Titans. [ [http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=28188 Josh Miller player profile] , New England Patriots, accessed April 7, 2007. "Lettered in football, basketball and track at East Brunswick High School in East Brunswick, N.J."]
*Heather O'Reilly (born 1985), soccer player. [ [http://www.usoc.org/26_13786.htm Heather O"Reilly profile] , United States Olympic Committee, accessed April 7, 2007. "Three-time All-American at East Brunswick (N.J.) H.S. and National Player of the Year as a senior"]
*Cenk Uygur (born 1970), Radio Talk Show Host, The Young Turks (talk show), Air America Radio and columnist for The Huffington Post.Fact|date=April 2008
*Cary Woodworth (born 1977), actor.Fact|date=November 2007
*Aaron Yoo (born 1979), actor. Appeared in the films "Disturbia" and "21 (2008 film)". [ [http://www.flixster.com/actor/aaron-yoo Aaron Yoo profile] , Flixster. Accessed April 1, [2008] .]
*Matt Pinfield, Music personality and TV host.

See also

*List of high schools in New Jersey

References

External links

* [http://www.hs.ebruns.k12.nj.us/ East Brunswick High School Website]
* [http://www.ebmarchingband.org East Brunswick Marching Band Website]
*NJReportCard|23|1170|050|East Brunswick High School
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3404110 Data for the East Brunswick Public Schools] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.ebnet.org East Brunswick District Website]
* [http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051012/NEWS/510120432/1001 Home News Tribune article on EBHS and school prayer]
* [http://www.hs.ebruns.k12.nj.us/hs/sthndbk/index.html EBHS Student Handbook 2007-2008]
* [http://falcon.ebnet.org Parent Connect]