Morris Catholic High School  

It all started with the selection of seven students from the Junior Class who were willing to learn more about the world of business. It would be their best chance to experience, hands on, the inner workings of a real business.

Through Understanding American Business, an organization developed for and committed to the enrichment of young people, a carefully selected group of juniors from throughout Morris County competed for a slot in this four day work experience. Their teacher would come from Corporate America with years of invaluable information among them.   

For Colleen Costello, Jessica Kitzmiller, Mathew La Fiura, Marissa Mellan, Melissa Nassaney,  Patrick Wilson and Robby Hall, a once in a life time experience was about to unfold.  The students would be exposed to marketing, finance, accounting, advertising and the concept of team work. Working as teams, the students were merged with the students selected from other high schools in the county. They were then assigned business plans they had to expand upon. The students sat through classroom lectures on relevant topics and they were given business associates to model.

When all was said and done, Jessica Kitzmiller was part of the group that won first prize for their business plan presentation. Congratulations to all the students who participated from MC. They are all winners!  

ACT

On Wednesday, 10/14 the freshmen took the EXPLORE Test (preliminary ACT test). “The EXPLORE^® program is designed to help 8th and 9th graders explore a broad range of options for their future. EXPLORE prepares students not only for their high school coursework, but for their post–high school choices as well. It marks an important beginning for a student's future academic and career success. There are 4 academic achievements tests included in the EXPLORE Test (English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science) that will take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete. The UNIACT Interest Inventory (72 items) will be given out another day, which will help students explore personally relevant career options.  The ACT Test is becoming more acceptable as a college entrance test, and the guidance department feels that the EXPLORE Program is very beneficial for the freshman class.

PSAT

The sophomores and juniors took the PSAT on Wednesday, 10/14. The students’ critical reading, writing, and mathematical skills were assessed. When the scores come in, the sophomores will have a personal ID number for collegeboard.com. Ms. Koczon will be meeting with them in small groups later in the year to make personalized accounts on College Board. Through this account students will explore colleges, majors, careers, test scores, and SAT preparations.

Study Skills

Losing schedules, finding classes, making friends, and adjusting to a new school are all the “joys” of being a freshman. One area that students need to master is how to study and how to excel in their academics.  Ms. Koczon has begun working with the freshmen on study skills during their World History classes. The students have the opportunity to learn how to be successful students and how to study effectively. Topics such as different learning styles, time management, active listening, note-taking, reading, comprehension, memorization, test preparation, stress/anxiety, how to do research, etc. will be discussed. The students will benefit from the study skills lessons and should apply them to all of their disciplines. Ms. Koczon looks forward to having a very productive and fun-filled year with her students.