Halsted Middle School Clubs and Groups

Yearbook

Advisor: Mrs. Bottoni
Phone: (973) 383-7440 ext. 2208

The yearbook committee is open to all interested eighth grade students. Work will begin on this year's edition beginning early in January. The yearbook is always looking for pictures from school events. If you would like to share any pictures please email me at kbottoni@newtonnj.org

Honor Society

Advisor: Mrs. Perrier

The National Association of Secondary School Principals governs the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). The NJHS is open to all eligible seventh and eighth grade students who have met five criteria: scholarship, character, leadership, service and citizenship. The basic scholarship requirement is at least a cumulative average of a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale). Academically eligible candidates will then be evaluated on the basis of character and classroom citizenship. A 4.0 (on a 5.0 scale) in character and classroom citizenship is needed to obtain an application to apply to NJHS as determined by the Halsted faculty. An application will be given to those students who have met the scholarship and character criteria. Leadership, citizenship, as well as scholarship awards received will be evaluated using the application that the students complete. In addition, an essay component will be included in the application. This essay will be completed at a designated date after school hours. Emphasis is placed on candidates who possess qualities that are strong in all criteria.

The Faculty Council reviews all candidates in an anonymous manner. Selection into NJHS is made by a majority vote of the Faculty council consisting of five persons from different grade levels and from the special subjects.

Each year the National Junior Honor Society completes one or more community service projects in which all the members of the society are involved. This project could be oriented toward improving student leadership, educating them as citizens, working with, and learning about senior citizens, providing some learning about other cultures, or performing some school service. This approach emphasizes the need for cooperative effort in service to the community while providing an opportunity for individuals to discover and develop their own unique contributions.

Halsted Players

History

The Halsted Players began putting on productions in the 1970's under the direction of Phil Perestam and Pam Juvrud/Pinnegar. For many years murder mysteries were performed by the students of Halsted. There are few records of these earlier plays but the first one was "Any Number Can Die" some of the other productions were "A Tomb with a View" and an earlier production of Hurricane Smith. In the late 1980's "The Pirates of Penzance" was also performed.

In the 1990's some staff wanted to put on a production so the all staff production of "Bone Chiller" was put on the stage of Halsted in the winter of 1993. After that production it was decided to try a larger musical with both staff and students working together on an equal status. Under the direction of Phil Perestam (and Donna Corso for musicals), these intergenerational activities have been well-supported by the community. In fact, since the winter of 1996 we have had an anonymous benefactor who sends several hundred dollars anonymously, in cash, toward our productions. Below is a listing of the productions for which we have records

The Sping 2002 production of Fiddler on the Roof was the last school play that Phil Perestam directed. He retired from teaching in June 2002. Jean Perrier and Kathy Swaneveld carried on as directors from 2002 through 2009. Melissa Flores and Meg Penny took over as directors during the 2009-10 school year. In 2012 Jocelyn Keppler joined Meg Penny and they continue to keep the Halsted Players in production.

After a 2 year hiatus due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, incoming Choir Director Alexander Miller took over the helm of Halsted Players Artistic Director with Jocelyn Keppler remaining in her position to mount a production of High School Musical Jr. in 2022.

With new management in 2023, under the direction of Alexander Miller and incoming Assistant Director Laura Evans, the Halsted Players will continue to bring community engagement and quality entertainment to the Newton Public School community for the foreseeable future.

Recent Productions

2006-2007
Spring - Peter Pan (Student & staff)

2007-2008
Spring - Annie

2008-2009
Cinderella (Rogers and Hammerstein) - (Student with some staff in chorus)

2009-2010 - Thoroughly Modern Millie

2010-2011 - The Sound of Music

2011-2012 - Once Upon a Mattress

2012-2013 - The Pirates of Penzance

2013-2014 - Beauty and the Beast

2014-2015 - Honk Jr.

2015-2016 - The Big Bad Musical

2016-2017 - The Music Man Jr.

2017-2018 - Peter Pan Jr.

2018-2019 - Annie Jr.

2019-2020 - Frozen Jr. (unable to perform due to Covid 19)

2020-2021 -

2021-2021 - High School Musical Jr.

Cast Information

After School Programs

Art Club - TBD

HALSTED MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL

Advisor: Mrs. Nieman

The Halsted Student Council is a student run organization facilitated by the advisors. It involves planning and coordinating events and fundraisers for Halsted Middle School and the community. Students in grades five through eight may become involved at the beginning of each school year.