DHS Weekly Update - 3/27/26

Posted Date: 03/27/26 (02:30 PM)

DHS Weekly Update

3/27/2026

Hello Destroyers

It’s Spring Break! All Dunellen schools will be closed from March 28th - April 5th.

Happy Retirement to Mr. DeNapoli, Dunellen Coordinator of Athletic Activities for over 20 years. His impact upon the community is immeasurable and we know we will still see him around Columbia Park, cheering on all of the Destroyer teams!

School News and Updates

Congratulations to Jayden Caraballo and Eliany Gil for being recognized by the Middlesex County School Boards Association as “Unsung Heroes” for 2026, a fantastic honor for 2 amazing students.

Dunellen High School held an unveiling ceremony this week of our new art mural promoting driving safety. Working with the Nikhil Badlani Foundation, our students have created a beautiful piece of art promoting safety around the town of Dunellen and the work of our Youth Advisory Board. Thank you to Seniors Autumn Humbert-Williams, Angie Lockhart, and Jackson Portik for presenting about the group's activities and their goals for the future. The mural is located on the 2nd floor, by the DHS Gymnasium.

DHS held our spring Voter Registration Drive. All 11th and 12th graders that are eligible to vote were given the opportunity to register to vote in the primary and general election for this year. We were able to register 14 new voters for the town of Dunellen.

Class of 2026: DHS has a Senior Practicum program, open to 12th grade students for the last 4 weeks of the school year, where they have a chance to do an internship at a local business or organization that may help them learn more about a potential career. Instead of attending school each day, the students work under the supervision of the adults at their site for 5 hours per day. Any interested 12th grader should speak to Ms. Piano for more information.

Upcoming Events

Class of 2028: DHS has been invited by the University of Michigan to participate in a nationwide survey of 10th graders, entitled Monitoring the Future: a continuing study of American youth. The survey will be administered on Tuesday, April 7 in school during the students PE/Health classes.

The 10th graders will be asked to complete a 40-minute survey, which asks about school experiences, attitudes toward school and education, plans for the future, use of and attitudes about using alcohol and drugs, work experiences and preferences, and health and leisure activities.

If you do not want your child to participate in this study, please notify our Student Assistance Counselor, Mrs. Leibowitz (Leibowitzl@dunellenschools.org)

The Dunellen PTO Tricky Tray is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026. The Tricky Tray Committee is currently looking for donations to help make our Tricky Tray a successful event. The more donations received, the more prizes we can have at our Tricky Tray, the more money the PTO can raise. And all money raised goes back to our students, our teachers, and our schools. Attached is a flyer with more information regarding donations. Any help our families can offer is greatly appreciated and helps us do as much as we can for our kids. Thank you!

Registration is also open for our Tricky Tray. It will take place in the John P. Faber Elementary School Gymnasium. Registration closes on Saturday, April 25, 2026 @ 5pm (or when we have reached capacity).

Here is the link to register and purchase tickets and ticket packages:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeB6YMkmtaXllRpdule8ImVurv8AxrVr6ZAg9r7Ssqrn326_w/viewform?usp=dialog

Please read the Google Form carefully as there is a lot of information about our Tricky Tray on the main page of the form.

We can't wait to see you on May 2nd for our Tricky Tray!

Any questions, please contact Nicole Moore at nicole_moore123@yahoo.com.

Important Reminders

Class of 2027, 2028, & 2029: Students in Grades 11, 10, and 9 have started to meet with their Counselors to select courses for the 2026-27 school year. Discussions should be had to determine what classes students would like to take next year, making sure they have the required courses needed to graduate.

The DHS Homework Help Center runs from 2:45 - 3:45 pm every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the DHS Tech Center. Students can come to get extra help from teachers with their school work or just sit and have a quiet place to get things done. We encourage students to attend so that they have fewer or no assignments to do when they get home.

Class of 2026 - FAFSA reminder

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is now OPEN. Please use the link for more information on completing the FAFSA. It is now a Graduation requirement for all NJ high school students to complete the FAFSA during their 12th grade year.

https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/electronic-announcements/2024-10-30/resources-assist-preparation-2025-26-fafsa-cycle

Academic Corner: From the vacationing desk of Ms. Powell

Students in Mrs. McCarthy’s Environmental Science classes recently took part in a hands-on Owl Pellet Lab. During the lab, students carefully dissected owl pellets to uncover and identify tiny bones from the owl’s prey. Using strong observational and analytical skills, they then worked to reconstruct the skeletal remains, gaining a deeper understanding of food chains, predator-prey relationships, and ecosystem dynamics. This engaging activity brought science to life and gave students a real-world look at how scientists study animal diets and environmental interactions.

Mr. DeLucca’s US History II classes are diving into the events of World War II, with a particular focus on D-Day and its lasting impact. Beyond the major events, students are exploring powerful, lesser-known stories such as the “Bedford Boys,” a group of soldiers from a small Virginia town who experienced significant loss during the Normandy invasion. Through these personal narratives, students are developing a deeper understanding of the human side of history—recognizing the bravery, sacrifice, and community impact behind one of the most pivotal moments in modern history.

Contact info

411 First St

Dunellen, NJ 08812

Phone: 732-400-5900

Follow us on Instagram: @dunellenhs

Follow the DHS Counseling dept. on Instagram: @dhscounselingdept

Follow us on X (Twitter): @DunellenHS