DECA STATES

DECA States 2025

-Mrs. Chiappini

3/7/2025

DECA students recently competed at the State competition in Atlantic City in various categories that required them to present business plans and role play real world business scenarios. Sparta has 11 students who have qualified to attend the DECA National conference in Orlando this year and are as follows:

Financial Team Decision Making: Rutuja Kirange & Mahanth Chintha

Project Management Sales Project: Alexia Hill & Lauren Wittkowski

Start Up Business Plan: Ava Cerrito & Ava Sehring

Gold Certification for School Based Enterprise: Tara Keller & Carly List

Thrive Leadership: Ellie Fagersten, Leah Geety, Erin Duthaler

Wish us luck and thank you for your support!

Sparta High School Presents Little Shop of Horrors March 14-16

 Sparta High School Presents Little Shop of Horrors March 14-16

Sparta, NJ – Sparta High School is excited to announce its spring musical production of the classic Little Shop of Horrors, set to run from March 14th to March 16th, 2025. This darkly comedic musical will take the audience on a thrilling ride filled with catchy tunes, quirky characters, and a bit of horror that’s perfect for a night of fun.

Directed by a talented team of faculty, this production brings to life the story of Seymour Krelborn, a down-on-his-luck florist who stumbles upon a mysterious plant that promises to change his life. However, the plant, named Audrey II, has a sinister secret, and as Seymour becomes entangled in the plant's increasingly dangerous demands, chaos ensues.

The cast includes a talented group of students, led by:

• Ronnette - Lynnessa Marrow

• Chiffon - Julianne Handzus

• Crystal - Sabrina Smith

• Audrey - Jenna Flake

• Mr. Mushnik - Jake Hamilton

• Seymour Krelborn - Caiden Loyer

• Customer - Hana Kachersky

• Interviewer/Patrick Martin - Michael Iudica

• Orin Scrivello - AJ Slee

• Audrey II - Logan Scarpa

• Mr. Bernstein - Hayden Denmead

• Mrs. Luce - Kaitlyn Kayser

• Snip - Thomas Fossett

The production will take place in the Sparta High School Auditorium and will have performances at 7:00 PM on March 14th and 15th, with a 2:00 PM matinee on March 16th.

Tickets are ONLY available for purchase online at https://cur8.com/23455/project/129039. Admission is $10 for students and $15 for adults.

Don't miss this exciting and unforgettable performance- and remember…don’t feed the plants!

*This production contains scenes that have implied violence, substance use, mild- harsh language, and a giant plant that eats people.

* The SSBC Musical Theater Booster Club will be collecting monetary donations to support DASI.

SHS Graduate Publishes Book

 Jeff Kerby- SHS Class of 2003 Explores the World

February 10, 2025

-The Oracle Staff

(https://jtkerby.com/)

Jeffrey Kerby, a 2003 Sparta High School graduate has published a book highlighting his exploration, research, and adventures. Kerby is an ecologist and geographer who specializes and focuses on the polar regions and explores the implications of climate in those regions.

After he graduated from the University of Richmond in 2007- with a dual degree in biology and Russian studies, Kerby went on to serve as research manager in the Ethiopian Highlands. After many years of hard work, research , and travel, Kerby earned his PhD in Ecology through Pennsylvania State University. His thesis topic was Phenology in a changing Arctic: Linking trophic interactions across scales.

Currently, Kerby's latest adventure has led him to the Arctic. His current role is Senior Research Associate, Scott Polar Research Institute, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, UK.

Sparta High School Library/MRC was honored to accept a signed copy of Jeffrey Kerby's beautiful book, World from Above. 

Read more about the book:

https://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-World-Above-Jeffrey/dp/1426223404

SHS SPRING MUSICAL

Don’t Feed the Plants!

February 10, 2025

The Oracle Staff

It is Spring Musical Season- and the SHS Theater is getting ready for another amazing production. This year the stage will transform into a Skid Row plant shop that houses a singing, man-eating alien plant. 

“The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names "Audrey II" - after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it, BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II's out of this world origins and intent towards global domination!” (MTI)

The show stars Caiden Loyer as Seymour, Jenna Flake as Audrey, Jake Hamilton as Mushnik, A.J. Slee as “The Dentist”, Logan Scarpa as Audrey II, and Sabrina Smith, Julianne Handzus, & Lynessa Marrow as the doo-wop urchins- in addition to many other amazingly talented students on stage, back stage and in the pit. Bella Fernandez is taking on the momentous task of Stage Manager -not only will she have to build and manage the  set- she will have a giant plant to tend to!

The curtain opens on Friday 3/14 and runs through the weekend until 3/16. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

There will be a preview performance for staff and Sparta senior citizens on 3/13 at 5 pm.

SHS is BACK on the MAT

BACK ON THE MAT

December 17, 2024

By Clara De Leon

(Photo Credit- Rocco Cortese)

Sparta Wrestling is back! Returning this season are athletes Logan Hrenenko, Liam Hassloch, and Ryan Hrenenko and their early energy shows great promise for upcoming matches this season. The Sparta High School Wrestling Team also welcomed many new athletes this season. Both Praise Ojo and Hunter Chlodnicki have decided to join the team as Seniors and hope to bring successful results. Chlodnicki’s first match was this past Thursday and he displayed incredible skills for his first year coming into the role. It will be exciting to see how he does the remainder of the season.

With this new experience Praise Ojo is now taking on, when asked why she chose to join the team, Ojo shared that she always had interest in participating in contact sports and wanted to learn something new. She was also inspired to join by returning athlete, Jeisy Castro who was able to share the struggles and successes that come with competing in a typically male dominated sport. Castro shared that there is “a lot of power” that comes with taking on the role.  Alongside the mental strength and confidence that one needs to have for the image they present themselves with. With this however, Castro also shared that the team treats each other as equals regardless of gender.

Captain Logan Hrenenko emphasized that he tells the team to give it their all, win or lose, and hopes that his teammates are dedicated and determined to take home victory in the upcoming season and clearly his words are motivating the team. Both Liam Hassloch and Ryan Hrenenko were able to share that there is nothing more motivating than being able to wrestle in an environment with support from teammates. 

SHS MODEL UN

SHS MODEL UN

by Clara De Leon 

The Sparta High School Model United Nations Club has been preparing for their annual trip to Washington, DC for the North American Invitational and is asking for support from the community.

With the upcoming trip taking place February 13 to 16, the club is asking for help with finances needed for buses, tours, and other upcoming fees. Any money donated will go to the students participating in the club alongside furthering their education and hopefully gaining successes. In just this past year, 2024 Sparta High School Graduate, Juliette Sanchez was able to win the Best Delegate award. This award recognizes students who participated in the conference and were able to demonstrate superior performance, preparation, and knowledge. As the students attend conferences simulating the United Nations in the Capital of the US, they will be able to expand previous knowledge on diplomacy and international relations and with luck, bring home more awards for Sparta High School. Students will be able to make new friends and learn about the social aspect of politics that affect many of the decisions that have come to form today’s political world. This year however, the trip is looking to be around 400 dollars for each student due to the number of students able to attend. WIth this, both fundraising and sponsors play a role in hopefully lowering the price for the students. Thankfully though, this year, students participating in the club have been able to come up with exciting fundraising ideas. They are looking forward to a Hot Cocoa and Popcorn stand on December 13 during lunch for students interested in donating. The prices for Hot cocoa or Popcorn are looking to be no more than five dollars with 2 for 1 deals set to take place the day of. Nevertheless, if any parents are interested in helping out, Model UN is also in need of Sponsors for the trip. Anybody willing to donate money, can contact shannon.psensky@sparta.org. Having said that, if anybody is interested in contacting sponsors, that is also incredibly helpful and the process is fairly simple. Any businesses, stores, etc. can be contacted asking if they would be interested in sponsoring Sparta High School’s Model United Nations. They can donate any money they are willing to share and will in exchange be considered sponsors for the rest of the trip. This will give them plenty of publicity and a great deal of appreciation from the students whose trips are now more affordable thanks to said help. If there are any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact jakkas1@students.sparta.org ,  chintham@students.sparta.org, or shannon.psensky@sparta.org for more information regarding the fundraising and financial costs of the trip.

SHS ART IN MONTCLAIR

 SHS Art Department visits Montclair Art Museum

by Julia Miller

Photo Credits: Christine O’Brien Mase

On Thursday, November 21, the Sparta High School art department visited the Montclair Art Museum. The experience included a guided tour through the museum and a figure drawing class. Students in AP Drawing and Painting, AP Sculpture, and Advanced Drawing visited the museum. Art teachers Mrs. Mase, Mr. Davis, and Mrs. Cstalos guided the students through the trip. It was an exciting experience for students to see a variety of artwork. Different sculptures and paintings were throughout the museum, and many different mediums were used. Mrs. Mase said, “The figure drawing class was to give a taste of how an actual class runs on a more advanced level, understanding the need for observational drawing” and “Touring the museum was to see that what they are learning is applied in museums and to find inspiration from the artists displayed.” 

A section of the museum was dedicated to art pieces from New Jersey, which was inspiring for students to see. The art department was excited to give students the opportunity to visit the art museum; Mrs. Mase recognized this by saying, “Many of our students have never been to an art museum or a drawing class outside of their education. I hope it fosters a continuation and love for visual art.” This was a great experience for students and staff to broaden their perspective on art.