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Nicolas Lavrador

QuestBridge

Gabriel Margaca, our presumptive valedictorian of the Class of 2019 has just been matched by the QuestBridge Foundation to attend Dartmouth College, an Ivy League School, on a full scholarship.  The QuestBridge National College Match is a college and scholarship application process that helps outstanding low-income high school seniors gain admission and full four-year scholarships to the nation’s most selective colleges.  His academic excellence includes all Honors and AP classes with a Cumulative GPA of over 4.5.  In fact, this year, Gabriel took advantage of our IB program and took an IB class as well.   Gabriel had visited Dartmouth through East Side’s Student Council two years ago and was very impressed by this very prestigious college.  He fell in love with this school.  Once he became a QuestBridge finalist, Dartmouth was on the top of his list. Gabriel is one of 25 students who has been matched through QuestBridge to Dartmouth.  This is quite an accomplishment and his East Side family could not be happier and prouder of him. 

Gabriel is a graduate of Oliver Street School and East Side was his first pick to attend.  He is so glad that he did.  Gabriel is not only defined by his academic excellence but also his commitment to our school and community.  Gabriel is so proud to be an East Sider and it shows.  Gabriel is President of the Student Council, Vice President of the Honor Society and a host of other activities where he shows his leadership in promoting and helping anyone in need. Gabriel is also a scholar athletic by being the Co-Captain of our Golf Team.  So, Gabriel is the total package.  His brilliant, leadership and compassion will serve him well.  Congratulations to Gabriel Margaca for your QuestBridge Match and good luck at Dartmouth College next year.  You will continue being the best ambassador of East Side High School.  

Natalie Fernandez, our salutatorian for the Class of 2019 has also been matched by the QuestBridge Foundation to attend University of Notre Dame on a full four-year scholarship.  Last year, Natalie went on a Student Council trip to visit Notre Dame and this opened the possibility of attending the most beautiful campus that she had ever visited.  So, once she became a QuestBridge finalist she put Notre Dame at the top of her list.  Notre Dame only accepts 42 QuestBridge Matches a year and our Natalie was one of them.  This is a dream come true for any student.  Notre Dame is very expensive and QuestBridge will pay the total tuition for four years. So, East Side provided the tools for Natalie to succeed.   Natalie’s academic achievement includes all Honors and AP classes with a cumulative GPA of 4.5 along with highs scores on her AP placement tests.   

Natalie is a graduate of Hawkins Street School.   Her accomplishments in and out of the classroom is remarkable. QuestBridge only selects students who are the total package. Natalie has a host of extra curricular activities  and community service projects  Natalie is a member of our National Honor Society where she was elected treasurer this year.  She is  the  Secretary to the Student Council, a member of UN, the Anatomy Club, and Public Speaking.  She joined the Robotics Club in her sophmore year and fell in love with it and is now the driver and Co-Captain of the Club. Natalie has a generous spirit and has always given back to her school and community. She has raised money for breast cancer, was active in fundraising for Hurricane Harvey and Maria,  worked at a Food Bank,  Habitat for Humanity and countless other initiatives.  The one that stands out is what she did over one summer.  She returned to DR to help out victims from  the hurricane.  She went into the mountains where her family is from to give medical aide to the elderly and helped bring supplies to them.  So, Natalie is very well rounded and we are so excited for her to attend the University of Notre Dame on a full scholarship.

Congratulations!

Retirees

Retirees

Jun 7, 2018

Our staff persons of the month are our two retirees.  This year they are Ms. Ana Vitaliti and Ms. Janet Kaback.

Ms. Ana Vitaliti was born in Mendoza, Argentina and received her BS in Education with a major in Natural Sciences at San Pedro Nolasco Higher Teachers’ Institute.  She worked as a teacher and researcher in Argentina.  Ms. Vitaliti had many publications while working as a researcher.  Her and her husband moved to New Jersey and had two daughters.  She got a job as a Bilingual Science Teacher for the Newark Public Schools where she has worked for the past twenty five years.   Upon retiring, she plans to read, travel and relax.  Ms. Vitaliti is known for her professionalism and for being very quiet and reserved.  We want to extend our warmest congratulations on a job well done.  Happy Retirement to Ms. Ana Vitaliti.

Ms. Kaback graduated with a BA, majoring in History and minoring in Education from Adelphi University. She began her teaching career teaching Social Studies and Economics at Bryant High School in Astoria, NY. After her move to NJ, she and her then husband adopted two children from South America, a live-changing event that sparked her interest in ESL and Bilingual Education.

Ms. Kaback obtained her first Master's from Kean University in ESL/Bilingual Education.  Her second Master's, also from Kean, is in Educational Administration and Supervision. She has been an adjunct professor at Middlesex County College for over 15 years at the same time she has been here at East Side. She has presented workshops in teacher education locally, statewide, nationally and internationally.

Ms. Kaback has been at East Side for 17 years now. She started teaching Social Studies in the Spanish Bilingual program until the position in Financial Literacy opened up. "Being able to teach my students how to be prepared for life,   Life Skills 101 has been the most rewarding and joyous experience in my career in education".

Happy Retirement to Ms. Janet Kaback and thank you for your service to our students.

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