  Beginning on November sixth, HackPHS 2022, a multi-day student-organized programming competition hosted at Princeton High School, brought with it more than 300 students entirely in person for the first time since the start of the COVID pandemic.
   HackPHS is free to enter and open for all students to participate in. During the event, participants are encouraged to form teams and work on a coding or robotics project of their choosing. These projects are judged at the end of the twenty-four hours, with the winners receiving a number of prizes. For participants who don’t feel as comfortable with coding, they can opt to not create a project, and instead attend a wide variety of fun, inclusive, events and lectures that take place throughout the event.
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   “I went my freshman year not having any coding knowledge at all, and I still had a bunch of fun because I was able to attend intros to languages such as Java and Python. And then also other fun activities, like a chess tournament and trivia,” said Davita Wrone ’23, a design and technology organizer for HackPHS. 
   This year’s HackPHS was successful in many ways, with over one hundred people in attendance, and an overall positive participant response. 
   “I just felt like it was really fun because I got to stay overnight and just work in the school for the entire day,” said Sophia Tsang ’23, a participant at HackPHS. “There were a lot of snacks, and a lot of events and lectures that even if you're not interested in computer science, were fun to listen to. Also just being able to look at other people's projects was really fun.”
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  While HackPHS first started as an in-person event, it was, like many other things, forced to move to an online format in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. The following year, while it returned to being held partially in person, only PHS students were allowed to attend, and many students still opted to participate virtually. HackPHS 2022 marked the first time that the event has been held fully in person since the start of the pandemic. Along with bringing back a sense of normalcy, having all of the participants in one place again had many other benefits. 
   “I think just being able to talk face to face with other students just made communication a lot easier. Also, I think people just like the experience of being able to stay overnight,” said Shrey Khetan ’24, a logistics organizer for HackPHS. “Also when you're online, it's harder to run some of the activities. So I think [being in person] makes the workshops and activities more fun.”
   Along with the return to a fully in-person format came a number of challenges for the Organizers of the event. On top of the predictable problems that come with the organization of sponsors and almost twenty unique activities, one problem stood out above the rest: turnout. 
   “This year had a smaller turnout than some of the other previous in-person years and I think that's because of those two online years. Increasing that, and getting the word out more … will probably be a way to improve,” Wrone said. 
   Aside from low attendance numbers, nothing went significantly wrong at this year’s event. Because of this, as they look into the future, the organizers of HackPHS hope to emulate the success of this year in its future installations. 
   “I think that this year was successful because everyone enjoyed their time, and we didn't have any problems,” said Khetan. “Maybe we're gonna try for next year to raise some more money so we can have some better prizes for the people. But other than that, we're probably going to follow a similar layout as we have this year.”

HackPHS returns fully in person, the first time since 2019



Rita Rafalovsky:
Why are you interested in running for the school board?
I'm interested in running for the school board for the most important reason: to improve the quality of education that we have here. 

What issues do you believe the district needs to address for education?
If you look at the proficiency scores at the state level before and after COVID, our scores are, in math in particular, well below our neighboring schools, which are Montgomery and West Windsor. I refuse to think that our kids are any less smart than the kids that are in the neighboring schools. There's something else that's going on and we need to figure out what that is to address it, not just for math but well-rounded education.  

What are your top priorities for the school?
In addition to education, mental health is no less important. We need to bring in psychiatrists or psychologists who are experts in this area to create an assessment for us and also some goals about where we need to be [in mental health] and how we will actually make sure that our kids are doing well.

What differentiates you from other candidates?
I am a first-generation immigrant. I came here when I was eight years old. I learned English here and I was definitely below the poverty line for quite a few years. I went through the whole ESL experience and was put in some of the worst classes because I didn’t speak the language. So I definitely have a lot of sympathy and understanding towards the kids that have been there. I feel like we are not leveraging the intellectual capital of the community that we have here. I would love that we create some kind of metrics around it, and to create these champions so that we sort of have a pipeline of kids in our school district. 

Susan Kanter:
Why are you interested in running for the school board?
I ran the first time after I retired from work and I was involved with a lot of nonprofits. But I was PTO president at PHS for seven years. I wanted to run for a second term, maybe one that’s not as dominated by the pandemic.

What are your top priorities for the school?
The most important issue is to have the supports in place for health and wellness. I feel that even more so because I want to make sure kids are making those connections that they lost during the pandemic. The new movement space that they’re going to incorporate into the gym and into the learning classes, alongside the new schedule, really gives people time to both have physical wellness and to relax their brain. [The new space and schedule] make people happy and more productive. 

What experiences prepared you to serve as the school board member?
I saw the work with thBll Committee, which changed the start time and the schedule for student wellness. Student Wellness was one of my big issues. I also had been involved in the facilities and the development of the referendum. And I had become interested and gone to a lot of meetings for the board and committees. So I felt like I had a lot of knowledge to bring.

What issues do you believe the district needs to address for education?
We want to put in support so that every student feels they have someone that they can talk to. [For students with challenging academic schedules], they need to do it in a healthy way so that they can sleep while participating in extracurriculars that they might enjoy. We have to find that balance for each student between academic challenges  and finding courses that they're just interested in. Bringing them joy and taking care of themselves is equally important to me.

Dafna Kendal:
Why are you interested in running for the school board?
I think the most important thing that I can do with my time is help to see that the school district is well-run. I'm really proud of some of the things I’ve done. For example, I was on the board when we moved the start time at the high school back to 8:20. Andonly 12% of high schools in the country start later than that. [Being on the school board] means having the opportunity to do things that really affect students. That brings me a lot of joy and makes me want to continue to serve on the board.

What are your top priorities for the school?
We're a very well regarded school district and I want to ensure that continues. I want to make sure that all kids have the opportunities they need. 

Experiences that prepared you to serve as the school board member?
I have six years of experience as a board member. I'm currently the board president. I've served as board vice president and I have been on every board committee. So I have a lot of experience. With all the turnover and administration, I think it's important to have board members who know how we have done things so that we continue the traditions that are very important here in Princeton.

What issues do you believe the district needs to address for education?
One thing I like to do is just make sure there's more representation of kids of color and kids with special needs in higher level classes. We just reviewed the data from last year and there were only three black kids who took AP exams. And that's not representative of the student body and we have to do better. I think we have to look at the prerequisites [for courses], for example and just make sure they are not too burdensome to limit students from choosing courses that they want to take. 


Deborah Bronfeld:
Why are you interested in running for the school board?
I feel like I'm anything but status quo. I just want to keep improving [the district]. The pandemic definitely changed the direction of what we wanted to do, and what we could focus on. There’s a lot more that I want to work on. 

Experiences that prepared you to serve as the school board member?
I went to public school. I’ve worked a lot in nonprofits and I feel a lot of nonprofit work is helping people and listening. I worked for an organization called Dress for Success, where we gave women business attire to go on interviews, and we set up a lot of interviewing. I’ve worked for a couple of food banks. So I feel that my past with these nonprofits is a big part of me and I always want to help. Being on the board, I can speak for those that maybe cannot. 

What issues do you believe the district needs to address for education?
We just need to make sure we have the teachers that are really there to teach you. I do know a couple people that stopped me and said they were just so impressed with the teachers on back to school night.  I remember [parents from back to school night] saying that these teachers really want to teach their kids. Teachers just have this breadth of what they want to teach and they’re here to teach. 

What differentiates you from other candidates?
I really speak my mind. I have voted no a lot. I know many of my board members never vote no. You know what, I'm not afraid to speak my mind. I'm really not and I'm not afraid to say ‘I don't think this is the right direction.’ And I will always tell you why I'm voting a certain way. 


Meet the candidates! Princeton Public Schools school board election

  Emanuel Noyola ’23 eyes the soccer ball as it is passed between two players on the other team. With calculated motions, Noyola swiftly intercepts and dribbles it towards the opposing team’s goal. Quickening the pace of his steps, he fixes his gaze on the goalie and launches the ball at the goal. Roaring cheers erupt from the crowd as the ball hits the back of the net.
   All athletes make mistakes in their lives, but only the good ones will learn to overcome them and become better. Varsity Boys Soccer Midfielder Emanuel Noyola ’23 shows that despite having obstacles in the process, he uses his passion and persistence to achieve success. 
   Watching his uncles’ soccer games as a child contributed to Emanuel Noyola’s interest in soccer. He started playing when he was nine, and only played soccer throughout his childhood and he’s continued through high school. 
   Noyola’s talent, consistency, and commitment to the game lead to his influential performance on the field: becoming a varsity team member in his sophomore year and now an indispensable player on the boys varsity soccer team. 
   “He's very humble. He lets his play do the talking. He's a man of few words, but he makes a lot of very smart plays, and it makes you trust him,” said teammate Jack Serxner ’23.
   Playing successfully at a varsity level does not come without doubts. After missing an opportunity to score an important goal in one of his sophomore year games, Noyola was in doubt of his career in soccer. However, he remembered his motivation to play when he was younger and realized that the desire he had to continue playing outweighed his mistake. As a result, Noyola persevered and continued his role on the soccer team. 
   “I told myself to not quit because I know how good I can be and I don’t want to put my time into waste. I just needed to keep working hard and get better,” Noyola said. 
   Noyola continued to dedicate his time to improving his soccer skills and learning from his coaches and captains. In his junior year he took more of a leadership role as an upperclassman, challenging himself to be more assertive on the field and be a role model for the younger players. 
   “He has developed a lot of confidence over the years as a player, ” said Serxner. “He demands the ball more on the field. He has the belief in himself that he can make amazing plays on the field.”
  Not only is Noyola a hardworking athlete who always seeks to improve himself, but he has also shown strong abilities in supporting his teammates. As a senior on the team, Noyola tries to help his teammates and assist them for more scoring opportunities.
   “In our first game against Trenton this season, he had the assists to Azariah Breitman. And we ended up winning one nil [zero]. He did a really good job of controlling the midfield…[and] played a huge part in this first goal we scored,” Serxner said.
   Noyola wishes to continue playing soccer in college, and as an athlete who has gained many experiences from his plays, he has advice for the incoming and current younger athletes of the PHS soccer team. 
   “Keep on going and focus on your own self. Don’t let the circumstances and other people put you down. Always work hard to improve yourself and also help the people around you,” Noyola said.  




Atheletes of the Month Emanuel  Noyola  ’23:  soccer               

 Great athletes have a passion and purpose for what they do — they are focused and determined to get better every day and set goals that they actively pursue. Varsity Football Co-Captain Jack Callahan ’23, shows that passion and purpose can help overcome life obstacles to achieve success. 
   Callahan was introduced to football under the influence of his family. Coming from a family of football fans, he had much exposure to the sport before he started playing himself. 
   “I’ve enjoyed watching football games for a long time, [and] my dad watches football all the time,” Callahan said. 
   With this devotion for football in mind, Callahan started playing football in eighth grade and joined the football team at PHS. Despite having little experience when he joined, Callahan knew the necessity of hard work. He put a lot of effort into training himself to become better, working on footwork and practicing catches
   “Jack’s a hard worker that's just committed and ready to work at practice [...] He’s a quiet kid, but [based on] the amount of work he puts into playing, you could tell he's definitely passionate [about it],” said Varsity Football Co-Captain Tyler Goldberg ’24. 
   While improving his own individual skills, Callahan learned the importance of teamwork in football games. His most memorable game was played against Bishop Eustace High School in his sophomore year. Defying many people’s expectations, PHS won on a two-point conversion, which is a play a team attempts after a touchdown instead of kicking the ball. 
   “My teammates made that moment [the] most memorable,” said Callahan. “It was just so fun being around the whole team, [everyone] got excited. We were all 100 percent zoned in on the game.”
   However, along with unforgettable victories, football comes with the possibilities of sustaining serious injuries. Callahan encountered his greatest obstacle last year when he broke his femur bone toward the end of the season. 
   “He came such a long way from that [injury]. That was like a serious injury. And I didn't really [expect] he would come back. [It] is tough because [when] you break your femur, some people will choose to just quit,” Goldberg said.
   But Callahan stayed in. And he came back, faster than everyone expected, focused on improving further than where he was before his injury. 
   “I never thought about quitting. [I overcame it] by rehabilitating my leg, going to physical therapy, and getting back with the team as soon as possible,” Callahan said.
   His Coach, Brandon Willaims, commends Jack for his persistence in the face of his injury. 
   “Jack's biggest strength is his resilience. Coming into his senior year I didn’t know how Jack was going to perform after coming off such a gruesome injury, but  he has shown that he wouldn’t let an injury hold him back. Thus far in his senior season he has been an outstanding left tackle and even better defensive end with him catching interceptions and forcing fumbles” Williams said. 
   Having been named team captain this year, Jack has become a role model for the younger players. He has taken full responsibility into helping them develop their skills and passion for football. 
   “Just stay passionate, stay focused. The time will come. It’ll be fun,” Callahan said.
   The PHS Football Team looked forward to the Homecoming game against their old rival Bishop Eustace on September 23.
   “We’re very prepared. All the guys have been working hard. I really just want to win,” Callahan said. 
   Even though Callahan is still not sure whether he will be playing professional football in the near future for college, he will always be dedicated and passionate about football.   
   “I never aspired to be like [any professional player] when I’m playing. I just [play] because I love the sport,” Callahan said. 


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