Just this past December, Mr. David Wronko, along with the staff of Asbury Park High School, were a part of many events to close out 2024.
To begin with, the League of Women Voters conducted a lesson for Mr. Wronko’s honors World History Class.
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December Events : League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters presented a lesson on what the governor does. Students were called to brainstorm the possibilities of the role of the governor in managing state affairs. For instance, how the governor oversees the funding of schools, construction of bridges and roads, and the spending of tax payer money.
In addition, the League of Women Voters presenters emphasized how the voters had the power to change the leadership, as well as inform their local politicians about things that need to be passed in the government. such as affordable healthcare and insurance.
From there, students learned how bills were presented and passed in the NJ legislature and whether or not the governor would agree or veto the proposal. Present for the League of Women Voters were Pat Supplee, Sharon Miggins, and Robin Fraster. Other members who were helping and observing were Judith Woop from the Morristown Area of LWV and Beth Grossman from the Ridgewood (Bergen County) LWV.
In addition to the League of Women Voters, during the month of December, Mr. Wronko’s students presented a Remembrance of Pearl Harbor Seminar with special guests Wilbur V. Martin and George Reed.
History Seminar on the Remembrance of Pearl Harbor
The following students conducted presentations for Wilbur V. Martin and George Reed and they were Meliza Cruz-Merino, Richard Martinez-DelValle, Dylan Montoya, Brandon DeLeon, Alex Mangual, Cristal Pacius, Daniel Rosales Castro, Nakir Wheeler, Kareem Wilson, and Mr. Wronko’s former student helping out Cayne Castillo Lopez. Their presentations were on the major battles that happened because of the events of December 7, 1941:
- The Beginning: Attack on Pearl Harbor
- The Battle of Midway
- The Battle of Ramree
- The Battle of Coral Sea
- The Battle of Guadalcanal
- The Battle of Iwo Jima
- The Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Ramree
The Veteran guests expressed interest in the presentation regarding the Battle of Ramree because during that battle the British army forced the Japanese into the swamps where their fate was met by saltwater crocodiles. Also, the presenter shared that in the academy award winning movie, Godzilla Minus One, showed something similiar to the Japanese getting eaten by crocodiles. For instance, when Godzilla, in his non mutated form, which looked like a dinosaur crocodile, attacked the group of Japanese mechanics, this represented those Japanese soldiers killed by crocodiles. GODZILLA MINUS ONE Official Trailer 2
Battle of Guadalcanal
Furthermore, the Veteran guests expressed interest in the Battle of Guadalcanal. At this battle, African American soldiers were fighting in the Pacific Theater of the war and this battle was not really seen or described in history books.
World War II veterans
Lastly, Mr. Martin and Mr. Reed were able to call two World War II veterans on their phone to speak with the students. The first WWII veteran was Stan Dubroff and the second was Lou Parisi. Both veterans were able to share their experiences during WWII. Lou Parisi, now 98 young, was an ongoing vistor to the Asbury Park School District. Two links below to articles of his participation with the district.
Remembering Pearl Harbor (Ghana Session) – Unheard Voices Magazine
Veterans of Foreign Wars Ghana Session – Unheard Voices Magazine
Wilbur V. Martin and George Reed
Throughout the seminar both veterans, Wilbur V. Martin and George Reed shared their knowledge about the Pacific Theater of WWII. For instance, they brought about how there were two flag raisings at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Also a Pima Indian from Arizona, Ira Hayes, helped raise the American Flag at Iwo Jima. In addition, they brought up about how the United States actually fired the first shot at Pearl Harbor when the United States sank a Japanese sub from entering Pearl Harbor. From there they mentioned how the attack on Pearl Harbor was going to happen no matter what because the United States cut off the oil supply to Japan. The United States cut off the oil supply because of how the Japanese were treating the Chinese. The veterans also discussed how at the Battle of Midway the United States knew not only the Japanese were coming but also their exact positions. Then they finally brought up how Okinawa was an 82 day battle.
See Wilbur V. Martin on Classroom Close-up along with Lou Parisi and Korean War veteran Alfonso Freda.
Classroom Close-up Show 2 (2018-19)
Check out an older article on all the veterans
Memorial Day at Asbury Park Middle School | American Veterans Center
Door Decorating
The staff got to participate in a door decorating contest for Asbury Park High School. Creativity and use of ideas were present during this competition. Below are two images from the doors of science teacher Melissa Laureigh and ELL teacher Mary Spanarkel.
December Events : Cretaceous Warzone!
The above image was drawn by Kingston Dunkley, an athlete of Asbury Park High School.
The project of the Cretaceous WarZone lives on. Student projects of art and dioramas based on this project were published in over thirty publications in Prehistoric Times Magazine.
In addition, just recently students wrote stories of fiction based on film director Titus Paar’s movie, We Hunt Giants. Titus Paar, a promising film director, just recently connected with Mr. David Wronko on LinkedIn.
