To break the ice, you first break down the walls.
That was the mission of an estimated 240 students who participated in a three-day training session when the Ignite 2 Unite program, led by its founder, Jason Jedamski, returned for its second year to Bridgewater-Raritan High School from Wednesday, September 23, through Friday, September 25.
This program is titled “Breaking Down the Walls,” and for these Bridgewater-Raritan High School students who already carry leadership and personality traits, they are determined to run through a wall in order to produce a healthy and enjoyable scholastic environment.
Jessica Kaiser, Bridgewater-Rarian High School’s passionate College and Career Counselor, is the driving force behind this highly productive program.
The opening round on Wednesday, September 23, included just the 40 high school leaders, who received instruction on their tasks for the next two days. These dedicated leaders, who represent various clubs, teams and organizations at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, assembled in the high school’s small gymnasium for their lessons.
On Thursday, they were joined by an estimated 100 students and staff members in the high school’s spacious Vaughn Stapleton Gymnasium, where they interacted and worked as one big team.
The following day, a different group of about 100 students was engaged in this program, which included more of the same types of challenges and meetings.
This year’s volume was a significant increase over the number of students who participated in the fall of 2025.
“Last year, over 100 of our students participated in their 4H program, spending the day engaging in interactive activities, helping students to build community, school spirit and valuable leadership skills,” Ms. Kaiser said. “There was a tremendous outpouring of positive feedback from the students who participated.”
That showing prompted Ms. Kaiser’s idea to further share the wealth, so to speak.
“We saw such a positive impact for the 100 students who participated last year. It felt like a great opportunity to expand this program to more of our students to make an even greater impact across campus,” Ms. Kaiser reported. “ In choosing to bring the Breaking Down the Walls program to us, it allowed for over 260 students to participate over the course of three days.”
Ms. Kaiser further explained the three-day session.
“The first day, 40 of our chosen student leaders were trained on how to facilitate the workshop for their peers in conjunction with Jason (Jedamski). On days two and three, students in grades 9-12, as well as several staff members, participated in a series of interactive activities, conversations, formed connections with their peers, and had the opportunity to share their story. There were several key takeaways for students: simple things are not little things, sacrifice comfort for growth, share the energy, and we are more alike than we are different.”
So what did these scholars learn?
“This was very valuable that we were collaborating with other kids,’ said senior leader Luke Rosato, who is a member of the high school's BR Ambassadors, which is a student-run club that helps new students feel welcome and supported. “I talked with people that I never talked to before.”
Another leader who relished the program was Jess Pastorick, a senior and member of the high school’s Peer Partners program, in which students are paired with peers with developmental disabilities.
“I want to build the school community and leave it better than I found it,” she said.
Another leader, senior Bobby DeCarlo, is the co-president of the Christian Club at the high school and also has a sweet golf swing.
“It is cool to meet new people and so much fun, and I appreciate that the school allows us to do this,” said DeCarlo, who is captain of Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s boys’ golf team in the spring.
Senior leader Natalia Cruz, a BR Ambassador, believed that the program “gets everyone out of their comfort zone and allows them to meet new people.”
Senior leader Becca Kimmins, who is co-president of the Education Foundation of the Bridgewater-Raritan Club at the high school and a BR Ambassador, was quite pleased with the expanded program this year. She participated as a junior in that one-day program in 2025.
“This year we are the leaders and are the ones interacting with the kids rather than us being led by our teachers last year,” Kimmins said.
Suphachikaa Chinnasamy, a junior, is in her first year as a leader with her position as one of the three Editors-in-Chief for The Prowler, Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s newspaper and media site.
“This program is important because it fosters a community. It is such a big school, so this is a great way to get to know one another,” she said.
“Our students were engaged, inspired, and really embraced the workshop,” Ms. Kaiser shared. “These are the kinds of skills that help in all aspects of life now and in the future. The goal is to keep this momentum going throughout the school year.”
Rosato summed up what this training workshop is all about.
“When you learn someone’s story, it is hard to hate.”