April Newsletter: Office of the Superintendent

APRIL NEWSLETTER Dear School Community, We are happy to share that the 2025-2026 School Calendar has been approved. This calendar was thoughtfully developed incorporating input from our community, students, teachers, and administrative staff. In response to feedback regarding the impact of half-days on our elementary working families, we have reduced the number of half-days by three. Additionally, a key objective was to achieve an earlier student dismissal in June while still recognizing important holidays across our diverse school community. To this end, any unused emergency closing days will be considered for use in support of this goal. However, please be aware that emergency give-back days, also known as black out days, require Board approval and should not be pre-planned.  We cannot overstate the importance of consistent school attendance .  We urge families to plan vacations in accordance with the school calendar to minimize disruption to students' learning . School plays a vital role in a child's life, standing alongside health and family as a top priority. This commitment to regular attendance and engagement with our dedicated teaching staff is essential for academic success and cannot be replicated.  The impact of absenteeism is clear: 1.    Regular attendance increases standardized test performance by 1.5x (Source: Attendance Works). 2.   Chronic absenteeism drops graduation rates by 20% (Source: National Bureau of Economic Research).  3.   Missing 10% or more of school in early grades predicts a higher dropout risk (Source: U.S. DOE). Please make attendance a priority, not just for academics, but to establish crucial work habits that will help set these young men and women apart from those they will compete against for future careers.  In fact, one of the most desired skills that employers are looking for right now is reliability, right alongside communication skills, problem solving and leadership. If we can train our future workforce to simply show up and be reliable, they are already headed in the right direction. Work ethic can begin being reinforced as early as elementary school. Attendance is important . Setting attendance goals for your child(ren) can be an important step in monitoring absences. No more than 5 absences in a school year is recommended, as those students with a 3% or less absentee rate, on average, realize greater academic success than their peers. 2025-2026 NMPSD School Calendar Below you will read about many of the happenings in the District over the past month, as well as some upcoming events that we would be grateful for you to be a part of. As always, your support is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Peter Galasso Superintendent of Schools DISTRICT UPDATES NJSLA, AP Testing, and SAT's With Spring comes some important assessments for our students that not only help shape their academic career in New Milford, but also helps create opportunities post High School. These tests include the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA), advanced placement (AP) exams, and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). All of these tests are important in their own way. The (NJSLA) provides a measure of student progress and mastery of New Jersey Student Learning Standards, which helps the District develop program and curriculum. These tests are administered in Science, Language Arts and Math. The AP exams offer students the opportunity to earn college credit and advanced placement, demonstrating college readiness and potentially boosting college admission. The NMHS offers approximately 14 AP courses. The SAT's are still the fundamental barometer that many colleges use for college admissions. All these assessments are important in their own way and students should not only be willing to take these assessments, but also strive to do the best they can.   State Released Performance Reports The School Performance Reports reflect the New Jersey Department of Education’s (NJDOE) commitment to providing parents, students, and school communities with a large variety of information about each school and district. These reports can be used as a tool to help evaluate whether all students have equitable access to high quality education. The NJDOE believes that it is critical to use the data in the reports, along with other information collected directly within districts and communities, to start conversations, identify gaps in learning, and continue to find ways to ensure all students receive the support and resources they need. These School Performance Reports will also be used in conjunction with available school and district data to identify priorities for the upcoming year.   There is a lot of information contained in the district and school profiles including; state assessment results, absenteeism, graduation rates, college and career readiness, narratives, etc. When you click the link below, the website allows you to search by school or district. These performance reports were released in April 2025 and reflect the 2023-2024 school year.  Access the Performance reports here:   NJ School Performance Reports New Milford Awards & Recognition  Students from the New Milford Public School District continue to be recognized across the county, state and even nation, for their academic and artistic abilities. We appreciate that the teachers and administration offer these outlets for students, which extend beyond the classroom. We are also thankful that the students are willing to rise to the extra challenge in taking such activities on. Mock Trial Competition : Mock Trial is an educational program offered by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation (NJSBF) that simulates real court cases for students. Nicole Choi (grade 11) and Moses Deus (grade 11) competed at the State Mock Trial competition several weeks ago which saw 216 teams participating with more than 3,400 students from around the state of New Jersey. We would like to congratulate Nicole Choi for achieving FIRST PLACE in the Courtroom News reporter competition. Nicole will now represent New Milford at the National Competition in Arizona this May. HOSA-Future Health Professionals : HOSA is a national student organization focused on developing future healthcare professionals, providing leadership, service, and recognition opportunities for students in health science programs. It aims to prepare students for careers in the health professions through various activities and events, including competitions, leadership conferences, and community service projects.  We are proud to say that Ian Lee (grade 10) placed second at the HOSA State Leadership Conference (SLC) in Dental Terminology. Ian will now be competing at the HOSA International in Tennessee this coming June.    Montclair Theatre Awards Nominations : This annual event recognizes outstanding performances in middle and high school theater productions across New Jersey. The awards celebrate excellence in various aspects of theatre, including; acting, directing, technical aspects, and overall production. The timing of these awards is a little behind, but we are proud to say that last year's middle school musical, Shrek Jr. is up for 3 awards: 1) Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design - Sonia Villavicencio. 2) Outstanding Achievement by a student stage crew - Hannah Cho. 3) Outstanding Performance by an Actor- Amari Rudd.  This 3rd annual awards ceremony will be held on May 19, 2025 at Montclair State University.  Drug Free Bookmark Contest (4th grade): The annual contest challenges fourth-grade students across New Jersey to create original bookmark designs that promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. There were 2,157 entries submitted from across the state. The three Bergen County finalists have been named and one of our very own is up for the Grand Prize. We are proud to report Arianna Dy, from B.F. Gibbs Elementary School will be honored at an awards ceremony on May 6.  Inside Our Schools Principal for a Day - B.F. Gibbs Principal Eleanor Evans, typically a 1st grader at BF Gibbs, traded in her day as a student for the pressures of an Elementary Principal. Principal Evans checked in with teachers, met with the Superintendent, helped ensure sub coverage, and even hosted the first ever Gibbs International Night. Throughout the day she proved to be a bright, confident and organized young lady, who if she so chooses, certainly has a career in education. Thank-you to Mrs. Torre and the Gibbs staff for supporting Ms. Evans.  Berkley Street School Recognizes Autism Advocacy Month The Berkley School School participated in Autism Advocacy Month through a door decorating contest. Ms. Fernandez's homeroom earned first place with the "We're all different, but in this class we swim together" theme. ( pictured far left ). Thank-you to all those who participated. (below are the doors that were decorated)   DEO's - Frozen Jr. Musical The David E. Owens performance of Frozen Jr., under the Direction of Ms. Korzelius (Director) and Mrs. Haderthauer (Producer), took place the first week of April. The set design was remarkable and was only rivaled by the student performances. The Middle School musical boasted a tremendous amount of participation from the student body, grades 6 through 8, with approximately 75 students participating as actors, stage crew, or set artists. The high schoolers chipped in as well for the set design and we cannot thank the volunteer parents and alumni enough for once again, helping to build the set. The Middle School musical was a resounding success because of volunteerism and hard work from students and staff. NMHS Marketing Recruitment Project - NMHS Pride As part of a NMHS marketing course taught by Ms. Taylor, students were tasked with creating a recruitment video as part of a course project. Two students, Johanna Angeles and Maya Akselrod, chose to focus on NMHS, highlighting some of the opportunities the High School offers our students. Their finished product not only exemplifies why they enjoy the New Milford High School, but also allowed them to hone the career skills they acquired from Ms. Taylor's course. NMHS Marketing Recruitment Project NMEF Funded - An Elementary Day in Clay The New Milford Education Foundation, an organization that has provided countless opportunities to New Milford students and staff, provided a grant to both Gibbs and Berkley that brought clay into our classrooms. This special clay does not have to be kiln fired for it to properly harden, but provides most all of the benefits traditional clay offers, including creating pottery. Both art teachers, Mrs. Grammer, Gibbs, and Mrs. Ivchenko, Berkley, welcomed Mr. Mendelson into their classrooms to provide this hands on experience. Exposure to clay will serve the high school programs well, where we offer more advanced pottery courses with spinning wheels, kiln firing, and glazing opportunities. UPCOMING EVENTS:  (visit the school webpages for more specific information) Upcoming Events April 23:     NM BOE Work Session - 7:00pm (NMHS)                   (Student Presentation REACH) April 24:   Black Poster Project - YMCA event April 24:  NMHS Jr./Sr. Art Show (Art Center of New Jersey) April 30:   NM BOE Regular Session - 7:00pm (NMHS) May 5:      Student Short Session (1/2 day for students) May 7:       BOE Work Session - 7:00pm (NMHS)                   (Student Presentation Drug Alliance) May 9:     Pevny Annual Scholarship BBQ - (NMHS) - 3 - 9:00pm May 13:   Senior Academic Awards (Macaluso's) - 6 - 9:00pm May 13:    Bergen County Suicide Prevention Symposium (right) May 15:     NMHS Junior Prom (Sanzari's) 7 - 10:00pm May 16:     NMHS Buddy Talent Show   District Events  29th Annual NMHS Golf Outing - June 30th (click link for Golf Outing Scholarship Fundraiser information) Community Events  New Milford Football and Cheer Registration                                       Black Poster Project - Hope in Action

Friday, Apr 18 2025

February Newsletter: Office of the Superintendent

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER Dear School Community, The weeks and months after winter break and leading up to spring break can feel like an eternity. With spring break being so late this year, April 14 - April 18, combined with the dreary, cold days of winter, it can feel like a very long stretch of time without a break for our students. Whereas our teachers love the routine this affords in the classroom, unfortunately, this also the time we begin seeing a lot of absences accumulate for many of our students. Please make every effort to get your child(ren) to school. I have my own children in grades 6, 9 and 12. I feel like I am constantly explaining to them, somedays you are tired, other days you do not feel 100%, and at times you will feel overwhelmed,  but you still go to school ; it is important to build up that stamina and grit.  As adults, we can all relate to feeling tired, less than perfect, or overwhelmed on most days, but we still go to work, raise our families, and handle our responsibilities. We do what we have to do!  Statistically, students with 95% or higher attendance rates (under 9 days absent) earn significantly higher grades then those with lower attendance and are more likely to attend a 4 year college.  There is no replacement for seat time, not just in terms of academics, but also, being present in school has a direct correlation to other intangibles, such as; social networking, building routine, perseverance, work ethic, etc. All of these things are so valuable as our students enter into the next stage of their lives.  Below you will read about many of the happenings in the District over the past month, as well as some upcoming events that we would love for you to be a part of. Thank-you for your support. Sincerely, Peter Galasso Superintendent of Schools DISTRICT UPDATES High School Musical: "Little Shop of Horrors" Come see our New Milford High School students perform "Little Shop of Horrors this week. March 6th  7:00pm March 7th  7:00pm March 8th  2:00pm and 7:00pm To buy tickets please click the link below: Little Shop of Horrors Tickets The play includes a set design that is being nominated for County awards and bigger than life puppets that are operated by our students. When these things are combined with the talent of our students and the live Pit Orchestra (musicians), it is sure to be an amazing performance.  Rare Disease Day On February 28, the District celebrated Rare Disease Day.  Rare Disease Day is an international day of awareness for rare diseases, observed annually on the last day of February. It aims to raise public attention, advocate for research and treatments, and support individuals and families affected by rare diseases. We have students in our school system that are representatives of this population and in celebration and support of acceptance, empathy, and kindness, the district dedicated time to raise awareness in our classrooms. In the elementary schools activity time, read alouds, and lessons were developed that were age appropriate. At the middle school, the 'Science of Rare diseases' was discussed in Science Courses, which included a true cross-curricular activity, linking Science class with an Art class, to have the students develop their likeness with the tapestry of colors representing Rare Disease Day. Pictured below is the David E. Owens display outside the main office.     Profile of a Graduate I’m pleased to share an update on our Profile of a Graduate initiative, launched last school year to define the skills and competencies we want for our students as they prepare for the future. Over the past several months, we have carefully reviewed and disaggregated feedback from our stakeholder survey. This data highlights the core competencies our community values for the children of New Milford. I invite you to review these findings and see how your voices have shaped this important work. Our next steps will include collaborating with students at NMHS to create a visual representation of these shared values, bringing our vision to life in a meaningful and inspiring way. Thank you for your continued support in shaping the future of our students. Profile of a Graduate Survey Responses Unsung Hero Award The Bergen County Unsung Hero Award is an annual award given to a high school senior from each of Bergen County's high schools. The award recognizes students who have made a significant impact on their school and community. New Milford's 2024 - 2025 Unsung Hero is Marcella Brause. After overcoming significant obstacles during her sophomore year, Marcella returned to assume the role of NMHS cross-country captain. Marcella is also a Peer Mentor in the Peer to Peer Physical Education program. This is an inclusive program where peer mentors encourage students with disabilities to actively engage in a general physical education setting. And above all else, Marcella's character is beyond reproach.   Inside Our Schools Valley Healthcare Exhibition Day Gibbs students travelled through six hands-on learning stations to hear from doctors, nurses, and other specialists. Professionals walked the students through a hospital visit and taught them all about the careers that make up the healthcare system. A special thank you to Mrs. Kaitlyn Moceri, CAVS, Manager of Volunteer Resources for Valley Health System, for organizing this amazing event for our students. Mrs. Moceri is also the proud mother of a Gibbs first grade student. Read Across America Read Across America is the nation's largest celebration of reading, intended to motivate and help American kids become aware of and celebrate good reading habits. Read Across America Week was started and created by the National Education Association in 1997. New Milford Elementary Schools dedicated the day to guest readers with notable town dignitaries entering the classroom to "drop everything and read." We cannot thank them enough. Pictured below is Board of Education President, Heather Gomez, taking time to read to Gibbs students. Pictured to the right, Mayor Michael Putrino and New Milford Police Chief Brian Clancy both joined our schools for Read Across America, as well.  David E. Owens Middle School -  Science and the Musical Arts Hands on Science continues to be a focus of DEO. Recently, students have been creating their own fossils, working with simple circuits, and exploring with Polymer Magic. Pictured to the left are some of our 6th grade students taking pride in their curated fossils. This year the musical at David E. Owens Middle School will be Frozen Jr. The entire cast along with parent volunteers, and school staff, Mrs. Haderthauer, Mrs. Korzelius, and Mr. Prete, showed up for the set build. The students, staff and parent volunteers (who we cannot thank enough), spent the entirety of a Saturday morning carrying, hammering, drilling, and helping make the set come to life. Pictured below is the Frozen Jr. cast, and the Saturday helpers. Thank-you again to those parents and former alumni who volunteered their time. We could not do it without you.  NMHS - Cupcakes, Bowling and BUDDY's New Milford Bowling History :   Layla Grund finished her bowling season at the state finals. She had a great year. Here are some of the things she accomplished this season: Winner of the NJIC Vince Albrecht Tournament NJIC Girls 1st team all league NJIC Girls High Average, High Series and High Game Top 10 finish at the BCWCA Tournament 16th Place in the Girls State Finals (Top 100 qualify) BUDDY ( Bullying Undermines Developing Diverse Youths) NMHS students, under the direction of the District Student Assistance Counselor (SAC), Mrs. Zacher, offered a prevention program to third-grade students at both Gibbs and Berkley Elementary Schools.  This program was developed to educate the students on critical aspects of the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act. The third-grade students received an education on: What is bullying? The difference between physical bullying, verbal bullying, and cyberbullying. The importance of being trustworthy, honest, caring, and doing the right thing and the importance of being an UPSTANDER. At the end of the presentation, Mr. Galasso swore in 145 New Milford School District third-grade students as UPSTANDERS. Each student was given a certificate and a BUDDY bracelet to celebrate their willingness to make a difference in their life, their peer's life, and their school community. We would like to thank the following students who were part of the program: Luke Lubnewski, Brooke Seda, Vance Thomas, Belize Nobles, Christine Esguerra, Dylan Fuld. Culinary Cupcake Wars 1,2,3,4….We Declare a Cupcake War! The High School Culinary Arts and International Foods Classes in January participated in Cupcake Wars!  All teams had one week to build and decorate a display, then bake and decorate their cupcakes to go along with the theme of their display.  On the final day students and staff voted.  The grand prize winner was the Lemonade Stand!  All students worked and learned new skills.  Some teams even learned how to pipe icing!  It was a fun and exciting event for all!  The current Culinary classes are very excited to participate in Cupcake Wars again this coming spring. State Sectional Champs: 1st time in History The wrestling success this year is historic for New Milford High School. The team, consisting of 14 seniors, is led led by a strong coaching staff; Ray Cottiers, head coach and assistants, Matt Ulrich, Glenn Ulrich, and Grady Johnson. Coach Cottiers for his teams success won Coach of the Year for the Region, District, and League. Matt Ulrich earned Assistant coach of the year in the North region. The team defeated Kittatinny Reginal High School, a 25x sectional champion, at the sectional finals earlier in the month. This is New Milford's first sectional wrestling championship. The team also won their league. There were also several personal accomplishments; Jerzee Ryan earned his 100th win, which is an amazing accomplishment in the wrestling world. Teammate, Devin Ryan, continued his dominance in the sport. Devin is the Bergen County Champion, New Milford's first 4x District Champion, 4x State qualifier and voted Most Outstanding Wrestler. Devin, will be attending West Point in the Fall where he will continue his wrestling career.   If you would like to order apparel commemorating this championship, please click the link below: New Milford High School Wrestling Champions Gear 2025 (Pictured above is the 2024-2025 High School wrestling team led by Coach Raymond Cottiers.) Award Winning Architect Presents to NMHS Students On February 20th, Tom Grassi, a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, presented to our students on the use of Geometry in Architecture. Mr. Grassi shared his passion for drawing, architecture, and the over 38 years of projects he is proud to have been a part of. As an employee of the Port Authority of NY & NJ for 30 years and a survivor of the September 11th World Trade Center attacks, our presenter shared his contributions to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum along with his work on the Oculus Transportation Hub. Currently, as an architect with the firm HNTB, Mr. Grassi is designing the updated Newark Airport AirTrain, a replacement to his original design from early on in his career. Most recently, Mr. Grassi's United Airlines Terminal C Recomposure Benches have gained national recognition as the recipient of the Engineering Excellence National Recognition Award given by the American Council of Engineering Companies. Contemporary Math and Honors Geometry classes, along with students interested in architecture, saw how geometry concepts such as circle radii, trigonometry, area, and volume have been applied to his architectural designs. Students saw how drones, 3D printing, and other newer technologies are aiding in the design and construction of the new and more efficient transportation systems Mr. Grassi is working on.   UPCOMING EVENTS:  (visit the school webpages for more specific information) Upcoming Events March 6  - NMHS Spring Musical Opening Night: 7:00pm March 7 - NMHS Spring Musical: 7:00pm March 8:   - NMHS Spring Musical: 2:00pm                 -   NMHS Spring Musical: 7:00pm March 10  - Student 1/2 Day / Teacher Prof. Development March 11   - NJGPA (state Test) Grade 11 begins March 14 -Empty Bowls Fundraiser: 5:00-8:00pm, NMHS March 18 - Board of Education Work Session: 7:00pm March 20 - World Language Honor Society Induction: 6pm March 26 - Board of Education Regular Session: 7:00pm                   - DEO Science Fair: 6:30pm March 27 -  New Milford Education Foundation Gala (please consider attending)  District Events  29th Annual NMHS Golf Outing - June 30th (click link for Golf Outing Scholarship Fundraiser information) Empty Bowls Fundraiser- March 14 (Hand made bowls by students- all proceeds donated to the Church of Ascension Food Pantry of New Milford)

Wednesday, Mar 05 2025

RE: IMPORTANT CHANGE TO 2024-2025 SCHOOL CALENDAR EL...

2/18/2025, Due to the statewide date change from June 3, 2025 to June 10, 2025 by the Governor of New Jersey for the 2025 Primary Election, New Milford Board of Education approved a revision to this school year's calendar. The date of the New Jersey Primary Election for 2025 was moved in order to avoid conflicting with the Jewish holiday of Shavout. ALL schools will now be OPEN for students (teacher short session) on Tuesday, June 3rd and CLOSED for students (teacher short session) on  Tuesday, June 10, 2025.   A revised 2024-2025 school calendar reflective of these changes can be found  here . Thank you.

Tuesday, Feb 18 2025

January Newsletter: Office of the Superintendent

JANUARY NEWSLETTER Dear School Community,      The New Milford High School just had their annual Open House for the 8th graders going into 9th grade, so this newsletter will continue in that vein and focus on the opportunities in the High School that saw students earning County/State recognition in academics, the arts, and athletic competition. It was an amazing month for our High School students.       Some of our future medical entrepreneurs placed 1st, 3rd, and 4th in the Future Health Professionals (HOSA) competition, which is a tournament of medical knowledge.  Likewise, several of our gifted art students had their work displayed in a county Art Show, even better, some of their pieces of art work were chosen to compete at the National level.  In athletic competition, we will have to add to our banners in the gymnasium, as we now have another 1000 point scorer in basketball, an all County Wrestler, and another wrestling league championship to celebrate. Even one of our teachers was recognized on the radio, the WMRT morning Show, honored 'a teacher who rocks'.        The aforementioned successes prove that if our students  work hard and engage with their teachers and coaches , they will be met with success in the Arts, Academics, Athletics, or any other opportunity they choose to pursue. As you will read below, NMHS students are achieving in every facet of the educational experience, evidencing well rounded opportunities and programs.   Sincerely, Peter Galasso Superintendent of Schools DISTRICT UPDATES Emergency School Closings Our winters seem to be more and more mild every year, but every so often we will get what we call a 'weather event'. Potential weather events are stressful for everyone as there are a lot of proactive and reactive tasks from our maintenance and custodial staff that must be done There is deliberation about road conditions and bussing, as well as, the safety of our students commuting to and from school and the pressure it puts on elementary families. A lot of heads get together when it comes to a 'weather event' and we do our best to make informed decisions. Please be on alert for snow emergency/closing information that will be communicated via text, email, and phone. School closings or delays will also be posted on the website as a pop up. Drop Off Lines School drop-offs across the entire country are a hectic time just because of the amount of children being dropped off within a 15 minute time frame. Patience, along with the following procedures will make the car-line as efficient as possible. DROP OFF LINE TIPS:  1) PLEASE pull all the way forward even if it is beyond where the entrance is. This will allow more cars to drop off at one time.  2) Please have your children ready to go so the transition from opening the door to exiting the vehicle is as quick as possible. Like a paratrooper jumping out of a plane "Go, Go, Go." (safely of course).  3) Please have your children always exit the vehicle on the sidewalk side, never opening the door into passing traffic.  4) And again, please pull all the way up as far as you can go.  As always, accommodations to this procedure can be made when necessary for extenuating circumstances.  Down on Skid Row Benefit Concert (Pictured below is the Middle School cast of Frozen Jr. that performed at the concert. A School District is only as strong as it's alumni and the NMPSD alumni were on full display at the fundraising concert 'Down on Skid Row', which took place on Saturday night February 1st in the NMHS auditorium. Alumni spanning over 20 years came back to perform and help raise money for the NMHS Spring Musical 'Little Shop of Horrors' as well as the DEO Musical, 'Frozen Jr.'. Professionals from around the tri-state area returned to the place where it all began, including the Broadway Star, Rob McClure (pictured right). This is not the first time alumni have returned and I hope it will not be the last, as this past to present connection is yet another aspect that makes our school community unique. Thank-you to all the performers as well as all who attended the event.   Rob McClure Bio - NMHS Alumni A look inside New Milford High School Luis Placido joins the 1000 Point Club On January 21, 2025 Luis Placido hit a 3 point shot against Ridgefield to give him over 1000 points scored for his basketball career.  Luis is just the 5th 1000 point scorer in Knights history. The Knights boys basketball team is currently 14 and 7 and will compete in the state tournament over the coming days and hopefully weeks.  The Knights are led by Head Coach Hershey Groff, who is also a Social Studies teacher at the High School. The 1000 Point Club 1) Barry Swanson ('81-'84),  2) Dennis Calcione ('98-'02),  3) Jeremy Clarke ('08-'11),  4) Matthew McElroy ('15-'19)  League Champions The New Milford High School Wrestling team led by NM Social Studies teacher Ray Cottiers, boasts a 13 and 1 record and are league champions as they enter the State Tournament. The Knights have 14 Seniors on their roster and have been dominant all year. Senior Devin Ryan placed first in his weight class in the County Tournament and was voted 'most outstanding wrestler' in the County. Wrestling alumni came back last week to be a part of Pevny Knight (pictured right). Read more about Devin in this  NJ.com article.  Devin Ryan Article: Power of Small Schools HOSA - Future Health Professional Competition For the first time, New Milford High School students won two medals at the annual HOSA Northern Regional Conference on Saturday January 18th.  The conference is a competition in which over 800 future health professionals compete for medals from across the region. Ian Lee, a Junior at NMHS, won 1st place in the Dental Terminology Event and Keena Obrique placed 4th in the Medical Terminology Event. Only the top 5 students in each competition get medals. Ian will now represent the High School at the HOSA State level competition in March. We wish him luck, and thank his teachers/supervisors, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Torpie, for supporting these students. A Chance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art This year, New Milford High School has two students who were chosen for the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards in the category of 'Art'. These awards are one of the longest running and most prestigious recognition programs for creative teens in the United States. This year, Zhanelle Chaves (grade 12) and Jaime Lyback (Grade 12) both received Gold Key Awards in the regional competition and now they will compete at the national level for a chance to exhibit their art in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (pictured to the left, some of the Art from Jaime Lyback. Pictured to the right, artwork from Zhanelle Chaves) PLAY UNIFY One of the best aspects of the school community is the acceptance of diversity and differences within our school population. The NMHS Play Unify Program highlights just that. Only a handful of schools within the surrounding counties offer this opportunity so it is difficult to find games, but it is something the High School continues to push because the experience is beyond academics, art or athletics, as it is an opportunity to grow as human beings. General Education Students and Special Education students with some of our most significant needs, work together to compete against other school Districts. Led by head Coach, Michael Coyne, the Play Unify Knights competed against the Play Unify Team of Pompton Lakes in a competitive basketball game. Though the basketball season is over, we hope to get some competitive kickball against some other schools in the Spring. I cannot thank the students, faculty and parents enough for the support of this program.  (Pictured above are our Play Unify Knights with Coaches Mr. Coyne, Mr. Cangialose, and Mr. Addeo as well as the Pompton Lakes team after their last home game.) A Teacher Who Rocks Mrs. Lauren Finizia was honored on-air on the WDHA Morning Jolt and WMTR Morning Show show. Mrs. Finizia's nomination was read aloud on air on January 31, 2025 recognizing her as a teacher who 'inspires her students to explore their creativity..." and goes "above and beyond fostering artistic growth". The nomination recognized her contributions outside the classroom as well; mural club, set design for the theatre department, and her annual 'Empty Bowls' charity event. Mrs. Finizia is an asset to the New Milford School District and her recognition on the Morning Show is well deserved. Listen  to Mrs. Finizia's recognition on-air: Teachers Who Rock: Mrs. Finizia Live Recognition   UPCOMING EVENTS:  (visit the school webpages for more specific information) League Champions February 10  - Wrestling State Sectional - 5:00pm at NMHS February 11 - Girls Basketball Senior Knight - 5:45pm at NMHS                      -  Board of Education : Regular Meeting - 7:00pm in                         the NMHS Media Center                      - Marking Period 2 Report Cards on-line (grades 6-12) February 12 -  Rising 7th & 8th gr. Parent night- 6:30pm at DEO February 14  - Half Day February 17  - Schools Closed for Presidents Day February 27 - PTO Gibbs Night Out Masquerade  February 28 - NMHS PTO Murder Mystery Event                        - Recognition of Rare Disease Day March 3 - Little Shop of Horrors Senior Citizen Dinner Theatre

Friday, Feb 07 2025

December Newsletter: Office of the Superintendent

DECEMBER NEWSLETTER Dear School Community, As we officially begin our winter break, the staff and I extend our warmest wishes for a happy holiday season and a truly restful break spent with your loved ones. Please enjoy the extra time with your children as I am realizing first hand that time moves way to fast. I am contending with the fact that one of my daughters next year will be going to College (somewhere), and with her departure, even though I will still have 2 more children in the house, it just will not be the same without her. Even when she is being a stereotypical teenager, as challenging and perplexing as that may be, I just take a deep breath and still try to appreciate the time I have left with her as an everyday resident of the household. Please use the winter break and holidays as a perfect excuse to enjoy your family. The past month has been filled with wonderful moments within our District, from the excitement of Santa's helicopter landing, to the bittersweet farewells of cherished retiring teachers. This newsletter highlights some of these special events from December. We hope you enjoy your break. Happy Holidays! Sincerely, Peter Galasso Superintendent of School DISTRICT UPDATES Mrs. Jane Schwartz and Mrs. Ruth Beiner Retire Mrs. Schwartz has been a Music teacher in the New Milford School District, focusing on Chorus and Mrs. Ruth Beiner was a Family and Consumer Science teacher. Both teachers were excellent educators in their classrooms, but their contributions went far beyond their everyday curriculum, as they were involved heavily in the co-curricular aspect of education, i.e. chorus and musicals. For decades these teachers have been helping shape student lives and the appreciation for these educators was on display December 12 as alumni came from all over the country to honor them. Pictured below is the final choral song, with alumni spanning beck decades.  Santa Helicopter Landing The New Milford School  District and the Borough have an excellent working relationship and on December 14th it was nice to see that all come together to celebrate the Holidays for the children. Santa was flown in on his helicopter as the District hosted a Holiday breakfast with Arts and Crafts.  Thank-you to Mrs. Bernardo and all the teacher/student volunteers, the Mayor, NMPD, NMFD, DPW, and the PTO for working together to make this event possible.  Inside the Schools DEO Holiday Community Service David E. Owens Middle School students made Holiday cards for the Seniors at CareOne in New Milford. If that was not enough, they then hand delivered them to the residents at the facility. This is part of the Service learning opportunities that are embedded into the schools offerings. We are proud of the students who contributed and volunteered their time.  NMHS Holiday Concert The New Milford High School Concert Band performed along side the Orchestra and Chorus as part of the Winter Holiday Concert. The Musical Arts extends from twelfth grade, all the way down to the Elementary Schools. Students can start playing an instrument as early as 4th grade and singing is part of the everyday music curriculum and part of a formal chorus at every level. It is our hope that all students will find an outlet in the Musical Arts weather it is playing a stringed instrument, the drums, a brass or woodwind, or singing in the Chorus.  New Milford has exceptional talent as many of our students also qualify for the Bergen County Chorus in both in Middle School and High School.  The Holidays at Berkley and Gibbs: In the Elementary School the days prior to winter break are festive to say the least. Each school has parties and concerts for the students. At Gibbs they have a school wide sing along where teachers lead the way (pictured below).   This year Berkley celebrated the Holidays with a video full of Holiday Spirit.  Berkley Holiday Video 2024 Gingerbread Houses at the NM WINGS Program The New Milford School District proudly provides Continuing Education for students 18 -21 years of age in our WINGS program, which helps transition young men and women for success after High School. We have students working around the community and practicing life skills on a daily basis as part of their academic transition program. Our WINGS students worked together this winter to build a Gingerbread House for the Holidays, which is on display to the left.    UPCOMING EVENTS:  (visit the school webpages for more specific information) January 2  - School Resumes (please be on time) January 9 - NMHS National Honor Society Induction (7:00pm in the NMHS Auditorium) January 15 - David E. Owens Middle School Spelling Bee (During the school day) January 15 - Gibbs Winter Concert (6:30pm in the NMHS Auditorium) January 16 - Berkley Winter Concert (7:00pm in the NMHS Auditorium) January 17 - Short Session for students / Professional Development for teachers January 20 - Martin Luther King Day (Schools Closed) GO KNIGHTS

Monday, Dec 23 2024

November Newsletter: Office of the Superintendent

NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER Dear School Community,          November proved to be an interesting month, not just with the unseasonably nice weather, but also with the prolonged drought, the wildfires in North Jersey, and of course, the Elections. I always wonder how students react to these types of things, especially the younger ones. When I ask kids about certain topics, I am still always surprised with how much they are actually aware of---they are aware of a lot. As a parent I have to remember even with my own children, that these events serve as opportunities to talk to our kids. It is a great way for parents to share their perspective, their wisdom, and their values. After all, if we do not, Tic-Toc, Instagram, streaming TV, Blogs, and Social Media, will all certainly get their attention and unfortunately guide them in their own way. As parents, we are an important source of information and perspective for our children.       On another note, Thanksgiving is here. To those that cook for this great holiday, please know that those of us who do not cook, appreciate you - we know it is not easy. Thanksgiving is one of the best holidays because it has nothing to do with the pressures of buying gifts or presents. Rather, Thanksgiving is simply about spending time with family/friends, eating great food, watching football (if that is your thing), and of course, being thankful.  I am thankful for many things in my life and being part of New Milford is certainly one of them. Please enjoy the time off. In this Newsletter are some Highlights from October-November, as well as, upcoming   events. Sincerely, Peter Galasso Superintendent of Schools DISTRICT UPDATES New Milford School District Assessment Presentation Results from the 2023-2024 State Assessments The New Milford School District held its annual Data Presentation at its October 16th Board of Education Meeting. Results from the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA), as well as, the Dynamic Learning Maps Assessment (DLM) were presented for comment. As always there are positive takeaways, but also areas of growth that the District must target. The Presentation contains a lot of data that pertains to your child(ren)'s Individual Score Report (ISR), which was mailed home. As always, if you have any questions about your child's progress, please reach out first to your child's teacher.   2023-2024 State Assessment Presentation (NJSLA & DLM) Morning Drop Off Procedures Morning drop offs at schools can be challenging, but this is the case for every school in Bergen County. Our four schools range from 450 - 600 students being dropped off  in a 20 minute time span.  Please use the outlined drop off procedures at your child(ren)'s respective school.  Also, please obey the traffic laws including; posted no drop off zones, designated one way streets,  do not K turn in driveways and on streets, or block resident driveways while dropping off students. The more everyone follows the rules the safer  and more efficient drop-offs will be.  Lunch Coordinator Position Available Berkley School is very much in need of a Lunch Coordinator. The role is a great part time position that works from 10:00am to 2:00pm every day. The position helps organize the lunch count and helps facilitate distribution of the lunches to the students. Please contact Dr. Chrisomalis, the Berkley Principal, at cchrisomalis@nmpsd.org for more details. Your help would be appreciated.  Inside the Schools NMHS Fall Drama - 12 Incompetent Jurors The High School students, under the Direction of Mr. Preet and Ms. Korzelius, performed the play " 12 Incompetent Jurors " which is a parody of the acclaimed film,  12 Angry Men . The cast and crew worked extremely hard preparing for the drama and it paid off as they brought comedy and light-heartedness to the stage during their 3 night performances this past week. David E. Owens Part of Education is providing opportunities for students take part in a cause greater than themselves. Community Service is essential to any healthy community. I am happy to see that at DEO there are plenty of opportunities to 'get involved', from Food Pantry Collections, to a Pink out to raise awareness and money for Breast Cancer, or simply writing letters of support to Flood Victims down south. Also in David E. Owens News; we would like to congratulate 3 students who tried out and were selected to the Bergen County Middle School Band and Chorus, which is made up of the top musicians/vocalists in the County.  The County Band and Chorus performed at Ramsey High School last Sunday. Charlie Gensler (Tuba), Kiana San Pedro (Voice) and Anika Thomas (Voice) all performed with their respective ensembles. The District is proud of them for their hard work and willingness to perform at the highest of levels.  NMHS Sports Review: As the fall season comes to an end, we are happy to say that a number of our sporting teams at the high school level won games in the state tournament and even won a league Championship.  Cross County Champions : Cross Country won its first league Title under the leadership of Greg Kelly. Girls Volleyball: The team made it to the second round of the State Tournament by defeating Kinnelon in the first round. Head Coach, Sheila Clancy, also picked up her 200th career win this season. Even though the team lost in the second round of the state playoffs, they fought right to the end.  High School Football : The Knights finished their season with a 7 win and only 3 loss record. The Knight's made it to the North 1, Group 1 semifinals. Gibbs School Detective Spina and his K-9 named 'Gucci' visited BF Gibbs on Monday, November 18. Gucci showed the students how he works closely with Detective Spina to help keep our community safe. Needless to say, the students were excited to watch Gucci perform, illustrating how well trained the dogs of the K9 unit are.   Gibbs also hosted a visit from a Robotics Club which showed our elementary students how the team members work together to build a functional robot and then compete across the state against other Robotics Clubs.   Berkley Veteran Letters Mrs. Gitto, a Berkley 4th grade teacher, spearheaded a student card drive to send to Veterans residing in the Paramus Memorial Home. It was a wonderful way to honor our Veteran's service and a great learning experience for our students. The cards were distributed to the Veterans Home and days later the school received an official thank-you letter from the Supervisor stating " We are most grateful to you for helping to enhance the quality of life for our Veterans." We can all agree our veterans deserve to be celebrated and I am glad the Berkley School is making time for just this.  UPCOMING EVENTS:  (visit the school webpages for more specific information) November 21   - NMHS and DEO Report Cards Released (available online) - please review with your child(ren) November 28-29  - Thanksgiving Recess December 4  - Board of Ed Meeting (7:00pm in NMHS Media Center) December 5  - Post Secondary Planning Night for NMHS Juniors going to be Seniors (6:30pm - 7:30pm) December 12  - NMHS Winter Concert (7:00pm in the NMHS Auditorium) December 17  - DEO Winter Concert (7:00pm in the DEO Cafeteria) December 23 - January 1  - Winter Break, no school for students Congratulations to the grade 5 and 6 Football Team as they are Super Bowl Champions.  GO KNIGHTS

Wednesday, Nov 27 2024

October Newsletter: Office of the Superintendent

Dear School Community,             September is officially behind us and hopefully we have all settled into the school routine again, which can be hectic at times. I even watch my own household routines in the morning, and I give my wife a tremendous amount of credit for getting all my kids dressed, fed, and off to different schools on time with a lunch --- in fact she should get all of the credit. I am deliberately out the door at around 6:45 am, so that morning rush all falls on the shoulders of my wife. Routine is so important as it adds consistency to what we do, makes things predictable, more efficient, and in the end, less stressful. We all need less stress in our lives. I am hoping your family's routine is working, and if not, don't be afraid to tweak it, map it out and try new things. I thank-you for working to get the kids to school on time, fed, and ready to learn. It is no small task and is very much appreciated by my entire staff.  School attendance is one of the biggest contributing factors to a student's success in school and builds great habits for their post-school career.              As we head into October let's keep the positive momentum going. The staff are dedicated to your children and the students have brought great energy to the schools, which makes for a nice learning environment, as well as. a fun place to come to work everyday. Below you will find some information about the happenings and highlights going on in the District. I want to thank-you again for being an integral part of the school community. New Milford has proven to be everything I thought it was; an excellent town and school system. In fact, the New Milford High School was ranked in the top 25 High Schools in Bergen County, which you can read about below. If you ever have any questions, please reach out to any of our District staff. We are always here to help. Please enjoy your weekend. Sincerely, Peter Galasso Superintendent of Schools DISTRICT UPDATES New Milford High School Ranked in the top 25 Best Public High Schools in Bergen County According to the Daily Voice, Niche, which is a company that provides in depth profiles, reviews and ratings of schools, ranked the 25 best public High Schools in Bergen County. The rankings were based on a combination of; Academics, Culture and Diversity, Surveys, Teachers, Clubs and Activities, Resources/Facilities, and Sports. A list of the rankings can be found here:  Top 25 Public High Schools in Bergen County Link District Assessment Schedule Link Assessment Schedule All parents have a right to know what District assessments are being administered to their children. To that effect, every year school districts publish a District Assessment schedule which indicates the name of the assessment, grade levels assessed, sample problems, testing dates, parent resources, etc. If you have any questions about an assessment, please reach out to your child's teacher or counselor.   DEO has 2 National Winners 2 students pictured left, Eden Clark and Sebastian Camaj placed in a National Contest in the InvestWrite Stock Market Game. Eden placed FIRST in the entire nation, as well as, FIRST in the State of New Jersey. Sebastian took THIRD place in the entire nation. Pictured with them is their proud teacher, Mrs. Daley-Picardo who has been participating in this competition for over 20 years. This is the first time she has had two winners in the same year.  New Election Workers: NMHS students will serve the Borough New Milford High School, in a joint effort with the Borough and the County, trained some of our High School students to help run the election polls this November. Over 30 students participated and will be instrumental in working the polling stations. Students also get paid based on their age as much as $300 for the day. The voting process is not as simple as it used to be and this is one time where our younger generation being technology savvy, makes them very valuable to the community. Pictured to the left are the machines that the students worked with to help learn how to register voters.   Knight Mascot Visits Gibbs Mrs. Torre and the Gibbs School opened up the year with an assembly that included the Knight Mascot, loaned to the school from the Athletic Department. The Mascot was the star of the assembly, but the message given to the students about school rules and expectations will lay the foundation that will carry us through the entire year.  Pictured to the right is a selfie of the Mascot with the Principal, Mrs. Torre.  A Berkley Classroom Berkley School students have new tables that promote group learning and state of the art Smart TV's, that are touchscreen, but can also serve as its own computer. The TV's are much better than the projector SmartBoards of yesteryear because they are brighter, more responsive, and much easier to use. We are lucky to have the resources we do in New Milford and thank-you for your support. It is very much appreciated.   UPCOMING EVENTS:  (visit the school webpages for more specific information) October 9  - Elementary Parent Academy (SEL) : 6:00pm                                - College Family Night (For Seniors: 6:30pm) October 14  - 1/2 Day for Students October 15  - Board Meeting (Work Session) October 16  - Board Meeting (Regular Session): 7:00pm October 24 - The Art of Healing: 6:00pm, NMHS October 29  - Domestic Violence Awareness Symposium October 31  - Halloween; 1/2 Day for Students November 1  - School's Closed (Diwali) Bike Safety Event: 10/5/24 - 11:00AM There will be a special bike safety presentation by the New Milford Police Department on October 5th, 2024. This is an important event for all students who routinely ride their bicycle to and from school, but also on the weekends. We have had several incidents already where students are getting struck by cars while riding their bicycles and/or scooters. Walk, Bike, Talk - Safety Event Flyer GO KNIGHTS

Friday, Oct 04 2024

Office of the Superintendent - New Milford School Di...

New Milford Public Schools       Office of the Superintendent  ----------------------------------------------------------------- September 7, 2024 Dear New Milford Parents and Guardians,   I hope the first few days of school went well for your family. The students bring a very welcomed energy to the hallways and classrooms of our buildings. Sure, quiet schools in July and August are a nice little breather, but we did not get into the business of education to work in empty schools. The students are what make this profession all worthwhile.    As excited and fortunate as we are to have had a smooth opening of our schools in New Milford, other districts have not been so fortunate. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to the school in Georgia and now in Maryland, as senseless violence continues to impact schools across the country. I cannot imagine what those communities are experiencing right now. The frequency of these events is alarming; according to an Education Weekly analysis, in 2023 alone, over 30 school shootings have resulted in death or injury.   These maddening events serve as a catalyst for conversation and reflection for our district leadership on how we keep our students safe in our own schools every single day. I want to assure you that we are dedicated in our commitment to providing your children a safe and secure learning environment. Even after only being here several weeks, it is reassuring to hear all that New Milford has in place regarding the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff.  We are fortunate to have a strong partnership with the New Milford Police Department, who are equally dedicated to keeping acts of violence out of the community. We currently have two School Resource Officers (SRO’s) who are assigned to the High School and David E. Owens Middle School, as well as, Special Law Enforcement Officers (SLEO’s) assigned to both elementary schools. All of these officers are visible inside and outside of our buildings, and interact with our teachers and students daily, fostering relationships as they monitor the schools. With the officers, our administration and teachers conduct security drills regularly to be prepared for any scenario that may present itself. Our buildings and procedures surpass state recommendations for security, for example; our building and grounds are equipped with High Definition cameras, all visitors are required to enter through the main entrances of our buildings and are screened by trained staff, and buildings are equipped with a Lockdown Emergency Notification System (LENS), that gives staff the ability to lockdown the schools immediately while simultaneously alerting law enforcement should such a threat arise.    We recognize that communication with our students is also a principal tenant in keeping our schools safe. We have dedicated counseling and wellness staff available throughout the day to provide support to our children. As part of our preparation and training we also have threat assessment teams established to swiftly evaluate and implement measures as needed. Furthermore, the district has structures in place to monitor student communication on all our devices that alert staff immediately to any potential threat so it can be investigated.    With all that being said, it takes a partnership with the community to keep our students safe. Please help us continue to keep our schools safe by; Abiding by all school entry procedures and safety protocols for each building. Being aware and involved in the happenings of your child(ren)’s lives both in and out of school.  Talking with you child(ren) and encouraging them to reach out to any adult (teacher, counselor, administrator, coach) if they have any information regarding potential harm to themselves or others. We have a District Student Assistance Counselor (SAC), Mrs. Doreen Zacher, that can be contacted should you have questions, concerns, or just need advice regarding a situation. The SAC serves the entire district to address the social emotional needs of our students. Mrs. Zacher’s email is dzacher@nmpsd.org .  I hope this letter gives you some reassurance and a better understanding of some of the security and safety measures we have in place in the New Milford School District.  Even before education, safety is the number one priority in all our schools.  On a brighter note, we have our first full week of school starting on Monday, September 9. I look forward to seeing all the students spirited and excited to come to school.  Have a nice rest of your weekend. Sincerely, Peter Galasso Superintendent New Milford Public School District

Saturday, Sep 07 2024

Superintendent Introduction - New Milford School Dis...

New Milford Public Schools       Office of the Superintendent  ----------------------------------------------------------------- August 16, 2024           As I officially begin my tenure as Superintendent of the New Milford School District, I want to introduce myself and express my excitement about the opportunity to lead our schools. New Milford has always been a special place for me personally since I started my career here as a teacher 21 years ago. Though some things have changed over the years, there are others aspects that are ingrained in the character of New Milford and remain the same today. Then and now, New Milford is a town that embodies hard work, diversity, and a strong sense of community ---- such things can be hard to find elsewhere. There is no doubt in my mind that working together we can use these attributes to build on prior successes and enrich an already special school district.            When my 10-year-old son found out that I was going to be a Superintendent, he was not too excited as he had no idea what a Superintendent does, or who his district’s Superintendent was. That is not what I want for the New Milford School District. The strength of New Milford resides in its community. My goal is to be a full member of this community, working together in the best interests of our children so they can be successful post-high school in whatever path they choose. As parents, as educators, and as a community, preparing our children for the future is our fundamental priority, second only to ensuring that they are safe while under our care. Our work together must continue to reflect these common goals.            While working together doesn’t mean that we always agree, it does require us to be open to listen to each other. Examining each other’s perspectives, learning about others’ experiences, and showing empathy will not only strengthen us individually, but also sustain us as a community. I look forward to listening and continuing to learn more about our school district, our community, and our students. I have already started meeting with key stakeholders in the town as well as the school district, and plan to continue doing so in the coming months.            I would also like to gain as much feedback as possible about your own family’s experiences in the school district. In the coming days I will be sending out a brief survey that will allow me to gather more perspective about our district and help shape our plans for the future. Please be on the lookout for this brief survey; I would greatly appreciate your feedback.            Until then, please know that all district staff are working hard to prepare for the opening of school in September. Please enjoy the remaining weeks of summer with your family as the time will certainly fly by. The staff and I are looking forward to a productive and rewarding school year.  Sincerely, Peter Galasso Superintendent New Milford Public School District

Friday, Aug 16 2024