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Thursday, April 23: BOE Meeting @ 475 Valley Road

Thursday, May 7: BOE PWS Meeting @ 475 Valley Road

Thursday, May 21: BOE Meeting @ 475 Valley Road

Friday, May 22: Minimal Day - Start of Memorial Day Weekend

Monday, May 25: Schools Closed - Memorial Day

Tuesday, June 2: Schools Closed - Election Day

Thursday, June 11: BOE Meeting @ 50 Nellis Drive

Tuesday, June 23: Minimal Day for all Students

Wednesday, June 24: Minimal Day for all Students / Last Day of School for Students 

Thursday, June 25: Staff In-Service Day / Last Day for all Teaching Staff

Review the District Calendar and add no-school and other important dates to your personal calendar!

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High School Athletes of the Month

Wayne Hills Athlete February: Parker Gentile

Wayne Hills swimmer Parker Gentile has been named the school’s Athlete of the Month for February, her second such honor in two years of swimming for Hills. She earned it after another strong season in the pool that included postseason honors, record-setting performances and a trip to the Meet of Champions.

Gentile, now a sophomore, first made a name for herself last season when she burst onto the scene as a freshman and quickly began rewriting entries in the Wayne Hills record book. She was named Athlete of the Month for December 2024. This winter she continued her success, consistently delivering strong results in both individual races and relay events.

February proved to be one of Gentile’s strongest months of Gentile's season. In dual meet competition and the NJSIAA North 1 Group B tournament, she continued to dominate her signature event, the 100 backstroke. She finished first with a time of 1:06.92 in the sectional quarterfinals against Tenafly on Feb. 5, extending a season-long pattern of top finishes in the event.

Article by John "Ferris" Meredith/Photo by Margaret Quintavella Read more at TapIntoWayne

Wayne Valley Athlete February: Diana Sanson

Wayne Valley senior Diana Sanson kept improving as the indoor track postseason progressed in February, culminating in the best performance of her career at the Group 3 State Championship and earning a spot among the state’s top female shot put throwers.

That run has earned Sanson recognition as Wayne Valley’s February Athlete of the Month.

“Diana Sanson has had a great indoor season for us,” Wayne Valley head track coach Doug Flower said. “She has been named 1st team All-Conference and All-County in the shot put.”

In February, she first competed at the North 1 Group 3 State Sectional, where she finished fifth with a throw of 35 feet, 5 inches. The result “was a good throw, but not her best,” according to Flower. "But it qualified her for the Group 3 State Championship."

At that meet, Sanson delivered the strongest performance of her season.

Article by John "Ferris" Meredith/Photo by Doug Flower Read more at TapIntoWayne

Wayne Valley Students Qualify for DECA Nationals!

Harrah’s Resort hosted nearly 11,000 students from around New Jersey to show off their business knowledge. 22 kids from Wayne Valley participated in this exciting event. Vansh Parmar and Gavin Magno participated as a duo in the Entrepreneurship Start Up Business Plan presentations. Against several students from several schools, Vansh and Gavin qualified in 6th place for ICDC, the International Career Development Conference! This is a huge accomplishment and honor, and they are the first Wayne Valley students to ever qualify for DECA nationals.

Statewide Testing Update - New Adaptive System 2026

At the end of the month, Wayne students will join their classmates across the state in taking the new adaptive version of the NJSLA (New Jersey Student Learning Assessment).  A letter with more information about the assessment and a schedule detailing when students will take these assessments by grade level is forthcoming.

As stated above, the assessment will be computer‑adaptive. As your child answers questions, the test adjusts in real time. If a question is answered correctly, the next one may be slightly more challenging to allow your child an opportunity to excel. If your child struggles, the test may provide a less difficult question to support their unique learning level. This helps the assessment “zero in” on your child’s understanding more precisely.

Every student receives a different mix of questions, but all questions are reviewed together to measure the same grade-level standards and skills. Adaptive tests do not change what students are expected to know; they simply help measure those skills more accurately. This means the amount of time your child will spend taking an assessment will be significantly reduced this year. This ensures a more accurate read of their strengths and how teachers may help them going forward while protecting unnecessary loss of more instructional time.

Another key feature of the new assessment is that accommodations and modifications available to students, including classified students and multilingual learners, are built into the testing platform and more aligned with the way students receive support in their classrooms.  This will provide our students additional support in ways the previous version of the assessment did not offer.  

While the full testing letter will release next week, here are a few resources that may help educators, parents, and students review some of the new assessment's enhancements, along with our annual reminders to help your children prepare for testing:

~Wayne NJSLA Reminders - Frequently Asked Questions  - An overview of testing with some parent suggestions included.

~Wayne Electronic Device Policy during standardized testing - Please review the rules regarding cell phones, smart watches, and other devices during testing.

~The NJDOE has also set up a Frequently Asked Questions page about this assessment specifically which you can access here: https://www.nj.gov/education/assessment/adaptive/faq.shtml 

~Finally, practice tests for students or parents interested in viewing the new assessment are located here: https://nj.portal.cambiumast.com/practice-tests.html

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French Students Win First Place at MSU Competition!

This year, Mrs. Haddad’s French 4 class at Wayne Valley High School earned first place at the recent filming competition “Tableaux Vivants”  at Montclair State University. Competing against talented students from other high schools, French 4  class demonstrated outstanding skill, creativity, and determination and represented Wayne Valley High School with pride and excellence.

The students who contributed to this achievement were Andrew Gharibian, Nikhil Ivaturi, Madeline Smith, Jose Gomez, Sebastian Ortiz, Julia Wrobel, Ibrahim Khouli, Konstantina Koukoun, Ekaterina Kozhevniko, Leena Gaber and Ema Stanisavljevic. Their hard work, dedication, and teamwork truly paid off, and we are incredibly proud of their achievement!

Italian Classes Go to Eataly and the MET!

Mrs. Iannacco’s Italian III, IV, and V classes at Wayne Valley High School visited Eataly at the Short Hills mall in Short Hills, New Jersey. This trip consisted of a tour of the location, lunch, and time afterward to shop and explore the products. This was a highly informative trip with many facts about Italian food, with delicious samples from the store, many of which were imported from Italy.

Mrs. Iannacco's Italian IV/V VH classes also had the privilege of visiting The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City as part of a project on the Italian Masters.

We were especially fortunate that the exhibition on Raphael had just opened, giving students a rare opportunity to encounter his masterpieces firsthand. Seeing these works in person allowed students to engage with Renaissance art in a meaningful and memorable way.

Each student selected a piece that resonated with them, making the experience both personal and academically enriching. It was truly a unique opportunity that brought classroom learning to life.

Packanack Elementary School held their 2nd Annual Global Celebration on April 8th. It was an amazing night of sharing and celebrating 19 countries. Families traveled the globe learning about each other, eating food, playing games, and even getting henna tattoos! Thank you to all of our families and staff who helped make this night a huge success!

The Kindness Crew at Randall Carter Elementary School has partnered with a nonprofit called "Love For Our Elders" where they will create and collect homemade cards from students at Randall Carter and hand deliver them to a number of residents at CareOne Senior Living Facility in Wayne. Love For Our Elders is dedicated to fighting loneliness with love, one letter at a time. Since its founding in 2013, the organization has delivered more than 1 million handwritten letters to older adults experiencing isolation. 

Students in the Math Competitions Club from all three Middle Schools (Anthony Wayne, George Washington, and Schuyler Colfax) participated in local math competitions throughout this school year.  This group of dedicated students worked tirelessly to solve complex problems and demonstrated their mathematical aptitude on a daily basis.  We are incredibly proud of their logic, persistence, and critical thinking skills. We would like to especially recognize our mathletes who competed in the New Jersey Math League Contest from each building. Schuyler Colfax's Sixth grade team won second place overall in Passaic County, and students Ashlynn Chung and Declan Michalchuk tied for first place in the region.  Additionally, Sebastian Zeleke from Schuyler Colfax placed second in the region for Grade 8.  At Anthony Wayne, Aathreya Manivasagan Sinthujaa won first place for seventh grade in the region and Layth Kashoqa won second place for eighth grade in the region.  Students also competed in other local contests and were very successful, including Abiageal Devine, Isha Shah, Kenzo Wichterman, Gabrielle Michaud, and Anahit Balagyozyan, who were the winners of the AMTNJ Building Contest and represented George Washington Middle School as the Contest Team. Congratulations to these students, as well as all the other members of the Math Competitions Club Teams. Keep up the great work!

The Theunis Dey Green Team, led by teachers Melissa Stein-Ortiz and Keri DelloBuono, delivered presentations during each lunch period about how students can bring a zero-waste lunch to school every day. During the presentations, students explained the importance of reducing waste and how less garbage can positively impact the environment. They also encouraged their peers to bring reusable items to school, such as containers, silverware, and reusable water bottles.

The team emphasized the importance of recycling to help keep items out of landfills. To promote participation, Green Team members created a schoolwide competition in which they will tally the number of students who bring waste-free lunches on designated days. These tallies will be recorded and counted, and each week the class with the highest number of waste-free lunches will be recognized.

Green Team members were excited to take action and make a positive impact on the environment.

SCMS 8th Grader Daisy Burton Plays at Carnegie Hall

Daisy Burton, an eighth grader at Schuyler-Colfax Middle School, had the high honor of performing flute at Carnegie Hall in New York City this past weekend after placing third in the American Protege International Woodwind and Brass Competition. Ms. Burton entered the American Protege music competition series with Sonata V by Handel. For this particular recital, Ms. Burton was one of 41 performers, ranging in age from six to collegiate-aged musicians. Pictured is Daisy Burton with her flute teacher and piano accompanist, Mr. Edward Easse, who is the vocal music teacher at Theunis Dey School. Congratulations to Daisy on this incredible achievement! 

The Wayne Education Association F.A.S.T. Program (Families And Schools Together) is thrilled to celebrate the success of our recent partnership with Mad Science! Throughout the month of March, we opened the laboratory doors for three incredible nights of discovery, experiments, and family fun, bringing our community together in the name of science.

In this special series of events, we invited all nine elementary schools to "dive into the lab" at their future middle school homes. This provided a wonderful opportunity for K-5 students and their parents to get comfortable at Schuyler Colfax, Anthony Wayne, and George Washington middle schools while engaging in high-energy learning.

Designed specifically for our elementary scientists, each evening featured a mix of spectacle and DIY discovery. The events were packed with excitement, including:

* Interactive Mad Science Shows: Families were treated to a "hair-raising" performance filled with surprising chemical reactions and physics-defying demonstrations.
* Discovery Tables: Interactive stations where curiosity took center stage, allowing students to explore the wonders of the natural world up close.
* The "Make-and-Take" Slime Station: A crowd favorite! Every student got their hands messy and walked away with their very own scientific creation to take home.

As a family-centered event, it was inspiring to see parents and students working side-by-side. While space was limited to ensure a hands-on experience for everyone, the enthusiasm across all three dates, March 4, 18, and 25, was undeniable.

An event of this scale requires incredible teamwork. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the administrators, custodial staff, and faculty at Schuyler Colfax, Anthony Wayne, and George Washington middle schools. Their hard work in preparing the facilities and welcoming our elementary families ensured these nights were seamless and successful.

Finally, a huge thank you to the WEA F.A.S.T. Program for sponsoring these wonderful events. We can’t wait to see what these young scientists do next!

Congratulations to Mrs. Klink of SCMS on receiving the Discoveries in Education Award from Rowan University. This honor recognizes educators who demonstrate innovation, leadership, and a lasting impact on their students and community, qualities Mrs. Klink exemplifies every day.

We’re also thrilled to celebrate Thor, who recently completed his 250th visit to SCMS! In recognition of this incredible milestone, he has earned the title Therapy Dog Excellent (THDX) from his agency.

We are so proud of Mrs. Klink and Thor for their outstanding achievements!

Paws and Claws Club Highlights

Paws and Claws is an exciting club for kindergarten, first, and second grade students at Ryerson Elementary School, led by Ms. Biggiani and Ms. Martorano. Each week, our young animal lovers dive into the fascinating world of wildlife!

We kick off every meeting with a “Guess the Animal” game. Students are given three clues and love trying to figure out which animal we’ll be learning about that day. The excitement builds as they listen to the clues and share their guesses!

Once the mystery animal is revealed, we head over to PebbleGo, where a student leader helps read and guide us through important facts about the animal. We enjoy videos, movement activities, and catchy songs all about our featured animal. We always wrap up our time together with a craft or activity connected to the animal of the day.

So far, our club has explored many amazing animals such as: huskies, pandas, capybaras, axolotls, emperor penguins, octopuses, and frogs! Paws and Claws has quickly become a favorite for our students! We cannot wait to explore other animals and learn all about them!

Celebrating Seven Years of Culture Club

Grab your passport, and join us for the Culture Club at Ryerson School!  Now in its seventh year, Culture Club continues to be a vibrant and enriching afterschool experience for our students.  Led by Mr. Steve Rodriguez and Mrs. Wendi Di Gangi, the club offers a unique opportunity for students to explore the world -- one country at a time, through hands-on learning and cultural immersion.

Each lesson focuses on a different country, giving students a well-rounded understanding of its culture.  

Members learn about language, music, traditional clothing, holidays, national flags, and geography, including locating each country on a map.  This multidisciplinary approach helps students build global awareness while fostering curiosity and respect for diverse cultures.

One of the highlights of Culture Club is the opportunity to experience international cuisine.  

Food serves as a meaningful connection to each culture we study, and students eagerly participate in preparing and tasting traditional dishes. We are mindful of dietary restrictions, and students who are fasting are always accommodated -- they may bring food home to enjoy after sundown.

So far, our young global explorers have traveled (through learning!) to a variety of countries:

~In India, students enjoyed fresh naan
~In Italy, they created personal pizzas
~In Costa Rica, Mr. Rodriguez prepared Moro, a traditional rice and beans dish
~In China, students practiced using chopsticks and enjoyed dumplings
~In Ireland, they sampled Irish soda bread and scones
~In Turkey, students enjoyed shawarma and baba ghanoush, generously prepared by Culture Club parents

Culture Club would not be possible without the support of our dedicated staff and families.  Parent contributions, especially in sharing homemade cultural dishes, bring authenticity and community spirit to the program.  We are proud to continue this tradition of learning, sharing, and celebrating the rich diversity of our world.  Culture Club remains a place where the students not only expand their knowledge but also build connections, appreciation, and lasting memories.

JFK Elementary 4th grade students visit the Meadowlands and go dip-netting and exploring.

This year, Makers Week took place at the Wayne Valley Media Center during the first week of March.  At Wayne Valley, over 70 classes visited the media center over Makers Week, totaling over 1,100 students.  Many of these students visited from math and science classes; however, art students, history students, English students, and fashion students enjoyed the stations at the media center as well.Students participated in STEAM activities involving 3-D pens, digital art on Wacom-one tablets, painting, legos, clay, K-Nex, magnatiles, Rubiks cubes, marble runs, science experiments, jewelry making, and more.  This year, the all new bedazzling station and stress ball creation station proved to be very popular! The week was definitely a success, and one that Wayne Valley students look forward to each year!

Relay for Life of Wayne

5/2/26@ WVHS

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