CUSD Newsletter

“WE EITHER MAKE OURSELVES MISERABLE OR MAKE OURSELVES STRONG.

THE AMOUNT OF WORK IS THE SAME,”

- Carlos Castenada

Good Afternoon, CUSD,

We are sending out the newsletter early today so we can head out to the Village Elementary Harvest Hoedown. It’s a beautiful day for a carnival - and a kick-off to the three day weekend!

Congratulations to everyone in our school community - students, staff, parents, and our education partners - on receiving an A+ score from Niche. The Niche rankings are based on a variety of factors other than just test scores and reflect a more holistic view (measuring academics, student life and culture, teachers, and extracurriculars). CUSD was one of only 4 districts in the county to receive an A+ score (and the only one that is not a Basic Aid district!). We are so proud of this recognition for the amazing work you all do! Read the summary here.

Speaking of excellence - congratulations to the NJROTC Islander Company on the recent Neptune Olympics event they organized and hosted for regional JROTC programs. Our newsroom has the story!

Next Friday is opening night for the COSA production of Alice by Heart - a family-friendly and touching musical which explores themes of grief, loss, and first love against the backdrop of World War II's London Blitz. Check here for more information about this fall production as well as other COSA happenings, like the always-fun DigArts Horror Nights on October 28 & 30.

The October Governing Board Meeting will be held next Thursday at 4pm. The agenda can be found here on the website 72 hours before the meeting.

Enjoy the long weekend. See you next Tuesday

Karl J. Mueller

Superintendent

View Agendas, Minutes, and Video Recordings here

View Board Member Open Office Hours here

As our educators, parents, and community come together to connect, challenge, and champion our students, we are humbled by the outpouring of compliments. What a positive testament to our CUSD family!

• Kenneth Rue is very conscientious about his custodial duties and takes great care in maintaining and sanitizing our rooms and bathroom facilities. He regularly replenishes supplies, cleanses tables, vacuums and dusts bookshelves, teacher work stations and mini-lab furniture. Kenneth pays attention to specific needs or requests in each room and from each teacher in a prompt and efficient manner. Daily, Kenneth politely asks if it is a convenient time for him to enter the classrooms and perform his duties if a teacher is in their classroom. He is a member of the custodial department who understands the occasional need for privacy if a teacher is working with a student or meeting with parents or other teachers.
• Danielle Cheir is a patient, dedicated, and highly professional educator who fiercely advocates for every student on her caseload. She arrives at work each day with a bright smile and a generous heart, ready to meet the unique needs of every learner she supports. The effort and care she puts into ensuring her students succeed is nothing short of extraordinary. The Village community is incredibly fortunate to have Danielle. Her unwavering commitment to student success makes a meaningful difference every single day.
• Jen Cahill: We are incredibly grateful for Jen and the unwavering support she provides our son. Her ability to truly see him, for all that he is, meet him where he’s at, and love him wholeheartedly means the world to us. Under her guidance, we’ve watched our son grow from a shy, reserved student into one who now contributes to classroom conversations with confidence and poise. Most of all, we are so thankful for the way she cares for him and supports the wonderfully unique young man he is becoming. Thank you, Jen!
• Congrats to the SSES PTO on their successful Penny Wars. All that change had to be counted daily and updates out to the community. We hope this tradition continues.
• Ana Maynez: I am so grateful for the dedication and care of Ms. Ana, who has shown an incredible ability to connect with and understand the needs of our students. She is deeply in tune with student behaviors and provides thoughtful, compassionate support that makes a true difference each day. Her commitment not only helps individual students thrive, but also enriches the entire classroom environment. Thanks to her patience, insight, and kindness, our students are learning and growing in a space where they feel understood and supported. We are so thankful to have you as part of our Voyager Crew.

Click here to recognize an employee or volunteer who goes above and beyond to make a difference. Those who are "caught" will receive a copy of the positive words that were shared about them and a "Caught Being Awesome" decal. Please take a minute or two to brighten someone else's day!

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