Livingston Lions Roar!
Third & Fourth Marking Periods - 2025-2026 School Year
Special Edition
This newsletter features Livingston news from 3rd and 4th marking period of the '25-'26 school year.
Table of Contents
Livingston Soccer Champions
Livingston Art Gallery & Student Artist Awards
Girls on the Run
Read Across America
Black History Month
Career Day
Farewell Mrs. Ordonez
Farewell Ms. Nubia
Autism Awareness Month
Earth Day Assembly
Livingston New Brunswick Soccer Community CHAMPIONS
May 2, 2026 - Leo and Ezequiel represented Livingston winning the New Brunswick Community Cup Soccer tournament with their team. They were interviewed by the newspaper as well for their outstanding performance. - Mr. Nunez
Top picture: Ezequiel (left) and Leo (right) pose with their team's trophy
Center picture: (left to right) Matthew, Leo, David and Ezequiel pose with the soccer trophy
Bottom picture: Ezequiel and Leo pose with Mr. Nunez, one of our physical education teachers at Livingston
Livingston Gallery Walk Recognizes Student Artists & Creativity
April 28, 2026 - Ms. Boysen, Livingston art teacher, presented Awards for Excellence in Art to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders and a beautiful gallery display of her students' impressive artwork starting in the ground floor's hallway and leading to the art classroom. It was a wonderful tribute to the hard work of her art students. The theme was The Land Tells Stories: Nature, Change and the Stories Beneath Our Feet.
Top photo: Recipients of the Excellence in Art Award pose in front of the audience with Ms. Boysen
2nd photo: A proud 3rd grade student poses in front of her & others' artwork
3rd photo: 1st grade students move view artwork displayed in the hallway gallery
4th photo: (left: Mrs. Torres, right: Ms. Boysen) Ms. Boysen gives commendation to her student artists before the audience crowd. Mrs. Torres interpreted for Spanish speaking guests.
A mother looks at the artwork of her sons.
A delighted audience of students, staff and families fill the room.
Girls on the Run 2026
May 31, 2026 - They did it!
Congratulations to our Girls on the Run team for completing the 5K. Thanks to all the families and staff who came out to support and even run with them! Shout out to Mr Nunez and Ms Carbajal for stepping up to coach this season!
Mr Nunez finished the 5k in under 25 minutes and many of our girls were near the 30 minute mark!
#GOLivingstonLions
I am so thankful for the FUN and excitement our students and families are having participating in ALL the events and activities this year. It means alot to our students when staff supports! - Ms. Wilkins
Read Across America 2026
March 6, 2026 - Read Across America featured various guest readers, a lively spirit week, an inspiring visit from New Brunswick Public School alumnus turned pro NFL player Jonathan Casillas and author Rob Ambrose. A DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) event and other exciting highlights.
Photos:
Top 2 photos: Students participate in DEAR (Drop Everything and Read), a schoolwide period of silent, independent reading. (2nd photo) Ms. Monroe monitors a line of students during DEAR time.
3rd photo: A guest police office reads a story to Ms. Urena's 4th grade class.
4th photo: Ms. Cazares poses with a parent.
5th photo: Mr. Casillas & Ms. Wilkins in front of students, as Mr. Casillas addresses the crowd.
6th photo: Mr. Casillas imparts gems to the students
Black History Month Assembly Highlights Women
March 2, 2026 - Livingston's Annual Black History month program featured student dramatic, musical and spoken presentations to celebrate Black American culture.
Top Photo: 5th grade students, Anthony and Jadrian create soul stirring rhythms on African drums with direction from Ms. Strauli (not pictured). Ms. Urena stands beside them. On stage are Ms. Urena's 4th grade students who also performed for the audience.
2nd photo: Floor: Mrs. Boxell's 3rd graders hold up afrocentric artwork. Onstage: Ms. Cazares' 3rd grade students pose from their dramatic scene performed as a skit with Ms. Lockhart's 3rd grade class.
Bottom photo: Ms. Benitez busily assists 5th graders from Ms. Ferri's class in their performance.
Ms. Peters' 4th graders present their tribute to Black History
1st grade Eloy from Mrs. Hogan and Ms. Monroe's class recites a monologue.
Mrs. Webster's 4th graders perform
Career Day 2026
Mr. B. Torres - Livingston World Language teacher Mrs. Torres' son, visited students to share information on his career path and work as an educator. He stands near a 5th grader who showed some of her artwork.
Ms. K. Favours - presented information to Mrs. Ordonez, Mrs. Rosario and Ms. Peters' fourth grade classes on her career journey. Ms. K. Favours is Livingston Vice Principal, Mrs. Favours' daughter.
May 28, 2026 - Career Day featured guests from various professions come visit Livingston and speak to students about their work and what is involved in the contributions they make to society through their employment. Guests included speakers from civil service jobs such as firemen and teachers, to people working in the medical and technology fields. Guests were served refreshments and given a warm welcome. The day was coordinated by Livingston guidance counselor Ms. Mason.
Farewell Mrs. Ordonez
June 23, 2026 - Veteran Livingston staffmember, Mrs. Lorren Ordonez announced her retirement. "Throughout her more than 26 years at Livingston, Mrs. Ordonez has touched the lives of countless students and families. Over the years, she has taught Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, and currently 4th Grade. Her dedication, kindness, patience, and commitment to her students have made a lasting impact on our entire school community. She has truly been an important part of the Livingston family and will be deeply missed." - Mrs. Rosario
A breakfast in Mrs. Ordonez's honor was hosted by the Livingston Pride Committee on June 16th, along with a card and gift from staff donations. Also a schoolwide farewell was given to her on the students' last day of school.
Mrs. Ordonez penned this goodbye to our Livingston staff and students:
"Dear Livingston Lions/Staff,
Thank you all so much for the wonderful retirement breakfast and your incredibly generous gift. I was truly touched by your thoughtfulness and kindness.
I’d like to especially thank Sharon and Tina for their planning and Ms. Pecorella, Ms. Benitez, Mrs. Shah, and Ms. Lucy for all of their help transforming and decorating Room 5 for the breakfast, Al for setting up tables and moving everything early so they could all work their magic setting up and Victor for his amazing, beautiful and creative cactuses.
It has been a privilege to work alongside such a talented, supportive, and caring group of people.
As I begin this new chapter, I will treasure the memories I take with me. Thank you for making my retirement celebration so special and for being such an important part of my journey.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Lorren Ordonez"
Mrs. Ordonez will be greatly missed by our school community.
Photos:
Top: Mrs. Ordonez poses by her cake at the staff breakfast honoring her.
2nd photo: Livingston staff past and present gather to celebrate Mrs. Ordonez
3rd photo: Mrs. Ordonez poses with her fourth grade students
4th and 5th photos: Mrs. Santisi's 2nd grade students give Mrs. Ordonez a farewell hug after hearing news of her retirement. The class was formerly taught by Mrs. Ordonez
6th photo: Beaming and giving well wishes to Mrs. Ordonez at the retirement breakfast
7th photo: Mrs. Ordonez is ready to begin her new chapter!
Farewell Ms. Nubia
Ms. Nubia Gonzalez, Livingston's former building maintenance supervisor retired in late March 2026. Her hard work, dedication and commitment to Livingston students and staff is greatly appreciated and will be missed. Our entire Livingston maintenance team is awesome, but we wish Ms. Nubia farewell and a happy retirement.
Top photo: Ms. Nubia flanked by Ms. Wilkins and Mrs. Favours
bottom photo: Ms. Nubia holds her bouquet in front of the entire student and staff body of Livingston in a touching goodbye
Autism Awareness 2026
April 27, 2026 - Autism Awareness Month at Livingston is summarized by Mrs. Vas this way: "Our goal is to support students in developing a deeper awareness of neurodiversity while fostering a classroom community rooted in respect, kindness, and acceptance." The month closed out with an Autism Bubble Event of students displaying original posters they designed with messages of acceptance & inclusion, celebrating differences, and kindness and belonging. The school wide celebration happened on a day with perfect weather.
Earth Day Assembly Teaches Important Lessons in a Fun Format
April 22, 2026 - Professor W.'s Earth Circus: Recycle and Litter Earth Day Assembly was a highly interactive assembly performed by the Grand Falloons. Livingston students laughed and learned in this program presenting important information in a lighthearted manner. "Children learned the value of reducing waste, understanding what litter is and how and why we recycle." (quote excerpt from The Huntingtonian)