10-08-2025

Each year, New Jersey’s Governor’s Educator of the Year (GEOY) program provides an opportunity to recognize exceptional educators who go above and beyond for our students. This program honors both classroom teachers and educational services professionals (such as counselors, media specialists, child study team members, and others) who make a lasting impact on students’ lives.

We encourage you to take part in this meaningful program by nominating a teacher or educational services professional who has made a positive difference for your child and our school community.

CLICK HERE for the nomination form —please consider submitting your entry to help us celebrate the outstanding educators who inspire and support our students each day! Forms can be submitted to your child's school principal.

• 10/13 - Schools Closed for Students - Professional Day for Staff
• 11/4 - Election Day: Schools Closed for Students - Professional Day for Staff
• 11/6 & 11/7 - Schools Closed for NJEA Convention
• 11/12 & 11/13 & 11/14 - K-5 Parent Conferences - Early Dismissal K-5 ONLY

• 10/8, 9, 10 - STUCO Spirit Week @ HHS
• 10/10 - HHS Homecoming Game & Ceremony and Cubs Night
• 10/10 - Spirit Day RES
• 10/15 - 8th Grade Open House at HHS
• 10/18 - Trunk or Treat RES
• 10/23 - Band Pasta Dinner
• 10/24 - Spirit Day WES
• 10/24 - Hispanic Celebration HHS
• 10/24 - Halloween Dance JES
• 10/24 - Halloween Dance LMS
• 10/25 - Trunk or Treat WES
• 10/27 - Teddy Roosevelt's Birthday!
• 10/30 - Laps for Lincoln LMS
• 10/31 - Halloween Parade JES
• 10/31 - Halloween Parade WES
• 10/31 - Halloween Parade RES

📅Tuesday, November 11, 2025

🕒6:30pm

📍Washington Elementary School Gym

Click here to download Washington ML Parent Engagement Night flyer

📅Thursday, November 20, 2025

🕒6:30pm

📍Roosevelt Elementary School Gym

Click here to download Roosevelt ML Parent Engagement Night flyer

Bringing learning to life, our transition program hosts a monthly student-run café, the Bear Cave Café . Once a month, the students at the Bear Cave transform their transition house into a cozy little restaurant, complete with homemade meals and friendly service. In the weeks leading up to café day, students work together to plan a menu, design flyers, and take orders from the community. They shop for ingredients, prepare delicious entrees, and bake sweet treats for dessert. On the big day, everyone has a role - whether it’s greeting guests, serving food, handling the register, or working in the kitchen. This hands-on experience helps students build teamwork, communication, and vocational skills in a real-world setting. It’s amazing to see their hard work come together, and the cafe has quickly become a favorite event thanks to the incredible support of our community! Due to the cafe’s popularity, reservations are capped, with one dine-in seating offered at 11:30 AM. A take-out option is also available for those who prefer to enjoy their meals on the go. We are thankful for the ongoing support from our families and the community that makes this event such a success!

Family PE Week is back at Thomas Jefferson School! This is a new tradition that Mrs. Phiefer started last year. Family PE Week is part of a national movement to promote active and healthy lifestyles by inviting parents and guardians to participate in their child's PE class. According to Mrs. Phiefer, "Daily physical activity has many benefits for kids, such as increasing their energy, focus, and readiness to learn and reducing stress and anxiety. Of course, physical activity has benefits for people of all ages, so helping my students’ families be active together is one of my physical education goals." Over 200 guests signed up to participate this year! Great job Jaguars!

Roosevelt Roughriders went gold in support of pediatric cancer research! Once a Roughrider, always a Roughrider — and we couldn’t be prouder of Ella for spearheading this meaningful fundraiser.

We are proud to recognize our Responsible Roughriders! These students consistently demonstrate responsibility in their actions and serve as positive role models within our school community.

We are also proud to recognize our Responsible Staff Member, who sets such a strong example each day.

This must be the place! Keep up the great work, Roughriders!

Our Roughriders showed their Hawthorne Pride at Hawthorne Day! From pumpkin painting to horseback riding, and of course a sweet ice cream treat, it was a fantastic day filled with fun, laughter, and smiles. We loved seeing our Roughriders enjoying every moment!

Our staff joined HHS to raise money for pediatric cancer awareness!

Our 2nd annual Film on the Field was a big hit!

Washington School Takes on Hawthorne Day!

Congratulations to our students and staff who most exemplified the character trait of RESPONSIBILITY for the month of September. Go Wildcats!

Lincoln Middle School is buzzing with excitement over this year’s incredible variety of clubs! With something for everyone, students have the chance to explore new interests, make friends, and get involved in the school community. New additions like E-Sports Club, Sports Debate Club, Literary Magazine Club, Multi-Cultural Club, and Volleyball Club are already generating lots of enthusiasm. Whether you're into reading, building, creating, performing, or competing, there's a club for all students at LMS!

Ms. Dockray, HHS Culinary Arts teacher, welcomed Ms. Wilfoeser, an Admissions Counselor from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, to speak with Culinary Arts 2 students today. During her visit, Ms. Wilfoeser shared valuable information about the programs available at CIA, as well as the application process for students who are passionate about pursuing culinary arts after high school. Ms. Dockray added, “The Culinary Arts II classes enjoyed a presentation from Chef Taralynn from CIA. They learned about a plethora of programs and degrees offered as well as job placement and studying abroad. The students also experienced four different chocolate tastings and won a few prizes answering fun facts about the school and campuses.” This engaging presentation gave students a taste of what their future in the culinary world could look like while also providing a wonderful opportunity to learn about the next steps toward turning their passion for food into a career.

HHS Open House

October 15, 2025

7:00pm - 8:30pn

Join us for the Hawthorne High School Open House on Wednesday, October 15th at 7:00 PM in the HHS Auditorium. Students and families will learn about our outstanding academic programs—including Dual Enrollment, AP, and Honors—along with our wide variety of electives in Art, Broadcasting, Culinary, Theater, Dance, Music, Business, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Sports Medicine, Engineering, and Careers in Education. You’ll also hear about our many clubs, activities, and athletics. Tours of the building will be available, and families will have the opportunity to meet our high school athletic coaches. Don’t miss this exciting evening to see all that HHS has to offer!

Ms. Graber shared, "The Marching Bears competed for the second time last weekend with their show “Back to the 80s.” The performance in Pequannock Township earned the band a trophy and a score of 76.2, a seven point leap from their first competition two weeks ago. We’re very proud of our hard work and excited to keep growing!"

Ms. Grunfeld (Sonia) shared, "Junior Performing Arts Club and Dance Team members Ella Alberta and Faith Martinez did a wonderful job representing Hawthorne High School at the Hispanic Heritage Festival last Saturday! Their performances showcased both talent and school spirit. It was a great day of celebration and community pride, and we’re so proud of our students for their outstanding work and enthusiasm!"

The Hawthorne Cubs Football and Cheerleading Teams had all their games at Hawthorne High School on Saturday, September 27. The Mighty Mites, Pee Wees, Juniors and Seniors all had a chance to play and perform on our field. It was a great atmosphere and players and coaches were all excited about the opportunity!

HHS Volleyball picked up 2 wins this week with wins over Orange and Saddle Brook. Simone Green continues to be on fire for the Bears!

HHS Girls Soccer picked up another win this week over Secaucus. Olivia Passero added 3 goals and an assist.

The Senior Cubs Football Team were guests of the Bears Football Team at their weekly team dinner! Thank you to all the parents that made it possible to bring our present and future Bears together!

Patrick Elliot

Mr. Patrick is such an important part of our school community. All day long, he moves around the school helping others with a smile and a positive attitude. Each morning, you can find him clearing off the playground to make sure it’s safe for the kids to play. He’s also quick to help students retrieve a ball that went over the fence or lend a hand wherever he’s needed. Over the summer, Mr. Patrick worked extra hard to get the building ready for the new school year. He is always looking for ways to help, and we are so lucky to have him at our school!

Vienna Fasciano

Vienna Fasciano is a third-grade student at Thomas Jefferson School who enjoys playing with her dog and cheering for the Hawthorne Cubs on the weekends. As a hearing-impaired student, Vienna has achieved success both inside and outside the classroom, inspiring everyone in our community with her resilience and spirit. She is a remarkable student whose determination, kindness, and leadership shine every day. Responsible and dependable, Vienna consistently sets a positive example for her classmates through her insight, engagement, and perseverance. Whether tackling a new challenge or lending a helping hand, she approaches every situation with compassion and maturity. Friendly and inclusive, Vienna makes those around her feel valued and supported. A hardworking student-athlete who loves her friends and cheer, Vienna truly embodies the spirit of Jefferson School, and we are so fortunate to have her as part of our community.

Eva Parsons

Eva earned the Principal's Award for displaying the "Good Character Theme of the Month": Responsibility! She is an exemplary student, friend and classmate. In her free time Eva plays piano and soccer. She has three siblings: Jackson (HHS Senior), Audrey (HHS Sophomore) and Oliver (LMS 7th grader) and dog named Ellie. Her favorite Roosevelt School memory is when she used to go to school with her brother!

Ella Maddox

Ella is Washington School's Spotlight Student for always being a student we can depend on. Not only is she actively involved in all of our school activities, but this past month she was literally the voice of Washington School when she helped our school send a voice message home to our families inviting everyone to our Back To School Night! We are so proud of Ella.

Dominic Tafuri

Dominic, a 7th grader at LMS, consistently demonstrates kindness and respect in everything he does. During class activities and assignments, he is always ready to help his classmates, making sure no one feels left behind. His thoughtfulness extends beyond his peers as he greets teachers and staff each morning with a warm smile and a cheerful “Good morning” or “Have a great day!” Dominic is an active member of the Social Studies Club, LMS Student Council, Kindness Club, and the LMS News Team, where he continues to share his positivity and leadership. He truly embodies the “B” in BE A BEAR by “Being Kind” to everyone in the LMS community.

Ester Zerjas

When Ester first arrived in the United States, she was hoping to find a school that felt open, friendly, and welcoming—and that’s exactly what she found at Hawthorne High School. She shares that HHS “makes every effort to help everyone feel part of a community—to feel at home.” Ester has taken on leadership roles and found ways to help others. She often assists classmates with English, Math, and History, and she now serves as the Secretary of the new Multicultural Club. She also enjoys welcoming new students to the English as a Second Language program, helping them feel as comfortable as she once hoped to be. Since arriving just a year ago, Ester has earned several proud achievements—being named Student of the Month, maintaining high academic grades, and steadily improving her communication skills. Most of all, she’s proud of the friendships she’s built: “I came here not knowing anyone,” she says, “and now I have been able to make some really great friends.”

All ages K - 8th

No equipment required

All experience levels welcome

Click HERE to register!

Attention K - 5th Grade!

2nd and 4th Thursdays 6:30pm - 7:30pm

Check out the schedule for Hawthorne Boys & Girls Club: Athletics, Social Recreation, Teen Programs and more!

Click on the links or flyers below:

• Columbus Day Fun Club - October 13 The Boys & Girls Club of Hawthorne will offer full day programs during Hawthorne Public School closure days for an additional fee. All Fun Club programs will be held on site at the Boys & Girls Club of Hawthorne for all grades.

• K - 5 Halloween Dance - October 17 Join us for our annual Halloween Dance for K-5th grade members and non-members. Music, Dancing, Games & Costume Contest. Pre-register here! Pay now or $5 fee at the door! Snack is included!

• Basketball Night (High School Event) - October 24 Join us for Basketball Night on Friday, October 24, 2025. All high school youth members and non-members are invited! Pre-register and hold your spot today! This is a free event! Hope to see you there!

• Youth Basketball League - Registration is now open for our Youth Basketball League (3rd-8th grade). Drafts begin the week of 11/24

Registration for Hawthorne Jr Wresting 2025-2026 will be held Wednesday, October 22, 2025 from 6pm - 8pm at Franklin Field (Cubs Den) adjacent to the Boys and Girls Club.

Email hawthornewrestingling@gmail.com for more information