Welcome Back!

NB Families,

Thank you for your involvement this week with parent-teacher conferences. There are a lot of activities coming up, so please scroll for more details. I have extended the deadline for the Educator of the Year nominations (see below) to Monday 11/16.

Stay warm and dry this weekend!

Elissa Scillieri

Important Dates - Website Link

Each year we have the opportunity to recognize staff who are respected, dedicated, show leadership ,and contribute to the community. If you would like to nominate a staff member for the Governor’s Educator of the Year Award, either a teacher or an educational services professional, please fill out this form. The more specific your nomination form is, the better chances your nominee has to earn the distinction. Please submit all nominations to Dr. Scillieri by Monday, 11/16.

This week further progress was made on the inclusive playground with installation and cement work. We are about $21,000 from our final goal. Please see the information below about the ShamRock Fundraising Concert that will benefit our playground.

Our committee for the inclusive playground has been working to secure donations and organize with vendors and contractors on an optimistic timeline that would ideally have an operational playground in place before the end of the year. While the playground will be at NB, it really is intended as a community play space that will be open to all families not only in our town, but also surrounding towns as well. Our website has more information about the project and how to donate to this great effort.

Please note that the courtyard that held the prior playground structure will be under construction while the playground installation is in progress. As this construction continues, please keep your children safe and out of that area.

Our community partners at ShamRock have selected the NB Inclusive Playground as the focus for their 18th annual fundraising concert. The event will be held at Debonair Hall in Teaneck on Su 11/22 from 12:00-4:00 and tickets are available online. There are also sponsorship opportunities available at three levels and people can also sponsor a song for $25. For more information, please contact ShamRockMusicNJ@gmail.com or call (973) 839-0100.

Click below to see your child's school pictures. Make up pictures are finished! Use the same link to view the student gallery for make-ups too.

For more information about the Birthday Book Club in the Media Center, see the letter below.

Greetings,

As we head into the holidays, I’m excited to announce Pomptonian’s 8th Annual Healthy School Lunch Challenge! This annual competition was created to celebrate National Nutrition Month, inspire students to get creative in the kitchen, and spark excitement about preparing healthy, delicious meals.

This year's theme is "Color Your Tray!" We are encouraging students to explore the colorful world of fruits and vegetables and how different colors provide unique nutrients and health benefits. From vibrant red strawberries to leafy green spinach, every color brings something special to the table!

And for our high school students, there is a chance to win $1,000!

Here are the key details:

• Recipe Submission Deadline: January 19, 2027
• Categories: Pre-K through 5th grade, 6th through 8th grades, and 9th through 12th grades
• Winners: Each category will have two Grand Prize Winners and one Super Grand Prize Winner
• Pre-K through 8th Grade: Students have a chance to win a KitchenAid mixer, with pasta attachment
• High School Cook-Off: The top three high school finalists will compete in an exciting cooking competition on February 5, 2027, where they will prepare their original recipes and showcase their culinary skills on camera for a chance to win $1,000!

We have created a short video introducing this year's challenge and explaining how students can participate: 8th Annual Healthy School Lunch Challenge Video. Flyers with full competition details are also attached.

To get a sense of the excitement surrounding this competition, take a look at last year's High School Healthy School Lunch Challenge Cook-Off video!

If your district has a culinary program, this is a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase their talents, gain valuable experience, and add a meaningful accomplishment to their college applications. We would greatly appreciate your help sharing this opportunity with students and staff. We also plan to distribute the competition details to building principals next week.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Thank you for helping us inspire the next generation of healthy eaters and creative chefs! We look forward to seeing the colorful creations students bring to the table this year!

Healthy regards,

Toni Marie Bowman MBA, RDN, SNS

Director of Nutrition Services

The Pequannock Profile of a Graduate outlines the skills and qualities that our community expects students to develop in order to succeed in their future endeavors, whether in higher education, the workforce, military service, or other career paths. In this section of the newsletter, I will weekly highlight how these competencies and dispositions are being integrated and promoted at the elementary school level.

Why is a profile of a graduate important?

A Profile of a Graduate is important because it establishes a shared vision of what the district wants every student to know, understand, and be able to do by the time they graduate. It provides a clear picture of success that extends beyond academic achievement and standardized test scores to include the skills, habits, character traits, and competencies students need to be successful in school, in their future careers, and as contributing members of society.

A Profile of a Graduate serves as a guiding framework for the entire school district, helping to align curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development, student experiences, and school culture around a common purpose.

Profile of a Graduate Importance:

1. Establishes a Shared Vision and Common Purpose

The Profile of a Graduate fosters a common understanding among administrators, educators, parents, students, and the community regarding the qualities of an educated student. It ensures alignment toward long-term goals and that decisions are made with the district’s vision for students at the forefront.

2. Expands Focus Beyond Academic Achievement

While academic knowledge remains vital, students also require skills that enable them to apply learning in meaningful contexts. The Profile emphasizes holistic development, including critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, responsibility, empathy, self-direction, and adaptability.

3. Guides Curriculum and Instructional Decisions

The Profile offers a framework to assess whether classroom instruction and learning experiences equip students with the skills prioritized by the district. It encourages opportunities for critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, ownership of learning, and real-world application.

4. Promotes Consistency Across Grade Levels and Schools

The Profile establishes common language and expectations from kindergarten through high school. Although demonstrations of competencies may evolve as students mature, the foundational characteristics remain consistent. For example, responsibility may manifest differently in elementary versus high school students, but both are cultivating the same core competency.

5. Informs Professional Development

The Profile helps identify areas where educators may benefit from additional training, resources, and support. Professional development can then be tailored to instructional practices that intentionally foster the competencies outlined in the Profile, rather than focusing solely on content delivery.

6. Encourages Student Ownership and Reflection

When students are aware of the competencies they are expected to develop, they can engage in meaningful self-reflection. They learn to recognize their strengths and areas for growth, set goals, respond to feedback, and take greater responsibility for their own learning.

7. Strengthens Connections Between Schools and the Community

The Profile communicates to families and the broader community the district’s values and aspirations for its students. It also creates opportunities for community members, local organizations, and businesses to collaborate in offering meaningful learning experiences that prepare students for life beyond school.

8. Provides a Framework for Evaluating District Success

Traditionally, district success has been measured by grades, standardized test scores, graduation rates, and other academic metrics. The Profile broadens this perspective by encouraging districts to assess whether students are developing the personal, interpersonal, and intellectual competencies essential for lifelong success.

Please see the following resources about special education:

1. "A Parent's Guide to Using AI for Advocacy in Special Education" - This one focuses on how parents can use AI to help navigate the special education process and advocate for their children.

2. "Artificial Intelligence in Special Education" – This one provides more general information about the use of AI in special education, including benefits and considerations.

See this link to sign up for holiday photo sessions to benefit NB HSA and the First Aid Squad.

Join the NB HSA and check out our upcoming activities on the NB HSA website: https://nbshsa.org/

The elementary handbook outlines general procedures for the three elementary schools. Information regarding specific policies and regulations can be found on the district website.

Please see the letter attached below from Mrs. VanSickle, our Director of Curriculum and Instruction, for changes to the G&T program this year.

Students are expected to maintain regular attendance at school. We ask for your partnership in bringing students to school each day when they are well, and scheduling vacations around school days. Please note that the state tracks all absences, and even those with doctor's notes or a parent phone call are considered unexcused. We understand that students will be absent occasionally for valid reasons. However, the only absences that can marked "excused" are the following: religious observances, Veterans Day activities, Take our Children to Work Day, and transportation related closures.

To help keep you aware of your child's totals, families will be notified at 5, 10, 13 and 16 absences. At 10 or more days absent, we may request a conference or a phone call where we can help develop personalized strategies to improve your child's attendance. Please reach out if you notice any signs of school avoidance, or if you have questions about whether to keep your child home. As always, thank you for your support!

Pomptonian is our lunch service provider. You can view menus and obtain allergy information by following this link. All elementary students must pre-order lunch. Lunches are made at the high school and transported to the elementary schools.

Any families that might benefit from free and reduced lunch are encouraged to check out the district’s website and consider applying. If you qualified last year, please be sure to apply again this year as the program requires annual updates. Students will receive lunches identical to those of their peers and their information remains confidential.

Photo credit goes to Maureen Brain for her beautiful pictures of North Boulevard School.