The Cougar Chronicle

Dear Cranford Community,

Welcome back! I hope everyone had an amazing and relaxing Spring Break. Spring is an exciting time for our community as our schools are filled with energy and enthusiasm as we prepare for end-of-year celebrations.

Each month, this newsletter highlights the incredible accomplishments of our students, from performances to athletic wins and academic accolades you will see it all in every edition. But behind every student’s journey is the commitment of our Cranford teachers, administrators and staff.

With Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week approaching in a couple of weeks, we want to celebrate and recognize the educators who go above and beyond every day for our students. I feel inspired by their dedication and privileged to be surrounded by individuals who consistently put Cranford first.

Please join us in celebrating our educators who make Cranford such a special place to learn!

Sincerely,

Dr. Scott Rubin

Superintendent of Schools

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On March 20, 11 educators from Cranford Public Schools presented at the New Jersey Council of Teachers of English (NJCTE) Spring Conference at The College of New Jersey. Representing grades K–12, the team included Mrs. Lauren Berman, Mr. Robert Ciarrocca, Mr. Justin Corazza, Mrs. Christine Eulas, Ms. Lauren Gunning, Ms. Emma Hooks, Ms. Samantha Miller, Mrs. Susan Ritter, Mrs. Christine Szeluga, Ms. Christine Tattoli-Rising, and Ms. Kerri Valesey. The conference, titled Visual Literacy: Curricular Relevance for Modern Students, brought together educators from across New Jersey to exchange ideas and instructional approaches.

Cranford’s educators contributed presentations on a range of topics focused on visual and multimodal literacy.

“NJCTE was a great opportunity to learn from other teachers while showcasing what we do in our own classroom,” said Ms. Gunning, who presented on Visual Assessment with Ms. Hooks.

Mrs. Eulas also valued the experience, “It was such an energizing experience—getting to connect with other ELA educators, presenting on mini movies, and attending sessions gave me so many fresh ideas for helping students grow as writers.”

Teachers also appreciated the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues and gain new instructional tools.

“Attending and presenting at NJCTE was an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Mrs. Berman. “I walked away with powerful strategies—like hexagonal thinking—that I’m excited to turnkey to the teachers I coach.”

Mrs. Christine Szeluga presented on the role of school libraries, sharing, “I truly enjoyed the opportunity to present to my peers the valuable resources we offer at Cranford High School. I hope it helps others recognize the vital role libraries and access to information play in our communities.”

Cranford’s participation reflected the district’s continued emphasis on instructional innovation, literacy development, and professional learning.

Hope Squad at CHS is a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program with a purpose of fostering human connection, community, and hope. The inaugural Squad is made up of 31 tenth and eleventh graders who have been recognized by their peers as someone who cares about others, displays good listening skills and is trusted.

Hope Squad members have been trained throughout the year and will be involved in various social, emotional and psychoeducational activities in CHS and across this district moving forward. The first “Hope Day” will be held on April 23, 2025. Share the hope and save a life. Learn more at www.HopeSquad.com.

Ashley Sremcevic, a senior at Lincoln School, and Sean Hanna, a senior at Cranford High School, were honored by the Union County School Boards Association with the Unsung Heroes Award on March 12 at Kean University. This prestigious award recognizes a senior from each high school in Union County who is making outstanding contributions to their schools and community. Click here to read the full story.

Congresswoman LaMonica McIver recently recognized ninth-grade student Emma Andre as one of five winners selected in the Black History Month Essay Contest. High school students across New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District were invited to research and write about a prominent Black historical figure who has made a significant impact on society, culture, or history.

Emma’s winning essay highlighted the life and legacy of Gordon Parks, a groundbreaking African American photographer, filmmaker and writer known for using his art to inspire change. Her thoughtful and well-crafted work stood out among many submissions.

English Language Arts teacher Mrs. Shaw expressed how proud she is of Emma’s accomplishment. Principal Cantagallo echoed this pride, saying, “It is an honor to be the principal of a student receiving this award. After reading the essay, I can clearly see why Emma was selected—the writing was eloquent and well-structured. I would also like to congratulate Mrs. Shaw for fostering a classroom environment that encouraged and supported such an outstanding submission.”

Congratulations to Emma on this well-deserved recognition!

Chess Club advisor, Dr. Wenger, and several Cranford High School Chess Club members enriched the students' learning experience at Brookside Place School through engaging sessions. During these visits, the high school students facilitated chess games and shared strategic insights, fostering a fun and educational environment for the younger students.

Dr. Wenger also leads the Mathematical Reasoning Through Chess course at the high school. The unique class leverages chess principles to cultivate students' mathematical logic and problem-solving abilities.

Cranford High School hosted its annual Intergenerational Book Club on March 24. Students, faculty, parents and community members reflected on works of contemporary fiction that fostered powerful conversations around social justice and shared human experience. Supported by a Cranford Fund for Educational Excellence (CFEE) grant, over 100 participants joined this year.

“I appreciate the CFEE's grant to help bring members of the school and community together,” said Mr. Frank Vito. “I love to see that teachers, students, and community members still love to read a good book and discuss it.”

CHS senior Eleanor Semple reflected, “I read 'The Women' by Kristin Hannah. I enjoyed talking with people who could share their personal insight from that time period.”

“The Intergenerational Book Club allowed me to interact with various members of the Cranford community and engage in discussion outside a traditional classroom setting,” CHS senior Ashlyn Quigley added.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Brian Heineman called the book club a unique opportunity to see the “end product” of a Cranford education in action, adding, “You can’t help but leave the event impressed and inspired.”

This annual tradition is a celebration of literature, learning, and connection that the Cranford community continues to embrace year after year.

Everyone is “some kinda strong!” That was the foundation of the Some Kinda Strong initiative at Brookside Place School, which encouraged students to think about and recognize their individual strengths. The four-week-long program was coordinated by BPS Nurse Paula O’Hara and funded with a mini-grant from the Brookside PTA. Mrs. O’Hara visited classrooms to discuss the concept of inner strength. Students were asked to think about all the ways they are strong, such as being creative, kind, and persistent in the face of challenges. When they noticed that strength in action, they filled out a form and turned it in to be entered in a weekly raffle. One student found her “kinda strong” was making people laugh. When a friend was upset, she “made her smile and flipped her day around.” Another student was a good sportsman and didn’t brag when he won a game. Prizes included Downtown Cranford gift cards, bookmarks, and stickers. Two students who had the most entries received special t-shirts.

Students at Walnut Avenue School participated in the annual March Madness Book Challenge! Students voted for their favorite picture books in a bracket-style competition that was both fun and engaging. Throughout the month, classrooms read and discussed a variety of beloved stories, narrowing down their favorites round by round.

The Final Four books that captured students' hearts and imaginations were: "The Day the Crayons Quit" by Drew Daywalt, "The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors" by Drew Daywalt, "We Are In A Book!" by Mo Willems and "Dragons Love Tacos" by Adam Rubin.

The competition was fierce, with students passionately casting their votes. In a thrilling championship round, The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors emerged victorious as the 2025 Book Champion on Friday, April 11! This event was a wonderful way to celebrate reading, encourage thoughtful discussion about literature, and foster a sense of community and excitement around books.

Bloomingdale Avenue School's second-grade students transformed into ice cream investigators as they embarked on a delicious adventure in data analysis, culminating in creating their very own ice cream flavors!

Students conducted surveys to determine the most popular ice cream ingredients among their friends and families, embracing the data collection process, creating tally charts, and analyzing the results to identify trends. Cranford favorite, Vanilla Bean Creamery, partnered with students and teachers to bring it all to life:

• Mrs. LoGuidice-Alfano: Cannoli Fudge Brownie

• Mrs. Oricchio: Cannoli & Cookies

• Ms. Bera: Candy Devil

• Ms. August: Chocolate Oreo Surprise

Students presented their creations to classmates and families during the project's capstone tasting event. A special thank you to Vanilla Bean Creamery for their generous partnership!

LEAP students had a great first visit to the Cranford Public Library! The librarian gave students a wonderful tour of the library resources, read a story and all of our students borrowed books. We are looking forward to the next trip!

Student Liaison Committee member Charlotte Grassia planned a special Kindness Families meeting at Livingston Avenue School. She recorded a message to the entire LAS community describing what it is like to live with Autism to spread understanding during Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. Charlotte's bravery in sharing her personal experience provoked students to think and talk about what makes us all unique. The conversations following Charlotte's video were profound and heartwarming. The students in the cafeteria even erupted into applause for Charlotte during her lunch period.

“The staff and I are so proud of Charlotte for her leadership skills and her willingness to help make our school community a kind and inclusive place for all,” said Principal Cari Lopez. “Way to go, Charlotte!”

Cranford High School performing arts students embarked on an enriching journey to Virginia and Washington, D.C., April 3 through April 5. This exciting trip provided students with a wealth of artistic and cultural experiences as they toured the James Madison University College of Music and the School of Theatre and Dance. They also participated in a choral workshop, observed an advanced ballet class and attended a rehearsal of JMU’s Spring opera, Idomeneo.

In Washington, D.C., they attended a workshop with the renowned Shakespeare Theatre Company, further enhancing their theatrical skills. Students showcased their talents with a memorable performance at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. They also visited the African American Museum of History and Culture, among other cultural experiences. This trip not only broadened the students' artistic horizons but also enriched their understanding of history and culture.

Instrumental students from Cranford High School and Hillside Avenue School had the unique opportunity to meet Captain David Regner, a flight commander with the United States Air Force Band. Not only did Captain Regner engage with the students, but he also conducted and rehearsed their own repertoire. Two students were honored with a Commander's Coin in recognition of their exceptional performance. We extend our sincere thanks to Captain Regner for visiting Cranford and providing our instrumental students with such an invaluable experience!

The Cranford Athletic Department congratulates the following seniors on being selected to represent Cranford High School as the 2025 Scholar Athletes. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Scholar Athlete Award is presented to Ellie Semple. The Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete Award recipients are Josh Ketschke & Isabella Alvarez-Gomez.