Kearny School District

Franklin Elementary School earned top honors in the "On the Move" fitness challenge, led by the New York Red Bulls soccer team. Throughout the month-long event, Franklin’s fifth graders logged more than 6.8 million steps, winning a $5,000 award to support physical education and wellness programs. Sixth grader Vani Sharma was crowned the top stepper with an impressive 502,733 steps.

The initiative was introduced to the district by Denise Pais Sotelo, Supervisor of Physical Education and Health, and embraced by Franklin’s Physical Education department. “This recognition reflects the teamwork, dedication, and spirit of the entire Franklin community,” said Superintendent Flora Encarnacao. “Our students and staff demonstrated that prioritizing health can be both fun and rewarding.”

Throughout the challenge, staff encouraged students using a shared progress tracker created by Computer Science teacher Mrs. Bridgette Davis, celebrating milestones each week. “This accomplishment was a source of pride and joy for our entire community,” said Principal Dr. Yvonne Cali. “At the game, every student and family felt the pride of what we achieved together.”

Students and staff celebrated their victory at Red Bull Arena on October 4th, where they received the award during a New York Red Bulls match. The prize will fund new gym equipment. Franklin’s victory highlights the school’s strong sense of community and commitment to health, teamwork, and perseverance.

Though the seeds were planted during the Summer Enrichment program, Franklin School’s Patchwork Garden has continued to blossom, thanks to the enthusiasm and teamwork of its young gardeners. This summer, fourth and fifth grade students took part in the Extended School Year project, “Franklin’s Patchwork Garden,” where they learned to build and care for a raised garden bed. Under the guidance of Ms. De Matos, students eagerly assembled the structure themselves, participating in a valuable exercise of communication, collaboration, and teamwork. Their curiosities planted the seeds for a fruitful bounty.

Throughout the summer, the garden thrived with vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Students cultivated everything from ripe tomatoes and crisp cucumbers to fragrant basil, parsley, collard greens, and spicy hot peppers. Their dedication turned the school’s garden into a flourishing space of growth and learning.

The success of Franklin’s Patchwork Garden was made possible by the ongoing efforts of last year’s Gardening Club members, whose hard work laid the foundation for this season’s haul. Their legacy continues to inspire the next generation of students to explore, nurture, and take pride in the fruits of their labor.

Franklin School is proud to announce the launch of its new student-run publication, The Franklin Times Newspaper! This project showcases the dedication, creativity, and hard work of our talented students who researched, wrote, photographed, and interviewed to bring this paper to life.

Through this firsthand experience in journalism, students are building valuable communication and collaboration skills that will serve them well in their future careers. Produced entirely by students, the paper lauds students of the month, interviews new staff, and investigates important topics through polls such as "Favorite Halloween Candy" and "Why Attendance Matters". The paper strives to uncover daily topics important to the student population by empowering kids to make their voices heard.

Celebrate the release of the inaugural edition—filled with important Falcon news, inspiring student stories, and creative features—by clicking the image below to read The Franklin Times Newspaper.

Mrs. Hoch’s first graders at Franklin School wrapped up their Amplify CKLA Unit 1: The Moral of the Story—Fables and Tales in the most exciting way… with their very own Fable Olympics!

Students stepped into the shoes, or paws, of their favorite fable characters and brought the stories to life—competition style! From leaping for grapes and balancing buckets, to racing with golden eggs, the classroom was full of laughter, teamwork and valuable lessons.

The kids had such a wonderful time reenacting the fables while also reflecting on the morals behind each story.

Our district Media Specialists hosted special celebrations in each of our elementary school libraries for students who completed their summer reading. To commemorate their accomplishment and build literary bonds with friends, the students were welcomed to a delightful array of reading-themed games and activities.

The events featured a variety of engaging stations, including friendship bracelet making, bookmark crafts, library-relevant trivia, storytelling, and favorite summer reading character puppet making. Students reveled in the activities and time well spent with friends. At the end of the celebrations, each left proudly with a certificate of completion. It was a joyful day of fun, creativity, and recognition for our dedicated readers.

Roosevelt School and Principal Moyano would like to thank Maribel’s Café and owners Maribel and Frank Gonzalez for their generous donation of jackets, hats, and socks for our students. Maribel nominated Roosevelt School through Amazon’s Together We Give program, and her business had been selected to give back to the community. We are grateful for Maribel’s commitment to supporting local schools and for the strong partnership that continues to grow between Roosevelt School and our neighborhood businesses. Their generosity is a reminder of how meaningful community connections can truly make a difference.

It was a day full of energy, color, and community as Roosevelt School hosted its annual Fun Run, a spirited school-wide event that brought together students, teachers, and families. Each grade level proudly wore a different color to show their class pride, and every homeroom created unique, colorful signs to cheer one another on. Laughter and encouragement filled the air as students ran alongside their classmates and teachers, celebrating teamwork, perseverance, and school spirit.

The Kearny School district extends sincerest gratitude to our staff, families, and PTA at Roosevelt school for making this day such a success!

This summer, Roosevelt 4th grader Charli Bruce competed in the United States Track and Field (USATF) Junior Olympics in Savannah, Georgia and made us proud! As a tri-athlete, Charli tackled three challenging events: the high jump, the shot put, and the 200-meter sprint. Going head-to-head against 24 talented competitors from across the country, she placed 8th, earning enough points to take home a medal.

Her impressive performance earned her an invitation to compete in Houston, Texas. While she didn't medal at that event, she walked away with something just as valuable: motivation and determination to return next year and try again.

Congratulations, Charli. We can't wait to see what you accomplish next!

During the month of October, Mrs. Pabst, Mrs. Nolan, and Roosevelt School students have been actively learning about the environment and the importance of protecting our planet. Roosevelt 6th graders culminated lessons on water systems and pollution by partnering with the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC) to collect trash along the Passaic River bank—gathering an impressive 12 bags of garbage!

The budding environmentalists also had the opportunity to observe microorganisms in partially treated wastewater under a microscope to understand how water is cleaned and returned safely to the environment. In addition, students in grades 4–6 attended an assembly led by Mr. Brooks from the PVSC on the Passaic River Restoration Program.

To further their environmental efforts, members of the KHS SAVE Club visited students in grades 4–6 to launch a plastic wrapper recycling initiative. The goal is to collect enough wrappers to earn a bench for our school made entirely from recycled plastic—an exciting step forward in their journey toward EcoSchools certification!

Across the district, the Week of Respect served as a powerful reminder that kindness, respect, and inclusion are not just themes for a week—they are the foundation of a connected and caring school community.

As a follow up to Start with Hello week, a national initiative created by the parents of Sandy Hook to address social isolation and promote inclusion, Garfield School celebrated the Week of Respect by engaging students in spirited activities promoting kindness, connection, and creativity. Throughout the week, students watched videos on friendship and sportsmanship, heard motivational messages about building bonds, designed “Me” shirts to showcase what makes them unique - from favorite sports hobbies and even their pets. The sixth graders participated in “chalking the walk” with colorful greetings in multiple languages to spread a message of kindness, welcome, and inclusivity to everyone entering our school!

At Schuyler School, the focus was on valuing every individual. Students wore shirts with numbers to remind everyone that “we all count,” reinforcing the importance of mutual respect in creating a safe and comfortable school environment.

Washington School celebrated Respect Week with a series of fun and meaningful activities designed to promote kindness and unity through action. The week featured Superhero Day, where students showed that everyone has the power to be kind, be a friend, and stand up for what’s right. Another day invited students to dress as people they admire, honoring role models who inspire respect and compassion. The celebration wrapped up with “Me Shirts,” showcasing each student’s unique qualities while helping them discover what they share with others—a thoughtful reminder that respect begins with understanding and connection.

Parents and guardians were warmly welcomed into Garfield School by smiling staff, helpful community partners, and friendly PTA members ready to connect. During the event, parents and guardians visited their child's teachers for a glimpse into classroom life, discuss academics and talk with other parents. They also had the opportunity to connect with school and community resources including the PTA, KSD Immigrant Social Worker Patricia Tellez, and representatives from the Right at School program. Thank you to all of our Garfield families who joined us for Back to School Night! It was wonderful to connect, share our goals for the year ahead and showcase the amazing things happening in our classrooms.

Students at Garfield School joined together in recognition of World Unity Day, a global movement dedicated to celebrating our shared humanity and promoting peace, kindness, and inclusivity. Dressed in orange—the color symbolizing hope, new beginnings, and warmth—students participated in reflective exercises and engaging activities that encouraged empathy and understanding among peers. The day served as a powerful reminder that by embracing compassion and respect, we can help build a stronger, more connected world both within our school and beyond.

Washington School extends sincere gratitude to Kearny Federal Bank for their generous donation of school supplies. The supplies helped students start the year prepared and inspired. We also would like to recognize Branch Manager Anthony DeLuca for his continued support and dedication to the community. Partnerships like this remind us how meaningful it is when local organizations invest in the success of our students and staff.

Lincoln Middle School Principal James Hempel proudly highlighted two outstanding teachers in the most recent edition of the WIPRO Community Matters Newsletter. Mrs. Betty Rodriguez and Mr. Miguel Marques' work was featured as an exemplar of interdisciplinary, student-centered learning.

The teachers’ project aligned with the district’s goal of building awareness of various South American cultures by engaging a diverse group of students in meaningful, cross-curricular work. As a science tie-in, students researched natural habitats of South American animals. To strengthen ELA skills, they wrote clear game instructions and objectives. Students also built their mathematical skills by collecting and analyzing data to support their game designs. In the arts and mathematics, they developed visually effective and structurally sound game boards. As part of their technology learning, students completed Fusion360 3D-design training, and to bring their research to life, they visited Turtle Back Zoo to compare the animals they studied with those observed at the zoo.

The Montclair Wipro Team provided exceptional support throughout the project. Their leadership, constructive feedback, provision of supplies, and consistent opportunities to meet, troubleshoot challenges, and expand instructional expertise were instrumental to the team’s success.

We invite our readers to check out the latest WIPRO newsletter to learn more about this work and other innovative STEM initiatives happening across the country.

Lincoln Middle School proudly announces that Patricia Hester-Fearon, Automation & Robotics Instructor, has been selected as one of only a few educators nationwide to receive the 2025–26 Outstanding PLTW Teacher recognition. This national honor, presented by Project Lead The Way (PLTW), celebrates teachers and administrators across the U.S. who inspire, engage, and empower students by creating transformative learning experiences through PLTW programs.

Patricia Hester-Fearon exemplifies the spirit of this recognition through her innovative teaching, service-driven leadership, and deep commitment to student growth and success. At Lincoln Middle School, she empowers students with transportable skills—including critical thinking, collaboration, and ethical reasoning—through hands-on, real-world PLTW projects that spark curiosity and build confidence.

Beyond the classroom, Patricia extends her impact into the community through initiatives such as the 4-H, Robotics, and STEM Club, which connect students with STEM professionals, promote career exploration, and develop leadership and communication skills. As an EcoSchools leader, she transforms the school’s garden into a living lab where students integrate STEM learning with sustainability and climate action.

Patricia also organizes Family Engagement Nights, monthly events that strengthen school-community connections while showcasing student achievements in PLTW and beyond. Her leadership has guided students to participate in high-impact STEM events, including the NJIT Elementary eSTEM Challenge, Princeton Young Women’s Conference in STEM, the Hudson County STEM Showcase, the Rutgers Climate Change Summit, and the NJ State Middle School TSA Conference.

Her inclusive, student-centered approach ensures every learner feels supported, valued, and empowered to take risks, explore, and innovate. Through her leadership, Lincoln Middle School has become a hub for project-based learning and community-driven STEM engagement.

With her selection as a 2025–26 Outstanding PLTW Teacher, Patricia joins a distinguished group of educators nationwide who are redefining what’s possible in STEM education.

Lincoln Middle School proudly celebrated Red Ribbon Week, a national campaign dedicated to promoting drug-free living and healthy choices. To kick off the week, students wore red to show they are “Red, Strong, and Drug-Free.” Throughout the celebration, themed days like “Too Bright for Drugs” encouraged students to wear neon as a reminder to make positive choices. LMS Art teachers and students also created colorful window murals featuring uplifting messages, which the community can enjoy at local favorites like Lee’s Florist and Gina’s Hair Salon. The week wrapped up with the Drama Club’s thrilling Haunted Hallway on Halloween, reminding everyone that Lincoln’s Jr. Kardinals are united in “scaring away the drugs” and shining bright with pride in living drug-free.

The Kearny High School K-Birds shared their voices at patriotic events around town, bringing the community together through music and remembrance. Recently, they performed at both the Town Hall 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony and the annual Incredible Duck Race hosted by the Kearny-Belleville Elks. At the 9/11 ceremony, students had the meaningful opportunity to honor those we lost and connect with an important piece of our history. At the Duck Race, their patriotic tunes helped support a vital cause—raising funds for homeless veterans in our area.

The KHS Marching Band, under the direction of David Caravella and Assistant Director Danny Conde, took 3rd place in the State Competition in the Tournament of the Bands 2025. The competition took place at Barnegat High School on Saturday, October 25. The drill was designed by Mr. Caravella and percussion by Mr. Pamaar. Kudos to the marching band staff: Mr. Caravella, Mr. Conde, Drumline Director Sanjay Pamaar; Colorguard director Jaime Diaz and volunteer Arianny Gonzalez, and Woodwind specialist Emily Chen. Congratulations to the KHS Marching Band on a job well done!

Kearny High School is excited to share the accomplishments of its Unified PE class, which recently created a student-run newsletter. Inspired by the class’s enthusiasm, compassion, and inclusive spirit, students found a meaningful way to share news, tips, and highlights with the school community.

Crafted by groups of students in the class, the publication features class updates, student spotlights, fitness and wellness tips, and more. Designed to be released every two months, the newsletter showcases student voice and creativity while keeping families, staff, and the wider community connected to the great work happening in Unified PE.

We invite readers to explore the first edition by clicking the button below.

On October 9, the students of the SAVE and Fishing clubs were excited to receive the EcoSchools Gold Plaque for all of their amazing contributions during the 2024–2025 school year. The award was proudly presented by Dr. Roberta Hunter from the NJ Audubon Society.

Throughout last school year, students took part in a number of meaningful projects. They continued their bird-watching through Project FeederWatch, partnered with the Bergen County Audubon Society and Monmouth University, and studied the health of a nearby pond by looking at the macroinvertebrates living there. They also took a trip to the Pequest Hatchery, where they learned firsthand how to fish, water quality, and conservation.

One of the clubs' biggest highlights was the Trex Recycling Challenge. Facilitating the participation of the entire school in and rallying behind the motto “1,000 Pounds for School Grounds,” students collected enough plastic to earn a recycled bench that will soon be placed on campus. Additionally, Kearny High's conservationists cared for and improved the school’s garden habitat, making it a welcoming spot for both people and wildlife, such as migratory butterflies and birds.

In just one year, students showed how much of a difference they can make when they work together, proving that their energy and creativity can inspire real change for the environment.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, members of the Kearny High School ESL Honor Society brought to life a meaningful project that highlights the diverse cultural backgrounds of the school’s staff. Under the guidance of advisor Stephanie Fortuna, students interviewed teachers and staff members with Hispanic roots, capturing their stories and photographs to proudly display in the halls outside Room 309. Their impressive, eye catching bulletin board stands as a tribute to the identities and personal histories that enrich the KHS community.

Fortuna described the effort as a “true labor of love,” expressing heartfelt gratitude to all who participated, sent photos, and supported the students’ vision. “We are proud to celebrate our dedicated teachers’ cultural backgrounds,” she shared, noting that Kearny High continues to honor diversity not only during Hispanic Heritage Month but every day of the year. The project reflects the school’s ongoing commitment to learning from one another and fostering an environment where every culture is recognized and valued.

Franklin Elementary School marked the end of Hispanic Heritage Month with a celebration highlighting the culture, music, and traditions of the Hispanic community. Organized by the school’s Multicultural Committee, the event brought students, staff, and families together for a day of learning and connection. Morning announcements were shared in both Spanish and English, and the halls came alive with the sound of Selena Quintanilla’s “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” setting a joyful tone for the day.

Performances showcased the talents and enthusiasm of Franklin’s students. Kindergarteners sang “Hola con las Manos,” while fifth graders performed “Guantanamera,” a Cuban song known for its message of pride and resilience. Third-grade students led a colorful flag parade, proudly representing countries across Latin America. Guests from the community added to the celebration, including Kearny High School music teacher Milagros Gonzalez with a spirited chacha performance and dancers from the LEGACY Mambo Shines group, who performed salsa. The Peruvian American Cultural Association also visited, sharing traditional Andean music, dance, and costumes.

Principal Dr. Yvonne Cali described the celebration as a reflection of the school’s commitment to honoring all cultures and helping students see themselves represented in the community. The day concluded with a tasting of traditional Hispanic dishes prepared by staff, a fitting way to bring everyone together in appreciation of shared heritage. Through events like this, Franklin Elementary continues to celebrate diversity and foster a sense of belonging for all students.

Washington School proudly celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with its 2nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Parade, honoring the cultures, traditions, and contributions of the Hispanic and Latino communities. Students and staff embraced the spirit of the month through songs, art, and activities that reflected the school’s beautifully diverse population and enthusiastic willingness to share and learn from one another’s cultural heritage. The halls were filled with color, music, and pride as families and staff came together to celebrate what makes the Washington School community so special.

To close out the month’s festivities, the school enjoyed a stunning performance by traditional Peruvian dancers, bringing energy, rhythm, and authenticity to the celebration. A heartfelt thank-you goes to Jorge Ponce and Elizabeth Santacruz for helping make the event such a memorable success. Don’t miss the chance to relive the celebration—check out Washington School’s video gallery to see highlights from this joyful and inspiring event!

The Class of 2025 is proud to present Puffs by Matt Cox — a fun, clever parody of the Harry Potter series told from the perspective of the loyal and often overlooked “Puffs” of Hufflepuff House.

🗓 Show Dates:
December 5 & 6 at 7:00 PM
📍 Kearny High School Auditorium

🎟 Tickets:

• $6 for students & senior citizens

• $8 for adults
  All proceeds benefit the Class of 2026.

Come out for a magical night of laughter and support our talented seniors under the direction of Milagros Gonzalez! ✨