1-28-2026

A big congratulations to our fourth-grade Passaic County Poster Contest winners! With over 1,000 submissions countywide, Hawthorne truly showed up—earning one first-place winner from Roosevelt School, Sarah Durgaj, and three honorable mentions: Mila Day from Jefferson, Jon Tolentino Jr. from Washington, and Esmeralda Franceschi from Roosevelt.

This contest gives students the opportunity to showcase their creativity and artistic talent, and we couldn’t be prouder of our young artists. A special thank you to our elementary art teachers, Mrs. Hascup and Mrs. Collova, for inspiring and nurturing our students’ creativity.

Join us on February 25, 2026, at Hawthorne High School for Hawthorne’s Second Annual Multicultural Night! This year’s theme, “Strong Roots, Many Branches, One Hawthorne,” celebrates the many cultures that come together to make our school community strong and vibrant.

Across the district, Multicultural Night bulletin boards in each building highlight this theme and proudly display the flags of countries and cultures represented so far, including Taiwan, Peru, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Italy, Poland, Nicaragua, Lebanon, Puerto Rico, Germany, the Republic of Georgia, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Jamaica, Mexico, the Netherlands, Ireland, Albania, and Newfoundland. As more families sign up, additional flags will be added to the displays.

This event is a wonderful opportunity for all schools in our community to come together, celebrate our diverse backgrounds, and learn more about one another’s traditions and heritage. Families are encouraged to participate by hosting a booth or contributing to an existing one.

Whether you are sharing your culture or attending with your family, we look forward to an evening filled with international cuisine, music, activities, and visual displays from around the world.

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

6:30pm - 8:00pm

Roosevelt Elementary School

Candidate for Substitute teachers must have a NJ Substitute Certification or teaching certification and provide a cleared background check through the DOE Office of Student Protection.

$130 per diem effective 2/1

No benefits

Click here to view all HPS job opportunities

• 3/30 - 4/3 - Spring Recess; Schools Closed
• 5/25 - Memorial Day; Schools Closed
• 6/16, 6/17 & 6/18 - Early Dismissal Days
• 6/17 - LMS 8th Grade Graduation
• 6/18 - HHS Graduation / Last Day of School

JUST APPROVED! THE 2026-2027 HPS DISTRICT CALENDAR!

• 1/30 - Superstars
• 1/30 - LMS Light Up the Night Glow Dance
• 2/6 - Spirit Day WES
• 2/13 & 2/16 - Mid-Winter Recess; Schools Closed
• 2/20 - Family Game Night RES
• 2/23 - Blood Drive HHS
• 2/23, 2/24, & 2/25 - Book Fair LMS
• 2/26 - Italian Club Carnevale HHS
• 2/27 - Read Across America Begins WES
• 2/27 - Gal Pal Dance JEF
• 2/28 - Band Fish & Chips Dinner HHS
• 2/28 - Casino Night RES
• 3/4 - Elementary Literacy Nigh
• 3/5 - Concert RES
• 3/6 - Spirit Day WES
• 3/6 - Read Across America Celebration WES
• 3/6 - Parent vs Teacher Volleyball Game LMS
• 3/9 - Winter Sports Awards HHS
• 3/14 - SATS HHS
• 3/18 - Wizards Assembly RES
• 3/19 - Guidance College Fair HHS
• 3/20 & 3/21 - March Madness Dance LMS
• 3/21 - Spring Breakfast RES
• 3/26 - World Language Induction Ceremony HHS

Second grade students at Jefferson enjoyed celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the month of January. They read stories, explored informational texts, and watched videos about Dr. King’s life and the impact he made on our world.

As a culminating STEM activity, students “received a letter” from Dr. King summarizing key facts about his life and challenging them to design a podium he could use to deliver his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Using cardstock, straws, and tape, students planned, designed, and built their own creative podiums.

After completing their designs, students reflected on what worked well and what they would improve, making this both a fun and meaningful MLK Day learning experience!

What a great night at the Roosevelt Volleyball game! The scoreboard didn’t go our way, but the smiles, laughs, and fun made it a win for us.

Watch the Roosevelt Volleyball game click here!

Watch more of the Roosevelt Volleyball game click here!

A big thank-you to Ranger Tim from Passaic County Parks and Recreation for visiting our Roosevelt Elementary kindergarteners and 4th graders!

Our kindergarteners had a great time learning about diurnal and nocturnal animals, and our 4th graders enjoyed discovering animal adaptations.

Mrs. Krzeminski's 2nd grade class at Washington Elementary sold the most candy canes during our 5th grade fundraiser! Their prize was a Candy Cane Olympics run by Mrs. Prell and some of our 5th grade students. The students had a fantastic time working together and the excitement could be heard all the way down the hall!

On Tuesday, January 20, three representatives from Bank of America visited Mr. Dykstra’s 8th Grade Personal Finance and Career Readiness class at Lincoln Middle School. The Bank of America team included Ms. Kerilynn Mulligan, Mr. Anthony Pinos, and Ms. Ana Molina. During their visit, they discussed important and relevant topics such as banking fraud and strategies for building a strong credit score. The presentation was both informative and greatly appreciated. Students learned about real-world examples of banking fraud while also gaining practical knowledge to help prepare them for future financial success.

LMS proudly hosted its annual Spelling Bee this past month. All LMS students participated in classroom spelling bees, with each class winner advancing to compete in the school-wide event. A total of 32 students competed, each demonstrating impressive spelling skills and remarkable accuracy.

After many challenging rounds, three top contestants emerged. Congratulations to Brayden Irizarry (3rd place), Alexandra Calabria (2nd place), and Jon Van Housen (1st place). These three students went on to compete in the county-level competition alongside Mrs. Denise. While they did not bring home trophies, they embraced the experience and were grateful for the opportunity to participate in such an extraordinary and enriching event.

Ms. Habib shared, "Our Italian Program had the pleasure of welcoming the marketing and communications representative from BINDI USA today. BINDI USA is the American branch of the Italian company BINDI which is responsible for many of the delicious desserts and gelato that we enjoy from our local restaurants, supermarkets, and more. Our Italian 3 Honors just wrapped up Unit 1 which covers life after high school (i.e. university, professions, and the job market). Our guest speaker gave a presentation, completely in Italian, about the company such as when they started up with just a small bakery and a bicycle to the now global conglomerate of desserts and treats that it is now. She also shared how important it was to be a multilanguage speaker when applying for the job. In this case, knowing Italian was a necessary requirement for all candidates. This demonstrates the importance of being global citizens in regards to other languages and cultures and here at HHS we are so grateful for our diverse student body, faculty, and all that are willing to share their experiences outside of the classroom. Grazie BINDI!"

Vote for Jack Lorper!

Lorper broke through after back-to-back second-place finishes at the county tournament, taking the title at 132 by knocking off DePaul state medalist Joseph Rizzuto, 6-4. The senior had pins in his other two rounds and earned Most Outstanding Wrestler.

Click HERE to vote for Hawthorne HHS student, Jack Lorper, for HSS North Jersey Wrestler for the week! (poll at bottom of the article)

Jan 24, 2026; West Milford, NJ, USA; Passaic County Wrestling Tournament at West Milford High School. Jack Lorper (Hawthorne) on his way to defeating Joseph Rizzuto (DePaul) in their 132-pound match.

photo by Michael Karas - NorthJersey.com

Danielle Russo

Teacher of Art/Student Activities Coordinator

Ms. Russo has been an art teacher at HHS for 25 years and is a two-time recipient of the Governor’s Teacher Award. Throughout her career, she has taken on multiple leadership roles within the building and has become a cornerstone of the school community.

Since beginning at HHS in 2001, Ms. Russo’s focus has been building a comprehensive art curriculum that emphasizes creativity, skill development, and access to four years of art education for students. She brings a deep passion for creativity into her classroom and inspires students to appreciate and engage with art in all its forms.

One of the highlights of her teaching career has been the mural program. In 2002, her students proposed painting murals in the senior hallway and presented their idea to the Board of Education. The proposal was approved, and Ms. Russo began the first mural outside the art studio, launching a tradition that continues to this day. Senior art students now leave their mark on the building each year, with this year’s mural planned for the second floor and expected to be completed in April.

Another meaningful highlight for Ms. Russo is working closely with students who are serious about pursuing art. She values watching them grow as artists, working with them for four years, guiding them through portfolio development, and helping them discover pathways in the arts, whether in architecture, graphic design, painting, or beyond. As a working artist herself, she finds the relationship reciprocal, often drawing inspiration and feedback from her students.

In her role as Student Activities Coordinator, Ms. Russo works with every club and organization in the building, supporting events and fundraisers while collaborating with administration and students to develop new initiatives each year. She also served as Student Council advisor from 2010 to 2025. During that time, some of her favorite memories are: starting the school store in 2017, bringing back the tradition of the school bonfire, starting the painting the den tradition, the bears decision page to highlight our seniors, and creating the “Mr. Hawthorne” talent show, which ran successfully for nine years.

Ms. Russo values collaboration with her colleagues and building strong relationships with students, and after 25 years, HHS remains not just a workplace, but a second home.

Matias Chacon Arias

Matias Arias Chacon, a third grader at Thomas Jefferson School, is a wonderful example of what it means to be a kind, engaged, and thoughtful student. He is always welcoming and inclusive to both teachers and classmates, and he actively participates in class by sharing insightful and meaningful ideas. Matias demonstrates strong communication skills and a genuine willingness to learn, making him a positive role model for his peers. He is also a really good friend who is always looking for ways to help others and offer support when it is needed. Matias consistently brings fairness and honesty to classroom conversations. In addition to his academic strengths, he is a talented and hardworking artist—his artwork has been featured on the Best in Class bulletin board outside the art room this year. We are proud to spotlight Matias and celebrate the many ways he contributes to our school community!

Sarah Durgaj & Esmeralda Franceschi

We are proud to announce that Roosevetl 4th Graders Sarah Durgaj & Esmeralda Franceschi were recognized at this year's Passaic County Poster Contest. Over ONE THOUSAND students from across Passaic County submitted artwork. Esmeralda's offering was chosen for HONORABLE MENTION while Sarah's was chosen for FIRST PLACE! We want to congratulate both of them as well as Roosevelt's phenomenal Art teacher - Mrs. Hascup. Way to Go Roughriders!!!!

John Tolentino, Jr

Washington School's Spotlight Student is Jon Tolentino, Jr. This past week, Jon was honored at the Passaic County Poster Contest Award Ceremony receiving an Honorable Mention Award. Every year, Passaic County runs this contest with the help of our art teachers, and they received thousands of submissions. Congratulations, Jon, we are so proud of you!!!

Alexa Rojas

Alexa Rojas is an eighth-grade student at LMS who is widely recognized by her teachers for her outstanding sense of responsibility. She is one of the most dependable students in the eighth grade, consistently completing every assignment and arriving to class fully prepared. Alexa gives 100% effort during all the LMS Den Day activities and approaches every task with dedication and focus.

Outside of the classroom, Alexa participates in the Sidekicks program. She is also a cast member in the LMS drama production of Beauty and the Beast, where she will be playing the role of Cogsworth the clock. Alexa consistently exemplifies the qualities of a model student and represents LMS with pride and excellence.

Josie Germano

Congratulations to Joseleta "josie" Germano, an 11th grade Advanced Drawing student, who won high merit publication for Celebrating Arts with her painting "I Forgot" and is being considered to be a top ten winner! Click here to see her painting

12th Annual Beefsteak Tricky Tray Dinner

Saturday, March 14, 2026

Scan QR code below for more info and to purchase tickets

Sign up for February events at the Boys & Girls Club!

Click on link below or flyer for more info!

Valentine’s Dance – Friday February 6th

K-5th Grade | 7:00-9:00 PM

February Fun Club – Friday February 13th

K-8th Grade | 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

High School Paint & Sip

HS only | 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Attend the upcoming Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. This special evening will honor outstanding alumni, coaches, teams, and special contributors whose achievements have left a lasting legacy on Hawthorne High School athletics.

Thursday, March 26, 2026

6:30pm

Brownstone, 251 West Broadway, Paterson, NJ

To purchase tickets to the event or purchase an advertisement in the commemorative ad book, click here for the form

Questions can be directed to hhsbearshof@gmail.com

Current Kindergarten and 1st Grade

Learn about being a Girl Scout and make friends with other Girl Scouts across norther New Jersey.

Click here for more information on the zoom sessions or scan the QR code below: https://www.gsnnj.org/MakeNewFriends

Kindergarten students entering in Fall of 2026

2026-2027 Kindergarten students - Make New Friends through the Girl Scouts!

Scan the QR code below to complete an Interest Form to connect with our Girl Scout Membership Team.

https://hawthornejdbaseball.com/

Join Cub Scouts

Cub Scout Pack 85

Hawthorne, NJ

K-5th Grade

Click here for the monthly calendar of children's events.