08-20-2025 HPS Newsletter

• 9/2 & 9/3 - Staff Orientation
• 9/4 - First Day of School for Students
• 9/23 - Board of Education Meeting

• Thursday, September 11th - Roosevelt Elementary BTSN
• Wednesday, September 17th - Jefferson Elementary BTSN
• Thursday, September 18th - Hawthorne High School BTSN
• Wednesday, September 24th - Lincoln Middle School BTSN
• Monday, September 30th - Washington Elementary School BTSN

• 8/27 - Freshman Orientation HHS
• 9/5 - Pep Rally HHS
• 9/12 - Battle of the Boroughs Dance LMS PTO
• 9/19 - Spirit Day RES
• 9/19 - Jefferson Fall Festival JES (9/26 rain date)
• 9/19 - Film on the Field WES PTO
• 9/20 - Fall Festival RES (9/27 rain date)
• 9/23 & 9/24 - Book Fair RES
• 9/26 - Spirit Day WES
• 9/26 - Fall Festival LMS
• 10/1 - Homecoming STUCO Event HHS

Matt Mignanelli is an experienced educational leader with many years in public education, dedicated to putting students first and fostering strong school-community connections. He most recently served as Director of Secondary Education in the Wayne Township Public Schools, where he led curriculum initiatives, supported instructional excellence, and enhanced communication between schools and families.

Mr. Mignanelli began his career as a high school teacher before serving as principal of a middle school, where he focused on building a positive school culture, expanding student opportunities, and supporting staff development. Throughout his career, he has prioritized transparent communication, collaborative decision-making, and ensuring all students have access to high-quality learning experiences.

He is excited to bring his experience and passion to Hawthorne Public Schools as Superintendent, with a commitment to new opportunities for students, strong community partnerships, and celebrating the district’s successes.

Sandy Vicale is an experienced School Business Administrator with over 10 years in educational finance and operations. She specializes in streamlining processes and implementing paperless solutions to drive operational efficiency and financial accountability. Mrs.

previously served as the School Business Administrator for Riverdale School District, where she optimized budgeting processes, reduced costs, and enhanced communication across the district. She also spent seven years at Fair Lawn School District, overseeing financial operations, and holding key roles as Benefits Coordinator and Supervisor of Purchasing and Accounting. Prior to her work in K-12 education, Mrs. Vicale spent seven years in higher education in New York City, where she developed expertise in operational management and student engagement.

She is excited to apply her diverse experience to further strengthen the fiscal and operational management of the Hawthorne School District.

Emanuele Vittorioso is a Certified Educational Facilities Manager and seasoned Building and Grounds Supervisor with over 30 years of experience in construction management, roofing, carpentry, and indoor air quality. He has led large-scale school additions and infrastructure upgrades, including electrical, mechanical, roofing, and commercial kitchen renovations. Emanuele is OSHA-certified, a certified school safety specialist, a licensed commercial pesticide applicator, and holds a CDL license. He has also managed snow plowing operations for commercial properties and successfully owned a business for three decades. Known for leading large crews, he ensures safety, efficiency, and excellence across all projects.

Mr. Vittorioso is excited to be working with Hawthorne Public Schools and to be part of a team that supports students and the community. He takes pride in keeping buildings safe, clean, and running smoothly, and feels good knowing that my work helps create a better environment for learning. He is looking forward to bringing his experience to the district and doing his part to make a positive impact every day.

Last week, our incoming 6th graders from all three elementary schools came together for Leadership Camp — an exciting opportunity to acclimate to middle school life. Students built new friendships, strengthened teamwork skills, and learned valuable lessons from police officers, staff, and peers about how to be positive leaders in their school community. A huge thank you to the Hawthorne Police Department, our dedicated school staff, and the LMS students for putting together a successful and fun week!

Director of School Counseling, Dr. Pfeifer, along with School Counselors Ms. Banca-Ross and Mr. Cianciulli, and Supervisor of Humanities, Ms. Smith, hosted a College Bootcamp for rising seniors. The program gave students a head start on their post-secondary planning, including college searches, applications, résumé building, and strategies to navigate the admissions process with confidence.

HHS Varsity Cheer kicked off their season with their Annual NCA camp. The cheerleaders participated in theme days, endless stunting, cheering, dancing, and team bonding. Their hard work and determination paid off as they worked their way through learning new skills and being recognized with numerous awards.

Hawthorne High School Basketball hosted their first youth camp this summer. Athletes entering grades 5-8 got to experience working with some alumni from the boys and girls programs to sharpen their skills!

The Hawthorne HS soccer programs hosted their second youth camp this summer. There were over 80 attendees and the athletes got a wonderful opportunity to learn from some of the current and former players of both HHS Programs!

Hawthorne High School hosted their second annual Football Camp in conjuncion with the Hawthorne Cubs. Our High School Coaches and players had the opportunity to work with the "Future" of our football program and to continue to build a strong relationship between both groups. All players and coaches enjoyed a culminating BBQ hosted by the Bears at the end of Camp. Looking forward to next year!

A proud recent graduate of the Hawthorne High School Class of 2025, Sasha Ortiz-Kalina embodied academic excellence, integrity, and leadership. This fall, she will attend Columbia University in New York City, where she will major in Cybersecurity. At HHS, Sasha served as president of both the National and Spanish Honor Societies, excelled in band and jazz band, and was honored by the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program. Fluent in Spanish, English, and Russian, she also contributed as editor of the Creative Writing Club, a Peer Leader delegate, and a drama club volunteer. Sasha’s achievements and dedication left a lasting impact on HHS, and we look forward to her continued success.