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CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2016!

A LOOK UNDERNEATH THE CAP

Faculty Tributes……………….14

Special Section !

Fast Facts………………………7!Popular Colleges………………8!Val/Sal Profiles…………………9!College Acceptances………..23

WAYNE TOWNSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEWSLETTER

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!CLASS OF 2016NEWS FROM AROUND THE

SCHOOL DISTRICT A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS….………2

A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT……………….….….3

MEET OUR 2015-2016 EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR…………………………………….….……4

LEARN ABOUT DISTRICT PLANS FOR THE KINDERGARTEN WRAP PROGRAM…………………………………………… 6

MEET NEWLY HIRED SCHUYLER- COLFAX MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL KIMBERLY WETTSTEIN…..…………….……..6

A YEAR OF GROWTH AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL……..……………….….19

IMPORTANT DATES FOR 16/17……………20

WAYNE TOWNSHIP LEARNING CENTER UPDATE………..………………………………….…21

A LOOK AHEAD AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL…………………………………………………22

MEET OUR NEW BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR……………………………….28

Dear Parents, Students, and Residents:

At the end of the 2014-2015 school year, the administration decided to produce our first ever end-of-the-year newsletter. We thought a newsletter that celebrates the graduating class and provides parents with a preview of the upcoming school year would be well-received. What we didn’t anticipate was just how well our newsletter would be received. I know that all residents of Wayne will enjoy reading about our graduating class and the many great things happening in the Wayne Township Public Schools. We are very proud of our students and staff and we are pleased to share their accomplishments with the community.

I’m sure you will enjoy reading profiles about our valedictorians and salutatorians. This year, we are sharing profiles of four seniors from each of the high schools as selected by the faculty for their exceptional accomplishments and contributions to the school system. Readers will also be happy to see an impressive list of college acceptances for all of our graduating students. I am also happy to share other statistical information about the Class of 2016, reflecting a proud Wayne tradition of academic accomplishment.

I wish all of our graduates great success as they move ahead to write new chapters in their life stories. While there is no question that all of our graduates have been shaped by the Wayne Township Public Schools, it is also true that the Wayne Township Public Schools have been shaped by our graduates. I would like to express my thanks to the graduates and their families for contributing to our schools in such a meaningful way.

The operation of any school district is in many ways, a community endeavor. School systems can flourish or falter based on support from the community. In Wayne, we are fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteers who support our school system. We thank the community for the many different ways that you enrich the lives of our students and help to improve the schools.

Best wishes for a happy and safe summer!

!!Mark Toback

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SUPERINTENDENT’S CORNER

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PRESIDENTIALPERSPECTIVES

!Congratulations to the Class of 2016! You are a most accomplished group of young men and women and we as a community are so proud of you and all you have done to leave your mark on Wayne Township and our schools. You have truly made a difference in so many different ways and we look forward to all your future will bring. Work hard, be open to new experiences, and enjoy the ride the next four years will be for each of you. Congratulations to your parents, families, teachers and friends who have aided you every step of the way. What an admirable job you all have done! !Recently, I was struck by a quote I saw and thought it was so appropriate to share here today. “There are only 940 Saturdays between a child’s birth and them leaving for college” Dr. Harley Rotbart. As all three of my children (young adults now) are at the college stage or beyond, it struck me to reflect on how well I had used those 940 Saturdays with my own family. With the start of the summer season upon us, I hope each of us will make an effort to use each and every one of those Saturdays to enjoy time with our families. Take a trip. Plan fun activities. Laugh a lot. Do silly things. Spend time at the beach, lake, campsite, or travel destination of your choice. Visit family. Spend time together and build those simple childhood memories that children never forget and cherish as they move on to college or other more independent pursuits. Summer time is upon us and will be gone in the blink of an eye. Make the most of it…..and enjoy each and every moment along the way. !Congratulations to our graduates and their families and happy summer time to all our students, staff members, and parents. We wish you all beautiful, sunny days, warm breezes, and love and laughter with your families and friends. See you in September! !!Yours truly, !!!!Eileen Albanese

The New Jersey Department of Education recognizes the outstanding contributions of educators in a variety of ways. One program is the Governor’s Educator of the Year (GEOY) Program, which recognizes the hard work of outstanding teachers and educational services professionals.

After school level nominations were received, each of the Wayne Township Public Schools convened a committee to select one teacher and one educational services professional under the program guidelines. In the coming months, each of the educators selected locally may move on for recognition at the county, and potentially as candidates for state educator of the year.

Understanding that the single most important factor determining the quality of the education a child receives is the quality of his or her teacher. The Wayne Township Public Schools are proud to recognize, celebrate, and share the accomplishments of our teachers and educational services professionals with the community.

!CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR!

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District Recognizes 2015-2016 Educators of the Year

WAYNE TOWNSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR

2015-2016

SCHOOL TEACHER EDUCATIONAL SERVICES PROFESSIONAL

ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE Dorothy Dmuchowski Jennifer Ziesing

JAMES FALLON Peggie Biondo Jennifer Hamilton

JOHN F. KENNEDY Stefanie Bengel Linda Mandarino

LAFAYETTE Lisa Sibilia Elizabeth Tengwall

PACKANACK Cathie Przybylinski

PINES LAKE Eileen Sweeney Sue Napolitano

RANDALL CARTER Felicia Barra Sherrie Wittenberg

RYERSON Jamie Morano Connie Venturelli

THEUNIS DEY Lauren Pici Josephine Ramirez

ANTHONY WAYNE Brian Basile Nancy Carlucci

GEORGE WASHINGTON MaryAnne Reno-Puentes Denise Lake

SCHUYLER COLFAX Diane Meigh Marcine Cirigliano

WAYNE HILLS Andrew Poalillo Nancy Kowalski

WAYNE VALLEY Nancy Moses Kim Mapp

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At the regular Wayne Township Board of Education meeting held on June 16th, Kim Wettstein was appointed as the new Schuyler-Colfax Middle School Principal. Mrs. Wettstein joins the staff of Schuyler-Colfax with eighteen years of experience working in middle schools.

For the past five years, she served as Vice Principal of Copeland Middle School in Rockaway Township. In addition to her building level administrative responsibilities, Mrs. Wettstein holds two major district level responsibilities for PARCC testing and as Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Intervention Coordinator.

Prior to her administrative work, she worked in the same middle school as a math teacher for thirteen years. Mrs. Wettstein has a diverse academic background and holds three Master’s Degrees in educational leadership, middle level math education, and reading specialist. Her undergraduate degree comes from East Stroudsburg University where she majored in elementary education.

In her free time, Mrs. Wettstein enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and traveling to Disney World whenever possible.

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The new K-Wrap Program is off to an excellent start. The district hired a number of excellent employees, and we are planning for the next school year. The district will be operating eight classes and serving 160 students in our first year of operation. In order to properly prepare for the start of the new school year, the district completed a curriculum writing session on June 20th with another week of curriculum writing in July. Training for K-Wrap employees will be held in August. We are also very happy to offer student and parent orientation sessions. One centralized parent orientation will be held on August 30th starting at 9:30 AM at Randall Carter Elementary School. Each school hosting a section of K-Wrap will also hold an orientation for parents and students in the new K-Wrap classrooms. Parents will be notified about the date and time for each building orientation.

KINDERGARTEN WRAP AROUND

SUMMER UPDATE

Meet the new Schuyler-Colfax Principal

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FAST FACTS ABOUT THE CLASS OF 2016

Wayne Hills Wayne ValleyNumber of Graduates 334 335% Enrolling in a 2 or 4 year College or University 94% 89%Average SAT Score (1600 Scale) 1058 1068Average ACT Composite

24 25

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Wayne Hills Wayne Valley% Scoring 3 or Above on AP Exams 85% 81%% Scoring 4 or 5 on AP Exams 55% 54%Number of Students Recognized through AP Scholar Program

37 29Ivy League Acceptance 5 3

Class of 2016 Most Popular College Choices

Columbia (2) Brown (1) Cornell (1) Dartmouth (1)

Harvard (1) UPENN(1) Cornell (1)

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!Principal Ken Palczewski sees Wayne Valley Co-Valedictorian Komal Nerurkar as that rare student who is as humble as she is incredibly talented. The combination of an outgoing and kind personality, a natural curiosity as is evidenced by her insatiable appetite for reading, and a tremendous drive to achieve, have all contributed to her success. !Guidance Counselor Felicia Miller identified Komal as that special student who has that drive, the spark, the focus, the initiative and the leadership skills that really sets her apart. She possesses a level of maturity and perseverance that is unusual in someone so young. !In addition to being named Co-Valedictorian, Komal was named National Merit Scholarship Finalist and AP Scholar with Distinction. She is also the recipient of the Wellesley Book Award. Komal enjoys her numerous extracurricular activities, and feels her clubs and sports have provided her with unique experiences and opportunities that have shaped who she is today. She is an editor of the Emphasis Creative Writing Club, a Quiz Bowl member, Vice President of Peer Leaders, Co-President and Co- Founder of Valley’s Students Who Code Club. Komal also held various leadership roles within her local Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter. Notably, she was a member of an FBLA State Committee. In addition to her state level leadership position with the FBLA, Komal is a proud member of the Wayne Valley FBLA team that qualified for nationals this past February. She attended a Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program at Goldman Sachs, which inspired her to pursue a career in computer science. In August, Komal won first place in the NASA SpaceApps NextGen Hackathon. She was then chosen as a BBG Ventures Pitch Challenge Finalist, and she presented a personal project at Twitter Headquarters in San Francisco this past September. !In addition to her academic pursuits, Komal is involved with the athletic program. As Foil Captain of the Wayne Valley Fencing Team, Komal helped her team to win the Passaic County Fencing Championship and also qualify for States. !Outside of school, Komal is a passionate and accomplished violinist after having spent nine years studying under renowned violinist Inna Berkhin. Komal also spent thirteen years attending Vivekananda Vidyapith where she learned Indian philosophy and culture.

WAYNE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOLCo-Valedictorian Profile

KOMAL NERURKAR Major: Computer Science

Will be attending:

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!Wayne Valley Counselor Kate Kay wrote that Stephanie Tang is an incredibly gifted and talented young woman who inspires just by her accomplishments. She is at a loss to explain how Stephanie is able to accomplish all that she does on any given day, but she does so with modesty and humility. !Stephanie is a New Jersey Governor’s School in the Sciences Scholar, National Merit Scholarship Finalist, and an AP Scholar with Distinction. At the NJ Governor’s School, she wrote a team research paper, “Cloning of Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 3 from Phytophthora infestans”. Stephanie is the Director of Competitive Events in the Wayne Valley chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and leads the Quiz Bowl team in competition. She was also a Minds in Motion Scholar for all four years of high school. !Stephanie is also a competitive swimmer and she swam for the varsity swim team for all four years of high school. She also swam for the Montclair YMCA Dolphins club swim team, and competed at the Sunkissed Invitational held in North Carolina. !While not in class at Wayne Valley, Stephanie attends the Columbia University’s High School Science Honors Program. She spent some of her summers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, where she was involved with a diverse, global community of students.

WAYNE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOLCo-Valedictorian ProfileSTEPHANIE TANG

Major: Chemical and Physical Biology Will be attending:

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!!AP History Teacher Dennis Carroll states that Catriona is a gifted writer, skilled thinker, passionate soul. Mr. Carroll further noted that Catriona’s brilliance, maturity, fine character, and sense of humor really sets her apart.

Catriona describes herself as an avid cat-lover and bibliophile. She is also a National Merit Semifinalist and AP Scholar with Distinction. She plans to attend Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in the fall, to major in international politics. Catriona has engaged in many activities at Wayne Valley, including Peer Leaders and the National Honor Society. She regularly volunteers her time to support community service projects outside of school. She spent two years volunteering at the Wayne Public Library.

In pursuing her political interest through volunteerism, Catriona helped orchestrate a local political campaign for Wayne Town Council by serving as a volunteer campaign manager.

In her fourth year on the Wayne Valley Fencing Team, she served as Epee Captain, helping lead the team as they became Passaic County champions and qualified for States.

Outside of school, Catriona loves both reading and traveling. She has attended multiple book festivals from local events in New York City to South Carolina and even Scotland. Books aren't the only reason she travels—with family all over the world, Catriona loves visiting other countries and immersing herself in new cultures and perspectives. These experiences have spurred her interest in international relations and what it means to be a citizen of the world.

Last summer, Catriona attended New Jersey Girls State, a week-long political workshop designed to educate young women about civic responsibility and the political process. This program augmented her understanding of and fascination with politics.

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WAYNE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOLSALUTATORIAN PROFILE

CATRIONA KENDALL Major: International Politics

Will be attending:

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Wayne Hills Principal Maureen Weir noted that Heather Heimbach is one of the most talented students she has ever met. With so many impressive accomplishments in and out of the classroom, it is only fitting that she would be named valedictorian.

At Wayne Hills, Heather is a member of the National Art Honor Society and Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica. She served for two years as Editor with the Lantern Club, which publishes an annual literary magazine. This magazine was awarded second place nationally by the American Scholastic Press Association in 2015. Heather is a proud member of the Wayne Hills Robotics Team that competed in the First Tech Challenge, where she also participated in activities to educate the community about the importance of engineering.

Outside of school, Heather is a figure skater and she works as a Learn to Skate Coach at the Ice Vault. During high school, she also trained in opera, musical theatre and piano. Heather has been studying ballet intensely at the Petrov Ballet for many years. !

In 2013, Heather was a state finalist in the National America Miss Competition where she also was awarded fourth runner up for talent and first runner up for her acting. She also attended the Governor’s School of Engineering and Technology where she presented her research for developing theatrical lighting controls.

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WAYNE HILLS HIGH SCHOOLVALEDICTORIAN PROFILE

HEATHER HEIMBACH Major: Computer Science

Will be attending:

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Long-time Wayne Hills Guidance Counselor Joyce Savastano commented that Max Chazen is that rare student who fully commits himself to everything that he does. Furthermore, she noted that he is passionate about learning, including learning from his own mistakes. She also noted that Max has excellent leadership characteristics and that he is an excellent role model and a person who exemplifies leading by example.

Max recently identified himself as a very curious person and attributes much of his success due to his curiosity and his desire to know more. After graduation, Max will be continuing his education at Cornell University where he will be majoring in both economics and mathematics and pursing a career in finance.

During his four years at Wayne Hills, Max participated in numerous activities. In addition to his membership in the Math Honor Society, Max competed in the New Jersey State Math League and the Seton Hall University Joseph Andrushkiw Mathematics Competition. In advancing his interest in business, Max participated in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) while also interning during the summer at Brock Capital Group, an investment bank in New York. !

In addition to Math Honor Society, Max was inducted into the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, and he was named as an AP Scholar of Distinction. He served as a Peer Leader and participated in the New Jersey Science League and the Merck State Science Competition.

Max rounds out his many activities and interests by volunteering in the community. He volunteered for the Friendship Circle of Passaic County and received the Friendship Circle Award.

In addition to excelling in the classroom, Max also excels in athletics. He is a four year varsity athlete in ice hockey and golf. He was captain of the golf team and earned recognition when he was named to the all-conference and all county teams. Max was also honored by being selected as the Wayne Hills’ NJSIAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

WAYNE HILLS HIGH SCHOOLSALUTATORIAN PROFILE

MAX CHAZEN Major: Economics and Mathematics

Will be attending:

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FACULTY TRIBUTESOur staff members are justifiably proud of our graduating students. In this section of our newsletter, faculty members selected outstanding students and shared their admiration.

Inspiration for Anyone—Bar None

Mary is amazing. As a very recent refugee from Syria, Mary watched as the war ravaged her country and tore at every fiber of what held her life together. She came to this country leaving her father behind, her friends, her life and her language and started fresh for a chance to have a future. This bright and wonderful young woman has struggled through this past year, including repeating her senior year in order to satisfy credits, with a grace and wisdom that is absolutely life affirming. There is not a moment that Mary loses her sunny attitude or her belief that life is wonderful, and her job is to enjoy every minute.

In Syria, she was a top student, scoring high in the sciences and getting recognized for her respectful attitude, organization, helpfulness and hard work. But the war took its toll on her, and despite any fears she may have had about leaving a life that was all she ever knew, what she wanted more was a chance to see a safe and fruitful future. She left Syria alone and came to the United States to fulfill her dreams.

When Mary speaks about the impact the war had on her life, it is with a wisdom beyond her years. The sadness she felt watching her country being destroyed was tempered by a chance to see the world and start on a path to a future that she never imagined she would have. She is truly an inspiration.

WAYNE HILLS FACULTY MEMBER: Mati SichererSENIOR STUDENT: Mary Sayegh

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A Model of Perseverance Tritch Ann Bailey was born in Saint Catherine, Jamaica. She was educated in Jamaica through the middle of her 10th grade when she was brought to the United States by her father to live with relatives. Tritch Ann is very open about the poor conditions seen in her homeland and doubts that she would have been able to continue her education or find a job if she had stayed. She struggled with her school work especially after her mother found it necessary to leave her to move to another island to find work. Tritch has not seen her mom in almost 3 years.

Now Tritch has an excellent GPA. Education is very important to her. She has decided to attend Passaic County Community College. She is presently working and plans to stay with this job while attending college. With the money she saves, she will continue on to William Paterson University to earn her BSN. Tritch ultimately would like to be able to attend medical school to become a pediatrician.

Tritch Ann Bailey is kind, gentle, and has an inner strength that will enhance her journey through life. She reminds herself and others who are seeking new opportunity to “never lose sight of your dreams and remember you are here to be somebody great”. She will always be one of Wayne Hill’s success stories.

A Star Who Has Always Shone Brightly Holly Taylor has always shone just a bit more brightly. She is one of Wayne’s true stars, and has already made us very proud. Quite possibly, she will again; perhaps as the winner of an Emmy, an Oscar, or a Tony award. Holly is a stage and screen professional who seems to move through her very busy life with effortless grace.

As a young girl at JFK elementary school, Holly’s genuine kindness and compassion brought purpose to the “Bully Busters” playground group. Throughout her education, her teachers were inspired by her zest for learning. Her dedication to her family, as well as to her career and her education, is as extraordinary as her talent and achievements. She has won critical acclaim for her long standing role as the daughter in the FX drama “The Americans” while maintaining a 4.0 GPA (or above) throughout her high school career. This achievement is even more remarkable given she has always taken classes at the Honors or AP level, never complaining about the workload being too difficult or too demanding, never trying to take an easier way. Rather, she gave her full energy to all pursuits, in school and on the set.

Several years ago, while sitting in the mid orchestra section of a performance of Billy Elliot, I noticed one of the young dancers, a girl maybe twelve years old. There were those large, unmistakable eyes that somehow remind me of sunflowers, bringing happiness to the world. Checking my playbill, I was indeed correct; it was Holly Taylor. The underlying themes of Billy Elliot involve courage, determination, grace, love of family and the pursuit of dreams. These also are embodied in our Wayne shining star, Holly Taylor.

WAYNE HILLS HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY MEMBER: Joyce SavastanoPROFILED SENIOR: Tritch Ann Bailey

WAYNE HILLS HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY MEMBER: Nancy Kowalski

PROFILED SENIOR: Holly Taylor

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True Grit Grit is defined as "perseverance and passion for long-term goals.” It is said that individuals who possess a high level of grit “are able to maintain their determination and motivation over long periods despite experiences with failure and adversity. Their passion and commitment towards the long-term objective is the overriding factor that provides the stamina required to "stay the course" amid challenges and set-backs.” Over the years, we all have students who possess grit, but when I read this definition, the one student in the class of 2016 that I picture who possess this quality is Joey Curcio!!

From the first moment I met Joey his freshman year, there was just something that stood out to me about his positive attitude toward life, and baseball, his true passion. Joey had big dreams that he shared with me early on. His mind was set, he wanted to be scouted and signed to play D1 baseball in college. Through the years his natural talent was evident as he had increasingly successful baseball seasons and his love of baseball only continued to grow.

As Joey completed a very successful academic junior year and an equally strong baseball season, tragedy struck. Unbeknownst to him, he had a severe, life threatening, medical condition. After a very scary episode which lead to many medical tests throughout the summer; Joey received his diagnosis, no doubt a diagnosis that would likely send most teenagers to a place of despair. But not Joey, he remained steadfast and positive, still very much focused on receiving that call that he was to play D1 baseball in college.

Joey began his Senior year knowing he had a very risky surgery coming up shortly, but again, this did not “get him down”. On October 1st Joey underwent a very lengthy procedure, he remained in the hospital for eight days recovering, and by October 13th he came into school to see me. That same infectious smile I saw on his first day of high school was still there despite what he had just endured. Joey was eager to get back to school, in fact his words to me that day were: “I’m bored, can I have some homework to do?” In that moment I was truly amazed at his tenacity and his desire to push through. It was that moment that I realized that he had true grit and that ultimately he would achieve anything he put his mind to.

Although he approached returning to school with such a positive attitude, it is not to say that he had the smoothest of transitions. Due to the nature of his condition and the surgery that was performed, Joey’s recovery is one that is ongoing and will continue over the next few months. He certainly had to overcome more roadblocks along the way; certain subjects were more difficult to grasp than before, and due to new medications, new symptoms got in the way from time to time. Even with such a long recovery, Joey has faced each new challenge with gusto. He persisted, advocated for help from his teachers and put in extra study time when it was clear that he needed it. As he approaches graduation, Joey’s academics skills continue to improve and it is without a doubt in my mind that he will be ready to start college this coming fall.

I am happy to report that YES, Joey will be living out his dream this fall as he was indeed scouted and signed to play D1 baseball at Long Island University, Brooklyn. Even faced with all the medical obstacles earlier in the year, Joey had an amazingly successful baseball season this year! Joey led the Wayne Hills varsity baseball team with a .454 batting average, 39 hits overall (4 of which were home runs), and 31 RBIs (a team high). He, himself scored 35 runs this season and had 25 stolen bases (another team high). Not to mention he was named first-team All-Passaic County and first-team All League. His new coach at LIU has been in touch with him regularly throughout this year (including just hours after his surgery) and he is understandably, very excited to have Joey on his team next Spring!! Joey has truly been an inspiration this year and to me, the clear definition of grit!

WAYNE HILLS FACULTY MEMBER: Monica MannPROFILED SENIOR: Joey Curcio

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A Man on a Mission for Others

Jared French has transformed from an adventurous high school student into a positive young advocate willing to help those around him. Jared was given advice as he entered high school as a freshman to get involved in as many clubs as possible, and did just that. Jared’s journey has evolved and he is thankful it has taken him to many unexpected destinations. From sports to community activities, Jared has been recognized for his involvement in the Teen Summit, National Arts Honor Society, Leo Club and many more.

Jared developed an abundance of nurturing characteristics through his experiences and has found great fulfillment in advocating for those in need. Jared plans to attend Montclair State University and major in music with the intent to pursue a career in music therapy. Experiencing first-hand the benefits of music therapy and how it enhances the special needs population, Jared knew that becoming a music therapist was where his path would take him. Jared has exhausted all opportunities presented to him and the level of maturity in which he has reached demonstrates that he is ready to further his education and life experience.

A Great Leader in the Making

Jake’s character and sense of responsibility is what most makes him stand out. Jake’s goal since he was young has been to join the military in some capacity. He is tirelessly committed to community service and leadership, and wants to serve our nation. In addition to his pursuits at Wayne Valley, which include being captain of the boys cross country team, Jake is a decorated Eagle Scout in our community.

This past summer Jake attended the United States Air Force Academy's Summer Seminar as well as the United States Military Academy's Summer Leadership Experience, both of which are rigorous programs. Jake has also attended and volunteered as an instructor at National Youth Leadership Training, a camp designed to teach leadership and communication skills to Scouts across the nation. Jake hopes to be an officer in the United States Military one day and continue to serve others. He will be attending the University of Maryland, College Park, and participating in their ROTC program next fall.

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WAYNE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY MEMBER: Kristen Valencia

PROFILED SENIOR: Jared French

WAYNE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY MEMBER: Lauren Zaccone

PROFILED SENIOR: Jacob Scheidmann

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A Heart of Gold Jaclyn, “Jackie” Hartwig can best be described as compassionate, loyal, and determined. These three qualities are the essence of Jackie as a person. Jackie is a student who has worked hard to achieve her grades. She has earned a 3.6 GPA which has earned her a place in the National Honor Society. Through the National Honor Society, Jackie has been involved in Kids Helping Kids, the tutoring program, collecting toiletries for the homeless, collecting for the Toy Drive during the holidays. Jackie also volunteers and assists Mrs. Bardi in the Media Center. Jackie is a four year member of the Cross Country team and a four year member of SDA.

Jackie has a beautiful smile and an upbeat personality which translates into a positive outlook on life. In addition to her other activities at Wayne Valley, she is extremely passionate about working with students with developmental disabilities. Jackie has been volunteering since middle school with the STARS program, and the extended year program. She has thoroughly enjoyed her child development classes at Wayne Valley. It is through her experience working with children with special needs and young children that Jackie has decided on a career in special education, most likely working with younger children. Jackie will attend Montclair State University in the fall and will be a member of their class of 2020.

Jackie has been a pleasure to work with over the past four years. Her pleasant demeanor and her kind- hearted nature are tremendous personal qualities to possess and they will serve her well in her chosen field of special education.

An Early Calling Lee Golish will be attending The Fashion Institute of Technology, majoring in Fashion Design. Lee became interested in fashion as a child, and hasn’t looked back since. The origin of his interest is charming: while playing with his older sister, Lee realized that he was not interested in the actual playing with her dolls as much as the dolls’ clothes. He was not happy with the clothing choices, so he started to make his own. Using tissue paper, he began creating dresses. His grandmother noticed his interest, and taught him how to hand sew. By age 8, Lee was taking formal sewing lessons to bring his creations to life. Persevering through adversity in middle school, Lee found his calling with fashion, and by high school was designing and creating prom dresses for his peers. Lee was also entrusted to be head of costumes for Wayne Valley’s theater program.

Lee describes himself as a hard worker, determined, and not afraid to take chances. This is evidenced in part by his participation in the People to People Program, traveling to Europe as a student ambassador for 3 weeks in 7th grade. He is driven, sacrificing his participation in four sports to ensure he could create a strong portfolio for admission to FIT. He has been working since age 15, including at a local boutique, which he says strengthened his knowledge of the business side of fashion. After graduating from FIT, Lee would like to get involved with a major fashion house and work his way up from the bottom, learning as he goes, and eventually wants to have his own line. Lee wants others to know that if you want something badly enough, it is possible to achieve your goals through hard work.

WAYNE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY MEMBER: Joanne CirielloPROFILED SENIOR: Jackie Hartwig

WAYNE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY MEMBER: Jennifer Montana

PROFILED SENIOR: Lee Golish

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A Year of GrowthBy: Donna Reichman

Director of Elementary Education

It feels like just yesterday that we welcomed our students back into our elementary schools to kick off the 2015-16 school year. As I reflect, it has been a year filled with thoughtful, caring and student-focused initiatives where each and every day you can experience the chuckles, laughter, and the curious voices of our 21st century learners.

My greatest pleasure came from visiting our nine elementary schools to observe firsthand the insights, passion and energy of our educators, learners and involved community members. Classroom visits revealed teachers guiding students to inspire passions, foster creativity and make a positive difference in their lives. We are so fortunate to be part of your child(ren)’s educational journey, and I can speak with certainty when I say that we are truly enjoying the ride! It is with great pride that I highlight a few of our initiatives from this past school year. This is a tribute to our dedicated educators who made a commitment to learn about new resources that translated into meaningful learning, increased student engagement and ultimately maximized student achievement.

enVision 2.0 Math Implementation

This past year, teachers and students in grades K-6 used the new enVision 2.0 math program for the first time. Students explored mathematical concepts with hands-on activities and math manipulatives and they are now focused on explaining their mathematical thinking and critiquing the reasoning of others.

Throughout the year, teachers participated in a series of professional development sessions to support classroom instruction and ensure consistency across the district. Additionally, parents participated in Parent Math Nights in October where they learned about the features of the program, the online components available at home, and participated in lesson activities.

In the spring, parents and students participated in Family Math Nights where families played games from the enVision 2.0 program.

A math committee monitored the progress of the program implementation and gave feedback from all stakeholder groups. This feedback was vital to the success of the implementation and was used to support mathematics instruction in the classroom and at home. As a result of the the dedication of our teachers, students, parents, and administration, the implementation of the enVision 2.0 math program was successful. Under this program, our students have demonstrated a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts and a greater proficiency with grade-level content. We look forward to supporting the second year of the implementation in grades K-6 and implementing the enVision 2.0 program in seventh grade during the 2016-2017 school year.

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English Language Arts Curriculum Enhancements

Teachers continued to use a Readers/Writers Workshop model to inspire our learners to develop a love for reading and writing. We continue to build our classroom libraries to provide a host of reading choices which makes it possible for students to read and write about high interest topics at their identified reading level. We added a number of digital resources to our classroom libraries to further engage our 21st century learners through the use of iPads and Chromebooks. Exposing our students to a wide variety of fiction and informational texts has fostered an environment where students develop ideas, share with others and learn from peers. Our teachers promote an environment where students are able to explore and pursue their unique interests and passions. Technology integration has made it simple for teachers to differentiate instruction by offering a variety of tools for all of our students to more effectively communicate, collaborate and exercise critical thinking across content areas in meaningful and relevant ways.

We are excited about introducing the Fundations foundational reading skills program to our Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners! This multi-sensory, structured language program makes learning to read fun while providing a systematic approach to teaching phonics, vocabulary, spelling and handwriting. We plan to continue this program into the second grade during the 2017-2018 school year.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE 2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR !

September 1 & 2-Staff Inservice Days!

September 5-Labor Day !

September 6-First Day of School for Students !

October 3 & 4-Rosh Hashanah!

October 12-Yom Kippur!

November 7 & 9-Elementary Parent Conferences

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WTLC UPDATE !

During its second year of operation, the Wayne Township Learning Center (WTLC) delivered a tremendous amount of training and professional development for district employees. Some of the recent workshops include the following:!Blended Learning This workshop was presented by a middle school Social Studies teacher. Blended Learning is a combination of digital content and activity with face-to-face content and activity. It encourages more independent work outside of the classroom, but then reinforces student work with follow up activities in person. It also allows teachers to tailor what materials they provide based on students' ability levels or learning styles. This workshop was geared towards the secondary educator and ties in well with Google Apps for Education.!Google Classroom for Middle School or High School Teachers A district middle school computer teacher gave this introductory class to Google Classroom. Classroom saves time and paper, and makes it easy to create classes, distribute assignments, communicate, and stay organized. It is a way for teachers to organize their lessons and assignments for their students. !Code.org This free all day workshop was hosted by Code.org. Secondary education teachers were immersed in computer science skills. They were shown how to integrate computer science into core subjects such as ELA and Math. Participants received code.org curriculum guides as well as supplies and materials to implement “un-plugged” code activities in their classrooms.!Google Bootcamp for Level 1 Certification This very popular workshop was held 3 times this year and helped teachers and staff prepare to take the Google Educator Level 1 online exam. District administrators and our teacher/coordinator of Ed Tech led a fast paced workshop that addressed the entire Google Apps for Education suite of applications. We now have about 15 Level 1 and Level 2 certified Google Educators in our district.!

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A Look Ahead at the Secondary Level

By: Toni LiskiewiczDirector of Secondary Education

As we look forward to the upcoming school year, there are a number of challenges we will be facing at the secondary level. Anytime the district is adjusting to new standards for teaching and learning, there are challenges. The district has a good start in meeting these challenges due to advanced planning and the cooperation of our teachers.

Next Generation Science Standards

It is essential that all students at Wayne Township Public Schools have access to a high-quality science education. Our science educators must equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to be well-informed citizens and prepare them for college and career. Science education traditionally has focused on large volumes of content while minimizing the application of these concepts to daily life. The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are intended to be a new vision for science education. The science teachers of Wayne high schools and middle schools have been preparing for this paradigm shift through professional development and writing new curriculum that reflects the skills based approach outlined in the NGSS. Administration has increased student laboratory time and made updates to lab facilities in order to accommodate the increase in activity based, student centered learning. All district science educators are enthusiastically preparing for the new curriculum to be implemented at the start of the 2016-2017 school year.

English Language Arts

Over the course of the 2015-2016 school year, the Middle School English Language Arts Department remained committed to a student centered and data driven approach to instruction. Teachers collaboratively designed lessons and units of study where students were consistently engaged in 21st century learning activities, such as project based learning, small group work, Socratic discussion circles, complex text analysis and a multitude of blended learning opportunities. Teachers also continued to focus on close reading strategies as they pertained to fiction, non-fiction and analytical writing.

Teachers engaged in a series of in-depth discussions focused on the analysis of PARCC data and sample PARCC responses in relation to the current 6-8 ELA curriculum and classroom instructional practices. Based on building level data team discussions and findings, a team of teacher leaders was formulated to design an Analytical Writing Continuum, along with assessment tools and instructional resources to ensure that the department’s instructional practices and curricular tools remain relevant, rigorous, efficient and based on our students’ and district’s needs.

Looking ahead to the 2016-2017 school year, the Middle School ELA Department is looking to create a resource hub in each building’s Media Center and will be increasing the number of non-fiction resources available to students, via a variety of digital formats. Teachers are also excited to continue to engage in collaborative discussions and professional learning opportunities focused on local data, current research and best instructional practices.

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Adelphi University Bowling Green State University Colby College Elon University

Albany College of Pharmacy Brandeis University College of Charleston Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach

Albright College Bridgewater State University College of Saint Elizabeth Emerson College

Alvernia University Brown University College of the Holy Cross Emmanuel College

American University Bryant University Colorado School of Mines Emory University

Amherst College Bucknell University Colorado State University Emory University - Oxford College

Appalachian State University Buffalo State College of SUNY Columbia College Chicago Fairfield University

Arcadia University Caldwell University Columbia University Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus

Arizona State University California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Concordia College - New York Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus

Assumption College Canisius College Cornell University Fashion Institute of Technology

Auburn University Carnegie Mellon University County College of Morris Felician University

Barry University Case Western Reserve University Curry College Fisher College

Becker College Castleton University Dartmouth College Florida Atlantic University

Belmont Abbey College Cedar Crest College Dean College Florida Gulf Coast University

Belmont University Centenary College Delaware Valley University Florida International University

Bentley University Central Connecticut State University

DePaul University Florida Southern College

Bergen Community College Champlain College DeSales University Florida State University

Berkeley College Woodland Park Location

Chestnut Hill College Dominican College Fordham University - Lincoln Center Campus/Rose Hill Campus

Berkeley College- Paramus Location

Christopher Newport University Drew University Fortis Institute in Wayne

Binghamton University City College of New York CUNY Drexel University Franklin and Marshall College

Bloomfield College Clark University Duquesne University Franklin Pierce University

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Clarkson University East Carolina University Full Sail University

Boise State University Clemson University East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

George Mason University

Boston College Coastal Carolina University Eastwick College Georgetown University

Boston University Coker College Elmira College Georgia Institute of Technology

CLASS OF 2016 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES

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CLASS OF 2016 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCESGeorgia State University Kansas State University Manhattanville College New England College

Georgian Court University Kean University Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

New Jersey City University

Gettysburg College Keystone College Marist College New Jersey Institute of Technology

Goucher College King's College Marquette University New York Institute of Technology

Hamilton College - NY Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Marymount Manhattan College New York University

Hartwick College La Salle University Marywood University Nichols College

Harvard University Lafayette College Massachusetts College of Art and Design

North Carolina State University

Hawaii Pacific University Lasell College MCPHS - Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Northeastern University

High Point University Lebanon Valley College Mercyhurst University Norwich UniversityHofstra University Lehigh University Merrimack College Nova Southeastern University

Holy Family University Lesley University Michigan State University Ohio University

Hope College Liberty University Middlesex County College Old Dominion University

Hunter College of the CUNY Lincoln Technical Institute Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Pace University, New York City

Immaculata University Lipscomb University Misericordia University Pace University, Westchester Campus

Indiana State University Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania

Mississippi State University Palm Beach Atlantic University

Indiana University at Bloomington

London College of Fashion Mitchell College Parisian Beauty Academy

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Long Island University, Brooklyn Monmouth University Passaic County Community College

Iona College Long Island University, Post Montana State University, Bozeman

Pennsylvania College of Technology

Iowa State University Louisiana State University Montclair State University Pennsylvania State University - All Campuses

Ithaca College Loyola University Maryland Montserrat College of Art Pennsylvania State University - World Campus

James Madison University Loyola University New Orleans Moravian College Pennsylvania State University, Altoona

Johns Hopkins University Lycoming College Mount Saint Mary College Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg

Johnson & Wales University (Charlotte)

Lynchburg College Mount St. Mary's University Pennsylvania State University, Hazleton

Johnson & Wales University (Denver)

Lynn University Muhlenberg College Pennsylvania State University, Schreyer Honors College

Johnson & Wales University (Providence)

Manhattan College Neumann University Pepperdine University

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CLASS OF 2016 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCESPhiladelphia University Saint Joseph's University Stockton University The University of Scranton

Point Park University Saint Michael's College Stonehill College The University of Tampa

Pratt Institute Saint Peter's University Stony Brook University The University of Texas, Austin

Providence College Salisbury University Suffolk University The University of the Arts

Purchase College State University of New York

Salve Regina University SUNY College at Cortland Tiffin University

Purdue University Samford University SUNY Delhi Towson University

Quinnipiac University Sarah Lawrence College Susquehanna University Tulane UniversityRadford University Savannah College of Art and

DesignSyracuse University Union College

Ramapo College of New Jersey School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Temple University United States Air Force Academy

Regis College School of Visual Arts The Catholic University of America

University at Buffalo The State University of New York

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Seton Hall University The College of New Jersey University of British Columbia

Rider University Seton Hill University The College of Saint Rose University of California, Davis

Rivier University Sewanee: The University of the South

The College of Wooster University of California, San Diego

Roanoke College Siena College The Culinary Institute of America

University of Central Florida

Robert Morris University Smith College The George Washington University

University of Cincinnati

Rochester Institute of Technology

Southern Connecticut State University

The HoHoKus-Hackensack School of Business and Medical Sciences

University of Colorado at Boulder

Roger Williams University Springfield College The Hun School of Princeton University of Connecticut

Rowan University St. John's University - Manhattan Campus

The New School - All Divisions University of Dayton

Rutgers University - Camden St. John's University - Queens Campus

The Ohio State University University of Delaware

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

St. Thomas Aquinas College The University of Akron University of Denver

Rutgers University-Newark State University of New York at Albany

The University of Alabama University of Florida

Sacred Heart University State University of New York at New Paltz

The University of Arizona University of Hartford

Saint Anselm College Stetson University The University of Edinburgh University of Hawaii at Manoa

Saint Francis University Stevens Institute of Technology The University of Montana, Missoula

University of Idaho

Saint Johns River Community College - Orange Park Campus

Stevenson University The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Illinois at Chicago

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CLASS OF 2016 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCESUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Rochester Washington State University

University of Maine University of San Francisco Washington University in St. Louis

University of Maryland University College

University of South Carolina Wentworth Institute of Technology

University of Maryland, College Park

University of South Florida, St. Pete

Wesley College

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

University of South Florida, Tampa Wesleyan University

University of Massachusetts, Boston

University of Southern California West Chester University of Pennsylvania

University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth

University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts

West Virginia University

University of Massachusetts, Lowell

University of Southern Maine Western Connecticut State University

University of Miami University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

Western Michigan University

University of Michigan University of Toledo Western New England University

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

University of Vermont Westminster College

University of Mississippi University of Virginia Widener University

University of Missouri Columbia University of Washington Wilkes University

University of New England University of Wisconsin, Madison William Paterson University of New Jersey

University of New Hampshire at Durham

University of Wyoming Williams College

University of New Haven Ursinus College Worcester Polytechnic Institute

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Utica College Word of Life Bible Institute

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Valencia College Xavier University

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Villanova University York College of Pennsylvania

University of North Dakota Virginia Commonwealth University York College of the CUNY

University of North Florida Virginia Tech

University of Oxford Virginia Wesleyan College

University of Pennsylvania Wagner College

University of Pittsburgh Wake Forest University

University of Rhode Island Washington College

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NEW JERSEY CHILD FIND NOTICE The Department of Student Support Services provides support services to students residing in Wayne. Besides special education programs, the needs of students are addressed through related services, home instruction and parent groups. Child Find activities are encouraged and additional information is available by contacting the Office of Student Support Services at (973) 317-2156.

Educational Programs

Special education programs are available to those students who have been identified, evaluated and found eligible for special education and related services by the Child Study Team.

Preschool education is provided, ages three and four, for students found eligible by the Child Study Team. The program offers instruction in a structured and caring environment. The preschool program uses The Creative Curriculum which is aligned to the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Expectation. A teacher and an aide staff the program. Related services are also provided. The district also accepts general education students who are residents of Wayne on a tuition basis.

Additional special education programs are available throughout the district. These programs include self-contained classes for educationally disabled students. All academic work is individualized and tailored to meet the performance and ability levels of these students. Inclusion into age appropriate academic and non-academic classes is ongoing and initiated in accordance with each student’s Individualized Education Program.

Resource programs are offered in every school in the district. The resource program offers the option of replacement and/or support using pull-out or in-class instructional models. Students involved in this program receive instruction in the subject areas indicated in their Individualized Education Plans.

Related Services

Certified speech and language specialists evaluate students to determine if they are eligible for speech services. If a student qualifies for the program, the parent is consulted and an Individualized Education Program is developed for the child. Occupational and physical therapy needs are evaluated by qualified personnel who deliver the required services in the classroom or in a separate setting. The district also employs behaviorists who provide support for students and consultation to staff members, and a Teacher of the Deaf who supports the needs of students with hearing impairments and deafness.

The Wayne Township Public Schools welcome Emidio D’Andrea to serve as the next school business administrator. Mr. D’Andrea is replacing Juanita Petty, who is retiring after seven years of service in the Wayne Township Public Schools.

Mr. D’Andrea joins the district with over twenty years of experience in school business and management. Prior to Wayne, Mr. D’Andrea served as a school business official in Park Ridge, Bogota, and most recently, Sayreville. He started his career working as an accountant in New Jersey with a concentration in municipal and public accounting. Mr. D’Andrea graduated from St. Peter’s College with a degree in accounting.

In his free time, Mr. D’Andrea enjoys spending time with his wife of twenty-three years and his three teenage children. Mr. D’Andrea is active in his home town of Bloomfield, where he is a long-time volunteer baseball and soccer coach. He is also an active member of the Bloomfield Home and School Association.

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!!Wayne Township Public Schools 50 Nellis Drive Wayne, NJ 07470

PLACE MAILING LABEL HERE

Meet the new School Business Administrator