As you read through this issue, you will notice a slight shift in how we share news moving forward. To make our communications more streamlined, our monthly newsletters will focus primarily on timely information, key updates, and events to keep you fully in the loop.
We are working on a new way to feature and celebrate our students, staff, and school achievements. More to come later this fall.
This month’s newsletter features updates across the following sections:
- Around Our Schools
- News You Can Use
- For Your Information
- In Case You Missed It...
Thank you for your continued partnership, support, and engagement.
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As part of our districtwide Week of Respect, our schools will be participating in New Jersey Goes Gold & Blue Day on Friday, October 9.
NJ Goes Gold and Blue is a statewide initiative uniting New Jersey schools in a shared commitment to preventing harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB). During the Week of Respect and throughout the entire school year, this campaign reinforces our focus on fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, belonging, and safety, ensuring every student feels valued, supported, and safe in our classrooms and hallways.
All students and staff are encouraged to wear gold and blue on Friday, October 9 as we stand together for a kinder, safer, and more inclusive world.
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The Annual TRACK (Tolerance, Respect, Attitude, Cooperation, and Kindness) Rally brought the ACS community together for a fun-filled celebration of the values that make our school shine. With Leo & Nia joining the excitement, students are officially on a mission to earn 1,000 TRACK Acts by showing kindness, respect, cooperation, and so much more.
One school, one goal, 1,000 reasons to celebrate! Keep up the incredible work, ACS!
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The LMS Service Club recently added a creative, colorful touch to the blacktop with a special stencil painting project! Students worked together to paint a series of yoga poses, transforming the outdoor area into a space that promotes movement, mindfulness, and wellness for the whole school.
We are so proud of these student volunteers for using their time and creativity to leave a positive, lasting mark at LMS!
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LHS Physics students recently took learning for a spin with a hands-on buggy car lab. By tracking time and position along a measured track, students created graphs and linear equations to model constant velocity motion. The interactive experiment offered a fun, practical way to explore key physics concepts, including reference frames and the difference between scalar and vector quantities.
It’s safe to say physics is officially moving at LHS!
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The New Jersey School Public Relations Association (NJSPRA) has named Leonia Public Schools a winner in the 2026 School Communication Award Program! Our district earned two prestigious statewide recognitions:
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Award of Excellence - Best in Class: District Website
- Award of Merit: District Video
These awards reflect our ongoing commitment to clear, engaging, and transparent communication with our students, families, and community. By continuing to modernize our digital tools, outreach, and messaging platforms, we make it easier for every family to access information and actively participate in our schools. Thank you to our entire community for connecting with us as we continue striving for excellence.
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This past spring, students took the state's new computer-adaptive assessment in ELA and Math (NJSLA-A), along with the NJSLA Science assessment in grades 5, 8, and 11. Because this was the first year of the new ELA and Math test, with performance levels newly set by the State Board of Education, your child's score report may look different from past years. Your child's Individual Student Report will be sent home in the coming weeks. The full district results will be presented at the November 17 Board of Education meeting.
As a sneak peek, we're proud to share that Leonia students outperformed the state average in every grade and course tested in ELA, Math, and Science.
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As required by the NJDOE, our annual Parent Notification of Assessments document for the 2026-2027 school year is now available on the district website. It lists our state and local assessment dates, the grade levels testing, time allotments, and resources for families.
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Progress on the LHS Science Wing project continues at a steady pace. Flooring installation is complete, painting is wrapping up, and furniture deliveries have officially arrived on site. Our project team is maintaining great momentum, keeping us firmly on track for our target November 1 opening. We look forward to reopening the wing very soon. |
We are thrilled to announce that the Leonia School District has been invited to join the League of Innovative Schools, a national network of more than 175 school districts across 37 states that connects and supports the most forward-thinking leaders in education.
Our district was selected from a competitive national pool of applicants based on our demonstrated commitment to excellence, innovative vision for learning, key achievements, and collaborative spirit. In addition to nationwide collaboration, membership in the League opens up valuable opportunities designed to strengthen and advance critical work already underway in our schools.
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Cybercriminals frequently target students and parents using fake emails, text messages, and social media links. Here’s what to look for and how to protect your family this school year.
Common Scams to Watch For
For Students:
- Gaming & Social Media Traps: Promises of free V-Bucks, Robux, or account giveaways that ask for login details.
- Fake Offers: Unsolicited messages offering high-paying online jobs, scholarships, or homework help requiring personal info.
For Parents:
- The "Lost Phone" Emergency Text: Messages claiming to be your child using a friend’s phone, asking for urgent money via Zelle or Venmo.
- Fake School Payment Alerts: Fraudulent emails claiming lunch balances or registration fees are past due, linking to fake login pages.
3 Fast Red Flags 🚩
- Extreme Urgency: Messages demanding immediate payment or action to avoid account suspension.
- Suspicious Links & Senders: Email addresses or URLs with slight misspellings or non-official domain names.
- Requests for Passwords: School staff and legitimate platforms will never ask for your password or verification codes.
3 Quick Steps to Stay Safe
- Verify Independently: Never click a link in a suspicious payment alert. Log into official school portals directly through your browser.
- Set a Family Passcode: Establish a secret word your family can use to verify sudden text requests for money or help.
- Pause Before Clicking: Teach students to show a parent or teacher before opening unknown links or attachments.
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Monday, October 12 is a delayed opening for all students to allow for staff professional development. Students may begin entering the buildings at the following times:
- ACS - 10:30 AM
- LMS - 10:17 AM
- LHS - 9:50 AM (first period of the day begins)
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Your family may qualify for free or reduced-price meals and Summer EBT benefits based on household size and income limits, or if your household receives NJ SNAP, NJ TANF/WorkFirst-NJ, or participates in other qualifying programs.
What to Know:
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One Application per Household: You only need to submit one application for all children in your household.
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Annual Renewal Required: Even if your child was approved last school year, a new application must be submitted for the 2026–2027 school year unless the district has explicitly notified you otherwise.
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Apply Online through Genesis Parent Portal: We encourage families to complete the online application conveniently through the Genesis Parent Portal. You can find the application under the Forms tab.
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We want all of our students to show up to school, every day, and we are committed to working with families to ensure that every student attends school regularly and achieves their full potential. Strong partnerships between families and schools are essential for ensuring student success. Our goal is to set you up for success.
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On the most recent episode of "Leading Leonia," Dr. Karamanos sits down with Interim Business Administrator Dr. Phil Nisonoff. With 40 years of experience, Dr. Nisonoff pulls back the curtain on district finances, operations, and student-centered budgeting.
Tune in, Catch up, and Subscribe on our main streaming platforms:
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Our website is a great hub for family resources. We’ve highlighted several key pages to get you started, and we invite you to explore the site for complete details and district updates.
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Calendar of Events: The district and each school has a "calendar of events" page to share the events happening across the district.
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Parent Square: To learn more about ParentSquare, review FAQ's, or learn tips and tricks to the platform, visit the ParentSquare page on our district website.
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Student Support & Programs: Learn more about the programs we offer by visiting our Student Support & Programs page.
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HIB Information & FAQ's: Visit our website to learn more about our HIB information and frequently asked questions.
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Technology Help Desk: Visit our Tech Help Desk site for how to submit a technology help desk ticket.
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Food Services: For more information on our food services program, and for guides on how to set up your PaySchools account (including a video on how to set up meal restrictions)
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Chain of Communication: When questions or concerns come up, we encourage parents, students, and community members to follow our Chain of Communication. Starting with the right contact helps ensure you receive the quickest and most accurate response.
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Whether you’re seeking food assistance, mental health services, or community programs, you’ll find quick links and hotlines here. All of these resources are confidential and many are free of cost.
📞 Key Hotlines & Support Services
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988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 anytime.
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Child Abuse: Call 1-877-652-2873.
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PerformCare NJ Parent Crisis Hotline: 1-877-652-7624 (Free)
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2nd Floor Teen Support Line: 1-888-222-2228 (24/7 access)
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Center for Hope & Safety: 201-944-9600 (Domestic Violence)
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NJ 2-1-1: Dial 211 or 1-877-652-1148 (For local connections)
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Center for Food Action: 201-569-1804 (Englewood)
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CarePlus NJ: 201-986-5000 (Counseling and wellness services)
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New Bridge Medical Center: 1-800-730-2762 (Counseling and inpatient care)
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