Yvette McNeal and David Galbierczyk, principals of H.B. Whitehorne Middle School, are proud to announce the names of those seventh grade students who have earned academic recognition during the third marking period of this school year 2018-2019.

These students have qualified for the high honors award by receiving an “A” in every school subject:

Leonel Andrade, Eleanor Battersby, Marcus Beninghof, Rachel Bochicchio, Faith Brolly, Maria Caggiano, Keira Dolan, Juliette Fernicola, Joyce Gabrael

Tyler Holland, Matthew Huaman, Patrick Huaman, Gabriel Levine, Zoe Levine, Grace McMahan, Kieran Patel, Esteban Patrone-Michellod

Samantha Rizzi, Abigail Shust, Evan Spong, Emily Theobald, Sara Tortoriello, Georganne Valera, Marguerite Valera, Allyson Vasquez, Megan Wynne, Riley Ying, Ian Zalewski

The names of some students who qualified for the honor roll do not appear on this list because their parents have elected not to release personal information to the media.

Yvette McNeal and David Galbierczyk, principals of H.B. Whitehorne Middle School, are proud to announce the names of those eighth grade students who have earned academic recognition during the third marking period of this school year 2018-2019.

These students have qualified for the high honors award by receiving an “A” in every school subject:

Sydney Aiello, Victoria Aleynikov, Brooke Algieri, Neva Anil, Jane Bartell, Stephen Bartell, Emily Baumgard, Trent Bednar, Andrew Boyle, Leila Brolly

Nicholas Canal, Izabelle Cheung, Cassandra Collucci, Courtney Cullen, Emma Dillane, Kaitlyn Dunn, Lucas Ferrara, Nicole Hagaman, Emily Heimall, Caitlyn Heimerle, Kimberly Chang Horton

Philip Konrad-Parisi, Natalia LoCurto, Bridget Lonergan, Bridget Lonsinger, Zoe Matias, Ryan Meyer, Kayla Mroz, Amelia Niziolek, Sophia Nunez

Samantha Pecora, Patricia Rakova, Brooke Rienecker, Nadine Sharabi, Victoria Valese, Serena Warner, Amelia Wong, Sarah Wynne, Dionisia Yanniotis

The names of some students who qualified for the honor roll do not appear on this list because their parents have elected not to release personal information to the media.

Yvette McNeal and David Galbierczyk, principals of H.B. Whitehorne Middle School, are proud to announce the names of those eighth grade students who have earned academic recognition during the third marking period of this school year 2018-2019.

These students have qualified for the honors award by attaining all “A” and “B” grades:

Alyssa Abello, Jack Aiello, Gabriel Ali, Sebastien Andre, Kendall Aromando, David Baird, Christopher Baker, Julia Balogh, Aaliyah Best, Malachy Black, Gia Bujnowski

Amanda Cavallo, Raymond Chesney, Jadyn Chu, Krystal Costa, Samantha Davis, Emma DePaul, George Donnelly, Alana Drost, Cameron Duffy, Olivia Egan, Emily Esposito

Xander Francis, Olivia Frank, Sophia Freda, Jack Freedman, Liam Frey, Sofia Greco, Jordyn Hannigan, Jack Huze, Charles Kenrick, Sarah Knoetig, Julia Komninos

Isabella Lachina, Frank Liggio, Logan Machnowski, Isabelle Malanga, Zachary Markowski, Owen Merle, Verena Mikhael, Clara Nippes, Abigail Petruzzi, Emily Poueymirou, Nicholas Priori

Sara Remler, Katherine Repoli, Jake Rizzi, Nicholas Ross, Trevor Semeraro, Mark Serra, Josephine Shust, Abigail Smith, Juliana Squilanti, Chloe Theilmeier, Erika Thompson, Dylan Toriello

Hannah Vargas, Alexander Vasquez, Amanda Visone, Jacob Vogel, Nandi Webb, Fernanda Webster, Daniela Zehnder, Stephanie Zimany

The names of some students who qualified for the honor roll do not appear on this list because their parents have elected not to release personal information to the media.

These were some of the challenges at the last Maker Mini-Golf.

While the Verona High School golf team once again had a fabulous season (they are back-to-back state sectional champions), most of us will only be mini-golf stars. Next weekend, you can improve your short game, have fun, and support education in Verona at Maker Mini-Golf.

Maker Mini-Golf is the work of H.B. Whitehorne’s seventh grade technology education and design class as part of their Rube Goldberg Maker Mini-Golf Challenge. The course, which will include at least a dozen holes, will be laid out on the town square lawn in front of HBW on Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the fun will be moved into HBW’s gym.)

It will cost just $5 per person to play, which will go to support the Verona Foundation for Educational Excellence (VFEE). The French Quarter food truck will be on hand, as will the Kona Ice truck.

“We’re trying to make it a showcase for the creativity and innovative spirit of Verona’s students,” says Nick Klose, VFEE’s chairman. VFEE funded the materials bring used by the seventh graders to create the course.

VFEE is a Verona-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that solicits donations to fund a comprehensive grant program designed to enhance the educational experiences of Verona’s public school children. District faculty and staff can apply for one of the five core grants to obtain resources to expand, enhance and enrich the classroom learning experience. VFEE also funds major projects that enable a school, a department, or team access to larger cash awards to further enhance a particular educational initiative. Over the years, VFEE has funded the leasing of a large number of Google Chromebooks, hands-on science programs and a science resource database, and learning tools for special needs students that were designed by students at H.B. Whitehorne. VFEE honors educators at each of Verona’s schools every year through its “Inspiring Excellence” awards.

Madeline Burke, who graduated Verona High School with the class of 2015, was a member of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) women’s rowing team that won the Division III silver medal in this past weekend’s NCAA championship in Indianapolis.

WPI improved its 2018 bronze medal team finish to take second place finishes in the women’s first varsity eight, second varsity eight and team overall. Burke was a senior coxswain of the second varsity eight boat. This was the best performance of any varsity team in WPI’s 125-years history of varsity athletics.

Burke graduated WPI on May 18 with a bachelor of science in computer science with high distinction. She will be starting a job with Liberty Mutual in Boston in the fall.

Photos copyright Pheobe Yeung. Used by permission.

Acton Academy Verona, a private elementary and middle school that opened in Verona in 2017, will be holding a Children”s Business Fair on Sunday, June 30, and it is inviting all Verona entrepreneurs ages 4 to 14 to participate in it.

Young entrepreneurs can register for a booth to showcase their project and participate in a half-day mini-MBA on Sunday, June 23, to them prepare for the fair and and get tips on key steps of creating a business, from idea evaluation to marketing plan, pricing or cost management. Participation in both the mini-MBA and the fair booth are free. The fair will run from 3:30 to 6 p.m. and is open to the public.

To register a booth, go to www.ChildrensBusinessFair.org/verona-acton.

Jerry, Robert, Wendy and Jake Parent flank their AFS exchange student, Josep Salse.

Thousands of international visitors stream through New York City every day. In Verona, not so much. But early this year, one Verona family discovered a way to bring the world into its living room, and they’ve been enjoying every minute of it.

Since February, the Parent family on Elk Road has been host to Josep Salse, a Spanish student in the United States with the educational exchange program AFS. They’ve been making dinner from a Spanish cookbook given to them by Salse’s parents, learning about holidays in Salse’s hometown near Barcelona like La Diada de Sant Jordi, understanding the differences between high school in Spain and the U.S. and, generally, having a blast being tourists in their own backyard. It’s been a priceless education in the world and Wendy Parent would like to encourage other Verona families to do the same.

“Whether you feed three boys or four boys or five boys, it doesn’t really matter,” she says with a shrug.

Before Salse arrived on their doorstep, the Parents had been feeding two boys, Jake, who graduated Verona High School with the class of 2017, and Robert, who graduates next week. Both had gone to Europe as middle-school students with People To People International, but the family had never hosted a foreign student until it got the bug at VHS’ International Weekend this year. For decades, VHS has welcomed exchange students from all over New Jersey during the first weekend in February.

Salse got to experience the prom at VHS …

… a Broadway show …

…and winning stuffed animals at the Point Pleasant boardwalk.

Salse is in the U.S. with AFS, a non-profit that has enabled American students to study abroad and foreign students to come here since 1947. Now, more than 2,300 AFS exchange students from 90 countries come to the U.S. every year. Host families house and feed the students placed with them but students come with their own spending money and medical insurance. AFS uses volunteers to match incoming students with host families based on the family’s interests and lifestyle, and while most AFS students stay with a family for the full 10-month school year, some split their time between two families.

While Wendy Parent believes that her family has gotten a lot out of Salse’s stay, he clearly has enjoyed Verona. Classes here are a bit less rigorous than those back home, he says, and VHS offers music, sports, and art extracurriculars, which Salse has come to love. “In Spain, everything is science and math,” he says. In Spain, compulsory high school actually starts in what would be middle school here and runs only through age 16. After that, students can stay on for two more years of high school or go into vocational training.

Salse also loves Verona’s location, which has made it easy for him to take the bus into New York City and meet up with other AFS students. Like most foreign students, he’s accustomed to taking public transportation to go places, like from his home on a cattle ranch outside Barcelona into that city. “I was shocked by how much you need a car here,” Salse says. He’s experienced the prom, bagels, Taylor Ham and Reese’s Pieces and gives a thumbs-up to all. (Wendy Parent is proud of the fact that, living with her family, Salse has learned to do his own laundry as well.)

Robert Parent has also learned from Salse, who he says will remain a friend even after his stay ends on June 24. “I know so much more about Spain,” he says. “I love hearing about its politics.” While he didn’t study abroad in high school, he intends to do so in college at Arcadia University, which has an extensive foreign study program.  Robert’s father also has plans for abroad. “We were going to take the boys to Barcelona,” Jerry Parent says nodding at his wife, “but if the boys can’t go, we’ll go alone.”

“There’s a lot to share between countries,” says Salse. “It’s easy to make bonds with other people if you show love and respect.” Adds Wendy Parent: “There’s a bigger world than New Jersey.”

You can learn more about becoming an AFS host family here.

Salse, center, with the AFS students that have been in New Jersey this year.

The 2018-2019 school year is coming to a close on a very happy note for many French students at Verona High School. The results of the National French Contest/Le Grand Concours that several students took in March are in, and almost all of the students were recognized by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF). Congratulations to all!

Gold
Erin Petrino
Jessica Sidrak

Silver
Julianne French

Bronze
Ashley Duhaney
Jamie Gabriel
Mariam Girgis
Selin Hekimgil
Anna Konrad-Parisi
Audrey Ng
Niko Tietjen
Nicole Volpe

Honorary Mention
Julia Caprari
Viviana Freire Pires
Lia Gardner
Max Handler
Kara Johansen
Sophia Josephson
Colvin Kramer
Gillian Lamb
Jack Mchugh
Alessandra Newman
Natalie Romanyshyn
Sofia Saj
David Sidrak
Emily Strlekar
Madrid Rodner
Griffin Willner

The Verona Township does not seem to have much of an appetite these days for sharing PILOT funds with our schools. Making decisions without consideration for the impact to our classrooms will have significant implications on teaching and learning. We have spent a considerable amount of time, strategic effort, creativity, and resources that have resulted in the outstanding educational opportunities afforded our children. We have come way too far to allow anything to chip away at the quality of education our students undoubtedly deserve.

The Verona Public Schools educate over 2,300 students each year, employ approximately 350 staff members, and operate 6 buildings that require attention and care. The opportunities our schools provide our children are second to none. With the allocation of normal property tax revenues, the schools receive 55% on every dollar. But under Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements, the Verona Township government will retain 95% of revenue while the Verona Public Schools will receive 0% on the value of property improvements. These agreements between municipalities and developers create revenue streams that schools never see while dealing with the additional challenges of adding students to the school system.

PILOT is utilized by municipalities to incentivize developers to build new housing in areas that would otherwise not be financially viable by providing a break on property taxes. Although PILOTs have been arranged in Verona for over a decade, no revenues have been shared with the Verona Board of Education. Most recently, PILOT has become a renewed point of discussion between our Board of Education and Verona Town Council. But it appears that our Township will be cutting out the schools from PILOT funding which will result in negative effects that will be felt across our entire district.

The Verona Town Council is well on their way to approving approximately 100 units of affordable housing on the former Cameco property on Pine Street, along with another 200 units planned on the current Spectrum 360 property on Sunset Avenue. Based on the Township’s own estimation, it is possible that the affordable housing development alone could bring 120-150 additional students. But there has been no accounting by the Township to support us while they make decisions on the backs of our schools.

The Board of Education and I have implored Mayor Ryan, Township Manager Mr. Cavallo, and the entire Verona Town Council to allocate PILOT funds to our schools as they negotiate with developers. This funding would be used to help the district mitigate increases in student enrollment that would require hiring additional teachers to maintain reasonable class sizes. Our conversations have recurred for over ten years with a number of different Verona officials to no avail. Despite our efforts, we grow less optimistic each and every day as we are left short changed.

Every child who attends the Verona Public Schools will receive a gold star education. There will never be any questioning that basic principle. But of grave concern is that an increase in student enrollment will balloon class sizes to levels less than ideal for optimal student learning. The district would need to hire additional teachers to maintain reasonable class enrollment. Under the current legislated 2% cap, one way forward could be the addition of new teaching positions through a prepared second question community vote to exceed the current tax levy cap. This approach would be similar to our recent funding of full day kindergarten and mental health programming. The same is true if we require building additional classroom space. Otherwise, we will either need to live with larger class sizes or cut existing staffing and programs to make smaller class sizes a possibility. In my professional opinion, none of these options are acceptable.

It is a reality that the Mount Laurel Doctrine is driving decisions to satisfy affordable housing legislation. But making decisions in a silo with no regard for the impact on our schools is unbalanced, unequal, and unfair. The local decisions in Verona on housing development are heading us down a slippery slope. Satisfying the mandates for affordable housing is one thing – but in Verona, it comes with two times more non-affordable development. The approximately 100 affordable units at Cameco represent a difficulty for our schools – and the 200 additional non-affordable units at the Spectrum 360 site – double that of Cameco – would make it much more troublesome.

Further, PILOT programs distort the property tax effect on our community. With 95% of the revenue going to the township, it allows the municipal side of our government to soften tax increases on their spending. The Board of Education – receiving zero of those PILOT revenues – must operate with any cost increases funded through property taxes on existing property owners. Sharing the PILOT revenue would correct this distortion.

In an effort to open up the dialogue, I am assembling a Task Force that will continue this conversation and seek ways to address this adaptive challenge. Please click this link if you are interested in being considered to participate in this initiative. This may be a tough needle to thread but it’s one we cannot sit idly by with no expectation of the potential consequences that may result from these decisions.

We can do better and we must do better. We have achieved terrific progress in our school district through sensible long-term planning, community engagement, and commitment to accountability. Overdevelopment of our community and improper funding of needs puts that at risk. Verona is a great place to learn, a great place to work, and a great place to live. Let’s make sure we preserve the outstanding reputation we have worked so hard to build and one our community has come to expect.

All my best,

Dr. Rui Dionisio
Superintendent of Schools

You started out in fifth grade.
You came through our doors a child.
Running around at recess
Carefree, breathless, wild.

You were small but you were growing
With baby teeth you’d yet to lose.
Life seemed much simpler then.
There was so much less to choose.

You were innocent and silly
With the exuberance of youth.
You loved your friends and teachers.
Our fond memories are the proof.

We watched you grow. We saw you change
You seemed to need us less and less.
You were slipping from our grasp
Though we knew that it was best.

When you were small we had the answers.
The questions seemed so easy then.
But how do we explain the tough stuff?
Like heartbreak, loss and friends?

In truth it wasn’t easy.
All the projects and the tests
The late nights, the teenage fights
There was drama. There was stress.

Did we push you too hard sometimes
Because we believed that you could do it?
But when you learned and earned that grade
We were proud to lead you to it.

And though we are smiling on the outside
On the inside there are tears.
Your principals, teachers, and family
Have cherished you these years.

You leave here a young adult
You’re no longer just a kid.
And there is no way we could be prouder
Of all the great things you did.

You’re a leader and an actor
Athlete, musician, friend
Techie, writer, artist
The list goes on without an end.

And if this all seems rather sappy
Or “cringey” as you teens say
That’s life! We must mark this moment
Because this is a very special day.

A little advice for your future
As you journey down the road.
Be kind. Be strong. Be honest.
Be humble but be bold.

Take a chance. Have an adventure.
Do what makes your heart sing.
Know that success and failure
Are both temporary things.

No one is your better
And no one is worth less.
You’ll win. You’ll lose. You’ll struggle.
Just always do your best

Each of you has a gift
And problems to be faced.
Find your passion and pursue it
Make the world a better place.

You started out in fifth grade
So precious and so small
You grew, you learned, you did it
So now smile and stand tall!

Jennifer Kleinknecht has been the media specialist at H.B. Whitehorne Middle School since 2007. She writes about life as a school librarian on her blog, “The ‘Yes’ Librarian”. (Photo by Baim Hanif on Unsplash)

Guests at this year’s Verona High School graduation saw something very different. Not just a different graduating class and different speakers, but a different way of presenting the national anthem. This year, as the VHS choir sang, the anthem was signed in American Sign Language by four other VHS students.

The display was the work of Renata Curcio, a junior who this past year founded an American Sign Language club at VHS, her fellow juniors Mia Pego and Rebecca Wenzel-Rideout, and sophomore Breianna Magardino.

In an interview published in February in The Fairviewer, VHS’ student newspaper, Curcio explained why she started the club. “Since American Sign Language has been blossoming in the world as a true, legitimate language as well as a fascinating culture,” she said, “I felt obligated to help it have a part of VHS’s divergent culture.” According to the Fairviewer article, about 20 students joined the club, and they practiced both in school and at home.

The signers had at least one big fan in the audience on Thursday night: Andrea Dora Turco, who had come to graduation to celebrate her nephew, Anthony Zamloot. “It was a nice surprise to see four students signing the National Anthem,” she wrote on MyVeronaNJ.com’s Instagram page. “I’m deaf so I def appreciate this gesture. Not only deaf people appreciate ASL, but all people can benefit from learning this language as it would give anyone accessibility if they are losing hearing or cannot hear the speakers clearly. Well done job!”

Curcio said at graduation that the ASL Club will continue next year at VHS, and that members hope to bring in Joey Gebbia, the Verona resident who has been using social media to teach sign language. As MyVeronaNJ reported earlier this month, Gebbia grew up as the hearing child of deaf parents and is now on-call as a sign language interpreter at Saint Barnabas Hospital. He also speaks about deaf culture to ASL classes at Union County Community College and Kean University’s School of Communication Disorders and Deafness. “We really want to have him come speak to us,” Curcio said.

You can watch the work of the ASL Club in the video below:

One message on a mortarboard in the  crowd of maroon and white summed up how the class of 2019 intends to take its next steps. “I am ready,” it read, “to face any challenge that might be foolish enough to face me.”

Verona High School held its 119th commencement on Thursday, June 20, graduating a class of 156 students at the Newman Center at Caldwell University. There was pomp, circumstance and a whole lot of rain just as the class attempted to step outside for post-graduation photos.

Tom White, the English and journalism teacher at VHS, was the evening’s featured speaker, and he told a story of story telling and the stories this class has told–and will tell in the future. The class of 2019’s valedictorian , Kelly Esposito, and salutatorian, Elizabeth Hensal, shared the emotions of many in the robed crowd when they thanked their families, friends and teachers for their journey through the Verona school system. The class also heard from Kate Ryan, its class president, and Nicolette Marino, the student council president, who have spent much of their time at VHS together on its volleyball team.

This year, VHS recorded the whole ceremony, and you can watch it in the video below:

Congratulations to the graduates of the Class of 2019:

Abigail Abalos, Nicholas Albanese, Matthew Aldiero, Emily Anderson, Kathleen Ashley

Zachary Balogh, Elizabeth Barile, Laura Bedoya, Liliana Benanchietti, Angelo Benfante, J. Nicholas Bernardino, Aiden Bertron, Erik Bostrom, Jeremy Boub, Lauren Brown, Isabelle Buneo, Julia Burke, Cade Byrne

Cristian Campos, Augustin Caprari, Brandon Cariani, Sarah Carlucci, Emma Carney, Maria Celentano, Philip Chivily,  Jonathan Cole, Christina Colon, Chlow Conway, Brooke Cooney, Hunter Coppola, Emily Coppola, Michael Costa

Lily Dastis, Brendan De Leon, Jessica Derderian, Margot Deutsch, Alexandra DeVivo, Julia DiGeronimo, Dean DiPaolo, Matthew Dollaway, Ariana Dyer

Diana Ednie, Irene Eremita, Victoria Eriksson, Brendan Erwin, Kelly Esposito, Francesca Esposito, Margaret Evans

Peter Farley, Anthony Farro, Destiny Figueroa, Megan Forrest, Maya Fortgang, Sophia Francullo, Eric Frey

Maria Gabriele, Gina Gagliano, Michael Garcia, Jack Gautieri, Jenna Gibson, Nicholas Giuliano, Kayla Golebieski, Emile Goulard, Demitra Grillias

Elizabeth Hensel, Brianna Horton

Kyle Jacobsen, Lucas Jacobsen, Gareth Jenkins, Peter Jordan Jr., David Karpinski, Jarrod Keating, Harrison Keating, Ashley Kenneally, Erin Kiernan, Emily Klysa, Jake Knapp, Justin Kobernick, Julia Kosko

Chloe Lamb, Dallas  Lamb, Gillian Lamb, Francis Lavery, Dwayne Lawson Jr., Molly Ligon, Changhao Liu, Julia Luberto

Chelsea Macancela-Gonzalez, Julia Mackey, Ally Madigan, Michael Maglione, Russell Maloney, Julia Mancuso, Rebecca Marcillo-Gomez, Nicolette Marino, Gianna Mattia, Brian McEvoy, Maeve McGinley, Ryan McKeown, Desiree Meyer, Matthew Monroe, Holly Montick, David Motley

Allison Naeris, Amber Neumann, Joseph Niler, Abigail Nochimson

Paul Ortiz

Cecilia Pandiscia, Robert Parent, Purva Patel, Yasmin Pego, Joseph Priori, Dante Puerari

Gabriel Quagliata, Colette Quattrocchi

Caitlin Richinelli, Joseph Richinelli III, Lourdes Ricks, Nicholas Riggio, Brianna Rigney, Christopher Robinson, Amon Rosenzweig, Kathleen Ryan

Nardin Salib, Eliana Salierno, Connor Seawright, Brendan Semeraro, Rebecca Seubert, Rachel Seubert, William Sheehan, J. Grady Short IV, Elise Sidali, Jessica Spinelli, Kanija Stephens, Jack Strippoli, Jessica Sweeney, Richard Symczak

Lara Tole, Charles Torikian, Joseph Trapani IV, Daniela Trujillo

Dalilah Varella-Durbin, Hector Vega Jr., Nicole Volpe

Brooke Wagner, Jacob Weber IV, Adam Weiss, Collin Welsh, Colleen Whelan, Nicolette Wynn

Emma Yee, Elyssia Yung

Anthony Zamloot, Jack Zickerman

Verona’s Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Rui Dionisio, has been recognized as the 2019-2020 Essex County Superintendent of the Year. The award is given to a superintendent who exhibits leadership for learning, communication, professionalism, and active participation in community involvement with an understanding of regional, national, and international issues.

“I am humbled and honored to be selected by my peers,” Dr. Dionisio said in an email sent by the district this morning. “But this recognition is truly the result of the constant focus, commitment, and support of our Board of Education, administration, staff, students, and families in the Verona community.”

Dr. Dionisio has served as superintendent since 2014. “During his tenure, he has proven himself as a highly effective, collaborative leader with an ability to guide our community in an effort to raise the bar and continuously redefine success,” Board of Education President Lisa Freschi said in the email. “Stewardship of our schools requires intent, process, and perseverance. He possesses a dedication and enthusiasm to develop the mind while also expanding the heart.”

Among his recent accomplishments, Dionisio established a partnership with the national nonprofit Positive Coaching Alliance to provide all youth and high school athletes with a positive, character-building sports experience. He spearheaded Verona community action committees on mental health and suicide prevention, which led to a successful public vote on funding for a K-12 mental health program. He also championed Verona’s expansion of kindergarten to a full-day program, which was also approved in a community vote last November.

Dr. Dionisio is currently studying at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government toward a credential in public leadership. He completed his doctorate in educational leadership, management, and policy at Seton Hall University. His dissertation examined the impact of inquiry-based science on non-cognitive outcomes and academic achievement. He holds a B.A. in biology with a minor in chemistry and M.A. in administration and supervision from Montclair State University.

There will be two seats up for election on the Verona Board of Education this November and the Verona School District has information for citizens interested in running for a seat. A full term on the school board runs for three years.

Prospective school board candidates can obtain a “School Board Candidate Kit” online. Published by the New Jersey School Board Association, the School Board Candidate Kit includes a nominating petition, information about legal qualifications for school board candidacy and the role of the school board member. Information about the New Jersey School Ethics Act and important dates in the school election process are also included in the kit.

Candidates must file a nominating petition with the Essex County Clerk–not the local school district office–by 4 p.m. on July 29. The Essex County Clerk Election Division is located in the Hall of Records, 465 Martin Luther King Blvd., Room 246, in Newark, and it is open Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5.

Yvette McNeal and David Galbierczyk, principals of H.B. Whitehorne Middle School, are proud to announce the names of those fifth grade students who have earned academic recognition during the fourth marking period of this school year 2018-2019.

These students have qualified for the honors award by attaining all “A” and “B” grades:

Joseph Abello, Jad Abujudeh, Dean Algieri, Braden Bailey, Olivia Baureis, Madison Brown, Tyler Burns Jayden Camacho, Luke Caputo, Ryan Cavallo, Henry Cherep, Caitlin Chevalier, Owen Church, Giada Contorno, Lauren Czupak

Christopher DiDiego, Abigail Donnelly, Sean Donohue, Reese Falcone, Grace Fatatis, Grant Fersch, Luke Freedman, Julie Gaeta, Emerson Garrett, Noah Garson, Addisyn Garthwaite, Thomas Gawley, Finola Giblin, Sophia Graziano, Nina Greco, Sienna Griffin, Ryan Guo

Jake Halen, Sydney Hannigan, Joseph Houck, Paige Kirby, Logan Knoetig, Evelyn Kogan, Sarah Komninos, Isabella Lambo, Sadie Lanzo, Alexa LeBosquet, Brooklyn Leagon, Andrew Liaukus, Michael LoCurto, John Loudon

Robert Mack, Boden Maisano, Mason Mania, James Martin, Shawn McElroy, Liam McEnerney, Caleigh Moore, Dylan Neale, Noella Newman, Jayden Nigro, Maximo Nogales

Preston O’Donnell, Julia O’Reilly, Anand Pancholi-Parekh, Gavin Penny, Sabrina Perez, Elizabeth Petruzzi, Beatriz Pezutto, Joseph Phelan, Kai-Pai Rackley, Abigail Romanyshyn, Brigid Rowbotham, James Russell

Nicolas Saj, Aiden Schmidt, Brayden Shorter, Michael Siclari, Riley Stocker, Nicholas Testa, Erin Tevlin, Jessica Theobald, Grace Traficante, Evan Tsang, Sofia Valese, Johnathan Velebir, James Waugh, Nate Williamson, Natalia Zazzera, Connor Zimany

The names of some students who qualified for the honor roll do not appear on this list because their parents have elected not to release personal information to the media.

Yvette McNeal and David Galbierczyk, principals of H.B. Whitehorne Middle School, are proud to announce the names of those fifth grade students who have earned academic recognition during the fourth marking period of this school year 2018-2019.

These students have qualified for the high honors award by receiving an “A” in every school subject:

Andrew Ackerman, Juod Alqaisy, Elin Attal, Dylan Bratek, Jocelyn Brooks, Nicholas Caruso, Sophia Chanana, John Cooper, Hannah Crinion, Justin Cruz, Isabella Czupak

Jack Davis, Christian DePalma, Daniel DiGeronimo, Stella DiNatale, Lily Filippazzo, Lauren Foley, Lauren Forrest, Francesca Ghetian, Suri Gupta, Samantha Heimall

Payton Kohler, Ivy Liaukus, Joshua Loudon, Patrick Mann, Taylor McClain, Stephen McDonald, Jenna McGrath, Michelle Mooncai, Ryan Morrice, Corinne Mullings

Gwendolyn Neale, Jenna Papocchia, Charles Pepe, Nia Pilauri, Isabella Powley, Rocco Quilici, Lily Riedy, Lea Romar, Jamie Rosenbloom

Katelyn Scelfo, Anais Schechter, Matthew Schwartz, Sophia Simon, Victoria So, Giulia Stoicescu, Synclaire Szamborski, Jessica Toriello, Brandon Venezia, Charles Wacha, Brady Watkins, Julia Zysk

The names of some students who qualified for the honor roll do not appear on this list because their parents have elected not to release personal information to the media.

Yvette McNeal and David Galbierczyk, principals of H.B. Whitehorne Middle School, are proud to announce the names of those sixth grade students who have earned academic recognition during the fourth marking period of this school year 2018-2019.

These students have qualified for the honors award by attaining all “A” and “B” grades:

Jaye Auriemma, Jonah Axelrod, Ariella Balerio, Sophie Besante, Ryan Bisaccio, Francesca Bopp, Isabella Bopp, Wesley Brown, Kate Carlson, Michael Compierchio, Kylie Conklin, Marco Contorno, Camila Cortes

Mairi D’Andrea, Lauren DeFabrizio, Luca DeFabrizio, Marisa DeFabrizio, Giada DeLorenzo, Jack DeMars, Andrew DePaul, Kori DePoe, Jordan Dunn, Manna Elessawy, Ava Evans

Joseph Farmer, Luke Fenton, Daniel Fernandez, Samantha FioRito, Daniel Frenklakh, Isabella Garcia, Hayden Garrett, Daria Gebbia, Chloe Giessen, Eliza Glatter, Ian Gottstein, Ryan Gray

Isabelle Heimerle, Sophia Hippe, Christian Kaulback, Riley Kenrick, Shaina Kogan, Parks Lamkey, Landon Lareau, Isabella Maglifiore, Robert Maher, Joseph Manganello, Molly McCabe, Timothy McCole, Sadie McMahan, Matthew McMahon, Isabella Medina

Maeve Nachbaur, Mia Nicolato, Tyler O’Donnell, Frank Orrei, Vincenza Palma, Shiv Pancholi-Parekh, Victor Paz, Jackson Pope, Connor Potts-DeMasi, Johnny Ratuis, Samantha Repoli, Mason Rossi, Griffin Russo

Michelle Salanon, Halle Schulke, Ella Scipione, Angelie Sin, Kieran Smith, Harrison Sorger, Jane Sorger, Brody Sperling, John Stockelberg, Augustine Stocker, William Strong

Jesse Wagner, Camryn Wardrope, Madan Williams, Nina Zawodny, Miriam Zikry, Nathaniel Zimmer

The names of some students who qualified for the honor roll do not appear on this list because their parents have elected not to release personal information to the media.

Yvette McNeal and David Galbierczyk, principals of H.B. Whitehorne Middle School, are proud to announce the names of those sixth grade students who have earned academic recognition during the fourth marking period of this school year 2018-2019.

These students have qualified for the high honors award by receiving an “A” in every school subject:

Kelly Barrow, Connor Barshay, Iyana Best, Maya Cappello, Alison Carvalloza, Owen Chanana, Gianluca Checchetto, Angelina Cheung, Angelina Codey, Julia Dacey, Sydney Fradette, Dylan Frey

Stephen Gaffney, Jonna Garcia, Jacqueline Gardner, Lucia Grant, Jack Harmon, Molly Hayter, Danielle Imbriano, Vedarth Kallem, Kylie Kiernan,

Isabella Lambert, Jack Latson, Zia Mahmood, Brielle Marchese, William McGrath, Lily Nachbaur, Nia Nikolova, Victoria Niziolek, Charlotte North, Angelina O’Dell, Kaitlyn Pietrucha

Sidney Quinn, Matthew Raff, Aryanna Ricci, William Rice, Ella Romanyshyn, Luke Sampers, Kaelin Walsh, Yianni Yanniotis, Jessica Yu, Lana Zecchino

The names of some students who qualified for the honor roll do not appear on this list because their parents have elected not to release personal information to the media.

Yvette McNeal and David Galbierczyk, principals of H.B. Whitehorne Middle School, are proud to announce the names of those seventh grade students who have earned academic recognition during the fourth marking period of this school year 2018-2019.

These students have qualified for the honors award by attaining all “A” and “B” grades:

Kate Adornato, Tanzila Ahmed, Samantha Andersen, Emma Baschieri, Eleanor Battersby, Katherine Bernard, Daniel Bernardino, Sarah Bosco, Connor Byrnes

Michael Castner, Fiona Church, Nicholas Ciccolini, Brian Cleaver, Shane Costigan, Mackenzie Cruz, Cara DeMars, Alexandra Derderian, Keira Dolan, Robert Donohue, Maya Dufalo, Marcus Dunphy

Cara Ehrhardt, Caitlin Eng, Kayla Esposito, James Fenton, Samorah Figueroa, Olivia Fuentes, Gavin Fuentez, Zachary Garmont, Lauren Gawley, Colin Giarrusso, Brandon Greene, Kaya Gumusayak

Joshua Hayes, Anthony Hernandez, Paige Higgins, Carley Holland, Anna Hoogterp, Dominic Houck, Grace Keane, Emma Kirby, Daniel Kozachuk, Marley Kramer, Cristian Latorre, Julia Loudon

Peter Merle, Erin Michael, Dillon Millar, Eoin Moy, Julia Nogales, Alexandra Palma, Esteban Patrone-Michellod, Ryan Radigan, Albert Rawding, Lauren Ryan

Dylan Sampers, Kendra Santos, Nixon Shick, Abigail Shust, Christopher Sluck, Briele Sposato, Nicolae Stanescu, Helen Stanisci, Anna Stopka, Zoe Taub

Joseph Vallone, Alize Vazquez, Ava Vega, Michael Venezia, Michael Villani, Megan Wynne, Christian Zebrowski

The names of some students who qualified for the honor roll do not appear on this list because their parents have elected not to release personal information to the media.

Yvette McNeal and David Galbierczyk, principals of H.B. Whitehorne Middle School, are proud to announce the names of those seventh grade students who have earned academic recognition during the fourth marking period of this school year 2018-2019.

These students have qualified for the high honors award by receiving an “A” in every school subject:

Leonel Andrade, Marissa Barnett, Sophie Beaubouef, Marcus Beninghof, Rachel Bochicchio, Sean Brannan, Faith Brolly, Maria Caggiano, Christopher Caldera, Aeryn Curren

Max Della Fera, Gabriella Egnezzo, Juliette Fernicola, Charles Fjeldal, Joyce Gabrael, Molly Hipp, Tyler Holland, Matthew Huaman, Patrick Huaman, Hannah Koffler

Gabriel Levine, Zoe Levine, Violet Liaukus, Emma McDevitt, Megan McGrath, Grace McMahan, Katelyn Meehan, Sophia Morales, Anthony Passaro, Kieran Patel, Lauren Paz

Samantha Rizzi, Reese Sahadow, Julian Santorelli, Evan Spong, Emily Theobald, Sara Tortoriello, Georganne Valera, Marguerite Valera, Allyson Vasquez, Riley Ying, Ian Zalewski, Elliott Ziebert

The names of some students who qualified for the honor roll do not appear on this list because their parents have elected not to release personal information to the media.