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Honor Roll: Grade 8, 2nd Marking Period 2019-2020

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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 second marking period of the 2019-2020.

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

Kate Adornato, Tanzila Ahmed, Juliet Alkaysi, Samantha Andersen, Marissa Barnett, Sophie Beaubouef, Demitri Byrne, Connor Byrnes

Sarah Carby, Evan Carlson, Anna Carpinelli, Michael Castner, Nicholas Ciccolini, Brian Cleaver, Aeryn Curren, Cara DeMars, Alexandra Derderian, Arda Derinsu, Robert Donohue, Maya Dufalo

Gabriella Egnezzo, Caitlin Eng, Charles Fjeldal, Finnegan Freeman, Gavin Fuentez, Colin Giarrusso, Brandon Greene, Jan Eric Heyniger, Paige Higgins, Molly Hipp, Tyler Holland, Anna Hoogterp

Emma Kirby, Daniel Kozachuk, Marley Kramer, Cristian Latorre, Sarah Lewis, Violet Liaukus, Julia Loudon, Vindhyan Marimuthu, Megan McGrath, Katelyn Meehan, Peter Merle, Gavin Moore, Sophia Morales, Eoin Moy

Julia Nogales, Maile O’Neill, Anthony Passaro, Kieran Patel, Esteban Patrone-Michellod, Lauren Paz, Nadia Prieto, Albert Rawding, Kendra Santos, Nixon Shick, Abigail Shust, Nicolae Stanescu, Helen Stanisci, Anna Stopka

Zoe Taub, Emily Theobald, Matthew Toomsoo, Jasmine Traficante, Matthew Vaccaro, Marguerite Valera, Joseph Vallone, Ceili Van Derzee, Alize Vazquez, 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.

The post Honor Roll: Grade 8, 2nd Marking Period 2019-2020 appeared first on MyVeronaNJ.


College Planning Seminar For Teens

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As part of its new “Adulting 101” series, the Verona Public Library will be offering a seminar on College Planning for Teens this Saturday, March 14 at 3 p.m. Presented by Anna Ren and Independent Educational Consultant from Elite Advantage Prep, LLC, this presentation will cover strategies and tips to putting together a successful admissions package, including what colleges look for, tips for crafting compelling essays, affording college, and finding helpful resources.

Registration is open online.

The post College Planning Seminar For Teens appeared first on MyVeronaNJ.

High Honor Roll: Grade 8, 2nd Marking Period 2019-2020

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high honor rollYvette 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 second marking period of the 2019-2020 school year.

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

Leonel Andrade, Eleanor Battersby, Marcus Beninghof, Katherine Bernard, Rachel Bochicchio, Sarah Bosco, Faith Brolly

Maria Caggiano, Christopher Caldera, Max Della Fera, Keira Dolan, Cara Ehrhardt, Juliette Fernicola

Joyce Gabrael, Kaya Gumusayak, Joshua Hayes, Matthew Huaman, Patrick Huaman

Grace Keane, Hannah Koffler, Gabriel Levine, Zoe Levine, Jake Marion, Emma McDevitt, Grace McMahan

Ryan Radigan, Emma Richards, Samantha Rizzi, Lauren Ryan, Cody Sacchi, Reese Sahadow, Julian Santorelli, Marni Shepard

Christopher Sluck, Evan Spong, Anna Till, Sara Tortoriello, Georganne Valera, Allyson Vasquez

Megan Wynne, 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.

The post High Honor Roll: Grade 8, 2nd Marking Period 2019-2020 appeared first on MyVeronaNJ.

Early School Dismissal Friday So District Can Test Coronavirus Response

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This message was sent out this afternoon by Superintendent Dr. Rui Dionisio.

EARLY DISMISSAL FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2020

March 9, 2020

Dear Verona Parents & Staff,

There are no reported or confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Verona. However, as a school district we continue to coordinate a plan for the possibility of delivering home instruction to all of our students in the event one is necessary.

The Verona Public School district will have an early dismissal on Friday, March 13, 2020. Our faculty and staff will utilize the time in the afternoon to further develop plans and modes of instructional delivery that would require remote access during an extended period of time. Specific school hours for an early dismissal may be accessed on our district website or by clicking this link. We recognize that this change to the calendar is disruptive but being prepared is important so as to ensure teaching and learning continues in the unlikely event of an extended school closure for public health concerns.

On Thursday evening, March 5th, the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) provided new guidance regarding requirements for public health-related school closure stating, “In the event a board of education is provided a written directive by either the NJDOH or the health officer of the jurisdiction to institute a public health-related closure, the board of education may utilize home instruction to provide instructional services to enrolled students. Any day in which students impacted by a public health-related closure have access to home instruction services provided consistent with the guidance in this memo will count as a day in which the board of education has provided public school facilities toward its compliance with the 180-day requirement in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-9.”

Furthermore, our custodial and maintenance departments continue comprehensive disinfecting as a daily routine. We also continue to remind our students and staff of the following preventive actions:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask. CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the State of New Jersey Department of Health websites provide information on the prevention of coronavirus at the following links:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml

The Verona Public Schools will continue to closely monitor the situation and collaborate with health and government organizations to ensure the well-being of our entire community governing the prevention, control, and reporting of communicable disease. We all have a part to play in staying healthy and we encourage everyone to follow these recommendations. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

All my best,
Dr. Rui Dionisio
Superintendent Of Schools

The post Early School Dismissal Friday So District Can Test Coronavirus Response appeared first on MyVeronaNJ.

School Survey To Assess Tech Readiness For Remote Learning

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Superintendent Dr. Rui Dionisio sent out  this email on home access to computers & internet.

March 11, 2020

Dear Verona Parents & Guardians,

As a school district we continue to coordinate a plan for the possibility of delivering home instruction to all of our students in the event one is necessary. Ensuring that our students have access to the necessary technology and wireless access at home is imperative to provide the appropriate tools for our students to continue to learn remotely.

I have asked our Verona Public Schools IT Department to collect information in the event that a health-related school closure is required. We have created a survey which has been posted to your Genesis Parent Portal account for you to complete if your child is in grades K-8. All responses are confidential. Verona High School students are already equipped with district Chromebooks or their own personal wireless devices. Therefore, VHS parents are not required to complete the survey. Please contact Mr. Ballaj via email at eballaj@veronaschools.org if your VHS student now requires a wireless device.

We ask that you please complete the survey as soon as possible. The survey will be available for the next 48 hours. You may access the survey by visiting your Genesis Parent Portal.

Our IT Department will review the survey results and follow up accordingly with families who need a Chromebook device or require wireless access at home. We appreciate your cooperation and thank you for your support.

All my best,

Dr. Rui Dionisio
Superintendent of Schools

The post School Survey To Assess Tech Readiness For Remote Learning appeared first on MyVeronaNJ.

Schools To Go Online; Athletics, Field Trips Cancelled

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Important Message from Superintendent Dionisio on COVID-19 School Closure

March 12, 2020

Dear Verona Community Members,

The Verona Public Schools continues to monitor the emerging public health issue with COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus. The health, safety, and well-being of our students, staff, and community members is our main priority. The CDC recommends a community-wide approach focused on slowing the transmission of COVID-19 by limiting large gatherings of people and practicing social distancing.

Our schools and community have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at this time. However, in collaboration and discussion with the Montclair Department of Health and Human Services, the Verona Township Office of Emergency Management, and the Verona Board of Education, our school district has made the decision to enact our Verona Public Schools Distance Learning Plan. The decision to transition to distance education is a precautionary, proactive measure in an effort to minimize the potential risk of exposure to possibly infected individuals.

School will be closed for students on Monday (3/16/20) and Tuesday (3/17/20) for professional development for our faculty to finalize their instructional plans. Distance learning via home instruction for students will begin on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

Our school district will continue with our previously scheduled early dismissal day on Friday, March 13th and our faculty will use the afternoon session for professional development as originally planned. Students will be asked to take all of their personal belongings and school materials home at the end of the day tomorrow, Friday, March 13, 2020. We recognize that this school closure will be disruptive for families, but we have a collective responsibility to preemptively address this public health challenge.

All field trips, athletics, school-based activities/events, and Verona Recreation programs are cancelled effective March 13, 2020 until further notice. We are tentatively scheduled to return to school on March 30, 2020 contingent upon the status of this public health concern. We will continue to evaluate this evolving situation and provide updates to the community via email, our district website, and social media.

Our educators are doing an outstanding job in preparing to implement our distance learning plan. There will continue to be communications to families and students in the coming days to keep everyone apprised of details. Additionally, our Technology Department will coordinate the distribution of Chromebooks next week to families who have requested them through the online survey in the Genesis Portal. Details will be communicated in the coming days.

We strongly recommend that families practice recommendations by the CDC, specifically avoiding large gatherings and social distancing as a critically important preventive measure to arrest the spread of the virus. We encourage students to stay home during this prolonged closure. While schools are closed between March 18th through our tentative reopening on March 30th, school Main Offices will be closed. Only select Board of Education personnel will be permitted in our buildings and on school grounds, including playgrounds, fields, basketball courts, and the HBW track.

This is an extremely fluid situation, with developing information coming out every day. We will maintain regular communication with our public health department and school community throughout this school closure. Thank you for your support and understanding as we continue to educate our children while implementing best practices to keep everyone safe.
All my best,

Dr. Rui Dionisio
Superintendent of Schools

The post Schools To Go Online; Athletics, Field Trips Cancelled appeared first on MyVeronaNJ.

Schools Publish Distance Learning Schedule

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Dear Parents and Guardians,

Dr. Dionisio shared a message Thursday evening explaining that our school district will be closed for students on Monday, March 16, 2020, and Tuesday, March 17, 2020, for professional development for our faculty to finalize their instructional plans for online teaching & learning. Remote learning via home instruction for students will begin on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

The school district will implement a “Remote Learning Schedule” for our elementary, middle and high school students and staff to provide consistency on a daily basis (see schedules below).

Remote Learning Schedule – Elementary

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

(inclusive of a one hour lunch/recess)

Mathematics

60 minutes daily

 

Language Arts

(Reading, Writing, other literacy related assignments)

80 minutes daily

 

Social Studies/ Science

60 minutes weekly

 

PE

30 minutes daily

 

World Language

(Grades 1-4)

30 minutes weekly

 

Library

30 minutes weekly

 

Music

30 minutes weekly

 

Art

45 minutes weekly

Some elementary classroom teachers will communicate with their students using Google Classroom while others will communicate using email, pre-distributed packets, and/or other classroom materials that will be distributed ahead of time. The elementary specialists may use a Google Classroom or compile activities and assignments via email. Our K-4 special education teachers will provide students with appropriate materials and means of parent contact via mail and/or email.

Remote Learning Schedule – HBW & VHS

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Period 1: 10:00 – 10:30

30 minutes

 

Period 2: 10:30 – 11:00

30 minutes

 

Period 3: 11:00 – 11:30

30 minutes

 

Period 4: 11:30 – 12:00

30 minutes

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch

 

1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Period 5: 1:00 – 1:30

30 minutes

 

Period 6: 1:30 – 2:00

30 minutes

 

Period 7: 2:00 – 2:30

30 minutes

 

Period 8: 2:30 – 3:00

30 minutes

The HBW and VHS Teachers will communicate with their students using Google Classroom as well as district email. Our 5-12 special education teachers will provide students with appropriate materials and means of parent contact via mail and/or email.

During each 30 minute period, the students will be expected to work on an assignment posted by the teacher. The teacher will be available to answer student questions during this time. Listed below are several examples of the different types of delivery of instruction and in-class assignments:

  • 5 minutes of a screencast plus 25 minutes of questions,
  • 15 minutes of synchronous video meeting with accompanying assignment that takes 15 minutes to complete,
  • 10 minutes of reading passage with 20 minutes of questions,
  • 30 minute document-analysis activity,
  • 8 minute topical YouTube Video followed by 22 minute assignment,
  • Two 10 minute simulation activities followed by 10 minutes of synthesis.

Additional “Homework” Assignments that are beyond the expected minutes per day (10:00 to 3:00 p.m.) will be limited to 15 minutes of independent work time each day per class. All assignments will be posted by teachers in the Google Classrooms by 9:30 a.m. each day. Teachers will be flexible and reasonable on due dates for assignments. Communication with the student is essential for success during remote learning.

It is the district expectation that instruction and assessment should be closely linked. The initial recommendation for a brief school closure (10 days) is to focus on formative assessment – “checking for understanding.”  If these formative assessments are formally graded, then they will not be worth the very large point total that is typically reserved for end-of-unit summative assessments.

In the case of an extended or indefinite school closure, summative assessments will certainly become necessary. The details of summative assessments will be established collaboratively with teachers and administration and will then be shared with students with adequate notice.

Students previously receiving Home Instruction will continue as scheduled. Students and home instruction teachers will access assignments via Google Classroom and/or email from the instructor. Home instructors will provide support to the student via video or phone. School Counselors will be conducting all previously scheduled parent conferences via phone. They will also be available for additional phone conferencing as needed. Please request these additional conferences via email.

Child Study Team members will be conducting all previously scheduled IEP meetings via phone. They will also be available for additional phone conferencing as needed. Please request these additional conferences via email. Therapists (i.e. OT, PT) will be sharing information via email and/or Google Classroom. They will also be available for additional phone conferencing as needed. You will be receiving specific directions via email from your child’s therapist.

Students who do not have access to a technology wireless device will have the opportunity to borrow a device (Chromebook) from the Verona Technology Department. The district will be providing hotspots to the families of students without WiFi access. If there is a tech issue, please email our Technology Department at itrequests@veronaschools.org.

If a parent or guardian has a question for a staff member, please email the individual and the staff member will respond to your question within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.

We thank you for your support and understanding during this unique time. Working together, we will provide a remote learning environment experience that will be successful while keeping everyone safe. Please be patient as more information will be forthcoming in the near future. If you have any other questions, please contact your building principal. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Dr. Charles R. Miller
Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment

The post Schools Publish Distance Learning Schedule appeared first on MyVeronaNJ.

What’s Next For VHS ’20: West Point

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When Christian Dionisio was a sophomore at Verona High School, he visited West Point with his family for a history tour. His mother’s father had been in the Navy and, later, a colonel in the Army Reserves. It was the first time that he had been to the United States Military Academy, but he came away with one clear thought: “I could see myself here,” he recalls.

This June 29, he will. That’s when Dionisio, who graduates VHS with the Class of 2020, reports to begin his studies at West Point and a career serving the U.S. “I’ve always thought that serving was something that I wanted to do,” Dionisio says. “It is a civic duty.”

Dionisio’s grandfather died before he was born, but he says he had heard his stories of service. Two years ago, he got a newer perspective on what that kind of life might be like from Col.(ret.) Joseph A. Simonelli Jr., a 1983 graduate of VHS and West Point alumni.  VHS Football Coach Kevin Batty had invited Simonelli and other former Verona players back to speak to the team about life after football. “Part of being a West Point alumni is to help students achieve their goals,” Simonelli says. He served 30 years in the U.S. Army and was the chief of staff at Arlington National Cemetery.

Simonelli’s visit impressed Dionisio, who was then a junior. “He was somebody raised in the same town that I was,” Dionisio says, “and hearing what West Point brought to his life offered me another opportunity to ask more questions about it.” Dionisio applied for, and was accepted to, West Point’s Summer Leaders Experience between his junior and senior year at VHS. The highly competitive program gives high school juniors a taste of the classes, military training and physical fitness regimens that they would face as a cadet. Simonelli invited Dionisio to West Point football games, where he could talk with current cadets.

Even with that experience, admission to West Point wasn’t a given. Prospective cadets need top grades and a nomination from a member of Congress or the vice president. Dionisio’s nomination came from Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. But he also applied to 10 other schools, most with an ROTC program. “I thought that was a good plan B,” Dionisio says. Many former VHS students have needed such a plan. According to Jennifer Gadaleta, director of school counseling, VHS students applied unsuccessfully to West Point in 2014 and 2016, two were turned down at the Naval Academy in 2014, and students were denied acceptance at the Coast Guard Academy in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Luke Sniatkowski, VHS ’13, was the last VHS student to be accepted to a service academy, the Coast Guard.

Dionisio with his parents on Senior Day. He’ll play flight football at West Point.(Photo: Fred Goode)

There is one other path in to a service academy, which another former VHS student used. Nicholas DeMiro had also been inspired to apply to West Point by Simonelli, who had returned to Verona in full uniform during his first year at the academy. But DeMiro heard nothing from West Point until the day after VHS graduation in 1984, when he got a call from an army major offering him a spot at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School, a one-year stepping stone into the academy itself. DeMiro recalls that he was given just two hours to make a commitment–which he did. “For an 18 year old coming out of high school, it’s one of the world’s best well-kept secrets,” DeMiro says, noting that the other service academies also have prep schools.

DeMiro graduated West Point in 1989 and then did a year in flight training stateside before being deployed to Germany during the first Gulf War. After six years active service, he went to work in industry, and considers himself to have been very well prepared. “The rigor, the training, the stress that you’re placed under with your military service teaches you how to persevere in difficult times,” says DeMiro. “It prepares you for a future in just about any field.” DeMiro started at a producer of auto and highway steel and rose to become the president of Mayco International, a top auto parts supplier.

Simonelli says that West Point’s mission is to develop leaders and Dionisio readily agrees. “West Point is the premier leadership institution in the world,” Dionisio says. “I’ve always been attracted to people who work hard. That’s West Point times 1,000.”

Rep. Sherrill applauds Dionisio for his commitment. “It was my privilege to nominate Christian Dionisio to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point from NJ-11, and I am thrilled to hear of his appointment,” she says. “Christian has shown leadership and a commitment to service in his community, on the field, and in the classroom. Like me, he is inspired by his grandfather’s commitment to service in the military, and I look forward to seeing how Christian carries on his own family legacy. I congratulate Christian, his family, and Verona on this exciting news.”

“What’s Next” is a series of profiles about what members of each Verona High School class intend to do after graduation. MyVeronaNJ has been publishing the series since 2010 and you can read all of them here.

The post What’s Next For VHS ’20: West Point appeared first on MyVeronaNJ.


Town Reminder: Keep Your Distance While School Is On Remote

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OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Statement on Social Distancing During Online Learning
March 16, 2020

The Verona Office of Emergency Management appreciates the efforts that all Township families are making in order to prevent the transmission of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

We remind all families of school-age children that the Verona Public Schools transitioned to an online learning environment in order to flatten the curve of virus transmission by limiting interaction among
members of the school community including teachers, staff, and students.

It is therefore vital that students and parents do not treat the staff professional development days on March
16 and 17 or the online learning environment that follows until March 27 in a casual manner like one might
treat “snow days.”

Please limit person-to-person interaction among unrelated children. This would include having children
of other families in your homes and vehicles. We understand that this will be difficult. Children should
be able to safely play/gather in small groups outdoors provided parents actively monitor social distancing
and avoid contact sports/games and use of communal play structures.

Please note that all Township and Board of Education fields are CLOSED until further notice.

Please remember that while children are currently the demographic least likely to exhibit symptoms of the
2019 novel Coronavirus, they may be carriers.

Thank you for your cooperation.

The post Town Reminder: Keep Your Distance While School Is On Remote appeared first on MyVeronaNJ.

VHS Librarian Offers Home-Schooling Help

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Verona’s public schools have switched to distance learning and if your students have questions about how to do research remotely, Elissa Malespina, the Verona High School librarian and VHS technology coordinator is here to help.

“The VHS Learning Commons never closes you can always get to our resources from the LC homepage,” Malespina said by email today. “We have tons of great databases and resources available to students 24/7. This newsletter provides ebook resources, tools to help find factual information, and information about how to access library resources remotely. Also, remember to feel free to text or call me at (862) 231-3790 if you have any questions or need help.”

You can access her tips through the newsletter embedded below. Begin by scrolling down to the video tutorial.

The post VHS Librarian Offers Home-Schooling Help appeared first on MyVeronaNJ.

Juniors Set 2020 Scholarships

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scholarshipThanks to the support of the community over the past year, the Junior Woman’s Club of Verona will again be able to award three scholarships to deserving high school seniors. Each scholarship is worth $1,000.

The three scholarships are:

  • The John T. Riesenman Scholarship- $1,000
  • The Jane Myers Scholarship- $1,000
  • The Junior Woman’s Club of Verona Scholarship – $1,000

All three scholarships are for seniors who have decided to pursue a form of higher education. One scholarship is specifically for a student planning to major in the arts and another is earmarked for a student who has demonstrated the principles of community service and/or charity work during high school.

Applications and criteria can be downloaded here. Applications may also be picked up from the Verona High School Guidance office when schools re-open.

All applications have a firm deadline of Friday, April 17, 2020. Late applications will not be accepted.

Applicants must reside in Verona and be a graduating 2020 high school student. Scholarships are non-renewable. More details and application requirements for each scholarship are included on the scholarship application.

The Junior Woman’s Club of Verona is a versatile organization that has been involved in social and charitable work since its inception in 1926. The Juniors address Verona’s diverse needs by promoting education, preserving natural resources, encouraging healthy lifestyles, working on behalf of the elderly and people with disabilities, supporting participation in the arts and advocating for issues of concern to women, children and families.

Anyone interested in learning more about this very active organization of women is welcome to contact veronajuniors@gmail.com. Prospective members also are welcome at business meetings, which are held the second Wednesday of each month (except July and August) at 8 p.m. in the Verona Community Center. For more information, visit www.veronajuniors.org.

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Superintendent’s Corner: A Resilient Community

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Dear Verona Community Members,

Last week, on Thursday, March 12th, we notified the Verona community of our plans to close school and transition toward virtual distance learning. This decision was one we did not make lightly prior to the official government shut down of schools this past Monday. It was however, a preemptive decision that we believe was necessary and the right one to make.

This week marked our first days of virtual instruction for our students. By most accounts, things are going very well as we navigate this situation. But as with any new venture, there will inevitably be bumps in the road. We expect those. No doubt such a shift will challenge each of us — teachers, students, and parents.

But what I know for sure is that we live in a resilient community. We have said it before and we will continue to say it. Verona is a great place to live, a great place to work, and a great place to learn. Each of those three factors – how we live, how we work, and especially for our schools, how we learn — are being tested at the limits and at every turn right now.

The Verona Public Schools has the finest educators I have ever worked with in my 20+ years in education. On the drop of a dime, our administrators, teachers, and every staff member banded together and executed an incredible paradigm shift with extremely short notice. During that time, I didn’t hear one complaint from our staff, but rather an embracing of a CAN DO attitude. For that, I am eternally grateful to them. That has certainly shined through over the past week in the delivery of instruction I have seen and I am confident our team will continue to rise and exceed all expectations as we move forward. Your children are in great hands. We have established a deliberate plan which is in place. I ask our students and parents to be patient as we continue to evolve and provide the best education to each and every child in Verona.

To our students, I am proud of you for your resilience, flexibility, and strength. Most of the time, the initial news of a school closure often brings a smile to most kids’ faces. Snow days have that sort of effect on people, including the adults. But make no mistake about it. This is no snow day. Sitting in front of a computer for several hours a day, watching videos, reading, completing assignments, and videoconferencing is not easy work. It requires self-direction, support from teachers, parents, and siblings, along with a dab of independence and focus. By walking into school each day, going to class, seeing your friends and teachers – those are all very special things that we can sometimes take for granted. I know many of our students and teachers are missing those simple things in life right now. We will eventually get back to normal.

But in the meantime, I ask that our students keep a regular routine – wake up at the same time each day, shower and get dressed for “home school”, eat healthy meals at regular times throughout the day, make sure you get your exercise, and stay on top of your school assignments. And as for seeing your friends, unfortunately that will have to wait in the traditional sense. We do however encourage our students to connect with their friends via social connections through Google Hangouts, Facetime, Zoom, or other social media platforms. I know it will be hard for you – it’s hard for the adults too – but our students must stay home and physically separated from other people so we can make sure everyone stays healthy.

To our parents, thank you. Our schools appreciate your support more than you can imagine. The past week has been email after email and social media posts recognizing our amazing educators and support staff. We understand that many of you are working from home, others are required to be at work, and some of you may be facing challenges. We are all wearing many hats and figuring this out as we go along. We encourage everyone to continue to monitor their individual mental health and maintain connections with people in a responsible way to take care of our own social wellness. Please contact your child’s teachers and principals directly if you have questions or challenges. We are here to help. Our school district will continue to examine this evolving situation and will make adjustments accordingly as needed. We are all in this together and we will continue to help each other through this challenging time.

School is not closed. It just looks a little different right now. We have all of our faculty working with families, responding to this fluid situation, and ready to respond anyway we need. We encourage families to contact your principals, teachers, nurses, and counselors who are here to help and guide. Thank you to everyone who has made our success possible thus far. I know we will all continue to do our part until we can return to normal activity. In the meantime, we encourage all residents to practice good personal hygiene, continue to follow the recommendations of local and state officials, and stay tuned to communications from our schools and township.

Finally, I would like to thank our Board of Education for their support the past several weeks as we navigated this transition. I would also like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to Town Manager Matt Cavallo, Police Chief Kiernan, Mayor McEvoy and the Town Council, and our emergency responders for their partnership and efforts that do not go unnoticed in our Verona community. We have so many people who are working together on keeping our children and residents safe. Verona continues to rise to the occasion. Leadership is our whole town working together as one. Please help us out by doing your part.

All my best,

Dr. Rui Dionisio
Superintendent of Schools

The post Superintendent’s Corner: A Resilient Community appeared first on MyVeronaNJ.

Coronavirus Derails Competition For VHS Business Students

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Verona High School DECA students at the state competition earlier this month: (l-r) Austin Frank, Meaghan Elliott, James McHugh, Evan Silvia, Timothy Gavin. Elliott and Silvia were to have gone on to DECA’s championship in April before it was cancelled by the outbreak of COVID-19.

For the first time in six years, a team from the Verona High School business education program DECA recently qualified for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC). But Evan Silvia and Meaghan Elliott won’t be heading to Nashville next month for that competition. It’s been cancelled by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.

DECA, formerly known as the Distributive Education Clubs of America, prepares young business minds and entrepreneurs for the world of marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Its purpose is to help students hone an interest in business and offer fun, challenging experiences to explore various industries and career paths. To be a member, students must have had at least one business education course on their transcript.

This year, VHS’ DECA chapter consists of 30 students, competing in teams of two and as individuals. This was the first year of participation for Silvia and Elliott, and both showed an interest in the travel industry, and they created the Travel & Tourism Marketing Management Team Decision Making. Overall, there are 15 categories for students to choose from, such as apparel, sports, and tourism. The program operates under the supervision of business education teachers Angela Salisbury and Pamela Burke.

During the early winter months, Elliott and Silvia spent time learning more about their chosen industry and the global impact that business has. Initially, students must take a written exam in December to gauge how much expertise they have in their chosen area of study. While this test is not critical to moving onto actual competitions, it does contribute to a team or individual’s score in the first competition.

On January 2, Verona DECA traveled to Kean University to engage in DECA’s Regional competition. At it, students are given a fictional prompt about their topic and they have 30 minutes to devise a solution to the scenario, known as role play. Finally, they get 15 minutes to present their concept to a judge who has real-life experience or a career in the given field. A team or individual’s total score comprises half the written exam and half the role play.

Silvia and Elliott placed first in their category in role play. Silvia says that while he was not thrilled with his test score prior to Regionals, placing first in the role play there greatly enhanced their final score.

“We kept trying to take what we learned from each round and take it to the next level to improve,“ Silvia says. “Our tactics included creativity and combining tourism to our interests, such as art to create business cards and statistics to justify examples.”

Silvia and Elliott placed sixth overall for the Travel and Tourism category at Regionals, which meant they advanced to the New Jersey State DECA Competition at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City on March 4. They were two of the nine VHS students who qualified for the state tournament.

With competition growing fierce, Silvia and Elliott had to take another written exam of 100 multiple-choice questions before heading to the State competition, but this time, with higher stakes. They both scored over 70%, and were awarded the Certified Guest Services Professionals Award for their achievements. Other VHS winners of this award included Austin Frank representing Hotel and Lodging Management and Jimmy McHugh representing Restaurant and Food Service Management.

“We both took a marketing class taught by Mrs. Salisbury, which I think greatly helped our test results,” Silvia explains. “Being exposed to business in the classroom setting helped me apply the skills I learned.”

At the States competition, the same competition style follows, and after the first round of role play, the sum of the written exam and role play determines whether or not a team or individual moves on to the second round of role play; only the top eight are able to compete for a second round of role play. Once again, Silvia and Elliott amazed Salisbury and Burke, as well as themselves, when they qualified for the second round.

“My favorite part about the States competition was getting to the role play phase, especially with a partner,” Elliott shares. “Together, we were able to experience a real business interaction, but there were no real strings attached. It was a fun way to get professional experience.”

The top six teams or individuals after the second round of role play move on to the ICDC, the final tournament. Elliott and Silvia’s teamwork was edged out by a sliver as they placed seventh. Proud and disappointed all at once, they soon learned that one of the teams dropped out, so they suddenly qualified for ICDC. With shock and excitement, Elliott and Silvia got ready to begin packing their bags for the tournament, which was to have been held in late April. The event would have brought 10,000 DECA students to Nashville, and offer introductions to colleges and their programs.

They are disappointed by the cancellation but eager to see where the lessons they learned from DECA take them. Elliott will enter her freshman year of college this fall, and she intends to study graphic design. “This season in DECA, I learned leadership and teamwork, and it helped me build confidence in my ideas,” she says. “That caliber of creativity will bring me far in a career for graphic design.”

On the other hand, Silvia is wrapping up his junior year of high school and has many interests, but explains that DECA has taught him much more than he imagined. “It is fun to embody a different persona in the competition and apply our own business ideas to the role play,” he says. “I know this fun experience in business will help me when I begin a career someday.”

Salisbury sincerely enjoys being an advisor to the club since 2012 and looks forward each year to see her students’ growth throughout the season. “It really shows kids how to step out of their comfort zone,” she says, “be personable, interact on a mature level, and help show how valuable business education classes can be to their future.”

The post Coronavirus Derails Competition For VHS Business Students appeared first on MyVeronaNJ.

Schools Will Not Re-Open March 30

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Dear Verona Community Members,

The Verona Public School district continues to monitor the emerging public health issue with COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus. The health, safety, and well-being of our students, staff, and community members is our main priority. The CDC recommends a community-wide approach focused on slowing the transmission of COVID-19 by limiting large gatherings of people and practicing social distancing.

In my letter to our community on March 12, 2020, I shared that our district is tentatively scheduled to return to school on March 30, 2020. As we continue to monitor this fluid and evolving public health concern, I am notifying our community today that our schools, in the physical sense, will not reopen on March 30th. On March 16th, Governor Murphy closed all schools until further notice. Remote distance learning will resume and I am confident that our faculty will continue to educate our students. The previously scheduled April Spring Break remains in effect for April 6th – 10th. As we have all been monitoring the current public health issue, I would be remiss if I did not share with you that it is probable that school will remain closed for an extended period of time into the foreseeable future. We recognize that this school closure is disruptive for families, but we have a collective responsibility to address this public health challenge.

In the meantime, we strongly recommend that families continue to practice recommendations by the CDC, specifically avoiding large gatherings and social distancing as a critically important preventive measure to arrest the spread of the virus. We encourage students to stay home during this prolonged closure. During this time, only essential school and district personnel will be permitted in our buildings and on school grounds, including playgrounds, fields, basketball courts, and the HBW track.

We will continue to evaluate this evolving situation and provide updates to the community via email, our district website, and social media. Our faculty and staff continues to work remotely and is available via email, phone, and videoconference. School is not closed. It just looks a little different right now. Please reach out to your building principal, nurse, counselors, and teachers with any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your support and understanding as we continue to educate our children while implementing best practices to keep everyone safe.

All my best,

Dr. Rui Dionisio
Superintendent of Schools

The post Schools Will Not Re-Open March 30 appeared first on MyVeronaNJ.

Free Digital Library For Kids

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Verona resident Kathy Emanuilidis works in marketing for Time magazine and she wants the community to know that TIME for Kids has launched a free digital library that families, teachers and students can use while they are home schooling during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.

TIME for Kids has been supplying journalism to students in elementary school classrooms for 25 years, but this is the first time that it has brought content to students at home. The digital library will provide access to new issues of TIME for Kids and Your $, the financial literacy magazine for kids, each week. TIME for Kids will also make available a complete library of previously published editions from 2020 along with additional educational resources and activities. Each week, the free digital library will offer four grade-specific editions of Time for Kids, including K-1, 2, 3-4, and 5-6.

The first new issue of TIME for Kids in the digital library is a special report on COVID-19. The package includes interviews with health experts and a look at how the pandemic is affecting schools, the economy and more. It will also include resources for teachers and families to both facilitate conversations about coronavirus and to help children better understand the current crisis.

The digital editions featured in the free library allow children to flip through content in the same way they do with print editions, which are actively designed to engage kids. TIME for Kids content will also be available in multiple additional formats, including printable PDFs and published articles on TimeforKids.com, to ensure access for all students. TIME for Kids is also supporting educators with complete access to teaching materials, curriculum guides and weekly virtual learning plans for each issue.

The TIME for Kids free digital library can be found here.

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4-H From Home

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Home-schooling parents and caregivers, here’s another education resource, courtesy of Chrys Gaffney, a Verona resident who is a project coordinator for the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Essex County.

It’s called New Jersey 4-H from Home and it will offer interactive lessons on varying topics such as healthy living, STEM, civic engagement, the arts and more.

Webinars will happen Tuesdays and Thursday from 3 to 4 p.m. using Zoom video conferencing and are mostly for middle schoolers. Below is a list of workshops; you can register for any of them here.

Topics Include:

  • Stepping Up to Serve in Times of Need – Thurs. March 26
  • Interactive Arts: Creativity at Home – Thurs. March 31
  • Kitchen Science: Hands on Experiments – Thurs. April 2
  • 4-H Yoga for Kids – Tues. April 7 *All ages welcome
  • 4-H Pet Care: “So you found an Orphaned/Injured Wild Animal. What to do next?” – Thurs. April 9
  • Planting in a Bottle – upcycling in your home – Tues. April 14
  • 4-H STEM Challenge – Science Fun – Thurs. April 16
  • Cultural Exchange and Global Explorations – Tues. April 21
  • Garbage Art, Create Art Inspired by Nature – Thurs. April 23
  • Cooking From the Pantry with your Family – Tues. April 28
  • Small Animal Show and Tell – Thurs. April 30 *All ages welcome

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Applications Open For Community Service Scholarship

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Applications are now open for the Claire Boyle Scholarship, which is awarded to recognize high school seniors for their community service. Two $1,000 scholarships are available.

Applicants must be a Verona resident and graduating high school in 2020. Applicants must have performed community service to benefit Verona residents or a Verona organization or group.

To apply, you must write an essay about your community service to the residents of Verona and/or Verona organizations. The essay must be emailed to claireboylescholarship@gmail.com no later than April 30, 2020. You will receive a confirmation email after your application is received. Please include name and contact information in the email.

All applicants will be contacted after May 1, 2020. Questions can be directed to the email address above.

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Schools Donate Supplies To First Responders

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Yesterday, the Verona Rescue SquadVerona Police Department, and Verona Fire Department put out an urgent call for supplies so that they could continue to safely respond to emergencies during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Today, Verona’s public schools drove over 1,000 masks, 9,300 pairs of gloves and hundreds of pairs of protective eyewear.

“We asked the team to raid every single closet and inventory them,” says Superintendent Dr. Rui Dionisio. District personnel looked at what was held by school nursing offices, science and STEM classes and the Verona High School wood shop. “I was impressed that we had so much,” Dionisio said.

The school district held back a little of what it had in case there was a need, but gave the rest to the police and Verona’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM). “With this, OEM can protect out first responders,” Dionisio added.

Verona’s first responders are seeking donations of:

  • Nitrile medical-grade gloves (non-latex) 
  • N-95 Respirator masks for police and EMS to wear on calls for assistance
  • Surgical masks for our patients so that we can prevent exposure to our staff and hospital personnel (We cannot take hand-sewn masks due to the close quarters we are in with patients in ambulances)
  • Safety glasses (even construction goggles would be helpful) for crews entering homes and treating patients
  • Cleaning wipes (gold-top and purple-top medical-grade PDI SaniCloth are ideal, but household wipes like Lysol and Clorox are great) in order to decontaminate equipment, ambulances, police cars, and fire trucks
  • Boot/shoe covers (like “booties” that realtors use for open houses) for crews entering homes with suspected COVID-19 cases and decontaminating ambulances
  • Lysol aerosol spray cans in order to disinfect as COVID-19 lives for several hours in the air
  • Surgical face shields (like those used in dental offices) in order to protect from droplets
  • Charcoal-filter respirators (commonly used for construction, etc.) for personnel who cannot find a seal with an N-95 respirator during testing

The public can drop off donations in the bin in the police department lobby, which is open 24 hours a day. (600 Bloomfield Avenue). If you can’t drop off, the Verona Police will pick up your donations at your homes or offices. Please email dispatch@veronapolice.org with your address, intended contribution, and a date/time they will be available. You may leave on your front steps or driveway.

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Schools Create Morale-Boosting Video

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Verona’s educators have a message for their students: We can get through this. Teachers, principals and staff from every school created positive messages of support, which Corisa Walker, the librarian for F.N. Brown and Brookdale, compiled into a video.

“The strength of Verona is evident by the solidarity & commitment of our entire community,” Superintendent Dr. Rui Dionisio said in the email sending the video to Verona families. “We will inevitably face challenges along the way, but our Verona teachers and staff stand with our students and their families. #VeronaStrong”

The post Schools Create Morale-Boosting Video appeared first on MyVeronaNJ.

Reflections On Isolation

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As a daughter of parents who both work in the healthcare system, this virus has disrupted normal family life and our regular routine. It has been extremely stressful, due to the increased possibility of my parents catching COVID-19 from a patient since they can not truly stay at home. While my parents do disinfect their belongings before entering the house, we mainly isolate ourselves from one another. We no longer have family dinners, and most of the time we only talk to each other through closed doors. When my parents are gone to work, I have a greater degree of responsibilities as I have to be more independent.

I never thought my daily routine could become much more mundane – until now. Without the face-to-face contact with people outside of my family, I have become lonely and bored. Nowadays, my routine consists of finishing school work, taking a nap, eating meals, working out, and going on social media. Although I sometimes go outside to walk and run laps around my driveway and backyard, my skin has lost color since I mostly spend my time indoors. My eyes have become greatly strained at this point, because they are glued to a screen most of the time. I am paranoid when I hear sneezing or coughing. The paranoia has caused me to constantly wash my hands, to the extent that they are slightly discolored and very dry.

It is emotionally draining to go out into public to shop for necessities; I receive hateful stares from people because of my ethnicity. The stereotyping that Asians have to face has become worse as a result of this virus, as people are either scared of us or view us with contempt.

While this pandemic is truly terrible, there are lessons to be learned from the experience. Having to stay inside and not being able to go outdoors has made me appreciate things I took for granted: seeing friends inside school, going out to eat in a restaurant, working out in the gym, and watching movies in an actual theater.

I used to hate the thought of having to wake up at 7 a.m everyday to physically go to school, but this situation has made me desire the simple act of going to school and seeing my peers. Personally, the biggest takeaway from this experience is to truly live your life to the fullest. We will never know if a situation like this will ever happen again, but it would be much more comforting to feel a sense of closure knowing you went to that last concert, hangout, event, did that thing you always wanted to so.

Arthea Valderrama is a junior at Verona High School. This commentary was first published in the VHS newspaper The Fairviewer and is reprinted with permission here. You can read more student perspectives on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 in The Fairviewer.

Photo by Metin Ozer on Unsplash

The post Reflections On Isolation appeared first on MyVeronaNJ.

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