Board of Education
57 Trinity Street
Newton, NJ 07860
THE BRAVE NEWS
the Newton Public Schools Quarterly Newsletter
973-383-7392
www.newtonnj.org
INSIDE
2. Spotlight on Newton
High School
3. NHS Graduates
3. District Goals 14/15
June 2015
Newton High School Class of 2015
On Tuesday June 23rd, the Class
of 2015 celebrated the culmination of their Newton High School
careers during the annual graduation ceremony. The audience of
family members, Board of Education
members, staff, and other invited
guests was welcomed by Class
President Kyle Kasharian. The class
selected a Walt Disney quotation, “All
of our dreams can come true, if we
have the courage to pursue them,” as
Photo courtesy of George Hunter and the Township Journal
the graduation theme. The subject was
addressed eloquently through essays written and delivered by classmates Stephanie Ahmad
and Melissa Bensley. Academic honors were presented to valedictorian Zhi-Shan Hsu and
salutatorian Allison Smith by Principal James Tasker. Prior to the awarding of diplomas,
the event was forced indoors by a fast moving summer storm. After reassembling in the
gymnasium, Board President Stella Dunn and Vice-President Jessica Egner conferred the
diplomas as 185 names were read by faculty members Robyn Kurelja and Denise Gilchrist.
Congratulations go out to all the graduates and their parents!
A Changing of the Guard
www.facebook.com/newtonnjschools
Dr. G. Kennedy Greene
Superintendent
Donna C. Snyder
Business Administrator/
Board Secretary
Jim Tasker, Principal
Newton High School
Jeff Waldron, Principal
Halsted Middle School
Kevin Stanton, Principal
Merriam Avenue School
The ending of this school year ushers in a time of transition in school leadership.
Mr. James Tasker has announced his retirement, effective January 1, 2016, after
36 years at Newton High School as teacher, assistant principal, and most recently
principal, as well as athletic coach and club advisor. He will be working on some
administrative projects at the district office over the next six months. We will also
be saying farewell to Mr. Kurt Weaver, NHS Assistant Principal and Director of
Athletics, on August 1st after a 25 year career in education. Mr. Jeff Waldron has
been named Principal at Newton High School after five successful years as principal
at Halsted Middle School and serving previously as high school assistant principal.
Ms. Kristi Greene has been promoted to Principal at Halsted Middle School after
five successful years as assistant principal. Mr. Waldron and Ms. Greene will begin
in their new roles as of July 1st.
We are welcoming three new assistant principals to the district this summer. Mr.
Ryan Hashway will be our new Assistant Principal/Director of Athletics at Newton
High School. He brings ten years of academic supervisory experience at North
Warren as well as fifteen plus years as head coach of multiple high school sports.
Mrs. Angela Dunbar will be the new Assistant Principal at Halsted. She has been
a special education teacher at Newton High School for the past eight years, and
was named Teacher of the Year in 2014. She has a strong academic background
in adolescent education, knows our student population well, and has already
demonstrated her leadership on professional development initiatives and chronic
student attendance issues. Mr. Kenneth Lutz will be the new Assistant Principal at
Merriam Avenue School. He has 19 years experience as an elementary and middle
level teacher in both regular education and special education, mostly in Warren
County. He also served as an elementary school dean of students while teaching
this year, and has many years of high school coaching experience.
Page 2
Spotlight on
Newton High School
Academic Accomplishments
•
•
•
2015 Model Congress Program
Andrew Cooney and Tanner Euston participated in the 2015 Model
Congress program for high school students in the Fifth Congressional
District on May 30th at Ridgewood High School. They had the opportunity to learn about the legislative process, research current
legislation in the House, and interact with Congressional staff.
Technology Student Association
Our Technology Student Association (TSA), at the New Jersey State
competition on May 2nd, placed first in Manufacturing Design
Prototyping, second in Digital Video Production, and fourth in
Engineering Design.
Science League
Michael Burke was in the top 10% of first year Chemistry students.
Athletic Accomplishments
•
•
Girls Soccer
• NJAC Colonial Division Champs
• NJ Herald Team of the Year
• Mugs Media Team of the Year
• Player of the Year: Alyssa Cronin
•
Girls Basketball
•
Girls & Boys Swimming
•
Girls Track
• NJAC Colonial Division champs
Congratulations to Newton HIgh School “Love
of Reading Week” winners Elenora Vega,
grade 9; Leah Cotton, grade 10; Bailee Welsh,
grade 11; and Ameah Adjobi, grade 12.
HIGHER EDUCATION GOALS
OF THE CLASS OF 2015
Field Hockey
• State Sectional Champs
• NJ Herald Team of the Year
• Eastern Propane/Mugs Media Coach of the Year
Photo courtesy of George Hunter and the Township Journal
•
•
•
•
175 of 190 (92%) plan to attend college
1 student plans to attend technical or
business school
3 students plan to enter the Military
11 have other plans or are undecided
FINANCIAL AID EARNED
BY THE CLASS OF 2015
College Scholarships, loans, work study, local
scholarships and other monies for colleges/
universities attending and not attending:
$11,263,662
• NJAC North All Conference
• Colonial Conference Title by going undefeated
• 2nd at the State Group 2 Section 1 Championships
• Kayleigh Furth broke the school
record in the 100 m and 200 m
• Steph Ahmad broke the school
record in the discus.
Photo by George Hunter and the Township Journal
Page 3
NEWTON HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2015
Ameah Vianney Adjobi
†Stephanie Renee Ahmad
†Zachary Carl Anderson
Juliann Renee Ascencio
Daniel Ye bin Austin
Corey Michael Bailey
†Hanna Zaira Balatero
†Errol Ian Bareiss
†Brittany Miranda Barthelemy
†Melissa Erin Bensley
Jonathan Michael Bernotas
Aidan Pierce Black
Nico Vincent Boscia
†Carly Cynthia Bresney
†Samantha Emma Brewster
Ryan Anthony Brigante
Brianna Lynn Brittain
Nico Phoenix Cannone
Eliana Eva Casqueira
Morgan Tyler Casterline
Charlotte Marie Cercone
†Gabriela Milena Cevallos
Kayla Lea Chambliss
Rachel Jacqueline Chernati
Christopher Chiarella
Kyle David Clark
Alyssa Marie Coombs
Nora Marika Carroll Coppers
William Justin Craig-Conrad
Jordan Samantha Crater
†Alyssa Marie Cronin
Marko Curovic
†Joseph Christopher DeFeo
Nicole Maria DeJesus
Vincent Samuel DeLuca
Christophe Desrosiers
Alexi Joslyn Detwiller
Svetlana Margret Devine
Justin James Dionne
Mackenzie Ann Doherty
Michael Gregory Drislane
†Rachael Marion Duckworth
†Supritha Rao Dugyala
Nicholas Stanley Dvorsky
†Carley Ymkje Dykstra
Travis James Eshleman
Nicholas James Familant
Alex Joseph Fiedler
Emily Grace Fitzpatrick
Jacob John Gallagher
Jeffrey Gordon Gerndt
Jacqueline Helene Gore
Nicolas Patrick Grant
Michael Robert Groschadl
Alan Michael Guber
Unmukt Gupta
Kendra Gutierrez
†Phillip Robert Haines
†Danielle Elise Haneman
Corey Jake Hansen
Leah Kathryn Harrington
Layla Khamis Hassan
Devin Forrester Hatchard
Aidan John Healy
Jeremy Daniel Henegan
Justin Elijah Hermann
Christopher Hernandez
Joshua Hernandez
Lauren Christina Hernandez
†Addison Leigh Hillard
Jason Dominick Horan
†Zhi-Shan Hsu
Jessica Lyn Huber
†Erik John Intoccia
†Kyla Vicenta Izquierdo
Sophia Anne Jacoby
†Kyle Jordan Kasharian
†Andreas Kauderer
†Annaliese Lenore Keimel
†Emma Lynn Kline
Nathan Edward Kolzow
Ethan Andrew Koontz
Brandon Joseph Korczakowski
Jacob Arthur Krull
Krystopher Edward LaFlamme
Dana Marie Lally
Pablo Lerch
Melissa Erin Logan
Tyler Mathew Lorello
Stephanie Ginnean Lukas
Lindsey Mae Luksha
†Tara Cecilia Lynch
†Amelia Carlin Macchietto
Harrison Matthew MacDowall
Dakota Benjamin Many
†Daniel Joseph Marion
Melissa Nicole Marshall
Ruth Ann Matis
Rachel Elisabeth Matlaga
Cameron Arne Matulewski
Kerry Anne McFadden
Erika Maria Medina
Heriberto Medina, Jr.
Micah William Medore
Matthew Peter Meluso
Steven Daniel Meluso
Kevin John Miskovich
Trevor Lee Morales
Keith Logan Morel
Robert Eric Morrissey
Shawn Michael Mowery
†Elizabeth Haley Muller
Ian David Murray
Ashley Anne Myers
David Clarence Nazaire
David Mark Nelson
Morgan Cora Nisler
†Anne Kate Paglia
Dillon Evan Pankz
Jessica Michelle Papin-Yukhtanova
†Steven Matthew Papis
†Sarah Lynn Parks
Jamere Alonzo Parris
Samuel Ocio Patana
Kevin Franklyn Patterson
Zakary John Pavlishin
Raymond George Philip
Danielle Marie Pierson
Linnea Astrid Pierson
Stephanie Nicole Pierson
Dylan Michael Pippitt
Taina Genevieve Plafcan
Kyle Henry Plumb
Barbara Joyce Popek
James Alan Power
Allison Theresa Powers
Konstantinos Dimitrios
Protogeropoulos
Ryan John Qasem
Shannon McKenzie Real
Tamara Chelle Recalde
Megan Rose Reed
Robert Allen Reese
Abigail Elizabeth Reina-Frankel
Walter Kareem Jahvon Rice
Thomas Roy Rinehart
Francisco Wilfredo Rios
Anthony Andrew Rizzo
†Lauren Claire Robinson
†Megan Louise Robinson
Joseph Michael Roche
†Marie Louise Rodriguez
Fredrick Alan Rosania
Tyler Scott Ross
Anthony Joseph Sanchez
Dylan James Saunders
Katherine Dorothy Scheerer
July Alexandria Schomp
Brittany Erika Schroeder
Michael Frank Sesera III
Meet Harikrishna Shah
Steven Paul Sherwood
Benjamin Matthias Sibblies
†Benjamin Augustus Silva
Joilenni Silverio
Kimberly Kristen Slezak
†Allison Michelle Smith
Sara Marie Smith
Shelbi Lynn Snyder
Kenneth Christopher Sturchio
Nathaniel Jaymes Suchar
Devon Nicole Suggs
Kelsey Elizabeth Sullivan
Ryan Anthony Sumski
Alyssa Marie Sylsbury
Katrina Faith Tajiddin
Shaun Jamieson Thomas
Matthew Thomas Trautz
Robert Carlton Tremain
Michael Robert Vitiello
Kevin Daniel Mills Vogt
Nicole Emily Weiss
Dennis Robert Welker
James Marshall Welker
†Isabella Suzanne Wermuth
Gabrielle Hannah Whitaker
†Morgan Reilly Whitaker
Shayna Leigh Williams
Justin Paul Winkelman
Luke Louis Wolters
Hailey Brooke Yuelling
Jenna Lee Zawislak
Carly Marie Zdanek
Giuliana Cristina Zuzze
† National Honor Society
District Goals 2014-15
The following are highlights from the 2014-15 district action plan summary report shared publicly at the May 12 Board of Education meeting. You can
find the full report on our website at www.newtonnj.org.
1.
Increase academic achievement for all students, especially subgroups not meeting state performance targets.
The Title II budget was revised to hire a shared reading teacher at Merriam and Halsted.
Merriam implemented DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) as a universal literacy screening tool for all students. Data
from progress monitoring for grades K and 1 indicate that targeted Tier 3 interventions in Language Arts are having a positive impact on
student achievement.
c. Merriam and Halsted hosted diagnostic visits from the Rutgers Center for Literacy Development to assess needs and make recommendations.
d. Halsted math teachers met with a consultant and received training on student centered learning.
e. The HS Math Department administered benchmark evaluations to students in Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2. A draft of the Algebra A
framework was produced during the April PLC.
continued on page 4
a.
b.
Page 4
DISTRICT GOALS 2014-15 (continued from page 3)
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
2.
Benchmark assessments in HS English were conducted in the spring.
Merriam teachers met in December to use structured protocols to analyze student work.
Halsted teachers focused their work on assessment data collection and analysis procedures.
Most Halsted content area unit plans (with the exception of science and 5th grade courses) were complete by the end of the school year.
Teachers created electronic assessments for students using various platforms such as Examview, Quizlet, Kahoots, Blendspace, and
Google Forms.
The district renewed licenses for Educational Impact Online Academy to provide refresher training on the Danielson Framework for all
teachers and principals.
Teachers who work with ELL students received online training in sheltered instruction.
Promote blended learning as an effective instructional practice to increase student achievement.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
i.
Build stronger parent and community relationships to increase student achievement.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Merriam’s Parent Academy ran during the fall and winter months to share learning strategies with parents and a grandparent support
group.
Merriam had 66 fathers participate in the Watch D.O.G.S. program to provide an opportunity for them to engage more deeply in their
child’s education.
Merriam continues to hold regular events with non-English speaking families to build relationships and a greater sense of community.
Project Launch Newton is finishing up a successful second year of operation.
Newton High School’s TRS Club was named Student Community Service Chapter of the Year by Pass It Along
NEWTON BOARD OF EDUCATION
57 Trinity Street
Newton, New Jersey 07860
973-383-7392
a.
Board of Education
Stella Dunn, President
Jessica Egner, Vice President
Ed Caffrey
Michael Fancher
Joan Faye
Guilene Ham
Richard Heckman
Tina Larsen
Ray Morris
John O’Gorman
Nanette Thomas
3.
The Board approved the state DRLAP initiative as our broadband solution.
Apex Learning provided an online homebound instruction option for HS students.
The Blended Learning Committee discussed developmentally appropriate approaches at each grade level to guide future development.
The district hosted Dr. Chris Harrington, a noted expert in blended learning, for a visit in May to discuss trends, define direction, and
plan next steps.
The district signed the Future Ready Schools pledge, took a survey of district readiness, and representatives attended a regional summit
meeting in April.
Teachers participated in a variety of tech trainings.
Eight staff members attended the NJECC Technology Conference in Montclair.
Teachers have used Google Classroom as an instructional organization application.
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