Superintendent’s Report
June 12, 2025
Volume 11  Issue 10
Dr. Johanna S. Ruberto, Interim Superintendent

Pway Again Among Best in Music Education
Piscataway Township Schools has been named among the Best Communities for Music Education in America for the eighth year in a row. The NAMM Foundation (National Association of Music Merchants) has recognized the district for its outstanding commitment to music education. Piscataway is one of just 69 districts in New Jersey and six in Middlesex County to be selected. “This national recognition salutes the commitment of our community, so every child can learn and grow with music,” said Rebekah Sterlacci, supervisor of visual and performing arts. “The NAMM Foundation has recognized our community for the outstanding efforts of teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders who are making music part of a well-rounded education for every child.”

PHS SADD Wins $10,000 Prize for Safe-Driving Campaign
Congratulations to the Piscataway High School Students Against Destructive Decisions for winning the grand prize of $10,000 in the U Got Brains Champion Schools Program for their amazing safe-driving campaign. PHS SADD competed against more than 60 schools from around the state and was praised for its “Pway You Know: Drive Safe, Drive Slow” project, which the judges called “a creative, community-rooted effort focused on reducing speeding.” SADD partnered with the Piscataway Police to spread their message at a range of events and display it on electronic marquees in front of all district schools and on township signs.  

Financial Reporting Earns Certificate of Excellence for 8th Year in a Row
Piscataway Township School District has been awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting for the eighth year in a row from the Association of School Business Officials International. This distinction recognizes districts that uphold the highest standards for financial reporting and transparency. Piscataway earned the honor for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ended 2024. “This recognition represents a team effort that begins with the support of the Board of Education and our superintendent, and the hard work of our Business Office staff,” said Business Administrator/Board Secretary David Oliveira.

Dr. Connors Re-Elected to Statewide Leadership Post
Congratulations to Board of Education member Dr. Tom Connors, who has been re-elected as the vice president for finance of the New Jersey School Boards Association. The NJSBA is a federation of boards of education, which provides training, advocacy, and support to advance public education and promote the achievement of all students through effective governance. “I could have never imagined 16 years ago, when I was sworn in as a school board member in Piscataway, that one day I’d be re-elected as a VP of the most effective and influential state association of school boards in the nation,” Dr. Connors said. “I am honored to be part of an organization that helped New Jersey schools attain the No. 1 ranking in the country for public education. I am honored by the trust put in me by the 21 county associations, approximately 600 school districts, approximately 5,000 board members, and approximately 1.4 million school children in the great state of New Jersey!”

Board & Band Display Pride at Memorial Day Parade
Thank you to our Board of Education and the Piscataway High School Superchiefs Marching Band for representing our district so proudly in the Piscataway Memorial Day Parade. Board Vice President Nancy Salgado-Cowan and Board members Dr. Tom Connors, Courtney King, Prashant Patel, and Inieka Stafford greeted spectators along the parade route, while the band showed off why they are the pride of Piscataway. Thanks to band director Ken Zampella and the band parents for their inspiration and support.

Board Honors Partnership Between PHS & Eisenhower
Congratulations to students from Eisenhower Elementary School and Piscataway High School who were honored at the May 8 Board of Education meeting. They are part of the Eisenhower Reading Buddies program, in which students in the PHS Future Educators Association work with Eisenhower kindergartners each week to strengthen their reading skills. Eisenhower Principal Vincenzo Stio shared a video created by technology coordinator Alyssa Park of the students working together, then everyone received certificates from Board President Shantell Cherry for sharing their talents and dedication with the Board. The students are supported by Eisenhower support specialists Janelle Burley, Stacey Cukierski, and Lisa Pizzuti, PHS Supervisor of College, Career & Personal Guidance Kelly Chilakos, and English teacher and FEA adviser Jillian Alonso.

HR Director Shares Advice with PHS Future Educators
Members of the Piscataway High School Future Educators Association got valuable insight into their possible future as teachers during a visit on May 1 from district Human Resources Director Colleen Pongratz. Ms. Pongratz was invited by the students to share her personal and work history as a former teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent in Piscataway. She shared practical guidance on creating a resume, applying for jobs, projecting a professional presence, and following up on job applications. She also discussed how the students’ current job opportunities can help shape them as community members, employees, and future teachers. Ms. Pongratz encouraged the students to reach out to her after college graduation for possible student teaching and employment opportunities.

Schor Honor Roll Celebration
Congratulations to all the students who made Honor Roll and High Honor Roll at Schor Middle School. They celebrated together on Wednesday, May 7, with freeze pops in the cafeteria.

Coming Up
June 18: Last Day of School
June 18: Report Cards Available in Genesis Parent Module
June 18: PHS Graduation, 6 p.m.
July 10: Board of Education meeting

Congratulations!
Teachers of the Year
Education Service Professionals of the Year
School  Support of the Year
Presented by Piscataway Township Schools and Piscataway Township Education Association

Administration Building
Custodian Mayra Gonzalez
Special education teacher Lisa Jarusiewicz
Special education aide Deborah Terebecki

Piscataway High School
Custodian Renee Cantrella
Social worker Jill Fraticelli
Special education teacher Matt Cecchini

Conackamack Middle School
Guidance secretary Diane Hansen
Special education teacher Karen Nepton 
Support specialist Brooke Walsh

Quibbletown Middle School
Custodian Maria Rodriguez
Social worker Catherine Sotolongo
Special education teacher Hannah Crick

Schor Middle School
Social worker Uma Patel
Custodian Solomon Kearney
Math teacher Lesly Almanzar

Arbor Intermediate School
Support specialist Brigid Ciccarone
Fourth-grade teacher Carmela LaMarsh
Secretary Karen Hoeg

M.L. King Intermediate School
Fourth-grade teacher Alea Muhammad 
Media center clerk Danielle Vega
Spec. education aide Jennifer DeFrancesco

Eisenhower Elementary School
Behaviorist Sara Haarburger
Secretary Elizabeth Graves
Third-grade teacher Jessica Kroeckel

Grandview Elementary School
Nurse Katherine Flannery
Kindergarten teacher Julie Keseday
Secretary Kimberly Horning

Knollwood Elementary School
Special education aide Deirdre Austin
Special education teacher Amy Rosenblum
Secretary Madalena Mazzelli

Randolphville Elementary School
Office clerk Rebecca McBride
Kindergarten teacher Stella Elil
Nurse Evangeline Marzan

Children’s Corner Preschool
Custodian Iris Majano
Community Parent Involvement Specialist Harry Vanderburg
Special education teacher Kathleen Walsh

Maintenance/Transportation
Maintenance worker Walter Seigrist III
Bus driver Mary Aristilde

Key Club Leads Food Drive, Wins Multiple State Honors
Congratulations to the PHS Key Club for several accomplishments: The club was one of top donors of all schools in Middlesex County for the Replenish Food Bank’s food drive. Key Club collected 2,600 pounds of food, earning 4th place overall. Our district donated 9,400 pounds of food, with all schools taking part. Martin Luther King Intermediate School added 1,550 pounds and Knollwood Elementary School added 1,450 pounds. The Key Club also won several awards at the recent state conference. Junior Tanya Melkote won 1st Place for Advocacy, 3rd Place for Best Club Recruitment Video, and 3rd Place for Philanthropic Signature Project. Junior Evan Luper won 2nd Place for Best Club Website. Past advisor Laura Leibowitz, who retired in 2024, won the Key of Honor for her 35 years of service. The club’s adviser is Shirley Aviles.

Conackamack Gets Inside Look at ‘The Outsiders’
Seventh-graders at Conackamack Middle School had a wonderful and enriching time attending “The Outsiders” live at the Jacobs Theatre on Broadway. The May 15 trip was a powerful experience for students, bringing to life the classic novel by S.E. Hinton, read by students in their English Language Arts classes.  Watching the stage production allowed students to deepen their understanding of the characters’ struggles and the message behind the book.

PHS ‘Poetry Extravaganza’ Brings Written Words to Life
Young poets at Piscataway High School showed great creativity and stage presence at their annual Poetry Extravaganza. Seven students in the Contemporary Poetry & Performance class each memorized and performed three original poems for the Wednesday, May 28, event – to great acclaim by the audience in the PHS choir room. “It felt like a piece of each person’s soul was on display,” one student said. Contemporary Poetry & Performance is a full-year elective class designed to help students hone their skills in crafting and voicing their original poetry. The class is taught by Christopher Hamas.

Schor Welcomes 7th-Grader Back After 5-Month Struggle
The Schor Middle School community was so excited to welcome seventh-grader Omar Danso back to school May 19. Omar, right, had been out of school since December, fighting a battle against kidney failure. He is still undergoing daily dialysis treatments and is waiting for a kidney transplant. There are several potential donors undergoing the lengthy testing process through the Cooperman Barnabas Transplant Center in Livingston.

King Reads Poetry with Style
Fourth-graders at Martin Luther King Intermediate School got into the spirit of writing as they hosted a poetry reading on Wednesday, May 21. Students in the classes of Marie St. Louis and Christopher Tosies were asked to write a book of poetry, working in class and at home to develop their work. Then students each read one of their poems out loud at a school presentation. They got into the style of poets, each wearing a beret and scarf, and put their hearts into their writing and presentation.

Financial Counselors Prepare PHS Students for Reality
PHS students received lessons in adult freedom and responsibility at a Financial Reality Fair hosted by Affinity Credit Union. Financial counselors worked with about 125 juniors and seniors in the Patton Cafeteria on May 20 to demonstrate how far a dollar goes. Each student started with a certain amount based on their job prospects, then had money deducted based on the costs of housing, food, insurance, taxes, cellphone, entertainment, and other realities of financial life. This eye-opening experience helped students understand what to expect as they begin their adult working lives.

PHS ‘Clue’ wins Foxy Award for Outstanding Mystery Play
Congratulations to the Piscataway High School production of “Clue” for winning Outstanding Production of a Mystery Play at the Montclair University Foxy Awards. The PHS production was nominated for 10 awards and we’re so proud to see it bring home the overall award in the Mystery category. Our cast of “Clue” also performed at the awards show on Tuesday, May 19, and got the biggest laughs of the evening. The Foxy Awards celebrate school play production throughout New Jersey – essentially the “Tonys” for high school. Thank you to Mike Yoson for directing this award-winning production.

Conackamack Offers Taste of International Cultures
Conackamack Middle School students got a taste of cultures from around the world at a recent International Food Festival. Students in Nicole Kragh’s and Jennifer Petsch’s 6th and 8th grade social studies classes concluded their cultural studies unit with the third annual event. Students wore traditional clothing and shared dishes that represented their cultural backgrounds. They also created presentations to showcase key elements of their heritage, helping to deepen their classmates’ understanding of diverse cultures and learn about one another’s backgrounds.

Schor Mentors Connect with Students Through Creativity
The Golden Hawks mentorship program at Schor Middle School recently held an event that allowed students and mentors a chance to connect through creativity. Mother and daughter Tara and Rhea Nagabhtyu of Color Me Mine, an art studio in Bridgewater, visited the school on Thursday, May 22, to host a session for painting ceramic ornaments. This engaging activity provided a meaningful opportunity for conversation, reflection, and bonding in a relaxed and supportive setting, which included a visit by Interim Superintendent Dr. Johanna S. Ruberto. The Golden Hawks are led by behaviorist Maria Balint and Spanish teacher Jessica Corrales.

PHS Mentor Group Extends Mission to Eisenhower
A peer mentoring group at PHS is extending its mission to also help their younger peers at Eisenhower Elementary School. 50 Strong is a PHS club for young men, designed to improve personal, social, emotional, and academic development. Members of 50 Strong were provided with mentor training on how to work alongside younger peers at Eisenhower and took an active role in deciding on the activities they would lead to create a fun and engaging experience for their mentees. They had their first meeting on Thursday, May 1, and enjoyed quality time getting to know one another. More events are planned for the near future.

Rain Can’t Dampen Joy of Jazz
Congratulations to the Piscataway High School musicians who performed in the star-studded Jazz Under the Stars. An audience of families, alumni, district leaders, and students got to see the immense pride in our music program and the joy filling the PHS Performing Arts Center on Thursday, May 22. In addition to student performers, this unforgettable musical experience featured renowned saxophonist Dave Pollack as well as the Garden State Jazz Orchestra.

King Autism Classes Celebrate at Sensory Spring Social
Autism classes at M.L. King Intermediate School were able to explore and connect at an engaging Sensory Spring Social. Teachers and therapists organized the event with bubbles, sensory bins, games, bowling, and more. The event offered hands-on fun tailored to spark curiosity and comfort. Families joined in on the activities, building connections with staff and one another.

PHS HOSA Volleyball Match Raises $4,000 for Charity
The 3rd annual Million Dollar Match charity volleyball tournament hosted by the PHS HOSA Future Health Professionals was a rousing success. Piscataway HOSA faced off on May 21 against teams from South Plainfield and Woodbridge Academy, and a Piscataway HOSA alumni team, and won the tournament. More importantly, with the support of volunteers, players, officers, spectators, and sponsors, Piscataway HOSA raised nearly $4,000 for NMDP. NMDP is an organization focused on research that manages a system for bone marrow and blood-related cell donation for individuals with leukemia.

Worms Help King Classes Dig into Nature & Language
Students from Nicole Bal’s and Lily Kaufman’s classes at Martin Luther King Intermediate School dug deep into nature and communication skills with help from some squiggly friends. Students observed real worms up close, which made for a fun and engaging hands-on experience. Throughout the activity, led by speech specialist Julia Reyes, students practiced key communication and language skills, including requesting, turn-taking, describing, classifying, sentence formulation, and using augmentative and alternative communication in a natural, meaningful, and authentic way. They enjoyed a sweet surprise at the end: gummy worms.

Randolphville Enjoys Hustle and Bustle of Scooter City
Randolphville Elementary School students turned into city dwellers at their recent Scooter City event. Physical education teacher Amanda Miller turned the gym into an exciting little city where students had fun commuting and running errands, riding on scooters like they were cars. They followed streets signs and made stops at the gas station, car wash, and restaurant, and made their way to the park and the gym, where they got to play games and exercise.

Orchestra Teacher in Running for Grammy Educator Award
Congratulations to Martin Luther King Intermediate School orchestra teacher Dr. Elisabeth Sato,  who has been named a quarterfinalist for the 2026 Grammy Music Educator Award. She is one of 200 quarterfinalists nationwide and just 12 from New Jersey. The Grammy Music Educator Award recognizes current educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools.

PHS Art in State Autism Expo
Several PHS students participated in NJ’s Autism Acceptance Virtual Art Expo to highlight the talents and passions of our autism community for art lovers around the state. Art pieces submitted to the expo are posted on a website called Artsteps that simulates walking through an art gallery. As a viewer clicks on the different pieces in the “Spotlight on the Spectrum” gallery, information about the artist pops up. PHS students, with the help of their teachers Dana Strafer and Shannon Mengak, worked with students from the PHS National Art Honor Society, led by Samantha Knierim, to create beautiful designs with paint, coffee filters, and art sponges.

Mentorship Program Gets Dirty to Beautify Quibbletown
The Golden Knights Mentoring Program at Quibbletown Middle School recently did a wonderful job beautifying the school grounds.Students and staff spent time outside planting flowers, working together in a spirit of collaboration and relationship-building. This hands-on activity fostered a sense of togetherness and accomplishment among participants, strengthening the bonds within the school community.

Randolphville ‘Artcade’ Fun Highlights STEAM Skills
Randolphville Elementary School students had a blast with families and friends at their annual “Artcade.” Third-graders hosted the event on Thursday, May 29, to allow the Randolphville community to play arcade-style games created in third-grade digital literacy classes. These creative games showed off the students’ STEAM skills (science, math, engineering, art, and math) and varied in skill level and construction. Guests were also treated to a variety of student art that lined the halls. Special thanks to digital literacy teacher DaShawn Reynolds and art teacher Jasmine McGinnis for organizing this fun-filled STEAM event.

Action! 3rd-Graders Create Grandview Film Festival
3rd graders in Sandi Desai’s digital literacy classes at Grandview Elementary School used their school iPads and stop-motion technology to create original movies complete with titles and narration. Festival attendees were treated to juice and popcorn as they reviewed the films created by their classmates.

Families Enjoy Night of Fun & Connection at Arbor Carnival
Students at Arbor Intermediate School enjoyed a fun-filled night with family, friends, and teachers at their school carnival. Highlights included face painting, spin art, exciting games, and delicious treats like cotton candy, Rita’s Ice, nachos, hot dogs, and pizza. It was a joyful evening of laughter and connection, made possible by Arbor’s teachers, who worked hard to create a memorable experience for everyone.

Children’s Corner Partners with Library for Activity Night
Children’s Corner Preschool partnered with the Piscataway Public Library to host a delightful Preschool Night, offering an array of engaging activities for young children and their families. The event featured story time, a story walk, the opportunity to sign up for library cards, creative crafts and games, photo fun, and information on community resources. Thanks to Friends of the Piscataway Public Library for supporting this opportunity to foster a love for reading and community engagement among our youngest learners.

Technology Students Show Skills at TCNJ Conference
Congratulations to members of the Piscataway High School Technology Student Association who successfully competed at the State High School Conference at The College of New Jersey. Nathan Mesia, Ann Zamor, Onessa Aguila, Michael Franchi, Aadarsh Arunkumar, and James Opitz placed 2nd in the Music Production competition, and Aryan Moore placed 3rd in the Future Technology and Engineering Teacher competition. The TSA is led by advisers Farid Hamrani, left, and Paul Mazur, right.

PHS Scientists Share Work at Rutgers Symposium
Two Piscataway High School students who took part in a poster presentation during the Malcolm G. McLaren Symposium hosted by the Rutgers’ Materials Science and Engineering Department. Junior Saanvi Patel, left, and senior Anay Shah presented complex research concepts in poster form for attendees to review. Anay’s research poster was about how an adaptive organ patch responds to the body’s healing needs using embedded biosensors and artificial intelligence. Saanvi’s research poster was about the AI-enhanced diagnosis of Alzheimer’s using magnetic nanoparticles. They were supported in their efforts by PHS science teacher Dr. Janet Mrotek.

Board Honors Champs from Wrestling and Track Teams
Congratulations to members of the wrestling and winter track teams who were honored by the Board of Education on Thursday, May 8, for championship accomplishments. Jane Rodrigues notched a record of 25-1 on the mat, winning gold in the GMC Tournament and the Region 2 Tournament, making her the first Piscataway girl to win a regional title. Sean Love had a record of 36-4, placing 5th overall in the state and 2nd in Region 5. Sean won the District 19 title and was named Outstanding Wrestler for the second year in a row. The two accepted plaques alongside Coach Dan Smith. On the track, the boys 4x200-meter relay team won the North Jersey Group 4 State Relay Championship and the 4x400-meter relay team won the North 2 Group 4 Championship. Present to accept the awards alongside Coach Pete Buccino were Jamari Atkinson Waters and Noah Grant.

Pway Fast Fact
Did you know: All of our schools promote proper nutrition and healthy eating. This includes nutrition education in the curriculum, and posters in food-service areas encouraging balanced plates, increased water intake, and limited sugar and salt intake.

Host of Gold Medals Lead Boys Track to 3rd in Group 4
Congratulations to the PHS boys track team for finishing 3rd overall at the NJ Group 4 State Championships on June 1, led by a host of medal winners. Senior Noah Grant, left, won the state Group 4 championship in the 100-meter dash, and the relay team of Noah Grant, Devonte Headd, Jamari Atkinson, and Niles Thony won the 4x100-meter gold. The 4x400-meter relay team of Jamari Atkinson, Niles Thony, Chiemeka Chukwu, and Noah Grant placed 5th, and Niles Thony took 6th in the 100-meter dash.

17 Student Athletes Celebrate Their Selection of College
Congratulations to the PHS student-athletes who will be continuing with athletics at the college level. These 17 seniors were celebrated at Athlete Signing Day on Thursday, May 22, in the PHS Anthony Gym. Principal Chris Baldassano, Athletic Director Rob Harmer, and their coaches spoke about their hard work, dedication, and talent to become part of the small minority of high school athletes who go on to play in college.

PHS Artist Wins First Place in Congressional Art Awards
Congratulations to Piscataway High School senior Sylphania Njoku, right, for taking first place in the Congressional Art Awards. This is the second year in a row that Piscataway took first place in the contest hosted on Saturday, May 10, by Rep. Frank Pallone for the 6th Congressional District. Sylphania’s artwork will hang in the U.S. Capitol Building for a year. Also honored at the awards ceremony were PHS junior Elizabeth Poole, who took third place, and senior Sophia Rojas and junior Gabrielle Petit-Homme, who received Honorable Mentions. Thank you to PHS art teacher Dorothy Amme for providing this wonderful opportunity for our students.

Knollwood Makes Generous Gift to Buddy Ball Program
Thank you to the generous donors at Knollwood Elementary School for raising $161 for Buddy Ball in honor of Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. Eisenhower Principal Vincenzo Stio, center, who leads the Buddy Ball program, accepted the donation from the Knollwood Autism Acceptance Committee, from left, Heidi Sierra, Donna Saultz, Megan Onorato, Terri-Lynn Radigan, Sarah Aboudara, and Knollwood Principal Brian Voigt. Buddy Ball is a free physical activity program for all students with special needs regardless of physical or mental disabilities.