Superintendent’s Report
May 8, 2025
Volume 11 Issue 9
Dr. Johanna S. Ruberto, Interim Superintendent

Community Rallies Around 7th Grader
The Piscataway community came together for a Day of Fun on Saturday, April 26, to support and celebrate Schor Middle School seventh-grader Omar Danso in his fight against kidney failure and his search for a transplant. More than 100 people took part in a 5K fun run and walk at a drizzly Riverside Park in Piscataway, and many more enjoyed music, food trucks, and games with Omar and his family. “After getting through the initial bumps in the road, Omar has really pushed through and persevered through everything,” said Omar’s mother, Jasmin Eversley-Danso said. “Sometimes his strength really surprises me. It does get hard, but we just want to be a source of support for him every single day.”

PHS ‘Clue’ Earns 10 Foxy Award Nominations
Congratulations to the PHS Drama Club production of “Clue,” which has been nominated for 10 Foxy Awards at Montclair State University, which spotlight the best in high school theatre from around New Jersey. The awards will be held May 19. PHS has been nominated for:
• Production of a Mystery Play
• Acting Ensemble of a Mystery Play
• Performance by an Actor in a Mystery Play: Jackson Bartle as Wadsworth
• Performance by an Actress in a Mystery Play: Andrea Ladia as Mrs. White
• Risk Taking in Direction Award: Mike Yoson
• Achievement in Period/Fantasy Costume Design: Christie Hall
• JoAnne Fox Award for Theatre Education: Mike Yoson
• Scenic Design: Matt Nickles
• Student Makeup Designer / Student Hair & Wig Designer: Julianna Caputo

Dr. Ruberto Praises District Leaders’ Professionalism
Interim Superintendent Dr. Johanna S. Ruberto hosted her first meetings with our full team of administrators on Wednesday, April 30, praising their proficiency and dedication to Piscataway. She first met with all principals and followed that with a larger group that includes all supervisors and other district leaders. In each meeting, she organized a short ice-breaker where she picked one team member to stand up. She then asked anyone in the room who had worked alongside that person to stand up. When a large number of people stood each time, Dr. Ruberto commented that this demonstrated the high level of leadership, teamwork, and caring throughout our district. Since coming to Piscataway on April 1, Dr. Ruberto has been visiting schools and meeting one-on-one with principals and supervisors to get to know our district and to support leaders in their mission of educating and caring for our students.

Board Honors Arbor and King for Collaborative Project
Congratulations to students in the Arbor and Martin Luther King intermediate schools’ self-contained classes, who were recognized by our Board of Education for their collaborative work. Students from both schools read the book “Wild Robot,” then got together at Arbor to create group projects that detailed and illustrated their visions for the ideal robot. The students presented a video about their projects to the Board at its April meeting and were presented with certificates by Board President Shantell Cherry. The students were supported at the meeting by Arbor Principal Heather O’Donnell and teachers from both schools.

Eisenhower Students March for Autism Acceptance
Eisenhower Elementary School students marched around the school on Friday, April 4, to show support for Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. Students and staff were encourage to “Light It Up Blue” in support. The walk was organized by teachers Emily Simmonds, Michele Crisitello, Jennifer Ramirez, Aviva Borger, Dana Pepe, and Nicole Barfield.

2 PHS Students Honored as Unsung Heroes by NJSBA
Congratulations to Piscataway High School students Alexa Lopez- Chirinos and Amrit Singh, who were selected as Unsung Heroes by the New Jersey School Boards Association. The two were honored in a ceremony on March 26 at Old Bridge High School for making significant, positive contributions to their community often without receiving public recognition or praise. They are pictured with Piscataway Board of Education Vice President Nancy Salgado-Cowan and Board Member Dr. Tom Connors, who is vice president of finance for the NJSBA.

Coming Up
May 9-10: PHS Dance Concert, 7 p.m.
May 12: Schor Orchestra/Choir Concert, 6 p.m.
May 13: PHS Orchestra Concert, 7 p.m.
May 14: Quibbletown Spring Concert/Art Show, 6 p.m.
May 15: PHS Band Concert, 7 p.m.    
May 16: PHS AP Art Show, 6 p.m.
May 19: Conackamack Band Concert, 6 p.m.
May 20: Interim Reports Available in Genesis Parent Module
May 20: Conackamack Orchestra/Chorus concert, 6 p.m.
May 20: Culture, Climate & Community Relations Committee meeting, 7 p.m. 
May 21: PHS Choir Concert, 7 p.m.
May 21: Middle School Experience for parents, 7 p.m.
May 22: PHS Jazz Under the Stars, 7 p.m.
May 23-26: Schools Closed for Memorial Day Weekend
June 2: Curriculum Committee Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
June 6: Early Dismissal for Students; Teacher In-Service Day 
June 6: K-8 Art Gallery, 6 p.m.
June 6: PHS Prom
June 10: Schools Closed for Students & Teachers for Primary Election Day
June 11: Fiscal Planning & Operations Committee Meeting, 7 p.m.
June 12: Board of Education meeting, 6:30 p.m.

PHS Future Educators Bring Lessons to Randolphville
Members of the Piscataway High School Future Educators Association continued their mission to bring financial literacy lessons to our 3rd graders during a visit to Randolphville Elementary School on Tuesday, April 22. The visits to all our K-3 schools are part of the Junior Achievement High School Heroes program. The Future Educators Association is guided by adviser Jillian Alonso.

Week of the Young Child: Fun & Learning for Preschool
Children’s Corner Preschool celebrated the Week of the Young Child, April 5-11, with special themes and learning activities highlighting the importance of early-childhood education. This special time dedicated to our youngest learners was filled with hands-on activities encouraging learning, creativity, and family involvement. Parents learned about preschool wellness with a presentation by the Children’s Corner nurses, and Lauren Enes’ class made friendship bracelets to celebrate Welcoming Wednesday. The big event was Multicultural Night, when hundreds of families came out to learn about different cultures, try new foods, and make new friends.

Standout Students Honored at Conackamack Awards
Congratulations to the Conackamack Middle School students who were honored at the 2nd annual Conackamack Choice Awards in March 20. Teachers and staff nominated a deserving student who showed characteristics of citizenship, empathy, kindness, and perseverance. Each staff member shared what was special about the student who was nominated, then called that student to the stage to receive a certificate and be celebrated in front of family and friends.

PHS HOSA Team Finishes 2nd in State for Innovation
Congratulations to Piscataway High School HOSA Future Health Professionals members Aryan More, Jeremiah Agatarap, Aarav Patel, and Sehaj Uppal for placing 2nd at the State Leadership Conference in March in the Medical Innovations event. They earned the right to advance to the HOSA International Leadership Conference in June in Nashville. Piscataway HOSA participated in a wide variety of team-oriented competitions at the state conference at Burlington County Institute of Technology in Westampton, with many teams emerging as finalists. The students also enjoyed lunch and networked with other chapters.

Grandview Gets in the Groove for Family Fitness Night
Grandview Elementary School was buzzing with energy during its recent Family Fitness Night, a fun-filled evening promoting health, wellness, and togetherness. Families moved, stretched, and breathed their way through a variety of engaging activities, including Zumba, martial arts, yoga, power walking, and guided sessions in meditation and mindfulness. The event brought students, parents, and staff together in a celebration of healthy living.

King Crowns Spelling Bee Champs
Students at M.L. King Intermediate School did an excellent job competing in the school’s annual school-wide Spelling Bee throughout the month of March, culminating in the finals on Thursday, March 20. A representative from each classroom qualified for the final round, where they spelled words in front of their grade-level peers and parents.

Freshman Field Day Builds Community and Belonging
PHS students had great weather and an amazing time at Freshman Field Day on Wednesday, April 23. Ninth-graders competed in a wide variety of games and contests on the football field in teams made up of their Freshman Seminar classes, coached by their teachers and upperclass mentors. The celebration is a culmination of another successful year for the PHS Freshman Seminar program, which is in its fifth year of providing transition support to ninth-graders. The program builds community and belonging in order to improve the likelihood that students will succeed academically, socially, and emotionally at PHS.

Preschoolers Show Their Love for Schor 7th Grader
Lissette Moran’s class at Children’s Corner Preschool-Pond showed their big hearts by putting together a care package for Schor Middle School 7th grader Omar Danso, who is in need of a transplant. They sent snacks, drinks, and a duffel bag of gifts to make him know he’s loved. Omar was formerly a student at King, Knollwood, and Eisenhower schools, and all of Piscataway is rallying behind him.

Volleyball Tournament a Smash for Conackamack
Conackamack Middle School closed out the week before Spring Break with its exciting annual volleyball tournament. For several weeks prior to the tournament, students learned and practiced skills during physical education class, then formed teams and played against one another. Brackets for each grade were formed, then grade levels faced off. The winning eighth-grade team then played against the staff – and for the first time since 2003, the 8th graders won 30-22! It was a great way for the students and staff to finish out the week before break.

PHS Concert Band Is a Hit in Disney Performance
Congratulations to the Piscataway High School concert band on a successful trip to perform in Walt Disney World. Many Piscataway families made the trip to watch the performance, but many members of the audience were other park visitors who commented about how much they enjoyed our talented students. The students were guided by instrumental music teachers Ken Zampella and Dr. Christopher Sumner and a host of parent chaperones who worked hard caring for our students over four days.

PHS Girls Learn and Network at Leadership Academy
Dozens of girls from Piscataway High School got the opportunity on March 21 to attend a Women’s Future Leadership Academy at the Rutgers Business School. The engaging session began with featured speakers, which was followed by interactive small-group mentoring led by volunteers encouraging 75 of our students to learn, get involved, and network.

Sweet Honors for PHS’ ‘Charlie’
Congratulations to the Piscataway High School production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” for receiving honors from the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards and the Central Jersey Marquee Awards. Rising Star nominations include Andrea Ladia for Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Member and the Pure Imagination Art Contest for Educational Impact Award. Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards are the pinnacle of high school musical theatre honors. PHS also received a Marquee Award nomination in Student Dedication and Excellence for student choreographer Julia Hubbard, and an Honorable Mention for Best Lead Actor for Jackson Bartle.

Volunteer Recognition Night
We held our annual Volunteer Recognition Night on Monday, May 5, in the PHS Commons to celebrate the wonderful work of those who give of their own time, including our Board of Education, parent organizations, Board committees, the Piscataway Education Foundation, and more. These generous individuals make our schools and district a success. The event was hosted by Interim Superintendent Dr. Johanna S. Ruberto and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Glenn Lottmann, and featured our principals speaking about how volunteers impact their schools so positively. Everyone got to hear a special performance by a six-piece jazz combo of PHS students, and each volunteer was given a token of thanks that included an old-fashioned popcorn cup and a package of microwave popcorn that fit with the theme of the night, “You make us POP with appreciation.”

Quibbletown 7th-Graders Explore Science Center
Seventh-graders from Quibbletown Middle School took a fun and educational class trip to Liberty Science Center on Friday, April 25. Students explored a wide range of hands-on activities, including learning about and feeding butterflies, experiencing space and galaxies through a planetarium show, exploring an environment in the dark to understand our reliance on senses, and discovering the importance of the Hudson River. The weather was perfect for a great view of the New York City skyline.

King Community Service Club Wraps Up Successful Year
Congratulations to the Martin Luther King Intermediate School Community Service Club on another successful year with a long list of accomplishments. One of the club’s big projects was to build shelters to help protect stray cats in the community, but they also recycled sneakers and snack wrappers; collected aluminum pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House; organized a friendship bracelet fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation; raised awareness and funds for the Spark Peace Project; organized items for food drives; wrote Christmas for the Angel Project; and assembled teacher appreciation gifts. Each member got a certificate listing the accomplishments of the club, which is guided by adviser Sharon Davis.

Welcome to the New PiscatawaySchools.org
PiscatawaySchools.org now has a sharper look for a more user-friendly experience. It is still the main reference point for all of our district schools and services with familiar menus and quick links, but now includes redesigned pages for more intuitive browsing. It features updated news feeds and event calendars powered by ParentSquare, and campus websites tailored to the culture of our schools. It is mobile friendly, fully translatable, and accessible for all. We hope you find it handy and enjoyable!

Choral Collective Caps Off Year with Joyous Concert
The Piscataway Choral Collective presented a wonderful spring concert on Tuesday, April 8, in the Piscataway High School Performing Arts Center. The group is made up of adult community members that meet twice a month from October through April. There is no cost or audition required to join - just a love of singing. The ensemble presented choral selections they have prepared this season and also invited the audience to join them in a community sing for two selections. At the opening of the concert, the entire auditorium joined in song, interspersed with short stories from choir members about their musical experiences and journeys. District Supervisor of Visual & Performing Arts Rebekah Sterlacci serves as artistic director for the Choral Collective.

Middlesex Principals Group Honors Outstanding Senior
Congratulations to Piscataway High School senior Tanvi Narava, who was selected by the Middlesex County Secondary Principals Association’s Outstanding Student for the 2024-25 school year. The award is in its 45th year and goes to one student from each high school in the county that has achieved academically and made a significant contribution to their school community. Tanvi, who is the senior student representative to our Board of Eduation, has worked extensively to spread awareness of the opioid epidemic nationwide and in Piscataway. To help mark her accomplishment, Tanvi invited people that have had a meaningful impact on her four years at PHS. From left are PHS Principal Chris Baldassano, PHS science teacher John Murphy, PHS Supervisor of College, Career & Personal Guidance Kelly Chilakos, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dr. Glenn Lottmann, Tanvi Narava, Board of Education Vice President Nancy Salgado-Cowan, PHS secretary Allison Sokolowski, and Sharonda Amon of Wellspring Health, with whom Tanvi has worked extensively on her overdose awareness efforts.

Arts Supervisor Shares Resources with Colleagues
Congratulations to our Supervisor of Visual & Performing Arts Rebekah Sterlacci for her recent opportunity to lead colleagues from across the state in hands-on, interactive activities connected to social-emotional learning and culturally responsive arts education. She shared resources in the areas of bringing people together, personal storytelling, and making connections at an April workshop at the Rutgers Club on the Livingston Campus in Piscataway.

Boys Track Breaks Records
Congratulations to PHS senior Noah Grant, who ran the 2nd fastest time in NJ history in the 100-meter dash on Tuesday, May 6, at the Greater Middlesex Conference Championships. And congratulations to the boys relay team for winning the 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter relay races at the Middlesex County Relay Championships, setting a new county record of 1:27 in the 4x200. The relay team consists of Jamari Atkinson, Niles Thony, Devonte Headd, and Noah Grant.

SADD Passes Along Hard Lessons About Safe Driving
Members of the PHS Students Against Destructive Decisions took a field trip Wednesday, April 9, that illustrated the consequences of dangerous behavior behind the wheel. At Logan’s Towing in North Brunswick, they saw crashed cars and equipment used to tow vehicles after crashes. Next, they went to the Piscataway Police Department, where they toured a jail cell, courtroom, and the 9-1-1 dispatch center. Students tried out driving simulators and goggles that simulate drunken driving. The day was coordinated by Piscataway Traffic Safety Officers William Kloos, Ian Paglia, and Mark Chanley. The students were accompanied by SADD adviser Laura Benjamin. SADD also held a “Chalk the Walk” the following day to mark the sidewalks outside PHS with messages of safe driving, with help from the National Art Honor Society.

Musicians Earn Spots in Regional Honors Orchestra
Congratulations to our 5th and 6th graders who earned their spot in the Central Jersey Music Educators Association Elementary Honors Orchestra on Saturday, April 26. The group performances included students from Conackamack, Martin Luther King, Quibbletown, and Schor schools and took place at Piscataway High School. Music teachers Elisabeth Sato, Grace Lee, and Haley Lopez organized this opportunity.

Arbor and King Students Help Out with Park Cleanup
Thank you to students at Arbor and Martin Luther King intermediate schools who took part in a park cleanup over spring break with Team Newcastle of the Piscataway Soccer Club. Players and their families were able to pick up and bag a large amount of litter found in and around Quibbletown Park and make the park a much cleaner place to play. From left are Joey Salles (Arbor), Avi Ginn (Arbor), and Viaan Patel (King.)

Knollwood Families Blend Art and Tech for a Fun Night
Students and families at Knollwood Elementary School recently enjoyed a fun-filled evening of STEM and art activities at Tech & Art Night. The event included a variety of hands-on tech games and challenges to explore, and artwork from all K-3 students was showcased throughout the building. Those in attendance enjoyed programming robots, building circuits, creating pinback buttons, and browsing the art gallery. Thanks to digital literacy teacher Lelia Brennan and art teacher Beth Tripod for coordinating this great night.

Lessons of Safety for Upper Grades
Thanks to Professor Doug Collier for enlightening presentations to Piscataway High School and all three middle schools the week of April 7 to help keep our students safe. Professor Collier, from the Monmouth University Criminal Justice Department, gave engaging grade-level presentations on cyberbullying, social media awareness, marijuana, smoking, and vaping. His visits were made possible by Rosemarie Rivoli of the Piscataway Township Municipal Alliance, who was joined at the presentations by Mayor Brian Wahler and other township officials, as well as Interim Superintendent Dr. Johanna S. Ruberto, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dr. Glenn Lottmann, and our school principals.

King Students Walk in Unity for Autism Acceptance
All the students at Martin Luther King Intermediate School went on the march to show their support for their classmates and others with autism. Students and staff took a lap around the outside of the building on Friday, April 25, carrying messages of acceptance for those with all manner of learning abilities. April was Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, which was celebrated throughout our district.

PHS Seniors Show Off Their New Colors for Decision Day
Piscataway High School seniors proudly showed off their new colors for Decision Day on Friday, May 1. Students wore shirts with their colleges and filled out paper pennants to hang on the wall of the Anthony Commons. Many of the students chose to continue their education at nearby Rutgers, but the diverse rainbow of college colors also included Penn, NYU, Middlesex, Rowan, TCNJ, Temple, Illinois, Howard, Montclair State, and more. We know all of our Class of 2025 graduates will make us proud.

Boys Volleyball Takes Gold in Tournament as Wins Pile Up
Congratulations to the Piscataway High School boys volleyball team for taking first place in the 12-team Essex County Schools of Technology Varsity Invitational Tournament on April 12. The Chiefs record currently stands at an incredible 13-3 and 8-2 in the GMC White division. The JV team also won gold in the 12-team Livingston Tournament. The boys are coached by Dritan Lazemetaj and assistant coach Brian Tuskan.

Two Sportsmanship Awards Winners Honored by GMC
Congratulations to Piscataway High School seniors Vaughn Turner and Alisha Dhillon, who were honored on Thursday, April 10, with the Greater Middlesex Conference Sportsmanship Awards. They received their awards at a luncheon along with outstanding athletes from around the GMC.

Middle School Pitcher Throws No-Hitter with 13 Strikeouts
Congratulations to Lucas Cox, a pitcher on our middle school baseball black team, for throwing a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts in a 7-0 win over Spotswood on Wednesday, April 23. Lucas, shown kneeling with the game ball surrounded by his teammates and Coach Justin Enes, is an eighth-grader at Schor Middle School. The team is made up of students from all three middle schools.

Quibbletown Students Head Out to the Ol’ Ballgame
Quibbletown Middle School students had a great time during a trip to see the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark on Wednesday, April 23. Students were chosen to attend based on who received the most points in the areas of empathy and kindness in the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program in the week of April 7-11, as well as nominations from teachers. It was a beautiful day for gathering with friends, eating concession food, and making memories at the ballgame.

2 M.L. King Students Honored at Somerset Patriots Game
Congratulations to Martin Luther King Intermediate School fifth-graders Dylan Pernell and Maliyah Anderson, who were recognized during a Somerset Patriots game on April 9 for their hard work and dedication toward becoming stronger readers, writers, and presenters. Dylan and Maliyah were nominated by their teacher, Samantha Hunter, after their daily focus and effort allowed them to become more confident in their reading and writing, particularly during class discussions and independent work. They were invited onto the Somerset Patriots field to say their names, their school, and a note of thanks to their parents and teachers.