Congratulations to the Piscataway High School Air Force Junior ROTC for being selected to march in the New York City Veterans Day Parade. Senior Master Sgt. Chrissie Slifer, a PHS AFJROTC instructor, said the unit was trying to expand their experiences and create goals that might “scare” them a little. So she applied for them to march in the parade. “Years ago, I had marched in this parade while on active duty, and it was an experience that I will never forget!” she said. She received word from the United War Veterans Council on Monday, Sept. 28, that the Piscataway cadets had been selected to march.

Piscataway is once again among the most celebrated school districts in the state for school communications. Our district won six awards at the New Jersey School Communication Awards – tied for the most of any school district in the state for the 3rd straight year. The awards include:

• Best in Class - Award of Excellence for Specialty Publication: 2025-2026 School Guide & Calendar

• Award of Excellence for Media Coverage: Buddy Ball feature on News 12 NJ (awarded to Eisenhower Elementary School Principal Vincenzo Stio)

• Award of Merit for Newsletter: Superintendent’s Report

• Award of Merit for Social Media

• 2 Awards of Merit for Photography

Public Information Officer Gary Miller accepted the awards at the Sept. 29 ceremony. 

Congratulations to the Piscataway High School Superchiefs Marching Band on a great finish at their first competition of the season. The band took 3rd place in Class III at JP Stevens High School on Saturday, Oct. 3. Thank you to band directors Ken Zampella and Jason Lakshmanan, the marching band staff, and our dedicated parent volunteers. Mark your calendar for the annual Superchiefs Marching Band Festival on Oct. 24 at PHS. This year, the band will be hosting the Class Championships of the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association with 38 high schools participating.

Congratulations to Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts Rebekah Sterlacci for being a leading voice for inclusive education in the arts in New Jersey. Ms. Sterlacci served on the responding team for the Inclusion Guide for Arts Education, a new statewide resource designed to help ensure that students with disabilities are fully included in arts education. The guide was created by Arts Ed NJ, in partnership with All In for Inclusive Education and the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association. It offers a broad framework that districts can adapt for coordinated, purposeful efforts centered on inclusivity and student well-being. Ms. Sterlacci will be co-presenting on Inclusive Arts Education with Arts Ed NJ at the New Jersey Education Association conference in Atlantic City in November.