The holiday season is upon us and that means the “Season of Giving”. Here in Woodbridge, we are incredibly blessed by the generosity of countless individuals, groups and businesses who give much of themselves and their money to support those less fortunate. She’s often too humble to speak of it, but I want to recognize Councilwoman Debbie Meehan for her years of support of our students during the holiday season. Together with our school counselors, families in need are supported with a Thanksgiving dinner care package supported by monetary and food donations from readers like yourselves. Together with groups like the Woodbridge Billiards Club and the Woodbridge Police Benevolent Association (PBA) Local #38, they also support needy families with toy drives and shopping experiences. These charitable acts receive little fanfare but it’s never lost on the Board and the school district that these are our students who are the recipients, providing children with a similar experience to that of the more fortunate students enjoy. A BIG thank you all who support these endeavors.
At the November Board meeting, the Board recognized eight students from JFK Memorial HS for their accolades at the 2024 Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Competition in Seattle, Washington where three students placed first in the nation and four earned silver medals in their respective categories. FCCLA prepares students for careers in four Career Pathways: Human Services, Hospitality and Tourism, Education and Training, and Visual Arts and Design. Additionally, two of our district students won first place in the 2024 New Jersey School Boards Association STEAM Tank Challenge for their invention of “Recall It”, a customizable cognitive memory game. Congratulations to all!
The President’s Council, the district’s umbrella parent advocacy group is holding its next meeting on February 12 at 7:00 pm. The meeting will be virtual. The meetings serve as an opportunity to hear from district leaders such as Superintendent Massimino and myself as well as Mayor McCormac on programs, services and issues affecting your children. It’s also an opportunity to ask questions and offer thoughts in an informal way outside of an official School Board meeting. To sign up for the ZOOM link, please email PresidentCouncilWB@gmail.com. The final meeting of the year will be May 7th.
Parents of special education students eligible for the PACE Extended School Year program, please be advised that the program will run from Tuesday, July 1, 2025 to Thursday, July 31, 2025.
Please remember that Winter Break begins with an early dismissal on Friday, December 20 followed by school closures from Monday, December 23 to Wednesday, January 1. All classes will resume on Thursday, January 2, 2025. I wish you and your families a joyful and restful holiday season!
Substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, nurses and school aides are needed. The need for substitute teachers remains constant so the district contracts with a private vendor, ESS, to hire and train our substitute teachers. Pay rates vary by district so the WTSD daily rate for elementary school substitutes is $130 and the secondary level pays $120 per day. For long-term substitutes, we pay $150 per day. Rates are halved if covering for half of the day. In order to become a substitute teacher, you need 30 college credits or more and a valid NJ criminal history letter. To apply or learn more, visit ESS. com directly or the district’s website under Human Resources.
The Board will hold its next regular meeting on Thursday, December 19 at 6:00 PM. The Board meets in the gymnasium of the Ross Street Elementary School #11, 110 Ross Street, Woodbridge. The public portion of the meeting will promptly begin following the conclusion of Executive Session. As always, you can view the live feed of the meeting on the district’s Facebook page or Woodbridge Channels YouTube channel. The Board will conduct its annual Reorganization Meeting on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at 6:00 pm.
Should you ever require my assistance, I welcome your input at one of our monthly Board of Education meetings. You can also e-mail the full board at board@woodbridge.k12.nj.us or call the Board Secretary’s office at 732-602-8536. As always, Dr. Massimino welcomes any questions at Joseph.Massimino@woodbridge.K12.nj.us