Actor Paul Sorvino dreamed of singing as a child. He grew up in Brooklyn listening to Enrico Caruso and Mario Lanza on his family's phonograph. He found fame as an actor on film (GoodFellas) and television (That Championship Season). And he left Law & Order to puruse that first love, singing. This week, the famous face serenaded an auditorium full of students and teachers at Riker Hill Elementary School in Livingston. He'll be performing later this month at the Loew’s Jersey Theater. (Learn more here).
Wonder what’s going on in your child’s school? PTA photographers have been taking snapshots of some of the things students are learning. Schools and offices are closed Thursday and Friday for Rosh Hashanah. Thank you to Allison Freeman who has shared the photos. She leaves Livingston Public Schools after spending the past five months writing about the schools in her interim public relations position. Freeman begins a new job as Manager of Communications and Community Outreach for the West Essex Regional School District in North Caldwell. We wish her the best of luck. As we say farewell to …
Did you get a chance to squeeze into your children's chairs yet this week and learn all that they’re learning in class? The Back-to-School Nights have been running back-to-back at the elementary schools. Next week, a meeting for parents with children with special needs will be Sept. 27. Thank you to our PTA shutterbugs who are providing a snapshot of what students are doing in their classrooms.
After more than 5,685 students started school last week, teachers are now focused on getting children used to their daily routines. And that means everything from soup (a friendship recipe at Burnet Hill) to nuts (and bolts of lining up and finding cubbies). Kindergarteners are learning their letters while sixth graders are learning to be more organized as they switch classes for the very first time and high school students are getting accustomed to the new drop schedule. Thank you to the “official” PTA photographers who sent these photos from the first few days as students settle in.
Editor's Note: 5,685 students started school today in Livingston. One of tiniest is a favorite Patch kid, J. Yi Klonsky, who tells us all about ... My First Day Of Kindergarten. Today was my first day of Kindergarten. I was up early because I was very excited. I think it was because I was going to wear my new pink shirt we’d bought just for the first day of school. I checked my snack (water and Doritos) and lunch (milk, pizza, and cookies – just for the first day – I’ll bring fruit tomorrow). My backpack was heavy. Mom says we’ll do something about that tomorrow. On the blacktop I was …
School doesn’t start until Tuesday, but Olivia Mazzella, 6, was already weighed down with a stack of books. The second grader was helping her mom deliver PTA agenda-planners, a gift to classrooms so heavy her arms were shaking. At Hillside Elementary, and the eight other public schools in Livingston, Thursday was a day to get ready for the first day of school. Teachers were busy organizing their classrooms. The schools have been under construction for the past 8 weeks, so there was a bit more to do, and a bit less time. “The theme this year is to go with the flow, to be relaxed and patient,” …
This article was submitted by Livingston Public Schools On Tuesday, Mount Pleasant Middle School students spent a day celebrating the completion of the 6th grade DARE program teaching them to say “no” to drugs and alcohol. The students climbed a rock wall, watched in awe as helicopters landed behind their school and climbed inside a Livingston Fire Department Fire Truck. They also got to meet Batman and listen to educational programs about the dangers of using drugs and alcohol. “This day is really fun,” said Gabby Miller after climbing the rock wall. “We take a day to have fun and learn you …
More than $100,000 in scholarships was presented last week to 155 graduating seniors at Livingston High School. In all, 83 scholarships and awards were given out, several of which had multiple recipients. Community organizations, memorials, Livingston Public School organizations and the LHS Home and School organization, all participated in doling out scholarships ranging from $150 to $2,500 for each student. “Whether you are heading to college, work, technical school, or proudly serving the military, tonight is a night to celebrate your achievement,” said Tina Renga, director of guidance. “It…
Before Monday night’s Board of Education meeting began, a photographer hustled together many adults with white rose corsages to pose for photos with family and friends in celebration of their years of service to Livingston Public Schools. The retirement honors began with a smiling Willie Simpson, who traveled from Georgia just for the ceremony, and ended with LHS Principal Pam Clause McGroarty, who began her career in Livingston as a student teacher in Harrison School. The retirees were called up to the front of the auditorium at Livingston High School on May 23, recognized for their …
For the first time since 2004, the LHS Marching Band will perform in a parade at Disney World. Getting there involves more than just practice -- an audition is required, as well as a major commitment from the students. The cost per player of is over $700, making it difficult for some. But kids like color guard member Eliana Gassman was not deterred. "I am really happy that I am going," she said. "I raised all the money myself through fundraising sales. I sold pizza, fruit, anything that I could." Fifty-nine students will make the trip. The band will play the music of Elvis Presley, "Burning…
The Mt. Pleasant Elementary Band officially has a spring tradition. Each of the last four years they have a performed a piece by composer Patrick Burns in the spring concert and he has come to work with them. From Bloomfield, Burns has seen his work performed by elementary, middle, high school, college and professional bands throughout the world. During his hour-long session with the group, he worked on the piece, "Tribal Legend,"emphasizing the need for patience and concentration on tempo. Taking some time out from rehearsal, he gave them some background on how he wrote the piece and the…
Art by Livingston students, representing the work created by students at every age, in every grade and school, will be on display beginning Thursday. The 26th Annual Livingston Public Schools Art Show, “Art Through the Ages,” will open at the Livingston Mall, on the upper level, on May 12 at 6 p.m. “More than 1,000 pieces will be displayed in this year’s show,” said Emile Talarico, K-12 District Art Supervisor. The artwork being displayed includes paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, ceramics, sculptures, metal arts, collages, mixed media and a range of interdisciplinary projects …
As parents and kids hit the polls to vote for candidates (School Board and Student Council) and issues (the school budget, a new menu choice at Mt. Pleasant Middle), democracy was busy at work. While the adults were blasé about the actual process, many elementary school students were delighted at the opportunity to have a say in matters that relate to them. “I’m finally old enough to vote!” exclaimed 6-year-old Sam. The kindergartener, who was voting for the first time at Hillside Elementary, was clearly relishing the experience. She had no idea who she was going to vote for, but she was …
What’s up with these kids today? They’re creating new technologies, finding cures for disease. They’re into toxicology, environment science, and somehow finding the time to put in nearly 2,500 hours of community service. The Board of Education honored more than 100 of Livingston’s best and brightest with individual proclamations on Monday night for their work in the sciences, liberal and fine arts, music and mathematics. There were middle school students who participated in the Junior Model United National Simulation at Seton Hall University, debating things like terrorism and small weapons …
1. Do you remember your senior prom? Livingston’s senior citizens have a chance to relive that special dance on Wednesday night when the town hosts an Intergenerational Prom at Livingston High School. Livingston residents, 62 years young and older, are invited to attend this free and festive event beginning at 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the LHS cafeteria. Elected officials from the Livingston Board of Education, Town Council, and LHS students in Key Club will serve as hosts. This year’s theme is “Shall We Dance” and will feature music by Supreme Productions, and entertainment provided by the …
The school board made it official on Monday night: Mark Stern will become Livingston High School’s next principal. Stern will follow in the footsteps of Principal Pamela Clause McGroarty, who is retiring after 40 years with the school district. “She’s going to be a tough act to follow,” Stern said. “The nice thing for me is that I got to learn from her for the past five years.” Also retiring is Hillside Principal Bernadette Pilchman, a popular leader of the elementary school who knows the name of every student in every class. Monday night marked the final meeting of board member Antonio …
"When volunteering with children with autism at a center in China, I realized I live in a world of open doors. I want to unlock doors for these children by conducting more research to learn about the disorder and help promote awareness and understanding.” Joy Ming’s inspiration to study autism came after she took trips to local autism centers while working on a high school science project. She began to ask: How can we decode the neurological causes of autism so that we can better diagnose and treat the disorder? On the eve of worldwide autism awareness, her research has earned her high honors…
Mary McNany is a 9-year-old champion for Down syndrome awareness, and sometimes that means making friends with people in high places. Last night, Mary and her family were the guests at the governor’s mansion in Princeton. Drumthwacket was glowing in blue lights to spotlight the “Lighting the Way” initiative by Research Down Syndrome to help children and adults reach fuller potential and lead more independent lives. Mary is a shining example. She attends Hillside Elementary School, where she is a third grader in an integrated classroom for students with special needs and typical peers. This is…
Spend the morning with Kenn Nesbitt and it makes you want to write in rhyme. He’s the author of more than a dozen poetry books filled with the hilarious and silly, who likes to tell kids you can find a poem in any old thing. On Friday morning he was finding poems with the students at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School. Funny poems, about chocolate and football, that sing. “Poems don’t have to be funny to be good, but I happen to like poems that are funny,” Nesbitt said. Lenore Picccoli, the librarian who has been sharing his poetry with classes, found her muse writing a special introduction for …
