South Plainfield high school and middle school students presented classroom programs and student activities to the South Plainfield Board of Education during the Jan. 7 meeting, highlighting Read Across America activities, Black History Month poetry-and-art projects and student leadership events.

The presentations matter because they show district-run student engagement programs that connect high school students with younger pupils, spotlight arts education in the middle school and summarize season schedules and college- and activity-related achievements from the high school student council.

At the start of the presentations, a district administrator introduced the agenda item and asked Mr. Cascola to bring students forward to the podium. Mrs. Parisi, identified in the meeting as the high school's media specialist, described Read Across America Day as an annual event started more than 20 years ago by a high school English teacher. "High school seniors prepare for the day by practicing reading their children's books and create elementary students they visit," Parisi said, and she thanked SPHS English teachers, elementary teachers and school administrators for their support. A group of seniors told the board they will visit Kennedy Elementary School to read and lead a craft tied to the book The True Story of the Three Little Pigs; senior Novabella Lee said her group will have students make "origami wolves" and add personalized accessories so "the kids can choose whatever they want to accessorize." Lee said the craft is designed to teach children "it's important to not judge" based on outward appearance.

Middle school students and their teacher, Miss Murray, then read poems and displayed student artwork created for Black History Month. A teacher credited Miss Bednar with developing the project; Bednar was not present, the group said. Students read selections by Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou and others and explained how they translated the poems into visual art. Board members praised the presentations and the students' work.

Student council President Catherine Biker summarized high school activities and achievements, including athletics, debate and Model UN honors, upcoming scheduling for rising ninth graders, honor society inductions and a March Read Across America date. Biker also noted school competitions and college- and all-state recognitions for students and asked peers and parents to watch guidance emails for yearbook and senior information.

Board members, including several who identified themselves during roll call, repeatedly commended the students, teachers and business office staff. One board member told the council the presentations showed "the talent that we have from our students in this district," while others thanked school staff for coordinating the events.

The presentations concluded with the board moving on to other agenda items; no board action specific to these presentations was recorded other than thanks and recognition.