Cliffside Park honors 19 students for perfect state test scores; district supervisors introduced
Summary
Cliffside Park School District recognized 19 students who earned perfect scores on the NJSLA and introduced district supervisors and several program updates, including preschool expansion, co-teaching grants and upcoming adaptive field tests for grades 4–11.
Cliffside Park School District recognized 19 students who earned perfect scores on this year’s New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) and introduced a cohort of district supervisory staff during its board meeting.
The board called students from elementary schools, middle school and the high school to the front of the meeting room for photos and brief remarks from building principals. School 3 Principal Barbara Bracco read teachers’ notes for three School 3 students and said about one pupil, “I knew he would. He always paid attention, stayed focused, and consistently strived to do his very best.” School 4 Principal Mrs. Russo introduced multiple perfect-score recipients and said, “This year, I asked that their teachers from last year that taught them to write a little something about them and what kind of a student they were.” High school principal Joshua Genucci introduced three high-school recipients, including a senior with a perfect science score who has been recognized by the College Board.
Why it matters: Perfect NJSLA scores are rare at the district level and board members used the meeting to highlight student achievement and the teachers, principals and families who supported them. The recognitions also served as a platform for the administration to summarize district staffing and program priorities for the school year.
District administrators highlighted several instructional and support programs. The board noted preschool expansion work at School 5 and identified Esther Lee as the district’s new preschool instructional coach and early interventionist. Supervisors introduced themselves and summarized priorities: Van Fleet (high-school English) emphasized college- and career-readiness and support for graduation requirements; Stephanie Brennan (ESL supervisor) said the district serves “over 500” multilingual learners; and Nicole Rell and other supervisors described expansion of co-teaching under an NJIP inclusion grant across multiple buildings.
Administrators also outlined curriculum and assessment work. The district plans adaptive field tests in advance of the spring NJSLA; the board was told those field tests will affect grades 4 through 11. Supervisor Margarita Clark described an intensive mathematics course designed to cover missed eighth-grade content in one year to help students with interrupted education. Josie Bello referenced an early rollout of the Renaissance data system to strengthen data-informed decision-making.
The board recessed the recognition portion after photos and refreshments and moved on to routine business. Several principals and supervisors thanked teachers and families for their role in student success.
Provenance: The meeting notice and the student-recognition remarks appear in the transcript beginning with the district’s opening remarks and the introduction of students and principals, and continue through the supervisors’ briefings and the students’ exit for photos.
Ending: Board members thanked principals, teachers and families for supporting the students. The administration asked families to note upcoming calendar items, including an early dismissal before Thanksgiving and school closures for Election Day and the NJEA convention.
