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Garfield students, STEAM team and band honored as district presents NJSLA results showing growth
Summary
The board honored high-achieving students and a Garfield Middle School STEAM team that placed third statewide, while a district data presenter reviewed NJSLA results showing improvement—notably fourth-grade gains over state averages.
The Garfield Board of Education recognized students, honored its high school band and color guard, and heard district assessment results showing measurable growth in several grades during its public meeting.
Superintendent Dr. Tomko opened the meeting by praising students and staff and emphasizing district collaboration. "...that's what this board is all about, and that's what this administration is about," he said, underscoring the focus on student opportunities and support.
The board awarded certificates to students who achieved perfect or near-perfect scores on state tests and named Jacqueline Ortega Garfield High School’s September student of the month for academic and extracurricular achievement. The Garfield High band and color guard were also recognized for recent festival and parade performances.
Garfield Middle School’s Team NSYNC presented a prototype for a portable, collapsible hand-washing station designed for schools and outdoor settings. The team described a filtered water bottle, biodegradable towels and a removable soap dispenser; the district announced the team finished third in the New Jersey School Boards Association Steam Tank Challenge and received a $1,000 prize.
A district data presenter reviewed three years of NJSLA (New Jersey Student Learning Assessments) data and highlighted areas of growth. The presenter said Garfield’s fourth grade recorded 45.5% of students at the higher proficiency bands in ELA compared with 37.8% statewide, and noted gains among ELL and special-education subgroups. The presenter described supports including Renaissance Learning, Discovery Ed, a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS), common assessments and additional professional development days.
Administrators reminded the public that the formal NJSLA slides will be posted on the district website, and the superintendent invited community input on upcoming schedule changes and pilot programs including a "Degree in 3" early-college pathway.
