Celebrating Our 2024-2025 School Year

As I reflect on the 2024-2025 school year, I'm filled with pride for what we accomplished together as a community. It was a year defined by new initiatives, incredible student achievements, and the strong partnerships that make our school so special.

A significant highlight was the launch of our school's very first chapters of the National Elementary Honor Society and the National Junior Honor Society. This milestone allowed us to formally recognize our exceptional students for their dedication to scholarship, leadership, service, and character. We also saw the continued success of our PGC mentor program, where our 8th-grade student leaders were instrumental in guiding and supporting their younger peers.

We were also honored to receive our second Promising Practice award from Character.org for our program, Barack Bear Hearts: Building a Culture of Care. This recognition celebrates our unique and effective initiative that inspires “goodness in action” and contributes to character development.

Our students' creativity and hard work were on full display during the phenomenal Black History Wax Museum. The students' meticulous research and dynamic presentations culminated in two incredible performances—a daytime show and an evening performance for parents—showcasing their deep learning and dedication. The talent didn't stop there. We also hosted a school-wide Science Fair that featured innovative projects from students across all grade levels. It was a testament to their curiosity and critical thinking skills.

This year, we continued to strengthen our community through powerful programs and partnerships. Our students enjoyed the Ponce de Leon after-school book club, which fostered a love of reading. For our families, we launched Coffee with the Counselors, a series of monthly meetings that provided a space for parents to gain insight and resources to support their child's learning. We were also thrilled to secure two new reading grants to boost early literacy and two grants from the State of New Jersey—the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and a Health and Wellness grant—which greatly enhanced our students' well-being.

Thank you for being such a vital part of our school community. We had so much to celebrate this year, and we encourage you to join us next year to participate in all the wonderful things happening at our school!