From Livingston Public Schools

Dear Livingston,

We hope that you are enjoying your summer! 

In this edition:

• Livingston Board of Education
• Important Dates
• Construction Update
• District News
• Staff Achievements
• Community Opportunities

Livingston Board of Education

The Livingston Board of Education will hold a voting meeting on  August 15 at 4:15 p.m. in the Board of Education Administrative Office, 11 Foxcroft Drive. The next meeting will be September 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Livingston High School auditorium.

Important Dates

• The week of July 25th -LPS Parents STARS Account Information mailed to parents.
• August 6 –LHS Schedules will be available on STARS.
• August 22-Middle School Schedules and Elementary School teacher assignments will be available on STARS.
• September 6 – First Day of School for all students.

Construction Update

• Just a reminder that is continuing at Livingston Public Schools this summer. We are asking all families to stay away from the schools during this period unless students are participating in an activity at a school. Board Administrator Steven Robinson said he anticipates that the first phase of the should be completed on schedule by the middle of August. Phase two, work on the individual classrooms, will begin Sept. 1 with a completion date for all of the work on target for the summer of 2012.

Learning Cottages have arrived at the Mount Pleasant Middle and Elementary schools and workers are preparing them for classroom use for the fall. The trailers are expected to start arriving at the seven other schools involved in the construction next week. Workers are demolishing a staircase at Harrison School to prepare for the installation of a new elevator and are also installing a new elevator lift at Riker Hill School. The elevator and the wheelchair lift are required improvements so the District can comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Also at Riker Hill, laborers are building a new storage room. Other improvements include new HVAC units, new Automatic Temperature Control Systems, electrical wiring, windows and doors as well as renovations to the middle school auditoriums. For a full update, visit http://www.livingston.org/construction_updates.

District News

• The Livingston Board of Education has amended the School District’s 2011-2012 calendar. For an updated version, visit www.Livingston.org.

• The State notified Livingston Public Schools last week that it will increase its original State Aid allocation of $917,527 to $1.835 million. On Monday, the Livingston Board of Education decided to postpone making any decision on the use of the until later in the school year. Livingston Schools Superintendent Brad Draeger said the board could consider using it for future tax relief as well as for restoring some of the previously cut programs (due to the loss of state aid a year ago) including world language for the elementary school students and/or a gifted and talented music program.

• More than 160 teachers and administrators participated in the Marzano Training, a program on “The Art and Science of Teaching,” this past week.  At the Board of Education meeting Monday, Livingston Schools Superintendent Brad Draeger said 72 percent of the District’s certified staff will have participated in the training by the end of this week. “Most teachers are very excited and have given it very good reviews with 4.8 or 4.9 ratings (out of 5). It is unbelievable.” Many teachers will also participated in special Technology Workshops at LHS July 11-15.

• The Livingston High School Guidance Department will have special summer hours with one counselor in the office July 26-28, Aug. 2-4, 16-18 and 23-25. After the high school schedules are available on STARS Aug. 5, six counselors will be available Aug. 8-12 to accommodate any schedule changes. The Heritage Middle School Guidance Department will have a guidance counselor in the office Aug. 1-5 and 22-26. Mount Pleasant Middle School’s Guidance Department will have a counselor available July 26 and Aug. 29.

• The members of the SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Committee) would like to make sure that all parents of students with disabilities know how to contact the student’s home school SEPAC representative. If you have any questions regarding the navigation of the special education system, please contact your SEPAC representative.  Please refer to the Livingston Public Schools website for a list and click SEPAC Representatives.

Staff Achievements

• Douglas Jay, a science teacher at Mt. Pleasant Middle School, participated in “Transitioning to the New NJ Earth Systems Science Standards,” a unique professional development opportunity at Rutgers University Math and Science Learning Center last month. Twenty-four science teachers from across the state were selected to participate in the program. Mr. Jay also received an invitation to a follow-up session at the New Jersey Science Convention where he will be recognized as a “Simmons Scholar,” at the annual Recognition Luncheon.

Community Opportunities

• The Livingston Police Department is inviting township children to create a slogan for this year’s National Night Out, Aug. 2. The slogan will appear on T-shirts that will be distributed at the event. The winner will receive a T-shirt autographed by the chief of police and mayor as well as other prizes. The contest is open to children who live in Livingston and are currently in kindergarten through grade 12. For information, visit www.livingstonnj.org/commpolice-dare.html.

• A new “Shining Star” A League for Exceptional Children, offered by the new Senior, Youth and Leisure Services League for children with special needs, is accepting registration for its fall soccer program. The program is open to residents and non-residents and will run from Sept. 17 to Nov. 6, 9:30-10:30 a.m. for the junior league for ages 5-9 and 11 a.m. to noon for the senior league for ages 10-16 at the Monmouth Court Community Center. Other programs to be offered include basketball, floor hockey and t-ball/baseball . The cost is $75 per sport. To register, visit http://livingstonsyls.org or enroll at the SYLS office at the Livingston Senior/Community Center on Hillside Avenue, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, including program qualifications, and volunteer signup (training will be provided), contact SYLS Adaptive Recreation Coordinator Mark Silance at (973) 535-7925 or email msilance@livingstonnj.org.

• The Livingston Advisory Committee for Disabilities and the Livingston Robotics Club will offer a new fall “Shining Star” for children with special needs ages 12 to 14. The registration deadline is July 25. To register, e-mail ShiningStarRoboticsLeague@gmail.com.

E-News will not be sent out weekly during the summer, however there will be a few editions with pertinent information to prepare you for the upcoming school year.

Thank you and have a wonderful summer!

Take care,Allison Freeman

Interim Manager, Communications and Community Outreach, Livingston Public Schools