Superintendent's Corner
January 2024 NRESC Updates from Dr. Vancheri
Goodbye January, Welcome February!
January is done and hopefully we are all now able to write 2024 on documents instead of 2023! Great things continue to happen at the Commission, as evidenced by the information in this newsletter. As we hit the 100th day of school in February, 2023-2024 is quickly entering the rearview mirror and 2024-2025 is around the corner!
As we will soon celebrate and be off for President's Day break, I think back to the first ever lesson I taught in early 2004. If you do not recall (although I bring it up every chance that I get), I taught high school history at Clifton High School before entering the world of school administration. I was excited to teach my first lesson in American History, as a 21 year old student teacher! The lesson was on George Washington's cabinet and all of the personalities and abilities of the team he assembled. I had props, notes, and questions, and I was ready for the 40 minute lesson. I delivered and did everything in my toolbox--and the lesson was over in less than 10 minutes! Luckily my cooperating teacher, the great Dennis Harding (who is still a friend!) stepped in and guided me through the remaining 30 minutes. So to this day, when President's Day break approaches, I think of my less than 10 minute, first entry into the world of teaching.
The point of this tale is to reiterate the following:
- Do not be afraid to be vulnerable and share stories of struggle.
- Do not be afraid to ask for help from those with the experience and expertise of which you are striving.
- Even the best plans may fail--it is how we react to this failure that matters!
As educators, we live in a hyper-evaluative world with much pressure to do our best for the children we provide support and education to on a daily basis. Sometimes, our fear of being judged or evaluated gets in the way of asking for help! If I can ask our team at the NRESC, our former superintendent, and my superintendent colleagues for help when I am struggling, you can do the same thing too. Heck, I can easily admit that at 41 years old, with 20 years in education, and 4 years of a Catholic high school with a dress code, I am unable to tie a functional tie!!! No, I do not wear clip-ons; rather, I gladly ask my father and father-in-law to make my crisp ties for me on a regular basis and I leave them tied! So there, you now know that my first ever lesson as a teacher bombed and that I cannot tie a proper tie--so what is your excuse for not asking for help???
Onward!!!
Dr. Nicholas V. Vancheri
NRESC Superintendent of Schools
New Items are Available & All Program/School Logos are Now Customizable
Keep shopping and showing off your NRESC spirit! As a reminder, 12% of all purchases on the website go back to the programs!
https://apparelnow.com/northern-region-esc-apparel
Whether you need a Childcare hoodie, a Phoenix Center lunch bag, a Hope Academy pair of shorts, an Ascend hat, or Second Home leggings, we now have it all! We have even expanded our options for kids so feel free to get the students to wear NRESC clothing or dress your kids up in these cozy items!
The Commission in Action!
Second Home Has Officially Moved to Totowa!
On January 11, 2024, Second Home celebrated the grand opening of our new location at 515 Union Boulevard. Thank you to Senator Kristen Corrado, Assemblyman Al Barlas, Mayor John Coiro, Councilman Sanders Reynoso, NRESC board members, and all of our special guests who took the time to celebrate this momentous day. This move would not have been possible without the tireless commitment of the Second Home staff. Their efforts during the move process went above and beyond and are to be commended. THANK YOU, team! For more information on this great event, click here.
Lighting Up Math at Phoenix
Homer the Gnome is Gardening at Phoenix
Basketball During Aftercare in Riverdale
Patterns in Daycare on Display!
Second Home Laundry Skills in Action!
Hope Engineering Challenge - Marshmallow Tower
Welcome Dr. Tess Borgese to the Ascend Family!
Dr. Tess Borgese joins Ascend leading students in an Academic Writing and Emotional Intelligence seminar. Aligned with NJ state standards for 11th and 12th grade, this coursework aims to introduce students to different rhetorical modes of writing while activating one’s emotional intelligence. Dictated by the writing method under study, the reading portion contains multiple literary
genres—narrative nonfiction, short stories, and selective articles from the internet. During the writing segment, students complete one methodical essay per unit—narrative, description,
process/analysis, compare/contrast, and argument/persuasion.
Speech Therapy on the Fly in Paterson!
Paterson students and their NRESC speech therapist, Nicole Stetson, took a trip to the airport to help find lost luggage-and practice their speech skills!
School/Program Newsletters for This Month
Click on the links below for the monthly newsletters from each specific school, program, or department:
Childcare (Pompton Lakes & Riverdale)
Friendly Reminders
All payroll questions and inquiries can be sent to Mr. Gregory Barrington-Smith and Mr. Benito Squillaro at payroll@nresc.org.
Calendar Reminders
- February: Celebrate Black History Month!
- February 9: NRESC Board of Directors Meeting (12pm).
- February 13: Early Dismissal for Staff & Students at Hope, Phoenix, and Second Home. Ascend classes will NOT take place. February 13 is FAMILY NIGHT at each location!
- February 15: 2nd Round Observations are due and any SGO/PGO Revisions must be submitted to your NRESC immediate supervisor.
- February 16-February 19: NRESC central office, schools, and programs are CLOSED (President's Day Recess).
ERC Charities 2nd Annual Benefit Gala was an Amazing Success!
ERC Charities held their 2nd Annual Gala on January 31 and it was attended by nearly 200 people, many of whom wore their NRESC badges with pride! ERC Charities is a group that supports Second Home several times a year. Second Home participants are recipients of funds from their spring golf outing and also this winter benefit gala. Each year, one of our clients receives a scholarship (which is named after one of our clients as well). This year, the scholarship was given to Rochelle Ranshaw of Second Home. This scholarship will be used for Rochelle's therapies and/or any new equipment she requires.
February 13 is Family Night at the NRESC!
Hope and Ascend Academy Family Game Night
Second Home Resource Fair
Phoenix Art Showcase and Open House
Join Our Family!
If you or someone you know is interested in any of our available positions, resumes can be sent to jobs@nresc.org . Retirees are welcome to apply for part-time and full-time positions!
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