Superintendent's Newsletter
Woodbridge Township School District, December 2019
Holiday Season
It’s the holiday season and no matter which holidays you celebrate, it’s always pleasant to reflect back on the year and be grateful for all of the wonderful things going on in one’s life. As a school administrator, I often find myself thinking about what we did well as a school district and what we need to work on. When I think of this past year I am grateful to be able to help open a new school. The new Ross St Elementary School opened its doors for the first time this past September 4. It is the first brand new school in Woodbridge Township in over 50 years (Oak Tree Rd Elementary is a renovation). It was a monumental undertaking that involved dozens of people and businesses. Mayor McCormac and the Woodbridge Township Council, along with the Woodbridge Township Board of Education, made everything possible with their cooperation, vision, and support. Our people working behind the scenes, from purchasing to our folks in Buildings & Grounds, to our teaching staff were also instrumental in making the opening possible.
I’m also thankful to be able to work in one of the most progressive academic school districts in NJ. Our dual enrollment program, where our students take classes from colleges and universities while still in HS is unique. As you read this, our students are taking classes from Syracuse, NJIT, Kean Rutgers, Rider, Middlesex CC, and Berkeley. We also offer to pay tuition for students who enroll in career courses at Lincoln Tech and EZ Wheels driving school. We are proud of our programs for our academic students as well as those interested in focusing on their careers.
I’m also thankful for our partnership with the Woodbridge Police Department and their continue commitment to our students and staff. I’m extremely grateful for helping provide some of the safest schools anywhere. I appreciate the fact that every day our schools are patrolled by fully equipped police officers.
I'm extremely grateful for the partnership that exists between the Board of Education and the Woodbridge Town Council. Our cooperative agreements and shared services are models of economic efficiency in New Jersey and beyond. By working together, we are able to provide the families of Woodbridge the best school facilities, including turf fields, wonderful auditoriums and gymnasiums, and parks and playgrounds that can be enjoyed by all. None of these improvements would be possible if the Board or the Town Council worked independently.
Any sincere reflective process will enlighten different things that happened that didn’t go our way. I can’t help but immediately turn my thoughts to the Woodbridge Middle School construction project. I’ve lost a great deal of sleep over the delay to the school opening and the inconvenience to our students, staff, and parents. We are hounding the contractors every day to try to expedite the final approvals. We are very close to moving back into WMS, and be assured that we will redouble our efforts to push the process along and get our students and staff back at WMS ASAP.
Another area for improvement is with the current state of some of our buildings. Although we have replaced or will replace or substantially renovate three of our oldest building in the past two years, we still have buildings that are 100 years old. Our custodial staff and our maintenance people work hard to maintain these old structures, there is only so much we can do to repair these old buildings. In March of 2020 we hope to propose a public referendum that will address many of our building problems. Mayor McCormac has already started publicizing the projects included. We will soon be at meetings to provide more info. We ask that you come to the meetings and support our children’s future. On behalf of the entire Woodbridge Township School District Administration, thank you for all your support.
Written by Robert Zega, Ed.D., Superintendent of Woodbridge Schools
Construction Projects Update
Woodbridge Middle School: We are in the process of final approvals and inspections. Updates and pictures can be found online at: https://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/domain/4249
Ross St: The contractors are still working out details for the demolition of the old Ross St. building. The demo plan that was originally approved was revised and now the contracts and contractors are in dispute. As soon as the old school is demolished, we can begin constricting the rest of the new Ross St., including a full-sized gym and music classrooms. The courtyard at Ross St is pictured below.
Woodbridge HS Marching Barrons at the Christmas Parade
Mu Alpha Theta Induction at Colonia HS
Mayor Mac's Cafe
Students from RISE are now working at Mayor Mac’s Café in Sewaren. Pictured left to right are: Jakob Levine, Ms. Calantoni, Mrs. Chaves, Rebecca Charles-Estain, Diamond Jackson, and Ms. Wright
Mr. Bader's Attendance Assemblies
Happy Diwali
Sukhmeet Bedi, student at JFK MHS, giving blood at the annual JFK Blood Drive
Woodbridge HS Senior Austen Sanchez holding his acceptance letter to West Point Military Academy
Congrats to Woodbridge Football
Woodbridge HS senior track star Trinity Eason has been accepted to University of Pennsylvania
Nick Neilson, Ciolonia HS baseball standout, signs his National Letter of Intent to attend Wagner University
JFK Principal Paul Postorino giving blood at the annual JFK Blood Drive
Providing emotional support for Mr. Postorino are: Sukhmeet Bedi, Aditya Ray, Pranali Vijay Jain, and Priyanka Virbhadra Patel
Angelina Wintonick, Colonia HS volleyball standout, signs her National Letter of Intent to attend St. Francis College
Jon Pozanski, Colonia HS wrestling star, signs a National Letter of Intent to attend Rutgers University
Jenny Gordon, JFK softball standout, signs her National Letter of Intent to attend Pace Unoversity
Colonia HS girls' volleyball finishes a great year
Julia Irizarry, Gr 12 – CHS Marching Band trombone and her selection to the All State Band
Congrats to Lynn Crest Elementary School #22 for being Future Ready
Local Heroes Visit with JFK MHS students
Important Links
2019-2020 Student Calendar:
https://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/cms/lib/NJ01913008/Centricity/shared/news/StudentCal19-20.pdf
Kindergarten registration:
https://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/domain/8
Superintendent Coffee Hours
Substitute Teacher Employment Opportunities
Effective February 4, 2019 ESS (formerly Source4Teachers) will be the substitute staffing provider for Woodbridge Township School District. If you, or anyone you know is interested in becoming a substitute teacher for Woodbridge, please advise them to contact ESS @ 877-983-2244 or online at Ess.com/jobseekers.
Woodbridge Township Board of Education
The board of education adopts policies under which the school district operates; oversees the budget; approves the curriculum; hires and evaluates the superintendent; represents the public during contract negotiations; and serves as a communications link between the community and the school system.
To contact the Board, e-mail Board@woodbridge.k12.nj.us or call Board Secretary Margaret Rooney at 732-602-8536.
Board of Education Members
Term - 2019
Ex Officio
Vice President
Term - 2020
Ad Hoc Committee
Policy & Planning Committee
Security & School Safety Chairperson
Special Education Committee
Board Member
Term - 2020
Follow @MarieAnderson24
Athletics & Extracurricular Chairperson
Cafeteria Committee Chairperson
Finance & Insurance Committee
Policy & Planning Committee
Technology Committee
Board Member
Term - 2021
Cafeteria Committee
Curriculum Committee
Special Education Committee Chairperson
Transportation Committee
Technology Committee
Board Member
Term - 2021
Follow @danielharris08
Curriculum Committee Chairperson
Finance & Insurance Committee
Personnel & Grievance Committee
Policy & Planning Committee Chairperson
Building & Grounds Committee
Brian Molnar
Board Member
Term - 2020
Athletics & Extracurricular Committee
Building & Grounds Committee Chairperson
Personnel & Grievance Committee Chairperson
Security & School Safety Committee
Transportation Committee
Akshar "AJ" Sidana
Board Member
Term - 2019
Follow @AksharAJSidana
Ad Hoc Committee
Athletics & Extracurricular Committee
Curriculum Committee
Negotiations Committee
Technology Committee Chairperson
Board Member
Term - 2021
Ad Hoc Committee Chairperson
Building & Grounds Committee
Finance & Insurance Committee Chairperson
Negotiations Committee
Personnel & Grievance Committee
Board Member
Term - 2019
Cafeteria Committee
Negotiations Committee Chairperson
Special Education Committee
Security & School Safety Committee
Transportation Committee Chairperson
Woodbridge Township School District Administration
Woodbridge Township School District
428 School St
Woodbridge, NJ 07095
Central Administration
(click administrator name for email link)
Robert Zega, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
John Bader
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
732-602-8487
Dr. Joseph Massimino
Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources
732-602-8470
Brian Wolferman
Business Administrator/Board Secretary
Julie Bair
Director of Special Sevices