LPS Spotlight

• School Budget Public Forum TONIGHT (4-6PM, in-person only)
• Board of Education Meeting TONIGHT(7:30PM)
• STEAM Night Success!
• Burnet Hill Brothers Qualify for National Academic Competition
• Blue/Green Shield: Community Policing Fosters Connections at LHS
• LHS Club to Host MD Panel
• Chess Fair at LHS
• LHS Alum Places 3rd in Fencing Nationals
• April Parent Workshops

UPCOMING PUBLIC SCHOOL BUDGET MEETINGS:

On Tuesday, April 18, 2023 (4-6PM), a Public Budget Forum will be held at the Central Office. Members of the public are invited to attend the forum in person to ask questions or make comments on the 2023-2024 School Budget. Later that evening, a public Board meeting will be held at 7:30PM.

On Tuesday, April 25, 2023 (7PM) the Livingston Board of Education will hold a Public Hearing and Vote on the 2023-2024 School Budget. This meeting will be held in a hybrid format, both in-person and via webinar.

Members of the public can email budget related comments/questions to budgetquestions@livingston.org.

Learn more about the 2023-2024 School Budget

VIEW THE BOARD'S FULL 2023 PUBLIC MEETING CALENDAR

The Livingston Board of Education will hold a public meeting at 7:30PM tonight, Tuesday, April 18, 2023 in the Central Office, 11 Foxcroft Drive. The agenda includes a presentation on the 2023 Unsung Hero Award, and discussion on the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar and the 2023-2024 School Budget.

Tonight's meeting will be held in a hybrid format during which participants will have the ability to ask questions and make comments either in person or via the webinar. Register for the webinar using the link below. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the district's Facebook page, @LivSchools.

View Public Comment Guidelines.

Now is the time to consider school board candidacy for the Livingston Board of Education. In November, voters will elect one candidate to serve for a three year term. A candidate must file a nominating petition with the county clerk for his or her name to appear on the ballot during the annual school election. The deadline to submit the petition is 4 p.m. on Monday, July 31, 2023. The election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

• View School Board Candidate Kit
• Watch "Ten Things Every School Board Candidate Should Know Before Taking Office.”

Celebrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics

STEAM education has gained attention in recent years as it seeks to equip students with the skills they need for success in an increasingly technological world. To celebrate STEAM, Livingston Public Schools held a STEAM Night for grades 2-5 on April 11 at Mount Pleasant Middle School! READ MORE...

Burnet Hill Elementary brothers Darsh and Avi Thakur won multiple awards at the NJ Regionals of the International Academic Competition. The competition was held on April 15 at Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood NJ.

The International Academic Competition includes the History Bee, Geography Bee, and Science Bee, which are the academic equivalents of Scripps Spelling Bee. The objective of the regional competition is to determine contestants for the 2023 National Championships of the History Bee, Geography Bee, and Science Bee, which will be held in June in Arlington, VA. The contestants for the regionals had been determined by an online written exam. The students were divided by their grades: 4th grade and under, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade.

Darsh (5th grade) and Avi (3rd grade) participated in all three competitions and performed exceedingly well. Darsh won GOLD in the Science Bee, SILVER in the History Bee, and BRONZE in the Geography Bee. Avi won GOLD in the Science Bee, GOLD in the History Bee, and placed fourth in the Geography Bee. As a result of their strong performance, they both qualified for the national championships in all three subjects.

Darsh is the reigning National Bee Champion in the elementary division, which he won last June.

The Lancer Baseball team found time for a little fun last month when members of the Livingston Police Department joined them at the Oval for a mixed-team softball game to kick off the annual "Blue-Green Shield Program" kickoff! This program, the brainchild of Coach Mickey Ennis, has been a partnership between the LHS Baseball Team and police department since 2017. The baseball team received new jerseys this season which have the LPD patch on the sleeve.

READ SOME BACKGROUND ON THE BLUE-GREEN SHIELD PROGRAM HERE!

The Blue/Green Shield Program recently expanded its partnership with LHS beyond athletics when members of the LPS met with the LHS Chess Team. Officers, joined by township officials, played games with students or received instruction on how to play!

Livingston High School's HOSA (Future Health Professionals) Club will host a "Panel Discussion With MDs" on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 5PM in the LHS Auditorium. Presented by the Community Health & Outreach Department of Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, the program will include doctors from four different disciplines. This event is free and all are welcome to attend.

The Livingston High School Chess Team will host a Community Chess Fair on Saturday, June 10, 2023 from 11am-3pm in the LHS Cafeteria. Participants will have an opportunity to play against members of the LHS Chess Team, learn to play chess, solve chess puzzles and more! Register in advance for a discounted admission rate!

For more information, email Mr. Peklo at wpeklo@livingston.org.

Livingston Public Schools is committed to providing students with excellent educational experiences for students of all ages this summer! Check out the district's offerings for Summer 2023!

VIEW THE 2023 LPS SUMMER ACADEMY BROCHURE.

Kindergarten Registration for the 2023-2024 school year is open! All registration will be done via our online registration portal. Children must be 5 on or before October 1, 2023 to register for kindergarten. LEARN MORE ABOUT KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION.

*We are only accepting next school year, 2023-2024, registrations for students in KINDERGARTEN at this time. We will be opening registration for all other grade levels after May 15, 2023.

FULL DAY NOW OFFERED!

Livingston Public Schools is proud to share that our P.R.I.D.E. (Pre-School Readiness Individual Developmental Education) Program will now be a full day program with spots available for non-disabled preschool students. In this program, students will be provided with a language rich, research-based curriculum. They will spend their days with New Jersey certified teachers, and with their disabled and non-disabled peers, to achieve the expectations of the school district’s well-designed curriculum based on New Jersey's Student Learning Standards for preschool. The students gather daily to develop social language, work as partners and in groups, and explore, play, create, share, and learn.

Scheduling details of the program will be shared with families who apply for consideration. Currently, the cost for students selected by lottery is $7,200 for the full school year. The program will follow the school district’s calendar.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OR REGISTER FOR THE PRIDE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

LPS PARENT LEARNING SERIES: LPS offers a variety of workshops for parents. View April 2023 offerings here!

*NEXT UP: LHS COLLEGE & CAREER FAIR ON APRIL 27TH

OFFERS MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE USE SUPPORT

Livingston Public Schools believes that your mental health and well-being is a vital part to your success at our school. With this in mind, we have partnered with Care Solace to provide an extra layer of support to our entire community.

Livingston Public Schools students, staff members, and their families can use Care Solace to quickly find verified mental health, behavioral health, and substance use treatment options matched to their needs, regardless of circumstances. Care Solace’s team is available 24/7/365 and can support you in any language.

If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:

• Call 888-515-0595 (available 24/7/365)
• Visit www.caresolace.com/livingston and either search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

This is a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL service provided by LPS. Learn more about Care Solace.

LPS is committed to building strong relationships with students, families, and the community, and as such, we strive to provide accurate and timely information to our stakeholders.

Communication tools for parents include the Blackboard Mass Notification System, the LPS website (www.livingston.org), LPS Spotlight (our district newsletter), Facebook & Twitter (@LivSchools), Around the Block (the Superintendent's TV program), and various promotional videos that highlight our students and staff. Explore our communications tools here!

Visit our Employment Opportunities webpage to learn more about available positions at Livingston Public Schools.

Follow @LivSchoolsTEAM on Twitter where we highlight LPS employees and careers!

The Livingston Public Library has something for everyone! Learn more about the library HERE!

The FCC recently approved a new 3-digit dialing code, 988, for mental health crisis and suicide prevention. The 988 line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for calls, texts, and chat. Learn more about the new nationwide 3-digit dialing code for crisis and suicide prevention.

LPS Spotlight

2022-2023 School Year / No. 16

Michelle Bent

Communications & Community Outreach Coordinator

Livingston Public Schools

(973) 535-8000 ext. 8036

Email: mbent@livingston.org

www.livingston.org

LPS Spotlight is the official e-newsletter of the Livingston Public Schools.

VISIT @LIVSCHOOLS ON FACEBOOK

FOLLOW @LIVSCHOOLS ON TWITTER