Tiger Talk

Welcome to Tiger Talk! This newsletter is intended to keep our community informed of important information and upcoming events in our school district.

Dr. Nicholas A. Diaz, Superintendent

Union Township School District

Kindergarten students at Union Township Elementary participate in "morning meetings" to build bonds and learn school expectations. (Photo courtesy of Rhonda Pevorus)

We are pleased to announce that our elementary principal, Mrs. Rhonda Pevorus, has been recognized in an ASCD blog post for her significant contributions to kindergarten education. The article, entitled "Revolutionizing Kindergarten: The Success of the Switcheroo," delves into the forward-thinking and innovative methods she has ushered in.

I would be remiss if I did not also extend my gratitude to our entire kindergarten team. The accolades in the article mirror not solely Mrs. Pevorus' leadership but the dedication and effort of the whole team.

The complete article is available for reading at the following link: Revolutionizing Kindergarten: The Success of the Switcheroo.

The 2023 GreatSchools.Org scores have been released. Union Township Elementary School has received an exemplary overall score of 8 out of 10, with a standout score of 9 out of 10 in overall test grades, showcasing our students' proficiency and mastery in core subjects.

While our Union Township Middle School earned an overall score of 7 out of 10 and similarly achieved a commendable 9 out of 10 in test grades. The score of 7 out of 10 for UTMS, with a 6 on academic progress, indicates that our students are making average progress compared to similar students in the state. It's important to note that our students started with strong academic skills, making significant growth more challenging to achieve but not less valuable.

These rankings underscore the dedication, excellence, and effectiveness of our educators, the hard work of our students, and the unwavering support of the entire Union Township community. It's clear that our focus on academic excellence and holistic education continues to yield fruit.

Furthermore, it's widely acknowledged that strong school performance often correlates with enhanced home values in the surrounding areas. Our schools' remarkable achievements not only validate our commitment to top-tier education but also contribute positively to the perception and desirability of Union Township as a place of residence.

With our schools continuing to set benchmarks of excellence, we move forward with optimism and a commitment to even greater achievements in the future. Slides presentation

As you may recall, the Board of Education recently approved a shared services agreement with Franklin Township for Class III officers. Our leadership team, in collaboration with Chief Snyder of the Franklin Township Police Department, has identified two candidates to serve as our officers for the 2023-24 school year. Given the mandatory prerequisites such as detailed background verifications and other clearance protocols, we are optimistic that we will have at least one officer beginning November 1st. Moving forward, our objective is to have two full-time officers, one designated to each school, during the 2023-24 year. We will be certain to keep the community informed as to our progress.

During the 2021-22 school year, the Board of Education approved the submission of a grant application to undertake a comprehensive regionalization and consolidation study. This application was officially submitted in June 2022. I am pleased to announce that our grant application was recently approved for $120,000. The next step of the process involves requests for proposals (RFPs) to undertake the study. We anticipate the study to be completed by the end of the 2023-24 school year.

The areas of exploration within this study are centered around two prospective regionalization strategies:

• Formation of a Union/Franklin PK-8 Regional School District

• Formation of a Union/Franklin/Bethlehem PK-8 Regional School District

A portion of the study will investigate the feasibility and logistics of a send/receive relationship encompassing:

• Union/Franklin sending students from grades 6-8 to Bethlehem

• Union/Bethlehem sending students from grades 6-8 to Franklin

• Bethlehem/Franklin sending students from grades 6-8 to Union

We have a few new and exciting initiatives at both of our schools this coming year:

Union Township Elementary School

The school year at UTES has been ushered in with a vibrant addition to our main corridor. Two captivating murals, courtesy of Mrs. Pevorus and her daughters, now adorn our halls. This artistic endeavor sets the stage for a year-long emphasis on Whole Child education, punctuated by an array of uplifting messages and initiatives scheduled throughout the academic calendar.

Union Township Middle School

This academic year at UTMS is already brimming with innovative and educational activities spearheaded by four faculty-led committees. Two such committees are enthusiastically planning an upcoming Science Fair and an enriching Cultural Night. Additionally, Mrs. Foote and her team are actively pursuing collaborations with local community stakeholders to continue the 7th-8th Grade Career Day. In line with our commitment to literacy, another committee is in the process of organizing a week-long series of events for Read Across America.

• Mr. Lou Palma, President
• Dr. Daniel Allen, Co-Vice President
• Mrs. Cortney Dominianni-Smith, Co-Vice President
• Mr. Michael Kokoszka
• Mr. John Malone
• Mrs. Caitlin Piontek
• Dr. Nicole Rasavage
• Dr. Christine Soltys-Robitaille
• Dr. Suzanne Wunder
• Mrs. Eva Preuett - Business Administrator/Board Secretary

All meetings are held in the Union Township Elementary School Library, located at 149 Perryville Road, Hampton, NJ, and begin at 6:45 pm unless otherwise noted. A virtual link, if needed, will be posted on the district website by 6:00pm on the day of the scheduled meeting.

Meetings are open to the public and formal action may/will be taken at all meetings. The Board reserves the right to go into Closed Executive Session during any/all of the above meetings.

• Monday, October 23, 2023
  
• Monday, November 20, 2023

Click here for a complete list of board meetings.