Superintendent's Corner

November 2024 NRESC Updates from Dr. Vancheri

Happy November! Welcome December!

Greetings to the Wonderful NRESC Family!

As we round out November and get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving with loved ones, do not forget how thankful we are for all of YOU. Whether you are a student, participant, parent, employee, client, community member, board member, colleague, and so on, you are part of OUR FAMILY! We are thankful every day for your place in our extended family, as well as for giving us the honor of serving you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dr. Nicholas V. Vancheri

NRESC Superintendent of Schools

We Have a Bus!

November 22 was a memorable day, as the NRESC received its first bus! We look forward to providing direct transportation services to our partner school districts and we cannot wait to add 2-3 buses per year for the foreseeable future!

Very soon, the NRESC will have a team of dispatchers and drivers, operating a fleet of buses for daily routes, field trips, and athletic events!

The NRESC Education Foundation is Up & Running!

The NRESC is ecstatic to announce that our Ed Foundation is up & running! We are grateful for the hard work of our founding trustees & we look forward to what they are planning! Rumor has it that a golf outing is in the works for June. For more information, please check out their website: https://www.nresc.org/education-foundation

If you are interested in supporting the work of the foundation, please email edfoundation@nresc.org

Winter Basketball Registration is LIVE!

The NRESC is proud to announce its first recreation basketball clinic! This program will support children with disabilities in Passaic County. Please register at: https://bit.ly/NRESCrec .

Giving Thanks Around the Commission

Pizza Delivery at Phoenix--by a Turkey?

A turkey brought Dr. Vancheri’s favorite food to our Phoenix students via a story!

Food Drive at Pompton Lakes Daycare!

Great work during the Thanksgiving food drive by the kids in Ms. Taylor's class. All collected food will be given to the St. Mary's Food Pantry.

Thanksgiving Party at Second Home!

Happy Friendsgiving from our Second Home Family!

Childcare News

Thank You and Good Luck Susan Koger!

The entire NRESC would like to wish our outgoing Supervisor of Childcare, Susan Koger, the best of luck as she moves on from the Commission at the end of December. Susan was instrumental in both the reorganization which took place in the spring of 2023, as well as the expansion into Woodland Park before and after care this year. Susan's legacy with the Commission will always be of a commitment to the profession, to the children of the region, and to the success of the NRESC. Best of luck!

Welcome Julie Vysotsky! New Supervisor of Childcare

Julie Vysotsky officially began her teaching career over 20 years ago, first working in a daycare setting, and then as an elementary school teacher in Hawthorne, New Jersey. After earning her certificate in Teacher of the Handicapped, she joined the Paterson Public School District as a special education teacher, working with students across grades K-12. Most of her career was spent at John F. Kennedy High School, where she served as a resource teacher, an inclusion teacher, and a psychology teacher. Most recently, she worked as a special education teacher in the Sussex-Wantage Regional School District, teaching grades 6-8 in inclusion, pull-out, and self-contained classrooms.

Additionally, Julie has supervised teachers, guiding them in areas such as lesson planning, classroom management, and data-driven instruction, while fostering professional growth and teamwork within school environments.

Julie is excited to join the NRESC as a Supervisor of Childcare, where she can combine her passion for nurturing young children with her commitment to educational excellence.

Welcome Lisa Holt to the Childcare Team!

A familiar face is returning to our central office to assist with childcare billing: Lisa Holt! Lisa has already served a distinguished career with the NRESC and has always been there to assist us with a need in the field. Whether it was additional support at Hope Academy or billing at Second Home, Lisa has always risen to the occasion for the betterment of the Commission. Now, Lisa returns to central office at a time when before, day, and after care services are expanding at a record pace; therefore, she is needed more than ever to help assist with billing and payments. Welcome back Lisa!

Triple the Daycare Classroom Space, Beginning on January 6, 2025!

For over 40 years, the Pompton Lakes Public Schools and the NRESC have partnered to provide exceptional before, day, and after care services to our youngest learners. The daycare classrooms at Lenox and Lakeside schools are thriving, with a lengthy waiting list of families looking to join us.

As the need for daycare in this community continues to grow, Pompton Lakes and the NRESC have decided to expand by tripling the number of classrooms from two (2) to six (6). These extra classrooms will be at the former Little Lamb Children’s Center at 400 Ramapo Avenue (Christ Episcopal Church). Daycare services at the new location will begin on Monday, January 6, 2025.

Ms. Susan Koger, NRESC Supervisor of Childcare Services, has already contacted parents on the waiting list to gauge their interest in these newly available seats. If you would like to enroll your child at our new location, please reach out to Susan Koger at skoger@nresc.org. For additional information about the Pompton Lakes Daycare Center, please check out our website at https://childcare.nresc.org/pompton-lakes-day-care-center.

November Happenings!

Educational Specialist of the Year: Nurse Marcella Taggart

Marcella Taggart, Nurse at Second Home Day Habilitation Center, is the NRESC's Educational Specialist of the Year for 2024-2025! Marcella is a dedicated and hardworking individual who genuinely cares and always has the best interest of all the participants who attend the program. She always goes above and beyond to serve the medical needs of clients and of the program, including riding the bus with individuals who need medical assistance when she is able to fill in. Marcella collaborates with the staff and the 1:1 personal nurses on a daily basis, as well as keeping in contact with the parents/guardians. She is constantly seeking ways to support her co-workers and provides the staff with training throughout the year. Congrats Marcella!

Teacher of the Year: Christina Marion

Christina Marion, Teacher at St. James Academy (Non-Public Contract with the Totowa Public Schools) is the NRESC's Teacher of the Year for 2024-2025! Christina goes above and beyond with her daily duties. First and foremost, she provides excellent, directed, and differentiated instruction in math to each student she serves. She makes the difficult topic of middle school math accessible for all students and, in particular, for students with special needs. In addition to being an excellent teacher, Christina is heavily involved in her school community. She is always present at fundraisers and events, communicates daily with parents, and provides tutoring to students everyday after school. Congrats Christina!

Mingling at the League of Municipalities

Our team enjoyed its time at the League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City. As a provider of technology, business, & coop pricing to municipalities, we were glad to connect with a larger audience. There is a great need for educational services commissions throughout the state, and there is an even bigger need to inform the powers that be at the state and local levels of what we do and why we need additional support.

12 Angry Men at Hope

The Musical Theatre class at Hope Academy has taken an introspective turn with 12 Angry Men, a powerful exploration of justice, bias, and group dynamics. This cinematic masterpiece offers students an opportunity to analyze how storytelling translates across mediums. The class is discussing the film’s thematic relevance to modern culture—how prejudice, truth-seeking, and decision-making still resonate deeply today. These reflections connect naturally to the evolution of musical theatre into more serious, thought-provoking realms.

Bead Work in Riverdale

The students at Riverdale after care were busy creating colorful bead work while waiting for their day to begin!

Honoring Our Veterans at the Phoenix Center

Veterans Day, observed on November 11, holds a special place in the hearts of citizens around the United States. It's a day where we came together as students and staff to pay tribute to the brave men and women who have selflessly served in our armed forces, protecting our freedoms and way of life. Thank you to the staff and students at the Phoenix Center for honoring all those who have served.

Second Home Functional Grocery Shopping

Second Home participants are strengthening their work readiness skills by exploring a variety of career opportunities within the grocery store industry. Through hands-on learning and real-world examples, they are gaining valuable insights into different roles, from stocking and customer service to management and logistics. This experience helps build essential skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, preparing participants for success in the workforce.

Volunteers are Always Welcome at Second Home

Student volunteers visit Second Home to engage in a variety of instructional activities, providing valuable support while also socializing with participants. Through these interactions, volunteers help to reinforce learning, build skills, and foster a sense of community. Their involvement not only enriches the experiences of our participants but also offers the volunteers an opportunity to develop important interpersonal and leadership skills. If you would like to bring a group of students to Second Home, please email secondhome@nresc.org for more information.

We Need You!!!

This message is for our wonderful staff who work "off-site." Whether you are a speech therapist working in Paterson, an occupational therapist at a charter school, a nurse at a non-public school, or a technician working in a municipality or school district, WE NEED YOU!

There are over 60 staff members who work "off-site" in partner schools and municipalities and, although our newsletter is filled with amazing events, as well as work in our schools and programs, we are missing YOUR WORK!

I challenge you to document your work, snap pictures (of course, be aware of media releases; however, you can be creative with faces in the pictures), and send them to your direct, NRESC supervisor or me directly! I want to highlight the amazing work that you are doing on a daily basis via our many social media accounts and within this monthly newsletter!!! Litter my inbox with your work because we need to highlight your amazing work throughout the region! Let's do this!

Fall Sale at the NRESC Apparel Store!

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! Currently, there is a BLACK FRIDAY SALE, with 25% off STOREWIDE!

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 NRESC 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!

Friendly Reminders

All human resources questions and inquiries can be sent to Ms. Marta Ortiz and Ms. Jennifer Manansala at hr@nresc.org.

All payroll questions and inquiries can be sent to Mr. Benito Squillaro at payroll@nresc.org.

School/Program Newsletters for This Month

Click on the links below for the monthly newsletters from each specific school, program, or department:

Alternative Education (Hope)

Phoenix

Second Home

Childcare (Pompton Lakes, Riverdale, & Woodland Park)

Calendar Reminders

November 27: Early Dismissal for all NRESC schools and programs, as well as central office.
November 28-29: NRESC central office, schools, and programs are CLOSED (Thanksgiving Break).
December 20: Early Dismissal for all NRESC schools and programs, as well as central office.
December 23-January 1: NRESC central office, schools, and programs are CLOSED (Holiday Break).
January 2: NRESC schools and programs, as well as central office, REOPEN.
January 20: NRESC central office, schools, and programs are CLOSED (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day).
January 31: Early Dismissal for Students at Hope, Phoenix, and Second Home. Professional Development for staff at these programs in the afternoon.

ERC Charities Annual Benefit Gala

ERC Charities is a group that supports Second Home several times per year. Second Home participants are recipients of funds from their spring golf outing and also their winter benefit gala. Each year, one of our clients receives this scholarship (which is named after one of our clients as well).

If you are interested in attending, please email Dr. Brad Haimowitz at bhaimowitz@nresc.org.

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