Somerville Public Schools

Dear Somerville Family,

I am excited to begin my third year as your superintendent and partner in your child's education. There is something special about the start of a new school year—the excitement of students returning, the care our staff puts into welcoming them, and the renewed sense of possibility across our schools. Somerville continues to be a special place because of the students, staff, families, and community members who work together to create meaningful academic, social, and emotional experiences for every child.

We begin this year with strong momentum, exciting additions to our leadership team, and visible progress on the referendum projects made possible by our community. Throughout the year, these monthly newsletters will keep you connected to important district updates, celebrations, and opportunities to get involved. Your partnership makes a difference, and I look forward to another great year together.

Here's what's happening:

🎯 2026-2027 District Goals

Utilizing a reflection on last year's goals and our district's data, my administrative team and I presented the district goals at the August 25th Board of Education Meeting:

Academic Achievement Goal (Math): By the end of the 2026-2027 school year, we will increase district-wide student proficiency in meeting or exceeding expectations on benchmark assessments in Math by 3% by continuing to implement consistent data-driven Tier 1 instruction.

Academic Achievement Goal (Reading): By the end of the 2026-2027 school year, we will increase district-wide student proficiency in meeting or exceeding expectations on benchmark assessments in Reading by 3% by continuing to implement consistent data-driven Tier 1 instruction.

Culture and Climate Goal: By June 2027, each school will use third-party assessment data to identify areas of strength and need, implement evidence-based strategies in identified domains, and increase in the mean score from the baseline assessment to the final assessment.

We will periodically update and report progress to the school community on these important goals.

🌐 Referendum and Construction Progress: Our Plans Are Taking Shape

The big picture: Our community's investment in Somerville Public Schools is becoming visible across the district. This summer, the new and renovated preschool classrooms at Van Derveer were completed, HVAC controls were upgraded across all three schools, and significant progress was made on the Van Derveer playground, Somerville High School science labs and auditorium, and Somerville Middle School main office and guidance areas.

What's next: Several projects will continue into the school year as planned, including the high school science labs and auditorium, the Van Derveer synthetic turf field, additional security and storage improvements, and continued HVAC work. The new Somerville High School gymnasium has also received key regulatory approvals and is moving into the bidding phase, with construction planned to begin later this fall.

Our referendum webpage will continue to serve as the central hub for timelines, progress photos, and ongoing updates.

🎉 District Leadership Updates

We are thrilled to introduce the new leaders who joined our team over the summer:

Clare Samuel – Supervisor of Math / Math Teacher
Monica Clewell – Supervisor of Early Childhood Education
Heather Mills-Pevonis – Supervisor of School Counseling and Instruction
Joseph Clymore – Lead PRO

🗓️ Shaping Our District's Future

The Board of Education has partnered with K12 Coalition to guide the development of our next strategic plan. We are finalizing a schedule for community engagement and will share opportunities to participate soon, with the process expected to conclude in early spring.

👋 Come Meet Your Student's Teachers (and Administrators) at Back-to-School Nights

I'm excited to meet you and encourage you to join us at our upcoming Back-to-School Nights. This is a great opportunity to connect with your child's teachers and learn about what's in store for the year ahead. On the day of their Back to School Night, schools will follow a one-session day schedule with early dismissal:

Vanderveer Elementary: Thursday, September 10th
Somerville High School: Wednesday, September 16th
Somerville Middle School: Thursday, September 17th

🏅 Stay Updated
Check out our website for the latest on school events and programs. You can also find our sports schedules and follow us on social media for real-time updates:

District Website

Referendum Updates

Sports Schedules

Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram

Looking forward to more great weeks ahead!

Warm regards,

Gary Lubisco, Jr.

Superintendent

Somerville Schools was thrilled to welcome our new staff members to their Orientation on August 25, 26, and 27. This was a wonderful opportunity for our newest educators to immerse themselves in the district's culture and receive the support they need to transition smoothly into their roles at "The Ville." During these sessions, we covered essential information regarding Safety, Security, Supporting our Students, and fostering an inclusive environment for all learners.

We extend our thanks to the Somerville Education Foundation and the Somerville Education Association for generously providing lunch to our new colleagues during orientation. With a big Thank you to Ms. Denise Van Horn, Board Member, Somerville Public Schools who led a district bus tour throughout the Somerville area.

Our commitment to supporting new staff continues beyond these first days; we are excited to offer a New Staff Academy series, providing ongoing professional learning and mentorship opportunities throughout the year. We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues to the team and look forward to a fantastic school year together!

The Summer STEAM Program achieved great success with almost 150 students enrolled, bringing together rising 1st through 12th graders for two weeks of hands-on learning. Through fun, engaging, and meaningful activities, students were empowered to ask questions, design solutions, test creativity, and build critical thinking and collaboration skills.

Photo of Andrea Dominko's Rising 1-2 VPA class

There is so much to celebrate as we begin the new school year! Somerville School District is excited to launch a new Preschool Partnership with the YMCA, bringing together our preschool communities at Van Derveer Elementary School (VDV) and the Somerville YMCA.

With new preschool classrooms opening at both locations, this partnership creates exciting opportunities for our educators to learn, grow, and collaborate as one preschool community. Staff will participate in shared professional development focused on The Creative Curriculum and our new Kickstart Literacy program, helping to build consistent, high-quality learning experiences for children across both sites.

Monica Clewell, Somerville School District's new Supervisor of Early Childhood, along with Vee Adams, the YMCA's new Director of Youth Services, have been working closely this summer to bring the two programs together for the start of the school year. This collaboration marks the beginning of a strong partnership centered on supporting our preschool staff, children, and families.

We are excited for all that lies ahead and look forward to a year filled with connection, collaboration, and learning—together!

This fall, we are proud to have 276 students participating in high school athletics out of 983 students enrolled. That means approximately 28% of our high school student population is participating in interscholastic athletics.

Girls Tennis and Football began preseason training on Monday, August 10, while Girls and Boys Soccer, Field Hockey, Boys and Girls Cross Country, and Cheer began on Monday, August 17.

We are also pleased to welcome two new Pioneer head coaches this fall: Mr. Matthew Roberts, Head Girls Soccer Coach, and Ms. Britt Mackey, a 2007 Somerville alumna, as our new Head Girls Cross Country Coach.

Our opening-night football game will take place on Thursday, August 27, at 6:00 PM, when the Pioneers take on South Plainfield.

The Van Derveer Athletic Field project has also officially begun, and all projections are looking positive for completion in time for the spring sports season.

We look forward to an exciting and successful fall season for all of our Pioneer student-athletes, coaches, and families!

Chromebooks for the New School Year

Students entering grades K, 1, 5, and 9 will receive Chromebooks as part of our device distribution process. Families of students in grades K-2 can request Chromebooks stay at school in the Realtime Parent Portal. Before receiving and using a district device, families should review our Responsible Use Policy (RUP) and Student Technology Contract. All families need to sign off on this form in Realtime.

Review the Student Technology Contract

Need Help? We're Here.
If your student has trouble with their Chromebook, account, password, or another district technology resource, families can submit an IIQ Technology Support Ticket. Our Technology Support Services page is the best place to start whenever you need help.

Get Technology Support

Stay Connected with Securly Home
Once students begin using their school-issued devices, families can use Securly Home to view their child's internet activity and manage access outside of school hours.

Learn About Securly Home

Look for a Tech Tip Each Month!

Each month, families can find a Tech Tip in the district newsletter with helpful resources, tools, and information for navigating technology at school and at home.

We look forward to another year of helping our students use technology to learn, create, communicate, and explore.

Click Here

Visit the Athletic Hall of Fame Website to make a nomination, attend an event, and check out the inductees!

https://www.shshof.org/home

Past District Newsletters