Somerville Public Schools

🌟 Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week in Somerville! 🍎 Join us in honoring the extraordinary teachers who bring magic to our classrooms. This week, they've rocked Spirit Week with throwbacks to iconic eras 🕺💃, shared joy with daily read-alouds 📖, and enjoyed delicious meals from our local eateries 🍝. Their energy and enthusiasm make every school day a little brighter! A special thanks to the Somerville PTOs for their fantastic support. 👏 Here's to our inspiring educators who make a difference every day! . . #allin4theville #TeacherAppreciationWeek

🎉🩺 Celebrating our incredible nurses across the district this Nurse Appreciation Day! A heartfelt shoutout to Miss Allison Cornyn at SHS, Mrs. Maureen Duffy at SMS, Miss Jen Shaw, and Miss Cynthia Brennan at VDV. Your dedication and compassion in keeping our students healthy and safe shine brightly daily. We are deeply grateful for your unwavering care and commitment to The Ville. Thank you for all you do! 💙 . . #allin4theville

🎉 We are thrilled to announce that our new Superintendent, Gary Lubisco Jr., will join the Somerville Public Schools community starting August 1st. 🌟 His arrival marks a new chapter in our commitment to educational excellence and community engagement. 📚 Please join us in warmly welcoming him as we look forward to an inspiring and successful journey together.🍎✨ . . #allin4theville #somervillenjschools #somervillenj

🌟 May is Mental Health Awareness Month! 🌿 Here’s some information from Somerville High School’s School Psychologist, Miss Latisha Gandhi, on statistics and the stigma surrounding mental health! 💚 Join us in spreading awareness and breaking the stigma. 💪 . . #allin4theville #somervillenjschools

💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡Each week, we'll feature our staff members at The Ville who contribute to student's academic success and help shape their path here at Somerville! This week, it's Mr. Nicholas Petronko from Somerville Middle School! Mr. Petronko considers himself lucky to have spent his entire 21-year career at Somerville Middle School, having the opportunity to teach all three grade levels (6, 7, and 8) of earth science, life science, physical science, and chemistry. Outside of the regular science curriculum, Nick has worked with the gifted and talented students at the middle school. He enjoyed the flexibility and creativity necessary to inspire such independent thinkers. Serving as a mentor several times and a member of various committees, including the Personnel Committee, the Professional Development Committee, and the Faculty Council, has enabled him to contribute to the larger school community. During the 2022-23 school year, his colleagues honored him with the Teacher of the Year award. Despite the changes in the field of education he has witnessed after two decades in the classroom, Nick is still motivated by many of the simple things that will never grow old. Those aha moments, experiments that are fun and pedagogically sound, or kids asking thought provoking questions that don’t have routine answers. Thank you for all that you do for The Ville! . . #allin4theville #SomervilleNJSchools #SomervilleStaffFeature

🌟Autism Acceptance Month at the Ville is a great success! 💙 Last week, our three schools celebrated the diversity and unique qualities of individuals on the spectrum. It was a fantastic showcase of how inclusion and kindness can create significant change.♾️Although the month is ending, let's keep promoting acceptance, awareness, and kindness all the time.🧩 . . #AutismAcceptanceMonth #allin4theville #SomervilleNJSchools

💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡Each week, we'll feature one of our staff members at The Ville that contributes to students' academic success and helps shape their path here at Somerville! This week is Van Derveer School's Ms Annabella Gomez! Annabella Gomez has worked in the cafeterias of Somerville School for nearly 20 years. Starting as a food service worker at Somerville High School, she climbed the ranks to become a Manager after years of dedication. She also spent a year as a Somerville bus aide. During the pandemic, Annabella was crucial in preparing meals at Somerville Middle School, ensuring students had access to healthy meals at home. In 2021, she took charge of the cafeteria program at Van Derveer School. Since then, she has led the kitchen staff in transitioning back to full in-school meal services after the pandemic. Her responsibilities include serving meals promptly while focusing on food safety, quality, and freshness. Annabella is known for her close connections with both students and staff at Van Derveer. She has successfully reintroduced the popular salad bar. She enjoys her interactions with the students from the MD Class (grades 3-5), who assist with collecting breakfast bags and rosters from classrooms, among other tasks. Thank you for all that you do for The Ville! . . #allin4theville #SomervilleNJSchools #SomervilleStaffFeature

Reminder: Friday, April 26th, is a one-session day. Students will have an early dismissal. Please follow your school's schedule. https://www.somervilleschools.org/ VDV 6th grade 7th/8th grade SHS . . #alin4theville #somervillenjschools

💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡 Each week, we'll feature our staff members at The Ville who contribute to students' academic success and help shape their path here at Somerville! This week, it's Miss Latisha Gandhi from Somerville High School! This is Latisha Gandhi's sixth year working as a School Psychologist and first year at Somerville High School. She has supported the school, its students, and staff members through social, emotional, behavioral, and academic means. She enjoys meeting with her students, whether it's through counseling or social skills/executive functioning groups, and seeing them make progress toward their goals. Latisha also spreads mental health awareness through monthly emails to staff and social media posts on the school's Instagram page. In addition, she assists the SIPS Cafe and loves seeing the students take charge in their different roles operating the cafe. Lastly, she is also part of the Character Education Committee and enjoys being a part of creating a positive atmosphere at SHS. You can do anything you set your mind to” - Benjamin Franklin Thank you for all that you do for The Ville! . . #allin4theville #somervillenjschools #SomervilleStaffFeature

🚑💖 VDV students have some big hearts! Nearly 300 VDV students turned their 25,000 VanDer-bucks - into a generous $250 cash donation that the VDV student government selected for the Somerville Rescue Squad! We thank the VDV PTO for presenting that generous gift last night!🌟 Somerville Rescue Squad’s Spring 2024 Fund Drive is now live. They rely on donations to keep saving lives. Join us in supporting them at www.54Rescue.org. We’re so proud of our VDV students for leading the charge! 🌷💪 @vdvschoolnj . . #allin4theville #somervilleschoolsnj

🌟Autism Acceptance Month at the Ville Highlight! 💙 In celebration of the diverse ways our students experience the world, we're spotlighting Somerville Middle School as they recognize autism acceptance month and our awesome life skills students! Every student lent a hand in creating a vibrant Autism Awareness bulletin board adorned with colorful butterflies🦋, the infinity symbol ♾️, and a kaleidoscope of colors - all iconic symbols of Autism Awareness. Alongside it are informative posters that delve into the essence of autism, unveil fascinating facts about ASD, and decode the significance of each symbol. 🧩 Stay tuned for more features this month highlighting all the other ways The Ville supports our learners on the spectrum! @somervillemiddleschoolnj . . #AutismAcceptanceMonth #allin4theville #SomervilleNJSchools

🌟 Event Alert! 🌟 Join us on April 18th at 7 PM for an inspirational evening with Dr. Kerry Magro, Ed.D. Learn about his remarkable story of transformation from a non-verbal child with autism to a masterful public speaker. The Somerville Department of Special Services & SEPAG proudly presents this event. Don’t miss out on this journey of resilience and empowerment. ✨ The registration link is in our bio! . . #AutismAcceptanceMonth #allin4theville #Somervillenjschools

🚔🍩 VDV Safety Patrollers Run on Smiles (and maybe Donuts, too!) 🚨🎉 The Ville wants to take a moment today to appreciate our amazing VDV Safety Patrollers! Officer Nikki and Vito made their day this week by giving these hardworking kids a fun ride to school!🚓💨 And a big shoutout to our Downtown Somerville Dunkin for powering them up with some delicious donuts before they kicked off their day of integral duties. 🍩❤️ It’s truly community support like this that makes a difference. Thank you to SomervillePD and everyone involved for keeping the spirit of safety and care alive! 🌟 @somervillepdnj @vdvschoolnj . . #allin4theville #somervillenjschools #VDVPatrollers #donutsforthewin

💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡Each week, we'll feature our staff members at The Ville who contribute to students' academic success and help shape their path here at Somerville! This week, it's Mrs. Kohlhepp Strang from Somerville Middle School! Mrs. Kohlhepp Strang, the 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year, has taught at Somerville Middle School for four years. However, this is her 6th year working in the district. Before working at SMS, Mrs. Kohlhepp Strang worked at Van Derveer for two years, co-teaching 4th grade with Mrs. Martin and then 3rd grade with Mrs. Haggerty. Currently, she teaches 6th-grade Animation and Game Design, 7th-grade 3D Modeling and Design, 8th-grade Computer Science for Makers, and 6th-grade science. Mrs. Kohlhepp Strang coaches the SMS LEGO Robotic Team with Mrs. Eddleman, the Futuristic Bulldogs. She also enjoys bringing joy and smiles to her coworkers as one of the Sunshine chairs. Some initiatives she brought to SMS are Tech Tip Tuesdays, the Crayon Initiative - where donated broken, used, or unwanted crayons are collected and donated to be remade into crayons for children in pediatric hospitals, and Life Skills Day. This initiative revolves around teaching students essential life skills to ensure their success in school and as they transition into adulthood. Recently, SMS held its second Life Skills Day event with participation from the Somerville Police Department, the Somerville Fire Department, and Councilwoman Bonner. Mrs. Kohlhepp Strang also revamped the SMS Daily Announcements by turning it into a Google Site, which was then improved with the addition of the SMS Newsroom under the direction of Mrs. Eddleman. Mrs. Kohlhepp Strang always wants her students to know three things: 1. Always be kind, 2. Push yourself- you are capable of doing great things! 3. She will always support you! Thank you for all that you do for The Ville! . . #allin4theville #SomervilleNJSchools #SomervilleStaffFeature

🌟 Meet the VDV Brew Crew! 🌟 This awesome group of young entrepreneurs is brewing up success….one cup at a time! ☕️ They’re learning invaluable skills, from crafting the perfect cup o Joe, mastering the art of customer service, and more! Cheers to our little baristas for showing us the power of teamwork and a good cup of coffee! 💼👧👦 . . #allin4theville #VDVBrewCrew #SomervilleNJschools

🌟 Autism Acceptance Month at the Ville Highlight!🌈 In celebration of the diverse ways our students experience the world, we’re spotlighting a special feature of Van Derveer’s ABA classrooms: our Sensory Room. 🌟 A Sensory Room is more than just a space; it’s a stepping stone towards inclusive education. It is designed to offer a safe haven for students with autism to explore, learn, and just be themselves, away from the overwhelming sensory inputs of the everyday environment. 🌈 Now, why is a Sensory Room necessary? For many of our students on the spectrum, the world can be a cacophony of sounds, sights, and sensations that prove difficult to navigate. Our Sensory Room provides an environment that allows them to: • Calm and focus themselves with sensory-friendly activities. 🍃 • Develop coping strategies in a controlled setting. 🧩 • Enhance their sensory processing and social skills through play and interaction. 🤝 Stay tuned for more features this month highlighting the wonderful aspects of our ABA classrooms and all the other ways The Ville supports our learners on the spectrum! . . #AutismAcceptanceMonth #allin4theville #SomervilleNJSchools

🌞🌑 It’s time, Somerville! Get ready for a celestial spectacle like no other! The eclipse is set to start for us at 2:09 pm today. 🕑✨ While the event is a rare and thrilling sight, remember that safety comes first! 👓 All students will be provided safety glasses to be well-equipped for safe viewing. 🌒👀 Remember: Solar eclipse glasses are meant for your eyes only! 🕶️➡️👀 Do not use them on cameras, telescopes, or binoculars. ❌🔭 Have fun! 🌍💫 #allin4theville #somervillenjschools

🧩Today is World Autism Day! Our learners district-wide are involved in inclusive classrooms, unified PE programs, ABA, Life Skills and transition classes, and more! Learn some facts about autism and help us continue to spread acceptance, awareness, and inclusion!💙 . . #worldautismday #AutismAcceptanceMonth #allin4theville

🌎 April is Autism Acceptance Month, and The Ville is proud to embrace this opportunity to spotlight and celebrate the diversity of our students, especially those on the autism spectrum. Throughout the month, we will highlight the many initiatives and support systems we have to foster an inclusive, understanding, and supportive environment for our learners. One of the cornerstones of our approach is our ABA classrooms at Van Derveer. These elementary classrooms provide tailored behavioral interventions designed to meet the specific needs of our students while enhancing their educational and social experiences within Somerville. 🧩 On April 18th, Somerville will also hear from Dr. Kerry Magro, professional speaker, best-selling author, and Disability Advocate (@autisticprofessionalspeaker), as he talks about his journey from nonspeaking to professional speaker! 🔈 From AAC devices to transition classrooms and more, The Ville is committed to fostering an inclusive, welcoming, and engaging educational journey for all of our learners on the spectrum, and we look forward to highlighting it all this month! 💙 . . #AutismAcceptanceMonth #allin4theville #somervillenjschools

💡Staff Feature of the Week! 💡Each week, we'll feature our staff members at The Ville who contribute to students' academic success and help shape their path here at Somerville! This week, it's Somerville High School's Mrs. Rebecca Rath! Rebecca Rath has been teaching at SHS for 19 years. While working here, she has taught Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Chemistry. She was an advisor to the Key Club and yearbook. She has mentored numerous teachers. She was recognized as an A+ teacher at a Somerset Patriots game. She takes pride in showing her Somerville school spirit! Thank you for all that you do for The Ville! . . #allin4theville #SomervilleNJSchools #SomervilleStaffFeature