District Launches New Middle School Websites

Upgrade is similar to the one the elementary schools received earlier this year.

The Wayne School District has launched new websites for the three middle schools. School announcements and upcoming events are prominently featured on sites for George Washington, Anthony Wayne, and Schuyler-Colfax middle schools. Students and parents can log in to their class websites from each school’s homepage. Content on the sites can be translated into one of eight different languages. The district’s homepage and each elementary school’s website have been similarly redesigned. The websites for Wayne Hills and Wayne Valley high schools will be redesigned next. — Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our …

•  7 Comments
• Photos (1)

Students Honored for Musical Talents

Dozens of Wayne students were honored Thursday for being selected to various local, regional, and state bands and ensemble groups.

Several talented Wayne students were honored for their musical talents at the Board of Education meeting Thursday.  "The Wayne community, and our school system, have benefited from the pride and recognition that these students have brought to our town," said Matt Paterno, the district's high school music director. "We are glad our outstanding music students both recognized the opportunities they had been given for success and put in the hard work to realize their goals."

• Photos (1)

Middle School Evacuated After Car Fire

No injuries in incident at George Washington Middle School; building was evacuated prior to firefighters arrival.

Firefighters put out a car fire at George Washington Middle School Tuesday morning. Firefighters received a call that a car in the parking lot was on fire at 9:45 a.m, Fire Commissioner Steven Toth said. Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire while others searched the building. The vehicle's engine had caught fire, Toth said. Firefighters encountered “moderate” smoke on the second floor of the building but discovered no fire, Toth said. The smoke entered the building through an open classroom window. The fire was extinguished, and the building was cleared of all residual smoke, Toth said. No injuries were reported. Firefighters cleared the scene at 10:40 a.m. The building had been evacuated prior to firefighters arrival at the school, …

• Photos (1)

School Resource Officers May Return to Middle Schools

Reinstating three positions would cost the district $256,000.

School resource officers may be returning to the middle schools starting in September. District officials are considering reinstating school resource officers at the middle schools. Officials mentioned the possible move at a budget meeting Thursday. School resource officers are full-time police officers who work exclusively in schools. They receive special training to deal with children. They are taught to work with kids, counsel them, and help them work through any serious problems they may be experiencing. Up until a few years ago, an SRO was assigned to each middle school. However, grants funded the programs and when the grant money was cut, so were the positions. SROs already work at Wayne Valley and Wayne Hills high schools. “Ideally…

•  38 Comments
• Photos (1)

Joe videodummy

10:06 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013

Parents feel they can medicate their children regardless of their childs mntal situation, and send them off to school to take part in all the activities just like the other children . These same parents also feel they can lower prescription amounts during extended periods of recess from school, then up their meds when they feel it's necessary. Follow the meds, and the causes of brain dysfunction…   more ›

3 Schools will Have Make Up Day Feb. 19

Pines Lake, Theunis Dey, and George Washington will be in session to make up for an extra day they were closed following Superstorm Sandy.

Pines Lake and Theunis Dey elementary schools and George Washington Middle School will be in session on Tuesday, Feb. 19. The schools were scheduled to be closed for winter recess but will be open to make up an extra day they were closed for after Superstorm Sandy. District officials sought imput from parents on what day the schools should be open. Good Friday, March 29, was one of the days parents had the option of recommending. Some parents took offense to the idea of ever having school on one of the high Christian holy days. Superintendent Ray Gonzalez said all schools in the district will be closed on Good Friday. The Board of Education approved the change at a meeting Thursday night.  — Have a question or news tip? Contact editor …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

George Washington, Theunis Dey Will Open Tuesday

All schools will open on a delayed basis Tuesday and on a regular schedule for the rest of the week.

George Washington Middle School and Theunis Dey Elementary School will open on a delayed schedule Tuesday, district officials confirmed. The other 12 schools opened on a delayed basis Monday due to the effects and damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. All township schools were closed last week. All 14 schools will operate on a regular schedule on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, said Board of Education President Donald Pavlak Jr. Students were scheduled to be off Tuesday for Election Day and Thursday and Friday due to the New Jersey Education Association’s teachers’ convention in Atlantic City. The convention was cancelled due to the devastation in Atlantic City caused by Hurricane Sandy. — Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

4 Schools Without Power

Trees blocking access to Pines Lake Elementary and George Washington Middle School. All class parties and costume parties scheduled for Halloween have been cancelled.

Power is out at four Wayne schools, authorities said Tuesday night. Police Chief John Reardon did not know what schools were without power, but said that access to Pines Lake Elementary School and George Washington Middle School was blocked due to fallen trees. He said crews are working on removing the trees. Board of Education President Donald Pavlak Jr. said officials are taking it “one day at a time” regarding when schools will reopen. “Safety is paramount and our first priority,” said Pavlak. All class parties and costume parades scheduled for Halloween have been postponed until further notice, an announcement on the district website said. Superintendent Ray Gonzalez could not be reached for comment. Wayne schools were closed on Monday…

• Photos (1)

George Washington, Schuyler Hosting Back to School Nights

Four more back to school nights are scheduled for next week.

Two back to school nights will be held on Wednesday night. Back to school night at George Washington Middle School and Schuyler-Colfax Middle School will begin at 7 p.m. at the respective institutions. Those are the only two back to school events held in the district this week. Four more are scheduled for next week: A Board of Education meeting held at the municipal building on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. That meeting will be broadcast on cable channel 77 and online.

• Photos (1)

Meet The Principals

Principal Wants Students To Feel Secure

Jack Leonard, the new principal of George Washington Middle School, wants his students to feel secure when they come to school everyday. He wants his teachers to provide a caring, nurturing environment where students can feel good about who they are and a

Editor’s Note: This is the third article of a series highlighting each of the four new principals who were recently hired or promoted. One article will run a day in the series until Saturday.  Jack Leonard wants his students to learn and grow personally during their three years at George Washington Middle School. Leonard is the new principal of the school. He understands that his students will go through more changes than probably at any point in their academic careers. Leonard said his teachers need to work closely with students to help them learn as much as they can about themselves as people than about math, science, and literature. “[Students] are being asked to mature faster and teachers have to educate them about the world they are …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

School Board To Appoint Two Principals

Moves are the latest in a series of decisions regarding administrative positions in the district. Maureen Weir will help lead Wayne Hills High School. Susan Wardell will be the new person in charge of Ryerson Elementary School.

The Board of Education is expected to appoint two new principals at a meeting on Wednesday. Maureen Weir will be the new principal of Wayne Hills High School. Weir is curently a vice principal at Hills. She will earn slightly more than $152,300 annually. Weir will replace Scot Beckerman. Beckerman resigned form the position ealrier this year only three years after taking the job. Susan Wardell will be the new principal of Ryerson Elementary School. She is currently the assistant principal of George Washington Middle School. Wardell’s annual salary will be about $120,000. She is replacing Frank Markowick. Daniel Kilday, the former athletic director of Wayne Valley High School, will be the district’s new supervisor of health and physical …

•  24 Comments
• Photos (1)