This meeting is open to all families of students who have IEPs. We hope you'll join us!
At Mennies, we celebrated March Madness with an Attendance Contest to encourage students to come to school every day! Six students with perfect attendance for the entire month of March were randomly selected to enjoy Pizza with the Principal in Mrs. O'Donoghue's conference room!
Each student received a certificate and a special attendance pin to honor their commitment. We are so proud of our students who make the effort to be here each and every day—your dedication does not go unnoticed!
Congratulations to the winners!
Aurora Watson
Elizabeth Carrasco
Franchesca Therlonges
Skye Alvarado
Armritnoor Singh
Christian Hernandez Vargas
Marie Durand Elementary School was recently recognized by the New Jersey Department of Education as one of just 52 schools across the state demonstrating exceptional growth in student performance during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this recognition, Durand was selected to participate in the Promising Practices Project—a statewide research initiative aimed at identifying innovative strategies schools used to support students through unprecedented challenges.
The school’s success earned them an invitation to the NJ Promising Practices Summit held on April 7, 2025, at Rutgers University. Hosted by the New Jersey State Policy Lab and the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies, the summit brought together educators, researchers, and policymakers to spotlight the schools leading the way in post-pandemic recovery.
Representing Durand were Principal Dan Greco and teacher Tina Leo, who not only accepted the recognition but also presented in both the morning and afternoon sessions—an honor granted to only a select few schools.
Their two presentations highlighted the thoughtful, data-driven approaches Durand implemented to support student learning:
• "Implementing Individualized Student Data Sheets" showcased how Durand transformed traditional report card conversations into dynamic, skills-based discussions anchored in real-time student data. By focusing on achievement levels rather than grades alone, teachers and families gained clearer insight into each student’s growth and academic needs.
• "Supporting Struggling Early Learners through Developmental First and Third Grades" detailed how Durand created specialized classrooms for emerging readers and mathematicians—students who had foundational knowledge but needed additional support to catch up to grade-level expectations. These classrooms emphasized small-group instruction, early relationship-building through optional summer programming, and integration with the general curriculum to ensure students felt like part of the broader learning community. The result: consistent academic gains, with most students making more than a year’s progress in reading and catching up to their peers in math.
Through a rigorous data analysis of student outcomes in English Language Arts and mathematics, researchers at Rutgers University identified Durand as a positive outlier—a school whose performance stood out even amid the challenges of the pandemic.
Reflecting on the experience, Principal Dan Greco shared, “This recognition and experience provided our entire staff with an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate some of the most impactful programs and initiatives that we implemented over the past few years. The Promising Practices Summit truly was an opportunity to showcase the entire Durand Elementary School Community. We are so proud of the environment we maintain for our students.”
Superintendent Alfonso Llano, who attended the summit and watched the presentations, added, “It was an absolute privilege to be there in person to support Mr. Greco and Mrs. Leo. Seeing our district’s work recognized on a statewide stage—and watching our staff lead those conversations—was a proud moment for all of us.”
The summit marks not only a recognition of past success but also an opportunity for Durand to help shape the future of education in New Jersey. As the Promising Practices Project continues, the strategies shared by Durand will serve as a model for schools across the state looking to implement innovative, research-backed methods for student support and academic recovery.
The Latino Family Literacy Project, hosted at Dallago Preschool, just completed its 4th annual six-week program!
Led by the Preschool Bilingual Instructional Coach, Matty Romano, and Preschool Community & Parent Involvement Specialist (CPIS), Brandi Gatier, families with Spanish as their primary language were invited to participate in the project that focused on goals of:
Establishing & supporting a family reading routine
Improving English language skills
Improving Spanish literacy skills
Strengthening parent/child interactions
Each week, the families were taught a specific literacy skill that they could incorporate at home, either in play or while reading to their children. Each family made their own book to bring home that consisted of family photos, letter & number cards, an alphabet chart, and pages with shapes, colors, and emotions (all in both English and Spanish). Working closely and learning new things together made the families feel comfortable, relaxed, and able to form new friendships and connections with the school!
For our final meeting, parents put the finishing touches on their family book, enjoyed refreshments, completed an application for a Vineland Public Library card, and met with Ms. Flor Cruz - Social Worker with the City of Vineland Health Department. Families also had the opportunity to meet with the Vineland Preschool Social Worker, Mrs. LeAnne Varvaro, and the Preschool Supervisor, Mrs. Stephanie Staffieri, who stopped by to see the participant’s amazing final projects.
Not only did all of the families take home their personalized books, but they also received 22 new books to add to their home libraries!!! Families were also given new materials to incorporate learning through play at home.
A warm thank you to Superintendent, Mr. Alfonso Q. Llano and Mrs. Jacqueline Roman-Alvarez, Supervisor of Multilingual Learning, allocating the grant funding to make this opportunity possible for our families. The project was a huge success and we can’t wait to see how many families will join next year!
It was another great week in our elementary gifted and talented program! Check out the highlights here: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGkR-uJoyc/FvfKdikxgBiERNHGhqxLrA/view?utm_content=DAGkR-uJoyc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h342f23fed7
Save the Date! Our senior student-athletes will be honored on Friday, May 23, at the annual Senior Athletic Ceremony. Student-athletes are free. Guests are required to purchase tickets.
Mrs. McManus's class at Durand Elementary wrapped up a unit on clouds by making a flip book describing the four different types of clouds. All week, students have been learning how clouds are made, what they are made of, why they are white, and the four different types of clouds. They wrote the characteristics of each cloud on the inside flap, then created that type of cloud on the front with cotton balls. Everyone enjoyed creating their own clouds in this hands-on activity!
Happy Assistant Principals Week to all of our awesome Assistant Principals at Vineland High School! The CTE (Career & Technical Education) students were excited to design and deliver a cheerful flower arrangement to our Assistant Principals. Thank you for supporting all of our staff and students at VHS Asselta and VHS Tanner!
The Vineland FFA Chapter will be holding its spring plant sale in May! Vineland FFA is a part of our agriculture science CTE program at Vineland High School. FFA is a national organization that promotes leadership, personal growth, and career success. Our Agriculture program consists of four courses that students can take all four years in high school. Our courses are recognized for credits to Rutgers University and Delaware Valley University. Vineland FFA members have been working hard growing in our greenhouse. All funds raised go towards our FFA chapter to pay for competition fees, leadership fees, and bussing. Thank you for your support!
Last week at DiBiase Preschool, Miss Shaline's class makes their own bubbles at small group!
They read the story "How to make bubbles" this week and introduced new vocabulary words:
ingredients
mixture
film and
burst
Then they experimented making their own bubbles and using their new vocabulary words!
Come out and support the VHS Marching Band! Sign up now for the best spaces and share your craftiness with others. Let us support your small business while you support our students! A win-win!!
Don’t miss your chance to see You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown - there are two more shows happening tomorrow at 2PM and 7PM!
The Cap 'N' Dagger Club has brought the Peanuts gang to life with heart, humor, and talent. It’s the perfect way to spend your afternoon or evening, and a great show for all ages!
On Friday, April 4, 2025, the 6th graders from Mrs. Shapley’s Language Arts classes each had a special presentation from Mrs. Loveland, the library media specialist, about how to use MackinVIA. The students looked at all of the resources, categories, and ebooks available. They also completed a scavenger hunt to familiarize themselves with all of the features MackinVIA provides. This was a special day to spend with Mrs. Loveland as it was National School Librarian Day! Thank you for all you do for us at Wallace, Mrs. Loveland!
Fun was had by all as DiBiase Preschool students celebrated Bubble Day!
Mrs. Cruz and Ms. Passetti's Kindergarten class at Durand Elementary have been reading "How Plants Grow" by Dona Herweck Rice. Students have been embarking on a new journey of growth, exploration, and learning! They have planted pinto bean plants and will be observing them over the next few days. They will track the plant's growth, record observations, and discuss what plants need in order to grow and stay healthy. The goal is to not only learn about plants, but also about patience, responsibility, and the importance of caring for living things!
At the April 9 Board of Education meeting, Supervisor of School Counseling, Assessments, McKinney Vento, and School Transitions, Deana Ridolfo, provided an overview of the Peer Group Connection Program, new to our middle schools this year. PGCP is a grant-funded, evidence-based and school-based program that supports and eases students’ transition from elementary to middle school. This program taps into the power of older students to create a nurturing environment for incoming 6th graders. PGCP includes a year-long leadership course for selected 8th graders that meets daily and is taught by school faculty. Through their leadership course, these 8th graders become trained peer leaders who meet once a week with 6th graders in outreach sessions designed to strengthen relationships among students across grades.
Speaking on behalf of the students in the program were eighth-graders Ja’Naysia Floyd from Pilla, Deena Margolin from Memorial, and Arianna Sonaliya from Johnstone, along with sixth-grader Leah Daniels.
Peer advisors include: Grace Galan, Maria Kohansky, Sharon Schiavone, Jamie Ecret, Kelly Stipes, Lauren Adderly, Brooke Smith, and Valerie Carbonara
Students recognized at the meeting include:
Pilla: Ja’Naysia Floyd, Lyla Bermudez, Jai’Yon Peyton, Chauncey Crooks, Aiyana Milbourne, Lukas Dounalis, Laurie Shaw
Memorial: Zoe Zavis, Deena Margolin, James Owens IV, Steven Kohansky, Lara Dennis, Leah Daniels
Wallace: Allison Wittje, Aleeya Rodriguez, Jaelah Moore
Johnstone: Arianna Sonaliya, Rihanna Zapanta, Ariella Ortiz, Abigail Adams
Thank you to the students from Petway Elementary School for leading the flag salute at the April 9 Board of Education meeting! 🇺🇸
We'll be streaming the Board of Education Combined Meeting live at 5pm on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/live/WLQyrmn_ZR4?si=8LCvV8c7n7yO_JnG
On April 3rd, Mennies School PTO sponsored and organized their annual Chocolate Bar Bingo night! Over 100 students and family members gathered together for an exciting night filled with Bingo games, delicious food, and FUN! It was the perfect way to bring our school community together.
Families enjoyed a tasty pizza dinner before diving into several rounds of Bingo, with the chance to win a variety of delicious chocolate goodies. The atmosphere was filled with excitement as players eagerly awaited their numbers to be called. Baskets were raffled off as well, and several door prizes were awarded! As an added treat, all students were able to pick an extra prize to go home with at the end of the night.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and made this event such a success! We are so grateful to our teachers, staff and PTO members that helped out to make the night run smoothly. The funds raised will go directly benefit our Mennies students in the future!
Students in Ms. Mainiero’s 5th Grade Social Studies class at Mennies have been diving into their study of the 13 Colonies!
After learning about the regions and key facts, students were grouped together for a hands-on collaborative project. Using chart paper, each group worked while standing—coloring, cutting, and assembling the 13 Colonies. They referenced their notes, textbooks, and most importantly, each other, as they pieced it all together.
This engaging activity not only reinforced their knowledge but also gave students the chance to practice Portrait of a Graduate competencies—collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and responsibility. Way to go, 5th graders!
