September 2019
Welcome back!
The 2019-2020 school year launched on Wednesday, September 4th. Similar to last September when the district opened its first new building, new Oaktree Road Elementary School #29, in nearly 50 years, this month the district celebrated the opening of the new Ross Street Elementary School #11 adjacent to its 99 year old namesake. I would be remiss if I did not remind readers that its construction could not have happened without your support and the support of our municipal partners—Mayor McCormac and the Town Council. Together, we overwhelmingly voted to support the March 2017 school referendum to build, among other initiatives, the new school. Technically, the new Ross Street School is not yet complete. Phase II of the project, which has begun, includes the environmental remediation and demolition of the old building where a new gymnasium wing will be constructed and completed in the spring of 2020. Please be advised that the demolition will not occur during school hours and precautions will be taken to protect people and property during the demolition and removal process.
Woodbridge Middle School (WMS) was the other featured project of the 2017 referendum. Unfortunately, due to several renovation related setbacks, WMS is behind its scheduled August 2019 completion date. However, our contractor and his workers are working diligently to open the school this fall. In the meantime, our students and faculty have been placed in appropriate settings to get the year started. The WMS project consists of a total gut and renovation of the original 1910 and 1920 sections of the building as well as a new gymnasium, locker rooms, band and vocal music rooms, and several new classrooms to name a few new arrangements.
As mentioned in my column last month, I am pleased to direct readers to browse the listing of colleges, trade schools and military branches that our Class of 2019 have enrolled or enlisted in for this fall. Our Board is incredibly proud of all of our students and wish them well in their career endeavors.
Parents and guardians, check out the district’s “Calendar” on the top right of the district homepage for your school’s annual “Back to School Night Open House”. It’s the best opportunity to learn about new initiatives and programs scheduled to take place in your child’s school this year as well as a chance to meet your son or daughter’s teacher(s), principal(s) and fellow staff.
August’s Board meeting highlights included finalizing personnel assignments for the new school year. Notably, the Board hired our new mathematics curriculum supervisor, Mr. Kendell Ali. Additionally, the administration highlighted our high school students’ continued appetite and success in college-level high school courses, including nationally-recognized Advanced Placement courses and our district’s eight dual enrollment partnerships with area colleges and universities offered in all three of our high schools.
The district’s substitute staffing provider, ESS (formerly Source4Teachers) continues to welcome new substitute teachers. They are available at 1-877-983-2244 or online at Ess.com/jobseekers.
For the month of September, the Board will meet on Thursday, September 19 at 6:30 PM in the Avenel Middle School auditorium, 85 Woodbine Ave, Avenel. For your calendars, the Board of Education will meet on October 17, November 21 and December 19. Please consider joining us or watching the recorded meeting via Woodbridge’s local public access channel 35 on your television or through the Township’s YouTube channel.
Should you ever require my assistance, I welcome your input at one of our monthly Board of Education meetings, by e-mail at Jonathan.Triebwasser@Woodbridge.k12.nj.us or a call to the Board Secretary’s office at 732-602-8536.
