The ACS G&T Committee held its first meeting with consultant Donna Reichman as we began shaping a shared vision for our 2026–27 Gifted & Talented program. Together, we explored key elements of program design, including selection criteria, implementation structures, and the resources needed to support students in reaching their full potential. We look forward to continuing this meaningful work, with our next meeting in February welcoming parent representatives to further strengthen our planning.

Our 7th and 8th graders recently participated in a meaningful educational assembly titled “Bias Crimes: A Discussion About Diversity, Bullying, Bias and Hate,” presented by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office in partnership with the Leonia Police Department. During the presentation, students explored the impact of bias and hateful language, the legal distinctions between harassment (HIB) and bias crimes, and how to make respectful choices to foster a safe and inclusive community. We encourage families to continue these essential conversations at home to reinforce empathy and responsible decision-making. Please see Principal Saco's post for more details on this presentation.

Congratulations to the LHS Limelighters on their fantastic Fall production of The Puffs! The cast and crew delivered a truly hilarious, magical, and high-energy performance that kept the audience laughing from start to finish. Bringing this beloved parody to life required incredible comedic timing from the actors and seamless coordination from the student stage crew, who handled the play's many "magical" cues and rapid-fire scene changes with professional precision. It was a joy to see our students’ hard work and creativity shine on stage, and we look forward to the Limelighter's spring musical performance.

Get ready for an unforgettable night of jaw-dropping tricks, high-flying dunks, and nonstop laughs! The world-famous Harlem Wizards are bringing their electrifying brand of basketball entertainment back to Leonia for one night only Feb 28. This is more than a game, it’s a show the whole family will love. Mark your calendars and get ready to cheer, laugh, and be amazed! Tickets go on sale today.

👉 Visit this link to reserve your seats!

Mark your calendars for the annual Senior Class Fundraiser!

On Friday, March 13, 2026, the Class of 2026 invites the community to the LHS Gymnasium for a Card Party Raffle Trick Tray. Starting at 6:30 pm, guests can enjoy an evening filled with great prizes, a 50/50 drawing, and light refreshments available for sale.

Admission is just $10 to enter, and both raffle and 50/50 tickets will be available for purchase throughout the event.

We hope to see you there!

In the event of a school closing, delayed opening, or emergency announcement, Leonia Public Schools will share information through calls, email, live feed on our website, and notifications through our ParentSquare app. To stay connected, please:

👉 Visit our Inclement Weather page for more information, including each school's schedule for delayed opening and early dismissals.

Every day counts! We want all of our students to show up to school, every day, and we are committed to working with families to ensure that every student attends school regularly and achieves their full potential. We are here to help you.

👉 Visit our Attendance Page for more school procedures.

Over winter break, our team migrated Genesis to the cloud to improve data security and website performance. By doing this, the links have changed for both the parent and student portals. Both links have been updated on our district website, but if you have bookmarked the links on your personal device, please update your links:

Parent: https://parents.c3.genesisedu.net/leonia

Student: https://students.c3.genesisedu.net/leonia

If you are having trouble logging in, please contact the help desk at helpdesk@leoniaschools.org. Please include in your ticket your student's name, ID, and school location to better assist you.

As we integrate tools like Gemini and Magic School AI into our classrooms, our primary goal is to ensure students use technology as a "co-pilot" for their learning, rather than an "auto-pilot" that does the work for them.

We believe that responsible AI use starts with transparency; we ask that students always be open with their teachers and parents about when and how they use AI to assist with an assignment. Whether they are using Gemini to brainstorm an essay outline or Magic School to simplify a complex science concept, the final product must always reflect the student’s own unique voice and original thinking.

We teach our students that they are the "human in the loop," meaning they are ultimately responsible for the work they submit. Because AI can sometimes provide inaccurate information, or "hallucinate," students must exercise critical thinking by fact-checking AI-generated content against reliable sources like textbooks and library databases.

Beyond academic integrity, we prioritize digital safety and privacy. Even within our protected school environment, we instruct students to never share personal information, such as their full name, address, or private photos, with any AI tool.

By following these "rules of the road," students develop the essential 21st-century skill of AI literacy: knowing how to prompt a machine to help them think deeper while maintaining their own creative spark.

We encourage you to talk with your child about these boundaries at home, asking them not just what the AI said, but how they used their own brain to make the final result even better. By working together, we can ensure that these powerful tools are used to empower our students and prepare them for a bright, tech-forward future.

Fourth graders are hard at work exploring nonfiction sources and practicing how to organize key details by identifying primary themes and distinguishing them from supporting details.

This hands-on practice does more than just improve reading comprehension; it empowers our students to become independent researchers who can evaluate evidence and present their discoveries with confidence.

Mrs. Rivera's 6th grade class powered up their creativity and problem-solving skills with an exciting STEAM project: designing and building solar-powered cars! Using the engineering design process, students planned, built, tested, and improved their solar car kits, learning how energy from light can be transformed into motion. Students added a creative twist by decorating them to resemble Thanksgiving Parade floats of their favorite characters. They then used a lamp as a light source to activate the solar panels and send their floats rolling along! 

Our 6th graders recently participated in an engaging and hands-on field trip to the New Jersey School of Conservation at Stokes State Forest, where they explored Water Ecology and took part in an Interpretive Hike. During the Water Ecology session, students examined the idea that water is a vital human resource connected to all life and to their own home community. Working at the Big Flatbrook, students measured stream flow to estimate how much water moves through a natural system and studied aquatic organisms to assess water quality. Using data they collected firsthand, students evaluated whether a stream like the Flatbrook could realistically supply water to a school community.

The experience also included a student-led Interpretive Hike through Stokes State Forest, where learning unfolded naturally along the trail. Guided by curiosity and observation, discussions covered topics such as plant and animal interactions, nutrient recycling, soil building, forest regeneration, invasive species, and wildlife habitats.

This immersive day at the New Jersey School of Conservation encouraged critical thinking, collaboration, and a deeper appreciation for the environment, making it a memorable learning experience for our 6th graders.

Our Baking and Pastry students have been hard at work learning piping techniques for cake decorating. They are putting their new skills into practice by decorating a large cupcake, which has quickly become a favorite project in the kitchen. LAHCA Cohort 13 also spent time baking fresh focaccia, using a mix of aromatics to bring out rich flavor and texture. It has been a great week of hands-on learning and creativity for our culinary students.

Students in Mrs. Batti's Advanced Graphic Design course designed custom wrapping paper. They began by gaining inspiration through viewing examples of wrapping paper and discussing color and design choices suitable for a theme. Then, they created a small original design, scanned it, and recreated it digitally using Adobe Illustrator. Next, they transformed their design into a pattern and repeated it using Adobe Photoshop. Finally, their projects were printed, and they wrapped boxes using their own design.

ACS classrooms came alive during the week of December 15th as parents and family members visited to share their cultural and holiday traditions. Through stories, activities, and meaningful conversations, students gained a deeper appreciation for the diverse backgrounds that make our school community so special.

Thank you to our families for creating such memorable learning experiences. For more photos from this event, please visit Principal Neyra's weekly update.

No sooner had their food drive wrapped up than our LMS Service Club jumped right into their next act of kindness. The club raised funds through a bake sale to purchase food and supplies for their visit to the Ronald McDonald House. During the trip, our students prepared a variety of delicious meals for families whose children are receiving care and treatment at Westchester Medical Center.

We are so proud of their hard work, generosity, and commitment to helping others! It is inspiring to see our students making such a tangible difference in the lives of families during challenging times.

Despite clouds obscuring the planned Geminid meteor shower viewing, 32 STEM Academy students and their chaperones enjoyed a memorable adventure in the New Jersey Highlands this past weekend. Organized by Mr. Linares, Mr. Stevenson, and the NJ School of Conservation staff, the trip focused on outdoor skills. Students learned orienteering, compass navigation, snowshoe hiking, winter fire-making, and wildlife tracking using electronic devices. The weekend concluded with lively games and a campfire for s'mores and Christmas songs, making it a perfect end to a trip full of learning, teamwork, and adventure.

The LHS Historians and Democracy Club recently traveled to Boston for an unforgettable journey through America’s revolutionary past. Students walked the historic Freedom Trail, visited the Old North Church, and toured the legendary USS Constitution. They stood at the sites of the Boston Tea Party and Boston Massacre, discovering how these events sparked the fight for independence. Other highlights included visits to the Old State House and Old South Meeting House, a climb up Bunker Hill, and a spirited Haunted Boston tour. Throughout the trip, students deepened their understanding of the ideals of freedom, courage, and civic responsibility that shaped our nation’s founding.

Our district uses ParentSquare for school communication, primarily with email, text and app notifications.