To support a school environment where students can fully engage with their teachers and classmates, I would like to remind you of the district's policy regarding electronic communication devices. Please be advised that Meta Glasses and all other Smart Glasses are not permitted to be worn or used in the school building.

Under District Policy 5516, these items are classified as electronic communication devices because of their capability to record audio or video and transmit information. To protect the privacy rights of our students and staff and to prevent disruptions to the educational program, students cannot have these devices on while in school.

Should a student be found with Meta Glasses or other Smart Glasses, the device will be confiscated by a staff member and turned in to the Vice Principal, Mr. Anthony Servis. We thank you for your continued cooperation in ensuring our school remains a focused and respectful learning environment.

Students and parents are encouraged to review Policy 5516 for more detailed information regarding the use of electronic communication devices. This policy is available for review in the Student Handbook on the LHS website or on the Leonia Schools Website under District Policies.

The New Jersey Department of Education recently released the official testing times for this spring’s state assessments. As a result, we have adjusted our high school testing schedule. Please review the updated information below.

Only students who are scheduled to test should report at the regular 7:50 AM start time. All other students will follow a delayed opening and arrive at the school start time listed for each day.

Thank you for your attention to these updates and for your continued support.

The 2026–2027 Program of Studies is now live on the LHS website and can be found under the Student Life tab. With its release, we have officially begun planning for the upcoming school year.

Teachers are currently working on course recommendations for next year. Beginning in early March, Mr. Kalender and members of the school counseling team will meet with students during grade-level meetings to review options and support the course selection process.

As part of this planning cycle, Leonia High School will host our annual 8th Grade Scheduling Night on February 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM in the Little Theater. This event is an important opportunity for students and families to learn more about our academic offerings and the transition to high school.

Students will be able to enter their course requests in the Genesis Student Portal beginning on March 13 at 9:00 AM. The course request window will close on March 23 at 12:00 PM, so we encourage students to review the Program of Studies carefully and use the available supports during this time.

We look forward to working together as we plan for another strong and successful school year.

The LHS Writers Club is hosting Beat Night on March 6 at 6:00 PM in the Little Theater.

What is Beat Night? It is a student talent show where you can showcase any creative skill—from slam poetry and live bands to magic acts and more. It's the perfect night to share your passion with friends and family!

How to Join:

The Leonia High School Literary Magazine is currently accepting submissions for completed original works of prose, poetry, photography, and artwork for the 2026 issue! Leonia's Literary Magazine was recently awarded the distinction of "Superior" in the 2025 Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) Awards by the NCTE.

Please use the link below to submit original work for consideration.

To check out last year's magazine, click here. 

Artificial intelligence is shaping nearly every part of our daily lives. From voice assistants and facial recognition to self driving cars and tools like ChatGPT, AI continues to influence how we learn, work, and solve problems. The opportunities for students to explore this technology in thoughtful and responsible ways are growing quickly.

This summer, an in person, project based Artificial Intelligence program will be hosted at Leonia High School through Inspirit AI, an enrichment program developed and taught by Stanford and MIT alumni. While the program will take place at LHS, it is run entirely by Inspirit AI and is not a Leonia High School program.

Students entering grades 6 through 12 will explore the foundational concepts behind AI and gain insight into how technologies such as ChatGPT are built. Participants will learn to program AI using Python, examine important topics such as ethics and bias, and complete a collaborative group project. Project themes may include sustainability, disaster relief, healthcare, music, the arts, and more. No prior computer science experience is required, and advanced cohorts will be available. Separate sections will be offered for middle and high school students.

The program includes 30 hours of hands on learning with AI practitioners and graduate students from Stanford and MIT who will travel to Leonia to teach. The cost of the program is $1,600.

If your child may be interested, please complete the short interest form linked below and review the program brochure for additional details about the curriculum, schedule, projects, and instructional team. All questions regarding registration, curriculum, logistics, or payment should be directed to Inspirit AI. Their contact information can be found in the link provided.

Click for more information

Members of the STEM, Engineering, and Physics Clubs recently teamed up to compete in a countywide food security design challenge at the American Dream mall. Their project, titled “Blasting Off to a Future Where No One Is Hungry,” was one of seven entries in the contest sponsored by the Bergen County Office of Food Security.

Each team constructed a large-scale display made entirely from canned food, all of which will be donated to local food pantries. Sponsored by Market Basket, the Leonia team used 650 cans to bring their vision to life.

Construction began at 9:00 PM and wrapped up around 12:30 AM, requiring focus, patience, and strong collaboration. Throughout the build, students worked through challenges together, demonstrating creativity, problem-solving skills, and true teamwork.

Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Zur attended the event and spent time with students during the competition. Most importantly, the evening concluded with a powerful result: hundreds of cans ready to support families in need across the community.

The Historians & Democracy Club, led by Ms. Kelty, traveled to Washington D.C., for an unforgettable journey through American history. The trip offered students a front-row seat to the stories that shaped our nation.

The group began at the Clara Barton Civil War Museum before visiting Arlington National Cemetery, where club members took part in a moving ceremony to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The historical deep-dive continued the following day at Manassas, the site of the Civil War’s first major land battle. To wrap up the experience, students spent a picturesque afternoon in historic Georgetown and enjoyed a stunning night tour of the monuments on the National Mall. 

The highlight of the Historians & Democracy trip to Washington D.C., was a deeply moving ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where three of our students were selected to represent the school in a formal Wreath-Laying Ceremony. Escorted by a relief commander of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), the students stepped onto the hallowed plaza to place a handmade wreath at the tomb. This ceremony is a strictly orchestrated tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice without being identified, and our students represented us with incredible dignity and respect during the "Taps" bugle call.

Our Grade 10 students, Sarah Dewoski, Tomas Fernandez, and Diego Manzanarez Cuaruro represented LHS with professionalism, maturity, and deep respect. These students were selected for this prestigious task because they consistently demonstrate a strong commitment to service, civic engagement, and leadership.

The Northern Region – H.S. Division now includes 373 teams, with 1,604 teams competing statewide. As of February 27, Leonia continues to make an impressive showing:

With competition increasing each week, our students continue to hold top positions both regionally and across New Jersey.

This week, many teams focused their required research on artificial intelligence, exploring both opportunity and risk in the sector.

One team examined Meta’s strategic pivot from heavy investment in the metaverse toward AI technologies and new AI-powered accessories such as Meta glasses. Students noted how influencer marketing across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube is driving product visibility and customer engagement. They also recognized the role of advertising and brand positioning in shaping consumer perception and ultimately influencing stock performance.

Another student took a deeper look at recent volatility in AI-related stocks after seeing a decline in their own portfolio. Their research highlighted a broader market trend: investors shifting funds from technology into more stable sectors such as healthcare. Concerns about the enormous projected spending on AI infrastructure, estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming years, have raised questions about financial risk, particularly when companies borrow heavily to fund expansion. By connecting these macroeconomic trends to their portfolio performance, the student gained a clearer understanding of how large-scale investment decisions impact stock prices.

What stands out is the level of analysis our students are demonstrating. They are not just tracking gains and losses. They are examining corporate strategy, investor behavior, sector rotation, risk management, and the broader economic forces that drive the market. These are real-world financial literacy skills that extend far beyond the game.

The full winter athletics schedule is available on our website.

Online Registration Directions: https://1.cdn.edl.io/DirectionsforAthleticOnlineForms.pdf 

All the necessary forms are also available on the Leonia website under Athletics https://www.leoniaschools.org/athletics-forms 

Please feel free to contact Mr. Perrotta, the Athletic Director, at extension 5208 or by email at steven.perrotta@leoniaschools.org with any questions. Thank you. 

Click to access the 25-26 Modified Rotating Block (MRB) Schedule.