Today, freshmen at Leonia High School participated in an important presentation led by a detective from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office focused on bias incidents and bias crimes. During the session, the detective explained what bias incidents and crimes are, how they are defined, and the lasting impact these actions can have on individuals and communities.

Students also learned that many reported bias incidents involve teenagers, making it especially important for young people to understand their role in creating a respectful and inclusive environment. The presentation encouraged students to reflect on how their words and actions affect others and how they can respond when they witness or experience bias.

The discussion centered on the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office message: “Stop Hate: Be the Change, Educate Yourself and Others, Respect All Ways of Life, and Be Heard. Report Bias Crimes.” The program provided students with valuable information and reinforced the importance of standing up against hate and supporting one another in our school community.

Thank you to the Leonia Police Department for helping coordinate this important opportunity for our students.

Leonia Public Schools faculty, staff, living, dead, and undecided...the frightfully talented Leonia Limelights hereby summon you to the Leonia High School Little Theater on March 27th at 7:00 pm or March 28th at 1:00 pm or 7:00 pm for "The Addams Family: School Edition." This terrifyingly terrific musical tells the story of family over everything with a hilarious cast. Join us as we sing and dance on the Addams Ancestors' graves. Staff can purchase discounted tickets by emailing the production assistant, Ms. Bernstein at camryn.bernstein@leoniaschools.org. I hope to see you there to support our students! 

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.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we live, learn, and work. This summer, students will have the opportunity to explore that world firsthand through an in person, project based AI program hosted at Leonia High School and run by Inspirit AI, an enrichment program developed and taught by Stanford and MIT alumni.

Open to students entering grades 6 through 12, the program introduces the core concepts behind artificial intelligence and how tools like ChatGPT and other generative AI systems are built. Students will learn to program AI using Python, examine topics such as ethics and bias, and collaborate on a hands on project applying AI to areas such as sustainability, healthcare, disaster relief, music, or the arts. 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 instruction and mentorship from Stanford, MIT, and Ivy League graduate students and industry professionals who will travel to Leonia to lead the experience.

An early bird discount is now available. Students who apply by March 31 will receive 25 percent off the $1,600 program fee.

Families interested in learning more are encouraged to review the program brochure and complete the interest form using the links provided. All questions regarding registration, curriculum, logistics, or payment should be directed to Inspirit AI.

Click for more information

Students from the World History Honors and AP Government classes, led by Ms. Lauren Kelty and Mr. DeGennaro, recently traveled to New York City to visit the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

During the visit, students explored museum exhibits featuring artifacts, photographs, and personal stories that document the events of September 11, 2001, and their lasting national and global impact. The experience helped students connect classroom topics with real-world history while reflecting on themes such as resilience, civic responsibility, and the role of government during times of crisis.

Students also spent time at the outdoor memorial, where the twin reflecting pools mark the footprints of the original World Trade Center towers. The memorial provided a powerful space for reflection and remembrance for the lives lost on that day.

The trip served as a meaningful extension of course learning, allowing students to deepen their understanding of contemporary history and the importance of civic awareness.

Leonia Model UN made its debut this past Saturday at the North MUN Conference in Plainsboro, NJ, marking the team’s first-ever competition as an organization.

Representing a wide range of countries, including Oman and Luxembourg, student delegates collaborated with peers from other schools to develop and present solutions to complex global issues. In the General Assembly, students addressed the challenge of maritime piracy, drafting and debating legislation aimed at tackling the problem on an international scale.

In the crisis committee, delegates navigated a fast-paced scenario inspired by the Divergent series, making strategic decisions in real time as the storyline evolved based on their actions.

In an exciting highlight for the team, Stela Saveljic earned the Outstanding Delegate award for her performance in the crisis committee.

Congratulations to Stela and to the entire Model UN team on an impressive and successful first conference.

Leonia High School is proud to share that eight students have qualified at the DECA State Competition to attend the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Atlanta, Georgia from April 25 to April 29.

DECA’s Competitive Events Program gives students the opportunity to put classroom learning into action. Through role plays, prepared presentations, and online events, students demonstrate their understanding of business concepts while strengthening their creativity, problem solving, and presentation skills in front of industry professionals.

This year, students qualified in several ways. Angelica Do and Celeste Garzon earned their spot with an outstanding Independent Business Plan that highlighted innovation, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial insight.

LHS students also qualified through their School Based Enterprise and Chapter Campaign work. A School Based Enterprise, or SBE, is a student run business that operates within the school. It is not simply a fundraiser, but an ongoing enterprise where students manage real business responsibilities such as marketing, finance, inventory, customer service, and overall operations. Through this hands on experience, students apply classroom concepts in an authentic setting.

In addition, Chapter Campaigns are structured, goal driven initiatives completed throughout the school year to strengthen chapter engagement and make a meaningful impact within the school and community. Chapters submit documentation to DECA for recognition based on the success of these efforts.

The following students qualified for ICDC through their work with the SBE or Chapter Campaigns: Angelica Do, Livia Xhako, Maya Boyd, and Ella Crocker.

We are proud of the dedication and preparation shown by all of our DECA students leading up to the State Conference, including Chase Kopczynski, who was a finalist in the Financial Consulting event. Their accomplishments reflect months of hard work, leadership development, and a commitment to excellence. We look forward to cheering them on as they represent Leonia on the international stage.

On March 12, fifteen seniors from the Chinese classes took a field trip to Flushing Chinatown to experience Chinese language and culture in a real-world setting. During the trip, students ate lunch at an authentic Chinese restaurant, where they practiced ordering and interacting in Chinese. They also visited a Chinese supermarket to explore traditional foods, ingredients, and products commonly found in Chinese households. Throughout the visit, students had the opportunity to use their language skills while observing cultural practices in the community. The trip concluded with everyone enjoying bubble tea and taking a short walk around the neighborhood before heading back to school. 

The Stock Market Game continues to be highly competitive across the state, with 536 teams in the Northern Region and 2,009 teams participating statewide. As of March 13, Leonia High School remains near the top of the standings:

While students are always encouraged to research topics that interest them, this week many took a closer look at how recent events in the Middle East are influencing the markets, particularly oil and defense stocks.

Several students examined how escalating tensions with Iran led to a surge in oil prices, with crude oil rising as much as 7.5 percent. They noted that energy and defense stocks climbed as investors anticipated increased government spending and potential supply disruptions. At the same time, broader indexes such as the S&P 500 and NASDAQ experienced declines, highlighting how geopolitical uncertainty can create uneven market reactions.

Students also explored the concept of market volatility and sector rotation. As uncertainty increases, investors often move money out of higher risk technology stocks and into industries viewed as more stable, such as energy and defense. Others recognized the broader economic implications, including how rising fuel costs can pressure airlines, increase shipping expenses, contribute to inflation, and potentially influence future interest rate decisions.

It was encouraging to see students connecting global events to real time market behavior and applying classroom concepts to understand how economic forces interact on a larger scale.

On Wednesday, students from Limelighters participated in a musical theater workshop hosted by AMDA (American Musical and Dramatic Academy). Students worked on developing their performance skills through vocal and acting exercises while exploring techniques used in professional musical theater training. 

Come see this talented group perform in The Addams Family musical on Friday, March 27th (7 PM) or Saturday, March 28th (1 PM or 7 PM). Tickets on sale now from any cast or crew member! 

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.