Teacher Appreciation Week gave us a great chance to pause and recognize the people who make our school what it is every day. The week was filled with thoughtful gestures and genuine gratitude, and it did not go unnoticed.

A sincere thank you to our Home & School Association for sponsoring lunch on Tuesday and the sweet treats today. It was a perfect way to bring everyone together and close out the week on a high note. We also appreciate Visions Federal Credit Union for providing Thursday’s afternoon treats from Patisserie Florentine, which were a welcome surprise and enjoyed by all.

Thank you as well to the many generous LHS families who donated gift cards for our Teacher Appreciation Week game. Your support added an extra layer of fun and excitement and reflects the strong partnership we share as a community.

To our staff, your dedication, patience, and care for our students are what make this school such a special place. You show up each day ready to make a difference, and the impact you have reaches far beyond the classroom. We are grateful for all that you do, not just this week, but throughout the entire year.

Our district is proud to once again partner with the Leonia Police Department to participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run in support of Special Olympics New Jersey.

Students who are interested in taking part should complete the attached permission slip and return it to the main office by May 11. We encourage all who are able to get involved in this meaningful event.

Pre-Exam Day will take place on Tuesday, June 16. Final exams will be held from June 17 through June 22.

Students are required to be in school to take their exams. Make-up exams will only be permitted with a doctor’s note. Any student who misses an exam without appropriate documentation will receive a zero.

Please refer to the attached schedule for specific exam times and details.

Yesterday morning, we encountered technical issues while attempting to administer the NJSLA Writing assessment for our 9th grade students. Despite our team’s efforts to resolve the problem, we were unable to do so within a reasonable timeframe and made the decision to postpone the session.

The Grade 9 NJSLA Writing assessment has been rescheduled for Tuesday, May 19. This date was selected intentionally, as it is already a scheduled testing day for our building with the NJSLA Science assessment for Grade 11 students, helping us avoid further disruption to the school calendar.

We appreciate the patience and flexibility of our students, staff, and families. Additional information will be shared as we get closer to the rescheduled testing date.

As summer job opportunities begin to open up, we want to make sure our students and families are aware of an important requirement for anyone under the age of 18 who plans to work in New Jersey.

All minors must obtain working papers before starting a job. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development has moved this process fully online through MyWorkingPapers.nj.gov, making it more efficient and easier to track. Schools are no longer part of the approval process.

Before applying, students must first have a job offer. Once hired, the employer will register on the website and provide an eight-digit Employer Unique Code (EUC). Students will then complete the online application and include their caregiver’s contact information along with the employer’s code. Caregivers will be prompted to upload proof of age, such as a birth certificate or passport. Students may begin working once the application has been approved.

Families should also be aware that a new application is required any time a student changes jobs, job titles, or responsibilities, including seasonal positions.

There are also important protections in place for young workers in New Jersey. Students must be at least 14 years old to work in most jobs, must be paid for all hours worked, and are entitled to regular paychecks with detailed pay stubs. They are also guaranteed meal breaks after extended work periods, limits on daily and weekly hours depending on age, and the ability to earn paid sick leave.

We encourage all students and families to review the full process and requirements by visiting MyWorkingPapers.nj.gov, and to learn more about young worker rights at nj.gov/labor/youngworkers. Taking a few minutes to understand these steps now will help ensure a smooth and successful start to summer employment.

We are excited to announce the dates and details for SMILE 2026! Our summer programs provide essential opportunities for both academic advancement and foundational support.

Registration officially opens on Monday, April 13th at 3:00 PM, following Spring Break. Detailed course descriptions and enrollment links can be found on our website.

Families registering more than one student are eligible for a discount:

2 Students: 10% discount will be applied to the total SMILE cost.

3 Students: 15% discount will be applied to the total SMILE cost.

Financial assistance is available. Families must be classified by their home resident district for receiving free or reduced meals. Documentation may be requested.

For any questions, please email me at jin.lee@leoniaschools.org.

Thank you,

Jin Lee, SMILE Program Coordinator

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.

Submission Link Deadline for submission: May 15th

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

US History 1 students visited the New Jersey State House in Trenton yesterday for a tour of the Capitol. Students saw the Assembly Chamber, Senate Chamber, Rotunda, and several offices, including the Senate Majority Caucus Room.

After the tour, students took part in the Make a Law program, where they participated in a simulated committee meeting focused on an actual New Jersey bill about high school start times.

The trip concluded at the New Jersey State Museum, where students viewed an exhibit celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. The exhibit featured important documents from New Jersey’s history, including the original Constitution and Bill of Rights sent to New Jersey for ratification, as well as an original printing of the New Jersey Constitution.

After completing Le Petit Prince, French IV Honors students were invited to imagine a meeting with the Little Prince and craft a thoughtful question for him. Their questions explored key elements of the story, including his relationship with the rose, life on his planet, his journey to Earth, his bond with the fox, and the various individuals he encountered along the way. Each student also created an original illustration to accompany their question.

This activity was designed to foster creative engagement with the text, deepen students’ understanding of its themes, and strengthen their ability to pose meaningful, reflective questions.

On Wednesday, May 7, students in Conversational Spanish took part in a culminating activity tied to our recent food unit. After designing their own Spanish restaurant menus, students had the opportunity to sample traditional Colombian picaderas, featuring foods similar to items they included on their menus.

Because students had already spent time building food vocabulary and practicing restaurant conversations, they recognized many of the dishes and ingredients. This made the experience more meaningful, as they were able to connect their classroom learning to an authentic cultural setting. We were also glad to have Ms. Farfan stop by and join the activity.

Throughout the lesson, students discussed their food preferences, reactions, and cultural observations while actively using the vocabulary and communication skills they developed during the unit. The level of engagement was high, and students were genuinely excited to experience a taste of Colombian culture firsthand.

LMAC Fine Arts is pleased to announce its second annual Art Show, featuring the work of 30 fine arts conservatory students in grades 9–12. The exhibition highlights pieces from more than 13 distinct art courses across drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, digital art, and related media. The collection demonstrates advanced technical skill, thoughtful artistic expression, and strong conceptual development.  

View the show by clicking the here.

Students in Ms. Bernstein & Mr. Kotwica's English I class finished reading Shakespeare's tragic masterpiece, Romeo & Juliet, this week. They then created a "Chart O' Blame" assigning responsibility for the star-crossed-lovers' deaths to various characters and influences. By calculating percentages and defending their choices, students engaged in close textual analysis while grappling with one of literature's most enduring questions: Who is really responsible for this tragedy?

The activity proved that Shakespeare still has the power to captivate. Our students were so invested in the play that they actually asked to keep their books when we finished! Their passionate discussions throughout the unit about guilt, consequences, and tragic choices showed just how relevant these 400-year-old characters still are.

As we head into the final few weeks of the spring sports season, our teams are continuing to compete at a high level. There are still plenty of opportunities to come out and support our student-athletes before the season wraps up.

We encourage families to check out the schedules and join us at an upcoming game or match. Your support makes a difference!

Click the link to view all athletic team schedules.

The Leonia High School Home & School Association would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported our Annual Pocketbook Bingo event! Thanks to your generosity and enthusiasm, the evening was a tremendous success.

Because of you, we are able to provide scholarships to several truly deserving students - an investment in their bright futures.

Most importantly, it was a fun-filled night enjoyed by all who attended.

We are so grateful to be part of such a supportive and spirited community! Special shout out and thanks to our AMAZING MC of the evening - Superintendent Dr. Xanthy Karamanos!

We'd like to send a special thanks to all of our donors and sponsors of the event: Regal Development, 5 Salon Spa, Q Nails of Leonia, Vince Priblo Artwork, Pure Hair Studio and the countless parents that assisted in our fundraising efforts!

Dear Leonia High School families,

The LHS Home & School Association invites you to Leave your mark at Leonia High School! 

LHS families, alumni, students, staff, and community members are invited to order a personalized Legacy Brick to be placed in the Leonia High School Peace Garden. Bricks are a meaningful way to honor a student, family, teacher, graduate, loved one, or special memory while becoming a permanent part of LHS.

Don’t miss this special opportunity to celebrate your connection to Leonia High School and support a lasting tradition in our school community. 

Please use the easy to use URL: https://donate.brickmarkers.com/lhsha and order by & pay by Tuesday, May 19th and bricks will be installed by graduation.

Payment can be made via Venmo or personal check made out to "Leonia High School Home & School Association." 

This fundraiser benefits the Leonia High School Home & School Association, a 501(c)(3) charity. 100% of funds we raise go toward LHS student & staff activities and events. 

Please reach out to Brigitte Stieglitz at bestieglitz@gmail.com with any questions.

THANKS!

LHS Home and School Association

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