Revise la carta adjunta sobre la Evaluación del aprendizaje de los estudiantes de Nueva Jersey.

• NJSLA Testing Letter – English
• NJSLA Testing Letter – Spanish

The Community Middle School’s Open House will take place on Wednesday, May 7th from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. We are hosting a Science Fair, Concert Performance, Art Show, a Scene from the school play, Shrek Jr., and a Food Festival during the Open House. Our students have been working hard to prepare for these events, and we can’t wait to showcase their talents and achievements. 

To make the event successful, we need your help! Please consider bringing in a food dish to share with other CMS families the evening of May 7th. Let us know if you will be participating by clicking on this link to the Google form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc94ECjwP-TOU-AKgYlEoX_WQ5m3uLIZt8iYjdazSIfQPihRA/viewform?usp=header

 Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community.

Sincerely,

Joseph Santicerma

Principal

Estimados Padres,

La jornada de puertas abiertas de Community Middle School se llevará a cabo el miércoles 7 de mayo de 5:30 p.m. a 7:00 p.m. Durante el evento, presentaremos una Feria de Ciencias, un Concierto, una Exhibición de Arte, una Escena de la obra escolar Shrek Jr. y un Festival de Comida. Nuestros estudiantes han estado trabajando arduamente para preparar estos eventos, y estamos emocionados de mostrar sus talentos y logros.

¡Para que el evento sea un éxito, necesitamos su ayuda! Por favor, considere traer un plato de comida para compartir con otras familias de CMS la noche del 7 de mayo. Háganos saber si participará haciendo clic en este enlace al formulario de Google:

 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc94ECjwP-TOU-AKgYlEoX_WQ5m3uLIZt8iYjdazSIfQPihRA/viewform?usp=header

 Muchas gracias por su apoyo y participación en nuestra comunidad escolar.

Cordialmente,

Joseph Santicerma

Director

Her passion for providing personal and professional development opportunities for herself, students, and colleagues stems from overcoming one of the biggest challenges in her career – following your heart!

The Bound Brook School District continues to spotlight our talented alumni, who have excelled and broken barriers to become professionals in their field of studies.

Get to know more about Dr. Suk:

What do you currently do (your career/college path)?

I decided to pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching after graduating from Rider University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1996. Life took some turns prompting me to explore other avenues to pursue professional licensure. In 1998, I entered the Alternate Route to Teaching Program and later completed a Master of Education in Instruction from The College of New Jersey. I went on to earn a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Stockton University in 2019.

Between 1998 and 2008, I served two public school districts. I taught middle school math and Spanish for one year and fourth grade for nine years. I hold certificates as both an Elementary Classroom Teacher and a Supervisor of Instruction.  Currently, I am a professor at Raritan Valley Community College, where I have been teaching preservice teachers for 17 years.

How did Bound Brook prepare you for your future?

Although I was a strong student, a varsity athlete and cheerleader, and an officer of multiple Honor Societies and clubs, I was the victim of constant bullying. I learned strength of character is essential, and no matter the obstacle, I had to remain true to myself. That commitment to authenticity and integrity has served me well, and I make every effort to foster the same qualities in my son and my students for their futures.

Did any teachers or staff mentor you along that path? 

Many of the influential educators during my time in the Bound Brook School District are no longer with the district, have retired, or have passed on. It is difficult to select which were the most instrumental or impactful along my journey. There are too many to name; some had a positive influence on me as a student, while others guided me as an educator. There were happy and challenging moments with them; each experiencing playing a role in shaping the person I am today. I am grateful to have shared those experiences with them.

What was your most memorable moment at Bound Brook? 

There are so many memories to choose from, it is next to impossible to select one. I do believe, however, that the times that I’ve gotten to speak about my pride in our town resonate with me the most. I did so at a Board of Education meeting during high school. And just recently, I did so at Smalley School’s Multicultural Night two years ago and at an Alumni Panel at Bound Brook High School a few months ago.  We, the Crusaders, are often discounted as underdogs because of where we live and where we’ve come from; however, our story is so rich and so diverse because of our histories.  This is what makes us small but mighty and I don’t want anyone to forget it ever!

What advice would you give Bound Brook students looking to enter that career?

Teaching is one of the most noble professions and one of the most challenging and rewarding careers you can select. As members of the Bound Brook School Community, you know that the diversity of our student population does not match the diversity of the educator population. We need more representation in the Teaching profession. We need more males, and we need more Black and Latinx educators in our nation’s classrooms. We can all name one or more than one teacher who positively impacted our lives; don’t you want to be that same influence in someone else’s life someday?

Please consider pursuing a career in Education, and if you have any questions, reach out! I’m happy to help you to navigate this career path as the journey to licensure may look different for each of you.

What is a challenge or obstacle that you overcame and are proud of regarding your career?

The greatest challenge I have overcome in my career was being able to follow my heart! When I went to my high school guidance counselor to tell him I wanted to be a bilingual guidance counselor, he lost his mind. He screamed, “You’re too smart for Education!” I entered college to study accounting, and I was miserable. When I finally did what I felt called to do, I never looked back. I am so grateful for all I have accomplished as an educator, but most importantly, I am so incredibly proud of all my students have accomplished. They, and my son, are my legacy; I could not be prouder of all of them!

What are some future goals or aspirations that you have for your own career?

I have been teaching for 27 years.  My role in the classroom and the profession continues to evolve. Right now, I aspire to bring the Alternate Route to teaching program to Raritan Valley Community College.  Further, I am collaborating with other community college colleagues to develop a pathway for paraprofessionals to pursue teaching credentials, as well.  I want to ensure that the teacher pipeline is filled with passionate, qualified, community-oriented professionals who can serve their students and communities with pride, intelligence, and honor.

Dr. Suk encourages any student who may be interested in these programs or looking to learn more about pursuing Education as a career to reach out at 908-526-1200 x8983 or kathryn.suk@raritanval.edu.

El Yearbook Club está vendiendo anuarios por $29.50. ¡Consigue el tuyo para apreciar todos los momentos inolvidables de este año escolar antes de que el precio aumente a $35 después del 5 de mayo! Por favor ver documento adjunto

2025 CMS Yearbook Flyer

Now, Maria is marching toward fulfilling her ultimate goal: becoming a licensed attorney.   

The Bound Brook School District is excited to launch a new spotlight series on our talented alumni, who have excelled and broken barriers to become professionals in their field of studies.  

Get to know more about Maria: 

What is your career/college path?   

My current role is at Horizon BCBS as a Paralegal in the Government Programs Legal Department. I obtained my Associates in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies from Raritan Valley Community College. Through my educational and practical experience, I was able to receive an offer of employment. This is particularly exciting for me, as I am currently enrolled at Rutgers in the Bloustein Public Policy program and wanted to find a career within the healthcare industry. 

How did Bound Brook prepare you for your future?   

Bound Brook is so diverse that it allowed me to be confident with my own diversity. As a Costa Rican native, I always felt like I fit in with my peers. 

Did any teachers or staff mentor you along that path?   

I love world languages, so naturally, my language class was my favorite class. I would like to recognize Mr. Abd for always making French class fun and interactive. To this day, I still practice my French and look for moments to connect with the culture. 

What was your most memorable moment at Bound Brook?   

I have many fond memories at the school, one of my favorites would have to be the Girls Senior v. Juniors flag football game. It was intense but fun, and of course my Senior class won that year! 

What advice would you give Bound Brook students looking to enter that career?  

My advice would be to take some legal classes at Raritan Valley and see if anything strikes your interest. The legal classes at RV are taught by attorneys who have ample experience in the field, and therefore offer keen insight into what it is like to work within the legal field. 

What are some future goals or aspirations that you have for your own career?  

My ultimate goal is to obtain my Juris Doctorate and become a licensed attorney. I still have a long road ahead of me, but with patience and discipline anything is attainable. 

Each year, New Jersey school districts nominate their educators for the prestigious Governor’s Educator of the Year Award through the New Jersey Department of Education. The program seeks to recognize educators “who have gone above and beyond in their service to New Jersey’s students” and to create a culture that recognizes excellence and brings public attention to the work of outstanding educators.

“On behalf of the district and Board of Education, I want to say, ‘congratulations’ and ‘thank you’ to the 10 teachers and educational services professionals who were recognized through the program,” said Superintendent Alvin Freeman, Ed.D. “Their hard work and dedication to student success is what makes Bound Brook School District and its students bound for greatness.”

The Governor’s Educator of the Year recipients are:

Teachers:

Samantha Melesurgo, LaMonte/LaMonte Annex Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Stephanie Ackley, Lafayette Elementary Art Teacher

Gina Petrusky, Smalley Elementary Gifted and Talented Program Instructor

Kim Kredatus, Community Middle School Science Teacher

Joelle Smith, Bound Brook High School Mathematics Teacher

Educational Services Professionals:

Alma Pena, LaMonte/LaMonte Annex Teacher Assistant

Renee Jacobs-Grauer, Lafayette Elementary Speech Therapist

Lee Eaton, Smalley Elementary School Counselor

Genesis Picado, Community Middle School Teacher Assistant

Deborah Paulsen, Bound Brook High School Student Assistance Counselor

“We are incredibly honored to continue growing our relationship with Rutgers University and to streamline the path for classroom aides and paraprofessionals in Bound Brook to earn their teaching certificates,” said Superintendent Dr. Alvin Freeman. “Bound Brook’s educational support professionals already contribute so much to our schools and students, and this grant provides them with the financial support and mentorship to advance their careers as educators.” 

The state DOE awarded Ramapo College and Rutgers University in New Brunswick $400,000 each to partner with eight school districts. Funding will be used to offset the costs associated with tuition, books and materials, mentorships, and structured on-the-job training. 

Chief Academic Officer Robyn Griffin said this opportunity is important to BBSD as schools across the state and country look for ways to recruit and retain K-12 teachers amid shortages. The program came from recommendations of the Task Force on Public School Staff Shortages in New Jersey. 

“We hope that one of the outcomes of this program will be a stronger and more diversified teaching staff in BBSD,” Griffin said. “Not everyone follows a traditional path to become a teacher, so this program provides the support and mentorship for our classroom aides and paraprofessionals to become teachers and play an even greater role in the lives of Bound Brook students.” 

Paraprofessionals in the program can typically earn their state teaching certification in two to four years, depending on their level of experience and education when beginning the program. The program targets fields disproportionately impacted by staff shortages, such as special education, science, math, English as a second language, and bilingual education.  

“We are excited to begin this work and to continue growing our relationship with Rutgers,” Griffin said. “This program stands to benefit many paraprofessionals and classroom aides in Bound Brook.” 

This fall, every student will receive a new Chromebook to replace the previous devices that were almost 4 years old. Students in grades 7–12 will continue to take their devices home at the end of a school day, while students in grades K–6 will keep them on carts in their classrooms. 

“Dr. Freeman and I want to thank the Board of Education for supporting this initiative to bring updated technology into the hands of all Bound Brook students,” said Nick Veni, director of technology. “This continuous investment in technology is a testament to the district’s approach of ensuring all students have fair access to technology, which is critical in this increasingly digital world.” 

Bound Brook School District has long been ahead of the curve with technology. The initiative started in 2007 with the high school’s first 1:1 laptop program. That quickly expanded to a personal Chromebook for every student in K-12. This gave the district an advantage when the pandemic moved all communications online in 2020. 

This latest Chromebook deployment continues the effort to provide students from a young age with tools they will use throughout their education and careers.  

“These newer devices have upgraded hardware and faster processor speeds – almost double the speed of the old Chromebooks,” Veni said. “We also have partnered with a new vendor, MRA International, to provide frequent updates and faster repairs to the Chromebooks when needed.” 

Another key feature of Chromebooks is they are equipped with GoGuardian, a tool that keeps students safe by blocking non-educational or inappropriate content.  

Students have been excited to receive new Chromebooks. Eighth grader Ryan T. appreciated the mode of convenience that these bring to his daily school routine.  

“Work online is easier to save and it’s very useful,” he said. “We are given the responsibility to keep them charged and take them home.” 

Eighth grader Jerehmy S. also praised the new technology’s added layer of protection.  

“The new Chromebooks have a different casing, and I’m glad they provide more protection than the previous ones,” he said.