Tomorrow, Thursday, September 4, marks the first day of school for the 2025 - 2026 school year!
Over the summer, our team has been hard at work preparing new initiatives and tools to support our students and families. Below, you’ll find important updates and information to help you start the year strong.
We are excited for all that we will accomplish together and look forward to a fantastic year ahead.
We can't wait to welcome you back, Lions!
Xanthy Karamanos, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
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Did you know that school attendance is the leading indicator of your child’s lifelong success?
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. Strong partnerships between families and schools are essential for ensuring student success. We understand that there are many reasons why your student might miss school. Our goal is to set you and your family up for success.
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Lunch Applications are now being processed via Genesis Parent Portal, please log into your account to complete and submit. You don't need to print out the application everything will be processed via the portal.
Should you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact Amy Kopp at amy.kopp@leoniaschools.org.
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Our district uses ParentSquare for school communication, primarily with email, text and app notifications. ParentSquare automatically syncs with Genesis to generate an account for each parent, using their preferred email address and phone number. ParentSquare is a safe, secure, and modern approach to communication and collaboration between school and home.
👉 To learn more about ParentSquare, review FAQ's, or learn tips and tricks to the platform, visit the ParentSquare page on our district website.
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When questions or concerns come up, we encourage parents, students, and community members to follow our Chain of Communication, now posted on our website. Starting with the right contact at the school level helps ensure you receive the quickest and most accurate response. Our goal is to work collaboratively with families to support students in a timely way.
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For tech help, please email the parent & student help desk email address at:
In your email, please include:
- Your full name
- Student ID Number
- Detailed description of the issue you’re experiencing.
- Note: The more information you provide (such as device type, screenshots, error messages, and steps you've already tried), the better we’ll be able to assist you.
Be sure to keep an eye out for a response back from the helpdesk@leoniaschools.org email address.
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We are excited to share that our new district website has officially launched! 🎉
Our new site has been redesigned to be more user-friendly, mobile-friendly, and filled with updated information for families, students, and staff. You’ll still find us at the same address: www.leoniaschools.org
What’s New?
- A clean, updated look that makes it easier to find what you need.
- Quick links to important resources like calendars, lunch menus, and ParentSquare.
- Pages dedicated to academics, student services, and family resources.
- A brand-new AI chatbot to help visitors quickly access information anytime, from any device.
What pages should I visit?
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Food Services: For more information on our food services program, and for guides on how to set up your PaySchools account (including a video on how to set up meal restrictions)
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Calendar of Events: The district and each school has a "calendar of events" page that you can now subscribe to and link our events to your personal calendar.
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Student Support & Programs: Learn more about the programs we offer by visiting our Student Support & Programs page.
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Strategic Planning Roadmap: As we head into the first year of our 2025-2030 strategic plan, we've created a roadmap on our website to help bring Leonia’s vision for the future to life. This living resource allows families and community members to follow along with the priorities, progress, and initiatives shaping our schools.
We encourage you to explore the site, bookmark important pages, and check back often for updates and announcements. This is just the beginning, we’ll continue adding new features and resources throughout the year to better serve our school community.
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This summer, our AI Implementation Team met to identify thoughtful ways to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support teaching and learning across all grade levels. Our AI Implementation Team has developed clear classroom guidelines and resources to ensure these tools are used responsibly, safely, effectively, and developmentally appropriate.
These guidelines will help both teachers and students understand when and how AI can be used in learning, while maintaining a strong focus on academic integrity, creativity, and critical thinking. As we move forward, principals and teachers will share more about how AI will be integrated into classrooms.
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Last night, the Board of Education approved a revised "Use of Electronic Devices" Policy to help create a more focused and respectful learning environment for all students.
The policy limits the use of personal devices, including cell phones, smart watches, earbuds, and recording devices, during the school day. To protect privacy and safety, recording audio, video, or images of students or staff without permission is strictly prohibited. Please note: Consequences for violations will increase with repeated offenses.
For more information about how the policy applies at your child’s school, please review your school’s student handbook or visit the updated policy online.
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As we continue moving our Gifted & Talented (G&T) plan forward, our administrative team completed training this summer as the first step in strengthening our programs. We are now entering the next phase, which includes forming committees, with parent representatives, to:
- Develop and share common language around gifted education and enrichment
- Review cognitive assessment measures and refine identification practices and program offerings
- Plan learning opportunities for parents
👉 Visit our G&T page for more details.
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Our Buildings and Grounds team was hard at work this summer making sure our schools are ready to welcome students and staff back for the new year.
From essential maintenance, like the PSE&G Electrical work, to renovations and upgrades that enhance learning spaces, like the LHS Media Center, their efforts keep our buildings safe, clean, and welcoming.
Here are just a few of the many improvements completed this summer.
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Nothing matters more to us than the safety and well-being of your child. At Leonia Public Schools, we are committed to creating safe, welcoming, and supportive schools where students can focus on learning and growing. To learn more about how we keep our schools secure and supportive, visit:
We encourage all students, staff, and families to play an active role in safety by staying informed, speaking up about concerns, and following school procedures. Together, we can make sure Leonia schools remain a safe place to learn, grow, and succeed.
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This summer, our district administrators created a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) guide to help families better understand Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB), including key terms, processes, and what to expect during investigations. We know there are many common misconceptions about HIB, and this resource is designed to provide clarity and support.
If you have further questions, please reach out to your school’s Anti-Bullying Specialist or our District Anti-Bullying Coordinator.
District Anti-Bullying Coordinator
Jenna Russo, M.A., jenna.russo@leoniaschools.org
LHS Anti-Bullying Specialist
Ally Lundy, M.S.Ed., PD, allyson.lundy@leoniaschools.org
LMS Anti-Bullying Specialist
Kelly Whalen, kelly.whalen@leoniaschools.org
ACS Anti-Bullying Specialist
Justin Cooper, justin.cooper@leoniaschools.org
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At Leonia Public Schools, nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our students. We have strict hiring and screening procedures, clear conduct policies, mandatory reporting requirements, and staff training programs to ensure strong safeguards are in place. By combining prevention, education, and accountability, we put student safety first, always.
👉 Learn more by visiting our Safety Page on the district website, or read the full Board of Education statement here.
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We know that strong family partnerships are key to student success. On our website, we've added a page that connects families with trusted supports in our community, so you always know where to turn.
Whether you’re seeking food assistance, mental health services, or community programs, you’ll find quick links and hotlines here. All of these resources are confidential and many are free of cost.
đź“ž Key Hotlines & Support Services
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988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 anytime.
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PerformCare NJ Parent Crisis Hotline: 1-877-652-7624 – Free, in-home mental health support for children.
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2nd Floor Teen Support Line: 1-888-222-2228 – 24/7 access for students to speak with a counselor.
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Center for Hope & Safety: 201-944-9600 – Domestic violence support services.
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NJ 2-1-1: Dial 211 or 1-877-652-1148 – Connects families with local services and assistance programs.
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Center for Food Action: 201-569-1804 – Food distribution by appointment (Englewood).
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CarePlus NJ: 201-986-5000 – Counseling and wellness services.
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New Bridge Medical Center: 1-800-730-2762 – Counseling and inpatient care.
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Bergen County Family Services: Click here for more information.
- Additional Bergen County Resources
If you have questions or need help navigating these supports, please reach out to your child’s school. We are here to help families feel informed, supported, and empowered, every step of the way.
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Earlier this week, the Leonia Police Department sent out a Nixle alert with the information below:
Students return to Leonia Public Schools this Thursday, September 4th. We would like to remind motorists to use caution around the public schools and to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. Motorists should also allow for extra time as traffic delays are frequent this time of year. Please make sure to park only in legal parking spots. Parking in prohibited spaces near intersections and crosswalks is dangerous as motorists’ visibility of children crossing can be obstructed.
The west side of Highland Street (directly in front of the Anna C Scott School) is a no parking zone. The west side of the street may be used to “drop off and go”. Please pull up as far as possible on Highland Street to drop off students. Parking or leaving your vehicle unattended is prohibited. If you need to walk a student to the school entrance, please find a legal parking spot on adjacent streets or municipal parking lots.
The traffic pattern at Leonia Middle School will remain the same as last year. Christie Heights Street from Kingsley Street to Broad Avenue will be one way eastbound during the school day. Turning west onto Christie Heights Street from Broad Avenue will be prohibited. Motorists are reminded that double parking to drop off and pick up students is illegal and dangerous.
The following intersections will continue to have school crossing guards and we encourage pedestrians to cross at these locations:
- Broad Avenue at the intersections of Christie Heights Street, Hillside Avenue, Fort Lee Road and Crescent Avenue.
- Grand Avenue at the intersections of Christie Heights Street and Fort Lee Road.
- Glenwood Avenue at the intersections of Fort Lee Road and Crescent Avenue.
- The Fort Lee Road construction between Broad Avenue and Glenwood Avenue has been completed. The road work continues this week on Fort Lee Road between Glenwood Avenue and the Fort Lee border. Traffic in both directions will be alternated in one lane, so expect delays. We hope this initial work will be completed on Monday, September 8th.
We wish all returning students and faculty a safe and successful school year!
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