We are thrilled to celebrate four outstanding Leonia High School musicians who represented our district in the prestigious NJMEA All-State Chorus and Orchestra ensembles this November!

These highly talented students performed at the annual New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA) concert at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). Their selection required a rigorous, competitive audition process, recognizing them as among the very best high school musicians in the state. Their hard work, dedication, and musical excellence reflect the continued strength of Leonia’s music program.

Congratulations to our musicians on this incredible accomplishment:

The spirit of giving was strong across the district this month, with our student service clubs mobilizing to provide meaningful support to local families facing food insecurity.

LHS Service Club hosted a highly successful food and toiletry donation drive to assist Leonia families who did not receive their November SNAP benefits. Thanks to the generous contributions of our students, staff, and community, the club provided assistance to more than 20 local families. A photo of the work of the LHS Service Club is below on the right.

LMS Service Club students similarly took action by delivering all food collected at the Middle School to the St. John Food Pantry. Their incredible generosity is providing meaningful support to local families during the holiday season. A photo of the LMS Service Club dropping off their donation is below on the left.

The ACS Third and Fourth Grade Student Council members also visited the St. John Food Pantry to drop off their community donations. Our youngest students were thrilled to see their collections ready to make a difference in the lives of community members. A photo of the ACS Student Council members dropping off their donation is on the right.

We are proud of our students for stepping up, working together, and showing what it means to give back, and are deeply grateful for the compassion and teamwork that made these efforts possible.

​Congratulations to Mr. Tim Cullen who received the William M. Corcoran Service to Youth Award for Contributions to High School Female Athletics), a well-deserved honor that reflects a remarkable career dedicated to teaching, coaching, and mentoring young people. Mr. Cullen was honored at the 60th Annual Bergen County YMCA Sports Award Banquet on Tuesday, November 25.

Known for his passion both in the classroom and on the court, Mr. Cullen has an incredible coaching record of over 500 career victories and led the Lady Lions to a long list of accomplishments including: 18 league titles, 15 state sectional championships, five county titles, and two state group championships. He has been named Bergen County Girls Tennis Coach of the Year six times, NJSIAA Coach of the Year in 2019, and was inducted into the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2002. Beyond the trophies and titles, Mr. Cullen is celebrated for the impact he has had on his players as people. His leadership, mentorship, and belief in the power of education and athletics have shaped generations of students.

Congratulations to Mr. Cullen on ​t​his prestigious honor! We deeply appreciate your passion, commitment, and unwavering dedication to our Leonia Lions.

This month, ACS teachers participated in dedicated professional development focused on enriching learning experiences for our gifted and talented students. As part of our district’s commitment outlined in the strategic plan, educators took a deep dive into advanced instructional strategies, and explored innovative ways to integrate engaging, challenging opportunities and higher-level thinking into their daily classroom. The goal is to maximize the potential of every learner by ensuring we are providing responsive instruction that meets students where they are. This training kicked off their professional development series on supporting all learners in reaching their highest potential.

Last Wednesday, the LHS Leonia Academy for Hospitality and Culinary Arts (LAHCA) held their annual Cookie Wars competition. Thank you to all of the bakers, participants, and judges for making this year's event another huge success. A special thank you to our co-sponsor Visions Federal Credit Union. We appreciate their continued partnership and commitment to our students.

We are pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Cookie Wars:

Congratulations to all our talented bakers on their creativity and hard work!

In the event of a school closing, delayed opening, or emergency announcement, Leonia Public Schools will share information through calls, email, live feed on our website, and notifications through our ParentSquare app. To stay connected, please:

👉 Visit our Inclement Weather page for more information, including each school's schedule for delayed opening and early dismissals.

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 linked email address and phone number.

The app makes it easy to stay informed and engaged with what’s happening in our schools. You’ll receive real-time notifications and have all school updates, newsletters, and event information right at your fingertips. If you haven't already, please download the ParentSquare App to update your preferences on when and how you want to be notified.

For seven years, a certain boy wizard attended a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of The Puffs...the ones who just happened to be there, too.

Join the LHS Limelighters for a hilarious and heartwarming tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world!

When: Friday, December 5 & Saturday, December 6

Where: LHS Little Theater

Act now! The deadline to purchase chromebook insurance through SmartTech is today, December 1, 2025.

For an annual fee of $26, coverage protects against accidental damage, theft, liquid damage, and battery issues. Without insurance, repair or replacement costs can be significant, for example, a broken screen is $98, and a lost Chromebook is $298.

If you have any questions, please contact: helpdesk@leoniaschools.org

To register, please visit: www.smarttechins.com/leonia

Gemini, Google’s generative AI tool, can be used by students at home and in the classroom to enhance learning, critical thinking, and creativity. Used responsibly, Gemini becomes an invaluable learning tool that is available 24/7.

Gemini is built to help students move from getting an answer to gaining a deeper understanding.

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.

👉 Visit our Attendance Page for more school procedures.

At November’s Campfire, our 1st and 2nd graders gathered to focus on one of TRACK’s most important value: KINDNESS!

Today’s campfire activities included thank-you circles and thoughtful conversations about how kindness, and even unkindness, can be contagious. Students reflected on the power their words and actions have each day, and how every one of us plays an important role in making ACS a supportive, welcoming place to be.

LMS was filled with wagging tails and warm hearts this week as Ollie the Therapy Dog made a special visit to meet with groups of our students. Ollie’s owner, Vanessa, shared delightful stories about Ollie’s puppy days, his journey to becoming a certified therapy dog, and fun facts about the lovable Golden Doodle breed.

Students were all smiles as Ollie soaked up every bit of attention- offering gentle snuggles, soft paws, and lots of love. In return, our Cubs and Lions gave Ollie plenty of affection, making the visit a truly joyful experience for everyone involved. We’re grateful to Vanessa and Ollie for bringing so much warmth, comfort, and connection to our LMS community.

On Monday and Tuesday, students in AP Psychology recreated a famous experiment by Elizabeth Loftus on the misinformation effect and the fallibility of memory. They watched a video of a car crash and then graphed their estimates of the cars’ speeds, analyzing how the wording of questions influenced their perceptions. The class also explored two different ways to visualize the data and participated in a demonstration showing how false memories can be constructed. Using evidence from these activities, students formed arguments supporting the fallibility of memory, practicing skills similar to those required on the AP exam.

French II LHS students wrapped up their housing unit with a hands-on project, where they designed and built their own dream homes. Using recyclable materials like bottle caps, cardboard, and small boxes, students created detailed models complete with furniture and decorations. Each room was labeled in French, giving them a practical way to apply their vocabulary while showing off their creativity. The project blended design, imagination, and language practice in a way that made the unit both memorable and meaningful.

The LMS Environmental Club visited the Bronx Zoo for the Conservation Innovation program. Students explored real-world conservation stories—like efforts to save the Kihansi spray toad—and met Glacier the chinchilla while learning about the fur trade in South America. They also tackled New York City’s rat problem from different stakeholder perspectives and worked together to propose solutions. The trip wrapped up with a behind-the-scenes look at the gorillas’ bedroom, a ride on the big carousel, and a visit to the Madagascar exhibit.

Students in Conversations in Humanities II class recently stepped into the shoes of historians during a highlights tour at the New York Historical Society. They analyzed objects, works of art, and historical documents, exploring how historians study the past and uncover stories from real artifacts. This hands-on experience not only made history come alive but also sharpened their critical thinking skills.

The LHS Debate Team competed in the Bergen County Debate League event at Fort Lee High School. Our teams did a great job, finishing with a 2–2 record against seven other schools. A special shout-out to Bertpwa Saleb, who earned one of the top Judge’s Awards of the day. Amazing work by all involved!