OVHSA Meeting Minutes - April 2025

Date: Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025 

 Time: 7pm 

 Location: Oak View School 

• President (Joelle Bernhard)
• A motion was brought to the floor to vote in the March Meeting Minute, was seconded and passed. The April meeting began.  
• Board of Ed Rep (Kasey Dudley) 
• April is Autism Awareness and acceptance
• CONGRATULATIONS
• Congratulations to Superintendent Goncalves
• Superintendent Goncalves was honored by Montclair State University College for Education and Engaged Learning! The Agenda for Education in Democracy recognized his unwavering commitment to children's stewardship and his powerful advocacy for social justice and equity in public schools.
• Mrs. Chern Is the District Teacher of the Year
• Mairead Chern from Fairview School has been named our Bloomfield Public School District Teacher of the Year.
• Congratulations to Athletic Director Mr. Steve Jenkins for being recognized for outstanding service to the Basketball Officials Association.
• DISTRICT
• Bloomfield Schools Were Awarded $2000 By Sustainable New Jersey For Schools.
• Bloomfield Schools celebrated SEL Day on March 3. Students participated in various activities, lessons and activities throughout the day.
• All Bloomfield schools participated in the Sandy Hook Promise initiative, Say Something Week, the week of March 3-7.
• The district held a very successful Kindergarten Registration Informational session that was attended by many people.
• We look forward to meeting and welcoming all of our newest Bengals this Fall.
• Bloomfield Schools celebrated Pi Day on 3/14.
• Bloomfield Schools celebrate Women's History Month through various lessons, activities and celebrations.
• Fine Arts students participated in the Town wide Music Festival at BHS on March 19.
• Spring Concerts are happening soon, please check the website for dates for your school date and time.
• Bloomfield Schools kicked off Autism Acceptance/Awareness Month at all schools.
• High School
• We want to congratulate all of our Seniors as they continue to be accepted into many different colleges and universities.
• Congrats to those students who have enrolled in trade school and our armed forces.
• We are proud of all of you as you begin your next journey.
• Congratulations to the incredible BSU Leadership Relations Official, Semaj Haqq, for being recognized as a 2025 Essex County Unsung Hero! Your dedication and impact do not go unnoticed. Well deserved.
• Congratulations to the Bloomfield High School Wind Ensemble for their performance today at NJSMA Region Band Festival! They were awarded a Gold rating along with awards for Outstanding Brass Section & Outstanding Musicianship for their Euphonium student’s performance.
• Middle School
• Bloomfield Middle School celebrated Pi Day (3/14) . Check BMS social media for lots of fun pictures and videos captured that day.
• BMS held a very successful Orientation that was attended by future BMS students and parents.
• Elementary News
• Bloomfield Schools celebrated our annual One Book Initiative this past month (The Lemonade War). It was a fun learning experience for our students and we thank the teachers and parents for their support.
• Fairview Student Takes USAW Girls Bantam Championship
• A huge THANK YOU to Professor Kazoun and the College of Education at William Paterson University for sharing incredible artifacts with us to create an interactive museum in honor of the Negro Baseball League at Berkeley School.
• A very special book was released this past month! Franklin math interventionist, Tracy Costanza, has published her first children's book, Sunday Dinner. Be sure to check it out!
• All schools celebrated Read Across America Week earlier in March. Thank you to all school media specialists who made this an enjoyable week for the whole school community.
• Berkeley hosted our Family Math Nights! March Madness-themed activities were a huge success as we concluded the month of March as a basketball-themed school! Students and parents were basketball jerseys to our event!
• Brookdale. Our Diversity Committee planned Spirit Week leading up to our HSA Small World Night. Throughout the week, students celebrated their backgrounds and heritage. On Friday, the HSA held their Small World Night in which members of our school community celebrated their cultures represented at Brookdale.
• Carteret The Carteret Center Stage Players proudly presented The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson. This year is Carteret's 10th annual production! Students in grades 4, 5, 6 have been in rehearsal since December to bring the classic story of The Little Mermaid to life.
• Demarest- The HSA Tricky Tray was a success and raised funds to support our Demarest students.
• ECC- On Friday, March 21st, the HSA treated the staff and students to coffee and treats in celebration of National Preschool Teacher Day.
• Franklin held their One Book Community Night. Parents and students enjoyed many fun activities. Our third-grade teacher Mr. Prais made an actual lemonade stand which will be raffled off on Friday to one lucky student.
• Oakview-Our HSA Basketball Awards Night was held on Friday. Our Tiger athletes were recognized for their hard work and achievements on the basketball court. It was also a great way to celebrate the dedication of parent coaches and volunteers.
• Watsessing-have two exciting events for our school community. On Thursday, we will host our One Book Community Night featuring The Lemonade War. This event will provide an engaging opportunity for families to come together, participate in activities, and discuss the themes of the book.
• Important Dates
• Please check the website link for all the upcoming events across the district
• 4/8/2025 BOE Meeting
• 4/22/25 Special Board Meeting (Postscript: Recommend attended this meeting to learn about/understand Board vs. Admin. responsibilities)
• 4/29/25 Board Meeting (Public Hearing of the Budget)
• 6:30 PM Executive Session/7:30 PM Public Session
• Board Meetings will remain in the Conference Room of the Administration Building.
• 5/13/25 BOE Meeting
• 5/27/25 BOE Meeting
• April 30 will be Autism Night of Lights--look for more info!
• Look out for 2025-2026 School Calendar.
• Principal (Linda Lo) 
• Thank You: 
• A heartfelt thank you to the HSA for organizing the Native American Assembly. We also extend our deepest appreciation for the wonderful Talent Show- from the host to the sound system, the choreographed dances, and the decorations; it was a grand ole time. Lastly, thank you to all the parents for another successful basketball season! Go, Tigers! 
• Autism Acceptance Month:
• Oak View will kick off Autism Acceptance Month with a spirit week, starting with Rainbow Day on Monday, April 7th. Each grade will be designated a different color of the rainbow and we will capture this colorful event with a school- wide picture!
• *Kindergarten: Red 
• *4th Grade: Blue
• *1st Grade: Orange 
• *5th Grade: Purple
• *2nd Grade: Yellow
• *6th Grade: Pink
• *3rd Grade: Green 
• Safety Reminder: 
• When visiting our school, please continue to scan your ID through T-Pass, which ensures that all visitors in the building are accounted for and registered within our system. Then, please come straight to the main office to sign in and receive a guest pass.
• If you are volunteering and wish to take your children before dismissal, please inform the main office so they can contact the teacher and then sign them out. For the safety of students, adults should not go into classrooms to retrieve their children.
• Caught with Character Program: 
• Congratulations to all Tigers who were nominated by teachers and peers for demonstrating a “Creative” attitude throughout March! We’re excited to celebrate their achievements with a special bagel breakfast. 
• What's Happening at Oak View:
• Cafecito Chats: April 9 (in-person), and 30th (virtual) 
• Autism Acceptance Spirit Week: April 7 - April 11, 2025 
• Bring Your Child to Work Day: April 24, 2025 
• Sensory Experience: April 25, 2025 
• Walk to School with the Bloomfield Police Department: April 30, 2025; meeting spot is at John’s Deli
• Night of Lights for Autism: April 30, 2025 
• Looking Ahead: NJSLA exams for grades 3-6 begin the week of Monday, April 28th.
• Teacher Representative (Laurie Ritacco)
• Thanks to the HSA for Soup Day!  It's a Staff favorite!
• Please let teachers know if your child will be out before or after Spring Break! 
• Recording Secretary (Lauren Benech)
• The meeting is being recorded; please speak loudly for the microphone. 
• Our next meeting is May 7th, 7pm.   
• Committee Updates:  
• Tricky Tray (Major Fundraiser)
• April 3rd, doors open at 6.  Cocktail hour is from 6:30-7:30.  Please bring cash.
• 50/50 and Super Grand Prizes available!
• So many prizes, please help out distributing when your grade is called throughout the night. 
• Postscript: Thank you Joelle Bernhard, Dana Lynn D'Ambrosio, Karen Cecire, Maria Lugo-Wannat and the Major Fundraiser Committee for a fabulous Tricky Tray! An event like this takes months to plan, and these ladies did an amazing job. Thank you for a fun night out! 
• FUNRaising
• Mr. Cupcakes order pickup will be on 4/10 at after school on the blacktop.  
• Thanks you for your support!   
• Enrichment
• Native American assembly was great!  
• Basketball 
• The season finished up, and Family Basketball night was a success!
• Agreed that extra ice cream in the freezer should go to the teachers. 
• Thank you to all volunteers and coaches!
• Discussion of future of HSA Basketball Program.  
• Used Book Sale 
• This was a success!
• Remainder of books will go to Kindness Carnival and the Essex Book Pantry.
• Thanks to all who volunteered for this event!  
• Talent Show  
• Thanks to all performers, audience members and volunteers!
• After School Explorers 
• That's a wrap on this year ASE!
• Thanks to the committee and all parent volunteers! 
• Giving Garden
• Students on the Green Team planted daffodils, tulips and hyacinth in March and have been growing seedlings of tomato, spinach and herbs in the classroom to later plant in the garden.
• Met with members of the Bloomfield Beautification Committee at the Watsessing Butterfly Garden to discuss building a pollinator garden with native plants. They’re going to donate some plants, and we appreciate their support and guidance!
• Garden maintenance will include replacing two garden beds, sanding and sealing some of the wooden structures, refreshing the soil, weeding, and pruning and will take place on the weekends of April 26 and May 3. Girl Scout troop reached out to help–that’s much appreciated! 
• Kindergarten, the ABA classes, and the SLLD class will paint rocks to place around the garden on May 8 (rain date May 13).
• Grade 6 students will “leave their legacy” by painting their handprints in the garden on May 8 (rain date May 13).
• Grades 1-5 will plant vegetables, herbs and flowers in the garden on May 29 (rain date May 30).
• Sign up for volunteers is out amongst the committee. Will open to the community if we need more volunteers.  
• Teacher Appreciation Week 
• First full week of May (5/5-5/9)---look for more communication.  
• Class Parents will need to prepare door posters that will be installed on Monday, May 5th. 
• Someone Special Sale  
• Friday, May 9th (in-school)
• Planting will be on Wednesday, May 7th
• Volunteers needed!  Please reach out if you have time to give!
• Kindness Carnival
• Friday, April 11th (in school)
• Volunteers needed!  Please reach out if you have time to give!
  
• 6th Grade  
• Graduation 
• Saturday May 10 is last 6th Grade Fundraiser on the blacktop! 
• April 10th is class photo with class sweatshirt/tshirt
• Year Book  
• Deadline approaching! Volunteers, please finish up pages!
• New Business 
• Nominations
• A motion was brought to the floor to vote in the nominees for the 2025-2027 OVHSA Executive Board, was seconded.  
  
• President: Jennifer Obiedzinski
• Vice President: Krystal Yip
• Treasurers (2): Mona Kaur and Aileen Kakol
• Recording Secretary: Kim Jaumot
• Corresponding Secretary: Courtney Crespo
• All in favor (11), non opposed the motion was passed. 
• A motion was brought to the floor to conclude the April meeting, was seconded and the meeting ended.