Dear Somerville Family,

I am so excited to begin my second year as your partner in your child’s education. Somerville is a special place, with the very best students, staff, and families working together to create a rich social, emotional, and academic experience for every child. By now, you should have already received important back-to-school information from your building principal; if you have any questions, that is the best place to start. As superintendent, I will continue sending monthly newsletters to keep you informed about district-wide updates and initiatives. I also encourage you to stay engaged in your child’s journey here in Somerville—your involvement makes a difference, and together we can ensure every student thrives. Here is what’s happening:

🎯 2025-2026 District Goals

Utilizing the audit and our district’s data, my administrative team and I presented the district goals at the August 26th Board of Education Meeting:

• Academic Achievement Goal: By the end of the 2025-2026 school year, we will increase student proficiency of meeting or exceeding expectations on NJSLA by 3%.

• Tier 1 Data-Based Decision Making: By the end of the 2025-2026 school year all staff will build their capacity to implement high-quality tier 1 framework.

• Culture and Climate Goal: To implement an empirically supported third party assessment that will provide information leading to continuous enhancement of school climate and culture.

We will periodically update and report progress to the school community on these important goals. 

📚 Summer Announcements:

• Freddie Shaker transferred from Supervisor of Math /Science to the Supervisor of Student Affairs at Somerville High School.

• We’ve updated the referendum website to reflect the projects planned over the next three years.

  • Expect updates and photos to keep you in the loop as work progresses.

👋 Come Meet Your Student’s Teachers (and Me!) at Back-to-School Nights

I’m excited to meet you and encourage you to join us at our upcoming Back-to-School Nights. This is a great opportunity to connect with your child’s teachers and learn about what’s in store for the year ahead. On the day of their Back to School Night, schools will follow a one-session day schedule with early dismissal:

• Vanderveer Elementary: Thursday, September 11th

• Somerville Middle School: Thursday, September 18th

• Somerville High School: Thursday, September 25th

🏅 Stay Updated
Check out our website for the latest on school events and programs. You can also find our sports schedules and follow us on social media for real-time updates:

• District Website

• Sports Schedules

• Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram

Warm regards,

Gary Lubisco, Jr.

Superintendent

Congratulations to Andrea Caporale, Library Media Specialist at Somerville High School, who has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 AECT Richard B. Lewis Memorial Award! This prestigious national honor recognizes outstanding leadership in technology integration and media utilization in schools. Andrea will attend the AECT Annual Convention this fall to accept her award and present her work on AI integration in education. Her session, titled “AI in the Library: Research, Ethics, and Information Literacy,” will spotlight the innovative practices underway here in Somerville Schools. We are proud to have Andrea representing our district on the national stage!

What a summer! We're so proud of all the students who participated in our enriching summer programs this year. From our summer academic programs to the fantastic performances put on by summer music and summer theater, it was incredible to see students learn, grow, and connect with one another. Thank you to all the students, staff, and families who made this summer a resounding success!

Somerville Schools is thrilled to welcome our new staff members! Their journey began with a comprehensive orientation, the first step in our induction process. During this time, they had the chance to get to know one another and familiarize themselves with our school's procedures, protocols, and systems.

Our teachers also had dedicated time to review curriculum frameworks, tour the town, and connect with their building administrators. This orientation was designed to provide them with the support they need to make a smooth transition into their new roles. Looking forward to a great year!