Somerville Public Schools

December 2025 News

From the Superintendent JR Lubisco

Dear Somerville Family,

🏫 Somerville Schools: Momentum & gratitude

As the winter break approaches, it is a perfect time to pause and reflect on the strength of the Somerville community. I want to express my sincere gratitude for our dedicated staff, the unwavering support of our families, and the remarkable curiosity and resilience of our students.

We are seeing meaningful progress on the priorities we set to ensure every student is supported, challenged, and inspired. Our focus remains on:

Academic achievement.

Strong Tier 1 instruction.

Positive school climate and culture.

These goals continue to guide all of our work, ensuring that when we return in the New Year, we are ready to build on the progress we have made together.

📊 Climate survey update: Voices heard

The New Jersey School Climate Improvement (NJSCI) Survey has officially closed, and we saw impressive participation across our student, staff, and parent communities.

Why it matters: High engagement ensures the data we receive accurately reflects the "pulse" of Somerville schools.

This direct feedback is the foundation for meeting our district Culture & Climate Goal.

What's happening:

Data analysis: Rutgers University is currently processing the responses to ensure anonymity and accuracy.

Deep dive: They are organizing the data to highlight specific trends, celebrations, and opportunities for growth within our schools.

What's next: Once Rutgers delivers the final analysis to our team, we will review the findings and share key takeaways with the school community.

🎉 Somerville District Educators of the Year (2025-2026)

Every year, the Somerville School District, in collaboration with the NJ Department of Education, celebrates the incredible people who inspire our students and foster a thriving, respectful learning environment. These recipients truly exemplify excellence in education!

Van Derveer School

Educator of the Year: Christine Garot

Educational Services Professional of the Year: Nancy De Nero

Somerville Middle School

Educator of the Year: Tara Morash

Educational Services Professional of the Year: Nashwa Tauriello

Somerville High School

Educator of the Year: Colin Williamson

Educational Services Professional of the Year: Carrie Capozzi

🏀 Inclusive excellence: A national win for SHS

I am thrilled to announce that Somerville High School has been selected as one of only five schools nationwide to receive a donation of adaptive sports equipment.

Bridgestone awarded $25,000 to Expand Adaptive Sports Programming.

This grant directly supports our district goal of a positive, inclusive school culture.

By providing equitable access to sports, we ensure that every student in Somerville has the chance to experience the teamwork, resilience, and joy that comes from athletics

🏅 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

Referendum Updates

Sports Schedules

Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram

Looking forward to more great weeks ahead!

Warm regards,

Gary Lubisco, Jr.

Superintendent

2025-2026 Governor’s Educator of the
Year Recognition Program

Somerville Medical Sciences Academy (SMSA)

The Somerville Medical Sciences Academy (SMSA), in partnership with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Somerset, provides SHS students with career exploration opportunities in the fields of biological science and allied health care. Students complete concentrated coursework while also receiving field experience and job shadowing. Students will learn firsthand about the many health care careers available and gain valuable knowledge, skills, and experiences. Current 8th grade students can apply by January 30, 2026 to participate in the SMSA program. More information is available on the Somerville High School website.

Storytelling with AI

On November 18, 2025, students from Mr. Larkins’ high school ESL class visited Van Derveer for Storytelling with AI, a collaborative workshop made possible through the Artificial Intelligent Innovation in Education Grant. Led by SHS Library Media Specialist, Andrea Caporale, AI Outreach & Equity Coordinator for the Grant, the event brought together kindergarten, first-grade, fourth-grade, and high school Multilingual Learners for a dynamic 40-minute session that blended technology, creativity, and community building.

During the workshop, students learned to use SchoolAI and Canva to co-create original digital stories. High school Multilingual Learners served as leaders and mentors, guiding younger students in brainstorming ideas, organizing narratives, and experimenting with visual design tools.

This partnership not only highlighted the safe and practical uses of AI in education, but also strengthened leadership, collaboration, and SEL skills across grade levels. The experience provided meaningful opportunities for all students to practice English, express their creativity, and discover the power of storytelling to connect and uplift their school community.

AI Presentation at NJASCD

A team from Somerville Public Schools, including high school librarian Andrea Caporale, high school English teacher Courtney Grace, elementary ESL teacher Dana Nelson, and Director of Technology and Innovation Arielle Denrich, presented their work at NJASCD. They highlighted how AI is being used across grade levels to strengthen instruction, support diverse learners, and expand creative expression. Each presenter shared concrete examples from their classrooms and programs, showing how thoughtful AI integration helps students brainstorm, revise, explore, and create with greater confidence. Their session demonstrated how Somerville is building systems, guidance, and professional learning that make AI both accessible and meaningful for teachers and students.