Dear ACS Families,
What a busy and exciting week it has been at ACS! We kicked things off with an unforgettable visit from the Harlem Wizards, an event filled with laughter and lots of school spirit! Beyond the excitement, our classrooms have been buzzing with meaningful learning and creativity. We wrapped up the week with Valentine’s celebrations, spreading kindness and friendship throughout our school community.
Please note that there will be no newsletter next week due to the short week. Schools will also be closed on Monday, 2/16 and Tuesday, 2/17 in observance of Presidents Day. We hope you enjoy the extended time with your families.
As Ramadan begins next week, we extend warm wishes to our students, families, and staff who observe. Ramadan Mubarak to all who are welcoming this sacred month. May it be a meaningful time of reflection, prayer, and community.
Thank you for being such an important part of all the learning and joy happening at ACS.
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The world-famous Harlem Wizards are coming to town for an unforgettable night of basketball, laughs, and high-flying tricks — and they’re taking on our very own Leonia Teachers!
Saturday, February 28th
Doors open at 6:00 PM
Tip-off at 7:00 PM
Leonia High School Gym
This is a family-friendly event packed with jaw-dropping shots, crowd-pleasing fun, and tons of school spirit.
Tickets are on sale NOW — and they’re going fast!
Don’t wait… this event always sells out! Come cheer, laugh, and support our Leonia community. We can’t wait to see you there! s a
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Our first graders marked 100 days of learning through fun and engaging activities. From engineering cup towers to problem-solving puzzles and creative writing challenges, students explored the number 100 in exciting ways! |
Our PreK classrooms were filled with excitement as students counted their way to 100, one sticker at a time. Their bright gumball machines showcased both their creativity and growing math skills. |
What’s the big idea? Fourth-grade students are strengthening their literary analysis skills by identifying theme. After reading Ron’s Big Mission, Mrs. McQuade’s class worked together to write a collaborative essay, using text evidence to support their thinking and deepen their understanding. |
Grade 1 students and PALS teamed up for a high-energy TRACKtivity that emphasized cooperation, communication, and teamwork. Students learned that when we work together, everyone’s learning grows stronger. |
In fourth grade, conversations about kindness turned into meaningful action. Students created Valentine’s cards for Holy Name Hospital, demonstrating that caring for others extends far beyond the classroom. |
Second graders teamed up with their PALS buddies for a high-energy TRACK workshop focused on collaboration and teamwork. Through interactive activities and shared challenges, students practiced communication, encouragement, and working together toward a common goal. |
Our PE classes turned into a Winter Olympic arena! Students experienced the excitement of ice hockey, curling, biathlon, aerial skiing, and more—learning new skills and cheering each other on along the way. |
For Valentine’s Day, classes from Mrs. Fisher and Ms. Albanese participated in a Connected By Creativity activity. Students learned that teamwork and creativity go hand in hand, making friendship even sweeter! |
Our students are learning what it truly means to be an upstander—someone who speaks up, stands strong, and supports others everywhere they go. Through TRACK, they are building the skills and confidence to make positive choices and help create a safe, respectful community. |
Our students have been busy earning 572 TRACK Acts since September! Each act reflects effort, kindness, and responsibility, showing how small actions can make a big impact on our school community. We are well on our way to reaching our goal of 800 TRACK Acts before the end of the school year! |
Join us for the upcoming Korean Cultural Festival! Leonia students have been working hard to prepare, and they are excited to share an evening of dance, music, and traditions with our whole community. This year’s festival will be held at the Leonia High School Little Theatre on Friday, February 27th from 6:30 - 8:00 PM. We hope to see you there! |
Onwards and Upwards!
Justine Choi & Melissa Freeman
Co-Presidents, 2024 - 2026
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* Click here to learn how to get ParentSquare messages in the language of your choice * Click here to support our school and donate to the ACS HSA
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Registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now live! Here's what you need to know:
📅Register by April 2, 2026 to guarantee placement for Leonia residents.
Who's eligible? Pre-K 4 → Turns 4 by October 1, 2026 | Kindergarten → Turns 5 by October 1, 2026
Already in Pre-K 4? If your child is currently enrolled in Pre-K 4 as a Leonia resident, you do not need to register — they'll be automatically promoted to Kindergarten.
3 Steps to Register:
- Complete the online registration & Home Language Survey at www.leoniaschools.org/prek-k-registration (registration checklist available in English, Korean, and Spanish)
- Gather your documents (birth certificate/passport, proof of residency, medical forms — full list on the registration page). Please have all documents ready — incomplete packets cannot be processed.
- After completing your online registration, you'll be directed to schedule your in-person appointment. All appointments must be booked by April 2 before 1:00 PM.
💳Pre-K tuition details and payment schedule are on the registration page under the Pre-K Tuition tab.
We can't wait to meet our newest Leonia Lions!
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This is a friendly reminder of the ACS Policy from our student/family handbook:
Cell Phones/Electronic Devices
- Cell phones are not permitted during school hours.
- Cell phones or other devices must be turned off and kept in students’ backpacks during the course of the school day.
- Cell phones or other devices shall be confiscated by any staff member if seen, heard, or used during the school day.
- This may result in the family being contacted and asked to pick up the phone from the main office.
- During school hours, cell phones and other electronic devices are not permitted in classrooms (including when there is a substitute teacher), the gym, the cafeteria, hallways, locker rooms, restrooms, or during recess.
- Earbuds and headphones may not be worn during hallway passing times or when moving throughout the building.
In the event you need to contact your child, please contact the main office. If your child needs to contact you, they will be sent to the main office by their teacher to make a phone call using our office line.
You can also learn more about the District wide policy here
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Please see topics for the month of February
K- 2 Unit: Social Health
Kindergarten: What makes a healthy family relationship?
1st Grade: What are gender expectations?
2nd Grade: What makes your identity?
3-4 Unit: Emotional Health - What are healthy ways we can express different emotions?
For questions related to our District Health Curriculum, please contact Steve Perrotta at Steven.Perrotta@leoniaschools.org..
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Good attendance and class participation are essential ingredients for academic success. Excessive absence from class is detrimental to the learning process.
Classroom lessons foster and require social interaction, development of effective communication skills, critical thinking, and subject mastery.
While we recognize there are times that your child may need to be absent, we want to encourage parents to be aware of their child's attendance and monitor how absences are or may impact on your child's learning.
Research shows that absences that exceed more than 10% (18 days) of the school year could have a lingering impact on that child's academic progress.
Below, please find the ACS Attendance Policy and Procedures for reporting absences.
Parents of students who have excessive and/or unexcused absences, tardiness or early departures will be notified by telephone and by mail.
The school will:
- Maintain accurate daily record-keeping for attendance, absence, tardiness or early departure of each student.
- Utilize data analysis systems for tracking individual student attendance and individual and group trends in student attendance problems.
- Develop incentives to encourage student attendance.
- Develop early intervention strategies to improve school attendance for all students.
- Parents will be contacted for all student absences, even one-day absences. A call is not necessary if the parent contacts the school. A reasonable attempt must be made to reach the child's parent/guardian.
Type of Absences
Absence: Failure of a student to be physically present in school/class or an approved school activity/program.
**Please note that if your child is absent for any reason, excused or unexcused, your child’s attendance record will show an absence. Attendance is a legal record of whether or not your child is in our care; if they are not in the school building, they will be marked as absent. Communicating why your child is absent, and providing documentation when available, creates a story of your child’s attendance and helps our school to determine if more supports are needed.
Excused Absence: An absence for any portion of the day that meets the conditions specified under "Excused Absence;"
Unexcused Absence: An absence for any portion of the day that does not meet the conditions specified under "Excused Absence. "
Excused Absences:
- Illness of student
- Absence must be reported by the parent via phone or written communication
- Religious observance
- The student’s required attendance in court and supported by documentation
- Participation in observance of Veterans Day
- Participation in district board of election membership activities
- Take Your Child to Work Day
Unexcused Absence: Absence for any reason other than listed above will be deemed unexcused
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Procedures for Reporting Absences
If a child is going to be absent, you can contact the school in one of two ways - in both instances, please provide your child’s name, teacher and reason for absence
For absences that last for an extended period of time due to illness, the school nurse may reach out for more information. For extended absences, home instruction may be offered.
In cases where your child must be released from a school prior to the end of the school day, parents must report to the main office to sign their child out.
In the event your child arrives after 9:00am, they should report to the main office.
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Get ready!
Our school will be participating in the Read for the New York Boulders Reading Challenge from February 23–March 15. Students will track the minutes they read at home and earn fun prizes based on their totals—including Boulders game tickets and exciting on-field experiences. More details (including reading logs and submission information) will be sent home next week. We’re excited to cheer on our readers and celebrate their hard work at the ballpark in May!
We can’t wait to see our readers step up to the plate!
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Looking to set restrictions your child's meal purchases?
Need to add money to your child's account?
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We know families are busy and may not always be able to read updates right away. No worries!
You can easily find posts later using the search bar at the top right. Just type in a keyword, phrase, or the poster’s name to quickly locate what you need to.
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To learn more about our schools, follow us on:
281 Broad Ave.
Leonia, NJ 07605
Phone: (201) 302-5200
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