There are a lot of great events happening this month at the Vineland Public Library!
Barse 3rd grade students had an unforgettable adventure at The Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, NJ! This incredible center gave students the chance to explore the wonders of New Jersey’s coastal ecosystems up close.
From guided marsh walks to hands-on marine life encounters, students learned about the importance of wetlands, how they protect our environment, and the many creatures that call them home. Crabs, fish, birds, and even a few surprises made the day both educational and exciting! This trip helped bring science to life and sparked curiosity in our young explorers—we can’t wait to see where their learning takes them next!
Happy School Communicators Day!
As the person who writes the posts, schedules the posts, sometimes panics about the posts—and yes, is currently writing this very post—I’d like to take a moment to say… thank you to everyone who helps tell our district’s story. Our small but mighty communications team works hard to keep families informed and our students celebrated.
Special shoutout to my incredibly talented audio/visual colleagues, Doug Deola and Rob Garcia, who make everything look and sound amazing! All three of us are VHS grads, and we're thrilled we get to continue telling the story of our schools. 🐔
- Gia Messore, Public Information Officer
Mrs. White and Mrs. Velazquez’s 2nd grade class at Barse School explored procedural writing in a fun and memorable way. The lesson began with a reading of Pancake, Pancake! by Eric Carle, which introduced students to the concept of sequencing, ingredients, and step-by-step directions.
Students then applied what they learned by crafting their own “How-To” guides for making pancakes. They listed ingredients, identified necessary tools, and wrote clear, detailed instructions.
To bring their writing to life, students followed their own directions to cook pancakes right in the classroom. The experience was not only hands-on and engaging, but also heartwarming—students shared extra pancakes with staff members throughout the building as a small act of kindness.
This creative lesson blended literacy, life skills, and community building into one delicious experience!
Dan Greco, Principal of Durand Elementary School, was honored at the May 7 Board of Education Meeting as the recipient of the 2024-25 Vineland Administrators and Supervisors Association (VASA) Administrator of the Year.
The award was presented by Dr. Kristen Speakman, principal of Winslow Elementary School and president of VASA. VASA represents nearly 40 district principals, assistant principals, and supervisors. Members submit nominees based on qualities they feel make the nominees stand out in their field.
Greco was described as a leader who has not only transformed a school, but exemplifies what it means to lead with vision, integrity, and heart.
“It's not just what Dan has accomplished that sets him apart; it's how he's done it,” Speakman said. “His leadership brings out the best in others and creates a culture where trust and accountability thrive.”
Greco recently represented Durand School at the NJ Promising Practices Summit hosted by Rutgers University and the NJDOE. Under his leadership, Durand was one of only 52 schools identified as a school whose performance stood out even amid the challenges of the pandemic.
In addition to this honor, Greco was also named Youth Alliance Educator of the Year.
Thank you to the members of the Johnstone Middle School and D'Ippolito Elementary School Safety Patrols for leading the flag salute at the May 7 Board of Education Meeting! 🇺🇸
The Vineland High School Vocal Spring Concert is only a few days away! Come out on Monday, May 12, to see our Concert Choir, Select Choir, and Varsity Singers. Doors open at 6 pm, and the concert begins at 6:30 pm. Admission is free and open to the public.
Two of our incredible 5th-grade students proudly represented Mennies during the public speaking portion of the VPS Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, May 7th.
Kenai Martinez delivered a tribute to his teacher, Mrs. Gaetano, sharing why she is so deserving of the Teacher of the Year honor. His classmate, Silera Oquendo, stood proudly beside him, offering support as he spoke.
Kenai’s words were powerful and sincere, earning a standing ovation from the entire audience. We are beyond proud of our students for expressing such genuine gratitude and appreciation.
VHS graduation lawn signs are now on sale! Signs are $30 each and include lawn stakes and the graduate's name and school. Proceeds benefit the Class of 2025. Signs will arrive by June 9. Click the link below for the order form and reach out to Mrs. Madrid at jmadrid-orellana@vineland.org with any questions!
Order form: https://bit.ly/3EJTRWi
On May 3, 2025 the South Jersey Band and Orchestra Directors' Association hosted the 31st Annual South Jersey Elementary Honors Band Festival. The festival took place at Absegami High School. Approximately 300 students from all over South Jersey, grades 4-6 participated in this event. The students practiced all day and ended with a wonderful concert. Amongst these students were twelve talented musicians from Vineland. Rebecca Allen, District Elementary Band teacher, nominated the students. Congratulations to all the honorees!
Back row: Jonithan Pena (Rossi), David Feliz (Sabater), Silera Oquendo (Mennies), Santino Tubertini (Petway), Nyla Kent (Petway)
Middle row: Eric Garcia Matias (Sabater), Luca Danis (Barse), Jeremiah Maldonado-Vazquez (Petway)
Front row: Elian Nunez (Winslow), Jacob Fuentes (Mennies), Wesley Camerieri (Winslow), Keisy Bustamante (Sabater)
Wake-Up Wednesday was a big hit during Petway's Teacher Appreciation Week! Thanks to the generosity of our PPSA, the Petway staff enjoyed delicious flavored lattes crafted by Cortez Coffeehouse—owned by Saphire Cortez, a proud parent of a Petway Patriot. This thoughtful treat brought energy and smiles to everyone’s day!
Mrs. Freese and Mrs.Tarsatana’s class at Mennies Elementary School are positive potatoes! Our class is working hard to spread positivity. Each week, two students are chosen who spread kindness and encouragement while working hard. They earn a certificate, display their trophy proudly on their desks, and build Mr. or Mrs. Potato heads. This incentive is helping improve the behavior of the class for the remaining weeks of school.
🩺 It’s School Nurse Day, and we want to say THANK YOU! 🩺
Our school nurses are often the calm in the middle of the storm—whether it’s a scraped knee, a tough day, or something much more serious. You’re a source of comfort, knowledge, and care for students and families alike.
Thank you for all the ways you keep our schools healthy, safe, and supported. We appreciate your compassion, your expertise, and your tireless commitment.
On May 5th, Room 5 at DiBiase Preschool talked about and celebrated Cinco De Mayo! For Small Group Time, they introduced new vocabulary words and had stickers, which they used to make pictures of items associated with the day. During Work Time, they had materials in the art area to make their own maracas. For Large Group Time, they used their instruments and danced to Cinco De Mayo music. After, they read a story about “Living in Mexico.”
To our amazing teachers: thank you for everything you do—both the big, life-changing moments and the small, everyday ones that matter just as much.
You teach, support, encourage, and inspire. You adapt, listen, and lead. You care deeply, and it shows.
Today—and every day—we’re grateful for your passion, creativity, and dedication to our students. You make a difference, and we are so lucky to have you.
Vineland High School class officers, Student Government Association leaders, members of FFA, and other student representatives met with Superintendent Alfonso Llano, Director of Special Projects and Operations Ismael Bermudez, and Board of Education member Rob Buono on Tuesday morning for the fourth and final roundtable meeting of the school year.
The meeting began with a breakfast provided by Sodexo, the district’s food service provider. Following breakfast, Bermudez spoke with the students about artificial intelligence usage in their daily lives and how it can be implemented in the classroom. Students offered their perspectives on right and wrong use situations.
Following this discussion, Llano asked the students to discuss what administration (both central and school-based) has done better or worse this school year. Many students felt that the school environment has improved, yet there are still more ways to encourage student activity and school spirit. Several students also requested more transparency and communication with students before new policies or features were enacted.
We want to thank all of our student leaders for their willingness to share feedback, offer thoughtful suggestions, and speak on behalf of their peers. Your voices help shape a stronger, more inclusive school community, and your contributions do not go unnoticed.
🌸🌻🌹 Spring has sprung in room 6 at DiBiase Preschool! At small group time, students followed directions to plant seeds. Over the next few weeks, they will care for them and watch them grow! 🪻🌷🌼
Congratulations to the winners of last week's VHX-Factor talent competition - the Brett Brosh Trio! This group of juniors wowed the judges and took home the top prize.
Pictured, from left: Zachary Vasquez, Brett Brosh, Nicholas Forcinito, and biggest fan/honorary manager, Jaiden Clark.
It takes a lot of people to make a school district feel like a community—and this week, we’re celebrating all of you.
Whether you’re in a classroom, behind the scenes, on a bus, in the office, or helping students in a hundred other ways, we see how much you give. Every smile, every kind word, every moment of patience—it adds up to something truly special.
Thank you for the heart, time, and care you pour into your work every day. We couldn’t do this without you!
With the start of Unit 4, “Lord of the Flies,” Pilla students were paired up in groups of four using ready data to create a deserted island. On this island, they had to create priorities, jobs, rules/consequences, and a name for their island. They had to research an area in the world, write a descriptive essay, and problem-solve for each issue that arose. The students then created their islands using everything from construction paper to popsicle sticks to even 3D printing, combined with a lot of creativity to construct them.
