Fifth-grade student wins Gregory Geobee for second straight year

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Fifth-grade student Atticus Horne won his second National Geographic Bee, or Geobee, on Feb. 2 at Gregory Elementary School. Ryan Hains was runner-up. The school bee, in which students answered questions on geography, was the first round in the 29th annual National Geographic Bee. Thousands of schools around the United States […]

Reflections Art Show recognizes West Orange students

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The second NJCPTA Reflections Art Show was held at Liberty Middle School on Jan. 28 to award students placing in the national competition. This year’s theme was “What is Your Story?” and featured several types of art to reflect West Orange students in kindergarten through 12th grade, including pencil, crayon, watercolor, […]

Betty Maddalena Foundation donates Stand2Learn desks to WOSD

Betty Maddalena Foundation donates Stand2Learn desks to WOSD

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The Betty Maddalena Foundation, formed in 2011 following the death of beloved West Orange educator Betty Maddalena, has donated 63 Stand2Learn desks at a cost of $14,000 throughout all schools in the district. The initiative was begun by Christine Aker, a learning disabilities teacher consultant in West Orange who is also […]

West Orange schools create holiday cards for troops

West Orange schools create holiday cards for troops

WEST ORANGE, NJ — All 11 schools in the West Orange School District once again answered the call to create holiday cards for the troops with a resounding “yes,” as more than 1,000 cards were recently sent out to troops around the world. “We Love Our Heroes,” a local group comprised of friends and parishioners […]

West Orange schools recognize ‘Week of Respect’

West Orange schools recognize ‘Week of Respect’

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange schools commemorated the New Jersey state-mandated “Week of Respect” Oct. 3 through 7 with a series of events meant to create self-acceptance and respect for others. Following the passage of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act in 2010, with amendments in 2011, a new series of Harassment, Intimidation and […]

Gregory School traffic upgrades appear to be working

Gregory accident doesn’t appear to be related to bus loop

Gregory School traffic upgrades appear to be working

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The controversial bus driveway and kiss-and-go lane that were constructed at Gregory Elementary School during the summer are operating as efficiently as hoped for, according to school officials. Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Rutzky told the West Orange Chronicle that the school’s four large buses have been able to move into and […]

Departmentalization, new standards come to WOSD

WOSD continues work to modernize WO education

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Most West Orange students who recently returned to school were met with new initiatives designed to improve their learning experience and better prepare them for the future. The West Orange School District this year implemented departmentalization for grades four and five, meaning students at those levels will now report to multiple […]

Chief Gregory construction completed

Prior to school starting, addition of kiss-and-go lane and bus loop is finished at Gregory School

Chief Gregory construction completed

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The long-debated bus driveway and parking lot expansion at Gregory Elementary School is now largely completed, though a few relatively minor items still have to be installed. Leonard Lepore, the township engineer, said all the work necessary to construct the looping driveway in front of the school and the enlarged staff […]

WO School District confirms 37 HIB cases in 2015-2016 school year

WOSD pleased with low HIB number but still looks to improve

WEST ORANGE, NJ — There were 37 cases of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying confirmed to have taken place in the West Orange School District during the 2015-2016 academic year, according to data presented by Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Rutzky during the Aug. 22 Board of Education meeting. Each case was substantiated following an investigation conducted […]