We are incredibly proud to announce that the Leonia Public Schools district has been honored with the 2026 Best Communities for Music Education Award from The NAMM Foundation.

This prestigious national recognition celebrates school districts that demonstrate an exemplary commitment to music education and ensure equitable access to high-quality music learning for all students. Selected through a rigorous review process, Leonia was evaluated on key indicators including funding, instructional time, facilities, and community support.

This award serves as a testament to the dedication of our talented educators and the ongoing support of our community in providing a well-rounded education where the arts can thrive.

On April 1, LHS hosted an inspiring Women’s Expo, bringing together students, staff, and community members for a morning dedicated to empowerment and professional growth. Planned and executed entirely by the district’s two student Board of Education representatives, the event showcased the power of student leadership and community connection.

The program featured a dynamic panel of leaders who shared diverse perspectives on navigating career paths and overcoming challenges, followed by a keynote address focused on leadership and resilience. The morning concluded with a moving activity where attendees wrote messages of advice and encouragement to their younger selves. It was a powerful day of inspiration for the entire Leonia community!

LMS presented its first-ever spring musical, Once Upon a Mattress. This landmark performance marked an exciting expansion of the middle school performing arts program, providing more students than ever before the opportunity to showcase their theatrical and musical talents on stage. This ambitious production was made possible through the incredible generosity of the LMS HSA, whose donation funded a dedicated Musical Director to guide our students through the complexities of a full-scale musical.

Congratulations to the cast, crew, and our staff, Mr. Balagtas, Mrs. O'Meara, and Mr. Crouchelli, for a spectacular debut that has set a wonderful new precedent for our performing arts community!

In celebration of Earth Day, ACS, in collaboration with the Leonia Environmental Commission, hosted a "green giveaway" to promote local sustainability and environmental stewardship. Our volunteers distributed tree saplings to families and staff, encouraging the expansion of our local canopy. Additionally, we distributed biomass generated from our district's food waste dehydrator; this nutrient-rich soil amendment, diverted from landfills through our composting initiatives, provides a practical example of the circular economy in action.

Each year, we look forward to hosting our beloved Annual Senior Citizen Dinner, a tradition that celebrates the contributions of our community’s seniors. This year’s event was a heartwarming success, bringing together generations for an evening of delicious food, lively conversation, and student-led entertainment. Our student volunteers, who served as gracious hosts, and our talented student performers, who provided a beautiful musical backdrop, made the evening extra special. It is always a privilege to open our doors to our community’s elders, strengthening the bonds between our schools and the people who helped build our town. We are already looking forward to next year!

On Thursday, April 30th, LHS joined schools across the country in recognizing National College Decision Day, honoring our seniors and the meaningful next steps they are taking after graduation.

Seniors were invited to wear apparel representing their college, military branch, or future career path, and staff and underclassmen joined in by sporting gear from their own favorites. We are proud of each senior's hard work and commitment, and we look forward to celebrating the journeys ahead for all of our Lions.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly shaping how we learn and work, and this summer, students entering grades 6–12 have a unique opportunity to dive into this technology. Inspirit AI, an enrichment program developed and taught by Stanford and MIT alumni, will be hosting an in-person, project-based AI program right here at Leonia High School.

Participants will explore the foundations of AI, learn to program using Python, and discuss critical topics like ethics and bias. Students will also collaborate on group projects in fields like healthcare, sustainability, and the arts.

Program Details:

👉 Click here for more information. Note: All questions regarding registration or curriculum should be directed to the Inspirit AI team.

We are proud to share the outstanding success of our LHS Music Program at this past weekend’s WorldStrides Heritage Music Festival in Williamsburg, Virginia. This four-day event brought together talented student musicians from across the country, and our students represented LHS with professionalism and pride.

Our students earned an impressive array of honors:

In addition to these ensemble awards, LHS received several of the festival’s highest recognitions:

Our students also earned five of the six Maestro Awards, awarded to outstanding individual performers: Audrey Sugiaman, Valentina Colacurto, Rohaan Mukherjee, Stacy Han, and Kalya Park. In a remarkable achievement, Audrey Sugiaman was also honored with the 2026 Williamsburg Ovation Award.

Several ensembles received special distinction through Adjudicators’ Awards, including the Orchestra, String Ensemble, and Symphonic Band. We were also recognized with:

We want to extend our deepest appreciation to our three LHS music teachers, Kerry Dunn, Michael Holak, and Tony Penn, whose commitment to our students goes far beyond the stage. Their countless hours of preparation, attention to detail, and unwavering belief in each student are what make achievements like this possible.

The third grade students dove into the world of economics in a fun and engaging way—Shark Tank style! Students created and presented their own business ideas, bringing creativity and excitement to the learning process. To celebrate their hard work, Ms. Albanese’s and Mrs. Fisher’s classes visited each other’s grand openings, giving students a chance to showcase their ideas and experience the thrill of entrepreneurship firsthand.

On April 24th, the sixth graders at LMS stepped back in time for Greek Day, an immersive simulation of the Ancient Greek Olympics. Each Social Studies class transformed into a legendary Greek city-state to compete in ancient Olympic-style events, including the Jump Rope Marathon, Javelin Toss, Discus, and more.

The day of spirited competition culminated in a dessert feast fit for any Olympian, made possible by the generosity of our sixth-grade parents and the LMS Home and School association. Congratulations to the city-state of Corinth for taking home the victory this year!

Dr. May Kim, a former Leonia School District student and now a quantum physicist at MIT, returned to visit our STEM Academy students on Monday, offering both inspiration and perspective.

Dr. Kim began by sharing her journey as an immigrant, arriving from Korea during elementary school and finding a welcoming, supportive community here in Leonia. Reflecting on those early experiences, she spoke about the impact the district had on shaping her path. She then walked students through her academic and professional journey, leading to her current role as a lead researcher in quantum computing at MIT. Her story resonated strongly with our juniors, many of whom are actively exploring externship opportunities and thinking about their own futures in STEM fields.

Following the presentation, several students stayed behind to speak with Dr. Kim one-on-one. She generously took the time to answer questions and offer guidance, making the experience even more meaningful for those in attendance.

LMS 8th grade scientists have been hard at work diving into the fascinating world of ecosystems, exploring the many ways organisms interact and depend on one another! Through engaging lessons and collaborative activities, students investigated relationships such as mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism, uncovering how each plays a vital role in maintaining balance in nature.

Working together in small groups, students analyzed real-world examples, shared insights, and even created their own scenarios to demonstrate these complex interactions. The classroom buzzed with curiosity and teamwork as students connected scientific concepts to the natural world around them.

Our recent Earth Day Expo was an exciting celebration of environmental awareness, curiosity, and discovery! Students had the unique opportunity to learn directly from experts in the field, gaining valuable insights into ecosystems, conservation, and the important roles that animals play in our world.

One of the highlights of the day was the chance for students to get hands-on with a variety of arachnid and reptile species! From observing fascinating behaviors up close to even safely interacting with some of these incredible creatures, students were fully engaged and eager to learn more. This unforgettable experience sparked curiosity, inspired respect for the natural world, and brought our Earth Day celebration to life in the most memorable way.

Thank you to our Environmental Club, co-advisors Mrs. Stephanie Rivera and Mrs. Christine Alia, who led the planning and coordination of the event, including organizing the expert presentations and student experiences.

Happy Arbor Day! At ACS we celebrated by being stewards of the Earth. Student Council members, in partnership with the Leonia Shade Tree Commission and the District Green Team prepared and passed out 200 tree saplings and biomass from our school Green Machine. Arbor Day is dedicated to planting and celebrating trees.  This holiday highlights the essential role trees play in cleaning air and water, regulating climate through carbon sequestration, providing habitat, and improving community well-being. Thank you for planting the trees in your yards! Student Council members also planted a flowering Cherry Tree on Highland Street for all to enjoy for many years to come.  

Over spring break, our LHS STEM students took a trip to Greece. Led and organized by Mr. Linares, this incredible journey allowed students to step beyond the classroom and explore the birthplace of Western Civilization. The itinerary was packed with unforgettable experiences that combined local ecology with historical engineering.

Students visited a local bee farm to learn about the science of apiculture and taste natural honey, and they even had the opportunity to run on the track at the ancient Olympic stadium. From studying the architectural marvels of the Acropolis to investigating ancient engineering, our "Lions in the Wild" saw firsthand how history and STEM intersect. We look forward to hearing how this global perspective inspires their future innovations!

Our recent trip to Germany was an unforgettable experience that brought history, culture, and classroom learning to life for our students. Thoughtfully organized by Ms. Kelty, the immersive itinerary provided meaningful access to Berlin, Munich, Nuremberg, Dresden, and Leipzig. From exploring powerful landmarks like the Berlin Wall and the Brandenburg Gate to visiting the sobering Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site and the Nuremberg Palace of Justice, students deepened their understanding of World War II, the Cold War, and Germany’s modern transformation. Throughout the journey, our "Lions in the Wild" engaged thoughtfully at every stop, making connections between their curriculum and the world around them.

Beyond the academic benefits, the trip fostered independence and global awareness as students navigated new environments and embraced different cultural experiences with maturity and respect. We are incredibly proud of how they represented Leonia Public Schools and look forward to continuing to provide these vital opportunities for learning beyond the classroom.

The LMS Knitting Club, under the direction of club advisor, Mrs. Scrivani, recently stitched together an unforgettable experience on their latest field trip, where they had the chance to learn and try the art of punch needling! Students stepped outside their usual knitting routines to explore this unique fiber art technique, using special tools and colorful yarn to create textured, eye-catching designs.

With curiosity and creativity on full display, our club members embraced the challenge, quickly picking up new skills and supporting one another along the way. The room was buzzing with excitement as students watched their projects come to life—loop by loop!

This hands-on experience not only expanded their crafting repertoire, but also reinforced the joy of trying something new, being patient with the process, and celebrating creativity in all its forms. We are so proud of our talented knitters for diving in with enthusiasm and making the most of this special opportunity!

Our 6th graders recently embarked on an unforgettable field trip to the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and what an inspiring day it was! Students explored world-renowned collections spanning ancient civilizations, European masterpieces, and modern works, bringing their classroom learning to life in a truly immersive way.

From examining intricate artifacts to discussing famous works of art, our students demonstrated curiosity, creativity, and thoughtful engagement throughout the visit. The experience not only deepened their appreciation for art and history, but also sparked meaningful conversations and connections that will carry back into the classroom.

First grade had a fantastic time at Felician University, enjoying the energetic and entertaining “Hey There, Howdy Everybody!” performance.

Every day counts! We want all of our students to show up to school, every day, and we are committed to working with families to ensure that every student attends school regularly and achieves their full potential. We are here to help you.

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