Dear Scotch Plains-Fanwood Community,

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a reminder that every student in Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools deserves to feel safe, respected and included at school. Preventing bullying is a shared responsibility that begins with all of us. 

As a school community, we must encourage students to speak up when they see bullying, support those who may be struggling and treat one another with compassion. Together, we can foster a positive school environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive. 

I encourage parents and guardians to talk with their children about their experiences at school and remind them that trusted adults are available when they need support. By working together, we can identify concerns early and ensure students know they do not have to navigate difficult situations alone. 

If you need to report an incident of Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying (H.I.B.), you can do so using this anonymous reporting form. Additional resources for families can also be found here. 

Thank you for your continued partnership in helping SPF maintain a culture where kindness is practiced daily and every student feels valued.  



Sincerely, 

Dr. Joan Mast  

Superintendent of Schools

SPF Celebrates Tenured Teachers and Staff 

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education recognized 40 teachers and support staff for achieving tenure at the Oct. 15 Board of Education meeting.  

"We are all incredibly proud of the teachers and staff who have earned this honor," said Superintendent Dr. Joan Mast. "The field of education requires dedication, hard work and a genuine commitment to making a difference in the lives of students. We are grateful for the lasting impact our teachers and staff make every day and thank them for all they do to support students." 

SPF Alumni Spotlight: Corey Gegner Finds His Vision Behind the Camera 

From making videos with friends as a teenager to working as a freelance cinematographer and filmmaker in Los Angeles, Corey Gegner has turned his lifelong love of movies and storytelling into a career behind the camera. 

Corey, a graduate of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Class of 2004, works across narrative film, documentary and commercial projects. His interest in cinema began in childhood, when watching and discussing movies was a family activity. As he grew older, he and his friends began creating their own videos, using their imaginations to bring ideas to life. 

“We built a little community growing up, and we always made stuff to amuse ourselves and pass the time,” Corey recalled. “We loved doing it.” 

One of the people who helped Corey recognize that his creative interests could lead to a career was SPF art teacher Jeff Gutterman. Beginning in his freshman year, Gutterman introduced him to new ways of thinking about art and cinema, including the film "Baraka”, which broadened his perspective on visual storytelling. 

“Mr. Gutterman really opened my mind that I can do this as a career,” Corey said. “He’s a wonderful human being, but also just giving me access to things I didn’t know about.” 

After graduating from SPFHS, Corey attended the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in Manhattan. He began building his career through creative collaborations and professional experiences, including working at Panavision in New York, a camera and lens rental company. He spent 17 years living in Brooklyn before moving to Los Angeles, where he continues to pursue freelance filmmaking opportunities. 

To explore his work, connect, and read more about his story, visit the links below.

Building Connections: Brunner 5th Graders Mix & Mingle at Nettingham 

Nearly 90 fifth-grade students from Brunner Elementary School are building friendships, making connections through icebreakers and getting familiar with their future school through a series of Mix & Mingle experiences at Nettingham Middle School. 

Throughout the school year, students will visit Nettingham eight times for activities that help them get to know their future classmates, meet staff and feel more at home before making the transition to sixth grade. 

"This is about making sure every student has opportunities to build relationships and feel connected," said Brunner Principal Dr. Scott Bortnick. "We want our Brunner students to walk into sixth grade already knowing their peers, recognizing their teachers and feeling confident." 

This year, fifth grade students remained at Brunner Elementary School due to space constraints across the district. The arrangement created much needed space at Nettingham and will become the district-wide model next school year. 

With student experiences at the forefront, Bortnick and Nettingham Principal Dr. Jocelyn Dumaresq collaborated with teachers to create meaningful Mix & Mingle opportunities. 

"We have been very intentional about working as a team to make sure all Brunner students feel connected and a part of the Nettingham community," said Dumaresq. "It has truly been a team effort." 

Turning Construction Roots into Community Impact: Nicholas Crupi 

Nicholas Crupi has a favorite way of describing his department, and it is not the kind of line you expect from a facilities director. He calls it Noah’s Ark.  

Walk through the boiler rooms and mechanical closets of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools, and you will find two of nearly everything: spare pumps, backup systems, redundant equipment, all of it standing ready in case one fails while the other keeps working split shifts to keep eight schools running without interruption.  

It is a strange image for a school district, but it captures exactly how Crupi approaches his job: plan for the moment something breaks, because in a building full of children, there is no room for downtime. It is also a philosophy built on humility rather than heroics, one shaped less by any single dramatic fix than by years of quietly making sure nothing ever gets the chance to fail in the first place. 

Swords, Schemes and Swashbuckling: The Three Musketeers Comes to SPFHS  

Adventure, comedy, romance, and swordplay are coming to the stage as Scotch Plains - Fanwood High School Repertory Theatre presents Ken Ludwig’s The Three Musketeers, based on the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas. The Three Musketeers is fun for all ages!  



Performance Schedule:  

• Friday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m.  
• Saturday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m.  
• Saturday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.  

All performances will be held in Scotch Plains - Fanwood High School’s Manya Ungar Memorial Auditorium, 667 Westfield Rd., Scotch Plains, NJ. 

Featured Events

Nov. 1 – SPFHS Marching Band State Finals 

Nov. 2-6 – Fall Break 

Nov. 9, 9-10 a.m. – Coles Veteran's Day Assembly 

Nov. 9 – McGinn Food & Coat Drive 

Nov. 11 – La Grande Red, White and Blue Day 

Nov. 11 – SPFHS National Letter of Intent Signing 

Nov. 11, 6 p.m. – SPFHS National Honor Society Induction 

Nov. 12 – School One Veteran's Day Celebration 

Nov. 16-19 – Evergreen Thanksgiving Food Drive 

Nov. 19, 8 p.m. – Board of Education Meeting 

Nov. 25 – Nettingham World Language Food Day  

Nov. 25 – Single Session Day (Thanksgiving Break) 

Nov. 26-27 – Thanksgiving Break 

Nov. 30 - Dec. 5 – Brunner Book & PJ Drive 

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