Superintendent's Corner Column

Shaping the Year with Purpose

January 23, 2026

"Action expresses priorities." Mahatma Gandhi

As 2026 begins, I have been reflecting on the importance of intention. Instead of making resolutions that often fade quickly, I am focusing on the daily choices that shape our character.

At Warren Point Elementary, Principal Gons read Jon Gordon's "One Word for Kids" to students and asked them to choose a word to guide their year. Classes created large "word bracelets" from pool noodles, and now they hang in the gym. These bracelets show how our students are thinking about their futures. We can all take something from this idea. What word would you choose for 2026?

Intention takes courage. On January 8th, we started Revolution 250 at Fair Lawn High School to mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in New Jersey. Seeing our students connect with this history reminded me that the founders acted with strong purpose. Ordinary people made bold choices and changed history. The town crier and Captain Cutter added some humor to the night. The event showed us that real change starts with taking action on purpose.

Intention also means sticking with it. Memorial Middle School student Noah Kalebeck finished fifth at the Tulsa Nationals, considered the toughest youth wrestling tournament in the country. He is the first Fair Lawn wrestler to place there in more than twenty years. As Principal Schwindt said, this shows "dedication and competitive spirit." Noah earned his spot by working hard at every practice.

Intention grows when we share it. Our FLHS girls foil squad—Carolina Lazar, Bryella Nicudemus, and Sadie Hand—won division championships two years in a row at the Santelli Tournament at Drew University. Their 77-4 record is the best in the state. Coach Manna praised their resilience and how "credit constantly gets spread around." When each person brings intention, the whole team succeeds.

Intention extends to the systems we build. Last week, NJ Department of Education officials toured our computer science, coding, engineering, and design thinking programs and left calling it the "highlight of their week". That's intentional design at work.

Looking at these stories from our district, I notice a common theme. Our students are not just letting the year happen—they are shaping it with purpose.

Let’s bring that same sense of purpose to 2026. Let’s choose our words, act with courage, keep going through challenges, and support each other along the way.

With gratitude,

Dr. Rui Dionisio

Superintendent of Schools

Fair Lawn Schools, Borough Partner for

Revolution 250 Kickoff

Hear ye! Hear ye! We are the Revolution!

On January 8, we welcomed the public to FLHS for the official kickoff event to Revolution 250 - Fair Lawn’s local take on commemorating the anniversary of the American Revolution in New Jersey. If you couldn’t make it or just want to relive the evening, check out our wrap-up video featuring colorful displays, the Fair Lawn town crier’s comedic moments with Captain Cutter, and various student projects.

We look forward to sharing more content from “Rev250” events and district activities throughout the year.

NJDOE Office of Innovation Visit

Highlights STEM Classes

Last week, representatives from the NJ Dept. of Education’s Office of Innovation were invited by Science Supervisor Mr. Ron Durso to tour computer science and design technology-integrated classes at FLHS, Memorial, and Milnes. We caught up with the team in the MMS Innovations Lab as well as Dynamic Applications, where students explore the building blocks of coding.

Since all students take these coding-adjacent classes, Mr. Durso tells us the catalog of related electives at FLHS are wildly popular, setting up graduates with a strong knowledge in computer science and more.

The tour was well received - our visitors say it was the “highlight of their week,” and complimented Fair Lawn Schools’ commitment to “hands-on, meaningful learning experiences.” They were impressed and encouraged to see how embedded these skills are across the district.

"It was an honor to highlight the ways that our teachers infuse computer science, design thinking, and engineering skills across the curriculum in so many of our classes in all of our schools," says Mr. Durso. "It was rewarding to know that the representatives from the Office of Innovation - which oversees computer science, STEAM, and technology education - were impressed by the work of our teachers and the success that our students have in this area."

Warren Point Starts 2026 With

Positive Words, Intentions

How can you be the best version of yourself in 2026? Take a page out of Warren Point’s book! 📕

The start of the new year was anything but boring for these elementary students, kicking off the new year with a spirit week and a little pep in their step. Principal Mrs. Sue Gons read Jon Gordon’s book “One Word for Kids,” prompting students to choose a word that encompasses how they’d like to tackle the year ahead. Putting pen to paper - or in this case, cut up pool noodles - classes crafted oversized “word bracelets” that now hang proudly across the gym.

Girls Fencing Spearheads

Back to Back Tourney Wins

FLHS Girls Fencing is truly a cut above! The powerful trio of Carolina Lazar, Bryella Nicudemus, & Sadie Hand were officially crowned asa back-to-back girls foil division champs at the Santelli Tournament, which took place at Drew University on January 17.

Speaking with NJ.com, foil coach Phil Manna says, “They handled pressure really well, and it is a marathon at a tournament like this. We have a very resilient group and the credit is constantly getting spread around, this is a group that constantly surprises me.”

The article went on to note our Fair Lawn team is off to a “hot start” this season, led by the foil squad. So far, it has the best record in the state with a combined 77 wins and 4 losses! This team has clearly not let their guard down, with a trajectory that continues upward. Congratulations!

Memorial Fifth Grader Pins Down Medal at Wrestling Nationals

We’d like to extend kudos to Memorial Middle School student and wrestler Noah Kalebeck for his 5th place win at the 71st Tulsa Nationals. The annual event in Oklahoma is generally considered to be the hardest youth wrestling tournament in the country. We’re told the fifth grader is the first wrestler from Fair Lawn in at least the last 21 years to place in this tournament!

Overjoyed with this news, MMS leadership passed along some congratulatory words. “Congratulations, Noah. Memorial is so proud of you. You are already learning how hard work leads to success,” says Vice Principal Mrs. Sue Otterstedt.

Principal Mrs. Nancy Schwindt adds, “This is an extraordinary achievement and a testament to Noah’s dedication and competitive spirit. We are incredibly proud of Noah for representing Fair Lawn with such determination and sportsmanship on a national stage. You pinned it, Noah!”

About the Fair Lawn Public School District: Fair Lawn Public Schools, where excellence in education meets the vibrant spirit of our community. With a population of over 35,000 residents, Fair Lawn is a thriving hub of diverse cultures, ideas, and talents, and our school district reflects this rich tapestry. Comprising ten schools from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, we are committed to providing a comprehensive and inclusive educational experience for approximately 5,700 students. Our dedicated team of 1,200 staff members works tirelessly to cultivate an environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

The leaders of tomorrow attend Fair Lawn schools today. We believe in nurturing the unique potential of each learner, fostering a love of learning, and preparing students to become compassionate, confident, and contributing members of society in classrooms that are dynamic spaces where personalized instruction, innovation, and collaboration flourish. Fair Lawn Public Schools is a place where students discover their passions, unlock their potential, and embark on a journey of lifelong learning.