Superintendent's Corner Column

When Excellence Becomes the Standard

November 5, 2025

"We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle

There's a moment that happens in every great organization, not when you achieve something exceptional once, but when exceptional becomes expected, when excellence stops being the goal and starts being the culture.

Fair Lawn, we're living in that moment right now, and it's because of every one of you.

What you're about to read isn't just a list of wins and championships. It's evidence of something far more important: our students, with your unwavering support, have made excellence a habit. They've proven that when you combine talent with dedication, preparation with opportunity, and individual brilliance with team commitment, something remarkable happens. Not occasionally. Consistently.

The scores and titles matter, yes. But what matters more is what they represent: young people who show up every single day, put in the work nobody sees, support each other through adversity, and refuse to settle for anything less than their best. Their dedication is the real championship. Their story is the real story.

And that story is being written across every field, court, track, and stadium in our district right now, thanks to your dedication and commitment.

With pride in our students and staff,

Dr. Rui Dionisio

Superintendent of Schools

Girls Soccer Makes History With League Title

It's a first for FLHS Girls Varsity Soccer! Monday's win against Wayne Valley helped the team secure a Fall 2025 Big North League Championship. Finishing their league season 7-2 and ranked 7th in North Jersey, the Cutters move on to the first round of the state tournament - happening at home this evening versus the Mustangs of Clifton High School.

USBands Show Nets Top Awards for
FLHS Marching Band

Forward ... March! Congratulatory salutes are due to our Marching Band & Color Guard as they were crowned Group III Open State Champions at the USBands New Jersey State Championships this past weekend in South Brunswick, earning a phenomenal score of 92.3. On top of that, this talented crew swept Best Music, Best Guard, Best Percussion, and Best Effect captions. This win is the cherry on top of a season of multiple honors earned at competitions across Northern NJ. Kudos to all members and staff, including director Mr. Jamie Szeinberg, for all you've accomplished.

Don't get tangled up in knots thinking you missed your chance to see them in action - the band will perform their 2025 field show "The Puppet Master" once more at the National Championship this Saturday at MetLife Stadium.

Volleyball Digs Into State Championships

With wins in 14 of their last 16 games, safe to say Girls Varsity Volleyball is sweeping the competition! After locking in a league championship on October 23, the team secured the #2 seed in the state tournament and beat first-round opponent Passaic on Monday. This afternoon marks the second round, and you can catch their match versus Hackensack at home in the B-Gym at 4:15.

Boys Soccer Finishes Season Strong

We'd like to congratulate Boys Varsity Soccer for wrapping out their season on a high note. Although yesterday's hard-fought battle versus Montclair did not go their way, the team pulled out some incredible wins this fall - including a 4-1 victory on Senior Night (pic above). The squad was also well represented for all league recognition, a testament to their talent and sportsmanship throughout the season. Now, their attention turns to having a little fun at the team's annual alumni game, happening November 29 at Sasso Field. Come out for some friendly competition & camaraderie!

Football Celebrates Season of

Wins & Powerful Stats

Milestones and high-scoring action was the name of the game this season for our football teams. Varsity ended its season with a 5-4 record and entered the final week averaging the third-most points per game in FLHS history. Additionally, senior running back Gabe Coban rushed for a whopping 1030 yards - the first time a varsity player has finished a season with more than 1000 yards since 2016. The program's strength was also on full display as Fair Lawn fielded three complete teams this fall—Freshman, JV, and Varsity—a testament to the depth of talent and commitment across all grade levels. Last week's Corner Column also recognized senior Jack Feinstein for his Steve DiGregorio Young Man of the Year nomination. Well done all around, Cutters!

Fall Cheerleading Sends Off 16 Seniors,

Eyes Winter Competition Season

The heart and soul of the sidelines, FLHS cheerleaders filled Sasso Field with pride & spirit this fall. The squad boasted a whopping 58 members, including 16 irreplaceable seniors who were honored at the October 17th home game.

Coach Ms. Ashlee Quilliam says their focus now shifts to prepping routines for the upcoming competitive winter season. We wish you luck and hope you easily tumble through the competition!

Cross Country Sets The Pace

Fair Lawn boys and girls XC are having themselves a strong season, recently wrapping up NJSIAA Varsity Sectionals at Garrett Mountain. The mid-October Bergen County Group meet at Darlington marked impressive personal best times across our Freshman, JV, and Varsity teams.

Girls Tennis Aces Fall Season

It's a 9-6 winning season for FLHS girls tennis, marking a strong showing across the Big North Independence Division. We applaud our singles and doubles teams for a great showing in the first round of states with a 5-0 win versus Memorial.

Coach Mr. Shane DeLucca passes along additional kudos to our varsity team as they were well represented during the end-of-year league recognition.

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.