Conti Chatter Dr. Michael Conti School PS 5

November 21, 2025

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US News & World Report: Conti School a top performing school!

For the 3rd year in a row, Dr. Michael Conti School (PS5) has been named the TOP 2 BEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN JERSEY CITY by 2026 US NEWS & WORLD REPORT! We also rank in the top 11% of all schools in NEW JERSEY, i.e the top 296 schools out of a total of ~ 2400 elementary schools (including public, private, & charter schools) in the state! Our middle school ranks in the top 13% of all middle schools in the entire state as well – 188 out of a total of ~1500 middle schools in NJ. Our state also is ranked by education organizations as being amongst the top 3 states in the entire nation in preparing students for college & career readiness. This is a testament to the dedication & hard work of our entire school community. "We have an amazing teaching staff who go above and beyond every day," says Conti Principal John J. Rivero. "We are also grateful for our families and community partners for their continued support & belief in our mission, to create a place where learning thrives, creativity shines, and every child succeeds." Take a well-deserved bow, PS5!

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STUDENT COUNCIL ELECTIONS

 During Conti Student Council Elections, our students in grades 4 through 8 experience one of the bedrocks of democracy, the opportunity to cast their vote. Complete with campaigns and candidate platform statements, these elections complement the district Social Studies curriculum, facilitated by middle school teacher Mr. Nunez...Congrats to the newly elected PS5 Class of 2026 Student Council officers, in photo above, from left to right: Co-Secretary Gabriella Noutsopoulos, President Sarah Lougaghi, Vice-President Oliver Clash, & Co-Secretary Giselle Johnson.

Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion

RUBY BRIDGES

Against the backdrop of PS5 Student Council elections taking place, our students are learning that throughout our nation's history, the right to vote has been a difficult struggle for many marginalized groups. The original U.S. Constitution did not define voting rights for citizens, and until 1870, only white men were allowed to vote. Women did not get that right by law until 1920, and members of many other racial & ethnic minority groups not until the passage of The Voting Rights Act of 1965. However, the passage of laws or court rulings do not guarantee equal practices, as Conti 5th-graders discovered during recent visits to our school library, where they learned about how states in our country's south defiantly refused to integrate schools, even after the US Supreme Court, in its 1954 landmark case Brown vs. Board of Education, rejected the premise of "separate but equal" facilities. In fact, it was not until 1960, this very month, that Ruby Bridges became the first African-American child to desegregate the all-white William Franz School in Louisiana. Ruby's bravery, at only age 6, attending school each day in the face of intense racism & threats, was the starting point for students visiting our school library to learn more about the civil rights movements, the implications of state rights vs. federalism, and making connections to events occurring in present-day America, as well as connections to their own lives. PS5 librarian Ms. Sexton also facilitated class discussions on the true meaning of courage and the difference between bystanders vs. upstanders...along with an ELA lesson on themes and character traits.

Top photos: The Conti school library was the setting for students to engage in lessons on the American civil rights movement...Bottom photos: Ruby Bridges at age 6 and Ms. Bridges present day, as she travels to schools across the country, urging our youth to "Choose acceptance over racism, unity over division, and love over hate." 

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Throughout the school year, we aim to honor diverse races and their contributions to America. By including a wider range of perspectives, education can challenge dominant narratives, improve critical thinking, promote empathy & open-mindedness, and help all students feel seen and valued in the academic environment.

This month, during morning announcements, our students are presenting mini-bios of notable Native Americans. And in classrooms such as 5th-grade Rm. 314, students are researching in-depth the history and contributions of Native Americans...
...while 2nd-graders in Rm 216 began by exploring how various tribes lived, then constructed their own  paper teepees to show what they learned. In their interactive Social Studies notebooks, these 2nd-graders focused on the Cherokee tribe, studying their habitats, environment, and the ways Cherokee value & care for the Earth. Students wrapped up with a hands-on activity making “strawberries” to honor the Cherokee tale The First Strawberries. A meaningful and engaging way for students to connect with history, culture, and storytelling!

Celebrate Hispanidad

A packed house this morning at the PS5 Dual Language Program recital, with parents, neighbors, and district staff in the audience to cheer on our performers, who displayed so much heart & talent! In addition to Spanish songs & poems, our students shared bios of notable Hispanics, including Jersey City Public School's Superintendent Dr. Norma Fernandez, who was in attendance at today's assembly. We thank her and all the district leaders who showed up as well: Board President Noemi Velasquez; Board Trustee Dr. Matt Schneider; Robert J. Pruchnik, General Counsel/Superintendent’s Office; Ellen M. Ruane, Asst. Superintendent/Curriculum & Instruction; Dr. Magda Savino, Asst. Superintendent/Division A; Dr. Joseph Galano, Director/Division B; Edwin Rivera, Director/ Human Resources; Aldo Sanchez, Executive Director/Bilingual Education; Candace Coccaro, Director/Student Life & Personnel Services & Affirmative Action Officer; Karen Gullace, Acting Director/Special Education; Ann Beirne, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent; Cynthia Small, Executive Assistant/Equity, Family, & Community Outreach & Communications; Rhudell Snelling, Director/Security; Dr. Mary Ibrahim, Bilingual/ESL Supervisor; and Neisha Rosado, Bilingual/ESL Supervisor...And to each and every other audience member who came to support our kids, muchas gracias a todos!

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PROJECT BASED LEARNING: BEE-ING RESOURCEFUL!

Our 3rd-grade classrooms are gathering information and interviewing experts in connection with their ongoing PBL project, focused on the crucial role honeybees play in our ecosystem and the crisis facing bee colonies as they face catastrophic declines. Students are also working on an awareness campaign, highlighting local organizations that protect honeybee populations, as well as helping these groups raise funds. This partnership enables our kids to see first-hand how their learning connects to real-world environmental initiatives and community action.

Roger Moss, a local beekeeper from Jersey City who works with Swarm King Apiary, shared his extensive knowledge about the fascinating world of honeybees and their vital role in our ecosystem. Mr. Moss also brought a fully enclosed observation hive, allowing students to safely view live bees up close. They were fascinated to watch the bees at work and connect what they’ve been learning in their PBL unit on Colony Collapse Disorder to a real-world experience.
Our students also consulted with another expert, Natalia Susana Da Silva from the Rutgers University 4-H program. Ms. Da Silva shared insights with them about the plants currently in the Conti School Garden and how each helps support pollinators like bees.

MONTCLAIR ART MUSEUM

The Montclair Art Museum and the Jersey City Public Schools are collaborating to enhance visual arts literacy. Conti 5th-grade classes visited the museum yesterday to observe, discuss, and create, via a gallery tour and hands-on workshop based on the theme Personal Artistic Journeys. Above are some cars designed by students in Rm.309 symbolizing their own journeys. 

STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

The focus TRAIT for Students of the Month of OCTOBER was RESPECT

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THE MEANING OF RESPECT

There is a distinction between merely TOLERATING someone vs. actually treating them with RESPECT. Third-graders explored the difference by working on writing prompts about what Respect looks, feels, and sounds like. Students made personal connections about a time they felt respected or disrespected, or perhaps when they themselves crossed boundaries into disrespect towards another. All part of PS5's mission to encourage students to be compassionate, thoughtful, and caring individuals, both in and out of the classroom.

BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS HOLIDAY LUNCHEON

 Bigs, Littles and their families came together for our annual Holiday Luncheon. Everyone had the opportunity to reflect on all that there is to be thankful for, spend time together and make memories that will last a lifetime.

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CLUB NEWS:

STRONG GIRLS

PS5 alumna and former Strong Girls Club member Marilyn Osorio recently returned to speak to current members of the club. Marilyn, who presently is a freshman at County Prep High School Graphic Design program, spoke about her high school experience so far and the importance of staying focused on school work and school goals during middle school. "It will help so much in making your first year of high school be a positive one," she advised. After Marilyn's presentation, club members took part in an activity, facilitated by middle school teacher Ms. Quirk and school counselor Ms. Santiago-Hernandez, on the Do's and Don'ts of Communication to help avoid conflicts

CHESS CLUB

The Conti Chess Club, coached by parent Jon Huang, sent eleven students to their second chess tournament this school year, in New York City.  Trophy winners were PS5 alumni Ilan Nechushtan-Zennou, who was named co-champion in the under 1100 reserve section, as well as Lincoln Schneider and Lucas Ho, placing 5th and 10th respectively, in the under 800 section. Linus Huang also went 2-2 in the U1100 section, which didn't qualify for a trophy but is nonetheless a fine showing given his age, competing in that category.

MATH CLUB

 Each Wednesday for the past months, the Conti Math team, named The Pi Eaters, have been meeting to give their brains a work-out, tackling a variety of math logic problems expected to appear on the Noetic Learning Math Contest. A national biannual problem-solving competition for elementary and middle school students, the contest aims to encourage students to develop problem-solving skills. The Conti team, facilitated by PS5 Math support teacher Ken Teschlog and parent Vincent Ho, participated in their first online competition yesterday, and their stats look extremely promising; however, the team will not receive the official rankings until December 8th...As they await the results, more important than how they may place in the contest, is that club members are honing important life skills like perseverance & grit, all while having fun!

25-YEARS CLUB

Okay, this one isn't an official school club, but it's definitely worth a huge shout-out! Congrats to our dedicated faculty & staff members who are being recognized as part of JCPS "Made in Jersey City" campaign to highlight all the employees in the district who have served at least 25 years. You're an integral part of helping make PS5 such a special place!

What gorgeous mugs -- proof that doing what you love & engaging in meaningful work is the key to staying vibrant! Back row from L to R: Mr. Garner, Ms. Montes, Ms. Flores, Ms. Martinez, Mr. Serrano, Ms. Jusino, Ms. Boodoosingh, Ms. Wilkins, Mr. DeCarlo. Front row, L to R: Ms. Marion, Ms. Santiago-Hernandez, Principal Rivero, Dr. Rosario, Ms. Snelling.

WALK TO SCHOOL RALLY

PS5 families & staff recently showed support for the Hudson County TMA's Walk to School Program by strolling along with the TMA's mascot, Buster the Bus. The morning walk was followed by an assembly teaching our kids how to maximize their safety as pedestrians.

COASTAL WILDS ZOO

No need however for our students to walk to the zoo, because the zoo instead came to them! Last Wednesday, a visit from Coastal Wilds' Mobile Zoo had our kids getting to interact with a variety of animals, including a bearded dragon, a blue-tongued skink, a red-footed tortoise, a corn snake, a ball python, a spectacled owl, a Madagascar hedgehog, a tenrec, an armadillo, and a chinchilla. Thanks to our PTA for sponsoring the inter-species meet & greet!

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A PEEK INTO CLASSROOMS:

After a read-a-loud of Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert, pre-schoolers in Rm. 106 decided to make their very own leaf man! The kids went on leaf hunt, excitedly walking around the neighborhood with collection bags, and noticing the different colors, shapes, textures, & sizes of leaves. Back in the classroom, they counted the total leaves collected This activity encouraged curiosity, observation, counting, & describing skills, while helping children make connections to the story and explore the changes in nature during the fall season...This class also has a new technology center, equipped with an IPad their teacher Ms. Puleo recently won through a grant from Donors Choose.  Students are enjoying hanging out on the plush chairs, also funded via Donors Choose, while playing word and math games on the new tech device.
1st-grade students in Rm. 209 welcomed their baby calf Cora! Through the Discover Dairy program, they will receive monthly updates about their adoptee, watch Cora grow, learn how she is cared for, how milk is produced, and will even get to visit a farm later in the school year...
...while Rm. 208 first-graders got a special visit with firefighters, who taught our kids about fire safety. 
2nd-graders are travelling the world — without leaving the classroom! Students in Rm. 216 are busy exploring cultures and traditions from around the world. In honor of the Halloween and fall season, her social studies classes took a “trip” across the globe to learn how different countries celebrate fall holidays and festivals. Students explored countries like Ireland, Japan, Mexico, and many others, discovering unique customs & celebrations along the way. After each stop, they stamped their paper passports to mark their journey. To wrap up their adventure, the children worked together to create colorful posters representing the countries they “visited” and the special ways each one celebrates the season.
5th-graders in Ms. Ureta's Interdisciplinary Studies class presented their research on US regions, highlighting key maps and displaying the distinct physical features making up each region. 

HALLOWEEN

After a parade of costumes held outside, students returned to their rooms to make seasonal crafts, learn about how Halloween is celebrated in other parts of the world, visited staff members for a "Trick or Treat,"  and welcomed parents too. For example, Rm 212 parents spent the whole morning joining in the festivities: a witches cauldron activity, snacks, and even Halloween dancing!  

DIWALI

Celebration of Diwali Festival of Lights had  parents visiting classes during the school day...and afterschool, the Conti Garden was the setting for a schoolwide Diwali party, sponsored by the PTA, where our community celebrated "light, joy, and togetherness!" 

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

Conti's Day of the Dead celebration, honoring the life and memories of loved ones who have passed, was another recent gathering sponsored by our PTA --  a beautifully-presented afterschool event!

Colorfest

The PTA's Annual Colorfest Fundraiser wraps up with a field day, where our kids have a fantastic time! And this year's event met a record goal of raising $25,000, to help support educational opportunities for Conti students, including arts education programs, the 8th-grade class trip to Philly, and our annual Spring Carnival. Follow this link to volunteer & get involved with this wonderful organization -- one we think is the very best Parent-Teacher-Association in the district!

* The above Colorfest photos, with the exception of one or two, were taken by PS5 parent MARIA KAZIKHANOV (Petra and Alexander’s mom), who so graciously shared permission for us to use!
To celebrate meeting the $25K Colorfest fundraising target, our students got to tape a faculty member to the wall, lol! Thank you to CIT Mr. DeCarlo for being a great sport!

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Mark Your Calendars!!

STUDENT DRESS DOWN DAYS!

ONLY TWO MORE DRESS DOWN DAYS LEFT IN 2025: December 5th & December 19th

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PICTURES WITH SANTA!

(Pictures with Santa flyers were sent home.)

FAMILY HOLIDAY PHOTO EVENT!

There are limited spots, so sign up ASAP! Goto https://bit.ly/4o4q1fr to reserve a slot for DECEMBER 5...and https://bit.ly/4pfpw3e for DECEMBER 19

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BOOK FAIR!

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MULTICULTURAL LUNCHEON!

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The upcoming month is packed with exciting holiday events at PS5 for our families. Here's the round-up in one flyer:

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...and another family event to consider on an upcoming Saturday, December 13, when PS5 Art specialist Mike Markman will be featuring his comic & activity books at The KIDS COMIC CON:

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Thank you!

Conti Chatter @ 2025-26 Created by Keung Sexton, PS5 LMS/Literacy Support

Principal John J. Rivero

Assistant Principal Albert Padilla

CREATED BY
K. S.