Conti Chatter

Dr. Michael Conti School PS 5

April 23, 2026

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2026 Project Gallery Walk

Nearly 300 guests attended the Conti School 10th Annual Project Gallery Walk, a 3-day event held in early April, celebrating student creativity, innovation, & learning! The festivities kicked off daily with TED Ed STUDENT TALKS, where middle-school students gave voice to their passions & concerns before an audience of peers, parents, faculty, leaders from the school district & community at large. After the TED Ed Talks, guests got a first-hand look at student projects via tours led by our pupils. Conti Cougars shared what they'd learned by researching, designing, and working collaboratively on projects with real-world applications. Students were thrilled to have on hand so many receptive visitors, including JC Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Norma Fernandez; Assistant Superintendent Ellen Ruane; Division B Director Dr. Joseph Galano; JCBOE Board President Noemi Velazquez; and Board Trustee/PS5 parent Dr. Matt Schneider, to name just a few...To everyone who attended this event, thank you for supporting our children in their learning journey!

Our Project Gallery Walk is a powerful reflection of our deep commitment to Project-Based Learning - an approach grounded in authentic, real-world application & meaningful student engagement. Through these projects, students collaborate, investigate, and create, applying their knowledge in ways that extend far beyond the traditional classroom. It highlights not only the final products, but also the process: evidence of sustained inquiry, critical thinking, problem-solving, & creativity. As students presented and discussed their work, they demonstrated ownership of their learning and a strong sense of pride in their accomplishments. This experience cultivates curiosity, voice, & confidence, while reinforcing the skills necessary for success in an ever-evolving world. At PS #5, we are proud to foster a community of active, engaged learners who are prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow with resilience, innovation, & purpose.

From Classroom to Courtroom

Our 6th & 7th grade students went on an eye-opening field trip to the Thurgood Marshall Federal Courthouse in New York City. During the visit they met with judges, lawyers, and gained a firsthand look at how the court system works. A highlight for them was taking part in a mock trial, which gave students the chance to apply what they learned in an interactive way. The experience helped deepen their understanding of the justice system and made civics come alive beyond the classroom!

A special thank you to The Honorable Myrna Perez, Judge for the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals (and former PS5 parent) who, along with her chambers staff, helped make this experience a memorable one for our middle school students!

Educator Spotlight

CONTI MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER WINS NJ250 FELLOWSHIP

PS5's Jonathan Nunez has been selected as one of just 30 educators statewide for the highly competitive Civics & History for the Next Generation (NJ250) Teacher Fellowship at Montclair State University. Recipients of the fellowship will form a cohort tasked with developing engaging curricula and help to shape innovative approaches to civics education. He has served as our middle school Social Studies teacher since 2022, where his classroom emphasizes hands-on, civics-focused learning. Through debates, Socratic seminars, project-based-learning, and a strong emphasis on student voice, he engages students in meaningful exploration of government, history, and their role as active citizens. A graduate of Columbia University with a degree in History, Mr. Nunez has also lectured in the History Department at Montclair State University. At PS #5, he serves as advisor to the TED-Ed Club, NJ250 initiative, and Student Council, further expanding opportunities for student leadership and civic engagement. Fantastic!

CHARTING A CURSIVE COURSE

Did you know studies show writing in cursive improves brain development in working memory, language, and actually improves reading skills? Cursive does this in ways that typing or printing out letters do not, which is why JC Public Schools will have students district-wide formally learn cursive writing next school year...However, here at Conti, primary-grade teachers are already using evidence-based techniques in cursive writing, and PS5 2nd-grade teacher Ms. Claros has even published a book on the methods she uses in the classroom!

Student Recognition

STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

The focus trait for the prior month was Perseverance - being persistent, not giving up in reaching for a goal.

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MARKING PERIOD AWARDS ASSEMBLY

Students who attained Honor Roll, Effort Roll, Perfect Attendance, and those who completed at least 40 Achieve 3000 activities with a minimum score of 75% by the end of the MP2, were recognized at an assembly earlier this month.

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Read Across America

We went "All Aboard!" and set sail for literary adventures at this year's festivities with a reading cruise theme. Students greatly enjoyed the read-a-louds shared by our guest readers, including Jersey City Mayor/Conti parent James Solomon, JCPS Superintendent Dr. Norma Fernandez, Asst.Superintendent Ellen Ruane, Director of Personnel Edwin Rivera, district supervisors & staff, Big Brother Big Sister mentors, PS5 administration & faculty, parents and students. Thank you to all who helped make the day a success and to the READ ACROSS AMERICA Committee - steered by Reading Specialist Maryann Curti and LMS/Literacy Support teacher Keung Sexton - for organizing this fun way for our kids to celebrate reading!

RAMADAN READ-A-LOUD

Second-graders from Rm. 216, along with Rm. 209 1st-graders, enjoyed a special read-aloud experience when a class parent visited to share a story she wrote in connection with the holiday of Ramadan. The students listened closely as they learned about the significance of the holiday. Each class received a copy of the book, and students had the opportunity to decorate their own lanterns, symbolizing light and kindness. A joyful experience to see students actively engaged, asking questions, and learn about a culture in a hands-on and meaningful way.

Week of the Young Child

Week of the Young Child is an annual April event that highlights the profound importance of the early years in a child’s development. Our young ones and their parents participated in theme days like Game Day, Wacky Day, Artsy Day, Tasty Tuesday, and Guacamole Day. Our kids also enjoyed a magic show from Cisco the Magician, and an original musical from the Paper Bag Theater Troupe!

IMAGINE THAT!!! DISCOVERY CENTER

1st -grade classes had a blast visiting Imagine That!!!, a museum where learning through play is the name of the game. Kids got to discover and explore the 16,000 square foot space in Florham Park, featuring many exhibits designed to stimulate imagination...

KINDOKINETICS

The power of play is likewise evident in Kindokinetics, a program that visits our Pre-K classes and has our young ones engage in activities designed to enhance motor skills, coordination, rhythm, and timing, which are foundational for brain development...

EMOTIONAL REGULATION

...And because Social-Emotional learning is a key component of brain development, community circles start in the Pre-K grades. Above is Jessica Perrone, Project Resilience clinician, using a talking toy to encourage students in Rm. 106 to listen, regulate, and answer questions in a calm manner.

COLORFUL CREATIONS

Second graders thoroughly enjoyed their field trip to The Crayola Experience in Easton, PA! They loved designing and naming their very own crayons, making each one truly one-of-a-kind. The spin art station was a crowd favorite, where bright colors swirled together to create beautiful masterpieces. Students also had fun experimenting with crayon molds and bringing their imaginations to life through creative coloring pages. A day full of hands-on fun they'll remember for years to come!

STEMOTIONAL SATURDAY

PS5's most recent STEMotional SATURDAY was geared to students in grades 6-8. In partnership with staff from Rutgers University Cooperative, students engaged in hands-on experiments, exciting challenges, and activities combining STEM with Social -Emotional Learning. Interactive stations included Using Makey Makey, Programming Spheros, and Decoding Cosmic Ciphers.

Club News

FINANCE CLUB

The Finance Club recently put their entrepreneurial skills into action with a highly successful booth at the local St. Patrick's Day parade, selling balloons and offering custom face painting to the public. Leading up to the event, our 8th graders took the initiative to self-teach, spending club hours watching video tutorials and practicing their new face-painting skills on each other. They were busy from start to finish and successfully raised over $300 for the club.

GARDEN CLUB

With the advent of spring weather, members of the after-school Garden Club, facilitated by parent Amanda Annelli and school counselor Emma Santiago-Hernandez, re-convene to work on cleaning debris, prepping soil with compost, and starting seeds. In addition to practical horticultural skills, the club teaches students about sustainability, plant biology, and healthy eating, while fostering life skills like patience, teamwork, & responsibility.

EARTH DAY HEROINES

To commemorate Earth Day, our 3rd-graders learned about amazing women trailblazers who paved the way to a more sustainable and green world. Students enjoyed researching and creating posters acknowledging the efforts of Wangari Maathai, Greta Thunberg, and Rachel Carson.

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BRING YOUR CHILD TO WORK DAY

Conti faculty & staff brought their children to school this week on this day designed to allow kids to observe professional environments and bridge the gap between education & the workplace.

FREE TICKETS TO SEE NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS COMPETE!

Our PTA was able to secure free tickets for PS5 families, when Gotham FC - two time winners of the national championship - plays Louisville FC on Sunday, May 3rd at the Sports Illustrated stadium in Harrison NJ. If interested, fill out this Google form to request tickets.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Report Card Night (virtual conferences) ~

CONTI CONCERT TO CELEBRATE AMERICA'S BIRTHDAY :

JERSEY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUMMER CAMP ~

For additional information go to this link.

Thank you!

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

Principal John J. Rivero

Assistant Principal Albert Padilla

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CREATED BY

K. S.