Superintendent’s Message to the Community
September 2026
Superintendent’s Message to the Community
September 2026
👋 Welcome Back
As we settle into the new school year, I want to extend a warm welcome to all of our returning and new families, including a special welcome to Jessica Torre as the new Principal of Coolidge School! We have had a fantastic start to the year, with well-attended Back-to-School Nights across our district—and we look forward to welcoming our Sicomac School families to their Back-to-School Night later this week. Thank you for your continued partnership and support.
🗓️ Important Dates
👥 Sept 25: SEPAG Meeting for Parents
🏛️ October 5: Board of Education Meeting
🚒 October 5: Fire Prevention Week Begins
🤝 October 6: SEPAG Meeting with Director
🤝 Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG)
Our district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) is a state-mandated, parent-led organization that provides input to the district on issues concerning students with special needs and learning differences. SEPAG serves as a collaborative voice to share feedback, offer parent networking and support, and help shape special education programs and services across Wyckoff schools. All parents and guardians are welcome to attend our upcoming meetings on September 25th (Parent Meeting) and October 6th (Meeting with the Director of Special Services).
Please visit the Special Services page on our website for more information and to register.
📈 Enrollment & 2026–2027 District Goals
Our district continues to thrive, with a current enrollment of 1,983 students across our five schools. For the 2026–2027 school year, our administrative team and Board of Education have outlined key goals that guide our district forward:
📚 Academic Excellence: Elevate instructional rigor and student growth in math and literacy by leveraging assessment data and expanding targeted small-group learning across all schools.
💙 Student & Staff Well-Being: Nurture supportive classroom environments, promote balanced technology integration, and equip educators through professional growth opportunities.
🏫 State-of-the-Art Facilities: Maintain and enhance safe and updated learning environments by continuing essential roofing and HVAC projects, and continually strengthening safety and security infrastructure across all school buildings.
🤝 Parent Engagement: Sustain strong family relationships through clear, timely communications that keep our school community informed and supported.
🌟 Student Recognition
Over the summer, Eisenhower Middle School students Remy F. and Liam F. represented our district on the world stage at the International Geography Bee in Thailand! Both boys performed exceptionally well against global competition, with Remy securing two silver team medals, two international plaques, and a 15th-place world overall ranking, while Liam helped lead Team NJ to a 19th-place global finish. Congratulations to Remy and Liam on this extraordinary achievement, and special thanks to Mrs. McMillan for supporting and inspiring our students' passion for geography!
⚽ Fall Athletics
Our fall athletic season is officially off to a great start! We encourage the community to come out and support our Eisenhower student-athletes as our boys and girls soccer teams and girls volleyball team open their seasons this Wednesday, September 23rd, at 4:00 PM. Good luck to all of our teams and coaches as they represent Wyckoff with great sportsmanship and school spirit!
💻 Balanced Technology
Our district is embracing a renewed commitment to balanced technology. Our goal is to ensure digital tools serve as deliberate educational resources aligned with student developmental needs, State Standards, and active learning, rather than acting as the default environment.
Throughout our schools, we are focusing on meaningful balance:
📝 Paper-First Foundation: Prioritizing fine motor skills and a paper-first foundation in our primary grades, including dedicated instruction in cursive writing in grades 3-5.
🎨 Active Creation: Emphasizing active student creation over passive consumption.
🤝 In-Person Connection: Encouraging face-to-face peer connection during unstructured times.
Coupled with strengthened digital safeguards and web filtering, our staff will thoughtfully evaluate and adjust these practices throughout the year as we continue to foster healthy, well-rounded learning environments for all of our students.
A complete list of district assessments and information regarding our digital tools will be posted on the district website. Principals will also share this link in their upcoming Friday Folder communications.
📱 New Statewide Cell Phone & Device Policy
In accordance with new New Jersey state legislation taking effect for the 2026–2027 school year, Wyckoff School District is enforcing an updated policy prohibiting students' non-academic use of cell phones, smartwatches, and other personal internet-enabled devices from the start of the school day to the final bell. This statewide measure aims to protect instructional time, reduce online distractions, support student mental health, and foster meaningful face-to-face peer connection. We appreciate our families' partnership in reinforcing these expectations at home so our classrooms remain focused, vibrant learning environments.
📚 Academics & Community Learning
📊 NJSLA Results: Standardized testing results from the spring New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) are expected to be available to families starting next week.
⏰ September Attendance Awareness Month: Consistent attendance is crucial to student success and building a strong school community. Thank you for helping your children establish strong routines early in the year.
🏞️ 6th Grade Fairview Lakes Trip: Last week, our 6th-grade students participated in their annual outdoor learning trip to Fairview Lakes. It was a wonderful opportunity for hands-on environmental education, outdoor exploration, and team-building to kick off their middle school experience!
Sincerely,
Kerry L. Postma, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Wyckoff School District