EDISON, N.J., Aug. 11 (ZFJ) — Andrew “Dean” S. DeNicola, 55, band director at John P. Stevens High School for 50 years, died on May 20, 2024, after many years of battling heart disease.
“His devotion toward music, the band program, and his students was unparalleled, and anyone who had the pleasure of getting to know Andy knew he was having fun and living his life to the fullest,” wrote the Central Jersey Music Educators Association on Instagram.
Aug. 1 (ZFJ) — The College Board has announced that, starting May 2025, 28 AP Exams will have their standard paper testing discontinued. Instead, these exams will be administered digitally through the Bluebook app. All schools and test centers will have to administer these exams digitally, though paper exams will still be available to select students approved by the College Board.
The acceleration to digital testing was done to further protect the integrity and security of AP exams.
EDISON, N.J., July 24 (ZFJ) — Muslim students from Edison High School are alleging that one of the school’s assistant principals intimidated them over their club’s annual iftar event during a February meeting.
Iftar is the breaking of the daily fast during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan. The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), a Muslim civil rights group, says that Assistant Principal Nicole Himmelstein met with eight board members of the school’s Moon and Stars Association (MSA) following their request to hold a joint iftar event and invite students from Piscataway and North Brunswick.
July 2 (ZFJ) — This one’s mainly for the class of 2024, with some exceptions, I suppose. If you used your free AP score report send, those have been sent out now.
The AP Students dashboard, under “View Past Score Sends,” indicates that reports were sent out on June 30.
So what? Well, you may be able to view all of your AP scores, including those from this year’s exams, on your college’s unofficial transcript—a minor boon to students like me who prefer not to stay their curiosity.
June 19 (ZFJ) — Starting from 2024-2025, College Board will revise the course content and exams for its four AP Physics courses for better alignment with corresponding introductory college courses and better communication of the knowledge required for the exams.
One of the most notable course updates for AP Physics 1 is the addition of a new unit: Fluids, which was previously part of AP Physics 2. As such, Fluids will no longer be part of the AP Physics 2 curriculum.
EDISON, N.J., April 3 (ZFJ) — Edison Board of Education President Biral Patel announced measures to tackle substance abuse in schools at the Feb. 27 action meeting.
“It has been brought to our attention that issues persist, especially in two of our high schools,” Patel said in prepared remarks during the meeting. “To have an enforcement so everyone feels safe, updating policies are very important so administrators have the tools to address the issues.
EDISON, N.J., Sept. 10 (ZFJ) — School districts in New Jersey are now required to provide menstrual products for free in public schools that teach students of any grade from six through twelve.
Applicable schools will have to provide tampons and sanitary napkins (pads) in at least half of all their female and gender-neutral bathrooms. The state government will shoulder the costs for doing so.
The law addresses period poverty—one in four students in the U.
Sept. 10 (ZFJ) — Cecilia Xie Birge was appointed principal of Princeton High School on Thursday, Aug. 31.
The Princeton Board of Education voted unanimously for her at a special meeting. Board member Michele Tuck-Ponder was not present.
“With Cecilia’s appointment tonight, we are turning a page and we are looking with excitement to the future,” said Dafna Kendal, president of the school board.
Birge thanked the board and search committee for entrusting her with the position and recognized the school staff’s work for Princeton High.
EDISON, N.J., July 29 (ZFJ) — Dr. Edward Aldarelli was appointed superintendent of Edison Township Public Schools on Thursday, July 27.
The Edison Board of Education voted unanimously for him after four hours of candidate interviewing at a special meeting.
“Definitely, no doubt, absolutely yes,” said Board President Shannon Peng, topping off board member Mohin Patel’s “absolutely yes” and Jerry Shi’s “absolutely, absolutely yes.”
Aldarelli was “overwhelmed” that the board chose him to lead the district, which has over 16,000 students.
