TUPS It’s All About U is our monthly newsletter highlighting the people, programs, technology, and stories that make the Township of Union Public Schools such a special community.
Did you know?
Students who attend school regularly develop stronger relationships with peers and teachers, which leads to greater success in school and in life.
We Care About U. Show Up All Day, Every Day.
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A message from the Superintendent, Dr. Benaquista.
Results improved in 12 of 15 NJSLA grade and course assessments, including all eight mathematics assessments. Grade 8 math increased by 17 percentage points, while English language arts results in grades 5, 7, and 9 each rose by 7 percentage points.
Five NJSLA grade and course results met or exceeded the state rate. These gains reflect the hard work of our students and educators and the support of our families.
Our curriculum team will share a full presentation at the November Board of Education meeting, highlighting results and next steps for continued growth.
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Congratulations to the grade level in each TUPS building with the highest attendance average for October! Leading this month’s winners is Connecticut Farms School’s 3rd grade with 97.97% attendance!
Our building winners are:
Connecticut Farms: 3rd grade — 97.97%
Livingston: 5th grade — 97.82%
Kawameeh: 7th grade — 97.34%
Battle Hill: 4th grade — 97.13%
Hannah Caldwell: 3rd grade — 97.08%
Washington: 1st grade — 96.97%
Jefferson: 4th grade — 96.56%
Burnet: 6th grade — 95.92%
Union High School: 9th grade — 95.63%
Pre-K Center at Franklin: 95.04%
The Top 3 schools with the highest percentage overall:
Kawameeh – 97.22%
Battle Hill – 96.83%
Livingston – 96.58%
Thank U to our students, families, and staff for working together to support consistent attendance and help students stay connected to learning.
We Care About U. Show Up All Day, Every Day!
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We Want to Hear from U! Elementary Chromebook Survey
How is your elementary school child using Chromebooks, both in class and at home?
Take our 1–2 minute survey to share what is working well and where improvements may be needed.
Please complete a separate response for each elementary school child, based on what you have observed or what your child has shared. Do not include student or staff names in written responses.
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More than 3,600 families visited our schools.
Of the families who responded to our survey:
75% rated their experience 4 or 5 out of 5.
70% left with a clearer understanding of the school year expectations.
Families appreciated meeting teachers, seeing student work, and the welcoming support of staff and student volunteers.
Looking ahead, families suggested more time with teachers and for questions, more information about curriculum and student supports, and sharing agendas prior to the evening.
Thank U to our families for visiting our schools and sharing feedback to help us make future events even better!
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Our incredible TUPS school nurses spent Professional Development Day learning, growing, and staying current with the latest trends, best practices, and advancements in school nursing.
Their commitment to ongoing professional learning helps ensure our students receive the best possible care and support every day.
Thank U to our dedicated nurses for all you do to keep our students healthy, safe, and ready to learn!
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Motivational speaker and author Jordan Toma joined secondary teachers and staff members for the October Staff Professional Development Day, offering an opportunity to reflect on the impact educators have on students' lives.
His presentation emphasized the value of encouragement, meaningful connections, and helping students build confidence when facing challenges. He shared insights from his new book, Invisible: Don't Forget the Kids in the Back. The session served as a reminder that everyday interactions can make a lasting difference, helping students feel supported and motivated to succeed. Toma encouraged educators to help every student feel seen, heard, and valued.
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During the first week of October, schools across New Jersey and through the district recognized the Week of Respect, an opportunity to reinforce the importance of kindness, empathy, acceptance, and positive relationships. Throughout the week, our schools engaged students in activities and discussions that promote respect for others, celebrate differences, and encourage a safe and welcoming school environment. |
Washington School celebrated the Week of Respect with their very own Signing Day! All of the students recited the Respect Week Pledge and signed their own contract. The students pledged to be kind, be responsible, and be respectful. Thank you, Mrs. Marano and Mrs. Piano, for this fun schoolwide activity!
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Burnet Middle School Celebrates Week of Respect!
Burnet Middle School celebrated Week of Respect with themed spirit days, fun activities, and a focus on kindness, inclusion, and school spirit!
Throughout the week, students participated in a Golden Ticket Hunt, earned special Purple Respect Bucks, and learned about our new PBSIS program and Burnet Bucks. Burnet also soft-launched our new SEL Room, a space designed to support students' social-emotional needs throughout the school day.
One highlight was the launch of Caught Being Awesome at Burnet, where staff nominate students for kindness, respect, leadership, and simply doing the right thing. Nominated students are invited to the SEL Room to be recognized and photographed for our school display.
Best of all, Caught Being Awesome and our PBSIS initiatives will continue throughout the school year, giving us more opportunities to recognize and celebrate our students!
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During Hispanic Heritage Month, observed from September 15 through October 15, our district celebrated the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic communities. Through classroom lessons, literature, art, and music, students explored diverse traditions and learned about individuals whose achievements have shaped our world. These learning experiences promote cultural appreciation and strengthen our commitment to a welcoming school community where very student's heritage is valued. |
Mrs. Frazier’s students created projects highlighting Hispanic/Latino individuals who have made significant contributions to American life and culture. From renowned artists like Pablo Picasso to pioneering scientists like Dr. Ellen Ochoa, students explored the achievements and lasting impact of these influential individuals. Their work was displayed in the library, providing other classes with an opportunity to learn, explore, and celebrate the rich contributions of Hispanic and Latino trailblazers. |
Miss Henriques’ class explored the Guatemalan tradition of worry dolls, learning how these tiny dolls are made and traditionally used to share worries before bedtime. Students then created their own worry dolls, bringing creativity and cultural learning together! |
On October 14, 2026, the Title III, Humanities, and Bilingual/ESL/World Language departments gathered to celebrate Latino Heritage Month and honor our mayor and colleague, the Honorable Patricia Guerra-Frazier, the Township of Union’s first Latina mayor.
The meeting highlighted Accountable Talk, a shared departmental goal that helps students build on one another’s ideas, engage in academic discussions, and communicate with confidence.
Thank you to Pomptonian for catering this special celebration of culture, community, and learning!
Every student, every day, in every language.
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The UHS STEM Pathway Program welcomed Gerardo Martinez as the first guest speaker for the school year. Mr. Martinez works at Boeing in the space sector as a Rocket Propulsion engineer on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket built for NASA. The SLS rocket powers the Artemis program. He works to analyze the complex systems that power the rocket and had the privilege of working the day of the launch to ensure the rocket and astronaut crew aboard the rocket were safe and cleared for launch at the Kennedy Space Center. Mr. Martinez has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State and a Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue. A special thank you to Ms. Lokko, Mrs. White, and Ms. Franey for making this possible! |
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Mrs. Quick, Jefferson School’s nurse, is bringing skeletal fun to the space outside her office with Professor Seymour Bones! After taking a spill, the professor posed this question of the day: “Which bone is most commonly broken in the human body?” It’s a creative way to spark curiosity and help students learn about their bodies! |
Union High School welcomed students and families for an informative College and Career Night, helping them explore opportunities and plan for life after graduation! Attendees learned about college and career pathways, the admissions process, and resources available to support their future goals.
A special highlight of the evening was a financial aid presentation featuring Andre Maglione, Associate Director at the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), and Senator Joseph Cryan, providing families with valuable information about financial aid and making higher education more affordable.
A huge thank U to our outstanding UHS Counseling Department for organizing such a meaningful and informative evening! Your dedication to helping our students explore their options and prepare for bright futures makes a difference!
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Whether it’s moving things from one building to another, installing data drops, handling electrical and plumbing needs, keeping the air conditioning and heat running, painting, repairing floors, taking down or putting up walls, lining a field, setting out chairs for graduation, digging holes, planting trees, digging up time capsules or cleaning up after sporting events, our Buildings and Grounds team makes it happen.
Led by Anthony Cirella, Assistant Dominik Mercuro, and Ron Zieser Sr., this talented team has gone above and beyond to keep our schools ready and running for students and staff over the last two years. So much of what we rely on every day is handled in-house by their skilled hands, hard work, and care for our schools.
Ms. McKenzie praised the department for all they do each day. To show their appreciation, she and Dr. Benaquista joined the team for lunch and presented them with TUPS challenge coins in recognition of their hard work and dedication.
This is just the beginning of recognizing the many helping hands across TUPS. We look forward to celebrating more staff members whose teamwork, dedication, and pride in their work help our schools run smoothly.
Thank U to our Buildings and Grounds team for the long hours, the problem-solving, and the care you put into everything you do. Your work matters, your efforts are noticed, and you are appreciated!
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How big is our Solar System? How far apart are the planets?
Watch Mr. Lama and the 6th graders of Burnet Middle School as we bring science to life through an interactive, real-world demonstration of the incredible distances and scale of our Solar System!
From the Sun to Neptune, Lama-Live takes science beyond the textbook, making learning engaging, visual, and memorable.
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The theme of Wednesday’s Red Ribbon Week at Battle Hill was “Your Future is Bright.”
Students were asked to wear neon colors, and Mrs. McCarthy’s 2nd-grade class not only wore neon colors but also did glow-stick reading!
Lights off, glowsticks out!
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Did you know that our district promotes Little Free Libraries? The Little Free Library is a non-profit organization that's based on neighborhood book exchanges. "Take a book. Share a book." is their motto.
Each school has a book box in the shape of a schoolhouse. These book boxes, located near the school's main entrance, are filled with books. The books, which are for both adults and children, are available all day, everyday. A person can choose to either take a book to read or leave one for others. All of the Little Free Libraries were funded through a grant award from the district.
Being a part of the Little Free Library not only helps to build a strong community, it also instills the love of reading in children. The more access to books a child has, the more they read. So, when you are out and about, stop by one of the Little Free Libraries to grab a book or just drop one off.
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FREE Tutoring for ALL TUPS Students in Grades 5–8!
Need a little extra help with homework or want to build confidence in a subject? We've got U covered!
The Township of Union Public Schools is proud to partner with Knack Tutoring to offer FREE virtual tutoring in ANY subject area for all students in Grades 5–8!
College students from Union College and Kean University lead sessions, providing our students with personalized academic support right from home. Parents and guardians: Register with Knack and schedule tutoring sessions at a time that works for your family!
Let's make this a great year of learning and success!
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