WELCOME TO THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR! We opened our doors with immense pride and excitement for the achievements waiting to unfold. From our youngest students who entered school for the first time, to our seniors embarking on their final year, and everyone in between: we are so glad you are here.
In this edition:
Board of Education Meeting TONIGHT!
Middle School GT Art & Music Applications
Process for Addressing Parent Concerns
School Lockdown Safety Tips for Parents
Back-To-School Nights 2026
Community News
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Monday, September 21: District Closed (Yom Kippur)
Tuesday, September 22: Delayed Opening for Students/Staff Professional Development
The Livingston Board of Education will hold a public meeting tonight, Tuesday, September 8, 2026 (7PM) at the Central Office, 11 Foxcroft Drive. The agenda will include an opening of schools celebration, as well as presentations on Board Goals and District/Strategic Planning Goals.
Tonight's meeting will be held in a hybrid format during which participants will have the ability to ask questions and make comments either in person or via the webinar.Register for the webinar using the link below. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the district's Facebook page, @LivSchools.
As we work together to plan for the future of our schools, community input and transparency are our top priorities. We have created a Referendum Resources webpage that will serve as the central repository for all official materials, data, and updates discussed during Board of Education meetings as we approach the upcoming referendum vote.
Currently on the page you will find the most recent demographic studies and Board presentations. We encourage all residents to explore these resources, stay informed, and engage with us throughout this collaborative process.
MIDDLE SCHOOL GT ART & MUSIC APPLICATIONS
The application window is now open to express interest in the district's Middle School Gifted & Talented Art and Music programs.
All applications must be submitted electronically no later than Friday, September 25, 2026.
Detailed information for both the Middle School GT Art and GT Music Programs, along with the applications for both programs, can be found at the links below:
We are excited to share an exciting update designed to enhance how we connect, share, and communicate with our school community!
Welcome to ParentSquare! We have adopted a new communication platform called ParentSquare to bring all school notifications into one centralized place. Whether you prefer email, text, web, or the ParentSquare app, you can now receive messages exactly how you want them, with automatic translation into your preferred language.
Important Next Steps for Parents: Your account has already been created, and if you have not yet registered we will continue to send out activation emails periodically throughout the school year. Please note that while you will continue to receive standard communications from the school regardless, we highly encourage you to log in using the email info to take full advantage of this all-in-one platform!
Once logged in, you can verify your contact info, download the app, and customize your notification settings. Thank you for your continued partnership as we launch these exciting new tools!
YANG WINS FIRST NATIONAL TITLE
During the first week of July, the largest U.S. National Table Tennis Championships in history was held at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. Emma Yang, a seventh grader at Livingston Heritage Middle School, captured her first national championship title by winning the U13 Girls’ Singles event.
In addition to her singles championship, Emma earned gold in U13 Girls’ Doubles, silver in U13 Mixed Doubles, and silver in U15 Girls’ Doubles, bringing home four national medals from the competition.
The National Championships also marked the final event of the selection process for the 2026 U.S. Table Tennis junior national team. Following her strong performance, Emma was once again selected to represent the United States at the Pan American U11&U13 Championships, which will be held in Houston this fall.
LIU NAMED FINALIST IN PIANO COMPETITION
Wilson Liu, a student at Mount Pleasant Middle School, has been named a finalist at the 2026 Gina Bachauer International Junior Piano Competition, one of the world's most prestigious international piano competitions for young musicians. Wilson advanced to the final round as one of only five finalists and was the only North American pianist to reach the finals.
Held earlier this summer in Salt Lake City, Utah, the 2026 competition celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation and brought together exceptional young pianists from 14 countries. Following two highly competitive solo rounds, Wilson earned his place in the final round.
Wilson has studied at The Juilliard School Pre-College Division since the age of seven, where he continues to refine his artistry while balancing his academic studies. Through competitions, performances, and community engagement, he hopes to inspire others by sharing the joy of classical music.
SANTOSH WINS VIDEO CONTEST
Saasha Santosh, who has been named a winner in the 2026 Eye on the Future Teen Video Contest, a national competition hosted by NEI, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Saasha earned first place in the contest's "Science in Your Future" category for her video, "Left On Read." Inspired by her grandmother's experience with diabetes, the project explores how artificial intelligence could one day help detect diseases earlier through a simple smartphone photo. Her video imagines a future in which advanced AI tools make healthcare more accessible, equitable, and effective.
The Eye on the Future contest invites students in grades 9-12 to create short videos exploring how science impacts their lives, communities, and future careers. Saasha's achievement reflects her creativity, curiosity, and passion for using science and technology to address real-world challenges.
Interested and qualified applicants are invited to apply via our online application. Our administrative staff will be reviewing resumes and contacting those individuals who they feel will best meet the needs of the positions we have available at this time. Some screening will be conducted over the phone, and some interviews will be in person and others will take place online using online platforms. Since we have many positions available, we are not able to return phone calls regarding open positions or status of applications.
Note: Check with your school for start times and additional info!
PARENT CONCERN PROCESS
Livingston Public Schools strives to respond to concerns and/or questions as quickly and effectively as possible. In a school system, as in any organization, the “chain of command” refers to communication levels of authority in the school district. The philosophy behind the chart in the link below is to refer community members to those people in the organization who can best solve any concerns or questions that may arise, and then direct them to the appropriate people if issues are not able to be effectively addressed at the first level.
LPS takes school security very seriously and follows all of the safety protocols that are practiced regularly with the Livingston Police Department. These protocol include school lockdowns, which are designed to secure schools and protect students during emergency situations. Parents have a part to play in school lockdown safety as well! Watch the video below to learn how parents can contribute to school safety during lockdown situations.
Project Thrive is a collaborative initiative of the Livingston Public Library, the Livingston Township Health Department through the Mayor’s Wellness Campaign, and the West Essex YMCA, designed to support the growth, well-being, and overall success of middle school students. Over the course of nine months, September through May, participants will engage in creative activities, community projects, leadership opportunities, and wellness experiences that help to foster confidence, resilience, and healthy relationships. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PROJECT THRIVE!
ABOUT THE LIVINGSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Whether you're stopping by for after-school programs, tech gear from the Library of Things, or just a quiet spot to focus, the library is your dedicated space to learn, create, and connect. Visit livingstonlibrary.org or stop by 10 Robert H. Harp Drive to sign up for your free library card and learn more about all that the library has to offer!
WATCH LTV! IT'S ALL ABOUT LIVINGSTON!
LTV, Livingston, NJ's community access television channel, can be found on cable television via Comcast (Channel 34) and Verizon (Channels 26 and 28). Additionally, LTV can now be found online at www.LivingstonTV.org, which provides a live stream of the cable channel plus numerous shows available to watch ON-DEMAND! LTV is operated by the Livingston Public Broadcasting Committee, a group of volunteers (adults and high school students) who recognize all the good that Livingston has to offer; have an interest in television programming, production, operations and marketing; and give their time toward promoting local information, entertainment, and education to all members of the Livingston community!
