Grants in Action

Introduction to Bicycle Mechanics

Led by teacher Conrad Prais, fifth and sixth grade students participated in a hands-on, STEM-integrated program that equipped them with fundamental knowledge of bicycle systems, safety protocols, and basic maintenance skills. The program fostered self-reliance, critical thinking skills, and a practical understanding of engineering design, applied physical science, and mathematical concepts like ratio and measurement (PSI, seat height).

The project helped students explore STEM and mechanic skills that can help future Bloomfield Public Schools STEM programs and enrollment. Mr. Prais measured program success using problem diagnosis assessment, pre/post self-efficacy survey, and observational diagnosis assessment to create a rubric to measure impact.

Wilderness Program

The Wilderness Program is a twice-yearly backpacking experience offered in both the fall and spring. Each trip brings together a diverse group of 12 seniors from Bloomfield High School for a challenging journey along a 27-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail, beginning at Millbrook Village and continuing to the Pennsylvania border. Accompanied by three adult teachers led by Ryan Smirich, students hike, camp, and work together in an environment far removed from their daily routines.

Participants are responsible for carrying their own gear, pitching tents, setting up pulley systems to protect food from wildlife, cooking meals, and maintaining campsites. Through these responsibilities, students develop problem-solving skills and learn to navigate unfamiliar challenges alongside their peers.

In an increasingly tech-driven culture, the program also offers students a rare opportunity to disconnect. Interest in the program is strong, with as many as 100 applicants competing for limited spots. Students are selected through a written essay application process.

For many years, the Wilderness Program benefited from outside funding, which helped establish and maintain equipment. However, three years ago, that outside funding source ended. Despite this loss, the program has continued through careful planning, responsible maintenance of existing equipment, and ongoing repairs as needed.

To ensure accessibility for all participants, and thanks to a generous grant from BEF, Bloomfield seniors are provided with nearly all necessary backpacking equipment from head to toe, as many students do not own this specialized gear. Equipment provided includes hiking boots, wool socks, thermal layers, fleeces, hats, gloves, hiking packs, sleeping bags, tents, and other essential outdoor supplies.

BHS Esports Team Captures State Championship

The Bloomfield High School Esports Team captured the Garden State Esports (GSE) Championship in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe at Georgian Court University on Saturday, May 16, completing a dominant undefeated season.

The team finished the spring season with a perfect 7-0 record and advanced through both the playoffs and championship finals without dropping a single set. Bloomfield defeated Kearny and Livingston in the playoffs before earning the championship victory over Lenape in the finals.

The GSE Mario Kart team consists of:
Katelyn Edouard – Sophomore
Luciano Pagliuca – Freshman
Naasir Taylor – Freshman
Nathanael Bailly – Sophomore
Timothy Salgado – Sophomore
Vincent Sabol – Sophomore
Zeth Bell – Head Coach

The Bloomfield High School Esports Program features varsity teams competing in a variety of video game titles, offering students opportunities for collegiate recruitment and scholarship consideration. During the past year, students competed in titles including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Marvel Rivals, and Fortnite.

Supported by the Bloomfield Board of Education and a $50,000 contribution from the Bloomfield Educational Foundation, the program is headquartered in the recently established Esports Arena at Bloomfield High School. The program operates throughout the fall, winter, and spring athletic seasons, with teams competing in both the Garden State Esports state league and the PlayVS National East Coast League.

This championship marks the program’s first-ever Garden State Esports seasonal title.

BEF Helps Fund Bengals Girls’ Flag Football

Get ready!

A new sport is coming to Bloomfield High this spring.

Flag football for young ladies will now include the Bengals, who will play against teams from Essex and Hudson counties in 2026.

Head coach Deborah Schulze couldn’t be more enthused with her players and the chance for the Bengals to compete in what has become a very popular high school sport for females in the spring season at various New Jersey high schools.

Read the article by Mike Lamberti on TapInto Bloomfield here.

BEF Grant Funds Student Robotics Program

As Seen In: Essex News Daily

Bringing the challenge and excitement of robotics to all grade levels has been on the mind of Bloomfield High School teacher Michael Warholak for some time.

Starting off as an Industrial Arts teacher who transitioned into Technology Education and eventually became the BHS Robotics Team coach, his vision closed in on reality this spring when, as a pilot program, Watsessing and Oak View elementary school robotic clubs competed against each other at the high school.

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BHS students sharing their creative writing with audience members.

Student Author Book Publishing and BHS Library Contribution Grant

(Read the program recap here!)

2019 is the first year Bloomfield High School offered Creative Writing as an elective, and over 100 students signed up. It is the hope that through this grant, more students will become interested in writing both in and out of school and that students’ interest in learning about the craft will grow.

Students in the new Creative Writing classes are writing, editing and will publish their own books of poetry and prose. Grant dollars provide for each student to have a copy of their own book, and a copy will be made for the school library. This will be the start of the “Bloomfield High School Author Library” section. This is not only new to BHS, but also to school districts in the area. The creation of a published student author library will give every student at BHS a chance to read their peers’ works, encouraging students of all ages to pursue writing whether in or out of school. The project will also help new writers feel welcomed, celebrated, and respected while helping readers find connections to their peers that they might not have discovered without these books.

Students also visited the Poets House in New York City, to spark their creativity and to allow them to collaborate with other writers.

“Just a quick note of thanks for freshmen study hall this past fall. Final marking period one grades were outstanding. Grade break down was 101 A’s, 70 B’s, 34 C’s, 8 D’s, and 6 F’s. Much needed structure and time management skills are a huge reason for this success. Thanks again for working with us.”

– Mike Carter, Head Football Coach

Freshman Football After School Tutoring/Study Hall Program

Since 2014, the after-school study hall has helped freshman football players get off to a good start at BHS with a focus on organizational skills, study

habits, and how to conduct themselves as gentlemen.

Meeting Mon.-Thurs., the program has shown gratifying results. During the Fall 2019 semester, 17 of 32 players who finished the season made the honor roll.

Dance Program

The BEF provided a generous grant to bring a professional dance company, Adera De, to Brookdale and Watsessing Schools last year. Adera De’s owner, Adesina Sampson, is a Fairview School parent who brought three other dancers with him to teach the students a diverse group of genres. The students learned ballet, West Indies, modern, and hip-hop style dances. Students were given a real-life clinic experience, where they learned blocks of choreography with and without music, then performed them for the group. The teachers at Watsessing School took the clinics and performed the dances with the students. It was a wonderful opportunity to have the students exposed to not only dance but to share a memory and build community.

I have always had students approach me at various ages to bring dance into the schools. I’m hoping we can recreate this opportunity for the students in the future.

Jennifer Koury,
Fine & Performing Arts Supervisor
Bloomfield Public Schools

Early Language Initiative

With the BEF funding of the Early Language Initiative grant for The Early Childhood Center at Forest Glen, students benefitted by having speech therapy sessions tailored to their specific areas of need. A wide array of therapeutic materials allowed the therapists to individualize activities, depending on the child’s level of functioning. This fulfilled the District’s mission of “Providing an equal opportunity for all learners.”

According to the report issued upon the completion of the program, the participants were a group of 100 preschool students with disabilities and children with Autism (ages 3-5). Each individual preschool student showed growth in their overall communication skills, upon review of the Annual Review Meetings, Receptive/Expressive Language Screeners and progress reports. The materials helped students increase their spontaneous language as well as their social skills in the areas of turn-taking, asking questions, commenting and engaging in back-and-forth play routines.

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