
Superintendent Sentinel
Parent Newsletter / January 2025

Winter Time of Year!
Winter has certainly settled in this January. The cold weather tells me that we are well into the school year, watching students grow and develop. And as we find ourselves midway through the school year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on all the wonderful, magical moments we’ve shared thus far. From academic achievements to athletic events, our schools have been filled with joy, growth, and learning. Thank you for your ongoing partnership in making this year so special.
As we look ahead to spring (and the melting of snow!), we’re excited about the opportunities and milestones still to come. Together, we’ll continue to support our students in reaching their fullest potential and ensuring they lead purposeful lives with integrity while also cultivating a spirit of discovery to embrace connections in our diverse, global society.
Dr. Jonathan Hart
Follow me on X @hartjonathanr
In photo above Dr. Hart's son, Logan, having fun outside this winter!
Budgeting Time of Year
Mr. Jason Bohm, Business Administrator
The Board of Education is tasked with managing the budget of the district with the guidance of our Superintendent, Dr. Jonathan Hart, the Business Administrator, Jason Bohm, and involves all staff in some way, shape or form. As with every year, the first few months of the new year is when budgeting, planning and preparing occurs.
The creation and implementation of a strong, responsible budget allows the district to maintain the many programs our students have become accustomed to. The district is also able to maintain the buildings and grounds in the manner in which our constituents have come to expect.
The 2024-2025 budget, which is currently being utilized, has helped the district to meet goals that are set annually by the Board of Education and administration, aligned further with district’s five year strategic plan. With this year’s budget, the district was able to hire an additional behavioral health counselor, increase wages for police officers through a shared services relationship with the Township of Readington, retention and recruitment incentives to keep and attract the best staff given market shortages, and reallocate staff internally to create a new position to align with student needs. Further, the district settled a contract with the Readington Township Education Association allowing for revised schedules to provide more math, ELA, intervention and academic instructional time for students. This contract settlement also created flexibility in the design and creation of sports and clubs based on ground-level thoughts of staff and students. This year’s budget utilizes capital reserves without the need to increase the local tax levy to allow for enhancements to major security initiatives spearheaded with partnerships with local police and fire departments to protect staff and student well-being, the remodeling of the middle school main office with counselor and nurse suites, and numerous projects relating to informational technology to provide the best opportunities for the students long-term. Although not tied to the local tax levy budget, the Board of Education through prudent planning accessed millions of dollars in state funds to create a free, full-day curriculum-based preschool for 3- and 4-year old children!
While the Board of Education develops its 2025-2026 budget, you are welcomed to come and provide thoughts and input at the following open public sessions at board meetings:
- February 11, 2025: Department & Administrative Budget Presentations
- March 11, 2025: Presentation on the whole budget to the public with tentative approval
- April 8, 2025: Budget clarification
- April 29, 2025: Budget hearing and final adoption of budget
During the planning of the 2025-2026 school year budget, there will be some challenges facing our district which include, as of the writing of this article, staff and program modifications due to an increased enrollment from new housing developments, facility upgrades to ensure both students and staff remain safe and healthy, along with increases in staff salaries, inflation and health insurance premiums. In addition to these challenges, the district continues to be committed to providing our students with a comprehensive and rigorous program of studies, with a full complement of athletic and extra-curricular offerings.
All input and concerns about the budget can be heard during the February 11 board meeting as well as the other dates listed above. Public input helps the Board of Education to create a fiscally responsible budget while keeping all of the members of the community apprised of the current needs of the district. Please consider attending one or all of the dates. Recordings of meetings are also available on the district’s website.
As always, should you have questions, please email Jason M. Bohm, Business Administrator at jbohm@readington.k12.nj.us or the Board of Education at boardmembers@readington.k12.nj.us.
Learning More About the Reading and Math Diagnostic
Dr. Stacey Brown/Supervisor of Humanities & Ms. Sarah Pauch/Supervisor of Math, Science & Technology
The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjusts the questions based on your child’s instructional needs. Each question a child encounters is tailored to their previous answers. For instance, if a child answers several questions correctly, they will receive slightly harder questions. Conversely, if a child answers incorrectly, the questions will become easier.
i-Ready is designed to complement classroom instruction. Your child’s teacher will receive diagnostic information that indicates areas where additional review would be beneficial, helping them provide the best support possible. Your child will also engage in online lessons targeted at improving their identified areas of need. Teachers can track which lessons have been completed and offer assistance whenever your child requires extra support.
The ultimate goal is for your child to perform at or above grade level, demonstrating mastery of the skills expected for that grade and being ready to learn more advanced material.
Additionally, it is important for your child to make ongoing progress in their learning. After your child has taken more than one Diagnostic during the school year, you will receive results for each assessment. This will allow you to track your child's progress both overall and in specific subject areas.
Visit the Family Center for additional information and helpful guidance and tools for supporting your child at home. After your child has completed the Diagnostic, please click here to find information regarding how to access my child’s results.
Whitehouse School Spotlight
Dr. Ann DeRosa, Principal
Annual Thematic Unit: At Whitehouse School, we are proud of our annual thematic unit, a longstanding tradition. Each year, we select a book or story, and we study it as a school in an integrated manner. We explore it in so many ways. We read, write, and sing about it. We examine the theme in different subject areas, complete projects about it, and create works of art. We display our work in the hallways and then come together as a school community for culminating experiences.
This year, we chose Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll. It was first published in 1865 in England, as a children’s novel. A special thank you goes out to the H.S.A. for making the funding available for us to host Bright Star Touring Theatre, a professional troupe, that will visit WHS to perform its rendition of this classic.
Additionally, similar to last year, we are planning on hosting our own performance under the tutelage of Dr. Emily Bengels and Mr. Chad Schubert. They are directing our third grade Drama & Storytelling Clubs. This free performance will be held on March 28 at 4:00 p.m. in the Cafetorium at Whitehouse School!
Seeking Recertification for Sustainable Jersey Schools & Digital Schools Star Award: Mrs. Wendy Reardon and Dr. Emily Bengels are again taking a leadership role as we diligently work on our applications. The first submission took place on January 13. We will continue to teach the tenets associated with these awards and document our efforts until the final deadline in June 2025.
Over the summer, we hope to announce that we have maintained our silver status. This is the highest possible level and we first achieved it a decade ago. Through the same organization, we also aspire to uphold the Digital Schools Star recognition, which is a prestigious distinction that we proudly received in the inaugural year of the program.
Sustainable Jersey for Schools focuses on three pillars:
Reducing environmental impact and costs
Improving the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff
Providing environment education (STEM, civic skills, green career pathways, etc.)
Photo below on left, several students are composting scraps from lunch.
Photo below on right, Joseph Somma, Wesley Knoll, and Alina Hashmi are engaging in a digital collaboration.
Hatching a Plan in Preschool: In order to provide their students with an opportunity to observe chick-hatching in person, teachers Ms. Lauren Suriano and Mrs. Brianne Saharic wrote an HSA mini-grant. The funds were used to pay for My Chicken Rentals, a service whose presenter taught an educational lesson when he delivered fertilized eggs in an incubator.
Pictured here, Violet Bancroft eagerly waits for the chicks to hatch, and then upon their arrival, Ms. Lauren Suriano gets their attention by gently singing to them!
Upcoming Event: On January 28, we will kick-off a fundraiser at an assembly with the Harlem Wizards. This event will help us Get Fit for a GAGA Pit! All proceeds will go toward the purchase of an outdoor GAGA pit with flooring. We will then celebrate with the Wizards in a closing ceremony on February 11.
Discover a Summer of Learning and Fun with Our District's Summer Spark Program
Ms. Sherry Krial, Supervisor of Staff Development and Instructional Technology and Ms. Colleen Ogden, Summer Spark Coordinator
As you plan your summer activities, we invite you to consider enrolling your child in our Summer Spark Enrichment Program—a unique opportunity to inspire and engage young minds through creativity, exploration, and hands-on learning. We’re happy to share that this year’s program has expanded to include:
Two new courses to spark even more interest and creativity.
Full-day options available for both weeks.
An earlier morning start time for added convenience.
The program will run July 21 - 25 and July 28 - 31 at one of our district schools. Families may choose from half-day or full-day sessions each week featuring exciting workshops for incoming 1st through 6th graders. Each course, grouped by grade level band, offers fresh content, even for those whose name sounds familiar:
Crafting Campers: Create unique projects using various artistic mediums.
Innovative Explorers: Dive into challenges with Legos, K’nex, Escape Room-style puzzles, science experiments, Team Challenge activities, and robotic cars!
Culinary Creators: Whip up tasty recipes, desserts, and creative no-bake treats.
Stage Stars: Sing Disney favorites and end the week with a performance for family.
We’re also excited to introduce two new courses this summer:
Run and Games: Enjoy a bit of cross-country running and team games in a fun, supportive environment. No prior experience or fitness level is needed—We are here to help every level succeed. (Grades 4-6)
Pleasant Pastimes: An American Girl doll-centered exploration of history through modern day crafts, stories, activities & play, just like Pleasant Roland’s characters experienced earlier in America. No doll is required. Everyone is welcome. (Grades 3-6)
Additionally, to help students transition to new buildings this fall, we’re again offering our Warm Welcome orientation classes. These sessions are tailored to helping students feel confident and excited for the upcoming school year.
Kindergarten Kickoff (TBS/WHS)
Bobcat Beginnings (HBS)
Middle School Mingle (RMS)
All workshops are led by our highly respected district staff who are committed to making learning fun, meaningful, and memorable. Each week offers completely different course content, so students can join both weeks of fun, without any repetition.
Registration is now open, and spots are filling quickly. Classes are intentionally kept small to provide individualized attention.
To learn more or to register, visit our website: https://bit.ly/SummerSpark-RPS. For questions, please contact Colleen Ogden, Spark Coordinator, SummerEnrichment@readington.k12.nj.us.
We look forward to seeing your child enjoy a summer journey filled with fun, discovery, and growth
Technology Update - New RMS Sound System
Mr. James Belske, Technology Coordinator
Readington Middle School was thrilled to acquire a new wireless headset and sound mixing system this year. The RMS Drama Club (featured in photo below) has been enthusiastically incorporating this technology into their rehearsals for upcoming musicals and performances. This system gives our students the flexibility to concentrate fully on their acting without worrying about equipment issues. Considering the hard work and dedication they pour into their performances, ensuring they can be both seen and heard is the least they deserve. We can’t wait to see what they bring to the stage this year!
Parent Academy Night - March 26
Ms. Sherry Krial, Supervisor of Staff Development and Instructional Technology
Parent Tootlkit for Student Wellness: Join us for Parent Academy Night on Tuesday, March 26th, at 6:00 p.m. at Holland Brook School. This year's theme, "Parent Toolkit for Student Wellness," will provide valuable resources and strategies to support your child's well-being and success. Stay tuned for more details about the evening's agenda. RSVP Coming Soon!
When: Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Where: Holland Brook School
Time: 6:00 p.m.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Readington Governor's Educator of the Year Honorees 2024-2025 School Year
We are pleased to announce the Readington Township School District 2024-2025 Governor's Educator of the Year (GEOY) Program receipients. Our schools recently recognized the following Teachers and Educational Service Professionals with flowers and cheers:
Readington Middle School
Lauren Greenberg, Special Education Teacher
Stephanie Singer, Media Specialist
Holland Brook School
Julie Karus, Special Education Teacher
April Berkin, Media Specialist
Three Bridges School
Noelle Henderson, Intervention Teacher
Kelli Marella, Occupational Therapist
Whitehouse School (Photo Upper Right)
Juliane Lotierzo, Special Education Teacher
Elizabeth Eckel, Paraprofessional
We invite you to join us at our Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. as we honor our teacher of the year recipients. Please join us for a reception before the meeting at 6:15 p.m. in the Holland Brook School Cafeteria to enjoy appetizers, cake, beverages, and entertainment.
Congratulations to our 2024-2025 Governor's Educators of the Year! See our honorees featured in the photos below (left to right) Readington Middle School, Holland Brook School, and Three Bridges School.
Using Smore for newsletters this year; do you like it?
Mark Your Calendars
- January 27-31 / Great Kindness Challenge Week
- February 11 / BOE Meeting @ 6:00 p.m.
- February 14 / Early Dismissal Day - Curriculum Day
- February 17 / Schools Closed - Presidents Day
- February 25 / BOE Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.
- March 6-7 / Early Dismissal Days - Parent Teacher Conference
- March 11 / BOE Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.
- March 14 / Schools Closed - In Service Day
- March 26 / Parent Academy Night @ 6:00 p.m.