Dr. McGann's Newsletter

We are excited to share that the new school year is off to a fantastic start! Our students have quickly settled into their routines, and the energy in the classrooms and hallways has been filled with enthusiasm and a love for learning. It has been wonderful to see their curiosity and eagerness to engage in new challenges.

We were so pleased to see so many parents and guardians at our Back-to-School Nights last week. Our parking lots were full and the hallways were packed; we are so grateful for the opportunity to meet and mingle with parents and strengthen our connections between home and school. Thank you!

We know that our students’ parents hold high expectations for their children's personal and educational success. Parent and community involvement supports and enhances classroom and district programs. We are proud to be a district that supports parental and community involvement in education. Thank you for your ongoing support in helping make this transition smooth for both your children and our staff. Your involvement in their education is crucial, and we look forward to continuing our partnership throughout the year.

In the coming weeks, there will be many exciting opportunities for students to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. We encourage you to stay connected through our school communications and upcoming events. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions. Together, we are building a positive, supportive, and engaging learning environment where every child can thrive.

On September 27, the district mailed the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment reports for individual students who were in grades three through eight for the 23-24 school year. Parents should watch for this mailing and contact their child’s building principal with questions about the report.

Dr. Clifford Burns, our Assistant Superintendent, and I will be sharing a presentation on testing data during the October 10 Board of Education meeting. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at J.P. Case Middle School and will be posted on our website following the meeting.

The district continues to be committed to raising our student achievement standardized test results. While we recognize that high test scores are not the ultimate indicator of a successful student, we also know that high test scores are an indicator by which school districts are ranked. Rankings affect home values and the reputation of our school district; FRSD has an excellent reputation for maintaining high standards of instruction.

The instructional program is based upon a comprehensive K-8 curriculum supported by ongoing professional development opportunities for staff, high-quality instructional materials to engage students in learning, and support staff for additional support for students. Instructionally, the district provides school-based services designed to meet the needs of all students, including those requiring extended learning, special education, or English as a second language.

The district has over 200 preschoolers registered at the district’s on-site and off-site provider locations. The district currently partners with private preschools, First Friends, Precious Gems, and Norwescap.

To reach our projected universe of district-enrolled preschool students by 2028, we need to continue to enroll more preschool students each school year and provide space to do so. The goal is to provide high-quality, free preschool for all three and four-year-olds in the Flemington-Raritan Regional School District community.

Next year, for the 2025-26 school year, we anticipate partnering with our local KinderCare with two more additional classrooms.

The district is forming a Preschool Ad Hoc Superintendent's Committee. This committee will bring together community members to examine our potential growth in the district, analyze data, and synthesize information to develop strategic steps to continue to expand free high-quality preschool for families in our community. Please contact Mrs. Laura Bruhn at laura.bruhn@frsd.us if you are interested in this opportunity.

The Flemington-Raritan Regional School District is committed to safe, consistent, and reliable transportation for our students to and from school. We recognize there have been some bumps during September. We know some families are still struggling with inconsistent transportation services. The District is committed to finding solutions to transportation challenges. Thank you for your patience on this. The district is taking specific both short-term and long-term steps to solve transportation challenges. These include rerouting some buses.

Community members may have read about the dissolution of our transportation jointure, a shared service between Hunterdon Central and the Flemington Raritan Regional School District. I want to assure parents that students enrolled in our school district will be provided transportation even after the dissolution takes into effect on July 1, 2025. Students will be provided transportation for the 2025-2026 school year. Parents can read more about the dissolution in the letter that I provided to families earlier this school year.

In September, the district adopted four district goals. The specifics of these goals can be found on our district website here.

• Goal 1 is focused on raising student achievement.
• Goal 2 is targeted at improving student behavior and setting clear consistent, and equitable consequences for misbehavior.
• Goal 3 is focused on supporting our staff and faculty members.
• Goal 4 is directed at the District applying for additional federal, state, and local grants to significantly impact instruction, learning, and facilities.

On September 22, our school administrators enjoyed meeting so many students, families and community members at our district booth at Raritan Township Community Day! It was a fun-filled day and a special time to connect with the community we serve. We hope to see you again at next year's event! Special thanks to our maintenance team for helping to set up and break down our booth.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

October 3: School Closed – Rosh Hashanah

October 10: Board of Education Meeting, 7 p.m., J.P. Case Middle School
October 15: Early Dismissal Day - Staff In-Service Program

Flemington-Raritan Regional School District

Email: kari.mcgann@frsd.us
Website: www.frsd.k12.nj.us
Location: 50 Court Street, Flemington, NJ, USA
Phone: (908) 284-7561
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flemrarschools/
Twitter: @karimcgann