Community eNewsletter
Galloway Twp School District Community eNewsletter
Please see information & links below for the latest events in Galloway Township, including school/district events as well as other events sponsored by community groups. For consideration to include your group's information in future eNewsletters, please email: gtps@gtps.k12.nj.us
Social Media and Parental Support
Hello: The communication and image below was emailed to all parents and guardians on October 27th. I have again included it here in case you have not had an opportunity to review the letter and to again ask for your continued partnership and support regarding this very important topic.
While the use of technology and more specifically social media, evolves with each passing day, and is certainly not going away, it is up to us to both monitor and control its daily use against our most vulnerable and youngest students. It's use certainly has its advantages, when and where appropriate, but we must rethink what our youngest children have access to and how it may impact their decision-making as they continue to learn and grow. The world in which we live is certainly complex, and will continue to become more and more complex with the continued evolution of artificial intelligence. In partnership with all of you, it is my hope that after reviewing the communication below, you will have interactive conversations with your children so that we can continue to support one another, but more importantly a new generation of students!
As we enter the month of November, we have much to be thankful for, and I for one and thankful for your support of the Galloway Township School District and our entire school community!
-Steve
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering a safe and supportive learning environment, we want to take a moment to address an important issue regarding social media use among our students.
In today’s digital age, many of our children are engaging with various social media platforms. While these platforms can offer opportunities for connection and creativity, they also come with challenges. We encourage you to actively monitor your child’s social media activities. By doing so, you can help ensure they are engaging safely and positively online.
Recently we have observed an increase in the use of inappropriate language and terms on these platforms, which has unfortunately extended into our school environment. Some students are using derogatory names and phrases that has caused harm and distress to their peers. This behavior not only affects relationships among students but also leads to disciplinary actions and investigations related to harassment, intimidation, and bullying.
We urge you to have open discussions with your child about the impact of their words and the importance of treating others with kindness and respect, both online and offline. It is essential that we work together to create a culture of empathy and understanding.
Thank you for your support and partnership in keeping our school community safe and welcoming for all students. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you would like additional support, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s school administrator or school counselor.
Sincerely,
Stephen P. Santilli
Superintendent
Christine Burgess
Director of Student Services and Anti-Bullying Coordinator
#Connect with @GTNJSchools
SCHOOLS CLOSED November 5 for Staff Development
The district is CLOSED on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 for Staff Development. Students will return to a regular schedule on Wednesday, November 6.
SCHOOLS CLOSED November 7 & 8 for NJEA Teacher's Convention
The district is CLOSED on Thursday, November 7 and Friday, November 8 for NJEA Teacher's Convention. Staff & students return to their regular schedule on Monday, November 11, 2024.
EARLY DISMISSAL DAY on November 27 & CLOSED on November 28 & 29
Schools will follow and Early Dismissal Day schedule on Wednesday, November 27, and the district will be CLOSED on Thursday, November 28 & Friday, November 29 for Thanksgiving Break. Times for early dismissal are as follows: GTMS dismisses at 12:20PM and all other schools (including Pomona Preschool, Pomona @ Absegami, Arthur Rann, Reeds Road, Roland Rogers & Smithville) dismiss at 1:30PM.
EARLY DISMISSAL DAY on December 20 & CLOSED December 21 through January 1
Schools will follow and Early Dismissal Day schedule on Friday, December 20, and the district will be CLOSED from December 21 through January 1, 2025 for Winter Break. Times for early dismissal are as follows: GTMS dismisses at 12:20PM and all other schools (including Pomona Preschool, Pomona @ Absegami, Arthur Rann, Reeds Road, Roland Rogers & Smithville) dismiss at 1:30PM.
Staff & students will resume a regular schedule on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
#GTPSDailyWOW
Follow @GTNJSchools on Facebook, Instagram, or X, where we offer these daily words of wisdom (WOW) to start your day a brighter way! #GTPSDailyWOW #inspiration
#Connect with us via SMS
OPT IN TODAY to receive text messages from @GTNJSchools! We utilize texting for alerts for communication such as late buses or changed bus routes, emergency school closings, notifications of district/school events, and more! Send "START" to 98900 from your smartphone to opt in to text messaging and ensure you don't miss a thing!
Congratulations for our NEW GTMS Student Leaders!
What makes a school successful? A strong student body! On Wednesday, October 23, some of our student leaders were inducted into Student Council, showcasing their leadership and commitment to citizenship. This amazing group will collaborate with Mrs. Junker to bring fresh ideas for the betterment of our entire school community. A special thank you to Galloway Councilman Sudler for speaking today and inspiring our students! So proud of these students and their involvement!
#GTMS #StudentLeaders #RespectThePaw #ProudCommunity”
Cultivating a "New Chapter"
We are proud to introduce some of the newest members of the Galloway Schools family, welcoming them to a "new chapter" of their lives as employees of the district.
Justin Pajic - Phys. Ed. / Health Teacher
Kristin Hackett - Curriculum Secretary
Emily Powell - Speech-Language Pathologist
Kaylee Block - Special Education Teacher
Katie Dufficy - First Grade Teacher
Kaitlyn Brandenburg - Classroom Assistant
Samantha Bilcik - Preschool Teacher
Savannah Giese - Speech-Language Pathologist
Tamarra Thomas - Classroom Assistant
Heather Thierault - Speech-Language Pathologist
Allison Russomanno - Supervisor of Early Childhood Education
Kamaal Reed - Classroom Assistant
We are hiring substitute teachers, nurses, school secretaries, custodians & food service workers! JOIN the @GTNJSchools team and make a positive impact on our school community and our youth! We are currently hiring substitutes with competitive rates. Feel free to apply by scanning the QR code or clicking on the image - and please share with friends and family to support our district!
Substitutes - All Categories
Sub Nurses
Sub Classroom Assistants
A Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant (LDTC) for Roland Rogers Elementary School. Please scan the QR code in the post or visit https://www.applitrack.com/galloway/onlineapp/ to apply.
District World Language (Spanish) Teacher. Please scan the QR code in the post or visit https://www.applitrack.com/galloway/onlineapp/ to apply.
District Educational Interpreter (Leave Position). Please scan the QR code in the post or visit https://www.applitrack.com/galloway/onlineapp/ to apply.
District Behavior Analyst. Please scan the QR code in the post or visit https://www.applitrack.com/galloway/onlineapp/ to apply.
District Before & After School Child Care Assistants. Scan QR code or visit https://www.applitrack.com/galloway/onlineapp/ to apply today!
District Teacher of the Deaf. Appropriate NJ Teacher of the Deaf certificate required. Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) of intermediate or above and Certified ASL preferred. Please scan the QR code in the post or visit https://www.applitrack.com/galloway/onlineapp/ to apply today!
Integrity Transportation is Hiring!
- Must have a valid driver's license w/ clean driving record
- Must have CDL w/ passenger and school bus endorsements (Don't have one? No worries! Integrity provides and pays for training)
- Make up to $25/hour!
- Paid sick days!
- Interested? Call Integrity: 609-965-8100
October 31: #HappyHalloween! We hope you have a spooktacular time and some fang-tastic fun this #Halloween. Be sure to make this Halloween the most BOO-tiful one yet. #HalloweenFun #TrickorTreat
October 28: Happy National First Responders Day! Honor the heroes who rush in when others are in distress. Your bravery, dedication, and selflessness are an inspiration to us all. Thank you for keeping our communities safe. #FirstRespondersDay #HeroesAmongUs
October 27: #WorldOccupationalTherapistDay! @GTNJSchools thanks all the OT professionals who support well-being, advocate for inclusion & champion quality of life for all! Your dedication makes our communities stronger. #WorldOTDay #EmpoweringLives
October 23 - 31: Come together to raise awareness about the importance of a drug-free life during #RedRibbonWeek. Let's unite against substance abuse and support healthier, happier communities. #FilmDrugFree #TogetherWeCan
October 21 - 25 - School Violence Awareness Week
Let's stand together against school violence during #SchoolViolenceAwarenessWeek. Let's work together to create a nurturing and secure environment for all students so our schools remain safe havens for learning and growth. #EndSchoolViolence #SafeSchools #njed @AtlanticCoNJDOE
Shout out to our @GTNJSchools School Resource Officers
October 21 - 25: School Bus Safety Week! Let's keep our kids safe and remind everyone to stop for school buses when those red lights are flashing. Let's make sure our children get to and from school safely! #SchoolBusSafetyWeek #SafetyFirst #StopForSchoolBuses
October 14 - 18: National School Lunch Week! Thank you to all the amazing school cafeteria staff for fueling up the young minds & bodies of Galloway Twp. Let's continue to promote healthy eating & support our schools! #SchoolLunchWeek #NSLW24 #FindYourTreasure
October 7 - 11: Celebrating #WeekOfRespect! Let's embrace kindness, empathy, and unity as we strive for a more inclusive and understanding world. #RespectWeek #SpreadLove
October 6 - 12: #FirePreventionWeek & this year's theme is "Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!" Let's work together to keep our communities safe! #SafetyFirst
October 6: Happy #NationalCoachesDay to all the amazing coaches who #inspire, #motivate, and #mentor athletes to reach their full potential. Your dedication and guidance make a world of difference! #CoachesDay #ThankYouCoaches
October 5: Happy #WorldTeachersDay to all of the dedicated educators around the globe with a special shout out to those in @GTNJSchools. Thank you for shaping the future one lesson at a time! #ThankATeacher #EducationMatters
October 2: Happy National Custodians Day! Let's take a moment to appreciate the unsung heroes who keep our spaces clean and safe. Thank you, custodians! Your hard work doesn't go unnoticed! #CustodiansDay #CleanlinessHeroes
October was Principal's Month!
Celebrating all the incredible principals & assistant principals who inspire, lead, and shape Galloway schools during #PrincipalsMonth! Thank you for your #leadershipandservice in shaping the future of our students. #ThankAPrincipal #njed @AtlanticCoNJDOE @NASSP @NAESP #GoodNewsinNJSchools
#ThankYou Arthur Rann principal Kevin McGloin! Your passion & commitment to your students makes Arthur Rann an exceptional place where everyone succeeds! Thanks for making a positive impact every day! #ARESDragons #ThankAPrincipal #PrincipalsMonth
Huge appreciation to GTMS principal Paula Junker! Her unwavering dedication & compassion truly make a difference in our school community.#ThankYou for always putting our students first and creating a place where everyone feels respected! #RespectthePaw #GTMSGrizzlies #ThankAPrincipal #PrincipalsMonth
Shout out to @ReedsRoadSchool principal Don Gross! Your leadership, dedication, and genuine care for every Reeds student make the school a great place to learn & grow. Keep on #BARKing! #ReedsRoadBulldogs #ThankAPrincipal #PrincipalsMonth
Shoutout to @RolandERogersSchool Principal Kevin Lightcap! Thank you for your guidance, enthusiasm, and compassion in educating our students. You truly embody the school theme, 'Together we R.O.A.R.'! #ThankYou #RolandTigers #ThankAPrincipal #PrincipalsMonth
Big thanks to @SmithvilleSchool principal Dave Ragazzi, whose leadership & commitment to students, staff & families ensures everyone keeps #SURFing toward success! #SmithvilleDolphins #ThankAPrincipal #PrincipalsMonth
September 26: Join us in celebrating #NationalSchoolParentGroupDay! Our Family School Associations (FSA's) are the heart of each of our schools, working together to support our students & staff while creating a positive school culture. Consider supporting or joining your school FSA today!
September 20: Happy IT Professionals Day! Salute to the tech superheroes who keep our digital world running smoothly. Your expertise, dedication & problem-solving skills are the backbone of our school community; Thank you for all you do! #ITProsDay #TechHeroes #ThankYouITPros #Connect
September 11: Honor & remember the lives lost on September 11th, 2001. Let's come together as a community to reflect on the resilience & strength that emerged that day while nurturing generations that uphold the ideals of peace, harmony, & inclusivity. #NeverForget
September 2: Happy Labor Day from @GTNJSchools. Wishing all students, teachers, and staff a well-deserved break on this special day. Take a moment to relax and recharge. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to education. #LaborDay #EducationMatters
Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ Meetings
Girls in grades K-12 are invited to join any upcoming meeting to learn more about Girl Scouts. See flyer for dates/locations. All meetings are held at 6:00pm. Questions? Contact greatergallowaygirlscout11523@gmail.com
Join Scouting America!
The Jersey Shore Council of Scouting America is a local program for boys & girls aged 5-18 that builds character, leadership, teamwork & self esteem. See flyer for more information and/or email jerseyshorecouncil@scouting.org
GALLOWAY SCHOOLS - eNEWSLETTERS
Check out the latest news from around the district!