Superintendent Newsletter

Greetings!

I hope this message finds you and your family well.

Upon review of the newsletter, if you have any questions or would like clarification on any item, please feel free to contact me at fsantora@roxbury.org.

Regards,

Frank Santora, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

I would like to thank each and every staff member for their tireless efforts in supporting the needs of our students.

As part of the district’s efforts to review and revise the POG, I created a feedback survey for students. The results of this survey will be used in conjunction with the feedback provided by parents and staff. As with all of the survey data, the responses of students will remain anonymous. A complete copy of the survey can be found here.

It is important to note that the survey will not be administered until the latter part of April. Parents will be provided with further communication regarding the intended date of the administration of the survey as well as the process to opt students out of taking the survey.

On March 18, 2024, the group of faculty and staff who are participating in the pilot for LinkIT received training on how to administer an end of year benchmark assessment. This assessment is designed to gather information regarding students’ mastered academic skills in comparison to the state standards. These results will be used to not only drive instruction for students but also provide the district with a strong predictor on how the students will perform on the Spring 2024 NJSLA standardized assessments. The goal of our partnership with LinkIt is to increase our capacity for data informed instructional planning and implementation practices. It will be critical as we continue to structure our Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) in the district. I would like to thank all of the staff members including teachers and administrators who are involved in the pilot.

On March 20, 2024, I along with our Board members Ms. Ann Colucci, Ms. Kathy Purcell, Mr. Leo Coakley, and Ms. Valerie Galdieri, attended the Morris County Unsung Heroes awards ceremony. This occasion was designed to honor amazing students who are not acknowledged using the district's traditional methods of recognition. The event showcased the unique stories and accomplishments of the various honorees throughout Morris County. Roxbury High School Senior Daniel Sugerman proudly represented our district as our 2024 Unsung Hero. Mr. Frank Caccavale attended the ceremony in order to honor the student as well as present him with the award. Special thank you to Ms. Ann Colucci for all her work in organizing the event.

Click here to view Principal Gallagher's accolades for Andrew and those who were also nominated for this special award.

On Friday, March 15, I attended KES St. Baldrick’s event. This was a wonderful event as a significant number of KES volunteered to have their heads shaved in honor of those suffering with pediatric cancer. Numerous parents as well as local officials attended the event to support the cause. In total, approximately $13,000.00 was raised.

On Friday March 22, 2024, students from Lincoln Roosevelt and Franklin Schools participated in a St. Baldrick’s event, volunteering to have their heads shaved in honor of pediatric cancer. It was amazing to witness the excitement of our students and their willingness to advocate for others.

On Friday March 15, 2024, I attended the Rox-thon event at RHS. As this was my first Rox-Thon, I was completely amazed and inspired by the commitment of our students and staff. The event was well organized and executed. Students had the opportunity to hear first hand from family members of those who have experienced and conquered pediatric cancer. In addition, there were numerous activities designed to keep the students engaged, motivated and standing! It is moments like these that set our district apart from any other! I am so proud to serve as the Superintendent in Roxbury!

On March 13, 2024 I attended the All District Band Concert at RHS. The event showcased the immense talent and passion of our student musicians from Lincoln Roosevelt through Roxbury High School. The event also included a strong performance from Mount Arlington’s middle school band. In addition to the musicians, the auditorium was packed with proud parents, family members and staff who were all present to support and experience the talent of our students..

Earlier in March, students in Ms. Angela LaPara's Italian classes attended Simona Rodano’s bilingual Edu musical “Sempreverde/Evergreen”, a modern fairytale that focuses on the preservation of the Earth and recycling. Several students were called up on stage to participate in the performance and lead the crowd in songs.

On March 25, 2024, grade four students at Franklin Elementary School took part in a Roxometry Event to celebrate their exhibition of learning. Over the course of their most recent math unit, students learned about lines, angles, and other geometrical shapes. Students then applied this information to the creation of their own city with a map to represent it. Leading up to the event, students learned about the makeup of Roxbury through map exploration activities. In addition, local Roxbury law enforcement visited the school to discuss different elements of the town's makeup. Monday's event was a great success and was attended by a large number of parents and families!

Good luck to all our outstanding young performers & faculty who are bringing this year's spring play to life!

For Tickets to the 7pm Thurs., April 18th Performance, click here.

For Tickets to the 7pm Fri., April 19th Performance, click here.

For Tickets to the 2pm Sat., April 20th Performance, click here.

On April 8, 2024, there will be a total Solar Eclipse. In anticipation of this, the district has purchased glasses for staff and students. These glasses will be provided that day for individual’s usage. For more information regarding Solar Eclipse Safety, please reference this document.

Website: roxbury.org
Location: 42 North Hillside Avenue, Succasunna, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-584-6099

"Preparing the children of today for tomorrow" is an elaborate venture. Through our district's "Schoolhouse ROX: A POGcast", members of our learning community will tell you all about a wide variety of programs, opportunities, and much much more. As a comprehensive public school district, we are committed to ensuring that each and every student is afforded learning experiences that will afford them a wide array of experiences that support their journey toward a fulfilling adult life. Click on the logo shown to hear our most recent POGcast and view our library of previous recordings.