We are so excited to get cooking with the 24-25 school year and want to extend a warm welcome back to each of you. The start of the school year is a time of new beginnings, fresh opportunities, and the chance to make a profound impact on our students and each other.

This year, let's focus on the idea that food is the heart of our community. Just as food nourishes our bodies, the shared meals, snacks, and conversations that happen around food help to build and strengthen our connections. Whether it's a quick chat over coffee in the morning, a shared lunch in the staff room, or a community dinner, these moments remind us of the importance of coming together, supporting one another, and fostering a sense of belonging.

Food has a unique way of bringing people together, of breaking down barriers, and of creating a sense of family within our school community. It’s in these moments of sharing that we build relationships, understand each other's perspectives, and create the collaborative spirit that drives our success.

As we roll into the year ahead, let’s continue to nourish our community, support each other, and create an environment where everyone feels valued and connected. Here’s to a year filled with growth, learning, and of course, many shared meals that bring us even closer together starting with breakfast at our opening day faculty meeting on September 3rd.

Our breakfast will be available at 8:00 am in the faculty room and the meeting will begin at 8:45 am. Also, please bring a copy of a favorite recipe to the opening day faculty meeting. Don't worry if you aren't much of a chef, you can share a recipe for a family favorite, a simple snack or something you found online!

Kind regards,

Cyndi & Ar

Your Administration Team

• The building will open starting August 26th for you to begin working in your classrooms from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Floors might be ready earlier, so stay tuned!) Please check out the schedule below for additional important days and meeting times.
• School starts for staff Tuesday, September 3rd with a breakfast in the faculty room at 8:00 and meeting to start at 8:45 in the cafeteria.
• The district convocation at New Jersey Convention and Expo Center will take place on September 4th at 8:30 am. Children begin Thursday September 5th!

On September 4th, at 8:30 a.m., we will once again host a districtwide convocation for all district staff at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison Township. Please bring your Edison Township Public Schools Staff Identification for entry.

We will honor our dedicated staff, highlight our mission and new strategic plan, review the end-of-year staff survey results, and launch our vision for the future together. I encourage you to participate in the following to add to the morning’s value.

• Share Your Story: Just like last year, we will feature a slideshow celebrating your “Good News.” If you would like to share events, milestones, new puppies, etc., please submit your Good News via this form by Monday, August 26th, at 3:00 p.m.
  
  
• Complete Our Districtwide 2023-2024 Staff Feedback Survey: Your insights are crucial for improving our district's culture and climate. This voluntary, anonymous survey, open until mid-August, has already seen over 700 staff members participate, but we seek to hear all voices to create a more supportive environment for everyone. Click here to complete the survey by Sunday, August 18th.
  
  
• Register for Transportation: Based on feedback from last year’s convocation, we will provide optional district bus transportation to and from your buildings, leaving promptly at 7:45 a.m. To accommodate those requesting transportation, register for district-provided bus transportation to and from your respective buildings here by Monday, August 26th, at 3:00 p.m.
  
  
• Wear Your School Colors/Edison Spirit Wear: Wear spirit wear to represent your school, building, or department! The PTO is providing us with our school-themed shirts to represent us proudly!

Welcome to our new staff members! We are excited you are joining our team and we are looking forward to working together. Please don't hesitate to ask us questions or reach out for assistance.

Assistant Principal - Argiris Hristofis

Elementary Supervisor - Toni DiFazio

Special Education Supervisor - Kasey Torre

School Nurse - Brooke Stevens

School Social Worker - Kathleen Shea

SCA - Nicholas Louro

Speech - Brittney Coan

ESL - Susanna Chang

Kindergarten - Jacob Katz

Grade 3 - Jenessa Hernandez

Grade 5 - Danielle Sabin

ICR - Becky Battagliola

ICR - Marisa Gasalberti

ICR (LTS) - Lauren Wessel

Paraprofessional - Nitiksha Patel

Lunch Aide - Lizette Valladares

Changes over the summer....There were some staff members whose roles changed over the summer and will be moving to new positions and schools! Please help me to wish all the best to:

Amy Gil

Janice Rhodes

Juan Sacasa

Ashley Orellana

Many thanks to our team working behind the scenes to help us prepare for the first day! We are ready to roll thanks to our secretaries, Evelyn Hook and Vera Beal, and our facility manager, Tom Varga, and his team of custodians. As you may know, our building is bustling over the summer with the ESY program, so we appreciate how they turn it around to get it ready for us to return.

We ask that you follow the Facility Checklist (see below) to help Tom, our facility manager, and our team keep our building in the best shape.

Please also refer to the district Bulletin Board Toolkit prior to creating your classroom displays for district-wide expectations for students to showcase pride in their work. Remember, all children should have at least three representations of themselves in your classroom; their name, a photo or display of their work, and should feel a sense of ownership.

Curriculum consumable materials and Cascade orders will be delivered to your rooms. Please check to make sure you have received all items.

New staff, as you organize your classrooms, please take inventory of what material you have in your room and we will provide you with a budget to update your supplies.

Our School Schedule and Mon Hub with links will be posted in the James Monroe Google Classroom soon! They are a work in progress. Check back soon and make sure you join the Google Classroom for updates.