Superintendent Newsletter

Roxbury Public Schools

Winter 2024/2025

Greetings!

I hope this message finds you and your family well. It is my hope that all staff, students, and families enjoy a relaxing winter break and a Happy New Year!

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

Happy Holidays from the Santoras!

Our Committed Staff

I would like to thank our dedicated faculty and staff for their tireless efforts in the pursuit of maximal outcomes for our students. It is a pleasure working alongside such a talented group of professionals. I am so grateful to each and every one of our staff members and I look forward to our continued collaboration in the coming new year!

School Resource Officer

As part of a shared services agreement with the Township and the Roxbury Police Department, the district has hired a School Resource Officer, Mr. Paolo Santos. Mr. Santos officially joined the district on Monday, December 9, 2024. This position will enable the district to provide increased levels of training and support to students and staff regarding critical areas of need including safety, substance use prevention and bullying.

The Student Experience

Veterans Day Ceremonies

On November 11, 2024, Franklin and Kennedy Elementary Schools hosted Veterans Day assemblies that included participation from local Veterans. It was amazing to see our students demonstrate their understanding and appreciation of our Veterans and their sacrifices for our country. At EMS, Veterans were invited into the school to speak with students during class periods as well.

Kennedy Elementary School

Franklin Elementary School

Band Banquet

On November 12, 2024, I attended the end of year banquet for the Marching Gaels. The event celebrated the unique talents of our student performers as well as the immense efforts of the faculty and parent group working to support the Marching Gaels. It was truly a wonderful event.

National Honors Society Induction Ceremony

On November 21, 2024, I attended the National Honors’ Society Induction Ceremony at RHS. I was very fortunate to participate in the event by providing the closing remarks. I was thoroughly impressed with the incredible accomplishments of the many students being inducted that evening. The current NHS Officers did a wonderful job running the event.

TREP$ Marketplace

During the evening hours on December 4, 2024, the district hosted a TREP$ Marketplace at Franklin Elementary School. This event showcased the entrepreneurial and creative nature of the many elementary students who participated in the Roxbury Community School's TREP$ program throughout the Fall months. This program was made possible thanks to grant funding from Sustainable Jersey for Schools and the NJEA.

For more information about TREP$, please visit our Roxbury Community School's Kids Corner webpage linked here. Featured below are some snapshots from December 4th that capture several of our students' innovative ideas and hard work!

LRS Winter Concert

On December 17, 2024, I was lucky enough to attend the LRS Winter Concert. The performances showcased the students’ true passion and talent. I would like to thank the many staff members who worked to create such a phenomenal event for our community.

FES Holiday Sing Along

On December 19, 2024, all of the staff and students of Franklin Elementary School gathered together for a festive sing along. The event also included a wonderful performance of holiday music by the talented fourth grade students. As an attendee, I was thoroughly impressed by the excitement and enthusiasm of the students. Thank you to Mr. Hamer and all of the FES staff who organized the event.

JV Boys Basketball Game

On December 19, 2024, I attended RHS’ JV Boys Basketball game against Madison. 🏀 While our team didn’t prevail, they demonstrated incredible sportsmanship and determination throughout the entirety of the game. I would like to commend all of the student athletes and coaching staff members for their behavior.

Community & Parent Involvement

RHS Marching Gaels Honored by Roxbury Town Council

On December 10, 2024, I joined a packed audience of family and friends at the most recent town council meeting. All were in attendance to celebrate the council’s honoring of our Marching Gaels at Roxbury High for being named Class AA State Champion by the NJ Marching Band Directors Association -- the Marching Gaels' second consecutive state championship!

I would like to thank our Mayor Jackie Albrecht; the members of the town council; and state Assemblyman Mike Inganamort for attending & recognizing our incredibly talented students and dedicated staff! For an overview of all the accolades earned by our Marching Gaels, please click here to view a TAPinto Roxbury article.

Rotary Luncheon, with holiday melodies performed by RHS

On December 12, 2024, I was invited to attend the Roxbury Rotary’s holiday luncheon as a guest. In addition to a wonderful lunch and conversation with the many members of the Rotary, attendees were treated to a fantastic performance by the RHS Concert Choir and Roxbury Classic Sounds Honors students. Our talented young adults led the crowd in a holiday themed sing-along that included a few holiday inspired trivia questions. The students received a number of generous donations from the audience members. The event was truly enjoyed by all who were in attendance.

ESL Family Night

Rescheduled: Initially, the district intended to have an ESL Family Night on December 17, 2024. The session, which will now take place in January 2025, will include a presentation by Israel DelGagado from Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU). Mr. DelGado will be discussing the College Admissions process, the FAFSA as well as the Latino Promise Program at FDU.

RHS Parent Focus Group

On December 4, 2024, Ms. Colleen Huguenin, the district’s Supervisor of Student Support Services, hosted the first in a series of Parent Focus Groups. The session attracted approximately 20 parents who partook in the following agenda and discussion points:

Overview of Current College and Career Preparation Initiatives
Methods of Communication for Events and Initiatives
Next Year Scheduling Process
Open Discussion: Sharing Your Experiences, Concerns and Suggestions
Q&A Session
Next Steps and How You Can Get Involved
Interest in Future Parent Information sessions

The next Focus Group discussion will take place in early February of 2025.

There will also be a Junior College Planning night with families in February of 2025.

Special Education Parent Advisory Group Meeting

On December 10, 2024, the Special Services Administration, Dr.Seminerio and Ms. Dempsey, hosted a Special Education Advisory Group meeting. The meeting included this presentation on the district’s programs and services as well as a discussion with meeting attendees. Additional meetings will take place throughout the course of the school year.

Roxbury Education Foundation

The Roxbury Education Foundation (REF) is a non-profit organization established by a team of dedicated Roxbury parents that seeks to provide resources and opportunities to help our learning community thrive and empower educators.

Over the past month, the district has received notification that the Roxbury Education Foundation will sponsor a number of grant projects. These projects all include initiatives that are aimed at enhancing the learning environment for our students. The continued generosity of the REF is greatly appreciated by the district.

The list of grant topics includes:

Rox Buddies at NES
Best Buddies Program at EMS
Decodable Texts at the Elementary Level
Secret Stories Multisensory reading materials at the JES

For more information on the REF’s Gala taking place on Saturday, April 5, 2025, please click here. I look forward to seeing you there!

For more information on the Sarah Gabrielson Scholarship for RHS Seniors, please click here.

November 20, 2024 POG Work Session

On November 20, 2024, I conducted the second work-session for interested parents/community members on how to further develop the POG’s indicator attributes. The participants provided feedback on how to make the indicator attributes more relatable and practical for students and their families. I plan to use the feedback provided at this session to shape the questions for the next round of work group meetings which will involve staff members.

Roxbury Township Public Schools

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.