The new school year is now upon us and with it our new communication platform.

Our stakeholder engagement and account activation with Parent Square have gone extremely well, and I would like to thank all of our families for mobilizing quickly to get up and running with this new communications platform.

Thank you again, and we look forward to realizing the many benefits of this new platform.

The mobile app is optional, but we strongly encourage you to give it a try. It’s designed to make staying connected easier and more convenient. Available for both Apple and Android devices, just search “Holmdel” in your app store or use the download links below.

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/holmdel-township-schools/id6745847271

Android: Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.parentsquare.htsd

On Friday night, the Holmdel High School football team secured one of the biggest wins in program history with a 33–21 victory over Rumson-Fair Haven. The triumph ended several long-standing streaks, including Rumson’s 15-game overall winning streak, a 14-game home winning streak, and a 10-game run of victories over Holmdel dating back to 1999.

The Hornets set the tone early, jumping out to a 20–0 halftime lead after outgaining Rumson 177–68 in the first half. While Rumson pushed back to close the gap in the second half, Holmdel responded each time, punctuated by quarterback Jack Cannon’s electrifying 72- and 73-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Cannon, a Dartmouth commit, delivered a remarkable all-around performance. He rushed for 200 yards and four touchdowns, threw for 130 yards and another score, and accounted for 330 total yards and five touchdowns on the night. Through just two games this season, he has already amassed nearly 600 total yards of offense. Rumson’s head coach praised Cannon as “the best player in the Shore Conference.”

Holmdel’s defense also played a pivotal role, forcing four interceptions. Freshman defensive back Tyler Carri recorded his first career interception to set up the opening score. Junior Michael Todisco intercepted two passes, bringing his season total to three, while senior Teddy Koukoumis sealed the victory with a late interception in the fourth quarter.

The win comes as Holmdel competes in Class A North, widely regarded as the toughest division in the Shore Conference. The Hornets, ranked No. 5 in the Shore Sports Insider Top 12, have already made history by winning back-to-back division titles for the first time in program history.

Looking ahead, This Friday at 7:00 P.M., Holmdel will host Middletown South (0–3) in their next matchup.

Come out an pack the nest for this much anticipated home opener for the football, cheer, and dance teams, as well as the Pep/Marching Band which will showcase their new halftime show!

Last year, I introduced our school community to an organization called The Balance Project, founded by a parent in Little Silver. The organization, which promotes raising children with a healthy balance of screen time and free play, has continued to gain momentum, just as I anticipated when I first became acquainted with it. In fact, founder Holly Moscatiello was recently featured in Time magazine. You can read the article by clicking HERE.

The Holmdel chapter of The Balance Project is gearing up for a new year with an initial community meeting scheduled for October 6th at 7:00 in the high school media center. Click HERE to access a community technology survey developed by the Holmdel Balance Project along with an RSVP link for the 10-6 meeting.

Part of our work will also involve evaluating our own school district policies on cell phone use and considering ways to better balance screen time during the school day. We are excited to partner with our parent/guardian stakeholders to counteract the harmful effects of technology overuse, screen time, and social media.

If you are looking for resources, guidance, and an opportunity to connect with like-minded neighbors on how to support and protect your child in today’s digital age, consider joining the Balance Project Holmdel Community Hub by clicking HERE.

Junior Sofia Primiano represented Holmdel at the International Thespian Festival in Bloomington, Indiana, where she competed in the Acting Solo category against students from around the world. Sofia earned an impressive 19 out of 20 points and received a SUPERIOR rating, a remarkable accomplishment at this level of competition.

Meanwhile, sophomore Emerson Granata spent her summer auditioning for community theatre productions and performance contests. She will take the stage as Hodel in Phoenix Productions’ Fiddler on the Roof at the Count Basie Center on September 26–28.

Joining her in the cast are Holmdel Middle School eighth graders Kate Pontoriero and Keegan Haack, who will also showcase their talents in this production.

Congratulations to these dynamic young performers!

If you have kids who love to explore and are curious about fossils, geology, and sharks, this event is for you!

Join local paleontologist, Kevin Borrelli for an unforgettable adventure into the Cretaceous period, a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and New Jersey was submerged beneath a shallow inland sea. We’ll get our feet wet as we walk through the Ramanessin streambed searching and sifting for fossils as we go. Shark teeth are abundant in the area but we might also find fossilized bones, crab claws, saber-tooth salmon fangs and more! We’ll share what we find as we learn all about the sea creatures that once lived right here in Holmdel. Budding paleontologists might just go home with some of their own treasures to keep! This fun adventure is open to all but is geared toward families and kids who are accompanied by an adult.

When: Saturday, September 20, 2025 10am-12pm, rain date October 4

Where: Meet at the Holmdel Village School parking lot on the corner of McCampbell Road and Middletown Road across from the Ramanessin Trailhead.

Bring: Be sure to bring water shoes or old sneakers, a towel, bug spray/sunscreen, water, a trowel and a bucket or bag to hold your finds. Limited sifting equipment will be provided.

Cost: Free! Registration is not required, just show up.

Questions: Email jlashkar@hotmail.com or visit www.holmdel-cilu.org

The Holmdel High School Crop Walk will be holding a food drive in Holmdel schools October 13th through 17th, the week leading up to our 45th annual walk on Sunday, October 19th.

Crop Hunger Walks were the first charity walks in our nation and remain a grassroots effort today. Of the funds collected, 25% remains in the community and 75% supports sustainable hunger responses worldwide. All food collected is distributed among 25 local food pantries and supports such organizations as Lunch Break and Monmouth Day Care Center. Last year we collected 10,000 pounds of food; this year, our ambitious goal is 14,500 pounds of food for those in need.

Collection buckets will be placed in Village School, Indian Hill School, William R. Satz School and Holmdel High School.

Mark your Calendar!

As part of our commitment to character education, "Live Holmdel Blue" focuses on four core values: respect, responsibility, fairness, and citizenship. These values promote positive behaviors and essential life skills that extend beyond the classroom. By teaching these values, we aim to foster not just academic success but also the development of compassionate, well-rounded individuals who will positively impact society. For September, our theme is "RESPONSIBILITY", encouraging students to consider the impact of their choices on others.

I invite you to join us in reinforcing the "Live Holmdel Blue" principles by participating in our activities and events throughout the year. Together, we can create an environment where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

National Suicide Prevention Month 

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and we are dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of our students, staff, and families. For the last three years, we have partnered with the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County to introduce the Lifelines program, an evidence-based suicide prevention initiative. In addition, the district now has three master trainers in Behavior Threat Assessment and has been recognized at both the state and national levels for our tabletop training protocols and our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our students.

You can find additional information about the Lifelines program by clicking HERE.