Dear Holmdel Township School Community,
As we turn the calendar to November, the school year has reached a significant milestone: the end of the first marking period on November 12.
Last week, our schools celebrated one of our favorite traditions: the annual Halloween parades. A heartfelt thank you to all our young students for dressing up and embracing the spirit of the day, and to our families for coming out to cheer them on. This time-honored event never fails to bring smiles and fond memories, reminding many of us of the joy of our own childhood celebrations.
Continuing our commitment to character education, we are proud to introduce November’s theme: Gratitude. This value encourages us to pause and appreciate the people and experiences that enrich our lives. As we enter the holiday season, it is a fitting time to reflect and give thanks for the abundance and blessings that surround us each day.
Reminder: Tomorrow, Election Day, schools will be open for both staff and students. Accommodations have been made to ensure enhanced security.
If you plan to come to vote, please avoid doing so during student arrival and dismissal times:
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Village School: 8:40–9:15 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
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Satz Middle School / Holmdel High School Complex: 7:30–8:00 a.m. and 2:30–3:00 p.m.
Reminder: on Thursday, November 7th, and Friday, November 8th, the school district will be closed for the NJEA Teachers Convention.
We thank you in advance for your consideration and understanding.
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I’m pleased to share that today I received the following email from a representative of Mark W. White, Vice President of U.S. News & World Report. We continue to be proud of the recognition, progress, and upward trajectory that characterize our school district.
Of course, we do not intend to rest on our laurels or become complacent. Our commitment to continuous improvement and ongoing growth remains steadfast.
Thank you to our amazing students, staff, faculty, administration, Board of Education, families, and community partners — all of whom have contributed to our district’s presence in this national recognition program.
"Last week, we published our 2026 Best Elementary Schools and Best Middle Schools rankings, and the news is great for Holmdel Township School District: 2 school(s) [Village and Indian Hill] earned a Best Elementary Schools award and 1 school(s) [Satz] earned a Best Middle Schools award because they place among the top 40% in the state.
Here’s what we published about your district, including the new rankings:
Your schools’ high rankings mean they are eligible to display a U.S. News-trademarked Best Elementary Schools award "badge" (logo), a U.S. News-trademarked Best Middle Schools award badge, or both badges."
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Parents/Guardians and community members now have an opportunity to provide input on school funding policies in New Jersey.
The NJDOE is seeking stakeholder feedback as part of its review of the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA), including areas such as state aid, special education funding, and transportation.
You can provide your feedback in two ways:
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Complete the NJDOE survey open to all members of the public.
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Email your comments directly to SFRAOutreach@doe.nj.gov
The full text of the NJDOE’s announcement about this survey may be found here.
The survey and email submissions will be accepted through November 14, 2025. Feedback collected will help inform the NJDOE’s final report on school funding.
I strongly encourage parents and community members to share their experiences and perspectives to ensure your voices are heard in this important process.
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This past Saturday, Hornet Robotics, Holmdel High School's Robotics Program, played host to 20 different Robotics teams from around the area to compete in the state's first competition of the 2025-26 school year. Holmdel High School and the Holmdel Township School District are extremely proud to have been the launch site for an exciting year!
Hornet Robotics has evolved from a single First Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics Team 5 years ago to, now, three competitive teams -- Hornet Blue, Hornet Silver, and Hornet Hive. FTC is a STEM-based program for students where they design, build, and program robots to tackle a unique annual challenge. The season emphasizes iterative design, teamwork, and the crucial ability to collaborate with other teams during competitions. The program is open to all HHS students, regardless of grade level or prior experience.
The three teams will now begin preparing for their next competition, which will take place on December 6th at Clearview Regional High School. We wish Hornet Robotics the best of luck as they navigate the rest of their season and cannot wait to see what these robots look like later in the school year!
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We recently launched ParentSquare as our new communication platform to help families stay informed and connected. Your feedback is important in helping us understand what’s working well and where we can improve.
Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey. Thank you for your time and input. The survey closes on Wednesday, November 5th. An FAQ document will be created subsequently and shared.
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Goal number three of the board-approved 2025–26 district goals is to design and launch an online Parent University platform that provides families with accessible, high-quality resources to support student learning, well-being, and home–school partnership. In advancement of this goal, I am excited to announce the launch of the first module of our online Parent University, which is dedicated exclusively to providing resources for parents on Parenting in the Digital Age.
Our district has launched a partnership with The Social Institute (TSI), a leader in empowering students, families, and educators to navigate their learning and well-being, including A.I., social media, and devices, in healthy ways.
No matter your child’s current tech use, whether they use devices and apps regularly or are just beginning to ask questions, the resources offered through this partnership are designed to be flexible and family-friendly.
Getting Started
Register your free account for The Toolkit. Many families refer to this as the CliffsNotes of social media and technology!
- Go to Toolkit, click Activate Account, and enter our school district code: 55b5197A69096D
- On the course page, select "Enroll for Free".
- Create an account by entering your email and setting a password.
Course Offerings:
-Diving Deeper into the Apps Students Use
-Using Tech to Control Tech: Strong Settings for Apps and Devices
-From Helicopter to Huddling: How to Talk with Our Children About Social Media and Tech
-Helping Your Family Navigate Social Media and Tech in Healthy, High-Character Ways
-Co-Creating Family Standards for Positive Tech Use
Once enrolled, courses will be available on your Thinkific dashboard anytime you log in.
These courses are designed to be self-paced and can be completed on your own schedule. We encourage all families to complete the courses.
The district is honored to be your partner on this journey. We understand that each household has its own values and approach to technology, and we fully respect that. This programming is not about prescribing rules or parenting strategies. It’s about offering ideas and tools that you can use in whatever way fits your family best.
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At the October 22nd Board of Education Committee of the Whole meeting, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Mr. Art Howard, presented the annual District Assessment Report. The report highlights the district's continued upward trajectory in student achievement, as evidenced by improved standardized test scores across various grade levels. This progress reflects the district's ongoing commitment to academic excellence and the implementation of data-driven instructional strategies.
To view a video recording of the presentation and/or the slide deck, please click the links below:
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Indian Hill School's Entrepreneur Club Holiday Market will take place on Thursday, December 4th, from 5:30-7 pm in the beautiful Bell Works atrium.
Join students, families, teachers, and community members for what is sure to be the event of the season! Last year's club event drew hundreds of people to the venue as local Holmdel club members in grades 4-6 sold their handmade products and goods. This inaugural Market Day event raised over $8,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and brought the entire community together for a great cause.
This year, we are looking forward to an Entrepreneur Fair with a new twist, offering handcrafted gifts, trending kid-inspired products, and delicious homemade treats just in time for the holiday season.
Save the date: Thursday, December 4th, 5:30-7:00 pm at Bell Works. You don't want to miss it!
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As part of the district's ongoing commitment to student safety and well-being, Holmdel Public Schools has completed its annual review of district practices and protocols related to the Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) statute and board policy.
To assist families in understanding these policies and navigating the law if the need arises, the district administration has created a helpful Parent FAQ document. This resource provides clear guidance on reporting procedures, definitions, and the support available to students and families.
We encourage all parents and guardians to review the FAQ to better understand Holmdel’s procedures for promoting a safe, respectful, and supportive school environment.
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See below for wonderful opportunities to participate in essay and video contests hosted by the Holmdel Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The district is pleased to have formed a new partnership with this historic, service-oriented organization, whose mission is to promote patriotism, preserve American history, and support education in communities across the nation.
Click here for more information.
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- November 6 & 7 - School Closed / NJEA Convention
- November 13 & 14 - Indian Hill Fall Play - 6:30 pm
- November 20 & 21 - HHS Fall Play - 7:00 pm
- November 26 - Early Dismissal for all
- November 27 & 28 - Thanksgiving Break
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Last Wednesday, October 29, the Board of Education held its public meeting. During the evening, the Board and administration had the pleasure of recognizing 88 students from Indian Hill, Satz Middle School, and Holmdel High School who earned perfect scores on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) and SAT. Please join me in extending heartfelt congratulations to these outstanding scholars — as well as to their families and the faculty who have supported them along the way. Click here to view the presentation.
The Board also celebrated Indian Hill School on its designation as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, and honored Police Chief Frank Allocco on his retirement and years of dedicated service to the Holmdel community.
Below, please find video clips from each presentation.
Congratulations to all!
Chief Allocco (3:21)
Indian Hill Blue Ribbon Recognition (6:28)
Perfect Score Presentation (17:29)
Upcoming meetings on November 12th and 19th (accessible via Zoom link will be posted to the district webpage within 24
hours of the meeting).
Click here to access archived video and/or audio recordings of Board of Education meetings dating back to 2014-15. |
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“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
-John F. Kennedy
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I thank you for your time and consideration and wish you a peaceful week ahead.
Dr. J. Scott Cascone
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