Dear Holmdel Township School Community,
I hope this message finds you well! It was a pleasure to be at Bell Works this past Saturday for the Annual Jersey Shore Chinese School Lunar New Year Performance and Celebration. The performances were joyful, vibrant, and a beautiful reflection of the rich culture and traditions celebrated within our community.
It was especially meaningful to see so many families, students, and educators gathered together, along with dignitaries from the state legislature and members of our town committee and Police Department who came out to show their support. I extend a special thank-you to our district administrators and board members who took time on a Saturday to attend and support this wonderful event. Your presence truly matters, and I am grateful to the Jersey Shore Chinese School for hosting such a memorable celebration that brings our community together in such a powerful way.
As we recognize Lunar New Year this month, February 17th, the Year of the Fire Horse, we are reminded of the importance of honoring cultural traditions and the diversity that makes Holmdel such a vibrant and welcoming place to learn and grow.
February is also American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about cardiovascular health and the importance of heart-healthy habits. As a district, we encourage our students, staff, and families to prioritize wellness through balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, and healthy lifestyle choices. Small steps can have a lasting impact, and together we can continue to promote a culture of well-being across our schools and community.
As we transition from last month’s focus on EMPATHY to February’s theme of HONESTY—being truthful in what we say and do—we continue nurturing the growth of our Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship.
Let us welcome this new month with intention and integrity as we continue to always #LiveHolmdelBlue.
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Congratulations to the Holmdel Robotics program! Building on their impressive performance just weeks ago, Hornet Silver and Hornet Blue rose to the occasion and captured the Upper South League Tournament Championship! After the qualification matches, Hornet Silver earned the top seed among 24 teams heading into Alliance Selection. When the time came to choose a partner, they selected Hornet Blue (ranked third), and together the two teams went undefeated throughout the playoff rounds to claim the league title.
The competition was filled with exciting milestones, most notably, this marked the first time two Hornet Robotics teams had partnered to win a League Tournament. In addition, Hornet Hive, our third team, advanced all the way to the semifinal round, representing a tremendous achievement and the first time all three Hornet teams have reached the semifinals or beyond.
Adding to an already remarkable day, Hornet Blue was also named the recipient of the Inspire Award, the highest honor in FTC Robotics. This prestigious award recognizes not only robot performance but also excellence in design, teamwork, culture, and community outreach.
As a result of these outstanding accomplishments, Hornet Silver and Hornet Blue will represent our district at the FTC New Jersey State Championships at Hillsborough High School on March 15. From there, approximately eight teams will advance to the World Championships the following month. We wish both teams the very best of luck as they continue this exciting journey!
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On Tuesday, February 3, parents and guardians participated in A Roadmap to Success: MTSS Parent Night, an informative evening designed to provide a clear understanding of how the district’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) works to meet the diverse learning needs of students.
Held at Village Elementary School, families explored how students are identified and supported through MTSS while engaging in interactive ELA and Math stations. Families received a variety of "Take-Out" and "Grab & Go" activities designed to support literacy and math skills through interactive play at home. These hands-on resources included a phonics "Sound Kit" with picture cards and an alphabet arc, as well as materials for creating "Dot Cards" to build number recognition. Parents also learned engaging games like "I Spy Robot," where children guess words sounded out in segments, and "Snowball Toss," which uses soft items to identify beginning letter sounds.
To support decoding and blending, families were encouraged to try "Word Walks" using sidewalk chalk or sensory writing in shaving cream and sand. Sight word practice was made interactive through games like "Parking Lot," where toy cars are driven to specific words, and "Flashlight Tag" for identifying words on walls or ceilings. Additionally, literacy was reinforced with fluency exercises such as reading in character voices like a "Radio Announcer" and using a "Prediction Jar" to build comprehension skills. Finally, families could visit the "Grab & Go Book Station" to select new titles for their home libraries.
Denise Wrubel, Supervisor of Supplemental Programs & Social Studies, along with the MTSS team, Literacy Coach Elizabeth Smith, the Reading Specialists Erin Fetter, Erin Rafael, and Melissa Siegel, and Math Specialist Anna Sinclair shared how the MTSS framework ensures instruction is matched to each student’s unique learning profile, whether students need additional support to meet benchmarks or advanced challenges to exceed them. The team also emphasized the importance of strong partnerships between schools and families in supporting student success.
To support family participation, student volunteers from the high school’s National Honor Society provided childcare during the event, hosting a Movie & Pajamas night for younger students featuring The Secret Life of Pets! This thoughtful support allowed parents and guardians to fully engage in the evening’s activities.
Click here to view a copy of the MTSS presentation and here to view the Understanding DIBELS presentation.
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Holmdel High School student Mia Leberknight has been accepted into the Spring 2026 NYU Tisch Future Music Moguls Program, a highly competitive, scholarship-based, semester-long program offered by the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
This prestigious program selects a small group of talented high school students who demonstrate strong leadership potential, creativity, and a commitment to pursuing careers in the music industry. The selection process is rigorous and includes a detailed application, letters of recommendation, and creative work samples.
The 14-week program meets every Saturday and provides in-depth training in both the creative and business aspects of the contemporary music industry, with a strong emphasis on leadership development, professional skills, and real-world industry knowledge.
Congratulations to Mia! We wish her every success in the program and beyond.
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Dr. Tetreault, Satz Middle School Media Specialist, has been invited by the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) to serve as a presenter at the Sharjah School Library Conference in the United Arab Emirates this April. He was personally recommended for this honor by the President of AASL.
This prestigious international conference brings together school library leaders and educators from around the world to share best practices and innovative ideas. This is an all-expenses-paid opportunity, highlighting the significance of Dr. Tetreault’s expertise and national recognition in the field.
We are incredibly proud to have Dr. Tetreault representing Satz Middle School and the Holmdel Township School District on a global stage.
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Last week we shared a standalone budget newsletter with key information on the District’s proposed 2026-27 budget, including our financial context, priorities, and planning timeline. If you missed it, you can review all of the materials here: January 29th Budget Newsletter
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What’s on the menu this winter? ❄️
Our January Food Services Newsletter highlights immune-friendly, student-approved meals designed to keep our learners healthy, energized, and ready to succeed during the colder months. From colorful fruits and veggies to cozy soups and whole-grain favorites, discover how our dining team is nourishing students from the inside out—plus a fun Discovery Kitchen feature and a celebration of National Soup Month. Be sure to take a look and see what’s cooking in our schools!
Click here for January's newsletter.
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The Indian Hill School newspaper winter edition is chock full of student voice, school pride, and exciting highlights!
Inside, you’ll find a special leadership spotlight on Mrs. Vitale, a recap of the schoolwide Princeton University field trips, and well-deserved recognition for outstanding teachers and staff — including Teacher of the Year Mr. Woods and our Staff Members of the Month.
Students also share creative riddles, winter facts, holiday traditions from around the world, original poetry and artwork, and stories celebrating community spirit. From Groundhog Day predictions to Valentine’s for Veterans, this edition truly captures the joy, curiosity, and heart of Indian Hill School. Click here for Indian Hill's winter edition.
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Registration is now open for the 2026–27 Holmdel Public Schools Pre-School program! Secure your child’s spot for a year of early learning, growth, and fun. Plus, don’t miss our Pre-School Summer Enrichment programs, designed to keep little minds curious and engaged all summer long. Learn more and register today!
Preschool Registration Link: Go HERE Summer Enrichment Program Link: Go HERE
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Kindergarten 2026–2027 registration opened on Friday, January 16th. Please visit the Holmdel School District website, www.holmdelschools.org, to access the Kindergarten Registration Portal. Families may upload all required registration documentation and, if desired, schedule an optional online appointment with the school. In-person registration appointments will take place Wednesday through Friday, February 24–26, at Village Elementary School. An in-person appointment is not required if documents are submitted through the portal.
On the home page, select the “Registration Information” box, then click the “2026–2027 PreK and Kindergarten New Student Registration Only” link to create a portal account and, if documents are not submitted through the portal, schedule an appointment.
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Following a highly successful inaugural summer, Camp Invention returns to Holmdel for its second year, offering students an engaging, hands-on STEM experience designed to inspire creativity, collaboration, and innovative thinking. Through interactive challenges and real-world problem solving, campers bring their ideas to life while building confidence and having fun along the way.
Registration is now open. Families can save $25 on Week One (July 13–16, 2026) with promo code FUN25 (expires March 31, 2026). An additional $60 savings is available for Week Two using the exclusive registration link provided in the Week One confirmation email.
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- February 13 - Early Dismissal for Students / PD Day for Staff
- February 16 - School Closed - Presidents' Day
- February 17 - School Closed for Students / Lunar New Year - PD Day for Staff
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Please take notice that whenever the Holmdel Township School District Board of Education is required by law or by order or rule of any court to publish or advertise a legal notice, it will publish or advertise the legal notice on the Holmdel Township School District Board of Education's official Internet website, in compliance with P.L. 2025, c. 72. This is a change from the past, whereby the district published notices in an official newspaper. Legal notices can be accessed on our district website's at https://www.holmdelschools.org/legal-notices
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The board will hold its monthly regular public meeting on Wednesday, February 25th, at 7:00 PM in the High School Auditorium. The meetings are also accessible via Zoom link and will be posted to the district webpage within 24 hours of the meeting.
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How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year!
-Thomas Wentworth Higginson
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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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