Dear Holmdel Township School Community,
I hope this finds you well.
Today, the administration, faculty, and staff were thrilled to welcome back our students following spring break. I hope that all families observing Passover or Easter enjoyed joyous occasions with family, friends, and loved ones.
Enclosed for your consideration is a brief update for this shortened week. I encourage you to explore the ongoing achievements of our outstanding students, the important recognition of our dedicated librarians, media specialists, and assistant principals, some exciting community events, and, if you missed it, a valuable educational opportunity for parents on navigating the world of artificial intelligence with your children. Additionally, we are re-sharing previously disseminated information regarding the 2026–27 school district budget.
We are more or less in the homestretch, and as the weather warms and spring finally arrives in earnest, we will begin the exciting fourth quarter of the school year. This quarter will be filled with entertaining concerts and art shows, and, of course, the momentous milestones of moving-up ceremonies and high school commencement to bring closure to another successful school year.
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Village School hosted an evening of hands-on curiosity and exploration for 1st-grade students and their families during its 2nd annual STEAM night on March 31st.
The space-themed event featured a fantastic array of interactive activities created by the dedicated Village Science team: Ms. Berardi, Ms. Cooke, Ms. Dempsey, Ms. Rausch, Mr. Janovic, and Ms. Varga. Excitement levels ramped up with guest appearances from Indian Hill science teachers Mr. Jusinski and Mr. Woods, whose electric demonstrations literally had everyone’s hair standing on end.
Showcasing cross-school collaboration, Satz and High School robotics and engineering students, along with their teachers Mr. Bocchino, Mr. O’Keefe, and Mr. Pietrocola, attended as a special treat. These older students assisted attendees and showcased their robots, adding to the energy-filled night.
The evening highlighted the unique spirit and collaborative depth of the district's STEAM programs. Special thanks are extended to the Village School PSA for their valuable assistance.
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The district is excited to highlight Holmdel High School's Hornet Career Institute Career Days, an engaging opportunity designed to help students explore future pathways and connect learning to real-world careers.
Career Days are being held during unit lunch periods in the auxiliary gym, making them easily accessible for all students. These sessions provide exposure to a wide range of career clusters, allowing students to begin thinking more intentionally about their interests, strengths, and future goals.
On March 31, students explored fields including:
- Architecture & Construction
- Manufacturing & Transportation
- Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
- Education & Training
- Business Management & Administration
- Finance
- Marketing
- Information Technology
- Human Services
A second Career Day will take place on April 24, featuring additional pathways such as:
- Government & Public Administration
- Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
- Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)
- Health Sciences
These events are designed to spark curiosity and provide students with meaningful insight into a variety of professions. Whether a student already has a clear career interest or is just beginning to explore possibilities, Career Days offer valuable exposure and inspiration.
The Hornet Career Institute continues to emphasize the importance of helping students find their passion and discover their future, reinforcing our commitment to preparing all learners for success beyond high school.
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Holmdel Township School District's students continue to excel with student achievement at the highest level, as Juliana Berardi and Bradley Denton have earned distinguished recognition from the Jersey Shore Conference.
In addition to both students achieving an extraordinary 98% or higher GPA, Juliana and Bradley were selected from across the conference to receive prestigious scholarships honoring their sustained dedication, academic excellence, and meaningful commitment to community service. This recognition places them among the very best student leaders in the region.
Their accomplishments extend well beyond the classroom. Both Juliana and Bradley have been actively involved in the Holmdel Football Association since kindergarten, demonstrating years of commitment, teamwork, and community pride. Their long-standing involvement reflects the values of perseverance and service that define Holmdel’s student-athletes.
We congratulate Juliana and Bradley on this well-deserved honor. They exemplify what it means to “live Holmdel Blue,” and we are incredibly proud of the positive impact they continue to make both in our schools and throughout the broader community.
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On April 4th, we honored the dedicated librarians in our schools who inspire a love of reading, support learning, and guide our students in discovering new worlds through books. Thank you for your commitment to education and curiosity. Your impact is immeasurable! |
This week, we recognize the vital role our assistant principals play in supporting students, staff, and school communities. Thank you for your leadership, dedication, and daily commitment to making our schools a safe and inspiring place to learn! |
Last week, at the March 25 Board of Education meeting, the 2026–27 school district budget was presented and approved by a vote of 7 to 2. Crafting this budget was no easy task and required the dedication of our administrative team, Board of Education, and the collaboration and support of the Holmdel Education Association and the Holmdel Town Committee.
While the budget does involve some sacrifices from the Holmdel community, it largely preserves the excellence of our school district and allows us to continue providing programs that meet community expectations, even in these challenging financial times.
The final public hearing on the budget will take place at the April 29, 2026 Board of Education meeting.
Below are links to clipped videos of the March 18 Committee of the Whole discussion, as well as the slide deck and full video of the March 25 budget presentation and Q&A session.
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We’re excited to introduce a new Family Course now available through our partnership with The Social Institute: A.I. Safety Essentials: Protecting Our Children from Privacy Risks, Deepfakes, and Misinformation.
Artificial intelligence has widespread risks for kids—privacy, deepfakes, emotional chatbot use, and misinformation. This course helps families explore simple safety rules, communication strategies, and ways to help kids use A.I. responsibly.
Next Steps:
If you have not already, register your free account for The Toolkit. Many families refer to this as the CliffsNotes of social media and technology! Go to the Toolkit, click Activate Account, and enter our school code: 55b5197A69096D
Access the Family Courses:
As a reminder, all courses are designed to be self-paced and can be completed on your own schedule. 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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Celebrate Earth Day with a day of fresh air, family fun, and community connection at Bayonet Farm! Join the Earth Day Festival & Greenway Walk on Sunday, April 26th from 12–5 PM—featuring live shows, hands-on exhibits, guided tours, and a scenic walk through beautiful trails. Best of all, it’s completely FREE.
Come early, stay awhile, and experience nature, learning, and local spirit all in one place.
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Mark your calendars for Friday, May 8, from 4:00–8:00 PM at Cross Farm Park for Hornet Fest, a brand-new HYAA community celebration! This exciting event is designed to bring Holmdel families and youth athletes together from all sports programs for an evening of fun, games, food, and community spirit. Don’t miss this chance to connect, celebrate, and cheer on our young athletes, a perfect way to kick off the spring season together!
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- April 16 Indian Hill Talent Show 7pm
- April 20 HHS Spring ESL Night 6 pm
- May 7 & 8 Satz Spring Play 6 pm
- May 12 IH spring Band/Chorus Concert 7 pm
- May 15 HHS Relay for Life 4 pm
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The board will hold its next monthly public meeting (COW) on Wednesday, April 22nd, at 7:00 PM in the High School media center. 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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“Every day is a renewal, every morning the daily miracle. This joy you feel is life.” — Gertrude Stein
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I thank you for your time and consideration and wish you a safe and peaceful week ahead.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. J. Scott Cascone
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