Superintendent's Message

As always, March is a busy time of the year for the Red Bank Borough Public Schools. We celebrated Read Across America Week and welcomed many guest readers. Soon it will be March Madness Week in Rocket Nation. Thank you for supporting the Ice Cream Wars which run until March 23 at ALL Nicholas Creamery locations. Our “Churro-licious Dreams” - homemade cinnamon ice cream, shortbread crust, and chocolate swirl - has been doing very well (second place as of Friday) thanks to YOUR support!

Our Red Bank Middle School Exterior Project is nearly 100% complete. This long-awaited project included an Outdoor Pavilion, Walking/Jogging Track, Multi-Purpose Sport Surface with Basketball Courts and 3 Pickleball Courts, Maintenance and Storage Building, Gaga Pit and Trees and Shrubbery. This summer, RBMS will undergo a complete boiler modernization supported by a Regular Operating District (ROD) Grant.

For the next two summers, we look forward to several projects at Red Bank Primary School. These include: New and Improved Parking, New Entrance for 100 Wing, Courtyard Redesign with Drainage Improvements and Sport Surface for Outdoor Activities. We look forward to these improvements to this amazing school facility. 

The aforementioned construction improvements continue to help fortify our community assets and provide an improved educational experience for our students and staff. Again, these projects are possible thanks to the grant funding received due to the pandemic. The work we have done to enhance our infrastructure is a silver lining of the pandemic and also a huge benefit in light of our recent state funding reductions. We are currently preparing for the 25-26 school year and look forward to approving our final budget at our Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, April 29. The budget will once again promote safety, security, and well-being for all, emphasize student academic growth, and provide inspiration for students to dream and achieve big. 

Please check out other upcoming events, news and important reminders listed below.

• Peruse our March 2025 Curriculum Insights Newsletter which highlights some of the past few months in curriculum and instruction.
• Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Wednesday and Thursday (March 19 & 20) from 4:30-7:30 PM. Students will follow a Minimum School Day schedule on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (March 19, 20 & 21).
• The District will be closed for Spring Break on Friday, April 18 and reopen on Monday, April 28.
• We anticipate revising our 2024-2025 District Calendar at our April 29 Board of Education meeting, assuming we do not have any inclement weather days. Therefore, the last day of school is projected to be Tuesday, June 17.
• The New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) for students in Grades 3-8 will commence in May. A letter will be forthcoming with specific dates and times based on your child’s grade level.
• Our Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony will be held on Monday, June 16 at 6:00 PM at Count Basie Park. Should the weather not cooperate, the event will be moved to Red Bank Middle School with limited seating (3 tickets per family).
• Our 2025-2026 District Calendar was recently approved by our Board of Education. Please refer to it when planning trips and special events for the following school year.
• Per our yearly Reverification Process, incoming Kindergarten and Grade 4 students will have to provide updated proofs of residence before the beginning of the 25-26 school year. A letter will go out when we return from Spring Break with more information.
• 2025-2026 Preschool Registration is open. We ask that you pass this info along to your neighbors and friends who may have age-eligible children. A waiting list for families that do not register by April 15 is being implemented this year due to our reduced funding for Preschool. If you have children ready to register for Grades K-8, call 732-758-1500 x1511 or email register@rbb.k12.nj.us.
• Join us on Saturday, June 14 for the Red Bank Classic. Select the team name #RBBisBIA when registering. It is also great to have fans to support our runners! Anyone who plans on attending - runners and fans - please wear school spirit wear. As always, we will take a group photo at 8:00 AM in front of The Dublin House.

UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES

• March 19-20 - Parent-Teacher Conferences
• March 19-21 - Minimum School Days
• March 27 - Red Bank Middle School University Night

Visit our District Calendar which includes schedules, athletic events, PTO events, Board of Education meetings and more! Our Virtual Backpack contains important notices for all families.

Dear Families,

Happy Valentine’s Day! On Wednesday, February 12 we celebrated our 100th Day of School. We are looking forward to the next part of the school year and the many activities planned for students and families. It has been an exciting winter season of Rocket Basketball with our Boys’ team competing intensely versus their Shore League opponents and our Girls’ team dominating the division. The season culminated on Thursday, February 13 with the girls winning the division championship. Special thanks to our coaching staff, families, fans and of course, our student athletes. Read Across America Week kicks off in March with guest readers from our community as well as Parent-Teacher Conferences later in the month.

Thank you to the families and staff that came out last Friday evening to support the Red Bank Borough Education Foundation’s (RBBEF) Casino Night. A good time was had by all and we look forward to future events. If you are interested in assisting in other endeavors the RBBEF is undertaking, email Mark Taylor, RBBEF President, at redbankef@gmail.com.

Our 2025-2026 District Calendar was recently approved by our Board of Education. Please refer to it when planning trips and special events for the following school year. All public schools in New Jersey must complete a minimum of 180 school days per year. Our calendar also includes days for staff professional learning which is part of our Collective Bargaining Agreement. In preparing our calendar, feedback is gathered from various stakeholders as well as consultation with our neighboring districts, including Red Bank Regional High School.

Over the past several months, our Leadership Team has been working on preparing our 2025-2026 budget. This year, an added layer of uncertainty exists due to governmental transition and federal funding being in limbo. For many years, we have dealt with a funding formula and State Aid that have been at best, inconsistent and more recently, volatile. At the end of the month we anticipate receiving our State Aid allocation. This will allow us to finalize our draft budget before our Board of Education reviews it and ultimately presents it at an open public meeting. At this time, we do not expect any programming reductions or changes to classroom sizes. We will move forward with optimism and develop a budget that is a reflection of our priorities. Our budget will promote safety, security, and well-being for all, emphasize student academic growth, and provide inspiration for students to dream and achieve big. We will provide an update when we have more information and if needed, how you can help us advocate for fair funding.

Speaking of budget, for the past several years we benefited from post-pandemic funds afforded to schools around New Jersey. This was especially evident during the summer with free special programs and opportunities, many in conjunction with our community partners. While this funding stream ended on September 30, 2024, we will continue to host our Extended School Year (ESY) program which is specifically for students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Please take a look at Parks and Recreation and their summer opportunities.

We are very proud of the numerous community partnerships we enjoy here in the Red Bank Borough Schools. One of the longest standing and strongest is with the Count Basie Center for the Arts. Take a look at our new infographic to see some examples from Preschool through Grade 8.

2025-2026 Preschool Registration is open. We ask that you pass this info along to your neighbors and friends who may have age-eligible children. If you have children ready to register for Grades K-8, contact Central Registration at 732-758-1500 x1511 or register@rbb.k12.nj.us. As you may have recently heard, Monmouth Day Care Center will go under an organizational change and our long-standing partnership will end effective June 30, 2025. They will be expanding their daycare outreach and therefore need additional space. We are grateful for the numerous years we have worked together to support the children of Red Bank. We anticipate supporting current MDCC students in classrooms at FBC, UMC and Red Bank Primary School.

Ice Cream Wars are back! Nicholas Creamery is awarding $2500 to the school with the top selling flavor (based on tubs sold). The Red Bank Borough Public Schools proudly present “Churro-licious Dreams” - homemade cinnamon ice cream, shortbread  crust, and chocolate swirl. Celebrity Scoop Night will be on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 from 4:00-6:00 PM at Nicholas Creamery (586 River Rd, Fair Haven). Remember, even if you can’t attend that evening, Ice Cream Wars run from February 28 - March 23 at ALL Nicholas Creamery locations.

HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• February 17, 2025 - District Closed (Presidents Day)
• March 5, 2025 - Celebrity School Night at Nicholas Creamery (586 River Rd, Fair Haven)
• March 14, 2025 - District Closed (Staff Professional Day)
• March 19-20, 2025 - Parent-Teacher Conferences
• March 19-21, 2025 - Minimum School Days

Visit our District Calendar which includes schedules, athletic events, PTO events, Board of Education meetings and more! Our Virtual Backpack contains important notices for all families.

Dear Families,

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful break and enjoyed the holidays with your loved ones. Congratulations Dominic Kalorin, Ann Roseman and Frederick J. Stone on their appointment to the Board of Education at our January Reorganization Meeting. A special thank you to Mr. Kalorin who has served as Board President for the past three years. As part of the Annual Reorganization Meeting, Suzanne Viscomi was elected as our new Board of Education President and Erik Perry was elected as our new Vice President. We congratulate them both and look forward to a productive year ahead as we continue to implement our Strategic Plan: Dream Bigger: A Five Year Roadmap.

We invite you to peruse our January 2025 Curriculum Insights Newsletter which highlights some of the past few months in curriculum and instruction. Take special note of Atlas directions. Atlas serves as the online vehicle for the Red Bank Borough Public School’s curriculum mapping. Curriculum mapping is a calendar-based method of organizing and planning what is happening in district courses at specific points in the school year.

As a public school district, we remain firm in our commitment to protecting the rights of all our students and families. If you or your family are in need of assistance, please contact your child’s site/school so we can respond accordingly. Please view this Save the Date for an important FREE event on Mental Health and Wellness hosted by the Monmouth County Schools Partnership for Wellness. Registration is now open.

We are excited to announce that 2025-2026 Preschool Registration is underway! Please click on the link to register for our upcoming Information Session. If you are unable to attend, it's important to RSVP so our Preschool team can hold a space for your registration appointment! We ask that you pass this information along to your neighbors and friends who may have age-eligible children.

The Red Bank Borough Education Foundation (RBBEF) Casino Night is scheduled for Friday, February 7, 2025 at the Elks Lodge on Front Street. The event begins at 7:00 PM and is open to all adults. Consider attending and bringing a friend, or two! Visit their website for tickets as well as sponsorship opportunities. We are grateful for the support we receive from our partner in education. If you are interested in assisting in Casino Night or in other endeavors the RBBEF is undertaking, please email Mark Taylor, RBBEF President, at redbankef@gmail.com.

Welcome to our newest staff member, Bailey Murray! Bailey, a mild-mannered Goldendoodle, was rescued by Mr. Murray, RBPS Counselor, in May 2023. Wanting to follow in his owner's footsteps, Bailey became a certified Therapy Dog in March 2024. He loves to play at the beach, go for long walks, and will always welcome a good scratch behind his ears! Bailey is excited to begin working at RBPS and hopes that he can help any and all students’ social-emotional needs. As we pilot this program through the spring, our new staff member will meet with targeted audiences at first with parental consent and eventually expand to classroom visits.

Thank you to the 61 families (7%) that took the time to complete our District Communication Survey. We have begun to analyze the data graphs as well as the open-ended sections. We anticipate making some changes throughout the year. While the input is appreciated, we are cognizant that 7% is a small sampling of our overall District. We plan to make adjustments to the survey and reshare at the end of the school year in preparation for September 2025.

HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• District Closed for Students
  • Monday, January 20, 2025 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Monday, February 10, 2025 - Professional Learning Day for Staff
  • Monday, February 17, 2025 - Presidents Day
• Visit our District Calendar which includes schedules, athletic events, PTO events, Board of Education meetings and more! Our Virtual Backpack contains important notices for all families.
• Refer to our “Please Keep Me Home If…” guidelines. We realize some absences are unavoidable. But, we also know that when students miss too much school, it can cause them to fall behind academically. Your child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent—which means missing 18+ days over the course of an entire school year.

Dear Families,

Our last Community Update of 2024 is upon us. While we always have much to be grateful for here in the Red Bank Borough Public Schools, the holiday season is a special time to remind us how lucky we truly are to have such resilient students, caring and dedicated staff, a supportive Board of Education and nurturing families that serve as our partners in education.

Congratulations to our 2024 Governor’s Educators of the Year Recipients - Samantha Arauz (MS Teacher), Niki Cummins (PS Teacher) and District Educational Services Professional Paula Collins (PS Instructional Assistant)! Many thanks to the families and staff who submitted nominations as well as the committee who reviewed the applications. Two staff have also earned the distinction of New Jersey Department of Education Exemplary Elementary Educators - Christina Grimaldi (MS Teacher) and Beth Moran (PS Teacher). Exemplary Educators exhibit strong knowledge and skills, an inspiring presence, and a positive impact on students, colleagues and the school community. We are proud to recognize these individuals for their efforts to inspire and support the BIG Dreams of our children and represent their colleagues as a whole. We continue to take pride in hiring and retaining high-quality educators!

Thank you to those that took the time to recently complete our District Communication Survey. We will analyze the results in the near future and make any necessary adjustments based on the feedback. As a reminder, families are able to view all curriculum guides through Atlas which is located on our website. The guides are aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and are “living documents” that evolve throughout the year.

Our Middle School project is nearly finished and students have been able to enjoy the walking track, pavilion and sports court as weather permits. Bus arrival and dismissal has returned to the back of the building. As the colder weather continues, please ensure your child wears appropriate clothing on a daily basis such as coats, gloves and hats. Should you need any assistance, please contact your child’s School Nurse.

Thanks to Senator Gopal and a small infusion of grant money we are excited to add multiple extra-curricular programs at Red Bank Primary School. Currently, our students in K-3 are offered Stormy Singers (K), Chorus (1-3), Daisies (K/1), Brownies (2-3), Strings (3) and Kids On Broadway (2-3). Beginning in mid-January, students in Grades 2 and 3 will be able to enjoy Art Club, STEAM Club, Lego Club, and Kids Care (Service Learning) Club. This programming complements our already robust Before/After School Programs at Red Bank Middle School which include intramurals, interscholastic athletics, Count Basie programming in strings, guitar, woodwinds and piano, Chorus in Grades 4-8, STEAM programs with STEAMpark, writing programs with Project Write Now and more! Additionally, we are also excited to announce that the Red Bank Borough Education Foundation Kopka Grants are back! Sixteen grant applications submitted by our teachers to support various STEAM-related experiences at numerous grade levels will be reviewed and awarded upon our return from break. Teachers will have a second opportunity to apply for funding through the RBBEF later in the school year. Save the Date for the RBBEF Casino Night scheduled for Friday, February 7, 2025 at the Elks Lodge on Front Street! As always, we are grateful for the support we receive from our legislative representatives and partners in education.

We offer another big thank you to all who participated in our strategic planning process. As we enter winter break, we are also finishing month four of our new plan. Please check out our website to learn more about our collective progress toward the goals and objectives delineated in Dream BIGGER: A Five Year Roadmap. The website now contains the status of the “Major Activities” listed under each objective. While we are at the very beginning of this journey, we have certainly made notable progress towards the goals and objectives designed by our stakeholders. We continue to fortify safety and security, we have explored and implemented new curricula and student programming, and most importantly, we do it all in an environment filled with compassion and caring.

As we look ahead to 2025, please view this Save the Date for an important FREE event hosted by the Monmouth County Schools Partnership for Wellness.

The holidays often bring about an increase in illness. Refer to our “Please Keep Me Home If…” guidelines. We realize some absences are unavoidable. But, we also know that when students miss too much school, it can cause them to fall behind academically. Your child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent—which means missing 18+ days over the course of an entire school year. Just as important, please ensure your child arrives at school on time. Prompt arrivals support organized morning procedures that set the tone for a positive day!

HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT REMINDERS AS WE WELCOME 2025!

• Friday, December 20, 2024, is the last day of school before winter recess. We will follow a Minimum School Day schedule. The District will reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
• For Kindergarten through Grade 8 families, visit Parent Portal to view your child’s trimester progress report.
• Continue to visit our District Calendar which includes schedules, athletic events, PTO events, Board of Education meetings and more! Our Virtual Backpack contains important notices for all families.
• Our District Website lists all upcoming events including:
  • RBMS Winter Concert - Wednesday, December 18, 2024 @ 6:00 PM (Middle School)
  • RBMS Rockets Basketball Schedules

In the new year you will receive information about 2025-2026 Preschool Registration for new families. We wish you all a restful and peaceful holiday season filled with laughter and joy. And may all of our BIG Dreams come true!

Dear Families,

The first trimester of school is two weeks away and the holiday season is upon us. It was a fun-filled (and warm) fall and we enjoyed seeing so many families at our special events including Harvest Fest, Halloween Parades, athletic competitions, PTO events, Character Education Assemblies, SEPAG & BPAC events and Parent-Teacher Conferences, just to name a few! We have much to be thankful for as we serve the wonderful community of Red Bank. We are fortunate to have so many individuals who help us strive to be the best in America so we can be certain we are the best for Red Bank.

The recent Board of Education election results are still pending official certification but we are pleased to announce we will have continuity of leadership. Congratulations to Ann Roseman, Fred Stone, and President Dominic Kalorin on their forthcoming re-election. I am grateful to work with a Board of Education who appreciates our staff, understands our mission and believes in our children. I look forward to working with our full Board of Education as we continue to inspire our students to Dream Bigger!

The Red Bank Borough Public School District values effective communications throughout our school community. We are asking you to help us identify our strengths, challenges and potential growth opportunities so we can find ways to enhance communication and reach all members of our community. Please take a few minutes to respond to our Communication Survey. We appreciate your time and feedback. This survey will close on December 1, 2024.

Our Middle School project is nearly finished and recently students have been able to enjoy the walking track and sports court. Paving and striping of the walking path, bus lane, and pedestrian crossing are completed along with the addition of new fencing and a few more benches. Hopefully, the garage will be finished by the end of the month. We are in the process of researching a gate system to control traffic flow in and out of the area for safety and security purposes.

Fall Athletics at Red Bank Middle School ended on a high note. Our RBMS Boys and Girls Soccer Teams ended a nearly flawless season, each with a trip to the Conference Finals, while our Cross Country teams both finished competitive seasons with our Boys finishing second in their league. Special thanks to families and community members who nominated staff as part of the Governor's Educator of the Year Program. If you have not done so yet, please complete the form by Friday, November 22, 2024.

As the colder weather approaches, we kindly ask families to ensure their children wear appropriate clothing on a daily basis to school. This includes coats, gloves and hats. Should you need any assistance, please contact your child’s School Nurse. And, with the cold weather comes an increase in illness. Please refer to our “Please Keep Me Home If…” guidelines distributed in August to all families. Visit the website of our community partner, Lunch Break, for various assistance programs available, especially during the holiday season.

Finally, please peruse our Curriculum Insights Newsletter with some of the highlights of the past few months in the area of curriculum and instruction. 

Below are some important schedule reminders!

• Students will follow a Minimum School Day schedule on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
• The District will be closed for Thanksgiving on November 28 & 29.
• Continue to visit our District Calendar which includes schedules, athletic events, PTO events, Board of Education meetings and more! Our Virtual Backpack contains important notices for all families.
• Our District Website lists all upcoming events including:
  • RBPS Chorus Performs at Westside Tree Lighting - Friday, December 6, 2024 @ 6:00 PM
  • RBPS Winter Festival - Friday, December 6, 2024 @ 6:00 PM
  • RBMS Winter Concert - Wednesday, December 18, 2024 @ 6:00 PM (Middle School)
  • RBPS Winter Concert - Wednesday, January 15, 2025 @ 6:00 PM (Middle School)

Wishing all who celebrate a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!

Dear Families,

The 24-25 school year is off to a strong start! It has been exciting to see so many families at our Back to School Nights, athletic events, and other school and community events. We were particularly proud to serve over 150 of our students and their family members at the vaccine clinic held at Red Bank Primary School in September. It was another demonstration of our strong community partnerships and how teamwork can make the dream work. Thank you to the Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy, the Marlboro Medical Arts Pharmacy, Caitlin Miller, President and Chief Hospital Executive of Bayshore Medical Center and our Red Bank Nursing Team!

We are also looking forward to the completion of our exterior grounds project at Red Bank Middle School. The project should be completed the first week of November and is clearly going to be a significant improvement to our school community. Recently, we have been able to allow some students to enjoy outdoor lunch and we hope to expand the use of the improved areas for recess and physical education as soon as possible. Right now, staff and student safety must remain the priority.

Our Partner in Education, the RBBEF, is holding Trivia Night this Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 7:00 PM. Visit www.rbbef.org for more information. And, be sure to Save the Date for Casino Night - Friday, February 7, 2025. More details to follow! For those that may not be aware, the Foundation’s goal is to serve the Red Bank Borough School community with a shared vision toward excellence and enhancement of the educational experience with special emphasis on the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) curriculum but not to the exclusion of language and performing arts, social sciences, and physical education. The Foundation generates and distributes funds to encourage new approaches to learning, to deliver enrichment opportunities and to provide mini grants to teachers for highly motivating classroom programs.

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

• Students participating in Fall Athletics at Red Bank Middle School are excelling! Our Boys Soccer team is 7 and 1 and our Girls Soccer team is currently undefeated! This Thursday (October 17) both teams play Ranney School - Boys at Count Basie Field and Girls at Ranney School. We are excited about the upcoming Semifinals and Finals - more details to be announced. Our Cross Country team continues to grow and become stronger each meet.
• The Primary School PTO has a new website. You can also visit their special website for volunteer opportunities.
• Thank you Middle School parents who are embarking on creating a Middle School PTO! Families should check Remind for more information about upcoming PTO events and ways to get involved. The next meeting will be held on November 18, 2024 at 7:00 PM. Two successful events were recently held by the school, a Grades 4-5 and Grades 6-8 dance complete with a DJ, games, food, photo booth and more!
• Red Bank Regional High School has begun their Strategic Plan process. Visit their website to learn how you can become involved.
• Thank you to our friends at the Red Bank Fire Department for visiting our various sites in recognition of Fire Prevention Week. Students enjoyed speaking to firefighters, seeing a fire truck up close, trying on gear and most importantly, learning about fire safety. Special thanks to Chief Robert Holiday, Jr., 1st Deputy Chief Frank Woods and 2nd Deputy Chief Michael Welsh. And special thanks to RBMS crossing guard and former Fire Chief Wayne Hartman.
• Our Eighth Graders have been attending various information sessions including Monmouth County Vocational School District, RBR, Red Bank Catholic, Trinity Hall, Ranney, and CBA based on their interests as they prepare for the next chapter of their education - High School. We have also offered sessions to students in Grades 6 & 7 as related to the SEEDS Program and Red Bank Regional High School. This year, a special section of our Middle School website features “The High School Hub” - a one stop location for students and families to find all things High School.
• For the SEVENTH year in a row we have earned the ASBO Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting. View our Press Release for details.
• Continue to visit our District Calendar which includes schedules, athletic events, PTO events, Board of Education meetings and more! Our Virtual Backpack contains important notices for all families.

CURRICULUM UPDATES

• The DIBELS-8 assessment for all students in Grades K-3 is now complete. This tool provides us with valuable insights into each student's reading skills, allowing us to tailor our instruction to better meet their needs.
• In Grades K-2, we are also preparing to add Geodes, which are decodable readers specially designed to align with our Fundations program. Geodes provide engaging, decodable stories that reinforce phonics skills and vocabulary, enhancing students' confidence and fluency. Coupled with targeted DIBELS interventions, these resources help us support every student's mastery of essential reading skills.
• As part of our commitment to ensuring that all students receive the support they need to thrive, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, we're also addressing post-pandemic phonics gaps with select Grades 4-5 students by using DIBELS-8. For those identified as needing additional assistance, we will be implementing the Just Words program over the coming months. This structured intervention focuses on building foundational reading skills and promoting independence in literacy.

SAFETY & WELLNESS

• Congratulations to Red Bank Primary School for earning a Bronze Award and Red Bank Middle School for earning a First Step Award as part of EZ Ride’s Annual Recognition Event. EZ Ride aims to implement transportation programs, services, and biking and walking initiatives that reduce congestion and mitigate air pollution.
• Students who consistently attend school for in-person instruction do significantly better in all aspects. In order for your child to maximize their experience in our schools, maintain smooth daily operations, and ensure student safety, we ask that when healthy, your child is in school and on time each day. 
  • Start time at the Primary School (including Preschool sites) is 8:55 am. Please do not drop off your child before 8:40 am. Start time for Middle School is 8:20 AM. If your child arrives after these times, they are not only considered late, but it also disrupts the flow of our morning routines. We remind you to keep your child home in the event of illness, but when healthy, children should be in school and on time.
  • If you are keeping your child home due to illness or another reason, it is necessary for you to notify the main office. If you fail to do so, the school will be required to contact you directly to confirm your child’s absence, but more importantly, confirm their safety.
  • In the event we are unable to confirm your child’s absence, we are required to contact the Red Bank Police Department to conduct a wellness check.
• Throughout the year, all families will receive a Remind message after monthly safety and security drills. This is a NJDOE requirement and a good opportunity to practice in the event of an emergency.
• Students are not allowed to carry cell phones or wear smartwatches during the school day. Any device of this nature must remain in your child’s locker or backpack during the school day.
• Please remember that pets are not permitted on school grounds as per BOE Policy 7490.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• October 18, 2024: Primary School PTO Harvest Fest @ 6:00 PM
• October 26, 2024: Primary School PTO Color Run @ 9:00 AM
• October 31, 2024: Minimum School Day for ALL Students
  • Primary School Parade - 10:45 AM
  • Grades 4-5 Parade - 11:45 AM
  • FBC & UMC Halloween Celebrations - 12:30 PM
• October 31 - November 6, 2024: Red Bank Primary School & Red Bank Middle School Scholastic Book Fairs
• November 4, 5 & 6, 2024: Minimum School Day for ALL Students
• November 4-5, 2024: Parent-Teacher Conferences 4:30-7:30 PM
• November 6, 2024: Middle School PTO Yestercades Fundraiser - 1:00 PM
• November 7-8, 2024: District Closed for NJEA Convention

Looking forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming events and Parent-Teacher Conferences!

Dear Families,

Welcome Back to the 2024-2025 school year! We enjoyed a smooth opening thanks to planning, great weather and the cooperation and support of our students, staff and families. And while things are never perfect, it has been wonderful to see the smiling faces of our 1,169 students from Preschool through Grade 8. The Minimum School Day schedule allowed us to work the kinks out prior to starting a new week as well as provide additional professional learning time for our staff. Thank you again for your patience with transportation and general arrivals and dismissal. The safety of our students is our number one priority so waiting a few extra minutes to ensure everyone is safe is much appreciated.

We thank everyone who participated in our Red, White and Blue Day yesterday in honor of those who were impacted by the tragedy of 9/11. Our Grade 8 students and staff attended the service organized by the Borough at Riverside Gardens Park and one of our students participated with a reading of a poem.

At Red Bank Middle School, our exterior improvement project is progressing quickly. The pavilion installation is in progress and we anticipate the sod installation will begin soon. We expect the activity area projects to be completed by October 1 but an access date to the area for students is still undetermined. It is important that the sod is given the appropriate time for the root system to take hold. In the meantime, please note the entire area behind the school is an active construction site. For safety reasons, and to protect the new sod, please do not enter the area until it is officially open for use. Additionally, the garage project is on target for its original completion date of October 31.

With the Middle School project nearing completion, we are looking ahead to major exterior improvements at Red Bank Primary School in the summer of 2025! As previously explained, these renovations will improve parking, traffic flow, and drainage while adding outdoor activity space. Today, we are excited to announce the rear playground project is complete and the area is fully functional. We are confident the new playground surface will significantly increase student access to this beautiful space supported by the Red Bank Borough Education Foundation. Plus, Nurse Reardon and our students and staff are utilizing a newly designed and more spacious Health Office!

Senator Gopal and Assemblywomen Peterpaul and Donlon continue to advocate for the Red Bank Borough Public Schools. We are currently working with the Senator, Assemblywomen, and other officials to advocate for consistent, adequate State and local funding. It is our expectation that adjustments will be made to the formula for the 25-26 fiscal year. While we are grateful for partial restoration of funding this past year, the volatility of the change does not allow us to plan for the future in a meaningful way. Moving forward, we will keep the community informed and should we need advocacy from families, we will certainly reach out.

Looking ahead, we are excited to start our fall athletics season with our first XC meet this Friday at RBR vs. Little Silver and our first Boys Soccer game on Tuesday the 17th at Count Basie Park vs. Keyport. Visit here for the full fall athletics schedule. We are also planning a variety of parent involvement/education programs throughout the year. Here is a quick overview. Specific information will be shared prior to each event. Beginning September 15 and through October 15 we will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month across the District. Students will participate in a variety of activities and events in order to commemorate the month. We look forward to a year of supporting the BIG Dreams of our children and collaborating with our families to best serve our community.

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

• If you would like to get more involved in our school community and help out at upcoming events, we invite you to join the Red Bank Middle School ROCKET LAUNCHERS! Sign up today to join and make a difference!

• Red Bank Regional High School is embarking on their Strategic Plan process. For information, visit their website.

• Special thanks to the Leonard & Lois Green Charitable Foundation. They recently gifted the District $10,000 to be used for After School Chorus Programs at Red Bank Primary School and Red Bank Middle School. We look forward to providing more details in the near future.

• Visit our website for our District Calendar which includes schedules, athletic events, PTO events, Board of Education meetings and more! Our Virtual Backpack is also available for important notices for all families.

• Save the Date! The Red Bank Borough Education Foundation will host Casino Night on Friday, November 1, 2024 at 7:00 PM. More details to follow but feel free to visit their website in the interim. Thank you to all the families that have returned their donation sheet that was sent home to students.

• Last month our Board of Education adopted our new Strategic Plan titled Dream Bigger: A Five Year Roadmap (2024-2029). Visit our website to view the goals, objectives and action plan that will serve as a guide over the next five years. At the same time, our Board of Education approved new District and BOE Goals for the 2024-2025 school year. These goals and the Strategic Plan are three separate elements with a common thread and the ultimate goal of ensuring our students Dream BIGGER!

SAFETY & WELLNESS

• We will be hosting a COVID and Flu Vaccination Clinic for all students and families on Saturday, September 28 from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM at Red Bank Primary School.
• IIf your child must miss school due to illness or other reason, contact 732.758.1500 to leave a message for the Primary or Middle School, and for Preschool, contact your site directly. Any unverified absence will result in a wellness check by the Red Bank Police Department.
• Throughout the year, all families will receive a Remind message after monthly safety and security drills. This is a NJDOE requirement and a good opportunity to practice in the event of an emergency.
• Please remember that dogs are not permitted on school grounds as per BOE Policy 7490.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Preschool Back to School Night - September 16  @ 6:30 PM
• Grades K-1 Back to School Night   September 24  @ 6:00 PM
• Grades 2-3 Back to School Night - September 25  @ 6:00 PM
• Red Bank Regional HS Back to School Night - September 26 @ 7:00 PM
• PTO Color Run/Walk - September 28  @ 9:00 AM

Looking forward to a great fall season!

Dear Families,

We are excited to welcome our nearly 1200 students on Thursday, September 5th! It was a productive summer on multiple fronts as we prepared to kick-off the 24-25 school year. Our September Packet Pickup sessions are scheduled for this week at Red Bank Primary School as follows:

• Thursday, August 22 - 12:30 to 3:00 PM and 4:30 to 7:00 PM
• Friday, August 23 - 9:00 to 11:30 AM

We are looking forward to seeing you next week and to a year of inspiring and supporting the BIG Dreams of every child who walks through our doors!

FACILITIES UPDATE

• Primary School facility upgrades include the design of a new School Health Office for Nurse Reardon, renovations to the main playground, and fresh paint in many areas. Looking towards next summer we are on schedule for a major improvement to the Primary School exterior that will increase outdoor activity space for recess, gym and other outdoor experiences, support better traffic flow, and improve parking.
• At the Middle School the entire gymnasium was treated to a much-needed makeover from head to toe including fresh paint and a refurbished floor. Our biggest project, the outdoor playing space and field upgrades at the Middle School, is our most exciting and also complex enhancement. The project is moving along; however, due to several factors out of our control, the project will not be ready for the first day of school. While we are disappointed the outdoor improvements will not be ready for our students immediately, once completed, we know the project will be an outstanding addition aesthetically and offer many new outdoor experiences for our school community for years to come. The minor adjustments that we will need to make in the early fall will long be forgotten once the new track, sports surface, pavilion and amphitheater are open for business!
• Additionally, we are always evaluating our safety and security measures as the safety of our students, staff and guests is our number one priority. We have updated and reviewed these plans for all sites and are in the process of fortifying specific security structures to enhance overall safety. Of course, we are excited for the return of Officers Joey Fields, Juan Sardo and Errico Vescio who have truly become a part of the Red Bank Borough Public Schools family.

STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE

• A special thank you to those community members who participated in our strategic planning process this spring. Together, you collaborated to identify five specific goal areas along with corresponding objectives to support our efforts to be BIA - Best In America! Our Leadership Team was charged with the responsibility of designing a general action plan to pursue these goals and objectives as we embark on this five-year journey. If you would like to learn more about the plan (and other happenings as we enter the new school year) please join us for one of three sessions during September Packet Pickup (register here). Additionally, the plan will be available for review on our website beginning Wednesday, August 28.

CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION UPDATES

Below is a broad overview of the many exciting curricular enhancements we have been working on this past summer. More details about these topics and additional enhancements being made will be shared throughout the year at Back to School Nights, Parent Education Sessions, PTO Meetings, Newsletters and on our District Website.

• LITERACY
  • We are thrilled to announce the introduction of new and innovative curricula, designed to enhance the educational experience for all our students. After extensive review, we have adopted Expeditionary Learning (Grades 4-8) and Wit & Wisdom (Grade 3) as our primary materials for English Language Arts. These programs align with the 2023 ELA NJ Student Learning Standards and are rooted in the latest research on the Science of Reading.
  • Expeditionary Learning emphasizes project-based learning, where students engage in hands-on projects that connect academic content to real-world experiences. As students develop background knowledge through a variety of text and multimedia, they also cultivate critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Wit & Wisdom is designed to build students' reading, writing, and speaking skills through rich, diverse texts and purposeful instruction. Both programs integrate Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) into their frameworks, promoting skills such as self-awareness, empathy, and relationship-building. The new curricula also include strategies and resources to support multilingual learners, ensuring that all students have equitable access to high-quality education.
     
• ASSESSMENT
  • To enhance our understanding of each student’s reading progress and provide more targeted support, we will be using two new assessment systems. DIBELS-8 (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills, 8th Edition) is a proven tool for assessing early literacy skills. It helps us monitor and support student progress in reading by evaluating key areas such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and comprehension. mCLASS Lectura is a comprehensive literacy assessment tool designed specifically for Spanish-speaking students.
  • Starting this school year, we will be implementing LinkIt!, a comprehensive assessment and data analysis platform designed to provide actionable insights into student learning and performance. LinkIt! empowers educators with powerful tools to collect, analyze, and utilize data more effectively.
     
• STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH)
  • Next Wave Gen STEM Robotics for Grades 1-2: We are introducing Next Wave Gen STEM Robotics units to our early elementary grades. These engaging robotics kits are designed to introduce our youngest students to foundational concepts in robotics and programming.
  • Expanded Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Opportunities for Grades 4-8: We are enhancing our existing Project Lead the Way curriculum to strengthen existing engineering/design thinking experiences to include a more comprehensive focus on Computer Science standards.
     
• ENRICHMENT
  • In addition to our existing Enrichment programs for students in Grades K-8 and the Accelerated Math program for Grades 6-8, we are introducing new opportunities to enhance the learning experiences of our students through project-based learning in all content areas and personalized workshop settings for those students identified. We will provide more detailed information about the revised identification process and how recently developed programming will meet the needs of students identified as Gifted & Talented.
     
• PHYSICAL EDUCATION
  • For students in Grades K-3, an additional Physical Education class has been added to the Specials rotation. Over a six day period, students will now have Art, Music, World Language, Health and two Physical Education classes.
     
• PARENT EDUCATION SESSIONS
  • This year's Special Education Parent Advisory Group will meet on November 14 and February 6. All families are welcome to attend! The mission of the SEPAG is to facilitate communication between students, parents, staff, the Board of Education, and the community, with regard to the districts’ special education programs, for the purpose of advising the administration on matters pertaining to improving the quality of special education district wide.
  • Our Healthy Families Series will be held on October 24, January 8 and May 15 covering various topics including bullying prevention, digital citizenship and more!  Look for specific information to be shared prior to all events.

ATTENDANCE MATTERS!

• Research shows attendance is a huge factor in student performance. Unless ill, we need students to attend school daily, on time and for the duration of the day, ready to learn! If your child must miss school due to illness or other reason, contact 732.758.1500 to leave a message for the Primary or Middle School, and for Preschool, contact your site directly. Also, we are excited to announce a new convenient feature that will enable you to upload medical notes through the parent portal - stay tuned for more details!

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• You may now visit Parent Portal and complete your September Notices Verification and your Meal Application. If you are not interested in applying, please indicate this on the initial application screen.
• Review our Virtual Backpack prior to the start of school for important and informative notices.
• Our website lists all upcoming events including our District Calendar.
• Families are responsible for any damage caused to your child’s Chromebook and will be responsible for paying for repairs as per our 1:1 Device Agreement.
• If you know anyone that has a child eligible for Preschool or is interested in attending our schools in Kindergarten-Grade 8, please share the link to our Central Registration.
• If you have recently moved within Red Bank or changed your phone number, please contact us. This is important for communication, emergencies and transportation. If you have renewed a lease or moved within Red Bank, contact Ms. Grable at 732-758-1510 to update your paperwork.
• We have completed our annual residency re-verification. In the fall, we will be reaching out to specific families regarding expired leases.
• For all former Rockets, Ms. Herman is coordinating an effort to highlight our former students through the #AlwaysARocket initiative. If you are a graduate of #RocketNation, complete this survey so we can share the great things you are accomplishing. Do you know a former ROCKET? Please share this info on our behalf.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Packet Pick Up @ Red Bank Primary School:
  • Thursday, August 22 | 12:30 to 3:00 PM or 4:30 to 7:00 PM
  • Friday, August 23 | 9:00 to 11:30 AM
• First Day of School: September 5, 2024
  • Students will follow a Minimum School Day schedule on September 5 & 6 and be released two hours earlier.
• District Closed: October 3, 2024 (Rosh Hashanah)
• RBPS Harvest Fest: October 18, 2024 (Rain Date - October 25, 2024)

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS

• Preschool (UMC/FBC/MDCC/RBPS - Matera & Murphy): September 16, 2024 ⧫ 6:30 PM
• Grades K-1 & Daddazio/Vazquez/Smith/Rigby: September 24, 2024 ⧫ 6:00 PM
• Grades 2-3 & McGann: September 25, 2024 ⧫ 6:00 PM
• Grade 4 & Arauz/Merritt/Meyers: September 11, 2024 ⧫ 5:00 PM
• Grade 5: September 11, 2024 ⧫ 6:00 PM
• Grades 6-7 & Popick/Santos/Velastegui: September 12, 2024 ⧫ 5:00 PM
• Grade 8: September 12, 2024 ⧫ 6:00 PM    

Looking forward to a great year!