Dr. Koop's Newsletter

It’s been another great week at KRS! Our students are settling into routines, enjoying their 30 minutes of recess each day, and bringing such wonderful energy to school. A special thank-you goes to our students for their flexibility and to our teachers who supervise lunch—we’re making the most of our smaller multi-purpose room this year, and it’s working because of everyone’s teamwork.

We’re also excited to invite you to our first PTO meeting on Monday, September 29, 2025, at 7 PM in the KRS Dreamscape (library). These meetings are a great way to connect, share ideas, and support our school community together. We hope to see many of you there for what promises to be an informative and engaging evening.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,
Dr. Kathy Koop

September 29, 2025 - KRS PTO Meeting 7 PM - Dreamscape (Library)

October 2, 2025 - Yom Kippur - Schools Closed

October 13, 2025 - Columbus Day/Indigenous People Day - Early Dismissal for Students 12:45 PM

October 20, 2025 - Diwali Schools Closed

December 8 (Evening), 9, and 10, 2025 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 12:45 Dismissal for Students

October 31, 2025 - Halloween Parade Time 1:15 PM

Despite a brief one-day delay due to rain, the foundation work is moving forward steadily. We want to recognize the incredible effort and foresight of the construction crew and Mr. Eschmann, the head of Madison Public Schools Buildings and Grounds. Their proactive planning has helped ensure that weather and other potential challenges are met with efficiency and minimal disruption.

A special thank you goes to Mr. Eschmann, who has been on-site daily—closely monitoring construction progress and checking in regularly to support the needs of our staff.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to the entire KRS community for your ongoing patience and understanding as our exciting construction project continues.

Last school year, our community came together for a meaningful book study featuring The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. It was a great opportunity to learn, reflect, and grow together.

This year, we are excited to announce an elementary book study that will include all three elementary schools! We look forward to continuing this tradition of thoughtful discussion and collaboration.

Stay tuned for the book title and more details in upcoming newsletters.

The Chess Club will be meeting approximately 15 times during the school year. Sometime before school and sometime after school. If you're interested in receiving email updates on when the chess club meets, please fill out the attached form. Chess club is for students who already know the fundamentals of the game. It is not designed to teach the game.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7wP3eKo30uImoQ_PLwDWleIWS4ZyWMR5G0GS69olBhfdBwA/viewform?usp=header

Thank you again to everyone who joined us for Back‑to‑School Night. If you weren’t able to attend — or if you’d like to revisit what was covered — both of our virtual presentations are now available online for your convenience.

• Dr. Koop’s Presentation — An overview of important school information, including our goals for the year, information about community organizations, and available resources to support students and families. You can view Dr. Koop’s presentation here:
  Dr. Koop’s Back‑to‑School Night Virtual Presentation

• Dr. O’Connor’s Presentation — A look at our elementary academic initiatives: instructional priorities, assessment practices, and how we will support student growth in core areas. Dr. O’Connor’s presentation is available here:
  Dr. O’Connor’s Back‑to‑School Night Virtual Presentation

We encourage all parents to take a few moments to view these presentations if you haven’t yet. They contain valuable information to help you stay connected and informed throughout the school year.

Halloween Parade - October 31, 2025 1:15 PM

Students will be able to wear their costumes to school or change at school on Friday, October 31, 2025. Costumes should follow our past guidelines:

● Students may wear a costume of their choosing for the parade and class party.

● Toy weapons of any kind are not allowed.

● Avoid excessively scary costumes as they might frighten our younger students. (No fake blood, scary masks, or toy weapons)

● Please check your child’s costume for safety. Make sure it is not too long and does not create a tripping hazard.

● Finally, we would also prefer that children not wear costume masks that block vision.

At Kings Road School, the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. As part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining a secure learning environment, we are required to conduct one fire drill and one security drill each month, in accordance with state regulations.

In addition to fire and security drills, we also practice procedures for responding to medical emergencies. These drills ensure that both staff and students are prepared to respond quickly and effectively in a variety of situations, helping to keep everyone safe.

All safety drills are introduced and practiced in an age-appropriate and reassuring way. Our goal is to help students feel prepared—not frightened—and to understand that these routines are in place to protect them.

Your child may come home with questions about these drills or about school safety in general. We encourage open and calm conversations, and we’re here to support you. This article from Mental Health America offers helpful guidance for discussing school safety with children in an age-appropriate and supportive way:
🔗 Talking to Kids About School Safety

By working together—both at school and at home—we can help students feel informed, supported, and safe.

Please take some time to review the Handbook for Students and Families, which is a key resource for the school year. This guide includes important details like our Code of Conduct, policies on Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB), and many other procedures that help keep our school safe, fair, and welcoming for everyone. You can access the handbook here:

Handbook for Students & Families We encourage you to keep the handbook handy and refer to it as needed throughout the year.

The Madison Education Foundation invites you to unmask the extraordinary on Saturday, October 18th from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Mansion at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Step into a dreamscape where reality bends and wonder takes center stage, while raising critical funds for MEF enrichment grants in Madison Public Schools. Buy your tickets here! (https://mefnj.networkforgood.com/events/86743-2025-mef-gala-a-night-of-illusion if that think doesn’t translate!)

MADISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

2025-2026

Academic Progress Reports

Trimester 1

September 4, 2025 First Trimester Begins

December 5, 2025 First Trimester Ends

December 19, 2025 Report Cards Available in Genesis

Trimester 2

December 8, 2025 Second Trimester Begins

March 16, 2026 Second Trimester Ends

March 27, 2026 Report Cards Available in Genesis

Trimester 3 (61)

March 17, 2026 Third Trimester Begins

June 18, 2026 Third Trimester Ends

June 18, 2026 Report Cards Available in Genesis

Conferences:

December 8 (Evening), 9, and 10, 2025

March 23 (Evening), 24, and 25, 2026

*The administration reserves the right to adjust these dates if necessary.