Superintendent Sentinel
Parent Newsletter / October 2026
Dear Readington Parents,
Welcome back to a brand-new school year! Joining us in this fresh start are the newly completed playgrounds at both Whitehouse School and Three Bridges School. This project was made possible through our community’s dedicated support of the referendum, and we are deeply grateful to our parents and residents for investing in our students' environment and play.
Beyond physical changes, each academic year opens doors for personal and educational changes. Six weeks into the year, it is inspiring to reflect on how much your children have already accomplished. Whether they are mastering new math concepts, drafting their first formal essays, or discovering a genuine love for reading through a compelling book, these milestones mark significant progress.
We look forward to all the learning and development that lies ahead this year, and we invite you to celebrate every moment along the way.
Dr. Jonathan Hart
Follow me on X @hartjonathanr
In Photo: Dr. Hart and Lincoln Egbert (WHS-Grade 3)
Our newly developed strategic plan is driving this year’s school and district goals. The goals were approved by the Board of Education on October 13 and include actions embedded into each goal. Please watch the video below to learn more about our strategic goals and check out this year’s action steps.
Dr. Kristen Higgins, Prinicipal
At Three Bridges School, character education is about more than learning a new word each month. It’s about building a community where every student feels connected, valued, and respected. Our monthly Buddy Meetings bring students and staff together to strengthen that sense of belonging and remind our Terrific Tigers that we are all part of one special school family!
Each meeting begins with an engaging, talk-show-style kickoff featuring Mrs. Furka, our school counselor; Dr. Higgins, our school principal; and a special guest. This month, we were delighted to welcome Mrs. Nabozny, our Enrichment and Gifted & Talented teacher! Past guests have included Readington Township police officers, our beloved TBS mascot, TW Whiskers, and staff members who may not interact with every student on a daily basis. These special appearances help students make connections with the many wonderful people who make Three Bridges School such a welcoming place to learn and grow.
Buddy Meetings provide an opportunity to revisit the previous month’s character word, celebrate continued growth, and introduce a new character trait through discussion and hands-on activities. This month, our focus is RESPECT, a fitting theme as we join schools across New Jersey in recognizing the New Jersey Week of Respect. Students explore what respect means, how it looks and sounds, and how they can demonstrate it in their everyday interactions—with classmates, teachers, staff members, and the larger community.
What makes Buddy Meetings especially meaningful is the opportunity to build relationships beyond the traditional classroom. Students come together with both homeroom teachers and specialists, creating a larger, more connected learning community. Through conversations, collaborative activities, and age-appropriate examples, students practice putting character into action and discover that even small choices can make a big difference.
At Three Bridges School, we believe that a strong school community begins with meaningful relationships. Buddy Meetings help our students recognize that they belong to something bigger than their individual classrooms and that each of them plays an important role in making our school a place where everyone feels welcome.
Together, our Terrific Tigers are learning that character is not just something we talk about! It’s something we show every day!
See photos below:
Mrs. Katie DaQuisto, Supervisor of Early Childhood Education
Fantastic Start to the Preschool Year!
Our preschool classrooms have had an amazing start to the school year! Over the past several weeks, all of our students have been actively engaged in Creative Curriculum’s “The First Six Weeks of School” unit of study, which focuses on building a strong foundation for a successful year of learning, growing, and exploring!
During this important time, our preschoolers have been busy getting to know their teachers and classmates, exploring classroom interest areas, practicing daily routines, building friendships, and learning classroom rules and expectations. These experiences help children develop independence, confidence, and a sense of belonging within their classroom communities.
The first six weeks also provide our teachers with valuable opportunities to discover each child's unique interests, strengths, abilities, and learning styles. Through purposeful play, exploration, and hands-on experiences, teachers gather meaningful information to guide future learning opportunities.
While it may look like our preschoolers are simply playing, they are actually building the social, emotional, and foundational skills that set the stage for a wonderful year of learning!
Up Next: Our Tree Study!
In the coming days, our preschool classrooms will begin Creative Curriculum’s “Tree Study!” This exciting investigation encourages children to become curious scientists as they explore the trees in their environment. Through outdoor observations, hands-on investigations, stories, art, and meaningful discussions, children will discover how trees grow, how they change with the seasons, what animals call trees home, and the many ways trees are important to our world. Along the way, our preschoolers will strengthen their early literacy, math, science, and problem-solving skills while developing a deeper appreciation for nature!
In anticipation of this exciting study, many of our preschoolers have already been enjoying wonderful fall field trips to Melick’s Apple Orchard! These experiences provide opportunities to explore nature firsthand, make real-world connections to classroom learning, and enjoy the beauty of the fall season with their classmates.
Fall Fun Is in Full Swing!
Beyond our classroom studies, our preschoolers are fully immersed in all the excitement that fall brings! Classrooms are buzzing with seasonal activities, fall-inspired art, and hands-on learning experiences. Our students and teachers are also eagerly preparing for upcoming Halloween parties, parades, and festive classroom celebrations!
We are so proud of how beautifully our preschoolers have settled into their classrooms and are excited for all the learning, exploration, friendships, and fall fun still to come!
See photos below:
Mr. James Belske, Technology Coordinator
During the past school year, our district established a Technology AI Committee to develop a comprehensive AI guidance handbook. Designed to support both educators and students, this resource outlines best practices and grade-appropriate guidelines for using artificial intelligence. The recommendations were created through a collaborative effort involving a diverse group of teachers, students, parents, and community members. Throughout the school year, educators are invited to utilize this handbook to inform and guide their lesson instructional planning and instructional design. Although AI and additional software applications offer numerous advantages, our district remains deeply committed to prioritizing critical thinking, personal interaction, and active collaboration as the most essential components of student learning.
One straightforward yet impactful practice is implementing a traffic light framework to clarify when AI tools are suitable for a particular lesson or topic. By incorporating a traffic light visual into learning materials, educators can clearly communicate to students whether and how AI may be appropriately utilized for any given assignment.
Mr. Christopher Kober, RMS-Athletic Coordinator
Readington Middle School entered the 2026 cross country season amped up and ready to compete, with hopes of bringing home multiple medalists and a championship back to RMS! Both the boys’ and girls’ teams have been working hard, building their endurance, and representing Readington with determination and Viking pride. This season, RMS cross country features an impressive 46 runners across both teams, all working together to achieve personal goals and contribute to the teams’ success.
The 2026 season also brought a fresh look to the course with new cross country uniforms designed in collaboration with Destination Athlete in Lebanon, NJ. The updated uniforms feature a new sublimated design, a modernized font, and the classic running shoe that has become a signature of RMS cross country. These new uniforms were made possible through funds raised by the Readington Athletic Booster Club. We are grateful for their continued support of our student-athletes!
This season features eight cross country meets, including three home meets, giving all runners the opportunity to compete, challenge themselves, and contribute to their teams’ success. At this point in the season, the girls hold a 5–4 record, while the boys stand at 3–6. Both teams continue to work toward their goals as the season progresses.
On September 30, both the Boys and Girls Cross Country teams swept their dual meets against Somerville! Our Vikings delivered outstanding performances on the course, making it a great day for RMS cross country.
The boys took down the Bulldogs, 23–34! Leading the way was Noah Lutzky, who ran wire to wire to capture first place! Other top finishers included Liam Roebuck Panos in 4th, Michael Kolbe in 5th, and Matthew Kolbe in 6th. Adding to the day's success, Baxter Herman, Declan Smith, Bobby Dudley, and Connor Kurtzo all recorded personal bests on the course. Fantastic work, boys!
The Lady Vikings were equally impressive, earning a dominant 21–38 victory! The girls claimed 10 of the top 13 places, showcasing the depth and strength of the team. Savannah Wagner led wire to wire to earn her first-ever cross country victory! Julianna Gatuso finished 2nd, Summer Doherty took 3rd, and Lucy Richards placed 7th overall. Raniyah Carre, Johnnie Castellano, and Ella Marsh also turned in standout performances.
Congratulations to all our runners on an incredible day! With new uniforms, strong team spirit, and plenty of determination, our Vikings are continuing to make their mark this season.
Readington Middle School is proud to host the Central Jersey Junior Sports League Cross Country Meet of Champions for the second consecutive year! This exciting event will take place on Tuesday, October 27, at 4:00 p.m., with a rain date of Wednesday, October 28.
The Meet of Champions brings together the top seven boys and top seven girls runners from 10 different schools for an exciting afternoon of competition. Runners will compete for both the boys’ and girls’ team championships, while individual medals will be awarded to the top 20 boys and top 20 girls finishers. With so much talent on the course, this is sure to be an exciting showcase of the best junior cross country runners in Central Jersey!
An event of this size takes a tremendous amount of planning and coordination. A special thank-you goes to cross country assignors Joseph Figlionlino and Patrick Mariani for their hard work in organizing this outstanding event. We would also like to recognize our RMS coaches, Ryan Newcamp, Craig Tipton, and Jennifer Rourke, for their continued dedication to our student-athletes and their support in making this event a success.
Readington Middle School is excited to welcome these talented runners, coaches, and families to our campus for a memorable day of competition. Good luck to all the athletes, and let's bring that Viking pride to the course!
See photos below:
Readington Township School District participates in the New Jersey Department of Education Governor's Educator of the Year Program each year. This program recognizes excellence in education, a direct result of the hard work of our outstanding classroom teachers and educational services professionals.
One of the most meaningful ways to show appreciation for our educators is to nominate them for the Governor's Educator of the Year recognition. To make a nomination, please complete the nomination form and return it to your building principal by Friday, October 30, 2026.
A selection committee at each school will review the nominations and jointly decide each school's honorees. At the end of the process, we will share all nomination letters with the nominated teachers and educational services professionals.
Please click on the links below to access the nomination form and eligibility criteria:
We hope you will consider nominating one of our outstanding teachers and/or educational services professionals for this year's award.