Bobcat Bulletin

Dear Holland Brook Families,

October is in full swing, and it has been wonderful to see our students continue to grow, learn, and build meaningful connections throughout Holland Brook School! As the leaves change and the cooler weather arrives, our classrooms remain filled with energy, excitement, and engaging learning experiences. This time of year provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate our progress, strengthen our school community, and look ahead to several exciting events.

Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences

Our Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place from Monday, November 2nd through Wednesday, November 4th. Conferences provide an important opportunity for families and teachers to connect, celebrate student accomplishments, discuss academic and social growth, and identify goals for continued success.

We strongly encourage all families to participate in these valuable conversations. Information regarding conference registration will be shared through Genesis.

Conference times are as follows:

• Monday, November 2nd: 12:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, November 3rd: 12:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

• Wednesday, November 4th: 12:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Families are also encouraged to connect with our special area teachers and intervention staff to gain additional insight into their child's learning experiences and progress.

Halloween Parade

We are excited to continue our Holland Brook tradition with our annual Halloween Parade on Friday, October 30th! Students are welcome to bring their costumes to school and will have an opportunity to change before the festivities begin.

As you prepare for this exciting day, please ensure that costumes are school-appropriate, comfortable, and allow students to move safely throughout the building. We look forward to celebrating this fun tradition with our students and school community!

Preparing for Cooler Weather

With fall temperatures becoming increasingly unpredictable, we encourage families to have students dress in layers. While mornings may be chilly, temperatures often change throughout the school day. Since our students continue to enjoy outdoor recess and activities, appropriate clothing will help ensure they remain comfortable and ready to participate.

Human Connection and Belonging

One of our district's strategic goals this year focuses on Human Connection and Belonging. At Holland Brook, we continue to emphasize the importance of creating a school environment where every student feels welcomed, valued, respected, and connected.

Throughout the school year, our staff will intentionally incorporate opportunities to strengthen relationships, promote kindness, and develop a sense of belonging. We encourage families to continue these conversations at home by asking their children how they demonstrated kindness, helped a classmate, or made a positive connection during the school day.

Continuing the Learning at Home

As we move further into the school year, I want to recognize and thank our families for the important role you play in your child's education. Simple activities such as reading together, practicing essential math skills, discussing the school day, and encouraging independence can make a lasting impact.

Your continued partnership with our teachers and staff is instrumental in helping our students thrive both academically and socially.

Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to Holland Brook School. I look forward to another wonderful month of learning, connection, and celebration as we continue to make Holland Brook a special place for every student!

Warm regards,

Dr. Jonathan Moss
Principal, Holland Brook School

HI! My name is Cole Brenn! What I love most about HBS is the teachers are very nice and kind. They care for their students each and every day. The second thing that I like about HBS is that it is very organized and clean. For example, the hallways are always clean and there isn't any trash on the floor. My third reason is that you can walk in the hallway by yourself, not only for classes but for lunch and specials too. I like that you can switch classes and have some freedom in the hallway. You get to meet other teachers that you might not meet when you stay in the same classroom all day. You get to see your friends and walk with them. HBS also has a Gaga pit, which I did not have at TBS. Bobcat Block at HBS is fun! I am happy to be a BOBCAT!!!

Hi! My name is Angelina Fowler! I love HBS because of its welcoming environment. Every morning the teachers say hi good morning and that makes me feel safe, happy and welcomed. Another reason why I love HBS is the freedom that you have. Every day at lunch you can sit with your friends. We also get to walk to class by ourselves. Having freedom lets you have more responsibility. Coming to HBS every day helps you grow smart and confident. This is why I love HBS!

During the Week of Respect, Holland Brook students participated in an exciting and interactive Kindness Quest Laser Show! This engaging assembly combined music, colorful laser effects, and powerful messages about kindness, respect, empathy, and making positive choices.

The presentation reinforced the importance of treating others with compassion, celebrating differences, and standing up for one another. This experience also connected directly to our district's strategic goal of Human Connection and Belonging, reminding students that even small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in someone's day.

At Holland Brook, we strive to create an environment where every student feels welcomed, valued, and respected. The Kindness Quest Laser Show was a wonderful opportunity to reinforce these important values while having some fun along the way!

A special thank you to our Holland Brook Home and School Association (HSA) for generously sponsoring this memorable experience! We are incredibly grateful for the HSA's continued partnership and commitment to providing meaningful and engaging opportunities for our students.

At Holland Brook School, the safety and well-being of our students remain among our highest priorities. We are excited to highlight a wonderful partnership between HBS and the Readington Township Police Department focused on promoting school bus safety throughout our community!

As part of this initiative, our students are putting their creativity and artistic talents to work by designing school bus safety signs that will be created and displayed throughout our school community. These signs will serve as important reminders for drivers, students, and families about the importance of safe practices around school buses, including remaining alert, following traffic laws, and helping to keep our students safe as they travel to and from school.

This project provides our students with a meaningful opportunity to take an active role in promoting safety while demonstrating how their ideas and creativity can make a positive difference beyond the classroom. It is also a wonderful example of student leadership, community collaboration, and civic responsibility in action!

A special thank you to Ms. Coyle for incorporating this project into our art classes and helping our students bring their creative ideas to life. Her support allows students to connect artistic expression with an important real-world purpose.

We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Readington Township Police Department for their continued partnership, dedication to student safety, and commitment to our school community. We are fortunate to have such supportive community partners who consistently go above and beyond for our students.

We look forward to seeing our students' artwork displayed throughout the community and hope these signs serve as a lasting reminder that school bus safety is everyone's responsibility!

Thank you to our students, Ms. Coyle, and the Readington Township Police Department for working together to make our community a safer place!

On Tuesday, October 27th, Holland Brook School will celebrate National Civics Day by hosting our HBS Student Civic Convention in collaboration with our eighth-grade students from Readington Middle School!

During the afternoon, our middle school students will visit Holland Brook to work alongside our fourth and fifth graders in an engaging civic learning experience. Together, students will explore ways to make a positive impact on Holland Brook School and our local community.

As part of the convention, students will identify areas for improvement, collaborate on realistic solutions, and develop proposals to share their ideas. Topics may include school belonging, recess improvements, school beautification, community service, and student wellness. This experience will encourage students to think critically, work collaboratively, and recognize the importance of having a voice in their school community.

This exciting initiative directly supports our district's strategic goals of Academic Rigor and Future Preparedness, providing students with meaningful opportunities to develop leadership, problem-solving, communication, and civic engagement skills.

We are especially excited to welcome our eighth-grade students back to Holland Brook as mentors and role models for our younger Bobcats. We look forward to seeing the creativity, thoughtful discussions, and innovative ideas that emerge from this special day!

We are pleased to share that student reading log links are now available through the Genesis Parent Portal! Reading regularly at home is an important way to strengthen literacy skills, build vocabulary, and develop a lifelong love of reading.

To access your child's reading log, simply log in to Genesis, navigate to the Summary page, and scroll to the bottom of the page. You will find a link to your child's reading log, which you can copy and paste into a new browser tab to access.

For additional guidance, please refer to the step-by-step instructions below:

Accessing the Reading Log via Genesis

Thank you for your continued partnership in encouraging strong reading habits at home and supporting your child's growth as a reader!

We are excited to share that Holland Brook School is now on Instagram! Stay connected with us by following @hollandbrookbobcats. Our page will highlight the incredible things happening every day at HBS from classroom activities and student achievements to special events and school spirit. It’s a great way to celebrate our Bobcat community and see the joy of learning in action.

By following us, you’ll get a closer look at the heart of our school and the many ways our students shine. We look forward to building an even stronger connection with families and the community through this new platform. Don’t miss out head to Instagram and give @hollandbrookbobcats a follow today!

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an increasingly common part of our students’ daily lives. While nothing can replace strong relationships, meaningful instruction, and hands-on learning, we also recognize the importance of teaching students how to use AI tools responsibly, ethically, and effectively.

During the 2025–2026 school year, our district brought together educators, administrators, technology staff, students, and a parent to develop clear expectations for the use of AI in our schools. This work resulted in a framework designed to support both students and staff while maintaining our focus on academic integrity, critical thinking, privacy, and responsible technology use.

Our AI protocols are built around three key areas:

Guidelines for Ethical and Acceptable Use outline appropriate ways AI may be used in school and reinforce expectations related to academic honesty, privacy, creativity, and independent thinking. AI should support learning, not replace it.

Guiding Principles reflect our district’s commitment to transparency, critical thinking, student privacy, and meaningful human connection. AI is viewed as a tool that can enhance teaching and learning while keeping students and educators at the center of the process.

Best-Practice Protocols provide practical guidance for teachers and students. Educators may use AI to support instruction and planning while maintaining professional judgment. Students may use AI for appropriate purposes such as research, feedback, and guidance when permitted, with proper attribution and within expectations for academic integrity.

Families are also an important part of this work. We encourage parents and guardians to talk with their children about responsible AI use, digital citizenship, and the importance of using technology in ways that support not replace their own thinking and learning.

For additional information, please visit our website or review the AI Handbook. We will also share additional information during Back to School Night.

The Board of Education is in the process of adopting an updated policy regarding student use of internet-enabled devices, including cell phones, during the school day. While the language is more detailed, the expectations are similar to those already in place and align with state guidance around focused learning environments and responsible technology use.

The policy uses the term “Bell-to-Bell,” meaning personal internet-enabled devices must remain off and stored from arrival through dismissal, including lunch, recess, and transitions. This includes cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, and similar personal devices. District-issued devices may still be used for instructional purposes.

For Holland Brook students, this means cell phones should remain off and stored in backpacks/cubbies throughout the school day, while smartwatches should be placed in school mode. If you need to contact your child during the day, please call the Main Office. Students may also use the office phone when needed.

Exceptions may be made for students with IEP or 504 accommodations, documented health needs, translation needs, caregiving responsibilities, or legitimate emergencies.

Students who do not follow the policy will receive age-appropriate redirection, with repeated violations potentially resulting in the device being held in the Main Office, parent pickup, or additional consequences consistent with the district’s Code of Conduct.

We appreciate your partnership in helping us maintain a focused, engaging learning environment. The policy will be discussed at the August 18 Board of Education meeting, and families are welcome to contact the school administration with any questions.

Readington Township Public Schools has launched its 2026–2031 Strategic Plan, providing a roadmap for continued growth while balancing academic excellence with future-ready learning.

The plan is centered around four key areas:

Academic Rigor: Maintaining high expectations for all students while providing the support needed to build independence, responsibility, and greater ownership of learning.

Belonging and Human Connection: Creating school environments where every student feels valued, supported, and connected. This year’s work will include a focus on UDL, MTSS, and Morning Meeting.

Future Preparedness: Building skills such as digital literacy, critical thinking, responsible technology use, and ethical decision-making to prepare students for an evolving world.

Fiscal Stewardship: Continuing to make responsible financial decisions that support strong educational programs while protecting the district’s long-term financial health.

These goals will guide our work over the next five years as we continue working “Together, to Inquire and Inspire.”

October 23 - HSA Pumpkin Bash
October 27 - Picture Re-take Day
October 28 - Spirit Day - wear Red for Red Ribbon Week
October 30 - Spirit Day - wear Orange and Black for Halloween
October 30 - HBS Halloween Parade 1:15 PM

The Hunterdon County YMCA is offering aftercare daily until 6:00 p.m. (There is no morning care.) Click Here to register.

Click here for the HBS Breakfast and Lunch Menu.

Website: https://www.readington.k12.nj.us/Domain/161

Location: 52 Readington Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
Phone: (908) 823-0454
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/readingtonschools
Twitter: @HBSBOBCATS

• We empower members of our community to lead purposeful lives with integrity, to cultivate a spirit of discovery, and to embrace connections in our diverse, global society.

  
  

• Academic Rigor: We hold high expectations for every learner. By meeting students where they are and providing essential supports, we ensure that rigor serves as a bridge to their future success. This year's focus will be on developing a framework to foster academic responsibility and independence along with a review of curriculum to identify areas for student-led and choice-based learning activities.

• Belonging and Human Connection: We believe belonging is the catalyst for achievement. We are dedicated to creating a culture where every student feels supported and empowered to shape our collective success. This year belonging will be anchored in the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), and Morning Meeting.

• Fiscal Stewardship: We remain committed to responsible budgeting and proactive monitoring of costs. Our goal is to protect the long-term financial health of the district while sustaining the high-quality education all children deserve.

• Future Preparedness: We are equipping our learning community to act with confidence and ethical discernment. Our curriculum will emphasize digital literacy, critical thinking, and sustainability to prepare students for an evolving world. District focus will be found in promoting responsible digital citizenship.