HTPS EXCELLENCE SPOTLIGHT
I hope this message finds you enjoying a wonderful, relaxing, and safe summer so far! While school may be out for students, there’s still plenty of energy and activity happening across Hanover Township Public Schools. I’m excited to share this brief summer update with you.
It’s hard to believe it’s only been a little over a month since we wrapped up the 2024–2025 school year, but so much has already taken place:
Summer Programs in Full Swing
Extended School Year (ESY) has been a tremendous success!
Special thanks to Mrs. Koeppen, our dedicated teachers, and staff for creating such a meaningful and supportive experience for students.
We’re proud to partner with Madison Public Schools, who are hosting their ESY and STEAM Academy programs at Bee Meadow School. It’s been great to see students from both communities learning, collaborating, and having fun together.
Camp HTSACC has been filled with fun and excitement—and there are still several weeks to go! Huge thanks to Mrs. Beretin and her team for making it such a joyful summer experience.
We are also happy to partner with Hanover Township Recreation to serve as the indoor location for the summer concert series in the event of inclement weather.
Preparing for the 2025–2026 School Year
Our administrative team has been meeting to examine all aspects of the district to ensure continued consistency across various procedures, processes, and operations. This important work will continue into the new school year.
Custodians and maintenance crews are addressing building needs and preparing our schools to be clean, safe, and fully ready for students in September.
Facility work is underway, including the replacement of the MJS roof over the 7th grade wing. We are also preparing for the new lunch program (more info below).
We welcomed Mr. Michael Falgares, our new Director of Technology, who has hit the ground running and is already making a positive impact.
We’re also preparing to officially welcome Ms. Marci Krasny, our incoming Business Administrator, who begins on August 18 and has already been visiting to ensure a smooth transition.
We are currently in the process of transitioning to a central registration process for new students in Grades K-5 which will be handled through the Board Office. This will help streamline the process, ensure greater consistency, and help with more balanced class sizes. The district website page will be updated accordingly with the updated steps.
In Curriculum & Instruction, many of our teachers are spending their summer writing curriculum and preparing instructional resources. Their dedication and professionalism during these months are greatly appreciated.
Looking Ahead
While there’s still plenty of summer left to enjoy, I want to take a moment to recognize and thank everyone across our district who is working hard each day to inspire excellence and ensure a strong start to the 2025–2026 school year.
Enjoy the rest of your summer and stay tuned for more updates next month as we get closer to welcoming our students and staff back for another amazing year!
We’re excited to share another important update as we move closer to launching our in-district school lunch program for the 2025–2026 school year!
On tonight’s Board of Education agenda, the approval and selection of a food service provider is included. This selection follows the official USDA Request for Proposal (RFP) process and timeline, ensuring compliance with federal requirements as part of our participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
As we’ve shared in previous updates, there are many moving parts involved in launching a program of this scale. In addition to selecting a vendor, one of the biggest components is getting our kitchens and serving areas ready. We are continuing to work through the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) approval process, which is necessary in order to secure permits from the Township and complete the required upgrades.
Regardless of the timeline for final approvals, we have been actively planning and preparing contingencies so that we are ready to serve lunches on the first day of school, no matter what.
Once the vendor is approved, here’s what’s next:
Schedule a PTA Advisory Committee meeting with representatives from the food service provider
Coordinate an evening Parent Information Session in August (date TBD)
Implement an online payment portal for families to create accounts and manage lunch purchases
Provide information for families unable to attend the summer session through follow-up emails
Have food service representatives available at Back-to-School Nights to answer questions and support families
As with any new initiative, change is a process, and we recognize that questions may arise along the way. We are committed to keeping you informed and to making this transition as smooth and successful as possible for our students, staff, and families.
We’re incredibly excited about bringing this new service to our schools and appreciate your patience, flexibility, and partnership as we roll it out. More updates will be shared throughout the summer. Stay tuned!
This September, our district will begin an important strategic planning process to help shape our shared vision and priorities for the next five years. Having a clear, community-driven plan ensures that our goals, resources, and initiatives align with the evolving needs of our students and school community—both now and in the years to come.
This work will be collaborative and inclusive, with input from across our school community guiding the path forward. To support this effort, a core planning team will be formed, representing a broad cross-section of our community, including parents, teachers, administrators, and Board of Education members.
There will be an opportunity for some members of our community to be part of this core team; however, participation will be limited to ensure the group remains balanced and representative. We look forward to sharing more details about the process and ways for everyone to stay informed and involved as we work together to chart an exciting course for the future of Hanover Township Public Schools!
