FDR Tadpole Times
August 28, 2026
Welcome to the 2026-27 school year! On behalf of our entire faculty and staff, it is my pleasure to welcome both our returning families and those joining the FDR community for the very first time. We are excited to begin another year filled with learning, laughter, discovery, and growth.
The first few days of school are always exciting, and we know they can also bring a few butterflies, for both children and parents! Please know that our caring staff is ready to make every child feel safe, loved, and excited to come to school each day. Preschool is an incredible journey, and we are honored to be part of this important chapter in your child's life.
This edition of The Tadpole Times contains important information to help your family prepare for a successful start to the school year, including our new school hours, arrival and dismissal procedures, transportation information, meal ordering, important September dates, and much more. I encourage you to take a few minutes to read through the newsletter carefully so you'll be ready for a smooth first day on Wednesday, September 2nd.
At FDR, we believe that a strong partnership between home and school is one of the greatest predictors of a child's success. Throughout the year, we look forward to working together to nurture your child's academic, social, emotional, and physical development while creating joyful memories that will last a lifetime.
Thank you for entrusting us with your most precious gift. We can't wait to welcome your family on the first day of school and begin another fantastic preschool year together!
Warmly,
Dr. Anthony Shallop ("Dr. Tony")
Principal
Franklin D. Roosevelt Preschool
The following dates are Single Session Days in September:
- Friday, Sept 4
- Friday, Sept 11
- Thursday, Sept 24
School dismisses early on these dates. The school hours for at FDR are as follows:
- 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Please make sure you plan accordingly to either pick up your child or be home for when the bus brings them home earlier.
School Closed Monday, Sept 7th
All Edison Township Public Schools will be closed on Monday, Sept 7th in observance of Labor Day. School will resume at the normal time on Tuesday, Sept 8th.
🕒 Get Ready for Our New School Hours!
As we hop into the new school year, here’s a friendly reminder of our NEW School Hours:
- Full Day: 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
- Single Session (Early Dismissal): 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Delayed Opening: 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM
We’re excited to fill each day with learning, fun, and adventures from start to finish! Make sure to set your alarms so your little one is ready to leap into each exciting day with us.
Important: Students enter at 8:30am so please be here before 8:30am if you are driving your child to school.
See you bright and early!
As we prepare for an exciting year of learning, growing, and fun, use this checklist to help your child have a successful first day of preschool!
🎒 Items to Send With Your Child
- Backpack - A full-sized backpack (please avoid mini backpacks). It should be large enough to hold your child's blanket, lunch boxes, and school materials.
- Change of Clothes - One complete change of clothes (shirt, pants, underwear, and socks) in a labeled bag.
- Sneakers - Closed-toe sneakers should be worn every day for safe indoor and outdoor play. Please do not send children in sandals, flip-flops, or Crocs.
- Diapers or Pull-Ups (If Needed) - If your child is not yet fully toilet trained, please send extra diapers or Pull-Ups with easy-open side tabs (Velcro® sides).
- Blanket - A small blanket for rest time that fits comfortably inside your child's backpack.
- Snack & Drink - One healthy, nut-free snack and a labeled drink in a spill-proof container.
- Lunch - Please send a labeled lunch for the first few days of school, even if your child plans to purchase school lunch.
Label Everything! - Please label all backpacks, clothing, lunch boxes, blankets, and drink containers with your child's first and last name.
📋 Important Reminders for Families
- Medical Information - Please notify the school nurse of any allergies, medications, or other important medical information before your child's first day.
- Dismissal Plans - If anyone other than the approved parent/guardian will be picking up your child, or if your dismissal plans change, please notify the school office in advance.
📖 Learn More below
New Procedures for Driver Drop-Off
We can't wait to welcome your little one each morning! A smooth arrival helps children begin the day feeling safe, confident, and ready to learn. Thank you for partnering with us to keep every child safe during morning arrival.
If you are driving your child to school, please follow these procedures:
🚗 Park in a designated parking space and walk your child to the school entrance. Due to our new school start time, the Drop-Off / Pick-Up lane may no longer be used for preschool drop-off, as it now coincides with arrival at our neighboring schools. During this time, the lane is reserved for older students using a "drop-and-go" system, making it unsafe for preschool children. (See the diagram below.)
🤝 Walk your child to the entrance. After parking, enjoy a short walk to the building together. Please hold your child's hand at all times, as the parking lot is busy during arrival.
🚸 Use only the designated crosswalks. When crossing the driveway, please use the marked crosswalks shown below. Following the designated walkways helps keep everyone safe while modeling good pedestrian safety habits for our children. Remember to look both ways!
Thank you for helping us make every morning arrival safe, smooth, and a positive start to another wonderful day at FDR!
Busing
If your child is eligible for transportation and you have already requested bus service, you can view your child's bus route and transportation information in the Parent Portal.
As a general guideline, students should be at their assigned bus stop 15 minutes prior to the pick-up time indicated in Genesis. The Transportation Department will provide an estimated pickup time; however, please be aware that during the first few weeks of school, buses may arrive earlier or later than expected as routes are adjusted and finalized.
If you have any transportation-related questions or concerns, please submit them through the Parent Helpdesk and Support Portal, which is the fastest way to receive assistance from the Transportation Department. Please note that individual schools are not able to adjust bus routes, pickup times, or bus assignments. These matters are managed exclusively by the Edison Township Transportation Department.
Please click here for Transportation Department Parent Helpdesk
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
All breakfast and lunch items are available online for the month.
CLICK HERE for the Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Breakfast is available for all students in the district for free, however, you must still order it.
CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE BREAKFAST ORDER FORM
Lunch is available for purchase for $3.75 per lunch.
CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE LUNCH ORDER FORM
Note: If you wish your child to have breakfast or lunch, you MUST ORDER IT ONLINE.
Paying for Lunch
School lunches MUST be paid for ONLINE. You can pay for school lunches using My School Bucks.
Free Reduced Lunch Information
A NEW APPLICATION MUST BE FILLED OUT FOR EACH SCHOOL YEAR!
The 2026-27 School Meals and Summer EBT Application is available online here.
(You must have your child's student ID number to register)
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM?
Call (732) 452-4917 with questions.
Food Allergies
Proactive measures serve as the best protection for our students with life-threatening food allergies, Celiac disease, dysphagia, diabetes, or any other medical condition. Maschio’s Food Services, Inc. (“Maschio’s”) offers many foods to the students in our district; however, not all foods are allergen-free and cross-contamination may occur.
Partnering Together for a Wonderful Year of Learning!
The faculty and staff of Franklin D. Roosevelt Preschool are excited to welcome you to our 2026–27 Back to School Night! This special evening is designed just for parents and guardians and is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about your child's preschool experience and the exciting year ahead.
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM (Principal's Welcome)
Location: FDR Preschool
During the evening, you will:
🍎 Meet your child's teacher.
🏫 Learn about your child's daily classroom routines and learning experiences.
📖 Explore our curriculum, instructional practices, and classroom expectations.
🌟 Discover how we will work together to support your child's academic, social, and emotional growth throughout the year.
Important Reminders:
- This event is for parents and guardians only. We kindly ask that children not attend so everyone can focus on the presentations.
- The evening will begin promptly with a Principal's Welcome in the Rotunda at 6:00 p.m.
- Following the welcome, families will visit their child's classroom. Please know your child's classroom number before arriving so you can easily find your destination.
- While this is an excellent opportunity to learn about the classroom program, Back to School Night is not intended for individual conferences. Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held November to discuss your child's individual progress.
Please complete the Back to School RSVP form to let us know you are coming.
Our Parent Teacher Staff Organization (PTSO) plays a vital role in supporting our students, staff, and school community through family events, enrichment opportunities, and special activities throughout the year.
PTSO membership information will be available during the evening. We hope you'll consider joining and becoming an active part of our amazing FDR family!
We look forward to seeing you on September 16 and beginning another incredible year of learning, growth, and partnership. Thank you for being an important part of the FDR community!
It is important that all parents/guardians check their Parent Portal account regularly and complete all required forms.
Click Here for Parent Portal Frequently Asked Questions.
If you need further assistance, Chrissy Palomo is available during school days after 2:45pm to provide assistance. Contact her directly at hrisanthi.palomo@edison.k12.nj.us to make arrangements.
Strong communication between home and school is one of the keys to a successful preschool experience. We encourage you to check your child's classroom and school communications regularly so you don't miss important announcements, upcoming events, and opportunities to be involved.
Depending on your child's classroom, information may be shared through ParentSquare, Google Classroom, and/or notes sent home in your child's backpack.
Be sure to read the FDR Tadpole Times! Our school newsletter is filled with important dates, school updates, family resources, and exciting news from around FDR.
We also encourage you to visit the FDR website regularly for the latest information, forms, calendars, and announcements. Click here to visit our website.
By staying connected, you'll always know what's happening at FDR and help make this a wonderful year for your child!
Your involvement helps make FDR an even more amazing place for our children to learn, grow, and thrive!
We invite every FDR family to become a member of the FDR Preschool PTSO for the 2026–27 school year. Your membership helps support student activities, family events, classroom enrichment, and so much more throughout the year.
Membership is just $25 per family.
To join, simply complete the membership form, include your $25 family membership fee (cash or check payable to FDR Preschool PTSO), place everything in an envelope labeled "FDR PTSO Membership" with your child's name, and return it to the main office during the first month of school.
No matter how much time you have to give, your membership and support make a meaningful impact. By working together, we can create memorable experiences for all of our FDR students and families.
We hope you'll join us and become part of our incredible FDR community!
Click below to learn more and become a member!
- First Day of School - 8:30 AM
- Single Session Day - 12:30 PM Dismissal
- No School - In observance of Labor Day
- Single Session Day - 12:30 PM Dismissal
- Back to School Night - 6:00 PM
Thurs, Sept 24 -
- Single Session Day - 12:30 PM Dismissal
Check the school website for an updated calendar of events.