CRPS Chronicles
Back-to-School 2026 Edition
LET THE LEARNING GAMES BEGIN!
Dear Conover Road Primary School Families,
The countdown is over, the board is set, and it's time to roll the dice and get on the game path to another unforgettable year of learning and friendships at Conover Road Primary School!
The pieces are in place for every COLT to be a player on our winning team! Along the way, we'll unlock new skills, collect unforgettable memories, and earn plenty of COLT Cash rewards when we reach milestones.
Parents, don't pass "GO" without reading this entire edition of the CRPS Chronicles fully. Think of this newsletter as your game guide—it contains all the clues you'll need before spinning the wheel and taking a chance on new learning opportunities:
- First Day of School Information
- Dates for New Student Orientation (Grades 1 and 2); Kindergarten Kick-Off Playdate; and Preschool Orientation
- Genesis Parent Portal (Used for classroom and transportation information)
- School Supply Lists
- Joining the PTO
- Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
- School Lunch Information
- Joining YMCA of the Jersey Shore's before or aftercare options
It's perfectly normal for children (and parents!) to feel a few butterflies before a new school year begins. If your little player is feeling nervous, don't worry—we have plenty of helpful tools in our toy box to help them feel confident, comfortable, and ready to play. Our caring school counselor, Mrs. Jeanette Riggleman, is always happy to help families prepare for a successful start. If your child could use a little extra encouragement before the first day, please don't hesitate to reach out at riggleman@coltsneckschools.org.
We can't wait to see our halls filled with smiling faces, growing minds, and students ready to play, learn, explore, and shine. Here's to collecting new memories, unlocking new achievements, and leveling up this school year!
Game On, COLTS!
Tricia Barr, Principal and Merri Milano, Assistant Principal
Kindly complete the attendance survey linked in the letter by Friday, September 11, 2026.
School days are like a great board game...we just need the curiosity and excitement to open the box and start the adventure! Our first full day of school will be on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. This is a full-day session of school. Student drop-off will take place starting at 8:45 a.m. The instructional day will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. when children should be in their homerooms. At arrival, staff members will be stationed at various locations within the building, bus lanes, and alongside the drop-off lane. In the interest of safety, parents will not be permitted to enter the building or approach the buses during this drop-off window. In the event you have school supplies that need to be dropped off, or questions answered by members of our faculty, please make arrangements to come to the school at times that do not coincide with student arrival.
Remember, patience is the ultimate game strategy that our parents and community members will need to utilize during these first few days of the school year. After just a short time... BINGO... all of our pieces will click into place. Our bus routines and arrival/dismissal schedules will be running perfectly!
Our teachers and staff are the designers of the "game board" for our students, creating a space where building blocks of knowledge are stacked high and where every challenge is an opportunity for our young players to develop a new strategy. Please join us in welcoming the following "game masters" to our team:
Hillary Niesz
Innovation LabTeacher
Allison Pense
Art Teacher
Jillian Garland
Second Grade Teacher
Shannon Eisenmann
ABA Teacher
Jillian Laricy
Interim Kindergarten Teacher (beginning mid-October)
Sunny Rudko
Kindergarten Instructional Assistant
Danielle Natal
Instrucional Assistant
Angela Pfleger
Instructional Assistant
Samantha Madlow
Instructional Assistant
Kristian DeVito
Security Monitor--District Rover
Health and saftey is the name of the game here at Conover Road Primary School. The well-being of children enrolled in the Conover Road Primary School remains our utmost priority. Therefore, we are adding this important information to this newsletter to seek your assistance in maintaining a safe learning community for all students.
Students that have potentially life-threatening allergic reactions to peanuts and tree nuts are immersed in many of our school classrooms. These anaphylactic allergic reactions could occur through the mere contact with or ingestion of foods that contain even trace amounts of these ingredients. Of course, the only way to avoid these allergic reactions is to minimize, if not eliminate, exposure to these allergens. For that reason, should your child eat any food product containing nuts or nut oil prior to the start of school, please carefully monitor your child’s hand washing with soap and water, and have your child brush his/her teeth before coming to school. In addition, we ask you to share this information with your child with an emphasis on the importance of not sharing foods.
A detailed food allergy plan is in place with provisions for managing food allergies in the cafeteria and on the school bus. The situation must also be carefully monitored during daily snack times. Children eat snacks in their classrooms each day and are seated in close proximity where incidental exposure to an allergen becomes more likely. To help us maintain the safety of our food allergic students, please follow these important guidelines for daily classroom snack time:
· Snacks containing nuts or nut products may not be consumed during the daily snack time.
· Children are permitted to enjoy these items in our cafeteria during the regular lunch periods only.
· Staff members will send home permission slips in advance of any project work or special event that involves food products.
In the early days of the school year we will be introducing students to resources from FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) to empower our youngsters with tips to keep their food allergic friends safe and healthy in our school. Thank you for your cooperation and support of our efforts in maintaining the health and safety of all students.
Pomptonian Food Services is committed to providing our food allergic students with healthy meal options and providing parents with peace of mind as they guide children in selecting food products that are safe. Please review the two attached documents from Pomptonian that encourages families of food allergic children to pre-order foods purchased from our school cafeteria.
We offer wrap-around care to families in need of before and/or after school care. The YMCA of the Jersey Shore oversees this program in our school cafeteria and playground. Before care hours are from 7:30 a.m. until student arrival. After care is available from student dismissal until 6:00 p.m. Click on the above link to learn more and to register your child for this offering.
School supply lists can be accessed from our school website or from the links below. If you would like to drop off supplies prior to the start of school, please make sure that all supplies are in a large bag labeled with your child's first and last name, grade level, and teacher name. Supplies may be dropped off at school on:
Monday, August 31st (K students may bring supplies to K. Playdate)
Tuesday, September 1st
Tuesday, September 2nd (after 10:30 AM)
Wednesday, September 3rd (Preschool/Pre-K students may bring supplies to Orientation)
Arrival:
-Doors open at 8:45 AM. Student arrival is between 8:45 AM and 9:00 AM. Children arriving after 9:00 AM will need to be escorted and signed into the main office by a parent or guardian. Children will be marked "tardy" in Genesis.
-If your child will be driven to school in a personal vehicle, it is encouraged that you enter our property by turning right off of Conover Road. (TIP: If you are transporting CRES and CRPS students, drop the Primary School children off first because it is easier to turn right onto Conover Road at arrival time.) Stay to your far right on the driveway to enter the student drop-off lane. Students are to exit the vehicle curb-side, where a faculty member is present. Parents must assist children in exiting the vehicle quickly and safely to keep a steady flow of traffic in the drop-off lane. Please assist children with organizing belongings.
-Bus riders will be greeted by staff members each day. Children will be directed to the doors that are labeled for their assigned grade level by our staff. Members of our school team will be stationed in the bus lane and school hallways to direct children to classrooms where they will be greeted by their teacher.
Please use this calendar to make note of the upcoming school events and school holidays for the 2026-2027 School Year!
Notes from the Nurse, Mrs. Deborah Kelleher
In addition to reviewing the Nursing Notes, please be mindful that all students must have completed physicals and updated record of immunizations in order for your child to start school in September. Please be sure to send all health records to Mrs. Kelleher at the time of your child's physical so that your little one is not excluded from first day fun!
Join our Colts Neck PTO!
Conover Road Primary School
Email: barr@coltsneckschools.org
Website: coltsneckschools.org
Location: 56 Conover Road, Colts Neck, NJ, USA
Phone: (732)946-0055
Facebook: facebook.com/ConoverPrimary
Twitter: @ConoverPrimary