November 2026

Welcome to our November newsletter. As the days grow shorter and we move toward Thanksgiving, I am reminded that gratitude is more than something we express, it is something we show through the way we care for one another and invest in our children.

Each November, I encourage our families to make gratitude part of the way we live and learn together. We can model it for our children by taking time to recognize the good in others, appreciate their efforts, and let them know that what they do matters. We can also pause to reflect on the blessings in our own lives. In a world that seems to move faster every day, slowing down to notice and appreciate one another may be just what each of us needs. Together, we can show our children and our community the power of positive appreciation.

October gave us many reasons to be proud. Across our schools, students explored science, built and tested robotics projects, took part in civics learning as part of our Butler 250 focus, and connected across grade levels through music. We also brought important conversations into our schools through the Week of Respect, School Violence and Vandalism Awareness Week, Red Ribbon Week, Minding Your Mind, and Generation SOS. These experiences help students learn to make healthy choices, support one another, and seek help when they need it. At Butler High School, the college fair and financial aid programming helped students and families look ahead to what comes after graduation.

This work reflects what makes Butler special. In a small district, relationships matter every day. Our educators can notice a student’s strengths, respond when a student needs support, and create opportunities that help each learner find a path forward. We pair that personal attention with high expectations, strong instruction, and a commitment to preparing students for a changing world. That is why I believe Butler is the best small school district in New Jersey: our size allows us to make education personal, while our vision keeps opportunity expansive. We know our students as individuals, and we want every one of them to leave Butler ready to contribute, lead, and thrive.

In November, we will continue that commitment through student wellness programming, including Teen Mental Health First Aid on November 2, and professional learning focused on strengthening instruction and student support. Please remember that schools will dismiss early on November 4 and will be closed November 5 and 6 for the NJEA Convention. Families will also receive important assessment information this month regarding NJSLA-A results. Please check district and school communications for details and any updates.

May November bring your family moments of connection and gratitude. We are proud to do this work together and proud to be Bulldogs.

Be Well

Dr. J.

We are proud to share that Butler High School and Richard Butler School have earned recognition among U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools and Best Middle Schools. This distinction reflects the commitment of our students, the dedication and expertise of our educators and staff, and the support of families and the Butler community. U.S. News evaluates schools using academic performance data, including measures of student achievement and, for high schools, college readiness and graduation.

Butler Public School District has also been included in Niche’s 2027 Best School Districts rankings. Niche awarded the district a B overall grade, including an A− in college prep and a B+ in academics. The rankings draw on education data and feedback from students and families, offering one perspective on the work happening across our schools. This recognition encourages us to keep building on our strengths, expanding opportunities, and making sure every Butler student is known, supported, and challenged to reach their potential.

Every day, our students work hard, our educators help them grow, and our families and community partners stand beside them. We are proud of what our schools have achieved, and we are even more proud of the learning, opportunity, and Bulldog spirit that make this recognition possible.

Tucker’s visit supported ADS’s schoolwide focus on student well-being, positive relationships, and making responsible choices. The visits reinforced the themes of the Week of Respect, School Violence Awareness and Prevention Week, and Red Ribbon Week by helping students practice emotional regulation, empathy, kindness, and healthy coping strategies. By connecting these initiatives through social-emotional learning, ADS provided students with consistent, practical strategies to manage emotions, build positive relationships, and contribute to a safe, respectful school community.

Mrs. Migs Innovation Lab students in 7th Grade put their knowledge of volume to the test through a hands-on, interactive assessment! Using beakers and marbles, students applied their understanding of volume and water displacement to demonstrate their learning. This engaging activity allowed students to move beyond traditional testing and showcase their understanding through real-world application.

Is your student a future Butler Bulldog? Join us for our 7th & 8th Grade Open House to discover the opportunities, programs, and experiences that make Butler High School a special place to learn, grow, and prepare for the future! This evening is designed to help students and parents feel confident and excited about the transition to high school. Families will learn about our academic departments, extracurricular activities, athletics, and the expectations that help students succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Guests will also have the opportunity to experience the talents of our band, chorus, and drama students while exploring the outstanding programs, facilities, and learning spaces Butler High School has to offer. The evening will feature two sessions, with parents rotating through a schedule of brief presentations led by our school community. This is a wonderful opportunity to ask questions, meet members of our school community, and discover how Butler High School supports students in building meaningful connections, developing their strengths, and preparing for college, careers, and life beyond graduation. Come see what it means to be a Bulldog! We look forward to welcoming our future Bulldogs and their families.

The DECA and Unified chocolate chip cookie sales have been a tremendous success. Across three sales, the teams have prepared and sold around 50 cookies each time, with every batch selling out in 10 minutes or less.

These sales are giving students meaningful, hands-on practice in a range of important life skills. Students are building communication skills as they interact with customers, practicing money management while handling sales and transactions, and developing cooking and baking skills from start to finish. The experience also reinforces teamwork, responsibility, problem-solving, and confidence in a real-world setting.

The quick sell-outs show how much the school community enjoys supporting these efforts. The DECA and Unified cookie sales are a great example of students learning valuable skills while bringing something positive to the school. We are proud of their hard work and the fantastic results they continue to achieve.

Through this, Unified offers repeated, equal-status interactions that builds real relationships and shift attitudes. It improves outcomes for all students with and without disabilities, while simultaneously developing empathy, leadership, and a more inclusive culture for the whole student body.

Butler High School’s brand-new Broadcasting Studio is officially complete, thanks to the generous donation from the Butler High School Class of 1975! This exciting space will empower students to explore broadcasting, journalism, storytelling, and digital media while producing student news, interviews, athletic highlights, and features celebrating Bulldog Nation. Through hands-on experiences, students will strengthen their communication, collaboration, creativity, and technology skills while bringing the Butler High School community together. We are incredibly grateful to the Class of 1975 for investing in our students and helping our Bulldogs share their stories!

We are proud to recognize Attallah Abudayya as ADS’s October Student of the Month! Attallah is a kind and hardworking student who consistently makes good choices and shows that doing the right thing matters. He is always willing to lend a helping hand, puts forth his best effort, and is an active participant in his classes. Attallah's positive attitude and caring nature makes him a wonderful classmate and role model. We are happy to celebrate Attallah and all the positive things he brings to our school community. Congratulations, Attallah!

Mrs. Clay creates a kindergarten classroom where every student feels welcomed, included, and excited to learn. She brings a high standard of instruction to her classroom while making learning accessible and meaningful for the diverse needs of her students. Beyond her classroom, she is a collaborative team member who actively engages in professional learning and continues to grow in her practice. While her classroom is vibrant, joyful, and calm on the surface, it is also a place of thoughtful, intentional instruction and a deep commitment to the academic, social, and emotional growth of every child. We are proud to recognize Mrs. Clay as our Bulldog of the Month!

Congratulations to our October Students of the Month, who were nominated by the RBS staff for exhibiting exemplary RESPECT:

• Grade 5 - Mason Clegg & Julia Kudron
• Grade 6 - Sasha Drozdowski & Omar Cabrera
• Grade 7 - Athena Menoski & Matthew Faber
• Grade 8 - Izabela Ormaza & Amir Lopez

Congratulations to our October Bulldog of the Month, Nurse Smith! Mrs. Smith consistently demonstrates kindness and compassion toward our students, helping to create a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment at RBS. Her dedication to the well-being of our students and staff makes a positive impact on our school community each day.

This month we honored six of our students for demonstrating the pillars of the portrait of a graduate at Butler High School. The selections are as follows:

• Compassionate Leader-Julianna Gangi
• Collaborative Communicator- Ryan Batista
• Visionary Innovator-Mikayla Eutermarks
• Balanced- Madeline Ricker
• Resilient-Lexxi Dempe
• Academically Strong-Samantha Merrick.

In her classroom, Ms. Nelson has demonstrated a strong commitment to effective teaching practices, including classroom management, data-driven instruction, goal setting, and problem-solving. She prioritizes relationship building, team building, and collaboration while demonstrating strong time management and leadership skills. Her willingness to reflect, learn, and apply new strategies speaks to her commitment to continuous improvement and student success.

Ms. Nelson also embodies the key messages of our Friday Focus initiatives by creating a positive learning environment, building meaningful connections, and supporting student growth. Her focus on student engagement, high expectations, and purposeful instruction aligns with our ongoing commitment to academic rigor, critical thinking, and helping every student reach their full potential.

We are fortunate to have Ms. Nelson as part of the Bulldog family. Her contributions in her first year are a wonderful example of the impact a dedicated educator can make on students and our school community. Congratulations, Ms. Nelson! Keep up the great work.

Ms. McGuire has been a great new addition to the Richard Butler team. She started off strong and has shown herself to be creative, helpful, and flexible. Willingly taking on any challenges that come her way. Her teaching is thoughtful, and she creates many different learning opportunities that fit exactly what her learners need. She is a strong advocate for what is right, and has engaged her students in a variety of fun and interactive activities that support their learning. Ms. McGuire is a great fit for the Richard Butler team, and we appreciate the contributions she has already made in just her first few months.

Mrs. Omodeo has jumped right into her role as a paraprofessional at Aaron Decker School and quickly become a valued member of the team. She is consistently kind, helpful, and patient, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to support the students she works with. Her contagious fun energy lifts the classroom and is something the students and staff feed off of every day. We are lucky to have her as part of the Aaron Decker team.

The Butler High School Marching Band is off to an incredible start, earning first-place finishes in each of its last two tournaments! These back-to-back victories showcase the dedication, teamwork, and countless hours of preparation our Bulldogs put into every performance. Congratulations to our talented musicians for representing Butler High School with excellence, precision, and Bulldog pride!

October included several important Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) recognitions, including the Week of Respect, School Violence Awareness Week, and Red Ribbon Week. Throughout the month, RBS students and staff participated in activities and discussions that reinforced the importance of respect, kindness, making positive choices, and creating a safe and supportive school environment.

Students at Aaron Decker School proudly to participated in the NJDOE Week of Respect during Spirit Week! Students signed a Week of Respect banner as a pledge to show respect for themselves and others. Throughout the week, ADS emphasized the importance of kindness, inclusion, responsibility, and treating others the way we want to be treated. These are values we work to reinforce every day at ADS as we continue to build a positive school community where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and respected. Our Week of Respect was a great reminder that small acts of kindness can make a big difference!

ADS Halloween Hallways: ADS Trick or Treat was a great opportunity to bring our school community together for a fun, family-friendly event. Students got to celebrate the excitement of Halloween, share in the fun of dressing up, and created positive memories with their classmates and families.

Fall is the perfect time to cozy up with a good book! Check out these fun reading challenges for students of all ages. Whether reading independently, sharing a story together, or discovering a new favorite, there's a challenge for everyone. Use these fun strategies to make reading part of your fall routine.

Try This Game: Roll & Add!

• Roll two dice and add the numbers together.
• Challenge your child to find different ways to make the same sum.
• For an extra challenge, roll three dice or multiply the numbers!
• Play for 10 minutes and see how many math problems your family can solve together!

Understanding ADHD; Insights for Parents and Caregivers. This is a virtual session on November 10th, It is Free to register for, and gives parents and caregivers an opportunity to learn more about ADHD and gain insights from an expert mental health professional.

Coming up in November, Aaron Decker School will proudly display our annual "Trail of Thanks" in honor of Veterans Day. Families are invited to sponsor a small flag in honor or memory of a living or deceased veteran who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces. This special tradition teaches our students the importance of gratitude, service, and sacrifice while giving families an opportunity to recognize the veterans who have made a difference in their lives. Together, we can show our veterans how much they are appreciated and help our students understand the importance of honoring those who have served our country.

We look forward to hosting our annual RBS Veterans Day Breakfast on November 11! This special tradition provides an opportunity for our students and staff to come together to honor and recognize the brave men and women who have served our country. We are excited to show our appreciation and thank our local veterans for their service and sacrifice.

The students in Butler High School’s Foods I classes are once again partnering with the Richard Butler School (RBS) Middle School to support its annual Veteran’s Day breakfast. As part of this special tradition, Foods I students are baking delicious blueberry muffins, applying measurements, recipe interpretation, and food preparation skills to practice accuracy, consistency, and kitchen safety. In addition to their baking efforts, students are creating handwritten cards and decorating gift bags that will be used to wrap the muffins, demonstrating creativity and attention to detail while developing a deeper appreciation for community service and honoring local veterans!

Please use the link below

• November 4 Early Dismissal - Teacher In-Service

• November 5 and 6 NJEA Convention Schools Closed

• November 10 BHS MP 1 Ends

• November 7 SAT @ BHS @ 7:30AM

• November 10 ADS School Pictures

• November 11 BHS MP 2 Begins

• November 11 RBS Veteran’s Day Breakfast @9:00-10:30AM

• November 11 BHS 8th Grade Parent Night - 6:30 PM

• November 13 ADS Harvest Dance 6:30 pm

• November 20 Report Cards Posted BHS

• November 20 and 21 Fall Drama

• November 24 RBS Picture Makeups/Clubs

• November 25 ½ Day Thanksgiving Holiday

• November 26 and 27 No School Thanksgiving Holiday

• November 30-December 16 NJSLA - English and Math Fall Block

• November 30 Virtual FAFSA Workshop 6:30 PM

• December 1 End of 1st Trimester ADS/RBS (63 days)

• December 2 Beginning of Trimester 2 ADS/RBS

• December 3 RBS Winter Concert

• December 4 RBS Winter Concert snow date

• December 4 PTA Cookies with Santa

• December 5 ADS Holiday Shop

• December 5 SAT @ BHS @7:30AM

• December 8 BHS Winter Concert 7:00 PM

• December 9 BHS Winter Concert Snow Date 7:00 p.m.

• December 10 ADS Hour of Code

• December 9 ADS/RBS Trimester 1 Grades Posted (8:00am)

• December 9-11 ADS/RBS Parent-Teacher Conferences (½ Day)

• December 12 ACT @ BHS 7:30 AM

• December TBD RBS Winter Concert @ 7pm

• December 18 ADS Winter Concert Grades 9:00 am

• December 21 ADS Winter Concert Snow Date 9:00am

• December TBD RBS Winter Concert Snow Date @7pm

• December 22 ADS Class Parties 8:45 -9:45

• December 23 BHS Winter Pep Rally

• December 23 ADS Santa Visit -8:45am

• December 23 Early Dismissal

• December 24-31 Winter Break

• December 29 and 30 BHS Holiday Basketball Tournament

Dr. Johnson's Instagram - @drjbulldog

Aaron Decker Elementary School Instagram - @ads_bulldogs

Richard Butler Middle School Instagram - @rbs_bulldogs

Butler High School (Instagram & Twitter) - @butlerhsnj Athletics Instagram - @bhsathletics1 BHS Counseling Instagram - @butlerhscounseling BHS SAC - @sacbutlerhs