Dr. Koop's Newsletter

We’ve had a fantastic second full week of school!

Thank you to all the parents who attended Back-to-School Night—it was wonderful to see so many of you and share what’s ahead for your children this year.

A reminder that school will be closed on Tuesday, September 22nd in observance of Rosh Hashanah.

You may have noticed that the construction site has been bustling with activity. The equipment has been hard at work digging the foundation for our new expansion—it’s exciting to watch the progress unfold right before our eyes!

This week, students in grades 1–5 completed the STAR assessments in both reading and math. These assessments help us better understand each child’s learning needs and will guide instruction in the weeks ahead.

On Monday, we also held a medical shelter-in-place drill to ensure we’re fully prepared for any medical emergencies. The drill was thoughtfully coordinated and led by Nurse Hoch, and our KRS medical response team responded quickly.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Dr. Kathy Koop

September 23, 2025 - Rosh Hashanah - Schools Closed

October 2, 2025 - Yom Kippur - Schools Closed

October 13, 2025 - Columbus Day/Indigenous People Day - Early Dismissal for Students 12:45 PM

October 20, 2025 - Diwali Schools Closed

October 31, 2025 - Halloween Parade Time 1:15 PM

Thank you again to everyone who joined us for Back‑to‑School Night. If you weren’t able to attend — or if you’d like to revisit what was covered — both of our virtual presentations are now available online for your convenience.

• Dr. Koop’s Presentation — An overview of important school information, including our goals for the year, information about community organizations, and available resources to support students and families. You can view Dr. Koop’s presentation here:
  Dr. Koop’s Back‑to‑School Night Virtual Presentation

• Dr. O’Connor’s Presentation — A look at our elementary academic initiatives: instructional priorities, assessment practices, and how we will support student growth in core areas. Dr. O’Connor’s presentation is available here:
  Dr. O’Connor’s Back‑to‑School Night Virtual Presentation

We encourage all parents to take a few moments to view these presentations if you haven’t yet. They contain valuable information to help you stay connected and informed throughout the school year.

Please take some time to review the Handbook for Students and Families, which is a key resource for the school year. This guide includes important details like our Code of Conduct, policies on Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB), and many other procedures that help keep our school safe, fair, and welcoming for everyone. You can access the handbook here:

Handbook for Students & Families

We encourage you to keep the handbook handy and refer to it as needed throughout the year. If you have any questions or need clarification about anything you read, please feel free to reach out.

At Kings Road School, the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. As part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining a secure learning environment, we are required to conduct one fire drill and one security drill each month, in accordance with state regulations.

In addition to fire and security drills, we also practice procedures for responding to medical emergencies. These drills ensure that both staff and students are prepared to respond quickly and effectively in a variety of situations, helping to keep everyone safe.

All safety drills are introduced and practiced in an age-appropriate and reassuring way. Our goal is to help students feel prepared—not frightened—and to understand that these routines are in place to protect them.

Your child may come home with questions about these drills or about school safety in general. We encourage open and calm conversations, and we’re here to support you. This article from Mental Health America offers helpful guidance for discussing school safety with children in an age-appropriate and supportive way:
🔗 Talking to Kids About School Safety

By working together—both at school and at home—we can help students feel informed, supported, and safe.

KRS Chorus Schedule

Fall 2025

• Fourth and Fifth Graders are invited to join the KRS Chorus!

• Please register your child for chorus by completing the form within this link - Chorus Sign-Up Google Form.

• Chorus rehearsals are held in the morning before school. Drop-off is at the main entrance from 7:45-7:55am. Please do not drop off before 7:45 am as I will not be there to chaperone any early students.

• I will email a weekly rehearsal reminder. Please also click on the link below, download the Remind app, and join the KRS Chorus class for text reminders. If you do not join Remind, you will likely miss some reminders, so please join! https://www.remind.com/join/krschoru

Rehearsals are as Follows:

1 - 9/24/25 - Wednesday - B

2 - 9/30/25 - Tuesday - F

Bottle Hill Day Performance - Saturday, 10/4/25 - 11:30am

3 - 10/7/25 - Tuesday - D

4 - 10/17/25 - Friday - F

5 - 10/24/25 - Friday - D

6 - 10/28/25 - Tuesday - F

7 - 11/3/25 - Monday - D

8 - 11/11/25 - Tuesday - B

9 - 11/17/25 - Monday - F

10 - 11/25/25 - Tuesday - F

11 - 12/1/25 - Monday - B

12 - 12/9/25 - Tuesday - B

CONCERT

Monday, 12/10/25 Madison Junior School 6:30pm

• Students are expected to be at rehearsal on any day that they are present at school.

• Please email me prior to any absences so that I know not to expect your child. McEachernD@madisonnjps.org

Halloween Parade - October 31, 2025 1:15 PM

Students will be able to wear their costumes to school or change at school on Friday, October 31, 2025. Costumes should follow our past guidelines:

● Students may wear a costume of their choosing for the class party.

● Toy weapons of any kind are not allowed.

● Avoid excessively scary costumes as they might frighten our younger students.

● Please check your child’s costume for safety. Make sure it is not too long and does not create a tripping hazard.

● Finally, we would also prefer that children not wear costume masks that block vision.

The Madison Education Foundation invites you to unmask the extraordinary on Saturday, October 18th from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Mansion at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Step into a dreamscape where reality bends and wonder takes center stage, while raising critical funds for MEF enrichment grants in Madison Public Schools. Buy your tickets here! (https://mefnj.networkforgood.com/events/86743-2025-mef-gala-a-night-of-illusion if that think doesn’t translate!)

Project Community Pride of the Madison Area YMCA and Madison Chatham Coalition would like to invite students, faculty, and families to join us for our second annual Hispanic Heritage Night on October 9th from 5:30-7:30 to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

We encourage all ages to come experience a vibrant celebration of the rich cultural contributions and traditions of Hispanic communities. The evening features a diverse array of activities, including music, dance, delicious sampling of cuisine, all highlighting the shared heritage and history. Non-YMCA members are welcome, and this event is completely free of cost to all attendees!

MADISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

2025-2026

Academic Progress Reports

Trimester 1

September 4, 2025 First Trimester Begins

December 5, 2025 First Trimester Ends

December 19, 2025 Report Cards Available in Genesis

Trimester 2

December 8, 2025 Second Trimester Begins

March 16, 2026 Second Trimester Ends

March 27, 2026 Report Cards Available in Genesis

Trimester 3 (61)

March 17, 2026 Third Trimester Begins

June 18, 2026 Third Trimester Ends

June 18, 2026 Report Cards Available in Genesis

Conferences:

December 8 (Evening), 9, and 10, 2025

March 23 (Evening), 24, and 25, 2026

*The administration reserves the right to adjust these dates if necessary.