RMS Express
Monthly Update from the Principal's Desk - October 2025
Dear Readington Middle School families,
I want to thank all of the parents who came out to Back to School Night on September 18th! I hope you learned a lot about the amazing educators and curriculum we offer here at RMS. We love having your middle schooler here and we wouldn't be able to do what we do without your support.
I also want to thank all of our staff and students for helping us end the first month of school with an amazing pep rally! The energy that they brought to the event was insane. We played games, cheered each other on, and truly left excited for the rest of the year. A few pictures of the event are below!
As the leaves start to change and we move into Fall, we are in full swing at RMS. Sports and clubs are up and running and we will be hosting some amazing events at RMS the next few weeks. Check out the complete newsletter for details on these events.
Go Vikings!
Here are a few important dates for you all to keep in mind:
- 10/2 - Schools Closed
- 10/10 - HSA Viking Pep Rally
- 10/13 & 10/14 - Schools Closed (Staff Inservice)
- 10/17 - Student Council Halloween Bash
- 10/29 - 8th Grade YMCA Fairview Lakes Trip
We now also have an official school Instagram page! Click the link below and drop us a follow!
Written by Mr. Will Daly, 8th grade Civics Teacher:
The eighth grade team rolled out the third year of the Viking Visionaries Initiative, a program introducing students to service learning opportunities. Viking Visionaries has been embraced by the eighth grade team of teachers to instill a culture of community service amongst the student body. This semester, eighth graders will be participating in the program twice, the first of which was held September 22, 2025. Students were spread throughout Readington Township, visiting the district’s four schools, La Finca NJ, Doyle’s Farm, Pickell Park, a township tree planting site, and the Flemington Area Food Pantry.
Readington Middle School is proud to highlight our students and their tremendous accomplishments over the course of the year. We highlight our students through multiple types of awards, which include:
Valuable Vikings: These are students who show that they go above and beyond.
Students of the Week: These are students who reflect our weekly affirmation the best. Two students in each grade, each week, are selected for this.
Students of the Month: These are students who best reflect the RMS mission that month. Two students in each grade, each month, are selected for this.
Please join me in celebrating the following students for the month of September!
Gradin Roth
Samantha DiStefano
Damien Healey
Hunter Sadek
Kendal Greda
Grace Zucosky
Readington Township School District participates in the New Jersey Department of Education Governor's Educator of the Year Program each year. This program recognizes excellence in education, a direct result of the hard work of our outstanding classroom teachers and educational services professionals.
One of the most meaningful gestures to show appreciation to our educators is to nominate them for the Governor's Educator of the Year recognition. To make a nomination, please complete the nomination form and return it to your building principal by October 31, 2025.
A selection committee at each school will review the nominations and jointly decide each school's honorees. At the end of the process, we will share all nomination letters with the nominated teachers and educational services professionals.
Based on the criteria listed, we hope you consider nominating one of the amazing educators at RMS for this prestigious honor!!
Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Even as kids grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students access learning opportunities and understand why attendance is so important for success in school. Families can use these strategies to help kids build a habit of good attendance.
Did You Know?
• Starting in preschool and kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
• Missing 2 days a month can make it harder for kids to learn to read.
• Students can still fall behind if they miss just 1 or 2 days every few weeks.
• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student might drop out of high school.
The Readington Township Board of Education’s Attendance Policy #5200 reflects the district’s concern for the thorough and efficient education of each pupil. A pupil must be in attendance for 160 or more days. If a student misses more than 10% of the school year, they are considered chronically absent and a team will be assembled at the end of the year to ensure that your child has met the instructional program requirements for their grade level.
Please note that stated excused absences allowed by New Jersey Statute are not included for the purposes of calculating a students absentee rate.These include:
Religious observance (N.J.A.C. 6A:32-8.3(h));
“Take Our Children to Work Day” or other rule issued by the Commissioner;
Participation in observance of Veterans Day (N.J.S.A. 18A: 36-13.2) or district board of election membership activities (N.J.S.A. 18A: 36-33); or
The closure of a busing district that prevents a student from having transportation to the receiving school.
Absences listed below are calculated when reviewing chronic absenteeism. These include:
The pupil's illness supported by notification to the school by student’s parent/guardian;
The pupil's required attendance in court;
Requirements of a pupil's individual health care plan;
Requirements of the pupil's Individual Education Program (IEP);
The pupil's suspension from school;
A death or critical illness in the pupil's immediate family supported by notification to the school by student’s parent/guardian;
Necessary and unavoidable medical or dental appointments that cannot be scheduled at a time other than the school day;
An absence considered excused by the Commissioner of Education and/or a New Jersey Department of Education Rule (e.g. religious holiday);
An absence for a reason not listed above, but deemed excused by the Principal upon a written request by the student’s parent/guardian stating the reason for the absence and requesting permission for the absence to be considered excused.
Absences listed below are calculated when reviewing chronic absenteeism. These absences may also be counted towards truancy from school in accordance with NJ Statutes Annotated (NJSA) 18:A and NJ Administrative Code (NJAC) 6A . These include:
Family travel unrelated to the instructional program
Performance of household or babysitting duties
Other daytime activities unrelated to the school program
Students will enter the building at 7:25am and must report to their homerooms by 7:35am. The school day concludes at 2:25pm. We highly encourage and recommend bus ridership. Please be sure you are at your assigned bus stop in time. If you have any questions about bus stops or transportation, please call the Transportation Office: 908-534-3835.
If you are planning to drop off or pick up via the car line, please adhere to the following map. Please follow the signals from RMS staff who are wearing the brightly colored safety vests!
During our school day, cell phones and other non-school issued devices (included Smart Watches) are not to be used by students as per Board of Education policy on Student Use of Wireless Communication Devices including Cell Phones - Please click here to 5516.01.
Students excel academically and socially when not tied to cell phones and the distraction of texts and social media. Students should be focused on learning and not on phones. Cell phones should be kept in students' lockers. If you need to reach your student, please do not text them but rather call the main office and you will be put in touch with your child.
All students are issued district Chromebooks. Throughout the day, students will use SMART PASS to create hall passes for themselves to use the bathroom, go to their locker, or see another staff member/teacher.
A bond referendum is an election in which a school district asks voters for permission to borrow funds through the sale of bonds. It finances large-scale projects and spreads the costs over a period of time, such as 20 years. Benefits of a bond referendum include:
By funding projects through a taxpayer-approved bond proposal, the district can qualify for state aid up to 40% of the total costs
Issuing new debt to coincide with the district's debt expiration in January 2027 can equate to a "net zero" impact on the local taxpayers compared to current taxes paid.
The actual referendum voted upon by the board on February 25, 2025 is for $2 million less than the district's current bonds, which results in lower taxes for every household
✅September 2024: Internal building & department-level discussions
✅October 2024: Meetings with critical stakeholder groups (HSA, RTEA, Township of Readington, other)
✅November 2024: Architect walkthroughs
✅December 3, 2024: Open public forum on referendum at Board of Education in Holland Brook School @ 6:30PM
Youtube link: https://www.readington.k12.nj.us/Page/4082
✅December 10, 2024: Bond attorney referendum presentation to public at Board of Education Meeting @ 7:00PM
Youtube link: https://www.readington.k12.nj.us/Page/4082
✅December 2024 and January 2025: Board committee meetings on referendum
✅February 25, 2025: Board vote on referendum to provide materials to State of New Jersey
Youtube link: https://www.readington.k12.nj.us/Page/4082
August 2025 - November 2025: Public campaign for referendum
September 9, 2025 (TUESDAY): Referendum tours at Three Bridges School @ 6:00PM
September 30, 2025 (TUESDAY): Referendum tours at Whitehouse School @ 6:00PM
October 14, 2025 (TUESDAY): Referendum tours at Readington Middle School @ 5:30PM, then Holland Brook School thereafter
November 4, 2025 (TUESDAY): Public ballot vote at regular election polling locations (remember to register to vote!)
For more info, please go here: https://sites.google.com/readington.k12.nj.us/readingtonreferendum/home
RMS has before and after school homework rooms available for your student to participate in. Before school starts at 7:00am on the first day of school, 9/2/2025. After school help runs from 2:30-4:00 pm, Monday through Thursday, and will start on 9/8/2025.
Readington Middle School
Website: https://www.readington.k12.nj.us/Domain/58
Location: 48 Readington Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
Phone: 908-534-2113
Twitter: @RMS_VIKINGS