HTPS EXCELLENCE SPOTLIGHT

As we begin a new year, I hope that 2026 is off to a great start for all of our families and staff. After the holiday break, it has been wonderful to see our schools jump right back into the rhythm of learning—reestablishing routines, reconnecting in classrooms, and continuing the important work that defines each school day.

Across the district, students are engaged in meaningful classroom instruction, and our teachers are using benchmark assessments to better understand student progress and tailor support to meet individual needs. These tools play an important role in helping us measure growth and ensure every student continues moving forward.

Beyond the classroom, January has been an especially active month. We held our Reorganization Meeting, where three of our re-elected Board members were officially sworn in, continuing their service to the district. We have also moved forward with professional development for staff, hosted an Online Safety Parent Academy, convened our PTA Advisory, and continued our work through another productive Strategic Planning session—all important efforts that strengthen our schools and our partnership with families.

And while the temperatures have been frigid and winter is showing no signs of slowing, the energy and momentum inside our schools remain strong.

As we look ahead, I’m excited for all that 2026 has in store and grateful for the dedication, collaboration, and commitment that continue to move Hanover Township Public Schools forward.

Mrs. Healy’s class had so much fun decorating gingerbread houses and cookies together. The room was filled with laughter as students spread icing, added colorful candies, and showed off their creative designs. Everyone enjoyed working with friends, being imaginative, and celebrating the sweet holiday activity together.

1P had a wonderful time learning about Magic e through a hands-on, creative activity. Students used glitter to create shiny Magic e wands, helping bring their phonics lesson to life. The class also set their 2026 New Year’s resolutions and added a touch of glitter to symbolize a year that will be shiny, bright, and full of success.

Students are learning about musical notes through an exciting scavenger hunt around the room, combining movement and exploration with music education.

Grade 4 continued its annual Holiday at My House tradition, where students presented on a holiday of their choice and shared how their families celebrate. Parents were invited to attend, making the event a special celebration of traditions, learning, and community.

As part of their Social Studies instruction, students completed a 3D map of the natural regions of New Jersey. They used a wide range of materials to represent landforms and features, demonstrating both their understanding of the content and their creativity.

MTV fifth-grade students recently welcomed juniors and seniors from Whippany Park High School through the Junior Achievement program. This engaging experience focused on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship, while giving our students the opportunity to learn from peers just a few years ahead of them. It was especially meaningful to see former MTV students return to teach and inspire our current learners. The collaboration was positive for all involved, and we are grateful for our continued partnership with Whippany Park High School.

Mountview’s annual January Welcome Back Assembly brought our school community together to reflect, reset, and set positive intentions for the new year. Students took center stage, sharing their own ideas about what a great year looks and sounds like at Mountview. Mrs. Camean also shared a picture book that encouraged being present and recognizing the power and possibilities each new day offers. It was a meaningful way to begin the year together, grounded in student voice, reflection, and a shared commitment to making it a great year ahead.

Before heading into winter break, Mountview students were treated to a special holiday surprise as Board of Education member and retired Hanover Township Schools music teacher, Bill McCabe, spread cheer through the halls of MTV. His violin expertise truly shined as he played a variety of holiday favorites—many by student request. Pictured are fifth-grade students who couldn’t resist singing along to his beautiful string accompaniment, making for a joyful and memorable moment for all.

Students continue to enjoy a variety of hands-on, engaging learning experiences that are both meaningful and fun. Activities included learning and playing the Dreidel game, buddy activities between upper and lower grade students, and stretching young minds through hands-on math and science challenges. These joyful moments highlight the power of experiential learning and the strong sense of community that makes Mountview such a special place to learn and grow.

Our teachers were hard at work learning from one another during a recent DIBELS training as they prepare for the mid-year assessment. Through collaboration, hands-on practice, and shared expertise, staff strengthened their skills to ensure every student receives high-quality, targeted literacy instruction.

A huge thank you to Barclays for providing us with an exciting afternoon of coding and robotics! Our 4th graders excelled at coding their own games, while 5th graders practiced their engineering skills by programming robots to follow student-led commands.

Mr. Cashen worked with his third graders recently designing and building a vibrant "Ozobot City." Over the past few weeks, students mastered coding techniques to control their robots' speed, direction, and even some signature dance moves. This culminated in a final creative challenge where they constructed a miniature town featuring homes, parks, and shops. The project was finished with a complex network of coded pathways for their robots to navigate throughout the community.

One of our very own Board of Education members and former music teacher, Mr. McCabe, filled the hallways with holiday cheer during his annual Strolling Violin Caroling. Mr. Cashen and Mr. Pomel added to the festive spirit with piano caroling, while Mr. Camean and Mr. Nak brought smiles and laughter by making snow angels. Together, our staff helped set the tone for a truly wonderful holiday season. It was a joyful way to celebrate the season and kick off our winter break with music, fun, warmth, and school spirit.

Smiles, laughter, and lots of holiday cheer! Our grade-level holiday parties brought students, staff, and parents together for a special day filled with crafts, games, music, and great fun had by all.

Recess just got an upgrade! Thanks to the incredible generosity and dedication of our Salem Drive PTA our students are now enjoying exciting new playground equipment, including two new swing sets and our very own Jaguar, a staple piece that proudly represents our school mascot. We are also grateful to the Board of Education and our Buildings and Grounds Department for their continued support and hard work in making this project possible. The students pictured also helped create a safety video shared with our students and staff to promote safe and responsible use of the new equipment. This true team effort has created a fun, safe, and engaging space for our students to enjoy every day!

Our 8th graders officially began their transition to high school with graduation gown photos and their pre-scheduling meeting. Students also heard from Principal Kelly and six graduating seniors who shared honest insights and advice about the high school experience. It was an exciting and meaningful glimpse into what lies ahead.

We are thrilled to welcome Pepper, the newest Seeing Eye Puppy to join the MJS family. Pepper has already captured hearts and brought plenty of smiles to our school community. We look forward to watching this future guide dog grow while helping our students learn about responsibility, empathy, and service.

The PACT Mock Trial Night at MJS was a tremendous success, with well over 100 family members, staff, and students in attendance. Ms. Tracy’s Semester 1 PACT students performed original mock trials they created from start to finish. From attorneys and witnesses to judges, students demonstrated confidence, creativity, and impressive critical thinking skills in a truly authentic learning experience. Those in attendance served as jurors and determined the outcome of the three cases that were presented.

Our 8th-grade Character Education program is empowering students to think beyond themselves and serve the wider community. The first half of the program focuses on the Seeing Eye Foundation and includes the student-led Pennies for Puppies fundraising campaign. Our 8th-grade students presented to 6th and 7th-grade students and designed creative collection containers, building leadership skills while supporting a meaningful cause.

Professional learning continues to move forward across the district, with a recent full-day work session for Grades 3–5 ELA teachers serving as a highlight this month. Grade-level representatives from each school came together with our literacy coach and curriculum consultant to reflect on current progress, look ahead to upcoming units of study, and discuss thoughtful tweaks and adjustments to strengthen instruction as implementation continues.

In addition, our grade-level and department teams have resumed their monthly meetings, providing important opportunities to articulate key initiatives and share ideas related to curriculum, instruction, programming, assessment, and upcoming events.

We also recently held an early dismissal professional development afternoon, which gave teachers valuable time to address key professional responsibilities and work collaboratively with their teams. Together, these structures support consistency, alignment, and continuous improvement across our schools.

We are grateful for the time, energy, and professionalism our educators bring to this ongoing work in support of student learning.

Earlier this month, we were pleased to host an Online Safety Parent Academy presentation led by the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICACU). The ICACU works to investigate and prevent online exploitation and to educate students, families, and educators about staying safe in today’s digital world.

Presentations were provided for students in Grades 3–4, 5–6, and 7–8, with age-appropriate messaging tailored to each group. The 3–4 session was scaled down to a few key topics and did not include any videos. In addition, a parent presentation—similar to the Grades 5–8 sessions—was offered to help families better understand current online risks and how to support safe and responsible technology use at home.

While this is a serious and sometimes difficult topic, the State Troopers emphasized the importance of proactive education, sharing that the guidance they provide is informed by the real situations they encounter in their work each day. Their message was clear: informed students and engaged families are key to prevention.

For families who were unable to attend, the recording link is available so you can view the presentation and hear additional commentary directly from the State Police.

We are grateful for this important partnership and for our families’ continued commitment to keeping all children safe.

Hanover Township Public Schools is dedicated to providing students with the skills needed for success in school, at work, and throughout life. While the Internet is a core tool for 21st-century learning, we recognize that today’s digital world brings real risks alongside real benefits.

To support our community, the Technology Department has launched the Online Safety Hub, a central resource for students, families, and staff focused on digital well-being and privacy.

How to Access the Hub & Parent Academy Video

You can find the video and additional age-appropriate resources by visiting the "Resources for Parents" section of our district website or via the direct link below:

www.hanovertwpschools.com/techhub

By watching the video, you will:

• Understand the specific digital risks children face today.
  

• Learn practical, actionable steps you can take at home.
  

• Gain tools to start meaningful conversations with your children about online safety.

Our Strategic Planning Core Team met again this month as we continue this important work for Hanover Township Public Schools.

If you would like to stay informed throughout the process, you can visit our Strategic Planning page on the District's website. We continue to post updates after each monthly meeting so the community can follow our progress.

We look forward to many more meaningful discussions as we work together to shape the future of HTPS!

• Calendar prepared in accordance with BOE Policy #8210 – School Year

• Collaborated with HP Regional HS Superintendent, Maria Carrell, to ensure alignment

• All Hanover Township students (K-12) begin school on the same day

Registration for the 2026–2027 school year is open for both Kindergarten and Preschool!

If your child turns five (5) years old on or before October 1, 2026, they are eligible to enroll in Kindergarten for September 2026. Parents/guardians can access and complete the online pre-registration and learn more about the process by visiting our District Website.*Available for your review is the HTPS BOE policy on Entrance Age (Policy #5112).

At the same time, we are pleased to launch Preschool registration for the 2026–2027 school year. Families interested in our preschool program can find additional details and registration information HERE.

If you know a neighbor or community member with a child eligible for Kindergarten or Preschool in September 2026, please help spread the word. Thank you for supporting our growing HTPS community!

Tuesday, January 20

Board of Education Meeting @ 7pm

MJS Media Center

Friday, January 30

Marking Period 2 Ends

Friday, February 6

Marking Period 2 Report Cards Issued

Friday, February 13 - Monday, February 16

Schools & District Offices Closed - Presidents' Day Weekend

Tuesday, February 24

Board of Education Meeting @ 7pm

MJS Media Center