Dear Holmdel Township School Community,
I hope this message finds you well and that you enjoyed a restful long holiday weekend with family, friends, and loved ones.
Today, the district was closed for students in observance of Lunar New Year. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all those celebrating a joyful holiday filled with good health, happiness, and prosperity in the Year of the Fire Horse.
While students were off, our faculty, staff, and administrators engaged in a robust day of professional learning featuring both outside presenters and many of our own educators leading meaningful, locally developed workshops. Topics included motivating and engaging students in grades 7–12; classroom routines and rituals in K–6; emotional regulation and anxiety reduction; healthy technology use for children; CPR recertification; supporting English language learners across the curriculum; meditation and mindfulness; and executive functioning strategies for both school and home.
On behalf of the district, thank you for your continued support of our commitment to continuous learning and growth.
This week also marks the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, starting this evening. Wishing all those observing a blessed month filled with reflection, peace, and spiritual renewal.
Finally, I would like to note that at the Board of Education’s reorganization meeting, members approved a shift to a hybrid meeting model. While some months will continue to include full Committee of the Whole and public action meetings, other months, including February, will consist of non-quorum subcommittee meetings.
A primary focus of these meetings is planning for the 2026–27 budget, including discussions around courtesy and late busing, as well as the potential outsourcing of custodial services. A final vote regarding custodial services would take place at the February 25 public meeting.
In addition, the Board and the HTEA continue to negotiate in good faith. The teams have been meeting weekly in an effort to reach an agreement that fairly compensates our staff while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Please stay tuned for further updates and continue to participate in our upcoming meetings.
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The Social Institute: New A.I. Family Course is Live!
We’re excited to introduce a new Family Course now available through our partnership with The Social Institute: Navigating an A.I.-Driven World: Helping Our Children Foster a Healthy Relationship with A.I.
Artificial intelligence is becoming a regular part of how students learn, communicate, and create. While A.I. can be a powerful tool, it also brings important questions around responsible use, privacy, digital reputation, and long-term impact.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Understand how A.I. is being used by children today
- Encourage ethical and responsible A.I. habits
- Protect your child’s personal information and online footprint
- Have meaningful conversations about technology at home
Next Steps:
If you have not already, register for your free account for The Toolkit. Many families refer to this as the CliffsNotes of social media and technology! Go to the Toolkit, click Activate Account, and enter our school code: 55b5197A69096D
Access the Family Courses:
As a reminder, all courses are designed to be self-paced and can be completed on your own schedule.
As your child’s school district, we’re honored to be your partner on this journey. We understand that each household has its own values and approach to technology, and we fully respect that. This programming is not about prescribing rules or parenting strategies. It’s about offering ideas and tools that you can use in whatever way fits your family best.
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This past Saturday, the Holmdel High School Track and Field Team delivered an outstanding performance at the Central Jersey Group 2 Championships, bringing home multiple medals and qualifying several student-athletes for next weekend’s Group Championships.
We are proud to celebrate three gold medal performances:
- Lukas Lundh — Boys High Jump Champion with a leap of 6’2”
- Aylen Peters — Girls 55-meter Dash Champion in 7.35 seconds, setting a new school record
- Girls 4x400 Relay Team — Teagan Flaherty, Bisi Mabogunje, Brielle Lambros, and Aylen Peters captured gold with a time of 4:15.48
In addition to these championship performances, several Hornets earned medals and advanced to the Group Championships:
- Aylen Peters — 2nd place in the 400-meter dash
- Amy Adachie — 3rd place in the 55-meter hurdles
- Tudor Barcan — 4th place in the 3200 meters
- Boys 4x400 Relay Team — Jax Londell, Antonio Zambito, Adrian Shehata, and Jack Hutchinson
These remarkable achievements reflect the dedication, discipline, and teamwork of our student-athletes and coaching staff. We are incredibly proud of the Holmdel High School Track & Field program for representing our community with excellence and competitive spirit.
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The Holmdel High School Competition Cheer Team delivered an outstanding performance this past Saturday, earning a second-place finish at the Howell High School Cheer Competition, hosted at Howell High School.
Competing against strong programs from across the region, our student-athletes showcased impressive athleticism, precision, teamwork, and school spirit. Their silver medal finish is a testament to countless hours of practice, commitment, and the pride they bring to the Holmdel community each time they take the mat.
Congratulations to our competition cheer athletes and coaches on a fantastic showing. We are proud of your continued excellence and the way you represent Holmdel High School.
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We are proud to recognize Jack Vallillo, a senior on the Boys Basketball team at Holmdel High School, for reaching an incredible milestone, scoring his 1,000th career point last night!
This achievement is a testament to Jack’s hard work, perseverance, and commitment to excellence both on and off the court.
Congratulations to Jack, his family, teammates, and coaches on this outstanding accomplishment. We look forward to cheering him on as he continues to represent Holmdel with pride, always living Holmdel Blue!
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The Holmdel Theatre Guild (HTG) invites the community to step into a world of enchantment this March with its production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Staged at the Holmdel High School Auditorium, this high-energy musical is designed for theater lovers of all ages - even those who have never attended a school production.
Performance Dates & Times:
- Thursday, March 12 at 7:00 pm
- Friday, March 13 at 7:00 pm
- Saturday, March 14 at 7:00 pm (Special Pre-Show Event at 5:30 pm for additional fee)
A Fresh Take on a Timeless Classic
Forget what you know about the animated film. This show is the 2013 Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s original television special. It features a contemporary, witty script with Cinderella as the hero of her own destiny. Audiences will enjoy the beloved musical score, featuring songs such as "In My Own Little Corner", "Ten Minutes Ago," and the showstopping “Stepsisters Lament”. The show will feature stunning costumes and plenty of "how-did-they-do-that" stage magic.
An Interactive Event for Families
The HTG is offering unique incentives to make this a full evening of community entertainment:
- Kids in Costume Go Free: Children ages 12 and under who arrive dressed as their favorite character receive free admission at the door.
- Character Meet-and-Greets: Arrive early for any performance to take photos with Cinderella, the Prince, the Fairy Godmother, and step family.
- Storytime with Cinderella: A special event for young fans on Saturday, March 14, at 5:30 pm. This event requires the purchase of a separate ticket.
- Senior Group Tickets: Discounted group rates are available for senior centers.
"We wanted to create a true community event that connects generations," says Dr. Jim DeVivo, Director. "Seeing the magic through the eyes of children in costume and sharing this story with our local seniors creates a theater experience that goes far beyond the school walls."
Tickets & Logistics
Seating is General Admission. Patrons are encouraged to purchase in advance to secure the best views. The auditorium is fully accessible with free adjacent parking.
About the Holmdel Theatre Guild
The Holmdel Theatre Guild is an award-winning student company producing high-quality theatrical works. Follow the Guild on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for behind-the-scenes previews.
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A standalone budget newsletter with key information on the District’s proposed 2026-27 budget, including our financial context, priorities, and planning timeline. If you missed it, you can review all of the materials here: January 29th Budget Newsletter
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Here's the January issue of Holmdel High School's student newspaper, The Sting, for the 2025-26 school year.
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Plans for a new state-of-the-art weight room are moving forward, a space that will enhance student wellness, athletic development, and school pride for years to come. This project is being supported through community sponsorships led by the Holmdel Touchdown Club, with contribution levels ranging from $100 to $25,000, each recognized through name or logo displays within the new facility.
From Platinum and Gold sponsors to Blue and Grey supporters, every donation directly helps outfit the gym with premium equipment and create an elite training environment for our students.
Additional details, including sponsorship tiers, donation options, and QR codes, are included in the graphic below for those who wish to participate in this exciting initiative.
Together, we continue building a stronger, healthier Holmdel — always Live Holmdel Blue!
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Kindergarten 2026–2027 registration opened on Friday, January 16th. Please visit the Holmdel School District website, www.holmdelschools.org, to access the Kindergarten Registration Portal. Families may upload all required registration documentation and, if desired, schedule an optional online appointment with the school. In-person registration appointments will take place Wednesday through Friday, February 24–26, at Village Elementary School. An in-person appointment is not required if documents are submitted through the portal.
On the home page, select the “Registration Information” box, then click the “2026–2027 PreK and Kindergarten New Student Registration Only” link to create a portal account and, if documents are not submitted through the portal, schedule an appointment.
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Registration is now open for the 2026–27 Holmdel Public Schools Pre-School program! Secure your child’s spot for a year of early learning, growth, and fun. Plus, don’t miss our Pre-School Summer Enrichment programs, designed to keep little minds curious and engaged all summer long. Learn more and register today!
Preschool Registration Link: Go HERE Summer Enrichment Program Link: Go HERE
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Following a highly successful inaugural summer, Camp Invention returns to Holmdel for its second year, offering students an engaging, hands-on STEM experience designed to inspire creativity, collaboration, and innovative thinking. Through interactive challenges and real-world problem solving, campers bring their ideas to life while building confidence and having fun along the way.
Registration is now open. Families can save $25 on Week One (July 13–16, 2026) with promo code FUN25 (expires March 31, 2026). An additional $60 savings is available for Week Two using the exclusive registration link provided in the Week One confirmation email.
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- March 20 - School Closed EID al Fitr
- April 1 - Early Dismissal
- April 2-7 Spring Break
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The board will hold its monthly regular public meeting on Wednesday, February 25th, at 7:00 PM in the High School Auditorium. The meetings are also accessible via Zoom link and will be posted to the district webpage within 24 hours of the meeting.
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"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." — Albert Einstein
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I thank you for your time and consideration and wish you a peaceful week ahead.
Dr. J. Scott Cascone
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