Dear Holmdel Township School Community,
As we move through November, our district celebrates a month dedicated to the important character education theme of gratitude, a value that resonates deeply as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday. This month offers us a special opportunity to reflect on the many people and moments in our lives for which we are thankful, including the dedication of our students, families, staff, and community members who make Holmdel such a remarkable place.
Tomorrow, November 11, our nation observes Veterans Day, a time to honor those who have served and continue to serve in our country’s Armed Forces. On behalf of the Board of Education, district administration, faculty, and staff, we extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to all veterans. We are especially grateful to those who will join us in sharing their stories during the time-honored Indian Hill School Veterans Day breakfast and guest speaker series. Your service and experiences inspire and educate our students in ways that will last a lifetime.
As we celebrate this month of gratitude, we also recognize the many events, achievements, and acknowledgments taking place across the district. From classroom learning to extracurricular milestones, there is so much to be thankful for in our Holmdel community.
I encourage each of you to take a moment this week to express appreciation to our students, staff, families, and neighbors for the ways they contribute to the richness and strength of our schools.
With gratitude,
Dr. Cascone
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We want to extend our sincere thanks to our school community for sharing your feedback regarding the implementation of the ParentSquare communication platform. Your input is invaluable as we work to make communication more effective and responsive for everyone.
Please take a moment to review the FAQ document linked below, which addresses the common questions and topics raised.
This document is a living resource; new questions and considerations will continue to be added, so we encourage you to keep reaching out to the administration with any thoughts or concerns.
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I was truly honored to accompany Indian Hill School Principal Lisa Vitale to Trenton last Wednesday for the meeting of the New Jersey State Board of Education, where Indian Hill School was formally recognized as a 2025 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
Indian Hill is one of only nine public schools and two private schools across New Jersey to receive this prestigious distinction this year. This recognition is a testament to the outstanding faculty, dedicated staff, and supportive school community that make Indian Hill such a special place for students to learn, grow, and thrive.
Congratulations to Principal Vitale, Dr. Requa, our incredible teachers, students, and families. This honor reflects the strength, commitment, and excellence that define not only Indian Hill but the Holmdel Township School District as a whole. Achievements like this remind us of what is possible when high expectations, dedication, and community support come together to nurture the whole child.
We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and grateful for the amazing people who make Indian Hill a school of excellence every day.
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The High School’s new Aquaponics Lab is taking shape! This past Thursday through Saturday, the dedicated Aquaponics team from Intag worked diligently to install the lab’s core equipment. Water is now circulating through the tanks as the system stabilizes, including the stone filter setup, in preparation for the introduction of fish. The Aquaponics team will return soon to continue their work.
This innovative learning space was made possible through last year’s generous annual gift from the Holmdel Foundation for Educational Excellence, reflecting the foundation’s commitment to supporting hands-on, experiential learning opportunities for students.
Once complete, the Aquaponics Lab will serve as a dynamic learning environment for our Biological and Environmental Science courses, providing students with direct, hands-on experience in a cutting-edge scientific setting. Younger students will also have the opportunity to engage through field trips, while our 18-to-21 Stars program will gain a practical, community-based workspace to explore applied science and sustainability.
The creation of this space is a testament to the ongoing innovation at our high school and highlights the exceptional partnerships and collaboration within our community.
Special recognition is due to our Buildings & Grounds leadership and highly skilled staff, whose expertise in demolition, carpentry, fabrication, electrical work, flooring, and plumbing brought this vision to life.
The Aquaponics Lab exemplifies how thoughtful investment, collaborative effort, and a commitment to innovation can provide transformative learning opportunities for students at every level. We can’t wait to see our students explore, experiment, and thrive in this incredible new space.
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Congratulations to Renee Whittemore, an 11th-grade student at Holmdel High School, on her outstanding performance with the New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA) All-State Orchestra in Atlantic City this past Friday evening!
Renee earned the prestigious first chair position for flute during statewide auditions held in January, placing her among the very best young musicians in New Jersey. Her talent, dedication, and passion for music are a source of great pride for our entire Holmdel community.
The All-State Orchestra will perform again at NJPAC in Newark on Sunday, November 16, at 6:00 p.m., and we look forward to seeing Renee take the stage once more as she represents Holmdel with distinction.
Renee’s success is a testament not only to her individual excellence but also to the strength and quality of Holmdel Township Schools’ music program. Our district is fortunate to have exceptionally skilled and dedicated music educators who inspire students daily to explore, create, and perform at the highest levels. Their passion and expertise cultivate a love of the arts that extends well beyond the classroom, enriching our schools and our community.
Congratulations once again to Renee and to our outstanding music department for their continued tradition of excellence!
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What an incredible fall season it has been for our student-athletes!
First, congratulations again to our Girls Tennis Team, who captured the overall state championship, their fourth consecutive title!
This week, we have two more championship opportunities right here at home:
- Girls Volleyball will face off against Governor Livingston in the Sectional Championship on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.
- Football will battle Seneca for its Sectional Crown on Friday at 7:00 p.m.
If you plan to attend, please note that tickets must be purchased in advance using this link.
Both games will be played at home, and we encourage everyone to come out, wear your school colors, and cheer on our student-athletes as they look to bring home more titles.
This season has reminded us once again that we may be small, but we are mighty. Our teams continue to show what can be accomplished through determination, teamwork, and community spirit.
Let’s fill the stands, show our pride, and support these incredible young people who represent our district with such heart and excellence.
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The Holmdel Foundation for Educational Excellence (HFEE) continues to make a big impact in our schools—from the Aquaponics System and Math Mobility Program to new music and science resources. Your support helps us keep our schools at the top! Scan the QR code below to donate and make a difference in our students’ education.
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I’m pleased to share that today I received the following email from a representative of Mark W. White, Vice President of U.S. News & World Report. We continue to be proud of the recognition, progress, and upward trajectory that characterize our school district.
Of course, we do not intend to rest on our laurels or become complacent. Our commitment to continuous improvement and ongoing growth remains steadfast.
Thank you to our amazing students, staff, faculty, administration, Board of Education, families, and community partners — all of whom have contributed to our district’s presence in this national recognition program.
"Last week, we published our 2026 Best Elementary Schools and Best Middle Schools rankings, and the news is great for Holmdel Township School District: 2 school(s) [Village and Indian Hill] earned a Best Elementary Schools award and 1 school(s) [Satz] earned a Best Middle Schools award because they place among the top 40% in the state.
Here’s what we published about your district, including the new rankings:
Your schools’ high rankings mean they are eligible to display a U.S. News-trademarked Best Elementary Schools award "badge" (logo), a U.S. News-trademarked Best Middle Schools award badge, or both badges."
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Parents/Guardians and community members now have an opportunity to provide input on school funding policies in New Jersey.
The NJDOE is seeking stakeholder feedback as part of its review of the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA), including areas such as state aid, special education funding, and transportation.
You can provide your feedback in two ways:
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Complete the NJDOE survey open to all members of the public.
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Email your comments directly to SFRAOutreach@doe.nj.gov
The full text of the NJDOE’s announcement about this survey may be found here.
The survey and email submissions will be accepted through November 14, 2025. Feedback collected will help inform the NJDOE’s final report on school funding.
I strongly encourage parents and community members to share their experiences and perspectives to ensure your voices are heard in this important process.
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Goal number three of the board-approved 2025–26 district goals is to design and launch an online Parent University platform that provides families with accessible, high-quality resources to support student learning, well-being, and home–school partnership. In advancement of this goal, I am excited to announce the launch of the first module of our online Parent University, which is dedicated exclusively to providing resources for parents on Parenting in the Digital Age.
Our district has launched a partnership with The Social Institute (TSI), a leader in empowering students, families, and educators to navigate their learning and well-being, including A.I., social media, and devices, in healthy ways.
No matter your child’s current tech use, whether they use devices and apps regularly or are just beginning to ask questions, the resources offered through this partnership are designed to be flexible and family-friendly.
Getting Started
Register your free account for The Toolkit. Many families refer to this as the CliffsNotes of social media and technology!
- Go to Toolkit, click Activate Account, and enter our school district code: 55b5197A69096D
- On the course page, select "Enroll for Free".
- Create an account by entering your email and setting a password.
Course Offerings:
-Diving Deeper into the Apps Students Use
-Using Tech to Control Tech: Strong Settings for Apps and Devices
-From Helicopter to Huddling: How to Talk with Our Children About Social Media and Tech
-Helping Your Family Navigate Social Media and Tech in Healthy, High-Character Ways
-Co-Creating Family Standards for Positive Tech Use
Once enrolled, courses will be available on your Thinkific dashboard anytime you log in.
These courses are designed to be self-paced and can be completed on your own schedule. We encourage all families to complete the courses.
The district is 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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As part of the district's ongoing commitment to student safety and well-being, Holmdel Public Schools has completed its annual review of district practices and protocols related to the Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) statute and board policy.
To assist families in understanding these policies and navigating the law if the need arises, the district administration has created a helpful Parent FAQ document. This resource provides clear guidance on reporting procedures, definitions, and the support available to students and families.
We encourage all parents and guardians to review the FAQ to better understand Holmdel’s procedures for promoting a safe, respectful, and supportive school environment.
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This weekend brought some truly exciting news for our Holmdel community. Three of our youth cheer teams have advanced to Nationals, marking the first time in over a decade that Holmdel will have such a strong presence at this prestigious event. In fact, after looking back to 2013, it appears that only two teams attended that year, making this accomplishment especially meaningful for our smaller town.
We are incredibly proud of these talented athletes and the dedicated coaches who have guided them along the way. Their hard work, perseverance, and team spirit exemplify what it means to live Holmdel Blue!
Congratulations to our teams and athletes:
D10 – Attending Indian Hill School
Callay Cadenilla, Drew Jenkins, Ella Pontecorvo, Alexis Reppy, Averey Smyklo, Claire Sydlowski, Valentina Vargas, Everly White
D12 – Attending Indian Hill School
Julia Agnew, Amelia Primakov, LillyAnna Gambardella, Aria Ostrovsky, Sophia Burns, Anna Reilly, Stella Campo, Sara Arunachalam, Audriana Castaldo, Kennedy Cortese, Avery Rescorl, Eliana Paulino
D14 – William R. Satz Middle School
Juliana Berardi, Sienna Carri, Parker Drake, Zahra Drogaris, Gia Lotenberg, Madeline Marinaccio, Madison Marraccino, Amelia Munley, Reese Placca, Evelyn Primakov, Isabella Reilly, Gianna Schaub, Josephine Serini
These remarkable students will represent Holmdel at Nationals in Florida from December 2–6, and we wish them the very best as they prepare to showcase their skills on a national stage.
I’m so proud of the girls and so appreciative of the dedicated adults, parents, coaches, and volunteers who devote countless hours to supporting them. Please make no mistake about it: activities such as these, though not official school events, and volunteers like these are an integral part of our success as a school district and of our students’ overall well-being. By and large, our students are well-adjusted and, if I may say so, happy, because they feel the love and support of their families and community every day.
Thank you for all you do for your children and for our amazing community. Your pride, commitment, and care make Holmdel truly special.
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Join the Holmdel 250 Committee for a fascinating afternoon with TJ Fallon, creator of Dead History, as he shares stories from his travels to the gravesites of every signer of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. This engaging presentation combines history, exploration, and storytelling to bring America’s founding figures to life in a unique way. Pre-registration is encouraged.
📅 Sunday, November 16, 2025
🕒 3:00 PM
📍 Holmdel Senior/Community Center
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- November 13 & 14 - Indian Hill Fall Play - 6:30 pm
- November 20 & 21 - HHS Fall Play - 7:00 pm
- November 26 - Early Dismissal for all
- November 27 & 28 - Thanksgiving Break
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Upcoming meetings on November 12th and 19th (accessible via Zoom link will be posted to the district webpage within 24
hours of the meeting).
Click here to access archived video and/or audio recordings of Board of Education meetings dating back to 2014-15. |
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“Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.” - Abraham Lincoln |
I thank you for your time and consideration and wish you a peaceful week ahead.
Dr. J. Scott Cascone
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