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Indian Hill School

"A Commitment to Excellence"

Superintendent's Weekly Update - March 30, 2026

Posted Date: 03/30/26 (03:12 PM)
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Holmdel logo featuring a stylized bee and text in blue.

Superintendent's Weekly Update

#WeAreHolmdel #LiveHolmdelBlue #HolmdelProud

March 30, 2026
A windshield wiper cleans rain from a window, revealing a tree shaped like a human head.
Dear Holmdel Township School Community,

I hope this finds you well. As we begin this shortened week leading into the spring recess, I want to take a moment to wish all members of our community who are celebrating Passover and Easter a joyous and meaningful holiday. May this season of renewal bring peace, happiness, and cherished time with family and friends.

A friendly reminder that classes will resume on Tuesday, April 7th, with an early dismissal day to make up for our recent snow day. For those traveling over the break, we wish you safe and smooth journeys, and hope everyone returns refreshed and ready for the exciting weeks ahead.

When we return, we will be entering the home stretch of the school year, a time full of energy, growth, and celebration. From engaging academic work to memorable events and special milestones, there is much to look forward to as we showcase the talents, dedication, and spirit of our students and staff.

Let’s continue to support one another and make the final months of this school year truly remarkable.


Budget Update

School District Budget Approved

Last week, at the March 25 Board of Education meeting, the 2026–27 school district budget was presented and approved by a vote of 7 to 2. Crafting this budget was no easy task and required the dedication of our administrative team, Board of Education, and the collaboration and support of the Holmdel Education Association and the Holmdel Town Committee.

While the budget does involve some sacrifices from the Holmdel community, it largely preserves the excellence of our school district and allows us to continue providing programs that meet community expectations, even in these challenging financial times.

The final public hearing on the budget will take place at the April 29, 2026 Board of Education meeting.

Below are links to clipped videos of the March 18 Committee of the Whole discussion, as well as the slide deck and full video of the March 25 budget presentation and Q&A session.



 

Archived Budget Newsletters/Communications




ICYMI

Family Resource: New Course on A.I. Safety Now Available

We’re excited to introduce a new Family Course now available through our partnership with The Social Institute: A.I. Safety Essentials: Protecting Our Children from Privacy Risks, Deepfakes, and Misinformation.
Artificial intelligence has widespread risks for kids—privacy, deepfakes, emotional chatbot use, and misinformation. This course helps families explore simple safety rules, communication strategies, and ways to help kids use A.I. responsibly.

Next Steps:

If you have not already, register 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. 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.

Extra, Extra, Read All About It!

Catch the latest edition of the high school newspaper, The Sting, showcasing student voice, creativity, and insight on the issues and events that matter most to our school community.
The Chartwells logo features the text 'chartwells' in dark blue, with 'serving up happy & healthy' below it.

Chartwells March Newsletter

The March Food Services Newsletter highlights National School Breakfast Week and the importance of nutritious breakfasts in fueling student focus, energy, and academic success. It also features a fun Discovery Kitchen segment spotlighting breakfast and, of course, overnight oats. Be sure to take a look and see what’s cooking in our schools!

Click HERE for March's newsletter.
 

Community Bulletin Board

3rd Grade Girls MJBL Champs!

The Holmdel 3rd Grade Girls Travel Basketball team captured the MJBL Tournament championship last Wednesday night, capping off an exciting and hard-fought season. The team’s dedication, teamwork, and perseverance were on full display throughout the tournament. Congratulations girls!

Cookie Slayers Arts & Crafts Night – All Ages Welcome!

“Paint, create, and play! Learn all about Girl Scouts while rotating through fun craft stations on April 10 in Farmingdale.”
Poster for 'Cookie Slayers Arts & Crafts Night' hosted by Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore.

"Double the Fun, Double the Discovery!

Two weeks of hands-on STEM adventures—spark your creativity, build epic inventions, and make new friends!"
Three children in purple Camp Invention t-shirts look curious, with science-themed illustrations in the background.
Children in purple Camp Invention t-shirts participate in STEM activities, with one holding a DIY rocket and another examining a toy.
 

Save the Date!

A yellow sticky note with 'SAVE THE DATE' in a red circle, pinned to a surface.


  • April 1 - Early Dismissal for all
  • April 2-6 Spring Break
  • April 7 - Classes Resume - Early Dismissal for all
 

Public BOE Meetings & Alerts

Wrubel Honored as NJAGC Administrator of the Year

At its March 25 public meeting, the Holmdel Board of Education proudly recognized district supervisor Mrs. Denise Wrubel for being named Administrator of the Year by the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children. This prestigious honor reflects her outstanding leadership and dedication to advancing gifted education in our schools. We congratulate Mrs. Wrubel on this well-deserved recognition and thank her for her continued commitment to our students and staff.
A diverse group of people stand together in front of a blue backdrop with #HOLMDELPRIDE and #WEAREHOLMDEL hashtags.
A green apple rests on a stack of books next to a chalkboard that reads 'SCHOOL BOARD MEETING'.

The board will hold its next monthly public meeting (COW) on Wednesday, April 22nd, at 7:00 PM in the High School media center. The meetings are also accessible via Zoom link and will be posted to the district webpage within 24 hours of the meeting.

 

Quote of the Week

Quote: 'Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.' - A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
 
I thank you for your time and consideration and wish you a safe and peaceful week ahead.

Sincerely yours,
Dr. J. Scott Cascone