By Jill Lauren Quaranta, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent

The month of September has been a very busy one for the staff, students, and families of Eatontown! School started on September 4th and lessons are now well underway in all of our classrooms!

Each school in the district hosted a Back to School Night where parents and caregivers came to meet the principals and teachers, see classrooms, and learn more about the programs, services, and organizations available to families both within the school and in the broader Eatontown community.

Teachers provided an overview of their curriculum and highlighted key projects and learning goals for the upcoming school year, and shared their educational philosophies with attendees. A resource fair was set up at each school's Back to School Night as well, where families could learn about other things that the school district offers, including special education, health, technology, and more. Parents and caregivers were also able to meet representatives from the PTA, Eatontown Public Library, Lions Club, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Eatontown Baseball and Eatontown Softball, and much more.

Now that we are heading into the month of October, students will be diving deeper into their learning and many more events will be coming soon. If you missed out on Back to School Night, join us at one of the upcoming events - there are lots of things happening in the schools all year and we would love to see you there!

Don't forget to check your child's school calendar and our website for more details and fun upcoming events such as our preschool pumpkin patch courtesy of the PTA!

Last fall, students had the unique opportunity to cast their ballots in a voting booth to decide which mural design would brighten our halls. After much anticipation, the winning design was announced, and over the summer, it was brought to life by Mrs. Boufford.

The finished mural is more than just a beautiful piece of artwork—it represents our shared commitment to instilling confidence in our students and encouraging them to SOAR to their highest potential. With bold Eagle wings stretching across the wall, the mural also provides a perfect spot for students to pose and “spread their wings.” Already, it has become a source of pride, inspiration, and a joyful photo opportunity for our entire school community.

As students read and analyze characters, they will identify which of the 7 Habits each character demonstrates (or fails to demonstrate), examine how those traits impact others, and make personal connections by comparing themselves to characters who show leadership or growth. By the end of the unit, students will set personal goals to develop similar positive traits they admire in the characters they read about. With great stories as their guide, our third graders are well on their way to becoming leaders both in and out of the classroom!

This initiative reflects the district’s commitment to enhancing collaboration, supporting student engagement, and preparing learners with the skills needed for success in the 21st century.

Over the past month, Megan Drury, the Senior Desktop Support Technician, met with each grade level team during their Professional Learning Community (PLC) sessions to provide targeted professional development. These PLCs served as more than just training sessions—they became spaces for true collaboration and professional learning. Teachers explored the smart boards’ updated features together, discussed how they could be applied across content areas, and supported one another in developing new strategies for instruction.

Teachers shared that the ability to run applications, videos, and media directly on the smart board, without using laptop space, has been a game-changer. This functionality allows them to keep students actively engaged with interactive lessons while simultaneously tracking student data on their computers.

By leveraging the PLC model, teachers not only gained hands-on experience but also built a collective vision for how technology can enhance student learning. The exchange of ideas across grade levels and departments exemplified the district’s goal of fostering professional growth through collaboration.

This work represents an important step in the district’s broader vision for instructional technology: ensuring that staff have the tools, training, and professional learning structures needed to maximize technology for student success.

What does adaptive mean in this context? According to the NJ Department of Education (2025), “A computer-adaptive test (CAT) is an assessment tool that determines future questions based on a student's responses to prior questions, creating a more personalized experience for each learner. This approach can help reduce testing anxiety by presenting students with questions closer to their current level, encouraging confidence and focus. An adaptive assessment measures each student’s knowledge with greater precision since the students will receive more items closer to their current level.”

There will be a field test or practice test given to students in grades 4-8 in ELA and mathematics this fall. The regular testing administration will begin in May 2026. If you have additional questions, please visit the NJ Department of Education website at https://www.nj.gov/education/assessment/adaptive/faq.shtml.

The district will provide additional updates in the future as it receives more information.  

Have a safe and successful school year!

As always, the district encourages our school community members to visit our website at www.eatontown.org to find important information, including upcoming events, important announcements, district information and reports, as well as resources that can assist parents/caregivers and other community members with a wide array of topics. Some of our resources include:

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Eatontown Public Schools | 5 Grant Avenue, Eatontown, NJ 07724
732-542-1055 | www.eatontown.org

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