October Superintendent Newsletter

Dear Branchburg Township Families,

September is now in the rearview mirror and we move into month two. It is this time of year when everyone is back into the school mode and school routines are more normalized. It was great to see and meet so many of you during Back to School Nights and I am hopeful we will have more interactions at various events throughout the year. 

As many of you are aware, the district is going out for a referendum on November 3rd. We have tried to provide you with as much information as we can so you are informed about the two questions and the projects contained within them. On October 14th @ 6:30 in the Stony Brook Cafegymatorium, we will be hosting our second Referendum Forum. This will be a great opportunity to hear from our architects, bond council and administration regarding the referendum and answer any specific questions you may have.  We know your time is limited but if you are able to attend we would love to see you there.  

Please check out the short video below which highlights the referendum or access our referendum website for further information.  

MAP Testing is currently underway for our 2nd to 8th grade students and make-up testing will conclude next week. Once all testing is complete you will be receiving your child’s results. Please take a few minutes to discuss this with your child and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or school.

Also, the results from the 2025-2026 administration of the NJSLA-A have been shared with districts from the NJDOE. In the next few weeks we will be sending out your child’s results. We will also be sharing out the district results at an upcoming Board meeting. Please review the results and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact your child’s school or the curriculum office.  

Student attendance continues to be an important focus both within the State of New Jersey and nationally. Last year, our district made meaningful progress in reducing chronic absenteeism, and we are hopeful that this positive trend will continue this school year.

Regular attendance matters because students learn best when they are present, engaged, and able to participate consistently in classroom instruction and school activities. Every day of learning is an opportunity for students to grow academically, socially, and personally, and we want every student to have the opportunity to make the greatest progress possible.

Under New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) guidelines, a student is considered chronically absent when the student misses 10 percent or more of the school days in session for which the student was enrolled. Importantly, chronic absenteeism is different from truancy. Chronic absenteeism includes both unexcused absences and absences that may be considered excused under local district policy.

Attendance is not something we review only at the end of the school year. Our schools monitor attendance throughout the year so that we can identify concerns early and communicate with families when a student’s attendance begins to show a concerning pattern. You may receive communication from your child’s school when attendance concerns arise or when your child is approaching a level of absenteeism that could significantly impact their learning.

At the same time, we recognize that families may face circumstances that make regular attendance difficult. We understand that illness, family circumstances, transportation challenges, mental health concerns, and other situations can create barriers to getting to school consistently. Our goal is not simply to identify attendance concerns, but to work with students and families to understand those barriers and determine how we can provide support.

Separately, under New Jersey law, a student between the ages of six and sixteen is considered truant when the student accumulates 10 or more cumulative unexcused absences. Our schools will communicate with families as unexcused absences begin to accumulate and will work with families to address attendance concerns. Consistent with State requirements and district policy, schools may take additional steps when a student reaches the threshold for truancy.

Our message is simple: attendance matters, and so does the well-being of every student and family. We take chronic absenteeism seriously because we know that missed instructional time can have a significant impact on student success. At the same time, we believe that the most effective response is one built on communication, partnership, and support. By working together and keeping the lines of communication open, we can help ensure that our students are in school, engaged in learning, and receiving every opportunity to succeed. After the first month of school, I am happy to report that only 5% of our student body is chronically absent. 

There are quite a few events taking place this month including sporting events and various Branchburg PTO events. Thank you to everyone who purchased school spirit wear and/or participated in the Fall Family Shoot.  Your support of the PTO is greatly appreciated and directly supports activities and programs for our students.  For more information about the PTO please visit their website.

October 8-9: Taste of the Masquerade Virtual Auction

October 14-21: Whiton Scholastic Book Fair

October 27th: PTO General Meeting, BCMS Media Center, 6:30pm

October 30th: PTO Trunk or Treat, Whiton Parking Lot, 6:15-6:45pm, 6:45-8:15pm

We don’t want to forget about our BEF either.  Last year the Branchburg Education Foundation donated over $23,000 in grants in support of our teachers and students.  Make sure to check out the BEF Website  for upcoming events and fundraisers.  This month Hummingbird Studios will host a  Mad Scientist Night on October 23rd.

  

Both of these great organizations do so much for our schools, but they would not be able to do it without you. Thank you for your continued support of both the PTO and BEF and we look forward to the great things they can provide for our students.

In closing I want to thank the teachers, support staff and administration for helping to make the opening of our schools run so smoothly. The time and effort the teachers have put into preparing for the opening  has shone through. Visiting classrooms with enthusiastic teachers and engaged students is wonderful to see.  

The start of the year is off to a great start and we are excited for what the year will bring. Thank you for your support and we look forward to working together to make the 2026-2027 school year a fantastic experience for our students.  

Sincerely,

Kevin McPeek