BRRSD 2025 Newsletter

I hope this message finds you well and that you are enjoying the last few days of summer.  As we begin the 2025–2026 academic year, it is with great enthusiasm that we welcome back approximately 8,000 students who comprise the Bridgewater-Raritan school community. The start of a new school year provides an opportunity for renewed focus, shared purpose, and a continued commitment to excellence in education.

Our district's mission is to ensure that every student is supported in reaching their fullest potential. Evidence of this theme includes piloting a full-day kindergarten at JFK Primary School and Adamsville Primary School, with implementation in every primary school beginning September 2026. 

When you visit our schools, please take a moment to take in the updates to our district facilities, financed by our district referendum, resulting in visible updates at every school. These projects enhance learning environments while advancing safety and security for all students. Further details regarding these projects are provided within this newsletter.

We look forward to working together to ensure that the 2025–2026 school year is one of growth, achievement, and success for every school community member. 

Beginning September 2, our district will take an exciting step forward with the launch of a full-day kindergarten pilot program at Adamsville and JFK Primary Schools. This pilot marks the beginning of our transition toward district-wide full-day kindergarten, scheduled for September 2026.

The early adoption of full-day kindergarten at JFK and Adamsville reflects our deep commitment to the families and taxpayers of Bridgewater-Raritan. We are proud to share that we remain on track and, in many ways, ahead of schedule as we prepare for the full rollout in 2026. This is an important milestone for our district, and we look forward to the positive impact it will have on our youngest learners.

Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District has been bustling with activity as we upgrade our facilities with funding from our district-wide referendum.  Please take a moment to catch up on the progress we are making. 

• Renovations of kindergarten rooms in every primary school throughout the district.  

• HVAC updates at Hamilton, JFK, and Van Holten schools.  

• Electrical service updates across the district in preparation for HVAC units.  

• Upgrades to the clock and PA systems district-wide.  

• Restroom renovations at Hillside, Eisenhower, and the Middle School.  

• Renovations of the High School Media Center.  

• Renovations of the auditorium at the High School.  

• Renovations at Basilone Field, including turf, track, baseball field, and visitor bleachers.  

• Renovations of the gym floor and scoreboard at Eisenhower School.  

• Continued progress on the Middle School addition.

The majority of these projects are expected to be completed before the start of the school year. You may notice some last-minute work as we approach September, but all schools will be ready to welcome students on September 2.

Transportation services will be discussed at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, September 9, which will take place at the Wade Administration Building at 7 p.m.

During the meeting, Mike Archer, the Director of Transportation Services for the Center of Effective School Operations, will review our current transportation offerings and present two options for the 2026-27 school year. Both options aim to recover instructional time lost during the 2021 transportation crisis, with one option proposing a high school start time of 8 a.m. instead of 7:20 a.m.

September 2026 will bring significant changes to BRRSD, including the introduction of full-day kindergarten and grade shifts at the primary, intermediate, and middle schools. This transportation analysis will help the district prepare for these changes and provide guidance to make our system more effective. 

If you would like to learn more about this important topic, please consider attending in person or virtually.

Please join us in congratulating Ms. Kiran Masud from Hillside Intermediate School, who was honored as the 2025-2026 Somerset County Teacher of the Year by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE).

Ms. Masud, who teaches 5th Grade English Language Arts at Hillside, was honored at a ceremony by the NJDOE on Tuesday, August 12, at The College of New Jersey.

Ms. Masud will begin her 18th year teaching at Hillside, where she also serves as the Co-Advisor to the Roots & Shoots Club, a program dedicated to protecting animals and the environment. 

Congratulations!