School News

The Franklin Township school district is one of 31 throughout the state which recently received a state grant to help train teachers to improve student literacy. The District received a $50,000 Reading Intervention for Secondary Engagement (RISE) grant for secondary and high school students. The District will use its grant “for professional development to enhance the knowledge of our secondary teachers …

NEW FPS PRINCIPAL – Angela Pape speaks to the Board of Education October 28 after being named the new principal at Franklin Park Elementary School. Angela Pape was named the new Franklin Park Elementary School principal by the Board of Education at its October 28 meeting. A 13-year veteran of Franklin schools, Pape replaces former FPS principal Jennifer Stein, who …

BRONZE CERTIFICATION – SCVTHS received a plaque honoring the school’s Bronze Certification from Sustainable Jersey for Schools during the New Jersey School Boards Association Workshop. Pictured are (l-r), Randall Solomon, Executive Director, Sustainable Jersey; SCVTHS Superintendent Robert Presuto; SCVTHS Science Instructor Shannon Pisani; SCVTHS Special Education Instructor Mary Kreiss-Papalski; and. Caroline Ehrlich, Chair & Certification Standards Committee Chair, Sustainable Jersey. (Photo: SCVTHS). Sustainable Jersey for …

RIBBON-CUTTING – Jimmy Lee of Joy Systems and MacAfee Elementary School’s Wilma Rosikiewicz, surrounded by MacAfee students, cut the ribbon on the school’s new book vending machine before the unveiling. MacAfee Road Elementary School is the latest school in the township to offer a unique way to instill a love for reading in their students: a book vending machine. Joining …

Franklin High School students found out who their Homecoming King and Queen and Court are at the October 18 Homecoming dance, held at the school. Students dined and danced to a DJ, and had pictures taken throughout the evening. The 2025 Homecoming King and Queen and Court are: Homecoming King: Troy Hyman Homecoming Queen: Sinai Kelliehan Junior Princess: Willo Sirmans …

STUDENTS HONORED – The National Merit Scholarship Program has recognized the following SCVTHS students for their achievements: (front row) National Merit Semifinalist Saanvi Trivedi of Hillsborough, Commended Students Pranavi Prayaga of Piscataway, Malavika Malanthara of Franklin Park, Kushi Rao of Hillsborough, Margaret Kim of Somerset, Rohini Routray of Hillsborough, and Shagun Srivastava of Hillsborough. (back row) Commended Students Lily Boguslavsky of Bridgewater, Shreya Patro …

Two township residents are among 22 Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School students honored by the College Board for their academic achievements. The students are Margaret Kim and Daniel Yuh, both of Somerset and members of the Class of 2026. The honors are based on GPA as well as performance on standardized tests and were awarded to members of …

A variety of books await students. Teachers and staff at Hillcrest Elementary School have another tool to use to boost reading among their students. A new book vending machine was unveiled in the school cafeteria September 15 to cheers and applause from students, who did not know it was coming. The machine was a gift from the congregants of Praise …

Four students in local schools were among the more than 16,000 semifinalists in the 71st National Merit Scholarship Program announced September 10 by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The high school seniors will compete for 6,930 scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered in the Spring of 2026. Local student semifinalists are: Adwita Jagannathan from Central Jersey College …

WISH LIST GRANTED – The Triple B Foundation’s Jenny Breedy and Makeda Fryson, left to right, with Hillcrest Elementary School principal Gloria Vaccaro, talk about the donated supplies. The Franklin-based Triple B Foundation granted the wish list of another school’s faculty on September 9 with a donation of sensory supplies. The supplies are designed for neurodivergent students. The foundation in …