School News

Dancing was one of the talents on display at the EAS Talent and Taste event. The melting pot of cultures that is Elizabeth Avenue School was on display June 20 in the school’s first “Talent and Taste” event. Students from throughout the school’s grade levels showed off their various talents, from dancing to singing to martial arts. The talent show …

Schools Superintendent John Ravally has been named the Somerset County Superintendent of the Year. (File photo.) Schools Superintendent John Ravally has been named the Somerset County Superintendent of the Year by the Somerset County Association of School Administrators, the first time a Franklin Township Superintendent has been so honored. Ravally was given the honor at the SCASA’s June 14 meeting. …

Rutgers Prep students Divleen Singh, Shreya Aravindakshan, David Merges and Rishie Seshadri, all of Franklin and Uma Balasubramian of Bridgewater attended the Games for Change Festival. Photo: Rutgers Prep. Submitted by Rutgers Prep. After a year and a half of development, a board game developed by 22 high school students at Rutgers Preparatory School and funded by a competitive grant …

A member of the founders’ group for the proposed Ailanthus Charter School has told the state that they want to withdraw the school’s application.  Ailanthus had been approved, but was in the midst of a second, one-year planning stage to prepare it to receive its charter and for its proposed September 2019 opening. Ailanthus would have been the third charter …

Adriel Thomas of Somerset earned a master’s degree from Georgia State University during the Spring 2019 semester. The university conferred degrees during its 104th commencement ceremonies in May. Among the students earning recognition on the Coastal Carolina University Dean’s List was Alyssa M. Kowalsky, a Hospitality Resort and Tourism Management Pre-Major major from Somerset. Coastal Carolina University is a dynamic, …

The school’s entryway was decorated with paper hot air balloons, each of which carried a picture of a teacher. The third annual Science Fair Spectacular kicked off June 7 at MacAfee Road Elementary School with the theme of “Up, Up and Away.” Highlighting the fair was a hot air balloon set up behind the school. As in the past, students …

Dan Bocchino and Bill Grippo, left to right, at Grippo’s “Retirement Roast” on May 30. Nearly 400 people came out to The Marigold on Hamilton Street May 30 to honor a man who, over the past four decades, has left an indelible mark on the township. In the process, they raised money for a new arts scholarship. Bill Grippo, MacAfee …

Students in the Franklin High School Amnesty International Club on May 23 held a fundraiser for a local Syrian family that recently relocated to New Jersey. The family includes two high school-aged children, with the mother pregnant, organizers said. The club raised money through its annual dinner with an eye toward buying the family a crib and baby items. ” …

The Franklin High School library was the setting May 14 for a year-end presentation of an innovative, yet not new, program aimed at special needs students. Funded by the state Department of Education’s Office of Special Education, the Person Centered Approaches in School and Transition (PCAST) is a project of Rutgers University  – The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities. The …

Submitted by Pam Attanasio. Most people are familiar with the Franklin High School Color Guard, part of the award-winning Franklin High School Warrior Marching Band, that performs at football games and competitions in the fall. You are probably not familiar, though, with the Franklin High School Winter Guard, an indoor color guard that performs to pre-recorded music. The Winter Guard …