School News

UPDATE: MacAfee Road School principal Bill Grippo said he felt fine after spending the night of June 17 on the school’s roof. “It was very cool, and there weren’t any bugs,” he said the next morning, as students filed off buses below his perch. “I borrowed a futon from one of the teachers, and that was a lifesaver.” Grippo said …

UPDATE: The Franklin Middle School team placed 17th of the 50 teams competing.   By Emily Russoniello Special to the FR&A In the basement of the Hillsborough Reformed Church, six local students in grades 5 through 8 are dressing up as dairy products.  It’s not a taping of the next “got milk?” commercial, although that phrase will come up.  Rather, they are …

Sampson G. Smith’s Rhonda Stewart was honored as that school’s and the district’s teacher of the year at the May 22 Board of Education meeting. Stewart, an English teacher, was one of nine teachers so honored. Eileen Brett, Sampson’s principal, called Stewart “an amazing educator who really cares and inspires her colleagues.” “Her students quickly know at the beginning of the …

The Franklin High School chapter of the National Honor Society is 81 members stronger following the May 21 induction ceremony. This year, for the first time, the Society’s membership was opened up to sophomores, said Ron Richter, one of the Society’s faculty advisors. FHS senior Alexandra Schmidt, the Society’s president, emcee’d the event and led the inductees through the ceremony. …

About 450 Franklin High School students attended the Senior Prom May 16 at the Princeton Hyatt. During the evening, the students enjoyed a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and dancing. Glam and glitter were everywhere, but we have to ask: Doesn’t anyone wear tails anymore?      

Six township students were among nine grand prize winners in the “My Mom, My Hero” Mother’s Day poetry contest sponsored by Venus Jewelers, Easton Avenue. Students in grades K-12 from more than 12 area schools submitted poems to the contest, according to a press release. Everyone who entered was given a genuine gemstone to give to their mother on Mother’s …

Residents who can spare a few hours a month and would like to tutor underperforming county schoolchildren are being sought by the Somerset County Office of Volunteer Services and the Somerset County Superintendent’s office. Volunteers are not required to be teachers, but they must possess knowledge in areas such as reading, math, language arts, science and English as a Second …

A team of 3rd Graders from the Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School won a “Disaster Blaster” award at the Junior FIRST Lego League World Expo in St. Louis, Mo. The team won for its robot design to help people during a natural disaster. The league is for students in grades Kindergarten through 3rd to show off their talents in building …

A private school for the learning disabled is preparing its new home in the township for a September grand opening. The Center School last week closed on its new home at 2 Riverview Drive. The K-12 school had been operating out of a Branchburg building after its original school in Highland Park was destroyed by fire. “Now begins the hard …

Students throughout the school district celebrated Arbor Day and, belatedly, Earth Day on April 25. New trees were planted and tree saplings were given away at MacAfee Road School and Pine Grove Manor School, where students also read compositions about the importance of Arbor Day and trees in general. MacAfee Road students and staff were joined by representatives from Stop&Shop in …