Somerset Hills School District

The Somerset Hills School District provides this information as a service to the public. Links to third-party sites do not constitute an endorsement by the Somerset Hills School District.

April 18, 2025

BOE NEWS 2024 - 2025

BOE NEWS

Wishing everyone a restful and renewing spring break and we look forward to returning to finish the 4th quarter of the school year!

Next Public Board Meeting

Our next regularly scheduled public board meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 30th at 7:30pm in the BHS Community Room. We will be conducting our annual public ethics training at 5:30pm immediately followed by an executive session. We hope you will consider joining us. A full list of meeting dates can be found by clicking here. BOE meeting recordings can be found by clicking here.

Updates from the March 19th Regular Public Meeting

At our March meeting it was an honor to recognize middle school students for their work on the BMS literary magazine. We also recognized the retirements and career contributions of Suzanne Ryan, Valerie Tchorz and Kathleen Ryersen. We wish them well in their next adventures. 

Dr. Brotschul gave an Executive Summary presentation on the preliminary FY26 SHSD Budget and the board will be conducting a public hearing on the budget at our April 30th meeting. Dr. Brotschul also gave an update on the work related to the new district website which we hope to roll out around August 1, 2025. Finally, he announced the development of a task force regarding cell phone usage which will include a Board Representative, Pediatric Physicians, District Physicians, District Mental Health Professional Service Providers and have Dr. Coleen Butler serve as the Administrative Chair. There will be more to follow on that work.

We encourage you to read the March Superintendent's Report in its entirety for the most recent district updates, it can be found by clicking here. Also included in the report were the numerous ways in which students, staff and the district have been featured in the news. We invite you to view these articles by clicking here.

Update from the April 14th Special Meeting

At this special meeting the board approved a Long Range Facilities Plan and Referendum Submission. You can view the resolution in its entirety along with the projects identified to be included in the referendum on the meeting agenda or by clicking here.

Pathways to Success District Newsletter

The April issue and all previous issues of the Pathways to Success newsletter can be found on the district website and the next issue will be out by the end of June. We invite all members of the school community to enjoy reading about the developments and accomplishments taking place across the district by clicking here.

Board Policy approved at the March 19th Public Meeting

P5111 -  Eligibility of Resident/Nonresident Students (M) Revised

P5460 - High School Graduation (M) Revised

P5512 - Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying

P5333 - Student Smoking

R5333 - Student Smoking

P7441 - Electronic Surveillance in School Buildings and on School Grounds

R7441 - Electronic Surveillance in School Building and on School Grounds

P8500 - Food Services (M) Revised

P9163 - Spectator Code of Conduct for Interscholastic Events (M) New

P9320 - Cooperation with Law Enforcement Agencies

R9320 - Cooperation with Law Enforcement Agencies

*To view these policies in their entirety please visit the BOE page of the district website (more information below)

**(M) indicates a mandated policy or revision

Links to All Board Policies & Regulations

All district policies and regulations can be found on the BOE page of the district website. You simply select the BOE tab at the top of the page and then click on "Policies and Goals" from the drop down menu. The "search" icon will allow you to look for policies by keywords or number or you can select the "home" icon for policies or regulations to see them listed by section. If you would like to view all student policies you select 5000 in the policy section and they will all appear listed below in the District Policy section. You can access the Policies and Goals page directly by clicking here.

Board Operations Information

For anyone looking for more information regarding the roles and responsibilities of the board of education we invite you to visit the About section of the BOE page of the district website. You will find a wealth of information here and links to additional resources as well. You can access that information directly by clicking here.

Bernardsville's Green Team and the Environmental Commission are hosting the Second Annual Green Fair at the Bernardsville Train Station on May 10th from 10am -1pm. There will be Free Tree Sapling giveaways, Textile Recycling and lots of Booths offering activities for kids, education and information on Electric garden equipment, composting, recycling, well water testing and more! Hope to see you there!

In honor of Earth Day, join us for the Bright Star Theater's performance of Upcycled Cinderella!

When the scheduled performers fail to arrive for the day’s performance, the facility janitors, “Dustmop” and “Binny,” decide to take over in this hilarious take on the classic fairy tale, Cinderella! One of our most popular shows of all time, Upcycled Cinderella shows that, with a little creativity and ingenuity, you can make the most of any situation. A great show for younger audiences, or for anyone who is young at heart. Children under 12 must be accompanied by a caregiver.

DEA Takeback Day - 4/26 -

See https://www.dea.gov/takebackday for more information.

Adult Mental Health First Aid - 5/20 -

See https://www.bernardshealth.org/forms-documents/add-edit-permanent-document-forms-bids-financial-etc/health-promotion/940-cic-bthd-adult-mhfa-5-20-25/file for more information.



Youth Mental Health First Aid -

See https://www.bernardshealth.org/forms-documents/add-edit-permanent-document-forms-bids-financial-etc/health-promotion/941-cic-bthd-ymhfa-5-6-25/file for more information

June 30-July 3, 2025

Somerset County 4-H TOPS Camp

TOPS Camp is a 4-day week of fun, friends, and fascination! With a combination of outdoor activities, educational workshops, experiments with science, and making new friends – this is the perfect week-long Summer Day Camp! Experience opportunities like woodworking, arts, theater, nature, animals, geology, Olympics, water fun, games, a field trip, guest speakers, dancing, cooking, tie-dying, leadership, and bonding!

Ages: Completed Grades 1-5

Please join us for our 2-Day SHM Cheer Bootcamp this August 14th and 15th as we kick off the season with energy, team bonding, and skill-building for all cheerleaders. Certified UCA trainers will lead age-appropriate instruction in stunting, pyramids, jumps, dance routines, and sideline cheers to help accelerate our cheerleaders’ skills and prepare them for the season. Day 1 will be held at the Bernards High School Cafeteria, and Day 2 will take place at the Polo Grounds in Bernardsville.

Grades Kindergarten through 3rd will attend from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The cost is $85 per athlete. Register here:

https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/478865/signups/new

Grades 4 and up will attend from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The cost is $197 per athlete. Register here:

https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/478866/signups/new

This camp is a fantastic way to build skills, grow confidence, and prepare for an exciting season. We hope you join us!

A great evening out! Tell your friends! Tell your neighbors! Spread the Word!

The Somerset Hills Mountaineers are excited to announce that registration for our Tumbling 101 Clinic is NOW OPEN! This fun, confidence and skill building clinic runs from May 1–29, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5–6 PM, and is open to athletes in grades 1–8. No experience necessary! Participants will learn splits, forward rolls, backbends, handstands, cartwheels, and round-offs—plus strength, conditioning, and stretching exercises to enhance their skills and prevent injury. This clinic is a great way to boost fundamentals and get our athletes ready for our upcoming sideline cheerleading season this fall. Don’t miss out—click here to register today: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/476363

SHM families check out this awesome Spring and Summer program offered by our BHS football staff, specifically designed for middle school athletes. Use the QR codes in the flyer or included links to register.

More details below Spring Session

https://register.capturepoint.com/reg/cat_program_class_detail.cfm?season_id=35096&program_id=2513471

Summer Session:

https://register.capturepoint.com/reg/cat_program_list_detail.cfm?season_id=35110&program_id=2534015

"Maximum Foundations for Speed and Strength is a camp designed for middle school athletes to build a strong foundation of proper technique and knowledge while improving their strength, power, speed, and agility. Led by Kyle Wierzbicki CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) and Bernards Football Head Coach, Jon Simoneau, the camp focuses on developing proper movement patterns, functional strength, and injury prevention techniques in a fun, supportive environment.

AI Summer Camp with Stanford Mentors

Inspirit AI invites curious middle schoolers to dive into the world of artificial intelligence and build real-world projects such as analyzing the impacts of large-scale layoffs and identifying bias in our media channels with guidance from top university mentors. Interested students can apply here or reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

We are pleased to present the April 2025 edition of the “HEALTH MATTERS” E-Newsletter from the Bernards Township Health Department. Some important highlights include..

• April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month
• April Blood Pressure Screening Clinics
• Recipe of the Month – Melon, Prosciutto and Mozzarella Skewers
• National Nutrition Month (March)
• Measles Vaccine Recommendations
• Celebrating Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week (April 13-19^th) and ACO/HLEO Michelle Santoro on her retirement from Bernards Township!
• Understand Bird Flu (H5N1): What You Need to Know
• Free Radon Test Kits at the Bernards Township Health Department
• DEA RX Takeback Day – Sat, Apr 26^th 10 am – 2 pm
• 35^th Annual Pleasant Valley Twilight Challenge 5K Registration is open!

…. And more!

Follow Us on Social Media - Bernards Township Health Department – Facebook/Instagram

To view the newsletter click the button below.

The Bernards Township Health Department is the contractual health agency for Bernards Township, Bernardsville Borough, Chester Borough, Long Hill Township, Mendham Borough, and Peapack and Gladstone Borough.

Join us for an exciting season of Flag Football (K-2), Tackle Football (3-8) and Cheerleading (K-8)! These programs are a fantastic way for kids to build teamwork, confidence, and athletic skills, while having a ton of fun. Our mission goes beyond winning. We prioritize safety, character development, and community engagement as integral components of our program. Don’t miss out! Register today and be part of the action! www.SHMFootball.com

Announcing the Take a Seat! fundraiser! The Bernards High School Performing Arts Parents (BHS PAC Parents) and the Somerset Hills Education Foundation (SHEF) are partnering on a special, limited time initiative. Honor someone special by purchasing a custom, laser-engraved plaque on a seat in the BHS Performing Arts Center. Whether honoring a loved one, celebrating a student or demonstrating a commitment to the performing arts, this dedication will leave a lasting legacy! All proceeds to support the Performing Arts in the SHSD. Makes a great Class of 2025 Graduation Gift! For more information and to purchase plaques, come to any spring performance at the BHS PAC or visit bit.ly/3Qfm2ys.

Come join us for PG SUMMER REC CAMP '25! Our old fashioned "chill" is available to kids entering K - 8th for the 2025-26 school year. Games, crafts, contests, sports, field trips, library, waterslide day are just part of the fun! Registration is open now on Community Pass - https://register.capturepoint.com/peapackgladstoneborough.

Attention children in grades K - 12: You can join 4-H! Clubs meet year-round from September until August when members showcase their accomplishments at the Somerset County 4-H Fair (August 6 - 8, 2025). Of the 65+ clubs offered, many have space available. Visit https://4histops.org, email [email protected], or call (908) 526-6644 for more information.