District Newsletter - May 2026 - Old Tappan School District

District Newsletter - May 2026

Posted on 05/29/2026

May 2026

Old Tappan Public Schools

The Core is the monthly newsletter for families of the

Old Tappan Public School District.

Community | Curiosity | Courage | Creativity | Commitmentt

Message from the Superintendent

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):

I hope that you enjoyed a meaningful Memorial Day weekend and took the time to honor those who lost their lives serving our great country and recognized those who are serving today.

Thank you to everyone who actively participated in our Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence evaluation process. The on-site evaluations have been completed, and we await our schools' assessment results. I will be sure to update you if our schools earn a distinction.

As the final weeks of the school year are upon us, both TBD and CDW students and staff are busy with year-end activities and celebrations. This is also the time of year when our District conducts its annual “Your Voice Matters” surveys to gather input from all of our families, students (Grades 2-8), and staff regarding their experiences this past school year. This process is aimed at keeping us fresh and in tune with current stakeholder feedback. Read more about this in the "Community" section below.

Thank you for your continued support and trust in our work with your child(ren).

Respectfully,

Danielle M. Da Giau, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Old Tappan Public School District

COMMUNITY

Your Voice Matters! District Survey

Our District is conducting its annual “Your Voice Matters” surveys to gather input from our families, our students (Grades 2-8), and our staff regarding their experiences this past school year. This practice is aimed at keeping us fresh and in tune with stakeholder feedback.

Please take the time to let me know your thoughts about our schools. Your voice is important to me! These surveys will close at 11:59 PM on 30 June 2026.

Your Voice Matters – Family Survey Link

Your Voice Matters – Student Survey Link for Students Exiting Grades 2-8: Please complete this survey with your child(ren) and/or direct your child(ren) to the link. This Student Survey will neither be shared nor conducted in school. Please note that CDW students will be able to access the Student Survey independently through Dr. Sullivan’s Google Classroom.

The highlights of the findings from the “Your Voice Matters” surveys will be posted to our website for your perusal during the summer. The results will be used to anchor our practices, as appropriate, and to continue to improve our schools.

CURIOSITY

Ideas for Summer Learning at Home

This summer, you can help your child maintain skills and

even make gains in learning while you spend quality time

together as a family. You don’t always have to “set

aside” special learning time. The ideas presented in this

booklet, Summer Learning: Ideas for Families to Support At-Home Summer Learning, are intended to

show you how to stimulate learning through daily activities. Learning can be a natural part of your family’s summer plans!

In the Old Tappan Schools, we believe that with our strong partnership between home and school,

students flourish! Thank you for all you do outside of

school to support your child’s growth.

COURAGE

Honoring Our Country's Heroes

Our CDW Band joined the Borough to honor and recognize our country’s heroes during the annual Memorial Day Ceremony, which was held indoors this year due to the weather.

Our students learned patriotic songs under the direction of Mr. Rosolanko. The ceremony attendees enjoyed the band’s selections.

In classrooms, students across grade levels honored our country’s heroes and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, fighting for the freedoms of this great country.

CREATIVITY

Spring Musical Concerts

Our middle school hosted two concerts this month, which showcased the student musicians’ learning throughout the year. The spring concerts are always a marked achievement, showing growth from the winter performances. Under the direction of Mr. Rosolanko, the students applied in-depth skills to perform their multiple selections. Enjoy a video clip of one of the selections. Their pieces varied in difficulty level and composition. Following these concerts, the CDW Band competed at Toms River North High School, where they earned the ranking of “Excellent.”

Our CDW Chorus students performed multiple selections under the direction of Ms. Osbahr. With multiple-part harmonies and solos, the Chorus sang their hearts out, projecting their voices with confidence. Enjoy a video clip of one of the selections.

Our TBD third- and fourth-grade students performed their spring concert under the direction of Ms. Vetrero. Incorporating recorders and movement, the students' voices filled the room and delighted the audience. Enjoy a video clip of one of the selections.

COMMITMENT

Addition Project at TBD

As a means of providing you with regular communication about the TBD Addition Project, this section of The Core will include a monthly update.

TBD Addition Project Need

Due to the increase in enrollment over the years, there is a need to add additional instructional space at TBD. The TBD Addition Project will address the special-area classes that are now on carts, the specialized classes without spaces, and the removal of the trailer, which was always intended to be a temporary structure.

Project Details

The TBD Addition Project will add four (4) full-size classrooms and two (2) small-group classrooms. Weaving together the existing interior and exterior aesthetic and architectural elements, this Addition Project will run parallel to the current first-grade wing; however, it will not run the full length of the existing wing.

In addition to this project, two sets of student restrooms will be renovated, and the school boilers will be replaced inside TBD during the summer months.

Click to see the renderings, the aerial view, and the material boards for both the addition and bathroom projects.

Project Timeline

The TBD Addition Project was shared with the Old Tappan Planning Board in February and was approved by the Department of Education in March.

We awarded the bid to the lowest, responsible bidder, Vanas Construction Co., Inc., earlier this month. We approved a construction management company, Epic Management, to work with us for the duration of this project.

As you know, during April Break, the trailer was removed from the grounds.

On or about June 8, a construction fence will be erected around the construction site. Click to see the aerial view of the fence outline.

Construction will begin once school is dismissed in June. All inside work, such as the restroom renovations, will be completed during the summer months. The full Addition Project will run from the summer of 2026, through the 2026-2027 school year, and through the summer of 2027. Completion is anticipated for Back-to-School in September of 2027.

Project Impact

Starting in June, once the construction fence is erected, certain classrooms will be assigned different dismissal doors. If your child’s dismissal door will be affected, Ms. Boyce and the classroom teacher will let you know.

On behalf of the Board of Education, faculty, staff, and students, thank you to our supportive community for your commitment to our schools!