I hope you are enjoying a relaxing and memorable summer with your loved ones. As we prepare to embark on another exciting year of learning and growth, the Rodgers family is proud to welcome you. Whether you are returning to J. Harvey Rodgers School or joining us for the first time, we are thrilled to have you as part of our school community.

Our Early Childhood Center serves approximately 300 preschool and kindergarten students and reflects the rich diversity of the Glassboro community. Our staff works collaboratively to support the unique academic, social, and emotional needs of our youngest learners through engaging, developmentally appropriate instruction. We are proud of the nurturing, inclusive environment we have created, one that helps children thrive both in and out of the classroom.

Rodgers is not only a place of learning but also a place of pride. Over the past several years, our school has been recognized at the state and national level for its dedication to character development and inclusive education. Some of our recent accolades include:

• 2025 National School of Character (one of 71 schools nationwide, designation held for five years)

• 2025 State School of Character (one of 22 schools in New Jersey, designation held for five years)

• 2025 and 2024 Character.org Promising Practice Winner

• 2024 to 2025 National Publication Feature in Character.org's Growing Goodness (one of 12 schools nationwide, featured on pgs. 26 & 27)

• 2024 to 2025 State Demonstration Site for Highly Inclusive Practices (one of three schools in New Jersey)

• 2024 to 2025 Grow NJ Kids 4-Star Rating (one of six schools in Gloucester County)

• 2024 Honorable Mention School of Character

• 2023 Character.org Promising Practice Winner

This fall, our community will have the opportunity to vote on a Bond Referendum in November 2025. While the referendum includes improvements throughout the Glassboro School District, several proposed upgrades are specific to J. Harvey Rodgers School. These include enhanced school security features, roofing upgrades, a new drop-off loop with additional parking, and the construction of nine new preschool classrooms.

At present, our school is only able to serve less than 50 percent of all eligible three- and four-year-old children in Glassboro. With these additional classrooms, we would be able to meet the state's recommendation of providing free, high-quality preschool to more than 90 percent of eligible children in our community.

Family involvement is a valued part of our school culture. We encourage you to engage with us through our active PTO, the Early Childhood Advisory Council, the Multicultural Committee, and our Preschool Parent Workshops. These opportunities offer meaningful ways to connect, share feedback, and support your child’s learning journey.

To help you get off to a smooth start, we have prepared a Parent Handbook with helpful information about our programs, expectations, and school procedures. We will communicate important updates throughout the year using the Apptegy communication system. Please make sure your contact information in PowerSchool is current so you receive all phone, email, and text messages from the district.

If you ever have questions, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to reach out. We believe in strong partnerships between home and school and are here to support your child every step of the way. I look forward to a successful school year and to seeing you at our Back to School Night on Thursday, September 25.

Best regards,

Melanie Sweeney
Principal, J. Harvey Rodgers School