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 our commitment to excellence, character education, and student well-being. Some of our recent accolades include:

• Heart Safe School Designation – In 2024, we became the first school in Gloucester County to earn this designation through Project ADAM. This recognition, held through 2027, honors our implementation of a comprehensive sudden cardiac arrest program that promotes a Heart Safe environment for all members of our school community.

• Promising Practice Awards

  • 2023: Recognized by Character.org for our character education curriculum, which builds a foundation of character one virtue at a time through developmentally appropriate visuals and phrases.

  • 2024: Honored again for our Full Circle for Character Education Initiative, which fosters caring relationships by having Glassboro High School students serve as role models and teach character lessons to our kindergarten students.

  • 2025: Received our third consecutive Promising Practice Award for the P.A.W.S. (Positive Adults Working with Students) Program, a targeted mentorship initiative that strengthens student connections, provides emotional support, and reinforces our Bulldog PRIDE values.

• School of Character Recognition 

  • January 2024: Earned Honorable Mention as a State School of Character.

  • January 2025: Designated as a State School of Character for 2024–2025, one of only 22 schools in New Jersey to receive this honor. This is a five-year designation.

  • May 2025: Earned the National School of Character designation for 2024–2025, one of only 71 schools nationwide to achieve this five-year honor.

• Grow NJ Kids 4-Star Rating – In 2024–2025, achieved a 4-star rating, one of only  six schools in Gloucester County to earn this recognition.

• State Demonstration Site for Highly Inclusive Practices – Selected in 2024–2025 as one of only two schools in New Jersey to receive this designation. In the 2025–2026 school year, recognized again as one of just three schools statewide and the only representative from southern New Jersey.

• National Publication Feature – In 2024–2025, featured in Character.org’s Growing Goodness publication as one of just 12 schools nationwide to be highlighted.

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