Jefferson Township

Public Schools

Falcon Pride!

District Events

Administration

  • Mrs. Jeanne Howe
    Superintendent of Schools

    Roger Jinks, Jr., Ed.D.
    Assistant Superintendent

    Mrs. Rita Oroho Giacchi
    Business Administrator

    31 State Route 181
    Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849
    (973) 663-5780  

    Mrs. Josephine Ramirez
    Supervisor of Student
    Personnel Services
    District Anti-Bullying Coordinator
    1010 Weldon Road
    Oak Ridge, NJ 07438
    (973) 697-3535 ext. 5865
    joramirez@jefftwp.org 

Headlines

  •  2022-2023 Calendar Adjustment: Unused Snow Days

    2022-2023SY Calendar Adjustment: Unused Snow Days

    March 21, 2023: Assuming no additional emergency days will be used for the 2022-2023 School Year, Jefferson Township Public Schools will be closed on the following dates: April 17, May 22, and June 12. If emergency days are used between now and the end of the school year, an updated calendar will be communicated.

    Comments (-1)
  • March 13, 2023: JTHS Presents: The Drowsy Chaperone

    The musical will run the weekend of March 24th through 26th. The performances will be at 7:00 pm on Friday and Saturday and at 2:00 pm on Sunday. People can order their tickets in advance through the website: https://jefftwphs.booktix.com/view/3/529b6bed980d2bca/

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  • Additional Pre-K Aid Awarded for JTPS

    March 6, 2023: Full day public pre-K will be available to even more families in Jefferson Township through additional NJDOE Preschool Expansion Aid (PEA) funding. The Jefferson Township Board of Education received notice of PEA funding in excess of $2.7 million which will support nine additional high-quality preschool classrooms.

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  • 2023-2024SY & 2024-2025SY Calendars Approved!

    February 23, 2023: School Year Calendars for both 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 have been Board Approved!

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  • JTPS Strategic Plan

    February 23, 2023: Learn how the district plans to reach its goal of being a leader in academic excellence while developing healthy, well rounded, resourceful students who are positive, contributing members of the local and global community.

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  •  Million Penny Challenge

    JTMS Million Penny Challenge

    February 3, 2023: Ms. Widgren and members of the PBSIS committee challenge local businesses to see who can raise the most pennies from February through May!

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  • JTHS Earns College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity

    January 23, 2023: Jefferson Township Public Schools is proud to accept @CollegeBoard's Female Diversity Award for AP Computer Science Principles. Giving female students access to computer science courses is necessary to ensuring gender parity in the industry’s high-paying jobs. Congratulations to Aleyna Storms for her role in earning this honor!

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  •  Kindergarten Registration

    23-24 Kindergarten Registration

    January 23, 2023: Kindergarten Registration for 2023-2024 will take place February 27-March 3. Make an appointment today to register your child at either Ellen T. Briggs (Lake Hopatcong families) or Cozy Lake (Oak Ridge families). Please pre-register your child before making your appointment.

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  • Thank you, Mr. Millar!

    January 11, 2023: On January 3rd, Matthew Millar was recognized for his 12 years of outstanding service to the children and community as a member of the Jefferson Township Board of Education. Thank you, Mr. Millar, for your time and dedication!

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  • Substitute Teacher Rate Increase

    November 22, 2022: In response to the nation-wide teacher shortage crisis, Jefferson Township Public Schools is announcing an increase in pay for substitute teachers. Substitutes can now make up to $175/day to work in Jefferson. The JTBOE approved a tiered pay schedule for substitutes based on accrued full days worked in a single school year. The new pay rate, effective 11/22/2022, is as follows:

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  • Jefferson Township Public Schools Awarded Preschool Expansion Funds

    November 17, 2022: The Jefferson Township Board of Education (JTBOE) is thrilled to announce that our district has been selected as a recipient for funding through the NJDOE Preschool Education Aid (PEA). These funds have been allocated to integrate six high-quality, full-day preschool classrooms right here in Jefferson Township, at no extra cost to taxpayers.

    Comments (-1)
  • Preschool Expansion Aid & Program Update

    October 18, 2022: Over the summer, the Jefferson Township Board of Education (JTBOE) applied for Preschool Expansion Aid (PEA) through the State of New Jersey. In September we learned that Jefferson Township was not selected in the first round of districts to receive funding.

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  • So Many Reasons to be a FALCON!

    October 3, 2022: The district will be a leader in academic excellence while developing healthy, well-rounded, resourceful students who are positive, contributing members of local and global communities.

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  • Preschool Expansion Grant Update

    Sept 9, 2022: The Jefferson Township Board of Education (JTBOE) was advised that our district was not selected as an award recipient for the State of New Jersey Expanded Preschool aid. This is disappointing news for our district and our community. If eligible, the JTBOE intends to reapply for the grant again for the 2023-2024 school year. Thank you to our staff who have been working tirelessly in anticipation of starting this new program and we hope to be considered for funding in the future.

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  • Preschool Program 2022-23

    August 8, 2022: The Jefferson Township Board of Education (JTBOE) was recently notified of its eligibility to apply for grant funding that would enable the expansion of preschool services for children who are three or four years old before October 1, 2022, and reside in Jefferson Township. If the district’s application is accepted, this funding will allow our district to increase the number of students in a full-day preschool program at no cost to parents.

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Preschool

  • 2023-2024SY Preschool Program

    Posted by Heather Racansky on 3/9/2023

    The application process for incoming students will begin around May 1, 2023. Details outlining the criteria for new student eligibility and prioritization will be communicated at that time. Students enrolled in the existing program will receive priority registration.

    Please do not use the kindergarten pre-registration form for your potential preschooler at this time. 

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  • ADDITIONAL PRE-K AID AWARDED FOR JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS

    Posted by Heather Racansky on 3/6/2023

    March 6, 2023 – LAKE HOPATCONG, NJ: Full day public pre-K will be available to even more families in Jefferson Township through additional NJDOE Preschool Expansion Aid (PEA) funding. The Jefferson Township Board of Education received notice of PEA funding in excess of $2.7 million which will support nine additional high-quality preschool classrooms. A high-quality preschool program is defined by a full-day program with a certificated teacher, an aide, and small classes that are inclusive of children with special needs who have an individualized education program.

    The announcement of the newly awarded pre-K funds followed Governor Phil Murphy’s 2024 Fiscal Year Budget Address on Tuesday of last week. This news comes amid ongoing budget challenges – Jefferson Township School District’s state aid is being reduced by more than $1.5 million dollars. This represents the sixth year of S-2 cuts totalling more than $33 million to date. While the PEA does not address the issues with the school funding formula, the additional preschool funding is a welcome reprieve from the drastic cuts that the loss of state aid has caused.

    Jefferson Township launched Phase I of its expanded preschool program in January of this year. In the fall, the district expects to accommodate more than 200 three- and four-year-olds in the program. The goal for the next two years is to offer free, high-quality, full-day early learning programming to all preschool aged children in Jefferson Township, building a strong foundation for learning and success.

    “As a result of this increase in funding, we will be able to provide quality preschool education to more than 200 students of Jefferson. This will undoubtedly provide a solid foundation for our youngest learners with benefits lasting throughout their school careers,” stated Jeanne Howe, Superintendent, upon learning the district will be receiving the funding.

    The application process for incoming students will begin around May 1, 2023. Details outlining criteria for new student eligibility and prioritization will be communicated at that time. Students enrolled in the existing program will receive priority registration.

    All pre-K classrooms will be located at Ellen T. Briggs and Cozy Lake Elementary Schools. As communicated in November, in order to accommodate the growing number of students, all first grade sections from those schools will relocate to Arthur Stanlick and White Rock Elementary Schools in the fall.

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  • 2023-24 Full-Day Preschool Program

    Posted by Mary Judge on 1/10/2023 2:00:00 PM

    Thank you for your interest in our full-day preschool program.  Additional information on our program, including how to apply for the lottery, will be released in the spring.  Please continue to check back. 

    Comments (-1)
  • Preschool Application Form

    Posted by Mary Judge on 11/23/2022 10:05:00 AM

    Families enrolled in the existing program need not take any further action. Families interested in one of the 35 additional spots should complete this form to be included in a lottery drawing. The completed form must be received no later than Monday, November 28th. Families who had previously registered to be included in the lottery need not reapply.

    Registration requirements:

    • Student must be a resident of Jefferson Township;

    • Student must have turned 3 years old before October 1, 2022

    • Student must have up-to-date immunization records, a completed health history form, and a medical examination form to be completed by a pediatrician or health care provider.

    Families will be notified via email of the status of their application by December 2nd. 

    Families entitled to tuition reimbursement are being contacted separately.

    Any questions regarding the program can be directed to the building principals of their respective schools:

    Lake Hopatcong: Briggs Elementary School, Mrs. Randi DeBrito rdebrito@jefftwp.org
    Oak Ridge: Cozy Lake Elementary School, Dr. Timothy Plotts tplotts@jefftwp.org 

    Comments (-1)
  • 11/23 Preschool Program Update

    Posted by Mary Judge on 11/23/2022 8:00:00 AM

    The Jefferson Township Board of Education (JTBOE) is thrilled to announce that our district has been selected as a recipient of funding through the NJDOE Preschool Education Aid (PEA). These funds have been allocated to integrate six high-quality, full-day preschool classrooms right here in Jefferson Township, at no extra cost to taxpayers. 

    The program is scheduled to begin on January 3, 2023. Our staff has been working behind the scenes in anticipation of receiving these funds, hiring staff, and preparing space. Three of these preschool classes will be housed at Cozy Lake Elementary School and three will be located at Ellen T. Briggs Elementary School.

    “It is wonderful to be able to expand our preschool program and provide early childhood education to families in our community at no cost to our families,” stated Jeanne Howe, Superintendent, upon hearing our district will be receiving the funding.

    The district currently provides tuition-based, half-day general education preschool services to 81 families in Jefferson. The expansion funds will be used to eliminate tuition for existing general education preschool students and convert to a full-day model for all students. We are able to increase services by more than 40% to include approximately 35 additional children from our community in the preschool program. Our hopes for the next 3-5 years are to offer free, high-quality, full-day early learning programming to all three and four-year-olds in Jefferson Township, building a strong foundation for learning and success.

    Families enrolled in the existing program need not take any further action. Families interested in one of the 35 additional spots should complete this form to be included in a lottery drawing. The completed form must be received no later than Monday, November 28th. Families who had previously registered to be included in the lottery need not reapply.

    Registration requirements:

    • Student must be a resident of Jefferson Township;

    • Student must have turned 3 years old before October 1, 2022

    • Student must have up-to-date immunization records, a completed health history form, and a medical examination form to be completed by a pediatrician or health care provider.

    Families will be notified via email of the status of their application by December 2nd. 

    Families entitled to tuition reimbursement are being contacted separately.

    Any questions regarding the program can be directed to the building principals of their respective schools:

    Lake Hopatcong: Briggs Elementary School, Mrs. Randi DeBrito rdebrito@jefftwp.org
    Oak Ridge: Cozy Lake Elementary School, Dr. Timothy Plotts tplotts@jefftwp.org 

    Comments (-1)
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