Superintendent announces school start dates, orientation schedule and calendar correction

Superintendent Swaddell told the Township of Ocean School District board that faculty return and student orientations are scheduled for early September and that the district corrected a calendar error that conflicted with the start of Rosh Hashanah.

Swaddell said preschool and kindergarten orientations, including OTES, Wanamasa and Wayside, and freshman orientation at the high school are scheduled for Sept. 3. "First day of school for all students is next Thursday, September 4," she said. She added that next week begins with faculty planning days and that athletic seasons are starting with an opening game at Spartan Stadium.

Swaddell said students' schedules and teachers are available through the Genesys parent portal and that bus passes were emailed from the district's transportation vendor: "They were sent from a Transfinder, email address. So if you did not receive that email, parents, you can contact your school's main office and they can assist you there." She also notified parents that a back-to-school night originally listed for Sept. 22 at the intermediate school was moved to Sept. 25 after staff learned sundown that day begins Rosh Hashanah.

The superintendent closed by noting materials and communications will be available to families and that the district plans recognition later in the meeting during the voting session. The transcript records no formal board action associated with these announcements; they were informational remarks from administration.