By this point in the school year, the first-day excitement has settled into something even more meaningful: momentum.
Classrooms are humming. Students know their routines. Teachers are deep into instruction. Friendships are forming, challenges are being worked through, and learning is happening every day across Lawrence Township Public Schools. The 2026-27 school year is officially underway, and I could not be more pleased with the start we have had.
One of the things I love most about this time of year is seeing the little moments that tell us our schools are doing what they are meant to do. A preschooler who is becoming more comfortable separating from a parent. A student who raises a hand for the first time. A teacher who discovers a new way to reach a student. Friends reconnecting after the summer. A student finding a club, team, class or adult who makes them feel like they have found their place.
We were reminded of that sense of excitement when we welcomed Governor Mikie Sherrill and New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner Lily Laux to Eldridge Park Elementary during the second week of school. The visit was a surprise to our students, and their excitement was unmistakable. The Governor’s Office had reached out because the Governor wanted to visit a school at the beginning of the school year and welcome students back. We were honored that they selected LTPS and especially delighted that our families at Eldridge Park got to be part of the experience.
We are seeing that same energy in our Cardinal Kids Preschool classrooms, where our youngest Cardinals are well into their first school experiences. With our preschool program continuing to grow, it has been wonderful to see our youngest learners exploring, playing, communicating and beginning to see themselves as members of our school community.
This year, we are also being intentional about how we build connections beyond the classroom. Our annual “Welcome to the Neighborhood” event returned for its second year, but this time we amplified the experience and made it more interactive. More than 150 families came out to connect with local organizations, programs and resources. The goal was simple: make it easier for families to find the people and resources that can support them, while creating opportunities for our community to come together.
That is what meaningful engagement looks like to me. It is not simply putting information in front of families and hoping they find what they need. It is creating opportunities for people to connect, ask questions, build relationships and become active participants in their school community. Our back-to-school nights, community partnerships, family workshops, and districtwide events all play a role in that work.
And while our schools are busy with the everyday work of teaching and learning, there is another kind of momentum happening across the district. Our referendum projects are becoming increasingly visible. The Lawrence Middle School auditorium is nearing the finish line and is expected to open later this fall. Soon, the LMS campus will also see the next major phase of construction with the two-story addition, bringing new classrooms, a new gymnasium, cafeteria, courtyard and other improvements to the seventy-five year old building.
As I walk through our schools and see all of these pieces coming together, I am reminded that a successful school year is built one connection, one lesson, one conversation and one student at a time.
We are off and running. There is still a long way to go this school year, but the momentum is strong. I am grateful for the energy our students bring to our schools, the commitment of our staff, the partnership of our families and the many community members who continue to show up for our children.
The best part is that we are just getting started.
Dr. Robyn Klim is the Superintendent of the Lawrence Township Public Schools.
