Elementary school · Cherry Hill Public Schools
James Johnson Elementary
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This week
Full calendarLunch from the district's monthly menu. Whole month
Reminders
Nov30
Annual Flu Vaccine Deadline
Flu vaccine is due every year for children six months and older by November 30.
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Mar1
New Jersey School Vaccine Requirements for Child Care & Preschool (March 2026)
NJ requires children in child care centers and preschools to meet minimum immunization requirements based on the AAP childhood schedule. Doses required by 3 months: 1 DTaP, 1 IPV/OPV, 1 Hib, 1 PCV. By 5 months: 2 DTaP, 2 IPV/OPV, 2 Hib, 2 PCV. By 7 months: 3 DTaP, 2 IPV/OPV, 2-3 Hib, 3 PCV, 1 Flu. By 16 months: 3 DTaP, 2 IPV/OPV, 3-4 Hib, 4 PCV, 1 Flu, 1 MMR, 1 VAR. By 19 months: 4 DTaP, 3 IPV, 3-4 Hib, 4 PCV, 1 Flu, 1 MMR, 1 VAR. Children must show proof of at least one dose of each required vaccine before entry (provisional admission). Medical and religious exemptions are detailed in the Immunization of Children in Child Care Centers and Schools regulations (nj.gov/health/cd/imm_requirements/acode). Resources: NJ Immunization Requirements FAQ at nj.gov/health/cd/imm_requirements.
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Playgrounds closed to the public during SACC hours
All school playgrounds are closed to the public during School/Student-Age Child Care (SACC) hours, 7 am-6 pm, Monday-Friday. Please do not bring or send children to play on school grounds during these hours.
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Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) Welcome Back Video
Cherry Hill SEPAG invites parents to view their Welcome Back video for the 2026-2027 school year.
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Coming up
All datesOct26
Construction Project Tours - Rosa Middle School
Tours of recent bond referendum improvements at Rosa Middle School. Tour times: 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. Sign-ups are required to attend.
district
Oct26
Construction Project Tour at Rosa
6:00 PM
Join us to see the recent bond referendum improvements made at Giacamo S. Rosa Middle School! The community is invited to tour updated hallways and classrooms, the music suite, the cafeteria/auditorium area, and more.Construction Project Tours will be hosted on Monday, October 26th. There will be four groups of tours at varying times: 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.Sign-ups are required to attend. Please sign up online: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4AAFAC22A3F9C34-66465035-community
district
Oct26
SEPAG Meeting (Special Education Parent Advisory Group) on Zoom
7:30 PM
Monthly SEPAG meeting via Zoom with a presentation on 504 plans by Mr. George Zografos, Cherry Hill Supervisor of School Counseling, followed by SEPAG updates. RSVP to receive the meeting link.
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Oct27
Oct29
Oct31
Nov2
Nov2
Nov2
Board of Education Committee Meetings - Curriculum & Instruction
7:00 PM
Board of Education Committee Meeting: Curriculum & Instruction at Arthur Lewis Administration Building, 45 Ranoldo Terrace, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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Nov3
Board of Education Election Day
Election Day for Cherry Hill Board of Education.
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Nov5–6
Nov6–8
Who to contact
Full staff directory (87)
Amy Gokay
Cary Gaul
Elizabeth Foster
Fredericki Badekas
Hannah Park
Harleighanne Sprenkel
John Yun
Julianne Lantzy
Kwame Morton
Laura Bennett
Lauren Paris
Marion Berwer
Michele Davis
Miguel Torres
Minnie Tripolitis
Morgan Noll
Nefessa Wiggins
Olivia Hafner
Scott Shaw
Shawnn Parker
Shazi Khan
After-care
- Kid won't be at after-care today?Report it by 3:00 PM. Telling the teacher or school office does not count - after-care doesn't cross-check. Report a PM absence · After-care office 856-429-6564 ext. 1
- Someone else picking up?PM SACC absences must be reported by 3:00 PM the same day (QR code / online form, or call the SACC Office at 856-429-6564 ext. 1) - SACC does NOT cross-reference with the school, so a note or call to the school/teacher alone will NOT stop your child from being dismissed to SACC. AM SACC absences don't need to be reported. To change who is authorized to pick up your child, notify the SACC Office in writing (names of adults permitted to pick up, address/phone changes, etc.) - this can't be done verbally at pickup time.
- Running late?A $15.00 late fee is charged per child for each 15 minutes (or part thereof) after the 6:00 PM PM SACC closing time. If a child isn't picked up by closing time, staff first contact the parent-authorized pickup persons. 30 minutes after closing, if no authorized adult can be reached, staff call the DCP&P 24-Hour Child Abuse Hotline or Cherry Hill Police.
- Delays & early dismissalsOn a 2-hour delayed school opening, AM SACC is delayed 2 hours too; PM SACC hours are unaffected. On district early-dismissal days, SACC normally still runs but starts at 1:00 PM instead of after regular dismissal - except a separate list of early-dismissal days when PM SACC is closed entirely (dates change yearly - see the SACC Family Handbook for the current list). If SACC is cancelled for weather or an unforeseen district closure, no credit, refund, or schedule change is given.
- After-care Family Handbook
Buses & transportation
District pageTransportation office(856) 489-5851
Hours7:00 am - 4:30 pm daily
- Bus running late?Call the transportation office (7:00 am - 4:30 pm daily). When notified in advance, the Transportation Department will attempt to send an automated message for individual route delays of 20 minutes or more. As a friendly reminder, please be sure your contact information in Genesis is up to date for best service.
- Late bus after activitiesLate buses only run for the middle and high schools; there is no late bus at this school.
- Need a different stop for today?Permission to change buses, or bus stop, will be granted in cases of EMERGENCY ONLY. Students must ride on their assigned bus as well as get off the bus at their assigned stop. We will do our best to accommodate EMERGENCY situations that might require your child changing buses or pick-up and drop-off points for the current day. Requests to change bus stops must be sent to the principal in writing prior to 11:30am. The principal must approve any change in drop-off by signing the note. Upon approval, your request will be sent to the CHPS Transportation Department and the driver will be notified.
- Changing your regular bus stopValid bus stop change requests for existing bus stop locations will only be accepted until October 31st for the current school year. Following that date, only new move-in stops or extreme emergency changes will be considered. Bus stops must be consistent for time efficiency, student safety and driver's knowledge of route, especially substitutes. Bus stop change request form
- Left something on the bus?The CHPS Transportation Department's procedure is to have your student's driver hold on to anything found on the bus for 3 days before turning it over to the bus contractors’ office. Neither Cherry Hill Public Schools or our bus contractors are responsible for missing or damaged items. Lost items
- Weather closings & delaysSchool closing information
Transportation department staff (6)
Malberg Administration Building, 45 Ranoldo Terrace, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-0391
Documents
District budget
State budget reportCherry Hill Public Schools, 2026-27 budget, from New Jersey Department of Education files.
- Employee benefits2025-26: $54.1M → 2026-27: $61.4M (+13.6%)
- State school aidDown $857,788 from last year State aid file
- Local school tax levyUp 7.4% from last year
- Surplus budgeted to balance the budget2025-26: $13.1M → 2026-27: $3.8MPlanned amount, not what is left in reserve. Does not include capital or maintenance reserve withdrawals.
In the district's words
- Budget gap
largely due to state aid reductions, significant increases in health benefits and rising transportation costs
Budget Clarity Hub 2026-2027 - Reserves
mostly depleted
Budget Clarity Hub 2026-2027
Quoted from the district's own budget documents. The district may count costs differently from the state's figures above.
More from the newsletter
Programs (1)
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Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) Video Message
Video message from the Special Education Parent Advisory Group
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Clubs & organizations (1)
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Community Bulletin Board
Community Bulletin Board is available online. To have information shared, email publicinfo@chclc.org.
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Volunteering (1)
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Board of Education Vacancy Applications
Cherry Hill residents may apply to fill a Board of Education vacancy. The appointee serves until the Board's Organization Meeting in January 2028.
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Policy updates (2)
Nov30
Flu Vaccination Requirement - Mandatory by November 30, 2026
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services mandates that all children in childcare and all preschool students must receive a flu vaccine by November 30, 2026. After vaccination, parents must send a doctor's note with the date to the school nurse. Students without documentation cannot attend school beginning December 1, 2026. No extensions will be granted by the Department of Health.
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Wireless Communication Device Policy Update (Policy 5516.01)
Students must keep wireless communication devices (cell phones, smart watches, earbuds, wireless headphones) silenced and in a secure place during instructional periods. Smart watches may be worn but only for timekeeping. Students are prohibited from recording audio or video at all times. Exceptions apply for devices documented in IEPs, 504 plans, or Individual Health Plans with prior School Nurse permission. Discipline for violations is governed by the Student Code of Conduct.
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Procedures (1)
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Pep Rally & Early Dismissal Procedures
On Friday, October 9th, there will be a Pep Rally following an abbreviated schedule, beginning around 1:50 PM. For early dismissals occurring after 1:15 PM, an Express Sign-Out option is available for those who qualify. All early dismissals must be entered in the Genesis Parent Portal by 12:30 PM on October 9th. The person picking up the student must be listed in Genesis as an approved contact and present a government-issued ID upon arrival. Student drivers may only drive themselves from campus if they have an approved vehicle with a valid East parking pass.
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Initiatives (6)
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Financial Transparency Platform launched
CHPS launched its financial transparency platform, built with ClearGov, to share information on district financial plans and projects. Includes a video on how to navigate it.
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Clara Barton Bravo Tickets
Students recognized for positive choices, kindness, effort, and exemplary behavior earn Barton Bravo tickets, submitted for a chance to win a weekly prize. Part of the 2026-2027 schoolwide theme at Clara Barton Elementary.
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Bell-to-Bell Personal Device (PIED) Policy
District policy restricting cell phones and personal internet-enabled devices bell to bell. Governor Sherrill and Commissioner Laux visited Cherry Hill HS East to see it in action; students reported more connection and focus. Read the East Side coverage for more.
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Early Literacy Universal Screening
Cherry Hill Public Schools introduces the early literacy universal screening process for students in kindergarten through grade five. The screening assesses students' reading skills at least twice a year as required by New Jersey law; Cherry Hill will assess three times a year to track student progress. DIBELS 8 will be used as the screener, administered by a teacher or staff member in no more than 10 minutes. Families will receive a Family Report detailing their child's literacy screening results and information about available support services including reading intervention programs.
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People mentioned (1)
Jaiden Dalal
Senior Intern at The Drone Life
Pulled from the school's newsletter and website, and the district calendar.