A Note from the Principal’s Desk – 4.1.2021
Dear Hillside Community,
Mr. Adamo and I are beyond ecstatic to finally be opening our school doors on April 12th! However excited we are, we must remind you all that your honesty and vigilance is required for everyone’s health and safety.
According to information outlets, New Jersey currently has the highest rate of new COVID-19 infections in the nation, likely fueled at least in part by the presence of large numbers of viral variants that state health officials are having a tough time quantifying due to the dearth of specialized testing.
As you know we are opening for grades PreK-5 in-person, hybrid teaching and learning on April 12 and the District is closed April 2 through April 9 for Good Friday and spring break. We hope you enjoy a relaxing time, but please be mindful of the travel guidance now and throughout the rest of the school year. For your reference, here is the travel guidance as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and New Jersey Department of Health.
CDC & NJDOH HIGHLIGHT: Travelers and residents returning from any U.S. state or territory beyond the immediate region (New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Delaware) should self-quarantine at their home,
However, we must remain vigilant for each other’s health and safety. As you know we are opening for grades PreK-5 in-person, hybrid teaching and learning on April 12 and the District is closed April 2 through April 9 for Good Friday and spring break. We hope you enjoy a relaxing time, but please be mindful of the travel guidance now and throughout the rest of the school year. For your reference, here is the travel guidance as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and New Jersey Department of Health.
The most important information to reference is: Travelers and residents returning from any U.S. state or territory beyond the immediate region (New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Delaware) should self-quarantine at their home, hotel, or other temporary lodging following recommendations from the CDC:
- If travel is unavoidable, travelers should consider getting tested with a viral test (not an antibody test) 1-3 days before the trip and again 3-5 days after the trip.
- If travelers test positive, they should self-isolate for at least 10 days and should postpone travel during that time.
- If travelers test negative, they should quarantine for a full 7 days after travel.
- If testing is not available (or if the results are delayed), travelers should quarantine for 10 days after travel.
The advisory is no longer specific to certain states. Because of the high number of case counts across all states, there is an increased risk of spread of COVID-19 upon return from any travel.
The self-quarantine is voluntary, but compliance is expected. Travelers arriving from areas with increasing COVID-19 cases may wish to postpone their travel to the region if they are unwilling or unable to follow the quarantine advisory.
HYBRID Updates/Reminders:
- Hillside Hybrid Plan – Hillside School Hybrid Plan – Families (4/1/21) for your review. The plan has NOT changed since the original distribution in January. This plan includes:
- Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
- Grade-Level Schedules
- Morning Related Arts Schedules
- Hybrid In-person Rotation Calendar
- Chromebooks
- Students returning to the building are expected to bring their district issued devices with them daily
- Students who had not originally been issued a Chromebook will be issued one
- Students should NOT bring personal devices to school
- Daily Health Questionnaire – All families are required to complete the daily health questionnaire. The form will be available in Genesis Parent Access on the day of your child’s rotation for hybrid learning. If you believe your child should stay home, please contact nurse Rosemarie Boyle at (973) 509-4200 ext 4192; email address is rboyle@montclair.k12.nj.us. Per District guidelines, if you do not complete the form, your child will not be permitted to enter their classroom and you will receive a call from the office.
School-wide Mentions:
Calling all Families – Your Application Matters
The District has an amazing opportunity to apply for and pursue Federal and State funding that would allow us to provide Pre-K education. In order to receive this funding, we need your help, and it’s simple. We need all families to fill out and submit the lunch application form. Please access the form, even if you are declining, by simply checking the box DECLINED. We need to be accountable for everyone. Additionally, if you applied in the past and were declined, and your situation has changed, you may qualify at this time. Also, printable applications are available in English and Spanish. If you cannot access the online application, please call your school’s principal or our Business Office at 973-509-4059 for a paper copy. Completing this application is critical and will get us closer to applying for resources that will help our students. We will have community volunteers willing and able to assist anyone, anytime with applications. As always, all information is secure and confidential. Thank you for your time in completing the application.
Student Dismissal Form
If you have not already done so, and your child is starting In-Person Instruction, please fill out the student dismissal form Student Dismissal Form
Aesthetics
4/12/21-4/16/21 A1 Week – Check the Hybrid Plan for the schedule.
Add/Drop Cycle 3
The Add/Drop period for Cycle 3 will close on Thursday, April 1st. Please be sure to submit any and all requests by 2:00 tomorrow. The add/drop form has been included one last time below:
2021-2022 Open Hillside PTA Officer Positions – 4/1 @ 6pm
Due to an error with the Zoom link, the PTA Nominating Committee Information Session to discuss and answer questions about open PTA Officer and Committee leadership positions has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 1, at 6:00pm. The PTA apologizes for the confusion and we hope to see many of you on Thursday evening.
Join here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84868744025?pwd=dkRqdlEvREI0T0JVS2kybUk0QkNkQT09
Meeting ID: 848 6874 4025
Passcode: j0ATw5
Hillside Peer Socialization Clubs
There’s still time to sign up to be a part of the Hillside Peer Socialization clubs. The groups are forming and the energy is truly amazing. We are excited to bring these wonderful opportunities to our students! Please follow this link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054EA9AF29A4F58-hillside6
AAPI Montclair
In the light of the rise in anti-Asian harassment, both nationally and locally, a group of Montclair parents have created a new Facebook Group, AAPI Montclair, to facilitate connection, communication, support and action within and on behalf of the Montclair Asian American and Pacific Islander community. AAPIs and parents of AAPIs are welcome to join this Facebook group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/199805895272984/?ref=share
A group of AAPI parents have also drafted a letter requesting that affirmative steps be taken within the school district and the schools to proactively address the rise in anti-Asian harassment and violence as part of a broader set of actions to promote anti-racism, anti-xenophobia and cultural competency. The letter is linked here for your review and consideration. It will be sent this week so concerns can be shared before students return to in-person school.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2LOJnhGsdmYTisRr2KZfriJpoHOiFYfPpmhD4fZ3euAv74Q/viewform
PTAC Announcements
Montclair Schools 101, Transition to Elementary/Middle School – 4/14 @ 6:30pm or 8pm
Are you registering your child for elementary school next year? Do you have a 5th grader transitioning to middle school?
Since it’s not possible to visit the schools in the current environment, PTAC is doing the next best thing– we’re gathering all of the PTA Presidents in one (virtual) place to talk about their schools, the culture, the schedules, the vibes…. Note we cannot answer registration questions.
Join us on Wednesday, April 14th at 6:30 pm (elementary schools) or 8 pm (middle schools) for this exciting event. Preregister here:
elementary schools:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUtd-Crpj4qH9ToCRleEepqboNpIchF6y7c
middle schools:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwsdOCprz8tGNXKJ3b3l37ka4LNelcGwQzG
MPS Budget Process meeting recordings
The recordings for PTAC’s Understanding the MPS Budget Process meetings are now available.
Part 1 was on March 4, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYZ6kQbHBRg
Part 2 was on March 25, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C4r0Z4zkEc&t=27s
MFEE FundRACER 4.0
We swore that the MFEE (Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence) Amazing FundRACER 3.0 would be our last, but after we’ve all been battling a global pandemic, we realized we had to offer an opportunity to test all those skills you’ve developed in quarantine WITH your quaranTEAMS! That’s right. The MFEE Amazing FundRACER 4.0: Clash of the Quaranteams is coming on Sunday May 23rd. Recruit 6 or less people (kids included!) to race around Montclair in a mini-version of the competition show The Amazing Race – minus the $1 million prize and the worldwide travel. This version is just as exciting and more impactful: a portion of the funds raised from this community-wide event will go to expanding MFEE’s work on race and equity in our community and schools. Sign-up your quaranteam TODAY; space is limited.* To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/mfeefundracer4_registration. (*MFEE will follow all Covid protocols including masks and social distancing. At no point will there be large gatherings, and teams will be able socially distanced during challenges. There will be a staggered start to control crowds, and there will be no in-person spectators.)
A Message from Ms. Scott
“Hillside HumpYAY Hangouts” will be on pause for the first week of hybrid learning as we adjust to the new schedule. Need to See Ms. Scott Form.
A Message from Nurse Boyle:
Hello Hillside Families and Friends! I hope you have a wonderful spring break!
If you are a new student to the Montclair School District I need your physicals. I need physicals and vaccines even during remote learning. If you are returning to hybrid learning in April and your child has emergency medication please send me the medication forms prior to April 12th. Here is the link for the medication forms My phone number is (973) 509-4200 ext 4192. My email address is rboyle@montclair.k12.nj.us
Important Dates:
Wednesday 3/31: Abbreviated Day/Evening Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday 4/1: Abbreviated Day/Afternoon Parent Teacher Conferences
Friday 4/2: Good Friday, District Closed
Monday 4/5 – Friday 4/9: Spring Break!!! Enjoy
Monday 4/12: WELCOME BACK!!!!!!
Kind regards,
Samanthaa
Samanthaa Lennon Anglin, Ed.D.
Principal
Hillside Elementary School ~ Gifted and Talented Magnet
54 Orange Rd., Montclair, NJ
Phone: (973) 509-4200
Fax: (973) 509-1448
Follow us on Twitter: @Hillside_MPS