A Note from the Principal’s Desk – 10.22.2021
Dear Hillside Parents/Caregivers:
We hope you are well. We lucked out with beautiful summer-like weather for most of the week, where students were able to enjoy some classes outdoors. We continue to observe all of the hard work our teachers, staff, and students across all grade levels are putting into their learning. On Monday, we look forward to our 3rd graders beginning their Cycle 1 aesthetics classes and moving about the building more independently.
School-wide News…Be in the Know
Desk Shields:
In regards to the district’s communication regarding student desk shields, if you would like for your child/children to no longer use a desk shield during academic instruction, please email your child’s teacher directly.
3rd Grade CI/Aesthetics
Classes begin Monday 10/25/21. Printed copies of the schedules will be provided to students Monday morning.
Cast of Characters Parade
On Friday, October 29th at 2:45pm we will host a Cast of Characters Parade around the school grounds. For the parade ONLY (not the school day in its entirety) students will be allowed to dress like their favorite character, using their imagination, and allowing their creativity to shine!
Pooled Testing to Begin the Week of October 25th
Excerpt from Community Message No. 3: We will be testing once a week at every school. The results will come back within 48 hours. If a positive test is found, those students/staff in the pool will be notified and individualized COVID testing will be performed for them by Ginkgo Bioworks following all necessary safety protocols. At no time will students be intermingling during this individual testing period. When a positive case is identified, we will follow our routine contact tracing and notifications will be done. Pooled testing will take place at Hillside on Tuesdays, and Antigen testing on Thursdays, if/as needed.
When to Quarantine Guidelines
PTA Happenings
Hillside Car Wash
Need a car wash? Let the Hillside PTA take care of that!
This Saturday, October 23, 2021 join us from 1:00pm-4:00pm in the Hillside Parking lot
Basic Clean Car Wash & Exterior Wash and Dry $10
Volunteers, please bring latex gloves and dress to get wet!
Rain boots are recommended
Trunk or Treat on the Hill
Friday, Oct 29, 2021
5:30pm-7:00pm
Free admission
Donations are welcomed 🙂
This community event is for Hillside students and their siblings. This is NOT a public event.
Hillside Coat Drive
Starting Monday, October 18, until Friday, November 19th, please drop off your CLEAN and GENTLY-USED adult, kids and infant WINTER coats in the collection bins outside of Door K, parking lot entrance. Last year, Hillside collected over 150 coats for the Jersey Cares Coat Drive. Let’s show our Hillside spirit and get to 175 coats this year!!!
Election Day Bake Sale
We Need YOU to work the Election Day Bake Sale. November 2th 11am-2pm. Sign up here! https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10c0a4aa4a622a6fa7-ptaelection
Sabor Montclair
Let’s celebrate the unique “sabor” that our Latinx community members bring to Montclair! On October 30th, the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence (MFEE) is hosting Sabor Montclair, a fundraiser to support the growth of its newest program Navegadores Escolares. Simply pre-order a tasty take-out meal, and you will be donating to help grow and expand Navegadores Escolares. And now all donations up to $5,000 will be matched by an anonymous donor! Navegadores Escolares supports our growing community of English Language Learners. ELL students and their families face significant barriers to meaningful participation in our schools and community; language and other barriers also make it difficult to access resources. MFEE has been recruiting, training and supporting Spanish-speaking “parent navigators” who are matched with an ELL student and their family. The Navegador provides direct hands-on support to help the student and family thrive in our schools and community. To learn more, donate, and to reserve your dinner, visit givebutter.com/sabormontclair.
Monthly SEPAC Parent/Caregiver Meeting
The next SEPAC meeting of the school year will be held on October 27, 2021. The meeting is a Parent Support meeting and is open to our SEPAC members who are parents and caregivers. The Zoom meeting info will be available shortly.
Hillside SEPAC Liaison
Hillside, we are looking for a SEPAC liaison for our school. If you are interested, please email ptapres@hillsidepta.org
Message from Ms. Scott (School Counselor)
Hello Hillside Families! I have a lot to say today LOL so please keep reading for important information.
“Lunch Bunch” groups will begin in October. Lunch bunch groups will take place during your child’s lunch/recess period so your child will miss their recess once per 6-day cycle or, for 3rd graders, one day per week. For example, a 4th or 5th grade student might have “Lunch Bunch” every 1st A Day or 3rd B Day, whereas a 3rd grader might have it every Wednesday. If you think your child would benefit from participating in a “Lunch Bunch” group please complete the In Need of Counseling Survey so I will have a better idea of their needs.
In honor of National Bullying Prevention Month, the first “Topic Tuesday” was about Bullying. Here is a recording of the information provided. Topic Tuesday- Bullying
As always, I am here to support our Hillside families in any way I can. In addition to email (sscott@montclair.k12.nj.us), I can be reached at 973.509.4200 x4297. Additionally please ask your child to join Ms. Scott’s Google Classroom (class code jzelps7). They will be able to access the I Need to See Ms. Scott Google form there. Lastly, here is the In Need of Counseling Survey parents can use to let me know if your child could use my help. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns about your child’s social-emotional well being.
Note from Nurse Boyle
Hello Hillside Families and Friends!
I hope you are all doing well! Please remember to give your child one or two extra masks. Sometimes they break or get soiled during the course of the day. Please contact me if you have any questions about illness in your home. If a child is testing for Covid symptoms all unvaccinated siblings must stay home until the student testing obtains a negative PCR. The Montclair Schools are only accepting PCR Covid tests.The test must have the student’s name on it. Please make sure you email or fax me the PCR test. My email is rboyle@montclair.k12.nj.us. My fax number is 973-509-1882. If your unvaccinated student is traveling please let me know when they will be returning to NJ. They will have to quarantine prior to returning to school. I will be happy to discuss the quarantine guidelines with you. All this information is on the district webpage. Have a great weekend! Nurse Boyle
Important Dates:
Saturday 10/23: Hillside Car Wash 12-4PM
Friday 10/29: Cast of Character Parade 245PM/ Trunk or Treat 530PM
Best 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