A Note from the Principal’s Desk – 1.14.2022
Dear Hillside Parents/Caregivers:
I hope this message finds you and your families in good health. This communication is chock full, please take the time to read it. Observed each year on the third Monday in January as “a day on, not a day off,” MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.
His The History of MLK Day: The concept of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a holiday was promoted by labor unions. After King’s death, US representative John Conyers and US Senator Edward Brooke introduced a bill in Congress to make King’s birthday a national holiday. The bill first came to a vote in the US House of Representatives in 1979; however, it fell five votes short of the number needed for passage. Two of the main arguments mentioned by opponents were that a paid holiday for federal employees would be too expensive and that a holiday to honor a private citizen would be contrary to longstanding tradition, as King never held public office. At the time, only two other figures had national holidays honoring them: George Washington and Christopher Columbus.
Soon after, the King Center looked for support from the corporate community and the general public. The success of this strategy was cemented when musician Stevie Wonder released the single “Happy Birthday” to popularize the campaign in 1980 and hosted the Rally for Peace Press Conference in 1981. Six million signatures were collected for a petition for Congress to pass the law, and is considered the largest petition in favor of an issue in US history.
President Reagan originally opposed the holiday, citing cost concerns. But on November 2, 1983, Reagan signed a bill, proposed by Representative Katie Hall, to create a federal holiday honoring King. The bill had passed the Senate by a count of 78 to 22, and the House of Representatives by 338 to 90. The holiday was observed for the first time on January 20, 1986. It’s observed on the third Monday of January rather than directly on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday because it follows the guidelines of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
The culmination of our learning week was our annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Assembly. This assembly is a student run program to highlight the life and lessons learned by Dr. King. The program was created virtually and shared with all teachers and students.
SATp – Hillside Cares Week of Service: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Let’s spread some kindness and love to our neighbors. Blessing Bags can be dropped off outside the school on MLK Day (Monday, Jan. 17) between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Volunteers will be there to receive the bags. Cards for Peace Notes will be available to draft on site. For more information, contact Christina Joseph Robinson at classliaison@hillsidepta.org or Mrs. Samira Harris at sharris@montclair.k12.nj.us. Thank you all for supporting this initiative!
**At the upcoming BOE meeting (Wednesday, 1/19/22 at 7:30pm), Choral Director Sung Park and our Hillside Chorus will share a video performance of “Music Changes the World” by Jim Papoulis. Please join us!**
School-wide News…Be in the Know
The Dr. Ponds’ Virtual Option is for 10 school days, which began on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.
We are recognizing the tenth school day as Wednesday, January 19, 2022. All Virtual Option students must return to school in-person on Thursday, January 20, 2022.
SATp Happenings
Schoolwide Lesson Planning
Black History Month and Black Lives Matter Week of Action is right around the corner. We will be working on these lesson plans next week January 17th – January 23rd. The delivery deadline is MONDAY JANUARY 24th. If you are interested, please contact Jennifer DiLullo (jenndilullo@gmail.com) ASAP.
PTA Happenings
Hillside T-Shirt Design Contest
Calling all 3rd, 4th and 5th graders! Where are our Hillside ARTISTS? We are still waiting for you to create the Hillside Commemorative t-shirt! All students are invited to create art that may be featured on our 2021-2022 Hillside Commemorative T-Shirts. Students will then choose the sixteen winning pieces of art. The chosen T-shirts will be on sale in February. Entries are due by January 24, 2022.
PTA Membership Raffle
The Hillside PTA Membership Game is BACK! The first ten NEW members to join will be entered into a raffle to win a $25 gift card to the local business of their choice.
Hillside PTA Membership – Join HERE
Winter Explorers
The online Registration for Winter Explorers opened on Thursday, January 6th and will close on Thursday, January 13th at 8pm. All classes will begin on January 24th. To request a Explorers scholarship, please email explorershillside@gmail.com the following information, NO LATER THAN January 12, 2022.
1) Your child’s first and last name, grade and homeroom teacher
2) Top 3 class choices
3) Any allergies (if requesting a cooking class)
4) Does your child go to aftercare? Y/N
5) Parent/Guardian contact information – name(s) and phone number(s)
2021-2022 Committee Volunteers Needed
Hillside Social Justice: We are currently looking for a volunteer to possibly work alongside Jenn DiLullo this year to take on her role as Parent Administrator in 2022. If you’re interested or would like more information, contact hillsidesatp@gmail.com
Hillside SEPAC Parent Liaison Group
Happy New Year from Hillside SEPAC! If you have special education issues, concerns or disability focused topics you would like the Hillside SEPAC group to explore, please email us at sepac@hillsidepta.org. You can also follow SEPAC at (3) Montclair SEPAC | Facebook or check out SEPAC’s website at https://montclairpta.org/sepac/
Here is the list of the upcoming SEPAC meeting beginning this month and into next:
Jan. 31, 2022 – 7:00 pm – Tentative topic – Self Care for Parents and Caregivers
Feb. 28, 2022 – 7:00 pm – Tentative topic – Assistive Technology Presentation
Join Zoom Meeting HERE Meeting ID: 823 1203 1673 Passcode: 868269
Message from Ms. Scott (School Counselor)
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) where they will be able to access the I Need to See Ms. Scott Google form. 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! Please note that the CDC changed it’s Covid isolation/quarantine guidelines for the general public. Our guidelines for schools have not changed. Positive cases must isolate for 10 full days. If your child develops Covid like symptoms please get them tested. Please do not send your child to school while waiting for test results. The health department does not accept home tests as a definitive Covid diagnosis. Please obtain a test from your child’s doctor or testing center. Please send me a copy of the test. If your child is not fully vaccinated and is exposed to a Covid positive person please contact me so I can review the quarantine procedure with you. Have a great weekend! Nurse Boyle
Important Dates:
Monday 1/17/22: School Closed MLK Day
Wednesday 1/19/22: BOE Meeting 7:30PM
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