A Note from the Principal’s Desk – 2.4.2022

 

Dear Hillside Parents/Caregivers:

 

Celebrating and educating all week long with Lunar New Year and BLM Week of Action activities!

Hillside students celebrate the Lunar New Year with a variety of authentic activities.

• Morning announcements highlighting the event.
• Students explored Lunar New Year traditions and customs through the Chinese New Year greetings, rhythms, songs and stories. Students also received their red-envelopes or pairs of chopsticks.
• Students worked on Chinese folk art-Paper cutting: Made the tiger year lanterns, paper cutting double happiness word “喜” and Spring word “春”.
• Students also played with 7-pieces Tangram and shuttlecocks.
• Students experienced using chopsticks.
• Students explored traditional fan-dance and ribbon dance.

 

Hillside students learn about Black History with a variety of historical activities.

• My History Matters – Black History from the Beginning
• My Music Matters – Freedom Songs
• My Money Matters – History of the 1921 Tulsa, OK Business District Massacre
• My Hair Matters – The Impact & History of Black/African Hair
• My Thoughts Matter – A Day of Reflection and Critical Thinking

 

Teachers reported to me that this week’s lessons promoted such in depth conversations with students. They all commented on how engaged and enthusiastic students were to share their thoughts and feelings. Many students demonstrate happiness for their culture to be intentionally included, a real feeling of being seen and a sense of belonging. The real work in action proves to be impacting our students in a positive way!

 

School-wide News…Be in the Know

Hillside Science Day 2022

We are approaching that time of year again…Science Day 2022!!! Our event will be held on April 1, 2022.  It will be a combination of in-school activities and virtual presentations. We are looking for several parents/relatives/friends/neighbors to serve on our Career Panel.  Each grade level will participate in a virtual panel discussion made up of 3 professionals in the science or engineering field. If you or someone you know would like to participate, please complete the Google Form by March 1, 2022.

 

PTA Happenings

Hillside Talent Show

The presentation of the 2022 Hillside Talent Show has been postponed until February 7th. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding.

PTA General Meeting 2/10 @ 7pm

All are invited to join our February PTA meeting. Register HERE in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Hillside Commemorative T-Shirt Design Vote

We received so many amazing and creative art pieces from YOU, Hillside students! It was very hard to narrow it down to 25. Hillside students, it’s your turn to vote for the TOP 3 pictures that you think most represent the Hillside Elementary School experience. Once we have your selections we will choose 16 pictures for our Hillside 2021-2022 Commemorative T-Shirt. Use your school email and password to access the Google form HERE to vote.

Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser

Popcorn..Popcorn..Popcorn…

Stay tuned for Hillside’s Double Good Pop Up Store School! The store opens Monday, Feb 21st at 2pm and closes on Feb 25th at 12noon. This is one fundraiser you do not want to miss!

Virtual BINGO Night

Hillside & Nishuane will host a FREE BINGO night February 25 at 7pm. Sign Up Genius, coming soon!

 

SATp Happenings

SATp Presents Hillside Skate Date Fundraiser: March 11, 2022 from 6:30pm-8:30pm

Let’s go ICE SKATING! Join us for our first ever Ice Skating event at Clary Anderson Ice Arena. The proceeds from this event will support future SATp activities and events such as Juneteenth, the Caribbean Heritage event, AAPI celebratory events, the First Day of School Celebration, and Bike Walk to School Day. We’ll enjoy music, staking, and an evening of laughter. Masks required!

Clary Anderson Arena is located at 41 Chestnut Street, Montclair, NJ.

Purchase your tickets HERE. Don’t forget to fill out your waiver!  With the generous effort of our PTA Spirit Wear team, Hooded Sweatshirts and other Hillside merchandise will be available for purchase at this event!

Want to volunteer at Skate Date? Sure! Click HERE to sign up! For more information, contact hillsidesatp@gmail.com.

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 CARES

Hillside CARES would like to thank our entire community for its generous donations of Blessing Bags last month for MLK Day. We donated more than 500 fully-assembled bags to the Salvation Army in Montclair, Family Promise of Essex County on Park St., and Isaiah House in East Orange.

So, let’s keep spreading some love. For Valentine’s Day, Hillside CARES will host a food drive to benefit Toni’s Kitchen and local organizations. Please send items in with your child between Feb. 14-18. Boxes will be stationed outside of each classroom. This initiative is part of our efforts to address food insecurity in our community.

To ensure that we receive a variety of items, each grade will be collecting certain things:

3rd GRADE: BREAKFAST ITEMS

4th GRADE: PASTA AND SIDES

5th GRADE: CANNED GOODS AND SNACKS

For more information, contact Mrs. Samira Harris (sharris@montclair.k12.nj.us) or Christina Joseph Robinson (classliaison@hillsidepta.org)

 

SEPAC News

Hillside SEPAC Parent Liaison Group

Here is the list of the upcoming SEPAC meeting this month.  All SEPAC members, as well as members of the community, are invited to attend:

Coming up:  Feb. 28, 2022 – 7:00 pm – Montclair SEPAC Meet the Candidates  – SEPAC has invited the School Board Candidates to the February 28th General Meeting to share their thoughts and ideas in regards to special education.  More details to follow.

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/

 

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:

School Counselor’s Week 2/7-2/11

Monday 2/7: Talent Show 6:30PM

Thursday 2/10: PTA/SATp Meeting 6:30PM

 

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