A Note from the Principal’s Desk – 2.25.2022
Dear Hillside Parents/Caregivers:
After more than 20 years in the Montclair Public Schools, PHYLLIS LOWENTHAL will be retiring on Mar 1, 2022. Here are her reflective words on her farewell, “This is a bittersweet decision and one that I have given much thought to especially during these challenging times. I have cherished my many years with your children and in my partnership with you and your family. Your children have provided me with much joy, laughter, fun and pride. I have learned from your children, grown as a professional, developed traits that helped to support your children in their speech and language program and social-emotional growth.” We owe a great deal of gratitude to Phyllis for her commitment and dedication to the children of Montclair. Her enthusiasm and expertise will be hard to match. Phyllis, we wish you many years ahead that are filled with good health, joy, adventure, and much deserved family time.
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.
Water Bottles
Water fountain drinking stations are not activated, water bottle filling stations are activated. Please send your child to school with a water bottle daily.
Traveling Troupe Auditions (4th and 5th Grade Students)
Greetings everyone! Get ready to fire up the Tour Bus, because the time has come for Hillside School’s Traveling Troupe auditions for Spring 2022. Students involved with Traveling Troupe will rehearse an original script that combines acting, singing, and dancing, to perform for our annual Spring Concert this coming May. Our Traveling Troupe will then take their show on the road, literally, and present their showcase to various venues around the Montclair area. To find out when and how your child can audition for Traveling Troupe, as well as be provided with some audition pieces, please click HERE. More information regarding Traveling Troupe auditions will follow soon, so STAY TUNED!!!!!
Hillside Cares Food Drive
The food drive was a big success! 60 full bags of groceries were collected for the Montclair Community and hundreds of non-perishable food items were donated to Toni’s Kitchen. Thanks for your support on this initiative.
News from SATp
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!
Purchase your tickets here at https://my.cheddarup.com/c/satp-presents-hillside-skate-date. 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!
We still need a few volunteers for the skate date. Want to volunteer at Skate Date? Sure! Click here to sign up!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a094bada82da6fc1-satp
For more information, contact hillsidesatp@gmail.com
News from the PTA
Fireball 2022
Fireball is coming! The Fireball is a fundraiser to benefit Nishuane and Hillside Elementary Schools that is held every other year. The Fireball is a great time to connect with Hillside friends old and new! Get jazzed up and get ready to enjoy a night out.
The Hillside and Nishuane PTA have secured Saturday, June 4, 2022 from 7pm-10pm to hold the fundraiser at the Glen Ridge Country Club.
Want to help make Fireball 2022 a success!? We are looking for a wide variety of volunteers to help out! Please review our Fireball Committee Sign Up Form and sign up if you can donate your time or talents!
POSTPONED: Virtual BINGO Night
The Hillside & Nishuane FREE BINGO night has been postponed. Stay tuned for a new date!
MFEE Grant
Hillside WE ARE SOOOOOO CLOSE TO POSSIBLY WINNING a $2,000 MFEE Grant for MFEE’s annual appeal!! As of this morning, we are only $340 behind MHS!!! AMAZING!!! The last day to contribute is 2/28! We have 37 supporters, CHB has 44 and MHS has 28.
If you feel it in your heart to donate here is the link!! $20 will go a long way!! The more supporters the better!!! https://givebutter.com/mfeeforthem2022/hillside
DOT Class Leader
Calling all DOT parents!! We are looking for a DOT Class Leader to help with Promoting DOT and getting performances lined up for them for the rest of the school year. Please contact the Hillside PTA ptapres@hillsidepta.org if you are interested in helping this amazing group share their talents with others!
Hillside SEPAC Parent Liaison Group
Hillside SEPAC Parent Liaison Group
Please remember to check out the new SEPAC Winter Newsletter here: SEPAC Winter Newsletter. There is a lot of great information including the upcoming BOE Candidates Forum, goals for the remainder of the year and increased opportunities for members to volunteer and advocate through their role in SEPAC.
February 28th, 7:00 pm – SEPAC Meet the Candidates Zoom – SEPAC has invited all the candidates to their next general meeting to share thoughts and ideas about special education. Please submit your questions to SEPAC by February 21st at MontclairSEPAC@gmail.com A Zoom link and additional details will be sent out the week prior to the meeting.
The Volunteer Lawyers for Justice are holding two parent/caregiver workshops on the topic of compensatory education.
SPAN will be hosting the following upcoming virtual events:
REAL Transition Partners: Discussion on VR, Pre-ets & the IPE – February 22, 2022
Time: 11:00AM – 12:30PM
This workshop will be presented by the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition, NTACT – The Collaborative. The following topics will be discussed: Individualized Plan for Employment, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Pre-employment Transition Services.
NJ Resources and Options for Families – February 22, 2022
Time: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
This workshop will discuss resources and information SPAN can provide to families as well as various other organizations and agencies that help families.
Eye to Eye has recently shared information about scholarships for students with learning differences.
The New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education will be hosting a virtual inclusion leadership conference in March.
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/
PTAC Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee of the Montclair Council of PTAs (PTAC), invites all parents, caregivers and community members to submit nominations to serve as officers on the PTAC Executive Committee for the 2022-2024 term. You may self-nominate or nominate others by filling out this form by March 1, 2022.
If you, or a person who you wish to nominate, are not a member of a Montclair PTA, you (or they) may join any of the Montclair Public School PTAs here. PTA membership is required to participate on the board.
Please see brief descriptions of the open positions in the nomination form or the PTAC By-laws with more detailed descriptions of the open positions (see pgs 6-7).
If you have any questions, feel free to contact any of the PTAC Nominating Committee members:
● Brian Giardina Bgiardina1@gmail.com
● Melissa Thorpe mthorpe31@gmail.com
● Deborah Villarreal deborah.villarreal@gmail.com
● Amira Williams amirabw@gmail.com
Thank you for taking the time to think about these parent leader roles that support our PTAs as they support all children, families, and teachers.
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:
Read Across America Week
Monday 2/28:Gymnastics Dance Showcase Rescheduled
Tuesday 3/1: First Day of Women’s History Month
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