A Note from the Principal’s Desk – 4.8.2022
Dear Hillside Parents/Caregivers:
Whether it’s test day, a major assignment is due, the Internet is down, or things just aren’t going as planned, school-related stress can affect students of all ages. The countdown to spring break is in full swing and it can’t come soon enough for some of our students. Please take the time to speak with your kids regarding items that may be overwhelming for them. Additionally, take time to plan family activities that will allow everyone, quality, fun filled time together.
When you’re out and about this weekend, pick-up a copy of the Montclair Local. In this week’s edition, our very own Liam Langton and Christopher Thompson, fifth graders here at Hillside had an interview entitled The talk of Tinga featured in the Montclair Kids News section. Additionally in this section of the newspaper, Talia Dinour and Viola Folkenflik who are fourth graders here at Hillside had an article entitled Opinion: Time for lunch reform. This article was accompanied by the graphic work of Lily Rudelson and Sophia Camacho, fourth graders here at Hillside, who surveyed their Hillside Gazette classmates, asking “Which do you like better, pizza or pasta?”
As we prepare for the weekend, I would like to extend a moment for recognition of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Yesterday, on April 7th a bipartisan group of Senators confirmed Judge Jackson’s nomination, making her the first black woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the land and the only part of the federal judiciary specifically required by the Constitution.
Let’s hear a round of applause for our Hillside students and for Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson!!!
School-wide News…Be in the Know
Wear it Wednesdays are back!
Please join us in starting up our weekly themed days with Crazy Hat/Hair Day 4.13.22.
CogAT score
Detailed information regarding Gifted and Talented Education and understanding CogAT scores can be found on the MPS K-8 Gifted and Talented Education page found on the Department of Equity, Curriculum, and Instruction page of the MPS district website.
Free COVID-19 Vaccines
Let’s Get Vaccinated, Montclair ~ Saturday, April 9th from 10am – 2pm. Check out the FLIER for more details.
Calling All 5th Graders
For the first time EVER, the Hillside fifth graders have the opportunity to design the Yearbook cover and the front of the fifth-grade End of the Year t-shirt! If you are interested, you can enter the contest. Submit a drawing on an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of plain white paper (printer paper). All backgrounds must remain white and there should be very limited shading. Keep in mind that the t-shirt design will not have many colors on it. The theme of this year’s yearbook and t-shirt is “What Makes Hillside Special?” All drawings must be submitted to Mrs. Hart in room 226 or Mrs. DesLonde in room 128 by MONDAY, MAY 2. Please include your first and last name on the back of your drawing. Each student may only submit ONE drawing. Voting will take place on Friday, May 6.
News from the PTA
Hillside Commemorative T-Shirt Deadline Extended
Our Hillside Commemorative T-shirt Sale has been extended until April 14th. Grab a shirt for the entire family and represent Hillside in town! We have two style shirts available:
- Short Sleeved White T-shirt – $25
- Raglan/Baseball Shirt with Black Sleeves – $30
Sizes are selling out quickly! We have Youth S-XL and Adult S-3XL. Shirts will be delivered in May. Visit our Memberhub Website to place your order today.
Fireball 2022
Fireball tickets are burning HOT! We SOLD OUT of all the early bird tickets and 114 tickets remain at the regular price. Get your ticket NOW! This will be a sold out event. Can’t attend but still would like to donate? Any amount that you can donate is greatly appreciated! Click HERE to purchase tickets or donate.
International Night
Save the Date! On May 19th from 6PM-8PM Join Hillside for International Night. Bless us with your FOOD by volunteering to prepare a dish, dessert or to help out. Sign up HERE!
Yearbook Shout Outs
Hills Yearbook Shout Outs are here! ALL Families can order a Shout Out for the Hillside 5th Grade Yearbook. A Shout Out is a short message, about 2-3 lines of text or 10-20 words and can be to a student, sibling, teacher or friend. Each Shout Out is $5.00 and is paid to the Hillside PTA to support the yearbook. Submissions must be sent by Friday, May 4th, to be included in the Yearbook.
Some examples of a Shout Out are:
- Way to go Julia!! We are so proud of you!! Love, Mom, Dad & Ryan
- Ashley!! We are dancers, fashionistas, and besties! C U at Glenfield! Claire
- THANK YOU Ms. Hart for making 5th grade the best year ever! Will miss you! Henry
Please use the Cheddar Up Link HERE to create your shout out!
Mother’s Day Plant Sale
Stay tuned for the Hillside Mother’s Day Plant Sale! More details to follow
Hillside PTA Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee of the Hillside PTA invites all parents and caregivers to submit nominations to serve as officers on the Hillside PTA Executive Committee for the 2022-2023 term. There are 5 open Officer positions for the 2022/23 school year in the Hillside PTA. They are President, VP Events, VP Communications, Treasurer and Recording Secretary.
Please email nominatingcomm@hillsidepta.org for more information or to be considered for these positions. In addition to the executive board positions, there are myriad volunteer opportunities with the Hillside PTA. Please reach out if you’d like to serve as a committee chair.
Hillside SEPAC Parent Liaison Group
SAVE THE DATE for the Montclair Disability Pride Parade!
Walk and Roll Parade and Rally with disability activists, families, friends and allies.
Sunday, May 1st 2-4pm (rain date on Saturday May 78th 2-4pm). Assemble at 2pm at Heningburg field off Chestnut Street on Midland Ave, Montclair, NJ. 2:15-4pm: We will walk and roll to Rand Park for speakers and music.
Also, the following free virtual workshops may be of interest:
Assistive Technology (AT) in Schools: Opening Doors to Learning and Independence
TUESDAY, April 12, 2022, from 7:00-8:15 PM CLICK HERE to register
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/
News from the SATP
Thank you Hillside Community!
With your help, Skate Date raised $2k for SATp initiatives!! Way to go Hillside!
What’s New, Fun, and Exciting?!
SATp has a new, exciting after school event happening on Friday, May 13th! Come have fun at this FREE event called Double Dutch and Soccer Stuff. We will have teams of Double Dutch led by parent volunteers. We will also have the Hillside soccer field set up for a couple of teams also led by parent volunteers. No experience necessary! Come, learn, jump and play! More details to come! Is your child interested? Great! Sign up! Also, if you’re interested in being a Double Dutch or Soccer Parent Volunteer, let us know! Sign up HERE!
More in May!
Hillside ROCKS! SATp is going creative and artsy for Hillside! Our newest initiative for May is called Hillside Rocks! From May 2nd to May 27th, we will be collecting your creative rock/stone art. Your rocks can be colored/painted/designed to your creativity! Our goal is to have enough rocks to be displayed in the shape of a heart during Pride month beginning on June 1st! Items will be collected inside of a bin that will be located outside of “Door K.”
In the Works!
We’ve got lost more in the works and we wanted to let you know what else is coming your way! We’ve got a cupcake fundraiser in June! Our AAPI celebration is coming soon with an amazing event for our students! We’re also preparing for Juneteenth! We’ll be connecting students and families with the history of this groundbreaking holiday and we’re super excited to be coordinating with our sister school, Nishuane, on the Juneteenth initiative! Stay tuned for more excitement!
Looking Ahead!
Have you seen all of the amazing initiatives and events Hillside has? First Day of School Celebration, Bike Walk to School Day, Hillside Cares events, Cultural Infusion participation, and many more! We are proactive and would like to start to recruit some new faces for the upcoming school year. It takes a team of us to make these things happen. Ask us about participating and what you might want to sign up for. We’re always available for questions, email us at hillsidesatp@gmail.com.
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! Reminder for fifth grade parents and guardians. Your child needs to have the Tdap and Meningococcal Vaccines to enter sixth grade. If your child had these vaccines please send me a copy and I will add them to their medical records. Covid Vaccines offered this weekend at Charles H. Bullock School April 9, 2022 from 10AM-2PM. No appointments needed.
The district now accepts home COVID tests along with lab tests for diagnosis.. Please email the nurse if your child has a positive Covid test. If you or a family want to get a Covid vaccine you can do so at the old Kmart in West Orange. Click HERE to schedule an appointment. You can go to the old Kmart Tuesdays through Fridays from 2PM-7PM for Covid testing and on Saturdays from 8AM-2PM. Have a great weekend! Nurse Boyle
Important Dates:
Friday 4/15: School Closed/ Good Friday
4/15-4/24: Spring Break!!!
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