A Note from the Principal’s Desk – 5.6.2022
Dear Hillside Parents/Caregivers:
Nurses Day ~ 5.6.22: From The American Presidency Project, Proclamation 4913-National Recognition Day for Nurses, 1982: Scientific advancements in recent years have dramatically expanded the role of nurses in our healthcare system, and their knowledge and skills have increased to keep pace with new technologies and methods of treatments. We owe many things to our nurses, but over the past year (hybrid & in-person learning) we owe our medical survival all to them. NURSE BOYLE has worked tirelessly WITHOUT a district nursing supervisor since last year (one only recently hired). Nurse Boyle has worked tirelessly to ensure the health and safety of this building for all. We, as a school community, could not have prevailed thus far without Nurse Boyle’s absolute diligence and dedicated time to ensure we were following CDC guidelines and district protocols. AND all of this while every other requirement and attention to student daily medical needs were addressed. Words cannot express the gratitude we have for Nurse Boyle, THANK YOU!
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all of our mothers and mother figures that multitask and manage more than one would like (sometimes). You leaders are fearless, because you have to be and because you love so intrinsically and conditionally. For all that you do, that may be unnoticed at times, I wish you a restful, enjoyable day with your family and friends.
School-wide News…Be in the Know
Crossing Guard
Starting this Wednesday, May 11, the crossing at Bloomfield Avenue / Orange Road will be eliminated. After conducting a survey at this location for several weeks, both morning and afternoon, we have realized that there are few, if any children, that utilize this crossing.
Wear it Wednesdays
Please join us with Sport Day, 5.11.22.
Week of State Testing – May 9 – 13, 2022:
Testing Tips for Parents:
- Tell your child to attempt to answer all of the questions and not to leave any blank. There is no penalty for guessing, and students can get partial credit on the open-ended items.
- Remind your child that the test is important. It sounds simple, but many parents fail to reiterate this. Most children will put forth their best effort when they know it is important to their parents.
- Remind your child to listen carefully to the instructions from the teacher and to read the directions and each question carefully. Encourage them to read every passage and every question at least two times. Teach them to slow down, trust their instincts, and give their best effort.
- Make the morning of the test a pleasant one. Do not add to your child’s stress. Do not argue with your child or bring up a touchy subject. Instead, try to do extra things that make them laugh, smile, and relax.
- Get your child to school on time – 9:10am. If they’re late, then they will NOT test and will need a make-up day.
- Ensure that your child gets a decent night’s sleep and a good breakfast before taking the test. **Please send your child in with a snack each day** These are essential to how your child performs. You want them to be at their best. Failing to get a good night’s rest or good breakfast can cause them to lose focus quickly.
Ms. Bartol’s Hatching!
After two years, Ms. Bartol is once again hatching chicks! The students love learning about egg/chick development, the types of breeds we receive and watching the chicks hatch. This year we received 28 eggs. Depending on our hatch rate, I may be able to provide chicks to approximately 2-4 families. If you are interested in RAISING backyard chickens, I would be happy to give you 4-6 of our hatched chicks. I do not send home chicks for overnights nor do I give families just 1 or 2 chicks. I can’t determine the sex of the chicks either. After several weeks of development, you will be able to determine the males from the females. The town of Montclair does not permit you to keep roosters (male chickens). You will be responsible for “re-homing” the roosters. Hatch date is expected to be around May 23 – 24. Chicks will be ready to go home with you on Thursday, May 26. Now is the time to do your research, build or order your coop and get ready to be a suburban homesteader!!! First come, first served. If you are interested in RAISING chickens, please email Ms. Bartol, sbartol@montclair.k12.nj.us.
Field Day June 3
This year we are Playing for fun, Playing for a cause. (Ukraine United!!)
The School will be divided into 2 teams, Yellow and Blue, to represent the Ukrainian flag. Please have your child wear their designated team color shirt on June 3. We will be taking a school wide picture on the field in the shape of the Ukraine Flag.
We will be collecting donations to support Ukraine on May 12, 19, and 26. Students can donate each collection day, or for all 3 days at once. We will be accepting any type of monetary donation students want to bring in.
The top 3 classes who raise the most money for their grade will earn points towards their team total for the field day competition.
Traveling Troupe
Traveling Troupe Auditions
(For current 3rd and 4th 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 next Fall of 2022. Students involved with Traveling Troupe will rehearse an original script that combines acting, singing, and dancing, to perform for our annual Winter Concert next December. 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 how and when 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!!!!!
PTA News
PTA General Meeting 5/13 @ 9:30am
All are invited to join our May PTA meeting. This month’s special guest will be our Nominating Committee. You can register in advance to attend or the same day, After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Register HERE
Fireball 2022
Fireball tickets are going, going and almost GONE! We only have 19 tickets remaining. Get your ticket(s) before they are all gone. This will be a sold out event. Can’t attend but still would like to donate? We need your help procuring silent auction items for the June 4th Fireball fundraiser. Please complete this short form if your company/business or family can donate an item for the silent auction. Thank you in advance for supporting Nishuane and Hillside!
Click the link below to purchase tickets, sponsor or donate to Fireball 2022
(Fireball.givesmart.com) Fireball
Car Wash
Hillside’s Spring Car Wash is on May 21 from 11am-3pm. We need 3rd, 4th or 5th grade families (students and parents) to wash cars for our customers. We have the supplies, we just need YOU! Without your support, we cannot host this fundraiser. With the weather warming up, the car wash is sure to be fun for the entire family!
Sign up HERE to volunteer
International Night
Hillside’s International Night is on May 19th from 6PM-8PM and we are in need of more volunteers. Bless us with your FOOD by volunteering to prepare a dish, dessert or by helping out. We would love to try your family’s favorite dish or dessert. We need help with setting up the event and serving the day of. This is a community event and we can not host it without our families donating their delicious dishes, desserts and volunteering their time.
Sign up HERE today to donate and or volunteer.
SEPAC News
Hillside SEPAC Parent Liaison Group
The Montclair Disability Pride Parade is this weekend! Please come to represent as Hillside allies! The Walk and Roll Parade and Rally is 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.
We also wanted to extend a BIG thank you to Hillside SEPAC member, Caitlyn Cade, for all her efforts in having Autism Acceptance Week in April b as big success! Thank you Caitlyn for all your advocacy in our community and providing wonderful Autism related resources to the school. And thank you to all the Hillside Staff for helping in these efforts as well!
SEPAC Upcoming Events/Resources
Monday, May 9th – General Meeting, 7:00 pm via Zoom – Nicole Stewart and Cheryl Irwin from Solutions for Exceptional Children will present on IEP goals with a focus on the components of an iep, analyzing iep goals, and monitoring progress through iep goals.
Monday, May 23rd – General Meeting, 7:00 pm via Zoom – The Montclair Pupil Service Team will join the meeting for a short presentation followed by time for questions.
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! 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.
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 Thursdays and Fridays from 2PM-7PM for Covid testing and on Saturdays from 8AM-2PM. Note the days of operation have changed. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers, aunts, cousins and guardians that help raise our children! Have a great weekend! Nurse Boyle
Important Dates:
Friday 5/6: National Nurses Day
Monday 5/9-Friday 5/13: Week of State Testing
Friday 5/13: PTA/SATp Meeting 9:30 AM
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