A Note from the Principal’s Desk – 5.20.2022
Dear Hillside Parents/Caregivers:
We have successfully completed NJSLA state standardized testing for all students and we are quickly moving along through the end of the school year. There are many events on the horizon, so please make sure you read the eblast in its entirety.
I would like to extend a huge SHOUT-OUT to the staff and parents that made our annual International Night a HUGE success!!!! Senora Scott (Spanish teacher) and Mrs. Li (Mandarin teacher) took the lead coordinating an evening filled with student and professional performances, food, music, and laughter. Our related arts teachers, PTA and SATp members volunteered and assisted with planning, preparation, and execution. More than 150 people joined Hillside International Night. We tasted more than 35 kinds of food and 15 different desserts from all over the world! Students who take Spanish presented dance (Vivir mi vida) and students who take Mandarin sang the song (我们一起来跳舞) and presented a rhythm (拍手歌)with motions. DOT students presented a new piece entitled, Salute to Taikos. We also had a Brazilian Capoeira performance and a West African drums/dance presentation. The entire community experienced so many cultures from around the world via music, dance, and feast! It was the first Hillside community event in a few years and the excitement and enthusiasm was contagious!!! Thank you, Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Li, for taking the lead!
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.
School-wide News…Be in the Know
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.
Wear it Wednesdays – Please join us with USA Day, 5.25.22.
MFEE News
‘Tis the season to host a toast or send a tribute to your favorite staff member! MFEE Toast to the Teachers is a long-standing tradition of the Montclair Public Schools. These family-hosted parties take place at the end of every school year. Choose a special teacher, para, coach, or other community member you would like to honor, and host a party – on your own or with other families – to celebrate their commitment to our kids.
Or buy a Teacher Tribute: donate ANY amount to MFEE in honor of a staff member, and that person will receive a special handwritten card that acknowledges your honorary donation with a personalized message! All funds raised by Teacher Toasts and Tributes go right back to Montclair classrooms in Fall 2022 in the form of teacher grants. These annual grants are often a bright spot for our teachers – a chance to have their professionalism, creativity and innovative ideas supported. Visit MFEE.org to honor your teachers and boost learning!
PTA News
Car Wash
Please come to support Hillside’s Spring Car Wash this Saturday from 11am-3pm. We need a few more 3rd, 4th or 5th grade families (students and parents) to dry cars, hold signs and dry cars for our customers. We have the supplies; we just need YOU! The weather outside is PERFECT for a car wash. Please join in on the fun and raising funds for the Hillside community, sign up to volunteer HERE.
Welcome to Hillside, Nishaune!
Nishuane families, please join the Hillside PTA on May 25th at 6pm on the Hillside field for our Welcome to Hillside Picnic. Join us for snacks, spirit wear and fun! Families, please bring blankets, games and dinner. See you there!
Field Day 2022
Hillside’s annual Field Day is Friday, June 3rd! Ms. Lever (PE Teacher) is asking for help the day off from our school community. It’s a great chance for you to participate in an event DURING school hours. See signup for ways to volunteer, SIGNUP HERE.
Fireball 2022
Fireball tickets are SOLD OUT! You can submit your name to corsecy@nishuanepta.org to be added to a waiting list in case anyone cannot attend. You can still support by being a family or community donor, see opportunities HERE.
Fireball 2022 Volunteers
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!
SEPAC News
Hillside SEPAC Parent Liaison Group
SEPAC Upcoming Events/Resources
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/
SATp News
What’s Happening?!
Hillside ROCKS! SATp is going creative and artsy for Hillside! Our newest initiative happening now is called Hillside Rocks! We are currently 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! Place your items inside of the bin that is currently located outside of “Door K.”
Come celebrate Caribbean American Heritage with us!
Would you like to celebrate Caribbean American Heritage with us? See the link HERE for more detail!
The SATp Hillside/Nishuane families, staff, and community will celebrate Caribbean-American Heritage at Nishuane School. This celebration will be curated for children.
Date: Friday, June 3rd (5:30pm- 7:30pm)
Location: Nishuane Elementary School, 36 Cedar Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042
Planning Meeting: Tuesday, May 24th @ 6pm
Zoom Link will be provided to those who sign up on the link above!
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! 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.
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 or send a copy of the lab test. Please indicate the date the symptoms started and what they were. If you or a family want to get a Covid vaccine you can do so at the old Sears in the Livingston Mall located at 112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston. Click HERE to schedule an appointment. You can go to the old Sears Thursdays and Fridays from 2PM-7PM for Covid testing and on Saturdays from 8AM-2PM. Note the Kmart site has closed. Have a great weekend! ~Nurse Boyle
Important Dates:
Monday 5/23: Spring Concert Day Show 1:30PM-For students
Tuesday 5/24: Spring Concert Evening Show 6:30PM- For Families
Wednesday 5/25: 3rd Grade NIshuane Tours 10AM/ Nishuane Transition Picnic 6PM
Friday 5/26-Monday 5/30: District Closed for Memorial Day Weekend!!
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