Community Update
2023-2024 School Year Update #8
March 28, 2024 - Update from Dr. Rocco
Dear HTSD Community,
Happy Spring Break! From Friday, March 29th to Sunday, April 7th all HTSD schools and most offices will be closed for the break. All schools and offices will reopen on Monday, April 8th.
On behalf of our entire school community I hope you have an enjoyable and relaxing break. When we return there is just one more marking period until the end of the school year. Yet, there is a lot of work to be done until June 20th.
This update has important information in it and I ask that you read it carefully and to the end so that you are up to date with what has and will happen in the school district for the remainder of the school year.
One very important item related to our return to school is the PARTIAL ECLIPSE that will happen on Monday, April 8th. Please take a few minutes during break, and before the Monday we return to school to discuss with your children what the eclipse is and the safety precautions they need to follow when it occurs. The above link provides information on the timing of the eclipse. The below links are resources for you to be informed about and to provide your children with information on the eclipse.
NASA Eclipse Safety Information
Video for kids about the eclipse
Finally, let’s continue to make EVERY DAY COUNT until the end of the school year!
Sincerely,
Scott R. Rocco, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Middle School Academic Program - At the end of the second marking period each middle school sent notification to students about the importance of their academic success and passing their classes. Academic success is one of the three main focus areas our entire district has worked on this year. Students who fail two or more Core Subjects (ELA, Math, Social Studies, Science) by the end of the 2023-2024 SY will result in the following:
- Mandatory attendance in Summer School at their middle school in July; and
- Out of Good Standing Status (Inability to attend end of the year social activities)
- Passing grades will allow students to be successfully promoted to the next grade without falling Out of Good Standing and having to attend our summer program. Please reach out to your middle school guidance counselor or administrator for more details.
Stay Connected! Each month we create a compilation video highlighting our school events, which is presented at the beginning of each monthly Board of Education meeting.
September BoE presentation
October BoE presentation
November BoE presentation
December BoE presentation
January BoE presentation
February BoE presentation
March BoE presentation
Strategic Plan - In February of 2020 we approved our strategic plan for the district. This plan was developed by a group of stakeholders representing everyone who is a part of our school community. The final report and plan identified 5 areas of focus and goals within those areas. You can see the webpage for the strategic plan by clicking HERE. This month I would like to focus on Student Academic Success and Social / Emotional Wellbeing. Within this category there were two (2) goals:
In order for all students to reach their full potential, Hamilton Township School District will foster and promote a supportive environment to empower our school community by elevating personal and academic expectations.
You can get an update on the progress of this goal by clicking HERE.
Hamilton Township School District will ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities that meet the needs of all students, families, and staff to support the development of student academic success and social-emotional wellness.
You can get an update on the progress of this goal by clicking HERE.
School Counseling/Guidance Info:
Our final “One Hamilton” Event for the year will be held on Monday, April 15th from 6pm-8pm at Steinert High School. The College and Career Fair will feature representatives from colleges, military, and trade schools, as well as employers and organizations that will discuss part-time jobs, internship opportunities, and employment opportunities post-graduation. We encourage all families in grades 9-12 to come out and explore available opportunities.
Scheduling for grades 9-12 is almost complete. The Program of Studies can be found here and on the district website. Incoming 9th grade students have already participated in curricular placement tests. Supervisors have been reviewing the results and speaking with teachers to determine course recommendations. Middle School Counselors have been meeting with students to select electives. At the high school level, teachers are making course recommendations and the high school counselors have been meeting with students about their post-secondary goals to ensure the courses they select help to achieve these goals. Course recommendations/selections will be available on the Parent Portal shortly.
State Testing Information: Our schools are getting ready to administer state assessments (known as the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments). Familiarity with the format of these assessments is also important. Please click HERE to access family resources regarding:
Tutorials
Practice Tests
Other
Professional Learning: When students were off from school on Friday, March 15th, our staff were actively engaged in a variety of professional learning experiences (particularly 60 choice sessions in the second half of the day). We are proud of our learning choices; click HERE to check out the topics.
MS/HS Math Benchmark Assessments: We will be administering our 3rd Benchmark Assessment (in the area of mathematics). The assessments will be taken online and administered via the LinkIt Platform during your child math class.
Assessments are aligned to grade level standards taken from the NJ Student Learning Standards.
Results help instructional and administrative staff monitor student progress & program and determine areas of intervention (where applicable)
MS Testing Dates: 4/10 - 4/16 (students enrolled in all levels of Math 6, Math 7, Algebra I, and Geometry
Note: Math 8 students have already taken a placement test for 24/25 SY Algebra
HS Testing Dates: 4/10 - 4/16 (students enrolled in Algebra I, Geometry, Bridge to Algebra II, and Algebra II)
Please contact your child’s teacher for specific dates & times for administration of these benchmark assessments.
NEW SUMMER EBT Benefit coming Summer 2024:
If your child qualifies for FEDERAL free or FEDERAL reduced price school meals, then they will automatically be eligible for Summer EBT benefits.
This is a new permanent summer benefit that will be replacing the temporary P-EBT benefits. (Pandemic EBT)
Each eligible child will receive an EBT card worth $120 to purchase food at participating retailers.
If you are not already FEDERALLY free or FEDERALLY reduced, you can complete a meal application by April 19th, 2024 to see if you will qualify.
If your child attends Greenwood or H.E.P. and you have not already completed a household survey, you may complete a survey by April 19th, 2024 to see if you will qualify.
If your child has qualified for the new NJ state benefit to receive free meals this school year, unfortunately you would not qualify for Summer EBT at this time due to this being a federal program and not a state program.
Please make sure your contact information is up to date in PowerSchool so you can receive your EBT card in a timely manner.
More information is coming soon!
Please continue to complete a meal application for your child to see if they qualify for free school meals. If they do not qualify, please make any payments to their meal account at www.MySchoolBucks.com. Or you can send a check or money order to their school.
REMINDERS/UPDATES/DATES TO REMEMBER
SPRING BREAK - School is closed from March 29 to April 7 for spring break.
REVISED 2023-2024 School Calendar: At the January 17th Board of Education meeting, the current 2023-2024 school calendar was revised to address the June Primary Election date. June 4, 2024 will be a professional development day for all HTSD faculty and staff. June 11, 2024 will be a regular school day.
2024-2025 School Calendar: Next year’s calendar was approved on January 17th. You can find it by clicking HERE.
Cell Phone Use: The school district reminds parents that providing a cell phone to their child is a big decision and should be accompanied by clear communication about responsible use, including restrictions on apps, social media, and times the phone can be used. At elementary school, phones are not allowed unless medically necessary. At the middle schools they must be put away in a backpack or locker, and at our high schools students may have them but there are specific rules about storage and use during school hours. HTSD stresses the importance of families talking about and understanding proper phone etiquette and being safe online. Lost or stolen phones are not the district's responsibility.
School Visitor Security Enhancement: Part of our commitment to security is a continual review of policies and practices and when necessary making additions or changes for the better. As such, please be aware that beginning upon our return from Spring Recess, the following adaptations to our security protocols will go into effect. Please understand that the safety and security of our students, staff and entire school community is our utmost priority and we are confident that these additional measures are necessary and appropriate
No parent/guardian/community members will be permitted into the building during the arrival or dismissal of students, unless they have a pre-scheduled meeting with an HTSD staff member. If a parent/guardian/community member does have a pre-scheduled meeting during arrival or dismissal, the HTSD staff member will greet them at the door and escort them into the building.
No parent/guardian/community members will be permitted to enter the building to drop off items to the office or their student such as: lunches, Chromebook, coats, flyers etc. Each school in the district has been outfitted with a waterproof container placed at the entrance. All parent/guardian/community members who bring an item such as those listed will be instructed over the intercom to place the item in the container and once they have left the grounds either a security guard or office staff member will retrieve the item and ensure it gets to the appropriate student. This does not apply to medications for students, all medications must still be hand delivered to the nurse by a parent/guardian.
There will be no acceptance of food deliveries from outside vendors (including door dash, grubhub, ubereats etc.) by the Hamilton Township School District for students.
If a parent/guardian comes to the building to pick their child/children up prior to our scheduled dismissal they will need to provide the students name as well as their name over the intercom to the main office. Office staff will review Power School to ensure parent/guardian is an approved contact and the parents ID may be checked. Once the check has been completed, students will be retrieved and will be walked to the vestibule by the security/campus monitor/HTSD staff member to meet the parent/guardians
Tech Night 2024: Please join us for our 5th Annual HTSD Tech Night on April 25th from 5-8 pm at Crockett Middle School. Tech Night features teachers using technology from their classrooms, a career expo, and robotics and esports demonstrations. There will also be prizes and food trucks, students of all ages and families are welcome to attend.
