HAS Weekly Update
November 1, 2024
Dear HAS Community,
This week HAS was full of excitement and school spirit! Spirit Week brought vibrant energy to our halls, and our 6th-grade students enjoyed an incredible team-building field trip. Our Halloween festivities and parade added an extra touch of fun to the week and the teachers cooked up some really fun things for the students. Please remember, that there is no school for students next week on Tuesday, November 5th (Election Day), Thursday, November 7th, and Friday, November 8th.
Sincerely,
Kevin Deacon
Principal
Updates
Student Absence on Monday, 11/4/24 and Wednesday, 11/6/24
If your child is going to be absent on these days, please email has-attendance@cranfordschools.org (copy-paste email address) or call the absence hotline at 908-709-6983 (voicemail 24/7).
6th Grade Social Sign Ups
HAS Happenings
Peer Leader Training
Mrs. Esposito and Miss Trotter held a Peer Leader retreat on Saturday, October 26th. The Peer Leaders had training as well as participated in team building activities. We are so proud of the enthusiastic and dedicated group we have this year, and we are so excited for the year ahead!
Kindergarten - Fire Safety Month
The kindergarteners have been learning about fire safety for fire safety month. They have learned what to do if there is a fire, what items in their house they should not touch because they are unsafe, and they learned the number they should call incase of an emergency. The Cranford Fire Department came to visit the kindergarteners. The students learned what a firefighter looks like in their gear which is important in the event of a fire. The students had fun going in the fire truck. Many claimed they wanted to be a firefighter when they grow up.
6th Grade Field Trip
The 6th graders visited Fairview Lake YMCA where they participated in team building and problem solving activities. The students fostered new connections and became closer as a class.
Safety First
IMPORTANT ROAD SAFETY REMINDERS
During morning arrival and afternoon pick up please make sure you are alert, driving slowly, and looking before driving in and out of the parking lot. Many students and parents walk to and from school and are crossing the street using the crosswalks. Even if you are running late it is imperative that you take your time and proceed with caution to ensure the safety of all. Thank you all for helping to keep everyone safe.
Important Parking Lot Reminder
During middle school drop off please do not pull into the back STAFF parking lot. You can pull into the horseshoe in front of the building to drop your child off.
Please do not double park and block in cars in parking spaces.
Please do not park in handicapped parking spots at any time, even for a brief moment. These spaces are reserved for those who have permits to park there. Thank you for helping us to make our school safe and accessible for all who visit.
Playground safety after school
Please be sure to supervise students on the playground after-school.
During the school day and at recess we have many expectations of the students when on the playground to keep them safe (i.e. no throwing wood chips, not running up the slide; not jumping off of high platforms;) and we would love for all students to be safe after school.
Thank you for your cooperation and for keeping our students safe.
Nurse's Corner
Health Screenings
According to the N.J. Department of Education, the goal of school health services is to strengthen and facilitate the educational process by improving and protecting the health status of children and staff.
Since health and intellectual development of children are interrelated, the following is a list of state mandated screening services provided by the school nurse during the school year.
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Height, Weight and Blood Pressure: all grade levels, including preschool
Hearing Screening: Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th and 11th grades
Vision Screening: Kindergarten, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th grades
Scoliosis Screening: 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th grades
The health screenings will be conducted throughout the school year. Parents who wish to opt-out of any mandated screenings, must notify the school nurse in writing.
Cold & Flu Season is Here
As we enter flu season, good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent illnesses. If your child exhibits any of the following symptoms , please keep them home to avoid getting others sick. Absences may be reported via email at has-attendance@cranfordschools.org OR via phone 908-709-6983. If you have any questions on whether or not to send your child to school, please consult with your pediatrician or the school nurse (908-709-6242 or seguine@cranfordschools.org). Thank you in advance for your cooperation during these cold and flu months.
Things To Do To Prevent The Flu
-Avoid close contact when you are sick. Keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too!
-Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow crack when coughing or sneezing. Immediately wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Our hands carry lots of germs which can enter our body through many mucous membranes.
-Stay home when you are sick. You will help others from catching your illness.
-Wash your hands often. This will help protect you from germs.
-Practice good health habits, such as be physically active, get plenty of sleep, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
Upcoming Events
Monday, 11/4/24, 2:00pm - ES Fall Conferences
Tuesday, 11/5/24 - ES Fall Conferences
Thursday, 11/7/24 & Friday, 11/8/24 - School Closed - NJEA Convention
District News
Wellness Fair
On Thursday, November 14th from 6:30pm - 8:00pm a Wellness Fair will be hosted at Cranford High School. Families and community members of students grades PreK-12 are invited to explore the local organizations that support all dimensions of wellness and wellbeing. Please know that the Class of 2025 Pasta Night is also occurring and you can plan for dinner and information when you attend this event! Please RSVP with the link HERE, or QR Code on the flyer. We look forward to seeing you!
Pomptonian Lunch Information
- Lunch Menu for September - Click HERE
Convenient Pre-Payment Options Prepayment
Important Fliers
Community News
Reminders
Club Announcements
For daily club announcements of meetings, etc., please click on the link or you can go to the HAS webpage under Parent/Guardian and Daily Announcements.
Forgottten Items
Parents/guardians are requested to deliver chromebooks, books, lunches, water bottles, projects, or any other forgotten items to the drop box in the vestibule. All articles must be labeled with the student’s name and grade. Please try to limit dropping off items as calling classrooms to have students pick up their items disrupts instruction. Thank you for your cooperation.
School Picture Retakes
Middle School Yearbook
$35 until 1/15/25
$45 until 4/15/25
Personalization Sales End 1/15/25
All Sales End 4/15/25
Lunch Aides
We are still very much in need of elementary lunch aides. Elementary lunch aide hours are 12:00 - 2:00. This is a great way to see your kid in school and interact with them. If you are interested in taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity visit, https://www.applitrack.com/cranford/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Support+Staff
Appointments and/or Early PIck-up
Please make sure you email the attendance office (HAS-attendance@cranfordschools.org) or call 908-709-6229 or 908-709-6983, if your child has to be signed out early to attend an appointment.
Absences
If your child is absent for any reason, please call our absence line at 908-709-6983 (24/7) or email has-attendance@cranfordschools.org (copy-paste email address)
Visitor Protocols
The safety of our students is of the utmost importance and we ask that all our visitors follow our procedures.
- If you are picking up your child for an appointment please notify the office ahead of time by emailing (HAS-attendance@cranfordschools.org) or calling 908-709-6229 or 908-709-6983. The nurse may also call to have you pick up your child if they are feeling ill.
- During pick up have your ID ready and ring the main entrance intercom bell. State your name and the reason for your visit then present your ID to the camera.
- You will be buzzed into the vestibule.
- Please wait in the vestibule.
- We will bring your child to you in the vestibule where you will sign them out.
Kindergarten Single Session Days
**Kindergarten single sessions will alternate between AM & PM classes according to the following schedule: Student Entry at 8:40am - Dismissal at 11:20am
Wednesday, 11/27/24 - AM only (no PM session)
Friday, 12/20/24 - PM only (no AM session)
Monday, 2/3/25 - AM only (no PM session)
Monday, 3/10/25 - PM only (no AM session)
Wednesday, 6/18/25 - AM only (no PM session)
Thursday, 6/19/25 - PM only (no AM session)
Hillside Avenue School
Email: Deacon@cranfordschools.org
Website: https://has.cranfordschools.org/
Location: 125 Hillside Avenue, Cranford, NJ, USA
Phone: 908-709-6229