Hopewell's Happenings

October was packed with meaningful activities for our HES community! We started with the Week of Respect, where students engaged in CharacterStrong lessons, spirit days, and activities focused on kindness and respect. That same week, Fire Safety Week brought important safety lessons and a special visit from the Hopewell Fire Department (Station #52) and their fire truck.

The HES Olympic Opening Ceremonies was a memorable event, with each class proudly representing their chosen countries with creative banners. The Olympic torch, displayed in our front office, continues to remind us of our school spirit.

Walk/Roll/Bike to School was a great success thanks to our supportive first responders, Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association (GMTMA) and HES families who participated in this popular event. We look forward to this month's Ruby Bridges Walk to School event.

Later in the month, thanks to our PTO, students enjoyed the Queen Nur SELebration Stories Assembly, an engaging celebration of African and African American oral traditions, where lively folktales and fables invited students to participate, celebrate, and reflect on meaningful values.

We also honored Ms. Mills' 35 years in the district with a lively Barn Dance, with music by our advanced orchestra making the celebration even more special. Thank you Ms. Mills for all that you have done for our HES community. You will be missed.

October wrapped up with our traditional Kindergarten Farm Day, the ever-popular Halloween Parade, and class celebrations. The creative costumes and enthusiastic participation brought so much joy to our school, as you can see in the photos below.

Looking ahead to November, we’re thankful for your generosity in our collection drive for McDowell County Schools in Marion, NC. Together, we shipped three large boxes of supplies to help students affected by Hurricane Helene. Ms. Hamby, Assistant Superintendent at McDowell County Schools, shared her heartfelt appreciation: “Words simply cannot express my gratitude.”

Here’s to a November filled with gratitude and continued community spirit!

Conference Dates & Times:

• Monday, November 4: 1:50 PM - 5:05 PM and 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

• Tuesday, November 5: 1:50 PM - 4:05 PM
  (Reminder: Please take time to vote after your conference if you haven’t already!)

Sign-Up Details:

• Homeroom Teachers: Sign up by clicking on your child’s homeroom teacher to access their Google Appointment Schedule.

• Special Education, Instructional Support, CST, Counselor, and Therapists: These staff members will make every effort to attend your Homeroom Teacher’s conference. If scheduling conflicts arise, individual appointment schedules are now available.

• Special Area Teachers: Special Area Teachers will contact families directly if a conference is needed regarding your child’s academic progress or behavior. Additional appointments with Special Area Teachers are now available if needed.

Exclusively for 4th & 5th Grade Families:
Please sign up for conferences by selecting only your child's homeroom teacher. Your child’s 4th & 5th Grade content-area teachers will meet with you during this appointment. Note that conferences on Tuesday, November 5th, are virtual only, while Monday’s conferences are in-person. Please use the same link provided for Homeroom Teacher sign-ups to schedule appointments with additional staff members. If you have questions, feel free to reach out.

We look forward to meeting with you and working together to support your child’s success.

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, we will partner with The Chubby’s Project to provide food baskets for families in need. Our goal is to provide food baskets for 27 families. In order to meet this goal, we will be asking families who are able to help out in the following ways:

1. Each grade will collect non-perishable items to go in the baskets.

• Preschool & Kindergarten: stuffing
• First Grade: corn bread mix
• Second Grade: boxed mashed potatoes
• Third Grade: canned peas, corn or green beans
• Fourth Grade: cranberry sauce
• Fifth Grade: gravy

2. Hopewell staff members will be donating turkeys to accompany the baskets. If you have a Pennington Market turkey voucher that you would like to donate, please send it in with your child.

Food donations/vouchers may be brought in from Monday, November 4th until Wednesday, November 20th.

Thank you so much for your support with this project. We wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Get your Hopewell Spirit Wear now! The ordering window is open for only two weeks, so don't miss your chance to grab some awesome gear. Orders will arrive by December 20th, just in time for Holiday gifting!

Order now and show your school spirit - Please submit orders by the evening of NOVEMBER 7th - orders get sent out to our vendor the next day.

Find our fall options here: https://merchpier.com/collections/hopewell-elementary-school

We are excited to partner once again with Griggstown Farm in Princeton for our annual PTO Pie Fundraiser! We are offering both fruit pies as well as pot pies, with delivery just in time for the holidays. All pies are made by hand using fresh ingredients. They arrive frozen and uncooked, ready to be baked in your oven.

Please click the link to submit your pie order: https://hopewellelementarypto.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/309936

Orders are due by Monday, November 11th. Pie pick up will take place on the afternoon of Thursday, November 21th from 3:30-6:00pm inside of the HES cafeteria. Pies arrive frozen and are perishable.

Please also consider donating a pie to The Chubby's Project. Donated pies will be distributed to families in need. Just indicate how many pies you would like to donate on the order form, and we will deliver them for you!

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day is a commemorative event dedicated to honoring the bravery and resilience of Ruby Bridges, a trailblazer in the fight for equal education. This day encourages schools and communities to unite in celebrating the progress made and to reflect on the ongoing journey towards inclusive education. Please wear anything purple and join us in walking to school on November 14th starting at 7:45AM.

Plan on using the following routes to walk to school this day. We hope to see everyone out there.

Fall Photos Now Available for Purchase: Student proofs from Irvin Simon were sent home during the week of October 28th. Information regarding ordering pictures can be found next to your child's proof. Kindly submit orders by November 28th.

Yearbook Update: Preparations for the 2024-2025 HES Yearbook are underway. Yearbooks are now available for purchase via the online store. Please click here for order details. Orders will be accepted through May 9th, 2025.

Picture Retakes: Irvin Simon photographers will be at HES on Friday, November 22nd. Students who were absent during picture day and or in need of a retake are encouraged to visit the photographers during retake day.

The Nature Harmony Committee and HES Green Team are excited to continue their quest towards improving and maintaining outdoor learning spaces at Hopewell Elementary School. After significant fundraising efforts, we are nearing our goal to construct an outdoor learning pavilion on the grounds of HES. Please see the flyer attached here for additional details. Thank you for your continued support!

Starting Monday, October 7th, HES began collecting aluminum tabs for the Ronald McDonald House in New Brunswick, NJ. Each grade level is competing to collect the most tabs, and at the end of the year, the class with the highest total will win a prize! Keep bringing in your tabs!

Thank you for supporting your child(ren)’s pursuit of Respect last month. We appreciate the families that were able to join us for our HES Olympic Opening Ceremonies to kick off the Week of Respect and continued the conversations at home this month. In October, students also celebrated Peace Week and learned about using the Peace Path to solve conflicts and engage in peaceful activities. Consider using the Peace Path at home to reinforce our peacemaking efforts at HES.

During November, we will be focusing on the trait of Gratitude. Students will be engaging in activities and discussions about showing gratitude in our communities throughout the month culminating in our first SEL Day of the year focusing on giving thanks on November 27. Expressing gratitude has been linked to positive outcomes in physical and mental health. If you’d like to participate at home, encourage daily practice by sharing one thing you are grateful for each day at mealtime. We are so grateful for all of our wonderful families at HES for sharing your children with us!

As always, please reach out if you need any assistance via phone at 609-737-4007 x7206 or email at ashleylarose@hvrsd.org.

Our Lost and Found near the Cafeteria is full of wonderful treasures waiting to be reunited with their owners—shirts, sweaters, water bottles, lunch boxes, and lots of cozy winter jackets! Please take a peek at the photos below and remind your child to swing by and check for any missing items or swing by during parent/teacher conferences. All unclaimed items will be donated on December 15th, so let’s find these lost goodies a home before then. Thank you! 🧥🥤🧢

1. PTO Meeting: Please join us for our third PTO meeting of the year on Thursday, November 14th at 8:45AM in the Faculty Lounge.
2. Minted Partnership: Sending holiday cards this year? Please consider using the HES PTO's coupon code for Minted.com. You save 20% and we get 15% back! Feel free to share this coupon with family and friends (users do not need to be affiliated with HES) The code works on wedding stationery, thank you cards, birth announcements, invitations, and so much more! Minted Code: FUNDRAISEHOPEWELLELEM
3. The HES PTO is thrilled to continue our partnership for the annual Holiday Experience Family Photo Fundraiser. This year, they’re offering two stunning settings for your family photo sessions:

• Outdoor Holiday Greenhouse: A natural, festive backdrop perfect for holiday-themed photos.
• Indoor Elaborate Holiday Setting: A warm and inviting holiday scene within our studio.

• November 1st - Diwali: Schools Closed
• November 3rd - Daylight Savings Time Ends: Fall Back; Fundraiser for The Chubby's Project - A 5K Walk
• November 4th - Early Dismissal Day for Students; Parent-Teacher Afternoon & Evening Conferences; Preschool AM only
• November 5th - Early Dismissal Day for Students; Parent-Teacher Afternoon Conferences; Preschool PM only
• November 6th - Early Dismissal Day for Students; Parent-Teacher Afternoon Makeup Conferences; Preschool AM only; Vocal Ensemble Rehearsal (8:00AM)
• November 7th - NJEA Convention: Schools Closed
• November 8th - Veterans Day Observed: Schools & Offices Closed
• November 12th - Whole School Meeting (Wear School Colors); Green Team Meeting (3:40PM)
• November 13th - School Spirit Day - Anything But a Backpack; Vocal Ensemble Rehearsal (8:00AM); Student Council Meeting (8:05AM)
• November 14th - Wear Purple for Ruby Bridges Day; Ruby Bridges Bike/Roll/Walk-to-School Day (Sponsored by Ruby Bridges Foundation) (7:45AM); PTO Meeting (8:45AM); Orff Ensemble Rehearsal (3:45PM)
• November 18th - Princeton Symphony Orchestra's BRAVO Percussion Assembly for 5th Grade; Board of Education Regular Meeting (6:30PM)
• November 19th - Debate Team Meeting (8:00AM)
• November 20th - Vocal Ensemble Rehearsal (8:00AM)
• November 21st - Student Council Meeting (8:05AM); Orff Ensemble Rehearsal (3:45PM)
• November 22nd - Student Photo Retakes; Newspaper Club Meeting (8:00AM)
• November 26th - Orff Ensemble Rehearsal (3:45PM)
• November 27th - Early Dismissal - Preschool PM only; Vocal Ensemble Rehearsal (8:00AM)
• November 28th & 29th - Thanksgiving: Schools & Offices Closed

• HES Dismissal Waiver Form

• HES Lunch Info
  
• HES School Calendar
• HES School Times
• HES Student Handbook
• HVRSD Calendar
• HVRSD Superintendent's Update

This section of our monthly correspondence is dedicated to posting our older community newsletters so that you can refer back to previous HES communication. We also recommend that you regularly visit our school's website to stay informed with the latest events and happenings at HES.

Previous Newsletters:

• October 2024
• September 2024
• Back to School Edition