Hardyston Elementary School
Fall Update from Mrs. Cimaglia
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope this message finds you well. As we approach the end of the first three months of the school year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on our journey together and share some highlights and important information.
I am happy to report that the start of the school year has been a tremendous success. Our students have shown great enthusiasm for learning and it's heartwarming to witness their curiosity and growth each day. The dedication and support from our wonderful community of parents have played a crucial role in creating a positive and nurturing environment for our students.
Here are some key highlights:
Community Building: The district and PTA has organized several successful events and activities aimed at fostering a sense of community within our school. These gatherings have provided valuable opportunities for us to connect and collaborate in the best interest of our students. Please continue to read our Weekend Update to keep up to date with events.
Communication: Open and transparent communication is key to a successful partnership between the school and parents. Our teachers and staff have work hard to keep you informed about your child's progress, upcoming events, and important school updates. If you ever have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Looking ahead, we have exciting plans for the coming months, including more enriching learning experiences, community events, and opportunities for parent involvement. We value your input and encourage you to participate in the various school activities planned throughout the year.
Thank you for entrusting us with the education and well-being of your children. It's truly a privilege to work with such a dedicated and supportive community. Together, we can make this school year a memorable and rewarding experience for our students.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving and holiday season ahead.
Smart Watches and Cell Phones
This year, elementary students are wearing smart watches or bringing cell phones to school. In an effort to maintain a focused and productive learning environment, we kindly request that students refrain from bringing smart watches or phones to school. This is in place to minimize distractions, promote face-to-face communication, and ensure the safety and well-being of all our students. If your child has been bringing either or both of these devices to school, please make sure that they refrain from doing so.
Bus Behavior and Safety
We all share the desire for children to have a safe ride to and from school. Please reinforce the expectations for riding on the bus with your child. This is especially important because 3 and 4 year old preschool students will be joining us on the bus beginning on January 2.
The talking points below can help you as you discuss this with your child.
Respect Personal Space: Emphasize the importance of respecting personal space while on the bus. Students should remain seated and keep their hands and belongings to themselves.
Listen to the Driver: Instruct children to listen to and follow the bus driver's instructions at all times. The driver is responsible for the safety of everyone on board, and their directions should always be followed.
Use Inside Voices: Remind students to use inside voices while on the bus. Excessive noise can distract the driver and create a less safe environment.
Keep the Aisles Clear: Encourage children to keep the bus aisles clear of backpacks and other items. This ensures that everyone can move safely to their seats and in case of an emergency evacuation.
Stay Seated: Reinforce the importance of staying seated while the bus is in motion. Standing, climbing over/under the seats can be dangerous and disrupt the driver's concentration.
Be Courteous: Remind students to be courteous to the bus driver and fellow passengers. Kindness and respect contribute to a positive atmosphere on the bus.
Full day Preschool Program
Hardyston School District is very excited to be expanding our preschool program. Starting January 2, 2024 we will welcome 60 preschool students for a full-day session of preschool. Preschool students do have the option of riding the bus, so there is a possibility that your child will be on the bus with three and four year olds.
From the Health Office, Mrs. Stoffels RN, CSN
Welcome the winter without welcoming the germs!
It’s FLU season!! Get your vaccination now! Flu shots are mandatory for any children under 5 years of age per the state of NJ. The deadline is December 31st!
Healthy Habits to Help Protect Against Flu
Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your mouth and nose.
Clean your hands.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Practice other good health habits.
Snack Time Snack time can be fun and good for you, too! Sugary foods essentially fill up the body with empty calories, meaning that children who eat sugar are not eating enough healthy foods to give their brain and body the nutrients they need to function well.
Here is a list of healthy snacks you can pack for your child’s lunch.
Yogurt
Trail mix
Popcorn
Fruit and veggie sticks
Hummus and pretzels
Drink water, water and more water! Avoid sugary beverages!
Nurse Reminders:
Please call the school nurse if your child will be absent
Please remember the 24 hour guideline for keeping children home after an episode of vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever of 100.0 degrees or higher. This means that your child should stay home for 24 hours after the symptoms have subsided without the use of fever reducing medications. Please do not treat a fever and send your child to school.
Screenings to begin!
As part of the health services program, the following assessments are administered to students:
Height - Grades K-12
Weight- Grades K-12
Blood Pressure - Grades K-12
Hearing- Grades K-3, Grade 7, Grade 12
Vision - Biennially Grades K-10
If you do not wish for your child to have any of these screenings, please submit
a letter to the health office as soon as possible. If your child has a physical by their private physician, please supply a copy.
Gymnastics will start soon! Get your sports physicals! Link below for sports physical form. Please fill out all four pages along with your primary care physician.
https://www.nj.gov/education/safety/health/athlete/docs/athleticphysicalsform.pdf
Please call Mrs. Stoffels for any questions or concerns!
Phone number: 973-823-7000 X8220
Email: wstoffels@htps.org
Recess in the Winter Months
It is important for children to get fresh air and exercise daily. We will go outside as much as possible, weather permitting. Please dress your child appropriately for the weather.
Buddy Bench
Second Step
Over these past few months, our Second Step social/emotional program has focused on skills for learning & empathy units. Your child has learned how to focus attention, use self-talk to stay on-task, & be assertive when asking for help with a learning task. They also learned how to identify their own and others’ feelings, notice & respect the same and different feelings, and show compassion through kind words or doing something helpful for others. As the school year continues the Second Step program will teach emotion management, problem solving, & friendship skills.
For more information about what your child is learning in Second Step, please visit www.secondstep.org. The grade specific activation codes below will grant you access to Second Step videos and more specific information on what is being taught.
Kindergarten: SSPK FAMI LY70
Grade 1: SSP1 FAMI LY71
Grade 2: SSP2 FAMI LY72
Grade 3: SSP3 FAMI LY73
Grade 4: SSP4 FAMI LY74
From Our Classes...
Preschool - Pumpkin Picking
In the month of October, the preschool classes thoroughly enjoyed a pumpkin patch here at school. The pumpkins were donated from Heaven Hill in Vernon. After selecting a pumpkin, each student decorated their pumpkin with stickers.
Kindergarten - Fundations
We are so impressed by the hard work and dedication we are seeing from our Kindergarten students during Fundations! Each day, our students are eager to display their knowledge of letter names and sounds by volunteering to lead the class in our drill sound warm ups. They are excited to start the day with Fundations and are fully engaged during every lesson, making sure to follow each procedure with accuracy. We truly have a group of Fundations experts on our hands, and we are so proud of them! Mrs. Jensen's class (pictured above)
Miss Corbutt's Class
Miss Cuccia's Class
Mrs. Newsome's Class
Mrs. Houghtaling's Class - interactive bulletin board
Mrs. Houghtaling's class conducted a survey to collect data from the staff about their favorite Thanksgiving food. The students then constructed and displayed a bar graph showing the final results in the hallway. They were excited to see that mashed potatoes were the overall favorite!
First Grade - Publishing Party
Second Grade - Veterans Day
The second grade students of Hardyston know that Veterans Day is an important holiday that honors all those who are currently serving or have served the Armed Forces. Although veterans should be respected and honored daily, this holiday helps remind us to say thank you for your service to all veterans. We felt that it is important to remember those heroes and honor them. Our bulletin boards pay tribute to family, friends and neighbors who served in the military. We wrote thank you letters and honored them with special tribute posters that we made for our veterans. Mrs. Margarum's class (pictured above)
Third Grade - Balloons over Broadway Parade
We are thrilled to share the exciting news about the fantastic accomplishment of our third-grade students in organizing and completing the "Balloons Over Broadway" parade at our school.
The enthusiasm and creativity displayed by our third graders were truly remarkable. From designing and crafting their own balloons to coordinating the parade route, the students demonstrated exceptional teamwork and dedication throughout the entire process. It was heartening to witness their collaborative spirit and passion for bringing joy to our school community.
The parade was a delightful spectacle, with each student proudly showcasing their unique and colorful balloon creations. From classic characters to imaginative creatures, the diversity of designs added a magical touch to the event. The creativity displayed by our young participants was truly awe-inspiring. Once again, congratulations to our fantastic third-grade students on a job well done! May the spirit of collaboration and creativity continue to thrive in our school community.
Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and looking forward to more exciting endeavors in the coming year.
Fourth Grade - BTC in math
Building thinking classrooms for fourth grade math involves creating an environment that emphasizes critical thinking, problem solving, and collaborative learning. It focuses on interactive activities, discussions, and engaging tasks to develop students' mathematical reasoning skills, helping them understand concepts deeply rather than memorizing procedures. This approach encourages active participation, fosters a growth mindset, and enhances students' overall mathematical understanding. Students are eager to use this method every day, but we use this approach two to three times a week, alternating between BTC and small group instruction.
Heart of a Hornet Club
The Heart of a Hornet club had their first meeting this month. They recorded a video to teach the younger hornets all about the Heart of a Hornet Pledge we recite each morning. They also talked about what it means to be thankful. Each month these students will create videos to share with the rest of the school that teach and reinforce the skills we learn in Second Step and how to be their best selves. The club members put a lot of effort into what they do and we are so proud of them for taking on this role.
Mrs. Kervatt's Art Class
Our school has been invited to create ornaments for a tree that will be on display at this year's German Christmas Market. The market will take place at the Sussex County Fairgrounds Dec. 1-3. The ornaments were made by 4th graders and a couple of third graders (not pictured)