Hopewell's Happenings
COMMUNICATION FOR THE HES COMMUNITY
October 2024
Thanks for LEAPing Together to Kickoff the School Year!
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you for helping us kick off the school year on such a positive note! It was wonderful to see so many parents and guardians at our First Day of School Ceremonies, including the large turnout at Back to School Night. This truly meant a lot to both our staff and students.
September was a great month of settling into schedules and routines, and we’re excited to keep that momentum going. October will be a busy and exciting month, filled with important events like PEACE Week, the Week of Respect, Fire Safety Week, Bike/Walk/Roll to School, Halloween, and many PTO-sponsored activities. Please take time to thoroughly review this newsletter for all the details on these upcoming events. We look forward to everything ahead!
Support needed in Hurricane Helene Recovery
HES families, we are proud to announce that our school is partnering with McDowell County Schools in Marion, NC, a district that has been severely impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Many students in this community have lost everything in the wake of this devastating disaster. The district’s primary focus is to restore a sense of normalcy for their students by providing a stable, supportive learning environment amidst the ongoing challenges they face at home.
To assist in this effort, McDowell County Schools is asking for donations of the following items:
- Fidgets
- Colored pencils
- Earbuds/headphones
Your support, no matter the size, will make a profound impact on these students’ lives. These supplies will not only meet their educational needs but also remind them that people, both near and far, are standing with them during this difficult time.
Please drop off any donations at the front office. Thank you for your generosity and compassion as we work together to help this community recover and emerge stronger.
Meet our Therapy Dogs!
"The Wild Robot" Viewing Party, October 6th
Come celebrate HES alum Peter Brown's novel "The Wild Robot" being released as a featured film. Join the HES PTO for a private movie screening of The Wild Robot on October 6, 2024 at 10:30 AM at Hillsborough Cinemas (Hillsborough, NJ).
"Shipwrecked on a deserted island, a robot named ROZ must learn to adapt to its new surroundings. Building relationships with the native animals, Roz soon develops a parental bond with an orphaned gosling." The Wild Robot novel, which this feature film is based on, is typically covered in the HES 3rd grade curriculum.
Tickets are $10 per person (20% of all ticket sales and concessions benefit the HES PTO)
Buy Tickets Here: https://hopewellelementarypto.membershiptoolkit.com/thewildrobot
Thank you to event sponsor "Listed by Janet" for her generous sponsorship of this event!
Capture Memories on Picture Day at HES!
Picture Day is approaching fast! Irvin Simon Photographers will be at our school on October 10th to capture student photos. Shortly after Picture Day, photo proofs will be sent home with your children, along with details on how to place your orders. Get those smiles ready!
HES Helping Ronald McDonald House One Tab at a Time!
Starting Monday, October 7th, HES will begin collecting aluminum tabs for the Ronald McDonald House in New Brunswick, NJ. Each grade level will compete to collect the most tabs, and at the end of the year, the class with the highest total will win a prize! Start collecting your tabs!
Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day
We are excited to announced that we have teamed up with our Hopewell Township First Responders and the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association to encourage our students to bike, roll, or walk to school on Friday, October 11th, beginning at 7:45am. GMTMA partners with schools and communities throughout Mercer and Ocean Counties to implement a variety of safe walking and bicycling programs. Students will be able to visit GMTMA's table on their way in to school in the morning. They will have a prize wheel and bike safety questions to quiz the students. Prizes will be awarded too! Start mapping out your route to school now. Please review the map below for specific routes.
Kindergarten/1st Grade's Monster Mash (sponsored by PTO)
Halloween Parade
Our annual Halloween Parade will take place on Thursday, October 31st, from 9:15am to 9:55am. We encourage all HES Families to join us for the festivities! Please note that safety is our top priority. We kindly request that costumes are age-appropriate and do not include weapons or scary elements. Additionally, comfortable footwear is recommended for students to ensure their safety while walking during the parade. More information will follow in a separate communication as we near this date.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
This year, Parent-Teacher Conferences have been scheduled earlier than usual, taking place on November 4th, 5th, and 6th, rather than during the week of Thanksgiving as in past years.
More information regarding specific times and locations will be shared later this month, but please mark your calendars for the updated dates. Thank you!
Counselor's Corner
During September, students participated in our Kindness Kickoff and focused on the character trait of Responsibility. As we move into October, our focus will shift to Respect.
Week of Respect - October 7th-11th
During the Week of Respect, our students will engage in CharacterStrong lessons, participate in Spirit Days, and enjoy school-wide activities that promote respect and kindness. It's an opportunity for them to learn the importance of treating others with dignity and consideration. View our spirit day calendar below.
Peace Week - October 21st-25th
Later in the month, from October 21st to 25th, we will be observing Peace Week. This is the week aimed at fostering a sense of peace and unity within our school community. Please wear Tie-Dye or peace apparel on Friday, October 25th.
Please use my website as a resource if you’d like to learn more about me or my role as the HES school counselor and how I can support your student. Please reach out if you need any assistance via phone at 609-737-4007 x7206 or email at ashleylarose@hvrsd.org
HES PTO
- PTO Meeting: Please join us for our second PTO meeting of the year on Thursday, October 10th @ 7:30 pm (virtual), Meeting Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86572981405 Meeting ID: 865 7298 1405
- 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
- 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.
Sign-Up Links: https://krisreneecreative.com/fall-and-holiday-mini-sessions
Save the Date
- October 3rd - Rosh Hashanah - Schools/Offices Closed
- October 6th - The Wild Robot Movie - PTO-sponsored Private Viewing Party @ Hillsborough Cinemas (10:30am)
- October 7th -11th - Fire Prevention Week & Week of Respect
- October 7th - Fire Safety Education Day - HFD Visit to HES; Whole School Meeting (students will wear Olympic Country Colors or Olympic ring colors - refer to your child's teacher for more information)
- October 8th - Green Team Meeting (3:45pm); Orff Ensemble Rehearsal (3:45pm)
- October 9th - Vocal Ensemble (8:00am)
- October 10th - School Picture Day; PTO Meeting - Virtual (7:30am)
- October 11th - Preschool Collaboration Day - No Preschool for Students; HES's Walk/Roll/Bike to School (7:45am)
- October 14th - Staff Development - Schools Closed for Students; Board of Education Regular Meeting (6:30pm)
- October 16th - Vocal Ensemble Rehearsal (8:00am)
- October 17th - Fall Assembly - Queen Nur SELebration Stories; Student Council Meeting - Officer and Reps (8:05am); Orff Ensemble Rehearsal (3:45pm)
- October 21st - 25th - Peace Week
- October 23rd - Vocal Ensemble Rehearsal (8:00am)
- October 24th - Debate Team Meeting (8:00am); Orff Ensemble Rehearsal (3:45pm)
- October 25th - School Spirit Day for PEACE Week - Wear Tie-Die or Peace Apparel; PTO-Sponsored Monster Mash for Kindergarten & 1st Grade Students (6:30pm)
- October 30th - Vocal Ensemble Rehearsal (8:00am); Kindergarten's Farm Day (9:00am); Orff Ensemble Rehearsal (3:45pm)
- October 31st - HES's Halloween Parade (9:15am)
- November 1st - Diwali - Schools Closed for Students & Staff
Important Links
Previous Community Newsletters (and School Communication)
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, including the Back to School Forms section. At this time, there are forms that need to be returned. Please take a moment to review, print, and complete the documents found in this section.
Previous Newsletters:
Hopewell, NJ 08525
609-737-4007
@hes.hvrsd.org (Website)
@HopewellES (Twitter/X)
@hopewell_elementary_school (Instagram)