Dear HAS Community,

On Monday our students participated in mock elections. Our Elementary students voted for which spirit day they wanted and our middle school students voted for our student government positions. In the afternoon on Monday, the elementary students participated in their monthly Full Value Families. More about both of these events is below.

Please remember, that there is no school for students on Thursday, November 7th, and Friday, November 8th.

Sincerely,

Kevin Deacon

Principal

Elementary

A total of 1,506 elementary students across the district participated in a recent mock election. Students could choose between Dress Like a Teacher Day, Hat Day, Pajama Day, Dress Like a Rock Star Day, and Tie Dye Day. Pajama Day won with 50% of the vote! As a result, Wednesday, November 27, 2024, will be celebrated as Elementary Pajama Day across the entire district.

Middle School

On Monday, middle school students watched campaign videos and then cast their votes for Student Council positions, including President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Public Relations Officers for the 6th and 7th grades.

Thank you to all the candidates who ran for a position, whether they won or not. Additionally, even if your child did not run or win a Student Council position, they are still welcome to attend meetings and share their ideas for making HAS an even better place.

On Monday, our elementary students gathered for their second Full Value Family meeting. They rotated through three activity stations, each designed to build connection and teamwork. In the gym, students played games to discover shared interests with their 'family' members. In the cafeteria, they practiced teamwork by stacking cups together. Finally, in the auditorium, they honed their listening skills. It was a fun and meaningful experience for everyone involved!

On Monday, November 11, 2024, we will honor our veterans with a special Veterans Day Clap-In. We invite everyone to wear red, white, and blue to show our support and appreciation for their service.

On Wednesday, November 13th, Hillside Avenue School and the Cranford School District will recognize World Kindness Day as a way to emphasize being kind to one another. This day reminds students that kindness has the power to change the world. In honor of this day we ask that everyone wear yellow.

Dear Parents/ Guardians:

The week of November 18th we are bringing back the school store. We will be partnering with the students in Mrs. Fernandez’s class to sell a variety of items, from pencils to stress balls, everything will be $2 or less. Please send in smaller bills so change is easier to hand out. This is a cash only school store and all proceeds go to charity. The schedule for the store is as follows:

From 2:00 pm -2:50 pm

Grade 1- Monday 11/18

Grade 2- Tuesday 11/19

Grade 3- Wednesday 11/20

Grade 4- Thursday 11/21

Grade 5- Friday 11/22

Thank you so much for your support!

If your child is applying to a high school other than Cranford High School, please provide Ms. Keaveney with a School Release Form from the high school your child is applying to. Forms can be emailed to keaveney@cranfordschools.org or dropped off by the student at the Guidance Office (located next to the Main Office).

Student Sign Up

Volunteers/Donations

The students in 1S and 5L worked together to create kindness donuts. They brainstormed ways to show kindness while building friendships with their buddies!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wednesday, 11/13/24, 7:00pm - PTA (Virtual)

Thursday, 11/14/24 - Photo Retakes

Friday, 11/15/24, 7:00pm - Grade 6 Social

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!

Go Green Folder

• Lunch Menu for September - Click HERE

• Convenient Pre-Payment Options Prepayment

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.

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.

Order your middle school yearbook now. Visit yearbookordercenter.com with school code 8666. Or call 1.866.287.3096 to order your yearbook over the phone.

$35 until 1/15/25

$45 until 4/15/25

Personalization Sales End 1/15/25

All Sales End 4/15/25

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

• New Electronic Device Protocols
  
• Elementary School Hours
• Middle School Hours

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.

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)

The safety of our students is of the utmost importance and we ask that all our visitors follow our procedures.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. You will be buzzed into the vestibule.
4. Please wait in the vestibule.
5. We will bring your child to you in the vestibule where you will sign them out.

**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)

Email: Deacon@cranfordschools.org
Website: https://has.cranfordschools.org/
Location: 125 Hillside Avenue, Cranford, NJ, USA
Phone: 908-709-6229