Our vision is to provide our students with social, emotional and academic support

in a safe, respectful and nurturing environment,

so each of them can reach their fullest potential both now and in the future.

Our mission is to provide each student with the support necessary to achieve success

academically, emotionally and socially

as they develop the perseverance, responsibility and maturity needed to be successful learners.

We will accomplish this goal by providing data-driven instruction,

emphasizing consistent attendance, and demonstrating the belief that every student can thrive

in a safe, respectful and nurturing educational environment.

...for sharing her artistic talents with our students--and the community. The new mural now adorns the front of Rolling Hills Primary School and is decorated with the handprints of our students from 2023-2024. Thank you, Mrs. Ulrich!

...in addition, this lovely mural now adorns the hallway outside the art room. This year's collaborative art project started as single circles, which were cut into quarters, flipping the two corners and regluing them.

"Together we are better" at Rolling Hills!

Thank you, once again, Mrs. Ulrich!

Dear Rolling Hills Parents and Guardians:

Welcome to October! We certainly live in one of the most beautiful areas for enjoying the start of the fall season. Be sure to take some time to enjoy the lovely scenery, participate in the activities, and/or just spend time with your children. Time goes by so quickly; it is important to take time for yourselves and your families.

We have enjoyed a very busy September at Rolling Hills and are looking forward to another fun-filled month replete with educational opportunities and lots of enjoyable events! Please be sure to review each week's message, which is sent home each Friday afternoon to keep you updated on the next week's events.

Please be sure to complete this "Trust Me" permission survey (if you have not already done so) in order to give your child permission to walk to Lounsberry Hollow School on Friday, October 4th with the rest of the school! Thank you!

Once again this year, we will be emphasizing the importance of student attendance--each day for the full day! Unless your child is ill, they should be at school--on time and remaining for the entire school day. Regular attendance is associated with student success both now and in their future. This flyer from Attendance Counts delineates the importance of regular school attendance. Thank you in advance for your anticipated assistance with this important matter.

In an effort to start the school year with consistent routines, please note the following:

• If you are driving your child to school, please plan to arrive at Rolling Hills between 9:00 and 9:10 AM. Students arriving after 9:15 AM will be marked "tardy". When you arrive at the school, please follow the directives of the staff members who are outside assisting with this process. There is no need to park your car for morning drop-off, just drive up to the front door and your child may depart from your vehicle. If you could have your child ready to exit from the passenger side, that would provide a safer procedure for our students. Thank you for your assistance. Please note: if you are arriving after 9:15 AM, please walk your child to the front door and wait for the child to enter the school.

• If you are picking up your child from school, please visit Genesis and then follow the procedure below before noon on the day of the pick up. If your child is picked up each day, there is no need to follow this procedure daily, as they will be listed on the Daily Pickup List.

• When you pick up your child, you will need to park and walk to the front door of the school, where there will be a spreadsheet to sign out your child. Students will be called for pick-up dismissal at 3:30 PM.

• We would sincerely ask your patience and understanding in waiting until 3:30 PM for your child to be dismissed from if you are picking them up from school. Please avoid all early pick-ups unless there is an emergency, as it is very disruptive to the dismissal process. Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.

Although I strongly encourage you to reach out directly to your child's teacher(s) with issues pertaining to instruction or classroom issues, please be assured that I remain committed to every students' educational experience and encourage you to reach out to me if I may be of assistance throughout the school year.

Thank you in advance for your willingness to work together in order for your child to receive a quality educational experience. I am looking forward to an outstanding school year!

In appreciation,

Pauline F. Anderson, Principal

P.S. We are once again looking for nominations from our families for our GOVERNOR'S EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR for Rolling Hills Primary School. Please take a few minutes to nominate an Educator and/or an Educational Services Professional of the Year (ESP) from Rolling Hills for the 2024-2025 school year. Please use this form or the link below to submit your nomination, which may be sent to the main office on or before November 1, 2024. This Eligibility Criteria information document delineates the educators who are eligible for nomination. Thank you!

The 2024-2025 Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) and Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Application is now available! The criteria for determining eligibility for FRL and Summer EBT was expanded for the 2024-2025 school year by the State of New Jersey.

Completing the FRL and Summer EBT application benefits students and the District as a whole. If determined eligible, children receive meals at no cost during the school year and, through the Summer EBT program, families receive financial assistance for purchasing food during the summer months when school meals are unavailable. Beyond meal benefits, these applications can provide additional resources to families and provide the District with additional State and Federal funding.

We encourage all families to apply, even if you’re unsure of your eligibility. The expansion of FRL and EBT eligibility criteria by the State means that families who were not eligible in prior years may now be eligible in 2024-2025. The process is simple and confidential, and the potential benefits are substantial.

The application can be accessed online through the following link: https://www.vtsd.com/o/vtsd/page/food-service-information. If you have any questions, need assistance with the application process, or need to access a paper application, please contact Robyn Homestead at rhomestead@vtsd.com.

Tuesday, October 1st

Third Grade Dictionary Project

Friday, October 4th

“Trust Me” Assembly at LH - 10:00-11:30 AM

Fire Prevention Day - PM Fire Truck Visits

Monday, Oct. 7th - Friday. Oct. 11th

Week of Respect

Wednesday, October 9th

SCA Meeting - 9:45 AM - (Conference Room and via Zoom)

Thursday, October 10th

World Mental Health Day

Friday, October 11th

Yom Kippur (District Closed)

Monday, October 14th

Teacher In-Service (No School for Students)

Thursday, October 17th

Rolling Hills Family Game Night - 5:30-7:00 PM

Monday, October 21st - Friday October 25th

School Bus Safety Week

Thursday, October 24th

Fall Bus Evacuation Drill at AM Student Arrival

Monday, October 28th

SchoolCraft Picture Make-Up Day

Monday, October 28th - Friday, November 1st

Red Ribbon Week

...will be shared with you each month. They truly bring messages of hope and are replete with exceptional ideas to enrich your life--and the lives of those around you! Be sure to take a moment to review and/or print them for use throughout the month.

This month, we are asked to focus on things that really matter.

...created AN opportunity for their students with the opportunity for a "Booking Tasting" of both non-fiction and fiction books!

...and the opportunity to practice the math concepts of "greater than" and "less than".

...NFL Play 60!

...Spaghetti Tower Project!

We are off to a great school year! In math the students enjoyed working in small groups using number cards to find equations that share the same sums.

"Little Jimmy," our monarch butterfly emerged from its chrysalis! It was exciting to watch him go through the butterfly life cycle. We saw him munch milkweed all day while he was a caterpillar. Then he formed a chrysalis and when he emerged we released him into his natural environment.

...the students in their class enjoyed some “playtime” with their favorite classmate, the class pet Gus! As a reward for all their hard work, the students chose Gus playtime as a special treat. The students have learned so much already about responsibility, what it means to care for an animal, and empathy. Their smiling faces say it all about how they feel about their class pet!

...Word Work during phonics center time allows students to use the multisensory center to help them practice their high-frequency words they must know by heart!

...their class celebrated their Place Value skills with a Place Value Party

...class buried a time capsule during the first days of school to be dug up at the end of the year. We can't wait to see how much has changed during our 3rd grade year in June!

...that her students were reading a text passage and practicing their fluency with their highlighters.

...that one of her students was writing her spelling dictation on the SmartBoard.

Mrs. Reinhardt's class started the year with a STEM challenge. Their task was to work together in small teams to create the tallest, freestanding, tower using only marshmallows and uncooked spaghetti. It was a fun time and the students were able to work together and test out their ideas. We learned that a sturdy base is most important. The tallest tower was 21.5 inches tall!

Mrs. Reinhardt's class participated in a live author visit from David Ezra Stein, the author of the Interrupting Chicken books. After he read us his newest book in the series, the author taught us to use our imaginations to create awesome pictures from just simple scribbles. What a cool experience!

During WIN time, Mrs. Sousa's students can enjoy reading with a reading buddy in her classroom library.

Mrs. Sousa's class made class promise bracelets. Each bead stands for a promise the students made: be kind, help others, show respect, play fair, and work hard.

As we kick off third grade, Ms. Lapp and Mrs. Scovell's class has been diving into hands-on learning and building strong connections. They began with a collaborative challenge, where students used limited materials to construct the longest chain, encouraging teamwork and critical thinking.

Inspired by the book All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold, the students took the time to get to know each other through interviews, discovering new friendships and sharing their hobbies.

In writing, students have embarked on crafting their first personal narrative essay of the year. They tapped into their creativity by using playdough to recreate memorable moments from their summer vacations, enriching their narratives with vivid sensory details.

Miss Owens and Mrs. Pritchett’s second grade class jumped right into the school year with many fun learning activities. During the month of September, they recreated their favorite settings from one of their reading stories, Clark the Shark. They also welcomed Autumn with a Johnny Appleseed inspired afternoon complete with an Apple Taste Test.

Please join us in welcoming this year's RHPS SCA Board:

President - Ericka Petrucci

Vice President - Christine Debonte

Treasurer - Rose Ahearn

Recording Secretary - Brittany Adams

Corresponding Secretary - Kristine Connington

We look forward to a very successful year as we work together for the benefit of our students!

The second meeting of the 2024-2025 school year will be held on Wednesday, October 9th at 9:45 AM in the Rolling Hills Conference Room or via Zoom. We hope you can join us!

...thank you very much for your support! If there is anything I can do to assist you or your child, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Email: panderson@vtsd.com
Website: www.vtsd.com
Location: Rolling Hills Primary School, 60 Sammis Road, Vernon Township, NJ, USA
Phone: (973) 764-2784