Dear Hopewell Valley Regional School District Community,

During September, we remember the staggering number of people we have lost to suicide. We do our best to lift the individuals who are struggling with mental health and to release them and their love ones from the undo stigma that people who struggle with mental health may encounter. Mental health is as important as physical health. HVRSD, though several student and parent/caregiver programs, works to teach our community what is everyday stress and when anxiety has become a problem. When one can recognize the signs, it is important that they seek help.

We encourage our parents and caregivers to reach out if you are concerned about your child or are struggling and need support. The link below contains a list of resources if you, someone you know, or your child is in crisis. Remember to call 911 immediately if someone is saying they will harm themselves or others.

Never be afraid to ask for or to accept help.

We are excited to continue our partnership with Common Sense Media this school year. They offer a wide range of resources for parents and educators.

The first of several parent-facing webinars is on Thursday, October 10, at 5 pm PT/8 pm ET (for one hour). The topic is A Turning Point? The Push-Pull of Tech in Our Kids' Lives features an excellent panel discussion. It is free, but registration is required. Click here for the full description.

Over the last several years, we have offered Youth Mental Health First Aid training to interested staff, parents and community members. The response has been extremely positive. We will be offering training again this year on 10/22 and 12/3 for any adult who interacts with youth ages 12-18. It teaches how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents. If interested in attending this one-day in person training in the school district, please complete this form by October 1st. Space is limited and will be on a first come, first served basis. This was made possible thanks to a grant from The College of New Jersey and the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance.

Your Point of View is Needed! We invite you to share your thoughts in this brief Parent Program Survey to enable us to tailor future parent programming to better support families.

We recognize September 15 through October 15, 2024, as Hispanic Heritage Month. This is an opportunity to celebrate Hispanic and Latino Americans' history, culture, and contributions. While I firmly believe that teaching history can’t be designated for one month, I find great value in the resources available during this time, which empower us with knowledge and understanding.

Recently, I viewed an episode on WHYY of American Masters that featured one of my favorite authors, Julia Alvarez. Her historical fiction is a beautiful and often heartbreaking window into the past. I offer this video in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Enjoy!

Stony Brook Elementary School Back to School Night--Wednesday, 9/25/24 @ 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Toll Gate Grammar School Back to School Night--Thursday, 9/26/24 @ 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Timberlane Middle School Tech Free Fun Night--Friday, 9/276/24 @ 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

Rosh Hashanah--Thursday, 10/03/24--All Schools and Offices Closed

Columbus/Indigeous People's Day--Monday, 10/14/24--Staff Development Day-- All Schools and Offices Closed for Staff Professional Development Training

Regular Board Meeting--Monday 10/14/24--Regular Board Meeting @ 6:30 PM at Board Office Building

Email: rosettatreece@hvrsd.org
Website: https://hvrsd.org/
Location: 425 South Main Street, Pennington, NJ, USA
Phone: 609-737-4002 ( 2301)
Facebook: facebook.com/HVRSD