HAS Weekly Update

Dear HAS Community,

The Hillside Avenue School staff would like to extend warm Thanksgiving wishes to everyone. This holiday season, we reflect on the many things we are grateful for, especially being part of such a wonderful and supportive school community. Your kindness, dedication, and collaboration make our school a truly special place, and for that, we are deeply thankful. Wishing you and your families a joyous Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, and cherished moments! 🦃🍁

Sincerely,

Kevin Deacon
Principal

HILLSIDE AVENUE SCHOOL FALL DRAMA PRODUCTION PRESENTS

Tickets are now on sale for our fall play, The Princess Who Had No Name. This funny show is about a princess who has forgotten who she is, and as she journeys to try to get home and to remember who she is, she meets several fairy-tale characters — Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Cinderella and Rapunzel to name a few. Some are helpful and some dangerous, yet all have information that intertwines and helps our fair maiden recall her own story, eventually revealing her true identity as a princess. Of course, her prince is desperately looking for her, but he seems to always be one step behind and inadvertently rescuing and winning the hearts of the wrong princesses!

Performances are Friday December 6th at 7pm, Saturday December 7th at 7pm, and Sunday December 8th at 2pm. Tickets can be purchased at http://has.booktix.net/

CHS is offering two opportunities for 8th Grade students at HAS to visit the high school to find out more information about courses and programs offered at the high school, specifically in the Performing and Fine Arts.

January 7th is for students who are interested in learning more about the Fine Art programs at the high school; including Art, Crafts, Graphic Design, and Photography.

January 9th is for students who are interested in learning more about the Performing Arts programs at the high school; such as music electives, music ensembles, and the CTE program.

Who should attend the Performing Arts day?

• Students currently enrolled in Band, Orchestra, or Chorus

• Students who have participated in a fall play, spring musical, or the stage crew

• Students with or without experience, who are interested in learning more about courses in dance, acting, vocal music, and technical theater

• Students who are interested in joining the Color Guard

Students attending will need to be dropped off at the high school at 8am the morning of, and will return to HAS by bus around 10:30/11am.

Students attending will need to have the permission slip filled out and return to Miss Nord by Monday December 2nd. Please see the permission slips for more information.

Performing Arts Day Permission Slip

Fine Arts Day Permission Slip

On Monday, November 25th, the 8th grade was provided information about their upcoming field trip. They were provided with a letter detailing the events of the trip, and a permission slip. The permission slip and $50 deposit are to be returned to school by Thursday, 12/5/24.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Grassi at grassi@cranfordschools.org or Mr. Bregartner @ bregartner@cranfordschools.org.

Fundraising information to follow. Please keep a lookout!

Who loves the show The Masked Singer? Would your children love to guess which teacher is behind the mask? Hillside Avenue School is proud to present the FIRST EVER MASKED READER event on February 13! Please consider donating one of the following costumes to help support this huge fundraiser that will benefit ALL of HAS! Details to be released soon so stay tuned!

Masked Reader Costume Donation Wish List

Our Lost and Found tables are officially out of control—they’ve been growing faster than your kids during a growth spurt! We’ve got a mountain of jackets, sweatshirts, and water bottles all waiting to find their long-lost owners. Check out the pictures in this folder to see if anything looks suspiciously familiar, and remind your kids to rescue their stuff before it starts paying rent!

Lost and Found Pictures - https://photos.app.goo.gl/Qk15THpsbJEPsjtNA

Did you know, 1 in 5 children in the USA is currently facing food insecurity? Mrs. Esposito's class, on behalf of the United States Coast Guard, will be holding their annual Seasons of Giving Food Drive in conjunction with Mrs. Weiler's class. Please drop off unopened, unexpired, nonperishable food items by December 19th to help feed local families in need this holiday season. All food donations will be delivered to the Community Food Bank of NJ. Thank you for your support! Donations can be dropped off in the school main hallway.

Buddy classes 2-E and 5-T donated their extra Halloween candy to create, “Sweets for Seniors,” treat bags. These were delivered to a local senior center for Thanksgiving!

Last week, our 6th-grade science classes had the incredible opportunity to welcome NASA Engineer Andy Sokol as a guest speaker. Mr. Sokol shared fascinating insights into his work on groundbreaking missions such as Artemis, which aims to return humans to the moon, and the Mars rovers, detailing the innovative techniques used to land them with airbags, cables, and parachutes. He also discussed his role in transporting astronauts to the International Space Station, captivating students with his firsthand experiences and expertise. It was an inspiring and engaging session that brought real-world science and engineering into the classroom!

Thursday, November 28, 2024- No School- Thanksgiving Recess

Friday, November 29, 2024- No School- Thanksgiving Recess

Friday, December 6, 2024 - 7:00pm "The Princess Who Had No Name"

Saturday December 7, 2024 - 7:00pm "The Princess Who Had No Name"

Sunday, December 8, 2024 - 2:00pm "The Princess Who Had No Name"

Wednesday, December 11 2024 - 7:00pm Elementary and Middle School Winter Chorus Concert

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.

The Elf Off the Shelf Fundraiser is a fun way to kick off the holiday season.

Our Junior Elves will come to your home and read a letter from their elf/elves or Santa. Our delivery dates are 12/16, 12/17, 12/18 or 12/19. We can also just deliver without disturbing your house or leave if you are not home as a surprise!

Each elfing includes a letter, a candy cane bouquet for each child and some holiday activities.

Sign up for elfing using this link and follow the instructions for remittance: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E44A8AE22A2FC1-53536577-elves

Cranford High School Building Bridges program is currently open for registration. This program offers an opportunity for students in Kindergarten through 4th grade to meet students from across the Cranford Public Schools district in a friendly and welcoming environment under the guidance of a high school Building Bridges ambassador. Each monthly meeting, students will meet and work on activities from crafting, sports activities, supporting CHS athletics and free play. Registration for the entire year is $20 per child. Register your child here: https://form.jotform.com/232148382532050

Go Green Folder

• Lunch Menu for September - Click HERE

• Convenient Pre-Payment Options Prepayment

Registration is currently open for Spring Lacrosse with the Cranford Lacrosse Club! Teams are currently forming now for Grades 1st-8th grade for Boys and Girls. Registration closes on December 31st and spaces are limited so don't delay! Register here: https://cranfordlacrosse.sportngin.com/register/form/804994711

The Cranford Public Library is working on a new strategic plan to help us focus our resources for the next three years. Please complete this anonymous Cranford Library Survey to help us understand your needs. The survey deadline is December 2.

As we celebrate the journey of our 8th graders, we invite you to make this year’s yearbook even more special by creating a personalized ad for your student. Yearbook ads are a wonderful way to honor your child’s accomplishments and share your pride as they prepare for the next exciting chapter. Visit https://yearbookordercenter.com/ AND USE ORDER NUMBER 8666

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

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).

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.

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

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