Hardyston Elementary School

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I hope you are enjoying a restful and memorable summer! As the end of summer vacation approaches, we are eagerly preparing for the start of another school year. The anticipation that builds as September nears is undeniable, and the staff and I are excited to welcome your children back to school.

This year, our preschool program has expanded to five classrooms, now serving 75 students. We are committed to implementing best practices in all areas, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed. This includes creating a nurturing and engaging learning environment, setting clear expectations, and providing academic and emotional support tailored to each child's needs.

As the principal of Hardyston Elementary School, I am both proud and honored to serve our community. I look forward to partnering with you to support your child's growth and development throughout their elementary school years. Together, we can ensure a smooth transition from the relaxing days of summer to a positive and productive school year ahead. Wishing you and your child a successful and rewarding school year!

See you soon,

Mrs. Cimaglia

All incoming preschool and kindergarten students need to supply the following health information before the start of school. If information is missing, your child may be unable to start school on September 5.

A PHYSICAL EXAM must be valid on the first day of school and be within one year from the 1st day of attending school. (Physical must be dated after 9/5/23).

Immunizations:

• DTaP, DT,Td: A minimum of four doses, with one dose given on or after the child's fourth birthday, or any five doses.
• Polio (IPV): Three doses with one dose given on or after the child's fourth birthday, or any four doses.
• MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella combination vaccine): Two doses, the first given on or after the child's first birthday.
• Hepatitis B: Three doses.
• Varicella: One dose on or after the child's first birthday. (A second booster is strongly recommended by the Department of Health.)

PRESCHOOL REQUIREMENTS ALSO INCLUDE:

• HIB (Haemophilus influenzae type b): One dose is required on or after the first birthday.
• PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate): One dose is required on or after the first birthday.
• Influenza: Ages 6-59 months of age, must receive one dose annually from September 1st through December 31st of that school year.

If you have any questions, please contact the school nurse, Mrs. Stoffels, at 973-823-7000, extension 8220 or email wstoffels@htps.org.

The parent portal will be open for teacher assignments and bus information on Monday, August 26. If you need help accessing the portal, our secretarial staff would be happy to assist you. Please just call the office.

Please join me in welcoming the following new staff members to Hardyston Elementary School

Jennifer Dugan, Preschool teacher

Samantha Brady, Preschool teacher

Heather Cascone, Preschool teacher (leave replacement)

Danielle Panas, Kindergarten teacher

Amanda DelGrosso, Kindergarten teacher

Emily Putnam, Grade 1 teacher

Pamela Tancredi, Grade 3 resource room teacher

Madison Trent, English Second Language teacher

Amanda Matz, Paraprofessional

Olivia Biddulph, Paraprofessional

Drop off and pick up takes place behind the school.

Drop Off is between 8:40 am and 8:50 am. Please remember that drop off is a flowing line of cars and parents are not permitted to walk students to the door. Thank you for your cooperation.

Pick Up is in the back of the building. Parents will be directed to park and may exit the driveway only when signaled to do so.

Arrival times for pick up:

• Preschool parents may arrive prior to 3 pm and must display their PK parking pass to park
• Kinder - grade 4 parents will not be able to enter the driveway before 3:10

Buses will leave the school at approximately 3:40 pm. During the first few days of school, buses may arrive home a few minutes later than what would be typical as bus drivers and students are getting use to the routine.

PickUp Patrol is a system Hardyston School District uses to manage dismissal. It eliminates the need to write notes or make phone calls when changing your student's dismissal plans. It is assumed that all students will ride the bus home unless you change your preference in Pick Up Patrol. Please be sure to log in to set up your preference. New parents, you will receive a welcome email inviting you to set up an account.

*Please note* Preschool students do not use Pick Up Patrol because transportation choices were already noted through the transportation survey that was sent out earlier this summer.

To welcome our families back to school, students are invited to Hardyston Elementary School on Thursday, August 29 from 10:00 am – 12:00 for a self-guided tour to walk the hallways and locate your child’s classroom. Teachers will not be present and all classrooms (except preschool classes) will be locked. Our PTA will be in the main hallway and they are excited to talk with you. I am looking forward to seeing everyone, too.

Preschool, Wednesday, 9/4 at 3:30 pm

Please report directly to your child's classroom. Mrs. Cascone's classroom is inside the main building. Mrs. Dugan, Miss Brady, Mrs. Lapinski and Mrs. Napovier's classrooms are in the annex. *Parents only. No children, please.

Kindergarten, Wednesday, 9/4 at 4:30 pm

Kindergarten students should accompany their parents as they will have the opportunity to meet their teacher and classmates and see their classroom. Students will then tour the school with our 4th grade students. Please report directly to your child's classroom.

*Parents and kindergarten students only. No siblings, please.

Grades 1–4, Thursday, 9/12

To accommodate families who have students in multiple grade levels, there will be two sessions.

• Grades 1 & 2 will be held from 6 - 7:00 *parents report directly to the classroom at 6 pm
• Grades 3 & 4 will be held from 7 - 8:00 *parents report directly to the classroom at 7 pm
• Assigned Arts, intervention, speech teachers, and (select) CST members will be available in the cafeteria from 6:30 - 7:30 pm
• The Hardyston PTA and other organizations will also be in the cafeteria from 6:30 - 8 pm

*Parents/guardians only. No children, please.

Our district sends out an email blast every Sunday morning at 10 am. Please look for it in your inbox. It contains important information, dates, and reminders for our district. It’s a great way to keep informed! If you don’t receive the email, please call the school office and we will be sure to get you on the email list. You can also visit the school website at https://www.htps.org/e-blast/ for the current update or https://www.htps.org/blast-archives/ for older updates.