HTPS EXCELLENCE SPOTLIGHT
MESSAGE FROM MR. TOOMEY - SUPERINTENDENT
As the holiday season fills our hearts with joy and cheer, I want to take a moment to thank everyone who makes the Hanover Township Public Schools such a special place. To our incredible students, teachers, staff, and administrators—your hard work and commitment have made the first four months of this school year truly wonderful. To our supportive parents and guardians—your partnership and investment in your children’s education are invaluable.
A special shout-out to our devoted music teachers for coordinating incredible holiday performances in all of our schools. Your creativity and effort bring the season to life! To our amazing student musicians—thank you for sharing your talents and spreading holiday cheer through your heartwarming performances.
Together, we are living our mission as a "Community that Inspires Excellence," fostering growth, learning, and success for all. As we celebrate this festive season, I hope you take time to cherish your loved ones, reflect on the joy of giving, and savor the moments that matter most.
Wishing you and your family a holiday season filled with peace, happiness, and hope. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa to all!
Here’s to a happy and healthy 2025, full of opportunities, growth, and all we have to look forward to in the new year. Thank you for all you do to make our schools and community extraordinary!
BEE MEADOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Balloons
Over
Broadway
2024
This is BMS' very own, highly-anticipated, Thanksgiving Day Parade. It didn't disappoint!
SEL Day @ BMS
Social-Emotional Learning helps students develop skills to manage emotions, build relationships, and make responsible decisions, supporting success in school and life.
Building SEL Skills
Students can build relationship by being kind and collaborating with peers. This will serve them well in the years to come.
Gobble Gobble
Thanksgiving fun in PreK. It's always fun to dress like a turkey for Thanksgiving!
Let's Create!
Mrs. Phillips’ students working with our PreK creating fun projects.
Barclays Visits BMS
Grade 4 used the micro:bits and Grade 5 worked with robot cars to learn about programming.
Corporate Partner
We are grateful for the partnership we have with Barclays that brings dynamic learning opportunities to our students.
MOUNTVIEW ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Holiday Concerts
Mountview Road School held its annual winter concerts in early December. The students shined and we were so happy to perform to hundreds of smiling guests. What a great way to kick-off the holiday season. Pictured below are the second graders persuading the audience about why Santa needs a vacation. Also, our combined, fourth and fifth grade chorus giving a rousing cheer for the holidays!
After School Enrichment Clubs
After school enrichment clubs are wrapping-up at Mountview Road School. Students are engaging in a variety of activities including origami, strategic games, STEM, art and other areas.
PTA Cultural Arts Assembly
The MTV PTA hosted a Cultural Arts assembly presented by Kevin O'Keefe called Circus Minimus. The students got a kick out of him and his one-man, one-suitcase circus. The message involved dreaming big and believing in imagination.
12 Days of FaLaLa Spirit Day Fun!
'Tis the season at Mountview for fun and festivity. Spirit Day opportunities are abound as students and staff choose to participate in 12 days of festive dress. Some themes include holiday pajamas, hat day, and wear green. This year even the Grinch decided to make a visit but don't worry, by the end of the day with Mountview Students, his heart grew ten sizes larger!!!
imPACTful Learning
PACT students are learning about natural resources, as part of the unit on the environment. In pairs, students researched the natural resources of a particular state (rivers, forests, crops, minerals, etc.), then showcased those resources by creating a map out of Play-Doh.
Kindergarten Gingerbread Project
Kindergarten students, with teacher and parental support, had a blast channeling their creativity and spreading holiday cheer while decorating gingerbread houses.
SALEM DRIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Safety First!
Mrs. Baron and Mrs. Jacobson meet with 5th Grade Safety Patrol students to discuss their role and responsibilities.
Respecting the Flag
Salem Drive School's custodian, Mr. Dan, is assisting one of our safety patrol members with the daily routine of taking down and folding the American flag. Our safety patrol members are learning about the importance of caring for and respecting the flag of our great country.
Winter Concert Preparation
Parent volunteers hard at work in the Salem Drive School Gym decorating for the upcoming Winter Concerts. We are so grateful for their dedication as they set a beautiful scene for all of the performances.
Performance Dress Rehearsal
Mrs. White preparing her 4th Grade orchestra students for their upcoming performance in the Winter Concert.
Español with Señora Gibbs
Kindergarten students from Ms. Myron's class playing a fun fishing game during Spanish class with Señora Gibbs.
Readers at Work
2nd Grade teacher, Mrs. Pierone, working with one of her guided reading groups.
MEMORIAL JUNIOR SCHOOL
Treats for Troops
A group of enlisted soldiers proudly hold a box of extra Halloween candy and heartfelt cards created and sent by Memorial Junior School students. For 20 years, Memorial Junior School has participated in the ‘Treats for Troops’ program. With the amazing support of our school and community, we sent out 15 boxes this year, spreading smiles and showing our appreciation to our brave service members! We thank them for their service!
Winter Choral and Orchestra Concert
Last week, Memorial Junior School music students lit up the stage at the annual Winter Choral and Orchestra Concert! The event highlighted their amazing talents and set the perfect tone for the holiday season, sparking excitement and festive cheer that make this time of year so special. The night was filled with incredible performances that left the audience buzzing with holiday spirit!
MJS Ensembles Perform at PTA Advisory Meeting
Two small-group ensembles of Memorial Junior School band students, under the direction of Mrs. Currie, helped kick off the holiday season with festive performances at the PTA Advisory Meeting in early December. Their music filled the room with joy, spreading holiday cheer through the power of song. The talented students brought a burst of holiday spirit, leaving everyone excited for the season ahead!
TREP$ Marketplace
In early December, Memorial Junior School entrepreneurs launched over 60 businesses at the TREP$ Marketplace, gaining valuable skills in running a business. The marketplace served as the culminating event for the TREP$ after school club, where students were supported by countless community members.
Students Work with Ellie
Two helpful students assist Ellie, our Seeing Eye Puppy, in navigating the busy school environment and becoming more comfortable with her surroundings. Until now, Ellie has spent most of her time in Mrs. Ricupero’s classroom. As she grows older, she is now able to visit other classrooms and explore the bustling hallways as part of her training.
After School Art Club
The MJS Art Club is one of the most popular after school activities, giving students the opportunity to explore different techniques and projects beyond the regular curriculum. When the club meets, students not only unleash their creativity but also have fun socializing and working together on artistic projects in a lively, collaborative environment.
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
3-5 ELA Steering Committee
A group of dedicated educators have met on several occasions as the district pursues a new reading program. In the coming months, the committee will be working to develop units and accompanying resources, incorporating the Science of Reading and all of the essential components of literacy.
Dr. Milou Visits, Again!
Dr. Milou continued his tour through our elementary schools as he works with students while helping teachers develop new instructional strategies, provide meaningful ways to use formative assessments, and building problem-solving skills using numberless word problems.
WEATHER RELATED DELAYS & CLOSINGS
When inclement weather is forecasted, the safety of our students, teachers, and staff is our highest priority. The decision to delay the opening of schools or close entirely is made with great care, in collaboration with the Hanover Township Public Works, the HTPS Supervisor of Buildings & Grounds, and local Superintendents. Communication between these groups remains fluid until the final decision is made.
Sometimes, based on the timing of a storm, an initial decision for a delayed opening may provide extra time to assess conditions, which could lead to a full school closure if necessary. In addition to road conditions, another critical factor is whether we have enough teachers and staff to ensure safe and orderly operations within our buildings. Depending on the storm’s path, this can also influence the final decision.
Please note that when there is a delayed opening, the HTSACC Early Birds program is canceled, and on Early Dismissal days (due to weather), the HTSACC After Care program is not available.
We are committed to keeping our community informed. In the event of a weather-related schedule change, you will receive an email, text, and phone call through the SchoolMessenger notification system, as long as your information is up to date in the PowerSchool portal. Updates will also be posted on the district website.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure the safety of everyone in our school community!
NEW YEAR, NEW WEBSITE!
We are thrilled to announce the upcoming release of the district's brand new website. Special thanks to our Director of Technology, Mike Schwab, as well as our EdTech Specialists: Mrs. Balvin - MJS, Mr. Cashen - SDS, Mrs. Peterson - BMS, and Mrs. Pratola - MTV. The URL will remain the same (www.hanovertwpschools.com) but it will have a fresh look when we return from Winter Break on Thursday, January 2. The finishing touches are underway. Once it is up and running, we will continue to make tweaks and add to it as necessary. Stay tuned!
Board of Education Meeting
Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024, 07:30 PM
61 Highland Avenue, Whippany, NJ, USA
UPCOMING CALENDAR REMINDERS
Friday, December 20
Early Dismissal (Elementary Schools @ 12:45pm & MJS @ 12:15pm)
*HTSACC After Care Closes @ 4pm*
Monday, December 23 - Wednesday, January 1
Winter Recess - Schools & District Offices Closed
Wednesday, December 25
Christmas
Hanukkah Begins
Thursday, December 26
Kwanzaa Begins
Wednesday, January 1
New Year's Day
Kwanzaa Ends
Thursday, January 2
Schools & District Offices Reopen
Hanukkah Ends
Tuesday, January 7
BOE Reorganization Meeting @ 6:30pm
Friday, January 17
Early Dismissal (Elementary Schools @ 12:45pm & MJS @ 12:15pm)
Staff PD Session
Monday, January 20
Schools & District Offices Closed - MLK, Jr. Day
Friday, January 31
Marking Period 2 Ends
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
HTPS & HT
Mr. Toomey and Mayor Gallagher joined forces as team captains for the Mayors Wellness Committee's inaugural Grades 3-5 Kickball Game. Everyone had a blast!
Friday Night Kickball
35 students participated and brought their "A" game as they played a friendly game of kickball. Each team took turns with captains Mr. Toomey and Mayor Gallagher.
History of Hanover
Grade 8 students were treated to a visit by a local historian and chairman of the HT Landmark Commission, Mike Czuchnicki to learn about the history of Hanover Township.