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The Friday Focus
October 27, 2023
From the Office of the Superintendent
Kids and Media: One Expert's Perspective
She studies kids and media for a living. Here’s 1 thing she doesn't do with her own teen’s phone.
"Dr. Jenny Radesky is a researcher, professor and head of developmental and behavioral pediatrics for the University of Michigan Medical School as well as the parent of two teens. Her lab studies 'the intersection between kids' minds, family relationships, and the ever-changing digital world.' She was the primary author of a groundbreaking study of kids' phone usage for Common Sense Media. She's co-director of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health.." (From the Today Show, 10.20.23)
Please see "Community Events" for upcoming programs!
CHS Theatre Presents "Peter and The Starcatcher" Nov 3rd & 4th
The Tony-winning play, based on the best-selling novels, upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan boy becomes the legendary Peter Pan.
Conferences: HVCHS will be providing opportunities for conferences on Monday, November 20 from 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. and Tuesday, November 21 from 5 p.m.- 8 p.m. Additional information regarding scheduling, availability, and format will be shared next week. We are looking forward to meeting with you!
Governor’s Educator of the Year: Each year, the Hopewell Valley Regional School District participates in the Governor's Educator of the Year (GEOY) program. The intent of this program is to recognize the hard work of outstanding teachers and educational services professionals. You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google form, or you can print and write on the pdf attachment.
Please return nomination forms directly to Ms. Riley by Thursday, November 9.
Governor’s Educator of the Year Nomination (pdf)
Governor’s Educator of the Year Nomination (Google form)
Eligible Certification Areas for Educational Services Professionals
Alumni Database: Are you a graduate of HVCHS? Are you a parent or guardian of a recent graduate? We are encouraging all HVCHS alumni to join our Alumni Directory. Complete our Database Form and indicate what type of information you would like to receive from HVCHS. We're looking forward to connecting with our graduates!
Recent Communication from HVCHS: Please be sure to review the recent communication from HVCHS, including the Back to School Newsletter and HVCHS Returns website.
What’s Happening at HVCHS? Please follow us on Twitter: @HVCentralHS and Instagram: hopewell_valley_central_hs for pictures, updates, and fun facts. Fundraising activities from our classes, clubs, and teams can be found here.
Please be sure to review the recent communication from HVCHS, including the September Newsletter, Back to School Newsletter and HVCHS Returns website.
HVCHS PTO Dog Byte: Check out this comprehensive list of upcoming events, fundraisers and class information from the PTO!
Absences & Late Arrivals: Parents/Guardians should call our TeleSafe number 609-737-4003, Ext 2, by 8:00 am to report an absence or late arrival. Please also review our attendance procedures for details about our policies.
*Dates to Remember*
October 27: Haunted Hallways and Food Drive!
October 27: Winter Athletics Registration Deadline
November 3 & 4: Upcoming Play: Peter and the Starcatcher!
November 9: NJEA Convention - Schools Closed
November 10: Veteran’s Day - Schools/Offices Closed
November 20 & 21: Parent-Teacher Conferences
Sixth Grade Night Out, October 27th: Students will be assigned a time slot for activities but will be intermixing and mingling with other groups, as well. The cost of entry covered supplies and concessions; students will not need to bring money with them. Students need to report to the new gym upon dismissal. They must be picked up at 5:30 pm at the school.
Halloween, Tuesday, Oct 31: We will be inviting students to dress for Halloween if they are interested. We'll have lots of fun activities during the school day, including a costume contest, door decorating contest, and more. Please note for costumes: Costumes must be school-appropriate; No weapons, no blood, no guts; Masks must be removed after initial judging; No suggestive or revealing costumes; If you are unsure of your costume - ask an administrator
Parent-Teacher Conferences: Conferences will be held on Friday, November 17 (afternoon) and Monday, November 20 (afternoon and evening). Due to the availability of slots, conference sign-ups will be invitation only for the first 1-2 weeks, then will be open to everyone. Details to follow.
Items Forgotten At Home: When parents/guardians drop items off for students they are buzzed into the vestibule where the belongings are placed into the yellow bins by grade level. Students check there when convenient. 7/8th grade students are aware. 6th grade students are learning this procedure.
Make Up Work When Absent: When a student is absent, they are responsible for making up all missed classwork and homework. If a student needs support, they should request a pass to visit their teacher during Pack. If your child has been out for several days, please contact your child’s counselor to work out a support plan.
Absences, Late Arrival & Early Dismissal - Parents should call our TeleSafe # 609-737-4004, Ext 2, by 8:00 am, to report an absence or late arrival. If your child is leaving early, please be sure to send in a note when possible. If the need occurs after the start of school, please call the Main Office.
Check the The Timberlane ``Principal's Page" for weekly information!
TMS Updates - For additional information about TMS, please visit our webpage, or follow us on Twitter @Timberlane_HV, or instagram @timberlane_timberwolves
THE TMS PTO has some great Upcoming Events!
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts - November 20th (early dismissal day!)
TMS Night at the Wells Fargo Center (SIXERS!) - March 8th
*Dates To Remember*
10/27 6th Grade Night Out
10/31 Halloween at TMS
11/9 NJEA Convention - Schools Closed
11/10 Veteran’s Day - Schools/Offices Closed
11/17 Parent/Teacher Conferences
The Galaxy Glow Show (pictured above): Andi Anderson, the art teacher at Bear Tavern, has put together a very special art show in the school multi-purpose room. Every student in the school has a piece of glowing artwork on display. K-3 students were inspired by astronauts and rockets while 4th and 5th grade focused on astronomy and the atmosphere.
BT PTO Oktoberfest/Trunk Or Treat - Friday, Oct 27th, 6-8pm. Please join us for an evening of spooky family fun!
Principal's Page - provides links to information and activities and is updated regularly.
PTO Bear Flash October - Click here for everything you need to know for the next month and beyond.
BT Halloween Parade - We will continue our tradition of having our parade in the morning of the 31st. Families are invited and can park AFTER arrival and head to the blacktop. Please click here for more information.
BT 5th Grade Committee - Fall Pie Fundraiser. All proceeds will go to support the 5th grade committee activities. Griggstown Pies are great for any season!
BT Veterans Day -Our Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, November 8th at 2:00 PM. We will have a small reception after a brief whole-school meeting. We will determine the event's location (inside or outside) depending upon the weather as we get closer and will notify all participants.
BT Annual Appeal - Funds help with assemblies, field trips, visiting authors, STEAM fairs, community-building events, field days, and more. All donations are greatly appreciated. Donations to the annual appeal can be made here.
BT Parent Teacher Conferences - Please stay tuned; information regarding sign-ups will be shared soon.
PaySchools Central Food Service: Use the following link for the 2023-2024 school lunches.
Absences & Late Arrivals: Parents/Guardians should call our TeleSafe number 609-737-4005, Ext 2, by 8:00 am to report an absence or late arrival. Thank you.
Changes In Students’ Dismissal: If there is a change in how students will be going home (pick up, take the bus, after school program, etc.), please be sure to call or email the main office, as teachers do not always have an opportunity to check their email. 609-737-4005 btmainoffice@hvrsd.org
*Dates To Remember*
10/27 - Spooktacular Oktoberfest: Trunk or Treat
10/31 - Halloween Parade
11/1 - Pajama Day
11/8 - BT Veterans Day/Wear Red, White & Blue
11/9 & 11/10 - School closed (NJEA convention)
The Principal’s Newsletter - Hopewell’s Happenings is a monthly update of all things HES!
PTO Griggstown Farm Pie Fundraiser! Please click HERE to submit your pie order.
Orders are due by Monday, October 30th.
Hopewell Borough Halloween Parade - October 29th - All Ages Welcome!
HES Halloween Parade - We will continue our tradition of having a morning parade from 9:15 am to 9:45 am. Families are invited to participate. When you arrive please line up along the highlighted route linked here.
Library Volunteers - Calling all parents! We need your support in the HES library. Join our team of dedicated volunteers to shelve books and organize the library. Your help ensures our students have a well-organized and inspiring reading space. Let's work together to maintain an enriched learning environment. Sign up today to be a part of our library volunteer team! Contact Mrs. White at leawhite@hvrsd.org
Lost and Found - The Lost and Found pile is growing! Please have your children check the table by the cafeteria before Thanksgiving. All items will be donated after the break.
PTO Membership Toolkit - Sign up for the school directory to manage your information. If you have any questions about the directory, reach out at hesdirectory@gmail.com.
Absences & Late Arrivals - Parents/Guardians should call our TeleSafe number 609-737-, Ext 2, by 8:00 am to report an absence or late arrival. Thank you.
HES Changes In Students’ Dismissal - If there is a change in how students will be going home (pick up, take the bus, after school program, etc.), please be sure to call or email the main office, as teachers do not always have an opportunity to check their email. 609-737- 4007 or hwmainoffice@hvrsd.org
School Lunches - Use the following link for the 2023-2024 school lunch page.
*Dates To Remember*
10/31 - HES Halloween Parade (9:15am)
11/3 - PTO Meeting (8:45am)
11/9 - NJEA Convention - Schools Closed
11/10 - Veterans Day (Observed) - Schools/Offices Closed
11/17 - 11/20 - Parent Teacher Conferences
SB "Principal's Page" has contact information, upcoming events, links to all sorts of information and activities and is updated regularly.
PTO Trunk or Treat - Friday, October 27th, 6pm-8pm. Fun for the Whole Family!
Click on link for details!
Griggstown Pie Fundraiser - orders due Monday, October 30. ORDER FORM
SB Membership Toolkit - Click on link to register. Contains All volunteer opportunities, class lists and Spirit Wear. Contact StonyBrookPTO@gmail.com with any questions.
Absences & Late Arrivals - Parents/Guardians should call our TeleSafe number 609-737-4006, Ext 2, by 8:00 am to report an absence or late arrival. Thank you.
Fall is almost here! - Don’t forget to label your children's coats, hats, and gloves.
SB Changes In Students’ Dismissal - If there is a change in how students will be going home (pick up, take the bus, after school program, etc.), please be sure to call or email the main office, as teachers do not always have an opportunity to check their email: 609-737-4006/sbmainoffice@hvrsd.org
School Lunch Information for 2023-2024
*Dates To Remember*
10/27 - PTO Trunk or Treat 6:00pm-8:00pm
10/31 - Halloween Parade at 2:45 pm
11/1 - Spirit Day/Pajama Day
11/9 - NJEA Convention - Schools Closed
11/10 - Veteran’s Day - Schools/Offices Closed
Thank you for all of your support of the Walk/Bike to School Wednesdays! They've been great!
Halloween- Our Halloween Parade will be on Tues. 10/31 at 9:15 am. Please send your child to school in their costume. The students will march from Curlis Avenue to the corner of Main Street and around the front loop of the school. We ask that families stay out of the front loop so we can maintain the safety of our students as they march through. Parents, guardians and family members are welcome to join us at the end of the parade in the back of the school on the blacktop to take pictures before the students go back into the building. Thank you to all of our class parents who will be volunteering their time to coordinate class parties with our teachers. We are looking forward to a fun day!
Trick or Treat for Unicef- Toll Gate Student Council members invite all students to participate in their Trick or Treat for unicef campaign this Halloween. UNICEF has helped save and meaningfully improve more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization. UNICEF won’t stop until every child is healthy, educated, protected and respected. Donations can be made here. More information, including a QR Code, will be sent home next week.
Trash or Treasure- Don’t forget to bring your Halloween candy wrappers and deposit them in the Trash or Treasure recycling box! You don’t have to trash those candy wrappers and doom them to an eternity in a landfill - or, even worse, our oceans. By putting your wrappers in the custom candy wrapper recycling box, you can keep our planet clean and contribute to the circular economy. Thank you for helping to make Halloween sweet and sustainable! This event is sponsored by the TG Green Team.
Governor’s Educator of the Year- Each year, the Hopewell Valley Regional School District participates in the Governor's Educator of the Year (GEOY) program. The intent of this program is to recognize the hard work of outstanding teachers and educational services professionals. Below you will find a nomination form along with the criteria that you should consider, if interested in nominating an educator. You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google form, or you can print and write on the pdf attachment. Please return nomination forms directly to Mrs. Lauri by Thursday, November 9, 2023.
Governor’s Educator of the Year Nomination (pdf)
Governor’s Educator of the Year Nomination (Google form)
Eligible Certification Areas for Educational Services Professionals
Support Professional of the Year- We will once again be recognizing support staff professionals from Hopewell Valley, for their hard work and dedication to the district. These individuals will be selected by a committee facilitated by Tana Smith and recognized by the Board of Education. If you know of a paraprofessional, secretary, custodian, maintenance worker, bus driver, van attendant, or technology specialist who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference in the lives of staff, parents, and students, please take the time to nominate this person. This can be done by clicking on the link below, completing the nomination form, and returning it to Tana Smith via email by Thursday, November 9, 2023. Administrators, staff members, parents, students, and community members are encouraged to participate.
Support Professional Nomination (pdf)
Support Professional Nomination (Google form)
School Lunches - Use the following link for the 2023-2024 school lunch page.
Dismissal Changes - If your dismissal plans change at any time, please email
tgmainoffice@hvrsd.org, (this email will go to both main office secretaries, Ashlee Dana and Patricia Jaczko) to inform them of the change. Please also cc' your child's homeroom teacher.
Reporting Student Absences- Please remember to call the Telsafe line 609-737-4008, option 2) for any absences or tardiness. Emails to a teacher may not be seen in a timely manner.
Dates to Remember:
Tuesday, 10/31/23: Halloween Parade at 9:15 am
Thursday, 11/9/23: NJEA Convention - Schools Closed
Friday, 11/10/23: Veteran’s Day - Schools/Offices Closed
Community Events
Haunted Hallways & Food Drive at CHS Oct 27th 5-9pm
Did you ever wonder what happens in the hallways of CHS after dark? There will be nowhere to run and nowhere to hide once you step foot in Haunted Hallways! This event is open to the entire community.
There are two sessions - the first (from 5:00-6:30pm) is FAMILY FRIENDLY and your little ghost or goblin will be delighted by the decorated halls while they play games, make crafts, listen to stories, dance, sing, and more! The second session (from 7:30-9pm) is for ages 12 and up ONLY! You are guaranteed to be scared!
We are proud to partner with CHS Thespian Troupe 7964 to collect canned goods and non-perishable food donations to benefit Trick or Treat so Kids Can Eat! - a nationwide community service initiative to collect food for the hungry. Donations gladly accepted at the entrance to Haunted Hallways. For more information email randywhite@hvrsd.org - Entry fee is $5 per person - All proceeds will go to the CHS Choirs program.
Trunk or Treat at Princeton Auto Sports, Oct 27th 6:30-8:00pm "Scariest Car wins a prize!"
(Citgo Parking Lot, Princeton Ave, Hopewell). Click on link for details.
The Watershed Institute: 10/28 Not-so-Scary Halloween Hike! Designed to educate and enchant!
Hopewell Borough Fire Department, Halloween Parade, Sunday, Oct 29th 12:30pm
We will line up at the train station and march toward the firehouse, where prizes and snacks are given out!
Hopewell Library Halloween at Gazebo Park! Sunday, Oct 29th, 1:30 pm
After the Hopewell Fire House's annual Halloween Parade, the Hopewell Public Library will host a Halloween-themed extravaganza at Gazebo Park! Come in costume and join us for a variety of Halloween-themed activities, including a spooky read aloud. This event is free and open to the public but please register in advance here.
Halloween Skate at Mercer County Ice Skating Rink on 10/29, 12-4
If you come in costume you'll receive free skates!
Homefront Annual Halloween 5K and 1 Mile Walk/Run plus Preschooler Pumpkin Dash, 10/29 at 9am Carnegie Center on a United States Track and Field certified course. Click on link for details.
Hopewell Valley YMCA Youth Activity Center: October Calendar of Events!
Hopewell Valley Turkey Trot is only 4 weeks away!!
Clink on the link to register for this fast and fun race across Mercer Meadows! Proceeds benefit Hopewell Valley Wrestling.
Howell Living History Farm Corn Maze a 4-acre maze with 3 miles of paths! Closes Nov 4th.
Shady Brook Fall Fest Discount code! sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Education Foundation
Terhune Orchards, Fall Family Fun Weekends, Sat & Sun, until Oct. 29, 10am-5pm
Children's activities include scavenger hunts, rubber duck races, pumpkin paintings and many more ways for children to interact with nature on the farm.
Hopewell Valley YMCA Safe Sitter Babysitter Course, beginning 11/8: Childcare/First Aid & Rescue Skills
NLSA School's Out Clinics: 11/9 & 11/10 Daily cost: $45. 9am-12pm 2009-2016 Birth Years
Location: Independence Park or Twin Pines. Clink on link for more detail
Carroll's Barn for Fall Fun! 10am-6pm every day, 3980 Princeton Pike, Lawrence Township
New hay maze, carving kits, trucked in treats! Take your fall family photo and pick your perfect pumpkin!
Mercer Park Ropes and Zip Lines Course is now Open! Check site for information, programs and costs.
All-Ages Folk Dances, Princeton: Perfect for ages 4-104, always live music, all dances will be taught, no experience needed. October and November dates.
Here are the links to the local libraries for upcoming storytimes, events and programs: