Dear HUES family,

Don't worry, two weeks haven't passed, this is a special edition of the Hammarskjold Happenings. I didn't want to miss the opportunity to share the fun that has been going on this week and also to wish all of our Dads, a happy Father's Day!

Today we had an amazing Physics assembly presented by David Maiullo from the Rutgers department of physics. David presented physics demonstrations which our students absolutely loved. Michele Lau, EB Class of 2019, assisted and is working toward her Doctorate focused on the use of demonstrations in Physics education. It was great to see our current students so excited about science, and a former student pursuing a career in science education. Thank you HUES PTA for sponsoring, and Julie Klimcsak for chairing this assembly!

On Monday and Tuesday next week we will be presenting an educational assembly for 6th grade students on the Holocaust, Race/Religious based hate, symbols of hate, and bullying. This assembly will be presented by the Director of The Center to Combat Antisemitism and Reinforce Multicultural Acceptance, Mrs. Stacy Gallin, DMH.

Considering recent events in the Middle East, I want to make you aware of this previously planned event. The content of this assembly will not include any discussion of Israel or the events in that geopolitical region. As a school community, we hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflicts that continue to affect many of our students and families.

6th grade students transitioning to CJHS: Students must return their district-issued devices, along with all accompanying accessories on 6/16 and 6/17. (our staff will collect the devices). Math Prime students will be allowed to keep their devices until completion of their year-end exam on 6/18 & 6/20. Please ensure that both the device and its charger are included in the return. The devices should be free of any stickers and will be evaluated by the District’s technology personnel for any damage. Any device not received by June 20th will result in a device fine of $251. Any technology fines that are not satisfied may affect CJHS scheduling. Students will receive a new identification card upon arrival at CJHS. Students should maintain their current lanyard as it identifies their graduating class.

5th grade to 6th Grade transition: Current grade 5 students will bring home their devices and are responsible for them over the Summer. Students will return with these devices to be used during their 6th grade year. Students will receive a new identification card upon arrival at HUES in September. Students should maintain their current ID until they receive a new one. Students must use the same lanyard when they return as 6th graders as it identifies their graduating class.

June 13: PTA-Sponsored Physics Assembly

June 16,17: Holocaust and Race-based hate assemblies (6th grade only)

June 16-20: 6th Graders will return Chromebooks

June 18: 6th Grade Ice Cream Social 3:30-4:45pm

June 19: School Closed- Juneteenth

June 25: HUES Got Talent Show

June 25: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL 🌞

Any student who will not be returning to East Brunswick Schools for the 2025/2026 school year must notify the school. If your child is not returning, can you please notify Liza Gudzak at lgudzak@ebnet.org or call 732-613-6845 so she can provide you with a withdrawal form. You may also send your child to Student Services to get a withdrawal form as well.

Today, HUES was buzzing with physics excitement thanks to Dave Maiullo and the HUES PTA! He brought the fascinating world of physics to life with an engaging assembly that captivated our students.

On June 11th, the Hammarskjöld Upper Elementary School celebrated our 16 exceptional Student of the Month recipients. This special event honored students who have exemplified our HUES core values—Honest, United, Empathetic, and Safe. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and had a wonderful time celebrating their accomplishments at our annual breakfast!

The HUES STEM Showcase Night drew a fantastic crowd of families, friends, and community members. Students proudly presented their projects, from creative engineering challenges to innovative tech displays, while families beamed with pride at their children's accomplishments. It was a joyful celebration of curiosity, learning, and student achievement.

On June 18 at dismissal, the Hammarskjold PTA is sponsoring an Ice Cream Social for our departing 6th grade students. If attending, this form MUST be submitted by June 16th. All pertinent information is in the form.

PROCEDURE FOR WHEN YOUR CHILD IS LATE OR ABSENT

Step 1. Report the late/absence

• Call Attendance - 732-613-6897 or Email - HUESattendance@ebnet.org

Step 2. Excuse the late/absence

• Parent/guardian must email or send in a note to the attendance office.
• If your child has a Dr. apt, please provide a Dr. note, upon students return.

PROCEDURE FOR PICKING YOUR CHILD UP EARLY

You DO NOT need to call, email, or fill out the change of dismissal form.

• Come to the main entrance and check in with Security.
• Make sure you have your ID and you are in the Parent Portal, approved for pickup.
• If your child leaves for a Dr. apt, please provide a Dr. note, upon students return.

PROCEDURE FOR CHANGES IN CHILD’S END OF DAY DISMISSAL

• Please fill out the change of dismissal form below. This form closes at 2:30pm.
• This form should be filled out every time the student’s dismissal changes

Students MUST wear their school ID on a lanyard from the waist-up in order to enter the building and at all times while inside Hammarskjold. This is a District-Wide expectation and Board of Education policy. An initial ID was provided to students during their first week of school using the previous year’s photo. A new ID using this year's yearbook photo was distributed the last week of October.

Students who forget or lose their ID’s will be required to obtain a replacement (for a fee) upon arrival to school. Returning 6th grade students are expected to re-use their Lanyard from last year.

The cost for replacement IDs and lanyards is as follows:

ID Only - $5

Lanyard Only - $3

BOTH ID and Lanyard - $8

Students know that Mrs. Maggie, who works every day in the school store, keeps track of student IDs for both 5th and 6th graders and is ready to answer any questions.

During orientation, our arrival and dismissal procedures were reviewed with students. We count on your support and your student's personal responsibility to transport them safely. A few reminders that you could review with your students:

• Students may only board their assigned bus, they can not ride another bus home unless a bus change with Transportation has been completed.
• Students must board and disembark at their assigned stops.
• Students should proceed directly home and check in with parents after disembarking from their bus.
• Students should observe all bus rules as directed by the driver with an emphasis on the HUES acronym: Honest, Unified, Empathetic, Safe.
• Students who exhibit unsafe behaviors or those that are disrespectful to others can have their bus privileges suspended or removed altogether.

The district dress code can be found on the Hammarskjold website under the Parents tab

Students are encouraged to dress appropriately for school. Since learning is our primary focus, students should wear attire that is in keeping with a positive school environment.

• Shirts and tops should only have positive logos and should cover the student’s midriff (bare midriffs and backs are not acceptable).

• Shorts and skirts should not be too short or tight-fitting.

• No hats or hoods are to be worn in the school building.

• Proper footwear must be worn at all times. Sandals without backs, along with flip flops are forbidden. These types of shoes present safety issues not only in the building, but also on the playground. On days that a child has Physical Education he/she should wear appropriate footwear such as sneakers.

Students will be dismissed at 3:35pm immediately following the school day and approximately 4:30pm from activities. Students who get picked up by a parent and students who walk home will use the same door (Door #9) through which they enter (Rues Lane entrance). No students should exit the front of the building and enter the parking lot for pick-up. Due to the amount of traffic and large volume of students, we ask that you remain in your vehicle and move forward with traffic for pick-up.

Cell phones, Smart Watches and personal electronic devices are not permitted during school hours, including class time, breaks, and lunch periods. Our primary goal is to ensure that students are engaged and present in their classes and have a screen-time break.

Students will be required to store their cell phones in their backpack or locker upon arrival at school. In case of an emergency, parents/guardians can contact the school's main office, and messages will be relayed to students promptly.

We understand that cell phones have become an integral part of life, and we want to assure you that we have carefully considered the potential impact of this policy on our students. We believe that by limiting distractions and promoting a focused learning environment, we can help our students achieve their best academically and socially. This decision was made after careful consideration and consultation with teachers, staff, and education experts.

In order to keep our classroom safe, clean, and healthy, food is not allowed. Sharing of food with classmates in general, even during lunch, is discouraged.