The Herald
Hoboken Public School District
Superintendent's Daily Message - April 29, 2020
I hope this correspondence finds you healthy and happy. In this edition of The Herald I have shared the daily messages from each of our school principals and supervisor of early childhood education, as well as our wellness videos. I have included a story about The Best Buddies Program that will be coming to the Hoboken School District and an interest piece on the Move This World Program that Is being piloted at Connors Elementary School. I have left the Class of 2020's profile in this edition of The Herald for those of you that may not have seen it yet, and included the HPEF's Bold New Initiative, as well as the PTO's Effort to Help Families and Essential Employees once again.
However, I would like to draw your attention to our District's Virtual Talent Show. We have extended the submission date until Friday, May 1st at 10:00 p.m. The show will be live on Sunday, May 3rd at 7pm on our district Youtube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBeIpvP_DOKu3nNUs3t0baQ
The Hoboken School District is hosting the Virtual Talent Show not only to highlight our amazing students and staff, but also to raise money for the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corp. On Friday, we will be releasing the donation platform. Together, let's show our support for the men and women that volunteer their time with the Hoboken Ambulance Corp as First Responders in the proud City of Hoboken.
I will continue to check in with my Hoboken School District Families daily to be sure that everyone is okay. I hope that you will also check in with me. If you would like to send me photos or videos of your children being creative or silly, or even showing off a talent, please do so. I will include them in future editions of The Herald.
Stay well. I assure you that I will keep you updated every step of the way. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Superintendent Johnson
Daily Messages From Our School Principals & Supervisor of Early Childhood Education
A Bold New Initiative: 1:1 Chromebooks for Students
As we begin the second month of what has become our new normal, our hearts and thoughts are with all of you - our friends, supporters, and Hoboken community. We hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy as we continue to navigate these uncharted waters and the challenges that this pandemic has presented to us as individuals, a community, and the world at large.
We are reaching out today with news about HPEF’s 5th Annual Gala, and more importantly, to share our plans to launch a bold initiative to help support our schools and our students during these challenging times.
Status of HPEF’s 5th Annual Gala
Many of you have been asking if HPEF still plans to hold our 5th Annual Gala. We are deeply saddened to announce that we must cancel our May 14, 2020 event. Our team had been holding out hope that the evolving situation would improve, but it has become increasingly clear that social distancing guidelines will remain in place for longer than initially expected, and that our community will need more time to recover and resume in-person events.
The Gala is HPEF’s largest event and one that is essential to meeting our fundraising efforts and goals, however, the safety and health of our HPEF community is far more important at this time. Although the Gala is on hold, our mission to elevate and enhance the public education experience through private funding remains critically important.
Our Changing School Community
Over the past month, the HPEF team has been working closely with Hoboken Public School District Superintendent, Dr. Christine Johnson, to better understand the changing educational landscape, and to identify ways in which HPEF can help support our district school needs.
We must focus now, more than ever, on what has been our top priority from the beginning - equity in education.
With the challenges of COVID-19, we have seen firsthand how our students and staff need to be equipped with the technology and tools to adapt to virtual learning. Our schools must be resilient and ready to deliver online learning today and in the future.
How You Can Help Our Schools Now: Funding a 1:1 Chromebook Initiative
HPEF is launching a 1:1 Chromebook initiative for the Hoboken Public Schools in order to ensure that all of our district students have the same technology and tools they need to be successful in an online learning environment. This initiative will guarantee that all students in grades 3-12 have their own Chromebook, assigned by the Hoboken Public Schools. Whether our students are in a remote learning environment, or physically in school, our aim is for each student to have the technology, tools, and access needed to navigate the school curriculum together.
To meet this lofty goal, we will need to raise a minimum of $100,000. This will allow us to purchase the additional 411 Chromebooks the district needs to reach a 1:1 Chromebook ratio for students grades 3 through 12.
This initiative will begin with the funding of Chromebooks for 3rd-12th grade students who must complete annual, computer-based standardized testing and use Google Classroom and online learning tools as part of their curriculum. Any additional dollars raised will be used to purchase Chromebooks for K-2 students.
HPEF will be allocating all of our fundraising proceeds from the 2019-2020 school year (including our online giving campaign and Mom’s Night Out) to launch this campaign, and we will be reaching out to our committed Gala sponsors and supporters to ask for their support of this important effort.
A word from Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Christine Johnson –
“Educational technology is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity. Equipping all students with a Chromebook is consistent with our district goals of promoting equity and fostering personalized learning and ensures that moving forward, learning at school and home is seamless.”
How Can You Help Support this Effort?
We recognize that these are challenging times - personally, professionally and financially - but we also have heard from many of you asking how you can continue to support our schools and our children.
We encourage you to support this effort in any way that works for you:
● Make a donation on our website (http://www.hobokenpef.org/) or on our Facebook online campaign coming soon
● Help us spread the word about this important initiative
● Like and follow us on Facebook or Instagram (@hobokenpef) and share our posts
HPEF remains committed to helping our students continue to reach even greater academic heights and to ensuring our schools can confront the educational challenges that lie ahead.
From our homes to yours, we wish you and your families continued safety and good health, and we thank you for your continued and unwavering support.
With Gratitude,
Hoboken Public Education Foundation Board
A Timeline of Hoboken by 2nd Grade Student, Emily H.
Theater Activities with Ms. Miller
Hoboken Middle School and Hoboken High School Form a Chapter of Best Buddies
Hoboken Middle School and Hoboken High School, under the leadership of Dr. Tamika Pollins, have formed Chapters of the international Best Buddies program. The implementation of Best Buddies will support our students by promoting an inclusive culture within our schools. Best Buddies is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Best Buddies programs empower the special abilities of people with IDD by helping them form friendships with their peers, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society. Hoboken Middle and High Schools' chapters will assist students in breaking through social barriers and encourage meaningful connections to heighten their academic and social experiences. Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and general education students will be paired as buddies and will meet once a month to participate in social activities. Student leaders will participate in a virtual leadership conference this summer before implementation for the 2020-2021 school year.
Future Plans for the Class of 2020
Albright College
Allegheny College
Assumption College
Becker College
Boston College
Brown University
Bryant University
Caldwell University
Colorado State University
University of Connecticut
Culver Stockton College
Curry College
Delaware Valley University
University of Delaware
Dominican College
Emory University (Scholars Program)
Florida Gulf Coast University
University of Hartford
Hofstra University
Immaculata University
Johnson & Wales University (Providence)
Kean University
Keystone College
Lincoln College
Lincoln University
University of Maine
McDaniel College
McPherson College
Michigan State University
Mitchell College
Monmouth University
Montclair State University
Morehead State University
Mount St. Mary's University - Maryland
New England College
New England Institute of Technology
University of New Haven
New Jersey City University
New Jersey Institute of Technology
The College of New Jersey
New York Institute of Technology
North Carolina State University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Pace University, New York City (Dyson College of Arts and Sciences)
Pennsylvania State University
Plymouth State University
Princeton University
Ramapo College of New Jersey
University of Rhode Island
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Rutgers University-Newark
Sacred Heart University (University College)
Saint Anselm College
Saint Peter's University
Seton Hall University
St. Francis College
St. John's University
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stockton University
Stonehill College
SUNY Morrisville
Susquehanna University
The University of Tampa
Temple University
Ursinus College
Vanderbilt University
Virginia State University
West Virginia University
Western Connecticut State University
Wilkes University
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Yale University
We are still waiting for additional NCAA commitments. In addition to congratulating our students for being awarded academic and merit based scholarships, we should also congratulate our student athletes for their decision to continue their education and sport of choice at Delaware Valley University, Rutgers University (New Brunswick), Moorehead State University, Susquehanna University, and Keystone College.
In upcoming editions of The Herald, we will also be highlighting our music, theater and cheerleading commitments!
Move This World Update from Connors Elementary School
Move This World is a Social and Emotional Learning curriculum that T.G Connors School has been using since January, 2020. Led by Dean Sorafine, the program is implemented during the daily morning meeting and during the afternoon daily closure in homeroom classes. The program helps students and educators in classrooms across the country understand, express and manage their emotions healthily in order to create safe and supportive environments where effective teaching and learning can occur.
During this unique time of distance learning, it has been a priority of ours to continue to focus on the importance of social and emotional learning. Move This World has compiled the most useful resources for these circumstances from their expansive digital library, and have made them available to our teachers and families in order to continue our social and emotional learning.
During monthly coaching meetings, Move this World and the Connors School Integrated service team have brainstormed ways to continue to focus on SEL during this time of distance learning. In an effort to strengthen our virtual community, Connors school has created virtual spirit weeks, virtual talent shows, and daily challenges where students regain that sense of belonging. With these initiatives in place along with daily Zoom meetings led by our amazing teachers, our students are still feeling a strong sense of community. In collaboration with Move this World, Connors school continues to utilize daily breathing exercises, mindfulness practice and transition activities to foster emotional health and wellness with all of our students. Although our students are learning remotely, our school community understands that emotional health is the core of becoming a successful student.
There are five core competencies that the Move this World curriculum is based on: These core competencies strengthen us as individuals and as communities, especially during uncertain times. When we practice and build our skills we are better equipped to navigate stressors, anxieties, and challenges. We can solve problems and work together to function at a higher level—in the classroom, at work and at home.
The Five Core Competencies:
Self-awareness: The ability to accurately recognize one’s emotions and thoughts and their influence on behavior. This includes accurately assessing one’s strengths and limitations and possessing a well-grounded sense of confidence and optimism.
Self-management: The ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations. This includes managing stress, controlling impulses, motivating oneself, and setting and working toward achieving personal and academic goals.
Social awareness: The ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures, to understand social and ethical norms for behavior, and to recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.
Relationship skills: The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. This includes communicating clearly, listening actively, cooperating, resisting inappropriate social pressure, negotiating conflict constructively, and seeking and offering help when needed.
Responsible decision-making: The ability to make constructive and respectful choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on consideration of ethical standards, safety concerns, social norms, the realistic evaluation of consequences of various actions, and the well-being of self and others.
A Sessions of Namaste with Dr. Allgaier, School Psychologist
Meditation with Carrie Ellis, School Social Worker
A Student assignment by S. Gonzalez for Video in the Connected World Class. Mr. MacAualy, Teacher
A Student assignment by L. Cecala for Video in the Connected World Class. Mr. MacAualy, Teacher
Stories for Students...Thank You Mrs. Ellen Samitt!
Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
As many of you know, I am a mom too. Although my daughter is 24 years old, she continues to ask me questions about the Coronavirus. I provide her with a number of resources daily to read. I fully understand that talking to younger children about the Coronavirus can be difficult and confusing based on the number of messages that are coming your way from news media. I have attached a link that was sent to me by Carrie Ellis that may help make your conversations a bit easier. Click on the link below:
Social Emotional Resources from the County Office
Mental Health Support
The NJ Department of Human Services operates a toll-free “warm line” which is a resource for people seeking mental health service. The warm line is activated during events that impact the mental health of New Jersey residents. The warm line is available 24 hours and has language access; (877) 294-HELP (4357). NOTE: The “warm line” does not replace 911 and is not used to report emergencies.
Parent Stress Line - 1-800-843-5437
2020-2021 Approved School District Calendar
You've Asked and We've Responded
For the Assistant Superintendent, you may email srodriguez@hoboken.k12.nj.us
Below, you will find each school's directory:
Hoboken Public Schools - A District Dedicated to Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships
Our Vision
The Hoboken Public School District will be recognized as a premier educational choice and widely known as a best-practice model for academic growth, high quality instruction, innovative and equitable programs, engagement, facilities and personalized pathways that are essential for college, career and life-preparedness in our ever-changing, interconnected global society.
Our Mission
The Hoboken Public School District will prepare confident and resilient graduates who value academic achievement, embrace challenge, honor diversity, appreciate collaboration, and respectfully contribute to their local and wider communities.
Our District Goals
The Hoboken Public School District will implement a rigorous, relevant and responsive curriculum that meets the needs of all students, fosters personalized pathways for learning, and ensures continuous academic growth.
The Hoboken Public School District will support its diverse staff in professional growth, encourage them to serve as role models, and empower them to provide the highest quality of instruction for our students.
The Hoboken Public School District will develop and implement unique and innovative programs that promote global learning, ensure equitable access, and foster the social, emotional and academic growth of each student.
The Hoboken Public School District will engage and communicate with families and the wider community to bridge understanding and advance partnerships.
The Hoboken Public School District will operate well-maintained and safe facilities that respond to our growing student enrollment, support our academic and co-curricular programs, and promote pride across the city.
Email: district@hoboken.k12.nj.us
Website: www.hoboken.k12.nj.us
Location: 158 4th Street, Hoboken, NJ 07834
Phone: (201) 356-3600
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HobokenPublicSchoolDistrict/
Twitter: @HobokenSchools