Robert Hunter Report
September 4, 2022
Robert Hunter Elementary School
Mrs. Jessica Braynor, Acting Principal
Website: https://www.frsd.k12.nj.us/Domain/381
Location: 8 Dayton Road Flemington, NJ 08822
Phone: (908) 284-7620
Twitter: @RobertHunterES
Looking Forward to a Great Year!
Dear Robert Hunter Families,
I am excited and honored to be appointed as Acting Principal of Robert Hunter School. I have proudly served as Vice Principal of Robert Hunter for the past five years, and I truly value the relationships that I have made as part of this special school community.
I am committed to working collaboratively with our families, staff, and community to support each of our students and nurture their full potential. Together, we can make our school a place where our students thrive, and every member of our community feels valued.
The RH staff is so excited to welcome back students on Sept. 6th! Teachers have been working hard preparing their inviting classrooms; our building looks fantastic and we are ready for our students!
Please read this newsletter carefully, as there are many important reminders about the return to school.
Also, please share the video read-aloud below with your children, as we welcome them back to Robert Hunter!
I look forward to a wonderful year of learning and growth with our amazing students, dedicated staff, and supportive families.
Thank you again for your partnership!
Warm regards,
Jessica Braynor
Welcome Back Message for Students
The Week Ahead:
Sept. 6 - Day 1, First Day of School!
Sept. 7- Day 2
Sept. 8- Day 3,
Sept. 9- Day 4, PTO Back to School Social 6:00-8:00 (Rain date September 16th)
Meet our New Staff Members
Jen Ambs, Grade 2
Kerry Donovan, School Psychologist
Cathy Piro, Resource Center Grade 1 and 2
Growing up, Mrs. Piro always knew she wanted to become a teacher. She attended Fairleigh Dickinson University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Masters of Art in Teaching. In 2010, Mrs. Piro went to Rider University and completed the Special Education program. Mrs. Piro’s family has lived in Flemington for 15 years. She has two children, a son who attends Barley Sheaf Elementary School and a daughter who attends Reading - Fleming Intermediate School. Mrs. Piro’s family enjoys spending time together at the park and taking walks. They love cheering for the Giants & Yankees too! Mrs. Piro strives to create an environment that is supportive and nurtures every student’s needs and talents. She will make your child’s learning experiences positive and successful. Mrs. Piro is looking forward to an exciting school year of growth and learning at Robert Hunter Elementary School as a Resource Room K-2 teacher.
Autumn Terhune, Grade 1
Ms. Terhune is returning to the classroom after many years working as a Dental Hygienist, making smiles brighter! She has two daughters, Lennon who is 6 and Hayden who is almost 4. Being outside, reading books and spending time with family and friends are her favorite activities. Ms. Terhune enjoys the inspiration that happens inside a classroom and cannot wait to get the school year started with her 1st grade class! She is excited to be part of the Robert Hunter family!
Alexa Wyzkowski, Grade 2 In-Class Support
Ms. Alexa Wyszkowski (Ms. W) is excited to teach at Robert Hunter! For September through December Ms.W is the second grade leave replacement special education teacher for Ms. Mauch. Ms. W will be co-teaching with Ms. Whalen. For a year and half Ms. W was a daily K-5 substitute teacher and paraprofessional in Rockaway Township. She was a substitute teacher in Denville and Roxbury Townships. Ms. W was also a children’s library assistant for a year at the Rockaway Township Public Library. From County College of Morris Ms. W received associate’s degrees in Hospitality Management and Liberal Arts. From Southern New Hampshire University Ms. W received a bachelor’s degree in Business Communication. Currently Ms. W is in the Alternate Route Teaching Program at Rutgers University and is working on her master’s degree in Special Education with a Reading Specialist certification at Rider University. For fun she enjoys reading, writing, coloring and baking. Ms. W is looking forward to starting the school year and helping students reach their goals!
Becky Reilly, Project Success
Becky Reilly will be teaching Project Success Grades 3-4 this year at Robert Hunter Elementary School. After gaining experience as a Teacher Assistant in the program for over two years, she is looking forward to contributing to the Project Success team in a new role. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ursinus College, and is now pursuing her Master’s in Special Education from NJCU. When she is not in the classroom, Ms. Reilly enjoys going to the beach, hiking with her dogs, and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to begin another year filled with learning, fun, and growth!
Arrival
For students taking the bus, the transportation department requests that students are at the assigned bus stop a few minutes earlier than the time noted on the bus schedule and to expect a few delays as drivers adjust to their routes during the first week of school.
Arrival will begin at 8:45. Staff will be outside greeting students and guiding them to their classes. Kindergarten students should wear their bus tags on the first day of school with their bus number written clearly on the tag. All students have the option of getting breakfast when they arrive at school. On the first day of school, staff will ask students if they would like breakfast and will guide them to the cafeteria.
If you are dropping off your child, you may enter the drop-off line between 8:45-8:55. Instruction begins at 8:55.
Enter through the driveway exit opposite Municipal Dr. Enter the parking lot, and make an immediate right. The cars will line up through the lot in a double lane as a staging area and then loop into the main driveway and be able to link onto the pick up/ drop off lane closest to the building.
Please ensure children are ready with their book bags in the back seat on the passenger side of the car. Students should exit the vehicle independently from the passenger side.
For families with younger students, please practice having children get into and out of the car independently. Parents may not exit the vehicle to assist their children. We understand that everyone is excited to see the children on their first day of school; however, you may not exit the car in the drop-off line to take pictures. This is to ensure a safe and timely arrival.
The section of the sidewalk where your child may exit the car will be marked by cones. There are multiple staff members on duty to make sure your child gets into school. If you are asked to have your child exit the car, please respect the directions given by staff on duty. We need to keep the line of traffic moving smoothly, so that entrances are not blocked and students are in their classes ready to learn on time. Please do not go around another car in the line, even if your child has already exited. Follow the cars ahead of you.
Walkers will enter from the back door, near the playground. Staff will be at the back doors by the playground to greet children who are walkers.
Students arriving for before-care must use the entrance near the gym and cafeteria. A parent must escort and sign them in.
Dismissal
Dismissal is at 3:35. If you are picking up your child, you will once again, enter through the driveway exit opposite Municipal Dr. Enter the parking lot, and make an immediate right. The cars will line up through the lot in a double lane as a staging area and then loop into the main driveway and be able to link onto the single pick up lane. You will pull up to the front driveway, following directions from staff.
Please have a large sign in your front window clearly labeled with your child’s name and homeroom teacher. Have this sign out and visible on your vehicle every day. Parents can not exit the car while in the pick-up line.
If you are picking up your child from school, you will need to alert the office via email. Please email your child’s teacher and our school secretaries Wendy Chambers at wendy.chambers@frsd.us and Jeannie Whalen at jeanne.whalen@frsd.us as well as your child’s teacher.
If you would like to complete a bus waiver form and opt out of receiving bussing, please alert the main office. Otherwise, if we do not have a pick-up notice, your child will be sent home on the bus. If you need a bus stop changed due to a childcare request, please alert Wendy Chambers in the main office. Please note that these changes do take some time.
If you are picking up your child, please send an email to the office first thing in the morning and no later than 9:00 as we will need to plan for a safe and orderly dismissal.
If you will be picking up your child every day or on a regular schedule (Ex. every Monday and Friday) you only need to send one email alerting the office of this request.
For walkers - staff will escort walkers along the path adjacent to the playground and meet parents at the end of the path. If your child is a designated walker, but you would like to pick up your child by car, please alert the main office and your child’s teacher.
Please anticipate dismissal delays for the first few days of school. Routines need time to be established. Thank you in advance for your patience.
Before and After Care
School Meals
Breakfast and lunch will be available at a cost this school year. Applications for free/reduced lunch will be sent home on the first day of school. Lunch and breakfast menus are available on the website. Snacks will be available for purchase for Grades 1-4. Please discuss with your child whether or not they can have snacks with their lunch. See the flyers below for more information:
September Lunch Menu and September Breakfast Menu
If your child is bringing lunch, please have him or her practice opening any containers and start with foods that you know your child enjoys. Lunch is 20 minutes and we want to make sure children have adequate time to eat and enjoy their lunch. Students are permitted to bring a snack which they will eat in the classroom. If there are allergy restrictions for snack items, you will receive a letter with more information.
Family Handbook
Please see our school's family handbook HERE. This handbook is posted on the parent tab on our school website.
Reporting an Absence
If your child will be absent from school, please notify the school using the form found on our homepage HERE. You can find the form under the quick links tab on the left side of the school homepage.
PTO Updates and Reminders
PTO Welcome Back Social- Friday September 9th, 6-8pm
(Rain date September 16th)
Please join us on the blacktop/playground as we celebrate the new school year! *Free Rita’s Ice* All children MUST be accompanied by an adult! This is not a drop and go event. Any questions, please contact roberthunterpto@gmail.com
Volunteer to be a Homeroom Parent for 2022-23:
The PTO is looking for 2-3 volunteers for each classroom to volunteer as Homeroom Parents for the 2022-23 school year.
Fill out our interest survey here by Friday September 16th:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrpI3XnXSJ2Lz5Edyms0h-ffWPO4E7vDueEEhCDr5dI1pFQw/viewform
September Dine Out- Humdoo Ice Cream(20 Stangl Rd, Flemington)
Tuesday September 13th, 12 Noon-9:30PM
Take a break and get some ice cream to
benefit the Robert Hunter PTO! A portion of all sales that day will be donated to our PTO!
We need Volunteers! Volunteer to be a Committee Lead/Help Organize an event!
We are in need of some volunteers looking to get involved with helping run a few of our events this year!
If you are interested in the following please contact us at Roberthunterpto@gmail.com
1. Fall Halloween Fun Night- Friday October 14th-6-8pm, Looking for 2-3 volunteers to help coordinate and run our Halloween Family night!
2. Yearbook- We are in need of 1-2 volunteers to help our current Yearbook Chair and learn the ropes as this is her last year as a RH parent!
3. Basket Auction Fundraiser- We are in need of 4-5 people to serve on our spring fundraising committee and assist with planning the event, securing donations, and helping coordinate event logistics. Tentative date of March 31, 2023, bulk of volunteer commitment would be January through March.
4. Book Fair- We are looking for 1-2 people to help our current book fair chair with decorating, event set up, logistics, etc for our late January book fair
5. Family Olympics- 1-2 people Serve as the PTO rep to our staff running our Family Olympics program in February. Help coordinate PTO concession stand, and whatever support our staff leads need.
6. Diversity Night - 1-2 people to serve as the PTO rep to our staff running our Diversity Night program in May. Help coordinate PTO donations, volunteers, and whatever support our staff leads need.
7. Outdoor Learning Spaces Committee- We are forming a committee to evaluate improving our schools outdoor learning areas, revamping our courtyards and the possible creation of a RH garden. We would love 2-3 parents to get involved with this committee!
8. Staff Appreciation Committee- 1-2 people to help coordinate staff appreciation events throughout the year and our annual Staff Appreciation week in May.
8. On Call Volunteer- We are in need of a team of volunteers that can help support events, one off volunteer needs, staff appreciation events, etc. We will reach out to you as needed!
***Just reach out to roberthunterpto@gmail.com if you are interested in getting more involved!!!***
Order your 2022-23 Yearbook by September 30th and save 10%
Check out the Yearbook Flyer HERE
Contact our Yearbook Committee at roberthunteryb@gmail.com with any questions!