The Herald
Hoboken Public School District
Dear Parents & Guardians,
The 2022-2023 school year is underway. Each of our elementary schools have hosted successful Back to School Nights. Hoboken Middle and High Schools will be welcoming parents this week. Our teachers, staff, and administrators are energized by all of the positive energy in the air.
Today, I was informed of three grants that our district has been awarded. Both Wallace and Connors Elementary Schools were awarded GardenConnect STEM Grants. Our Student Assistance Counselor, Gina Mattera, was awarded a total of $14,458.00 to run the Teen Task Force at Hoboken High School, FootPrints for Life at our elementary schools, an anti-vaping assembly program, and three PTO workshops.
There are so many wonderful things happening across the district. Regardless of what school your child attends, It is so helpful to read each school's weekly update. Take a moment and learn more about our early childhood, elementary, middle school, and high school programs:
Also, if you are not already following us on social media, please do so:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HobokenPublicSchoolDistrict/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hobokenpublicschools/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HobokenSchools
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hobokenpublicschooldist
In closing, I want to thank all of you for your steadfast cooperation, patience and partnership. All three ingredients make for an incredible school district. I could not ask for a more committed collection of guardians and parents. You are truly amazing and I am honored to serve the Hoboken Public School District.
Sincerely,
Dr. Christine Johnson
Superintendent of Schools
Visit the Hoboken Public Education Foundation at Sunday's Arts & Music Festival
On Sunday, October 2, the Hoboken Public Education Foundation (HPEF) will have a tent at the Arts & Music Festival on Washington Street from 11-6pm. Stop by and say hi to meet the HPEF team, HPS students, and school PTOs. HPEF will be selling new HPS Swag and can't wait to see you there!
Program Spotlight - Hoboken Middle School Riverkeeper Institute
Hoboken, NJ, — The Riverkeeper Institute at Hoboken Middle School is underway.
Prior to the COVID Pandemic, Hoboken Middle School students and staff engaged in a project with two Stevens Institute of Technology classes to design a wetlab. Months of planning and collaboration led to the construction of the lab. Just as the lab was completed and introduced to the school community, COVID pivoted schools to a remote learning model. The Hoboken Public School District is pleased to reintroduce Hoboken Middle School’s wetlab and to launch the Riverkeeper Institute.
The Riverkeeper Institute at Hoboken Middle School is an immersive, year-long program designed to provide students with field experience, professional data collection and reporting, project based inquiry, and hands-on scientific discovery related to Hoboken and the greater Hudson River ecosystem. It offers specialized educational experiences that provide opportunities to explore in depth, place-based topics that bring the world outside of the classroom to students.
Hoboken Middle School riverkeepers are student explorers, scientists, researchers, environmentalists, fishermen, ecologists, biologists, and aquatic heroes of today, and tomorrow. Hoboken Middle School recently called out for students to apply to the institute based on interest. The goal of the application process was to find a class of student riverkeepers willing to pilot innovative curriculum, participate in field experiences, and engage in original research that fosters environmental exploration, observation of aquatic life, and marine stewardship. Mission accomplished!
Congratulations to the following Hoboken Middle School students (Grades 6-8) selected to participate in the first cohort of the Riverkeeper Institute:
Hoboken Middle School Students
Adela Horn
Rafael Callamari
Albian Jashari
Adam Khol
Michael Keegan
Isabella Rosado
Alex Dellara
Rye Critelli
Zachary Bellofatto
Cameron Daly
Charles Stropp
Magnus Peterka
Saral Kulkarni
Riley Peters
Seneca Perry
Ehmani Chin
Emani Cirino
Charlotte Peters
Harrison Green
Hoboken High School Environmental Science Club
Ian Crespi
Abigail Scott
Amalia Batlle
Camila Suarez
Nate Lerner
Lavinia Cintra
Meghan Stehli
Jacob Linder
This first cohort of riverkeepers will be proactive in the community. Led by Hoboken High School science teacher Mr. Jean Lebegue and a core group of environmental club members, along with Middle School Science teacher Ms. Toni Marinello, students will work to preserve and protect local Hudson River habitats through the application of the scientific process and data collection model, seek to learn more about the relationship between climate change and this estuary, and engage in the impact of microplastics on the river and its shoreline.
Two days per week will be dedicated to research, observation and analysis in the specially designed living laboratory, equipped with temperature controlled touch and observation tanks donated by the Hoboken Public Education Foundation, probes, digital microscopes, and other technologies needed to support their work. Each Friday, Hoboken Middle School riverkeepers will be in the field fishing, netting, seining, and gathering marine life specimens from the Hudson River. Trips to the Riverproject Pier 40 Wetlab, the NJ Wetland Discovery, Hoboken Sewerage Authority, and the Hudson Valley Exploration Pathway are already on the calendar. And, activities including sailing, fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding will round out all that the Hudson River has to offer residents.
Throughout the yearlong Riverkeeper Institute, students will be assigned topics of interest to study. Students will be responsible for collecting data and information related to their topic of interest, making hypotheses, conducting experiments, and presenting findings at a culminating workshop involving peers, family members, university scholars, Hudson River scientists, and local community leaders and elected officials.
The Hoboken Public School District looks forward to forming partnerships with local organizations, research facilities, and universities as it takes the Riverkeeper Institute from a pilot program to an established best-practice model.
Technology Chromebook Insurance
As a friendly reminder, chromebook insurance expires each year and you will need to renew it on a yearly basis. Please make sure that your chromebook insurance is up to date. Chromebook Insurance If your child's chromebook is broken, please fill out Hoboken Public School Technology Help Request for Parents, Guardians and Students Chromebook insurance is of no cost to children who receive free or reduced lunch.
Family Events
Stadium Dedication - Friday, Oct. 21 @ 4:00 PM
Family Fall Dessert Festival - Sunday, October 23 @ 4:00 PM
Baseball & Softball Clinic on Saturday, Oct 15 @ 9:00 AM
HHS Showcase of Excellence on Thursday, Oct 20 @ 6:00 PM
Family Math Convention - Sunday, December 4 @ 3:00 PM
Family ELA Convention - Sunday, February 5 @ 3:00 PM
Family Science Convention - Sunday, March 19 @ 3:00 PM
Districtwide Family Run for Fun - Sunday, April 2 @ 12:00 PM
Districtwide Scavenger Hunt - April 3 - May 31
Family Cultures around the World Festival - June 4 @ 4:00 PM
Hoboken Public School District - In the News
Hoboken Middle School Kicks Off Riverkeeper Institute
Hoboken Wins Over St. Dominic, 3-1
Hoboken Beats Dickinson, 2-0
Congratulations Rockin' Redwings
Middle School Students Engaged in Glass Art Work
Hoboken High School's Guidance Department Shines
Honoring Our Veterans
Dear Hoboken Community,
In honor of Veterans Day. We would like to invite you to participate in a special program to honor our heroes. The front of our beautiful John F. Kennedy Stadium will be decorated with American Flags. Each flag will represent and honor members of our Armed Forces, past and present. Please consider honoring these great men and women by purchasing a flag for their service. Each flag costs $5.00 and will represent all honorees for their service. To honor a hero, fill out the form and return it along with your donation in the form of a check or money order made out to: Hoboken HS Student Council. The cost is $5.00 a flag. All forms must be completed and returned by Friday, October 28, 2022. Thank you very much for your support of our Hoboken Heroes.
Christopher Munoz
Hoboken HS Student Activities Coordinator
Mail to: Hoboken High School
Attn: Christopher Munoz, Student Council
800 Clinton Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030
Wee Passport Program for Toddlers, Ages 2-3
Wee Passport kicks off the 2022-2023 school year in the Hoboken Public School District
Hoboken, NJ, — Tuesday, September 27, 2022, Wee Passport is a program collaboratively developed by the Departments of Innovative Programs and Early Childhood to introduce families with toddlers to the district’s Pre-K Program and its team of Preschool Intervention and Referral Team members and Master Teachers.
Kimberly Mara, Director of Early Childhood stated, “Our Wee Passport Program is a wonderful opportunity to meet and engage with our Early Childhood Team, take part in some fun activities, and to become acquainted with different aspects of a typical preschool day. Each month's activities are crafted with appropriate preschool teaching and learning standards in mind. It will be more than a wee bit of fun!"
Wee Passport is intended to be a fun, free, and welcoming experience for all families with toddlers from ages 2 to 3. We invite parents and caretakers to join us at the JFK High School Football Stadium (1000 Jefferson Street, Hoboken) for these free, fun-filled Wee Passport activities.
Dr. Christine Johnson, Superintendent of Schools stated, “The Hoboken Public School District’s free, full-day Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 program opens a world of opportunities for children. Using the Tools of the Mind curriculum, children are immersed in a social, emotional, and hands-on academic program that prepares them for Kindergarten and beyond.”
The Wee Passport Program will run primarily at JFK Stadium from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. In the winter month or inclement weather the program will meet at the multi-purpose room in Calabro school. The program schedule is as follows:
September
28th - Arts & Crafts Creations
October
12th - Gym Time!
26th - Arts & Crafts Creations
November
16th - Story Time
December
7th - Yoga Mindfulness & Me
January
4th - Gym Time!
18th - Arts & Crafts Creations
February
9th - Story Time
March
8th - Yoga Mindfulness & Me
22nd - Gym Time!
April
26th - Gym Time!
May
10th - Music Makers
24th - Gym Time!
June
7th- Water Fun & Exploration
To register, complete the Google Form below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd9IHLcho-0Gls8Hhb4PIhIaAudBPMQ2c73ImoWEmzHiaxECA/viewform
Location: JFK Stadium, 1000 Jefferson St, Hoboken, NJ 07030 *Weather Permitting*
* If during the winter months inclement weather is a problem we will attempt to hold the event indoors at 524 Park Avenue, Calabro School Multipurpose Room.
Lunch Update
In order to pay for school lunch, please ensure that you made a Pay Schools Account. Use the link below for the instructions that will walk you through the process of making a payschools account. https://www.hoboken.k12.nj.us/district_resources/food_services. In order to set up your payschools account, you will need your child's student ID. You can find your child's student ID in your child's email address. Example firstlast12345678@hoboken.k12.nj.us. The numbers in your child's email address is their student ID. In addition, you can login to Oncourse and find your child's student ID. The directions to login to oncourse are below.
Lunch Applications for the 2022-2023 school year were sent home with each child on the first day of school. We kindly ask that ALL parents fill out a lunch application, regardless of income. If you do not want to apply for the free lunch program and prefer to not list your income, please make sure to fill out Steps 1, 2 and 4 note that you are not interested in the free lunch program on the lunch application. Please return the lunch application to your child's homeroom teacher.
https://www.hoboken.k12.nj.us/district_resources/food_services.
Parent & Guardian Communication
I cannot urge you enough to reach out to me, my administrators, or district staff if you have a question or concern. While social media is a fine vehicle to share information, it is often not the best vehicle to have a question answered or a problem solved. Below, you will find a list of administrators and staff that may best assist you.
If you have classroom based questions, please contact your child's teacher. If you have school based questions, please contact your child's Vice Principal or Principal as listed below:
- High School Principal (Robin Piccapietra) robin.piccapietra@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- High School Vice Principal (Chris Williams) cwilliams@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- High School Vice Principal (Michael Ponce) mponce@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- Middle School Principal (Ryan Sorafine) rsorafine@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- Middle School Vice Principal (Robin Baskinger) rbaskinger@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- Wallace School Principal (Martin Shannon) martin.shannon@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- Wallace School Vice Principal (Liz Lawrence) elawrence@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- Connors School Principal (Juliana Addi) juliana.addi@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- Connors School Vice Principal (Jack Hamlin) jhamlin@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- Brandt School Principal (Charles Bartlett) charles.bartlett@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- Brandt School Vice Principal (Andrea DellaFave) adellafave@hoboken.k12.nj.us
If you have any questions regarding Early Childhood Learning, please contact any of the following:
- Early Childhood Education Supervisor (Kim Mara) kmara@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- Early Childhood Education CPIS (Diane Milne) dmilne@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- Mile Square Executive Director (Judy Barmak) jbbarmak@mselc1979.org
- HOPES Executive Director (Joselyn Estevez Vargas) jestevez@hopes.org
All curricular program questions should be address to:
- Assistant Superintendent (Sandra Rodriguez-Gomez) srodriguez@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- K-8 Supervisor of ELA & Social Studies (Christy Gaudio) cgaudio@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- K-8 Gifted & Talented Coordinator (Christy Gaudio) cgaudio@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- K-8 Supervisor of Math & Science (Donna D'Acunto) ddacunto@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- 9-12 Supervisor of C&I (Jin Park) jpark@hoboken.k12.nj.us
Any questions regarding the Elementary Schools Passport to Learning Program should be sent to:
- K-5 Supervisor of F&PA (Jessica Fasolini) at jfasolino@hoboken.k12.nj.us
Any questions regarding the Middle School Passport to Learning Program or Gr. 6-12 Bridge to Outdoor Adventures should be sent to:
- Director of Innovative Programs (Chris DellaFave) cdellafave@hoboken.k12.nj.us
This school year, we are asking all parents and guardians at all school levels to regularly use our new student information system (OnCourse). If you do not have an OnCourse Account for your child or children, please contact the appropriate school clerk to assist you:
- K-12 Director of Operations (Damien Arnone) darnone@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- High School Clerk (Periann Santana) periann.santana@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- Middle School Clerk (Bruni Munoz) bruny.medina-munoz@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- Wallace School Clerk (Jessica Vega) jessica.vega@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- Connors School Clerk (Maritza Ramos) maritza.ramos@hoboken.k12.nj.us
- Brandt School Clerk (Kim Pala) kimberly.pala@hoboken.k12.nj.us
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: 524 Park Avenue, Hoboken, NJ 07834
Phone: (201) 356-3600
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HobokenPublicSchoolDistrict/
Twitter: @HobokenSchools