Robert Hunter Report
Sept. 6, 2021
Robert Hunter Elementary School
Mrs. Jessica Braynor, Vice Principal
Website: https://www.frsd.k12.nj.us/Domain/381
Location: 8 Dayton Road Flemington, NJ 08822
Phone: (908) 284-7620
Twitter: @RobertHunterES
Welcome Back, Robert Hunter!
We can’t believe it’s already time to welcome students back to school for the 2021-2022 school year! We are so excited to be all together again for full-day, in-person learning, and we are looking forward to an amazing year of joy, exploration, and growth!
Our building has had a lot of referendum work done. It has been a very busy summer with maintenance work, but we are happy to have a fully air-conditioned building now. Staff were able to get back into their classrooms this past week, and they have been working hard to prepare for their students’ arrival!
We know students are feeling a mixture of emotions - nervous, excited, and unsure of what to expect. The Robert Hunter staff will help them in their transition back to full, in-person days and have planned activities to build relationships and to foster a safe and positive school community. Reach out if your child needs any additional support. We are a family at Robert Hunter and are here to help!
Please share the video read-aloud below with your children, as we welcome them back to RH!
We can’t wait to see our students at Robert Hunter on Wednesday morning!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Glaab and Mrs. Braynor
This week's calendar:
Sept. 8 - Day 1, First Day of School!
Sept. 9- Day 2
Sept. 10- Day 3, PTO Back to School Social, 5:30-7:30!
Masks
All students will be wearing masks while inside the building. Make sure that you get your children masks that fit properly, and please pack extra masks in your child’s backpack. We will have masks available if you forget. Children will be given mask breaks while inside the building as well outside. When they are given mask breaks inside, they will be brief and staggered between students.
Arrival
Arrival will begin at 8:45. Staff will be outside greeting students and guiding them to their classes. Children will be asked each morning if they would like to have breakfast before going to class. (Breakfast is free for all this school year.)
If you are dropping off your child, you may enter the drop-off line between 8:45-8:55. Instruction begins at 8:55. Students should exit the vehicle independently from the passenger side. Enter through the driveway exit opposite Municipal Dr. Enter the parking lot, and make an immediate right. The cars will line up in two lines 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 in the back seat on the passenger side of the car with book bags ready and masks on. For families with younger students, please practice having children get into and out of the car independently. The section of the sidewalk where your child may exit the car will be marked by cones. Please do not wait to get closer to the front entrance of the building before having your child exit. 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 will occur 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 sign in your front window labeled with your child’s name and homeroom teacher.
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 wchamber@frsd.k12.nj.us and Mrs. Bennett at rbennett@frsd.k12.nj.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 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.
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.
Car Rider Drop-off and Pick-up Route
Before and After Care
Before and After Care will be housed at Robet Hunter and is arranged through the YMCA. You can find information about registering on the YMCA website HERE. Our school has a list of all children participating in the YMCA program, and we will ensure that your child is not sent home on the bus. If there is a change in your after-care schedule, and you will be picking up your child or they will be taking the bus, you will need to email the office and your child’s teacher.
School meals
Breakfast and lunch will be free to all students this school year. We will ask students if they are interested in receiving breakfast when they arrive at school. Lunch menus are available on our school website here. At this time, we will not be serving snacks in the cafeteria during lunchtime.
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.
At this time, all children will be eating in the cafeteria and will maintain 3 foot social distancing.
Family Handbook
Please see the updated 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.
Meet the new staff at Robert Hunter!
Lauren Edelsberg- Kindergarten
Ms. Edelsberg comes to Robert Hunter after graduating from the University of Maryland with a dual certification in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education. She student taught in various classrooms with children two years old through second grade while also working at the University’s Center for Young Children. She is so excited to be part of the Robert Hunter family and cannot wait to see all of the amazing things we will accomplish together this year!
Jennifer Salazar- Grade 1
Ms. Salazar comes to Robert Hunter after working as a 3rd grade teacher in various school districts throughout New Jersey for 10 years. Prior to that she worked as a teacher in various grade levels as a maternity leave replacement teacher. She has a BA in English Rhetoric and Sociology from Binghamton University and a MS Ed in Elementary Education from CUNY Staten Island. She has extensive knowledge of the Reading and Writing Workshop model and loves all things literacy. She is excited to join the team at Robert Hunter and looks forward to working with her 1st grade students!
Megan Migliore- Grade 2
Miss Migliore is excited to embark on her third year of teaching in the district she attended growing up. Miss Migliore is a Flemington resident and has attended schools such as Francis A. Desmares, RFIS, and J.P. Case. She joins our Robert Hunter team as a 2nd grade teacher. Prior to that, she worked as a 2nd grade teacher in Alexandria Township and as a Kindergarten teacher in Lopatcong Township. She has her BS from TCNJ in Early Childhood Education and Psychology. She is looking forward to an amazing school year!
Annielisa Chiang- Grade 3
Ms. Chiang was born and raised in Queens, New York. She has lived in New York all her life and recently moved to Lambertville, New Jersey where she will be starting her first year at Robert Hunter. Overall she has been a teacher in New York for the past six years. Ms. Chiang graduated from Queens College with a Master's Degree in Childhood Education. During her Undergraduate Studies, also at Queens College, she double majored in Art History and Childhood Education with a specialization in Children's Literature. Ms. Chiang is beyond excited to be starting her first year at Robert Hunter teaching a wonderful group of new third graders!
Sarah Dlouhy- Grade 3, Resource Center
Ms. Dlouhy comes to Robert Hunter after working as a leave replacement third grade teacher in Chatham, NJ. She has a BS from Susquehanna University in Elementary Education with a certification in Special Education. At Susquehanna, Ms. Dlouhy served as the president of the National Honor Society in Education. She assisted with organizing professional development experiences for both pre-service and current teachers. She strives to continue to learn more about how she can further differentiate her instruction to meet the needs of every student, and integrate SEL into her everyday lessons. Ms. Dlouhy is very excited to be a part of the Robert Hunter Elementary School community and is looking forward to a great year!
Chelsea Mecanko- Grade 3 Resource Center
Ms. Mecanko comes to Robert Hunter after graduating from Rider University with a dual certification in Elementary Education and Multi-Disciplinary Studies with a concentration in English and a minor in Special Education. She student taught in a third-grade classroom and completed fieldwork in grades second through fifth. She is very excited to join the Robert Hunter family and begin her first year teaching. She is looking forward to a wonderful school year and to working together to provide a warm environment for students to learn and grow.
Amanda Fernandes- Grade 4 Resource Center
Mrs. Fernandes is joining FRSD as the new 4th grade Resource Teacher. Prior to joining us she taught 3rd grade in Trenton for 2 years and moved to Lawrence as the MD/BD self-contained K-3 teacher. She graduated from Rider with her degree in Elementary Education/Psychology with minors in Special Education and Early Childhood Education. In January, she will embark on her Masters Journey for a Reading Specialist! She cannot wait for the school year to start and is looking forward to working with everyone to make this year a joyful school year.
Caroline Bianchetti- Project Success
Caroline Bianchetti lives in East Windsor, New Jersey. She enjoys spending time with family and friends. When not spending time with friends and family, she enjoys cooking and baking, as well as reading and spending time in nature. Caroline Bianchetti received her BA from Muskingum University. After subbing for a while, she became an instructional assistant in the West Windsor Plainsboro district. She was a paraprofessional in a few classroom settings in Bordentown. During her time there, she discovered her passion for special education and received her Master's in Special Education through Rowan University. She looks forward to beginning this new chapter in her life in the Flemington-Raritan School District and at Robert Hunter Elementary!
Kristin Fiumara- Behaviorist
Kristin Fiumara is a district behaviorist primarily serving students and families at Robert Hunter (Project Success). Kristin double majored in Anthropology and Elementary Education (K-6) with a Teacher of Students with Disabilities Endorsement from Monmouth University. She later received a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Massachusetts with an Autism Studies Focus. In 2019, Kristin obtained her status as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Prior to joining the Flemington-Raritan family, Kristin taught for 6 years in the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District and spent time in homes as an ABA Home Therapist. Kristin strongly values the whole child and strives to promote academic, social and behavioral success. She is looking forward to joining the Robert Hunter Family, partnering with teachers, students and families!
Anthony Maiorano- Social Worker
Anthony "Mr. M" Maiorano and has had the pleasure of working at Hunterdon Central Regional High School for the past 6 years as a paraprofessional as he pursued his Master of Social Work. He was an assistant coach for Unified Sports (through Special Olympics of NJ) at Central and hopes to add Unified Sports in some capacity at Flemington-Raritan. His aim is to add value to the culture of inclusion and highlight student abilities, find out what motivates them, and build on their strengths! He cannot wait to embark on this journey with everyone!
Tara Hendricks- Grade 1
Mrs. Hendricks joins Robert Hunter after working across various grade levels over the past 8 years. Most recently she taught 3rd grade special education at Barley Sheaf. Prior to that, she worked as an Intervention teacher in middle school and a general education teacher in 3rd and 4th grades in other Hunterdon County school districts. She has a BA in History with a specialization in Elementary Education and Special Education from Centenary University. She loves teaching writing and math and cannot wait to join the Raccoon family for the beginning of the year!
Alyssa Cuzzola- Leave Replacement Teacher
PTO Updates and Reminders
Click HERE to see a letter about becoming a homeroom parent!
Please see the flyer below regarding our first school event! Come join us to celebrate the first week of school and being back together!