Hilltop Parent Council
March 2, 2021
Attendees
Mr. Heller, Dina Malanga, Lauren Lynch, Robin Kuo, Monica Shudtz,
Dorana Brunhammer, Taryn Cottone, Amy Golier, Fabrizzia Gambia, and Britany
Gladhill
CHEERS TO HILLTOP FAMILIES
○ Mr. Heller shared appreciation for contributions by Hilltop Families
towards the Teacher & Staff Luncheon held on Wednesday, February 17th
provided by Sapori d'Italia and the Coffee & Tea Bar on February 12th that
was enjoyed by all
○ Luncheons are provided 5 times throughout the school year - current
schedule 12/18/2020, 1/22/2021, 2/16/2021, 5/7/2021, 6/1/2021
■ luncheons provide service for @50 teachers and members of the
staff including evening custodial staff
A parent shared a positive experience regarding virtual student’s transition to in-seat
learning after almost a year away from the classroom; gratitude for the smooth
transition, staff, and classmates have been welcoming
○ Mr. Heller shared that more students will be returning to full-time in-seat
than have chosen to go virtual with the transition to full-day learning
■ 8 families will be returning to school, one family will be transitioning
to virtual learning
Return to Full-Day Learning
Full-Day In-Seat Learning will begin on Wednesday, March 10th
● Mr. Heller has created a slideshow presentation to share details of the new
schedule and procedures with the community ( attached)
○ 3 mask-free breaks spread out throughout the full class day
■ outdoor snack
■ lunch break
■ separate recess
○ LUNCH - Pomptonian will return as the food vendor with basic and simple
selections with only one option per day
■ menu schedule will be sent a week prior, need to be preordered by
8 AM and will be delivered directly to each student
● snacks only available for purchase with lunches - no lines
■ K - grade 1 will have lunch in their classroom
■ 2nd grade - 4th grade will have lunch in the cafeteria with 10-15
minutes between each grade
■ the gym will only be used for PE
■ only 4 students per table seated 6ft apart diagonally, separated by
barriers
● when masks are off, barriers are up
● done eating, masks on
■ 15ft between each class cohort (not separated by physical barriers)
○ MASK BREAKS/RECESS - teachers will have the flexibility to take breaks
outside of the scheduled daily breaks as needed
■ the goal is to have as much time outside without masks as possible
■ 15 min mask break in the morning
● when inside, dividers must be up
● outside on towels, socially distanced
■ 30 min recess after lunch
● masks will be on most of the time - there will be some
mask-free time
● individual classes must play together
● snacks when necessary
● the playground can be used by one class per period
○ hand sanitizer use before and after
● organized team activities subdivided by class
● RELATED ARTS - same Related Arts over the 5-day cycle with the same teacher
■ Pre-K will have Tuesday and Friday Related Arts, classes
HSA Update
Britany Gladhill - HSA Volunteer Liaison - many of the last year’s fundraising activities
have been canceled due to Covid. Announced No Frills Fundraiser letter requesting
donations by check for the replacement and upgrade of the Hilltop blue and white
playground structure that is 20 years old
○ estimated completion in the next few weeks
○ Mr. Heller will be sending a letter home to families on behalf of the HSA
Purpose, Policy and Structure
The Parent Council serves on a volunteer basis as a liaison to the school community in Mendham Borough. Board policy Relations With Parents provides that there shall be a Parent Council for each school (see policies 1010.1, 10101P) to meet regularly with the principal to discuss matters of interest. The primary objective of this Council is to foster dialogue and communication between parents and administration and to provide advice and counsel to administration relating to school-wide topics.
The Councils are not a substitute for individuals having direct contact with the appropriate school personnel. There is a board policy entitled Public Complaints and Inquiries (see policy 1312). Although members of the Parent Council may be contacted for advice with respect to the most appropriate way (teacher, guidance, principal, superintendent, Board) for parents and other interested parties to seek resolution of complaints, grievances, and misunderstandings, members of the Parent Council should not be contacted for the purpose of intervening in disputes between administration or staff members and individual students or parents.