OHES Paw Prints
Special Edition ~ June 2021
Summer Greetings
It is hard to believe that we are at the end of another school year. Certainly one that will be memorable for many reasons! The challenges of starting the year remotely and then phasing in cohorts of hybrid students would not have been successful without the support of our families and commitment of our dedicated teachers. We could not be more proud of our faculty, staff, and families for helping our students to successfully complete this unusual school year.
A special thank you to our PTA and volunteers who, as usual, went above and beyond the call of duty to provide whatever was necessary to add to our students’ already rich school experience. Your endless energy and devotion to our school community is much appreciated.
Something new that we have added this year is our Cubs Culture Corner. Mr. Van Hise and I, along with other members of our school leadership team, are dedicated to highlighting current events taking place in the world, country and our own community. Take a peek here at what we have been up to this year. We look forward to growing our Cub Culture Corner in the future.
As a district we are committed to the necessary work regarding diversity, equity and inclusion. Our mission statement is as follows:
Home to the district’s youngest learners, the Orchard Hill School community recognizes the importance of laying a foundation for the acknowledgement and development of inclusive and culturally responsive students. We believe through rich and diverse curricular experiences, Orchard Hill Cubs will be prepared with the knowledge and skills to become culturally competent students and citizens.
The Orchard Hill teachers on the Inclusive Curriculum Committee and Equity Team have worked diligently to forward this work and inform our school community. Please be sure to view our DEI website for more information.
A final word to our OHES Cubs:
We are so very proud of your hard work during this unusual school year. Remember the Pillars of Character that you have learned and practice them in your daily activities with family and friends. Respect, Responsibility, Trustworthiness, Citizenship, Fairness and Caring. Continue to be Bucket Fillers and Up-standers!
We wish all of our families continued good health and a relaxing summer break.
Warmest regards,
Mrs. Scotti and Mr. Van Hise
Notes from the Health Office
If your child currently has medication in stock in the health office, please plan to stop by OHES on June 17 or June 18th to pick it up between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM. New Jersey state law prohibits public schools from storing medications in the health office over the summer. This includes Epi-Pens, inhalers, prescription and non-prescription medications. All medications not picked up by a parent by 4:00 p.m. on June 18, 2021 will be discarded in compliance with state regulations. Students are not allowed to carry any medication home in their backpacks as per Montgomery Township School District policy. Exceptions cannot be made to this policy.
If your child has a Life Threatening Allergy or Asthma please have the appropriate medical forms completed by your child’s physician for the 2021-2022 school year and bring them to the Health Office (along with any medication) before the first day of school. All forms must be renewed each school year. Contact the health office if you are in need of the following forms:
Health Forms for the 2021-2022 school year will be sent to parents electronically. Please log onto your Parent Resources account to ensure the email address on file reflects a current working email address.
The Health Office at OHES wishes you and your family a happy and safe summer!
Report Cards Available June 18th
To log in:
1. Visit https://parents.mtsd.k12.nj.us
2. Enter your username (your email address), and your password. If you forgot your password, use the "Forgot My Password" link just below the Login button. your password will be sent by email in a few minutes.
If you are unable to log in or do not have an account, please contact genesissupport@mtsd.us.
Student Placement Process 2021-2022
As the end of the school year quickly approaches, plans for classroom placements are being made. Mrs. Scotti and Mr. Van Hise will work closely with teachers, supervisors and school counselors to place current Kindergarten through 2nd grade students. We will place all 2nd graders into 3rd grade with the assistance of VES administration, Ms. Lacy and Mrs. Camuto.
All students will be placed in heterogeneous classes with the best possible teacher match and a positive group of classmates. Any specific academic needs, as identified by classroom teachers, will be taken into consideration first. We cannot honor requests for specific teachers and requests for specific students can present a challenge. However, we will consider input regarding special circumstances or information the school does not already have. Pertinent information shared in previous years must be resubmitted to Mrs. Scotti via email and received by June 30th.
Please trust us to make the best placement possible for all children. It is important to us that students have successful academic and developmentally appropriate experiences in school with talented and caring teachers. Final placement information will be available in August.
School Supply Lists Information
In an effort to make your school supply shopping easier, the OHES teachers have teamed up with the PTA and 1st Day School Supplies to get you the exact supplies needed for next school year in a convenient, easy and hassle free way! You'll get guaranteed competitive prices on the highest quality brands while shopping from home. If you choose this option, you can make your purchase right now by clicking the link below. The deadline to order is July 1, 2021. Of course, you may also choose to purchase supplies locally and lists will be available on our school website by grade level.
Toward the end of the summer, your teacher may request additional items that will be needed for your classroom.
The OHES Team
End of School Year Activities
Class Parties will be planned through the coordination of classroom teachers and room parents. Details will come directly from teachers and/or coordinators.
Finally, we will celebrate our 2nd graders with an end of year clap off in their honor as we wish them all the best at VES next year!
New Chapters!
- Pam Schrum - Certified School Nurse
- Ann Messineo - RN (Retired in December, 2020)
- Cherylann Brown - Special Education, Preschool teacher
- Carol James - English Language Learner teacher
- Gloria Stuart - Spanish teacher (Retired in December, 2020)
- Sharon Bartolomei - Grade 1 teacher (Retired in October, 2020)
- Terry Ippolito - Secretary, CST office (Retired in June, 2020)
We are excited to welcome their replacements to Orchard Hill Elementary School!
- Sabu Gosai - Certified School Nurse
- Kamal Paul - RN
- Isela Khouri - CST secretary
- Kaityn Merritt - Grade 1 teacher
- Norelis Martinez - ELL teacher (transferring from LMS)
- Nayda Spagnolo - Spanish teacher
- Special Education Preschool teacher - TBD
Please join us in welcoming this talented staff to our Orchard Hill family!
A Night on Broadway
Join us for A Night On Broadway, a Music From the Heart Production co-sponsored by the MTEA and the MHS Band Parents' Association to provide scholarships to graduating MHS students. The cast and crew includes Dr. Bell and other VES and MTSD teachers and staff.
This live performance will take place outdoors in front of MHS and include songs from Broadway hits including Hairspray, Wicked, Jersey Boys, and Frozen. The audience will sit at picnic tables to ensure social distancing between groups. Each table seats 4-6 people and can be reserved for $25.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at mfth.yapsody.com and at the door if available.
Saturday, Jun 12, 2021, 07:00 PM
Montgomery High School, Skillman, NJ, USA
Open House and Back to School Nights: Save the Dates!
Friday, September 3
We are planning for students to be able see their classrooms and meet their teachers.
Back to School Night Dates:
Wednesday, September 22 for PreK, Kindergarten and Grade 2
Thursday, September 23 for Grade 1
The time, format and other details for our Open House and Back to School Nights will be communicated at a later date.