The Friday Focus
November 18, 2022
From the Desk of the Superintendent
Congratulations to our National Merit Scholars!
The following students were recognized at the 11/14 Board Meeting for having achieved status as National Merit Scholars: Raelynn Cui, Bradley Dayner, Armaan Desai, Luca Georgescu, Thomas Hooks, Stephen Kim, Kaitlyn Kuchinski, Sathya Kummarapurugu, Katherine Laitusis, James Lee, Elise Meng, Pavel Sverdlov, Samiyah Syed, Vanessa Walrath.
And Our National Merit Semi-finalist is: Andrew Qian
Hopewell Valley After School Enrichment Program: Winter Session:
Please note that Friday, December 2nd starts the enrollment for the Winter Session of the Hopewell After School Enrichment Program and will run until December 13th! The Winter Session runs for 8 weeks beginning the week of January 9th, 2023! Please look out for an email with the link and check out the programs and register early. Please reach out to lorricefalone@hvrsd.org with any questions.
Upcoming: The Chamber Singers' Madrigal Dinner, Friday, December 2nd
HEAR YE! A Madrigal Dinner shall commence in due course! Have you ever wondered what an out-of-work group of political consultants does when it's not election season? Find out when you attend the Madrigal Dinner hosted by the CHS Chamber Singers! The Foolhardies will entertain you while you dine on salad, a main course, and dessert, all while sipping a traditional wassail. The performers are your wait staff and entertainment during this hilarious evening of song and show! This event is general admission seating and is open to the public with a limit of 150 tickets sold. Tickets must be purchased no later than Nov 30th. FESTIVE DRESS ENCOURAGED! Purchase tickets by scanning the QR Code on the poster or by visiting this link: https://bit.ly/3X6HuYE
The CHS PTO invites you to read the latest issue of the Dog Byte by following the hyperlink and clicking on "Dog Byte" at the top of the list on the left. All CHS families should receive the Dog Byte via email every other Tuesday morning. If you are not receiving it, or need to update your contact information, please email Sheila Zou as soon as possible so she can correct our database.
For Students and Parents:
The CHS Counseling Office has comprehensive college planning information for parents and students on the website. Just click on a topic heading to view the related presentation and resources.
Delaware Valley University: https://delval.edu/admission-aid/undergraduate/freshman
With over 25 undergraduate degree programs - from life and physical sciences, agriculture and environmental sciences, to business and humanities - DelVal will help you craft a customized route to your career. Every curriculum requires hands-on learning , so you’ll receive both quality in-class instruction and real-world experience. 98% of students receive a scholarship.
Rowan University: College Prep Transition Night
Presented by the Office of Accessibility Services, Part 1 of 2 Part Series: Wednesday, November 30th & Wednesday, December 7th (part 1 repeated) 6:00pm-7:30pm
These free, virtual events are offered to high school students with disabilities and their parents. The goal is to provide knowledge and understanding of the transition process from high school into college.
HVCHS Updates
Please be sure to check out the latest edition of HVCHS Updates, a newsletter for all HVCHS parents, guardians, and students. This edition contains information about conferences, community connections, and more!
November Community Connection
Our November Community Connection will focus on supporting the local animal population. Our Community Based Creative Design course is currently creating portraits of our district therapy dogs to add to a calendar, which will be sold to raise funds for SAVE Animal Shelter. Also, we will be collecting items for SAVE: the Black Team will be collecting canned cat food, and the Gold Team will be collecting canned dog food. All donations can be brought to the HVCHS Main Lobby between November 1 and November 21. We appreciate your support!
Fall Play - Save the Date!
HVCHS presents its fall play, The Diary of Anne Frank, Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19 at 7:00 pm in the Performing Arts Center at Hopewell Valley Central High School. In this transcendently powerful new adaptation by Wendy Kesselman, Anne Frank emerges from history a living, lyrical, intensely gifted young girl, who confronts her rapidly changing life and the increasing horror of her time with astonishing honesty, wit, and determination. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors and $15 for adults. All tickets must be purchased ahead of time by visiting Showtix4u.com and searching for Hopewell. No tickets will be available at the door, but online sales will remain open until shortly before the start of the performance. We hope that you will join us for this powerful and important theatrical presentation.
Seal of Biliteracy Program: Parent(s) of HVCHS Juniors and Seniors,
If your child is fluent in two or more languages, he/she is eligible to be tested for the Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal of Biliteracy opens up a sea of opportunities for those pursuing higher education or joining the workforce. In order for students to be eligible to receive the Seal of Biliteracy, they must meet certain criteria. If your child can demonstrate evidence of proficiency in two languages (English and another language), a Seal of Biliteracy insignia will be noted on their transcript and they will receive a certificate from the State of New Jersey. If you are interested in having your child participate in this program and be tested to determine eligibility, please submit this form by December 4. The test description and sample tests can be found here. You can learn more about the Seal of Biliteracy at http://www.state.nj.us/education/aps/cccs/wl/biliteracy. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Lois Baldwin, Supervisor of World Languages
1st Marking Period Report Cards -First marking period report cards will be accessible via the OnCourse Connect portal starting on Saturday, November 19.
Save the Date: Mark your calendars for the Winter Dance Festival, presented by the HV Dance program on Tuesday December 20th, at 6 PM in the HV PAC. This is a free, family event, featuring a short and sweet program of festive performances by CHS and TMS dance students, with guest performances by CHS a cappella groups, The Perfect 4ths and Con Brio!
Absences & Late Arrivals: Parents/Guardians should call our TeleSafe number 609-737-4003, Ext 2, by 8:00 am to report an absence or late arrival. Please also review our attendance procedures for details about our policies.
What’s Happening at HVCHS? Please follow us on Twitter: @HVCentralHS and Instagram: hopewell_valley_central_hs for pictures, updates, and fun facts. Also, check out our HV Student Publications Network page for student created podcasts, digital videos, and more.
Yearbooks are now on sale- Click here to order. The early bird price is $35. Buy yours before the price goes up on January 31st!
PTO Meeting - November 29, Tuesday at 9:30 am on zoom. More information to follow
Mark your calendars for the Winter Dance Festival, presented by the HV Dance program on Tuesday December 20th, at 6 PM in the HV PAC. This is a free, family event, featuring a short and sweet program of festive performances by CHS and TMS dance students, with guest performances by CHS a cappella groups, The Perfect 4ths and Con Brio! Interested in supporting our program? Visit our online store to purchase HV Dance tees, sweats, and pajama pants - now through 11/23. All orders will be delivered to CHS in time for the holidays. We appreciate your support! Contact Gabrielle Cook with any questions.
TMS WINTER SPORTS START MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28th-Boys & Girls Basketball: Open to 7 & 8 grade only; Wrestling and Cheerleading: Open to 6, 7, 8 grade
1st Marking Period Report Cards -Parents and students will be able to access first marking period report cards on Saturday, November 19, in Oncourse on the Parent Portal.
Building Security - Parents who wish to drop off something for their child will be asked to continue to use the previously established drop off system, which allows parents to leave labeled items in the secure vestibule without entering the main office area.
It is very important that we avoid interruptions to classroom instructional time, as well as limit time in the hallways. As a result, we will no longer be calling into classrooms for early dismissals or to have students pick up items. Please alert your child of early dismissals the day prior and send them to school with a note so that we may provide them a pass. Students must remember to pick up items dropped off by parents, as they will not be paged. If your child forgets their chromebook, plan with your student whether or not you will be bringing it to TMS so they can check the vestibule. Students can always call from the main office.
Leaving Early - Please advise your child of early dismissals prior to coming to school and send them to school with a note. Students will present the note to the main office right off the bus so that the front office may provide them a pass to leave class at the time they need to leave. Please be aware Timberlane Drive is closed between 2:30 - 3:00 for TMS and CHS dismissal.
Absences, Late Arrival- Parents should call our TeleSafe number 609-737-4004, Ext 2, by 8:00 am, to report an absence or late arrival. If your child is leaving early, please be sure to send in a note when possible. If the need occurs after the start of school, please call the Main Office.
TMS Updates - For additional information about TMS, please visit our webpage, or follow us on Twitter @Timberlane_HV, or instagram @timberlane_timberwolves
* Dates to Remember *
Picture Day Make up - December 5, 2022
BT Games And Gratitude Day - On Friday, 11/23, we will have a special GRATITUDE and GAMES DAY! This will help us kick off Thanksgiving in a fun and meaningful way. We'll have a special schedule that will include a gratitude walk, board game time with our buddy classes, and other special activities highlighting community, gratitude, and FUN! Please wear your BT shirt on 11/23. Also, if you have any gently used board games that you'd like to donate or are interested in purchasing your favorite board game to donate, please feel free to send them in with your child. Walmart has a special with $6 classic board games and puzzles. We'll give updates, but we are excited about this special day
BT 5th Grade Committee - Charleston Wrap Fundraiser - We are asking you to reach out to your friends and family and encourage them to shop for products in our fundraising catalog or online. The proceeds of every purchase will make a BIG difference in our fundraising efforts this year. Our fundraising sales only last a short time, so we need to get everyone started quickly. Please - do these easy things today, and let’s get selling!
1) Register your participant online by going to registercw.com and enter our Organization ID 215992) Invite friends and family to shop and support. Send emails, share on social media, and text the fundraising link to your friends & family to quickly spread the word.
2) Look out for the Charleston Wrap fundraising information coming home this week.
Please use the instructions below to ensure you are registered properly for the fundraiser and that all of your purchases are linked to our organization.
BT Holiday Shop - Is scheduled for Wednesday, December 7th, to Friday, December 9th. This is an excellent opportunity for BT students to purchase small gifts for friends, family, and pets ranging from $1- $15 per item. Most items are under $5.00. The holiday shop teaches budgeting and problem solving and fosters independence and a joy for gift giving. BT Students can shop at a scheduled time with their class. Before the event, BT students will create a gift recipient list and a budget amount for each recipient. Volunteers are needed to help run this special event. Set Up, Shopper Assistance, and Break Down. Please click here for more information and to volunteer for the Kids Holiday Shop! Questions/Info: Jessica.Ruff@comcast.net or Kwarn76@gmail.com
AIR Therapy Dogs: Paws for Minds Annual T-shirt Contest - We have been doing this contest for 13 years. The first prize is an iPad. Winners will also get a t-shirt with their design. We encourage all students to participate. We present the first and second-prize winners on the front and back of the shirt. Maybe an HVRSD student will win, and you will wear a new HVRSD design. Click here for more information.
BT Winter and Spring Concert Information - Our winter and spring concerts will feature every 4th and 5th-grade student in one or more of the following ensembles: 4th Grade Chorus, 4th Grade Orchestra, 5th Grade Chorus, 5th Grade Band, 5th Grade Orchestra, and the 5th Grade Vocal Ensemble, The Treble Makers. Please mark your family calendars now to make sure no conflicts arise. The students are very excited about what we will perform - lots of excellent music and some surprises, too! Click here for more information.
PaySchools Central Food Service - Use the following links for the 2022-2023 school lunch
Click Here for a Link to Pay Schools Central to Pay for Student Lunches
BT Changes In Students’ Dismissal - Families, if there is a change in how students will be going home, please be sure to call or email the main office, as teachers do not always have an opportunity to check their email. 609-737-4005
Absences & Late Arrivals - Parents/Guardians should call our TeleSafe number 609-737-4005, Ext 2
Dates to Remember
Monday, November 21st - Early Dismissal (P/T Conferences 1:40 - 4:20 pm & 6-8:20 pm)
Tuesday, November 22nd - Early Dismissal
Wednesday, November 23rd - Early Dismissal
Thursday, November 24th - Thanksgiving (School Closed)
Friday, November 25th - No School
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF OUR HES FAMILIES:
Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday to help students cultivate an "attitude of gratitude." And what's more, research shows that it's really good for both them and their teachers! Among other benefits, gratitude helps kids feel better about school and makes educators feel less emotionally exhausted.
Thank you to the BRAVO String Ensemble from Princeton Symphony who performed for our 2nd grade class this week.
PTO Updates:
Holiday Cards - HES has partnered with Minted to provide 20% off your holiday cards with 15% going back to HES! Please use promo code FUNDRAISEHOPEWELLELEM when ordering.
Please check out the NOVEMBER FROG FLASH for additional announcements and opportunities!!
HES Fall Assembly: The HES fall assembly is scheduled for November 30th and the program is You are A Gardener.
Volunteer Opportunities: If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the attached volunteer form and complete the process for fingerprinting. We appreciate the support of community members who are interested in supporting our school communities.
Pomptonian Food Service: Use the following link(s) for the 2022-2023 school lunch
The Lost and Found Garden….is starting to GROW, please encourage your child(ren) to check the lost and found for their missing items! Don’t forget to label your childrens coats, hats, and gloves.
Follow Us On Twitter: Our page offers parents a glimpse inside our classrooms, important reminders, and students engaged in learning & fun. Click here to follow us.
Absences, Late Arrivals and Dismissal Changes: Call our TeleSafe number 609-737-4007, Ext 2, by 8:00 am to report an absence or late arrival or please use our new office email hwmainoffice@hvrsd.org. If there is a change in how students will be going home, call the main office at 737-4007, as teachers DO NOT have an opportunity to check their email during the day.
DATES TO REMEMBER
November 18th - 22nd - Parent Conferences (Early Dismissal)
December 6th - Picture Retake Day
The 4th and 5th Grade Winter Concert is almost here! The concert is Wednesday, December 14 at 7:00pm at the Hopewell Valley Central High School Performing Arts Center. Every 4th and 5th grade student will perform as members of the 4th and 5th Grade Choruses. There will be performances from the Band, Orchestras, and Festival Ensemble as well! Please follow this link for more information including important times and concert attire.
Thanksgiving Food Drive: Thank you for your donations! We were able to donate 25 Thanksgiving Baskets to the Mill Hill Child and Family Development Center in Trenton!
Pretzels are back: Order forms were sent home -see the Revised Flyer for details. 12/9 delivery date has been changed to 12/23.
Winter Enrichments: Check out the Community Events & Activities page for YMCA and District winter enrichment information.
Lost and Found:
Please label your child's jackets, sweatshirts and water bottles with their name so we can help return them from the lost and found. We will be donating all items before Thanksgiving.
PaySchools Central Food Service - Use the following links for 2022-2023 school lunch information:
Click Here for a Link to Pay Schools Central to Pay for Student Lunches
Click Here for Free and Reduced Lunch Forms
SB Membership Toolkit: All volunteer opportunities, Spirit Wear, and ways to donate can be found on MembershipToolkit. Click here to register.
Shutterfly Share sites for all SB classes:
Make sure to check your teacher’s Shutterfly site for information: Shutterfly Form
Absences & Late Arrivals or Changes in Students’ Dismissal: Call our TeleSafe # 609-737-4006, Ext 2, by 8:00 am to report an absence or late arrival. Please email or call the main office secretaries, who will then inform the teachers if they haven’t been notified already of any changes in dismissal.
Lisa Haenni: lisahaenni@hvrsd.org, 609-737-4006, x6000
Dates to Remember:
11/18 - 11/23 Early Dismissals for Parent Conferences
11/24 & 11/25 School Closed
TASK Food Drive: For the past 37 years, Toll Gate and the Pennington community have donated food for Thanksgiving dinner to Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK). The two main ways you can support the project are:
1. Donate non-perishable food items at school any time the week of November 14-18. Requested items and quantities per student by grade:
Pre-K: (7) 14.5 oz cans of whole kernel corn
Kindergarten: (5) Boxes Stove Top cornbread stuffing
1st Grade: (6) 10.5 oz cans of turkey gravy (no glass jars)
2nd Grade: (4) 40 oz cans of sweet potatoes
3rd Grade: (6) 14.5 oz cans of cranberry jelly
4th Grade: (6) 14.5 oz cans of cut green beans
5 Kampe: (2) 5lb bags of white granulated sugar
5 Marion & 5 McDonald: (4) 10.5 oz cans evaporated milk
2. Volunteer to help your child’s class bake sweet potato pies in the TG cafeteria on November 21 or 22. Sign up here.
Check out the TG TASK Thanksgiving flyer for more details on other ways you can get involved! Thank you for your support of this important and meaningful project for our community! Please email valerie.buchert@outlook.com with any questions.
TG School Store Winter Sale Now Live! Shop the School Store Winter Merch Sale while supporting the PTO. Snag a limited edition holiday ornament for yourself and grandparents, a travel coffee mug for winter drop offs, and new long sleeve styles and a winter hat for you and/or your Toll Gate kiddo(s)! We’re taking orders through Friday, November 18 with delivery by mid-December, just in time for the holidays. Please email Jaclyn or Mollie with any questions at TGGschoolstore@gmail.com.
Absences & Late Arrivals: Parents/Guardians should call our TelSafe number 609-737-4008, Ext 2, by 9:00 am to report an absence or late arrival. (Please do not report absences by emailing or calling the Main Office.) We also ask that parents leave reasons for absences on the TelSafe line (our nurse, Alicia Smith, monitors the line.) She is required to track both excused and unexcused absences. You can call ahead if you know about a planned absence or lateness.
Changes In Students’ Dismissal: Please email both main office secretaries if there is a change in your child’s dismissal for the day or if you will be picking up your child for an appointment in the middle of the day and returning them to school afterwards. (Please note that teachers may not have the chance to check their email during the day.)
Ashlee Dana: ashleedana@hvrsd.org, 609-737-4008, x8401
Patricia Jaczko: patriciajaczko@hvrsd.org, 609-737-4008, x8402
Dates to Remember
November 18, 21, 22, 23: Early Dismissal at 12:45 PM
November 21-22: TASK Pie Baking
November 24-25: Thanksgiving - Schools/Offices Closed
Community News & Events
Hopewell Valley After School Enrichment Program: Winter Session:
Please note that Friday, December 2nd starts the enrollment for the Winter Session of the Hopewell After School Enrichment Program and will run until December 13th! The Winter Session runs for 8 weeks beginning the week of January 9th, 2023! Please look out for an email with the link and check out the programs and register early. Please reach out to lorricefalone@hvrsd.org with any questions.
The Hopewell Township YMCA offers a variety of programs for local families, such as:
Before and After School Care at each elementary school, for Grades K-5
Schools Out Programs
Youth Programs/After School Enrichment Programs
Teen/Tween Program
For More information, please click here: https://hvymca.org/programs/
The Watershed Institute Hike: The Night Sky, 11/18, 6:30-8:00pm
Enjoy a short hike to the big meadow for some sky-gazing with telescopes and tales of the constellations. Bring a blanket for reclining.
Ages 8 and up. Adult attendance required. Discount available for members. Dress for the weather. Click on link above for more info/registration.
Historical Society of Princeton: Princeton History Walking Tour, Sunday, 11/20 from 2-4,
Enjoy a walk around downtown Princeton and the University campus as you learn about historic sites in the area, including Nassau Hall, University Chapel and Palmer Square. Hear some of the classic history and lesser-known stories of Princeton's diverse past.
Tickets are $10 and and advance purchase is required. Email: eve@princetonhistory.org for more information.
The 5K Turkey Trot - Support Hopewell Valley Wrestling by joining this year's 5K Turkey Trot. November 24, 2022 9:00 AM - RAIN OR SHINE! Click here to register.
Here are the links to the local libraries for upcoming events and programs:
Mercer County Library - Hopewell Branch
The North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad is an annual event for Middle and High School students who enjoy solving puzzles involving data from different, likely unfamiliar, languages. No prior knowledge of linguistics, specific languages, math, or computer science is needed. It's great fun and a way to meet other students who love to think about language and solve problems.
The NACLO website with more information and problems from previous competitions can be found here:
Princeton University is a host site, and students can register here:
https://sites.google.com/princeton.edu/nacloprinceton/home
The first round will take place on January 26, 2023. We'll host a very informal practice/coaching session on Sunday December 11, 10:30-12:30. Everyone is warmly welcome! Please contact James Zhang with questions (address given on the website).
Mike Schwartz Photography
Mike is a local photographer who has been capturing township and HVRSD school sports and events (proms, graduations, performances, etc) since 2005. His website is www.mikeschwartz.photo. You can view current 2022-2023 high school sports photos here: mikeschwartz.photoreflect.com/store/Photos.aspx?e=11192722.
To arrange for coverage of your student's sport or event, contact Mike at mike@mssphoto.com or call 609-273-8274.