

The Friday Focus
June 2, 2023
From the Desk of the Superintendent
Superintendent Coffee and Chat: Substance Abuse, June 7th, HV CHS Community Room, 6:30-8:00pm. Please join Dr. Treece, CHS Principal Patricia Riley, CHS Student Assistance Coordinator Dr. Chris Velderman and members of the Hopewell Valley Police Department for an informative discussion about both local and national trends in substance abuse among teens.
Hopewell Valley Mobile Food Pantry: At the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, Pennington Borough, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, HVRSD, and the Hopewell Valley YMCA created the Hopewell Valley Mobile Food Pantry to assist those in need of a helping hand. Staffed entirely by volunteer workers, the Pantry collects, sorts, packages, and delivers groceries and fresh produce weekly to neighbors throughout the Valley. All assistance provided is done confidentially. To register for a weekly grocery delivery, go to https://hvymca.org/pantry/. Additionally, all are welcome to pick up needed groceries on Saturdays, 10-11am at the HVRSD Administration building (425 S. Main Street, Pennington). Anyone who wishes to donate to or volunteer for the Pantry may go to the above website also! If you have any questions, please email us at hvmobilefoodpantry@gmail.com or call 609-737-3048, ext. 2.
Hopewell Valley Come Outside & Play! Thurs, June 8 - Sat, June 10. The newsletter listing all the activities being offered during this 3-day event is HERE! We thank you for joining the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance and community partners during this Hopewell Valley event, now in its 13th year! Established to increase awareness of nature and an appreciation of time spent outdoors, families and community members are welcome to attend any of the activities. Some activities require advance registration. Activities are free and open to all ages unless otherwise noted. In case of inclement weather, activities will be cancelled unless noted in the newsletter. Post your pictures of attending events on the Hopewell Valley's Backyard Facebook page.
As of June 1st, 2023, all Working Papers applications will be online at MyWorkingPapers.NJ.gov
Employers hiring teenagers must register online to receive a unique 8-digit code and share that code with every minor they intend to hire. The potential hire can then visit the website to create an account and start their working papers application, entering the employer's unique code. Caregivers must review the details of the job and provide proof of the minor's age. The NJ Department of Labor will notify the business once the application is approved.
Hopewell Highlights: The June 2023 District Insert: Thank you to those shared their thoughts, provided such great information and sent wonderful pictures. We hope that you enjoy this "snapshot" of the happenings in the school district.
HVCHS Updates: Please take a few moments to review the May edition of HVCHS Updates, a monthly newsletter for HVCHS students and their families.
Substance Abuse Information Session, Wed, June 7th, 6:30pm-8:00pm, Community Room: Dr. Treece, Principal Patricia Riley and Student Assistance Coordinator Dr. Chris Velderman will be discussing local and national trends in substance abuse among teens. As you saw in the January edition of HVCHS Updates, we have taken a series of proactive and reactive measures to educate our students regarding the dangers of drug and alcohol use. We continue to remind our students that these products are illegal for individuals under the age of 21, and use, possession, or distribution on school grounds is in violation of our district substance abuse policy. We need the support of parents and guardians, as well as the community, in order to make a meaningful impact on the decisions and behaviors of our students.
Final Exams: We will follow a calendar of events summarized here:
June 6 - 9: Final Letter Day Cycle
no assessments given in English, Math, Science, Social Studies
World Language and other final exams/projects administered during class periods
June 12:
F Day Schedule
no assessments (exams, projects, presentations) given
June 13:
assessments given in English & Math during exam blocks
students dismissed at 1 p.m.
June 14:
assessments given in Science & Social Studies during exam blocks
students dismissed at 1 p.m.
*On June 13 & 14, only students who are taking final exams are required to attend school.*
HVCHS Fall 2023 Sports Registration is OPEN: All Registrations and medical forms are due by Monday, July 17th. Registration and medical form links are available on the athletic website. If your child needs an annual sports physical, we are having two sessions of “In-School” Sports Physicals on Thursday, July 13th and Monday, July 17th from 9:00 am-12:00 pm in the high school nurse's office. Please use this link to sign up for an appointment. They are open to students in grades 6-12 by appointment only and are $25 per child. (Checks should be made out to HVRSD.) If you have any questions regarding which medical forms your child needs, please contact Kelly Hall or Angela Drake in the CHS Nurse’s Office at (609) 737-4003 x3537. If you have any questions regarding registration, please reach out to the Athletic Office staff (609) 737-4003 x3534.
Fall Sports will begin on the following dates:
Football - Monday, August 7th
Boys & Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball - Monday, August 14h
Girls Tennis - Wednesday, August 16th
Field Hockey, Boys & Girls Cross Country - Monday, August 21st
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. Fundraising activities from our classes, clubs, and teams can be found here. Also, check out our HV Student Publications Network page for student created podcasts, digital videos, and more.
The HVCHS PTO Dog Byte: Provides Information about upcoming events.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT HVCHS
June 2: Senior Prom, 7 p.m.
June 5: MTPA Awards Night, 6:30 p.m.
June 5: STRIVE Awards Night
June 6: Class of 2026 Parent Night Out, Osteria Proccacini, 6 - 9 p.m.
June 7: Superintendent Coffee & Chat, 6:30 p.m.
June 8: Senior Athletic Awards, 5:30 p.m.
June 9: All Night Volleyball, 9 p.m.
June 12: Senior Sunset & Movie Night, 7 p.m.
June 13 & 14: Final Exams, 1 p.m. Dismissal
June 14: Senior Awards Night, 6 p.m.
June 15: 1/2 Day, 12 p.m. Dismissal
June 15: Commencement, 6 p.m.
June 16: 1/2 Day, 12 p.m. Dismissal
Eighth-Grade Activities:
CHS Transition Tours, Friday June 9th
To help our students further transition to Central High School, the 8th-grade class will participate in Transition Tours. Each team will walk over to the high school for a 60-minute, small group tour of the high school with a guide to answer any questions that they may have.
8th Grade Dance: Friday, June 9th, 7:30pm-10:00pm, Timberlane Cafeteria
We are so excited to celebrate our students. This event is designed to bring students together to dance, reminisce, and enjoy the many relationships they have formed over the past three years. We do not encourage students to have dates as this can sometimes add unneeded pressure and anxiety to the event. We are also discouraging students from wearing formal clothes or arriving in limousines as this can give the event the premature feeling of a prom.
We have attached a FAQ sheet with this letter that addresses many of the questions families and students typically have about the evening activities. Please review carefully, as there are some changes to our drop-off and photo procedures. The Student Council is sponsoring the event and has organized a committee of students to help with the decorations.
8th Grade Picnic: Monday, June 12th
Our students will enjoy a picnic, DJ, and an Amazing Race planned by our TMS PTO and 8th Grade Parents. We will also have rehearsal for the Moving Up Ceremony on this day. The rain date is Tuesday, June 13.
Moving Up Celebration: Wednesday, June 14 (rain or shine) !
The final event of the year will be the Middle School Moving Up Celebration. We will continue our newer tradition of one ceremony for each team. While this is not a graduation, our ceremony celebrates the accomplishments of our students. We will include our awards, and every student will be called to the stage to receive their certificate. Each student will receive two tickets for two special adults in their life. Tickets were mailed May 25th. The program will culminate with the presentation of the 8th-grade class to the CHS high school principal, Ms. Patricia Riley. Ms. Riley will then conclude the ceremony by officially welcoming your children as high school freshmen. The times for each team’s ceremony are listed below. Specific information about tickets, parking and attire will be shared soon.
9:00 Platinum
11:00 Mercury
1:00 Titanium
Facebook for Parents and Guardians: The TMS PTO has its own FB page to share information about upcoming events and school notices. Since the page is private, please be sure to answer the questions that are posed when you request to join. Click to join!
TMS Yearbooks are on sale! Click here to order.
Absences, Late Arrival & Early Dismissal - 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.
2023 TMS FALL SPORTS- Registration and medical forms for TMS fall 2023 sports are due by Thursday, August 24th. Please click here to access the registration page and print medical forms. Any student who is not registered and does not have either a physical form or health history update form on file with the school nurses will not be able to try out or practice until they do.In-House Physicals will be offered on Thursday, July 13th and Monday, July 17th from 9:00 am-12:00 pm in the high school nurse's office. They are open to students in grades 6-12 by appointment only and are $25 a child. (Checks should be made out to HVRSD.) Please use this link to sign up for an appointment.
Dates to Remember
June 2- Music in the Parks
June 7- 7th Grade Zoo trip
June 9- 8th Grade Transition Day
June 12- 8th Grade Picnic
June 14- Moving Up Ceremony!
June 15 Early Dismissal- TMS Community Day
June 16 Early Dismissal- Last day of school
BT End of Year Picnic - Please save the date for our annual End of Year Picnic on June 2, 2023! Bring the whole family out for a night of fun featuring a food truck and Uncle Ed's ice cream! Remember to bring chairs and/or blankets!
BT Spring Concert - Congratulations to the 4th & 5th-Grade band, chorus, and orchestra members on their terrific performance at the concert Wednesday evening. All who attended enjoyed themselves. A sincere thanks to Mrs.MacAdams and Mrs. Ingram for all the time and effort they devoted to making the concert such a success. Also, thank you, Ms. Sanders, for her lovely accompaniment.
Field Day at Bear Tavern School is EPIC! - We go all out with fun game stations, tug-o-war grade level, staff competitions, and our traditional fire truck and ice-pop finale to enhance the total experience for our students in grades K-5. This year, our Field Day is on Friday, June 9th, and we will have former BT students (current seniors) running our stations throughout the day. In addition, parents are welcome to attend our afternoon tug-o-war competitions and fire truck finale starting at 2:15 pm. If you are interested in popping by, please click here to sign up. Also, if you plan to take your child(ren) home directly from field day, you can use the link to indicate such. Please fill out the form by Wednesday, 6/7, at 4 pm.
BT at Trenton Thunder - Save the date! Family Fun Night at the Trenton Thunder Friday, June 9th, at 7:00 pm. The Bear Tavern Treblemakers will be performing during the 7th inning. Click here to order tickets. Click here for the flyer.
Kindergarten Registration and Camp - Kindergarten information and registration for children who will be five years old on or before October 1, 2023 can be found here: Kindergarten Registration. Kindergarten Camp 2023: An optional summer camp will be held at each elementary school for two weeks starting on 7/10 and 7/17. The camp is Mondays - Thursdays from 8:30-11:30am.Information and Registration for Kindergarten Camp is available on the Kindergarten Registration Page. Only registered students will be accepted.
BTPTO Online Coffee Sale -The BT OLA is an integral part of the Bear Tavern Learning Environment and needs support to purchase seeds, supplies, materials, food for our fish friends, and yearly maintenance. So we are partnering with Giving Bean to raise funds. Giving Bean is a specialty coffee roaster and tea blender service that ships directly to homes. We will receive 25% off items, and there are subscription options that raise funds through repeat orders automatically.
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 (609-737-4005) or email the main office, as teachers do not always have an opportunity to check their email. Please use THIS EMAIL ADDRESS btmainoffice@hvrsd.org when informing us of dismissal plans
Dates to Remember
6/5 - 4th-Grade Gravity Hill Trip (Evans/Belford)
6/7 - Pride Day (Wear The Rainbow)
6/8 - 5th-Grade Pool Party, 4th-Grade Gravity Hill Trip (VZ/Belford), Preschool Graduation
6/9 - Field Day
6/12 - Preschool Water Day
6/13 - 5th-Grade Promotion
6/14 - 4th-Grade EOY Celebration, Kindergarten EOY Celebration, Flag Day (Wear Red, White, & Blue)
6/15 - 1st-Grade EOY Celebration, Grade EOY Celebration, AM Preschool Only, Early Dismissal
6/16 - PM Preschool Only, Early Dismissal, Last Day Of School (Clap Out)
HES Spring Concert: Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 7:00pm in the CHS Performing Arts Center, featuring all 4th and 5th grade students in one or more of the following ensembles: 4th Grade Chorus, 5th Grade Chorus, 4th & 5th Grade Orchestra, 5th Grade Band, 5th Grade Vocal Ensemble, and 5th Grade Orff Ensemble! Dress code: Solid color shirt on top, dark pants or skirt on the bottom
Come join us for a celebration of music and spring! Selections will include a panoply of musical genres including folk, jazz standards, movie classics, polka, pop, spirituals, and world music. We even have a few surprises in store! Bring your families - grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins! The more the merrier! We hope to see you there!
HES Acts of Service for June: In collaboration with The Chubby’s Project, HES will be collecting canned goods and boxed food. Thank you for all of your generous donations!
HES PTO: Please check out the latest Frog Flash filled with important information. The last PTO meeting will be held on Friday ,June 2nd @ noon.
Pomptonian Food Service: Use the following link(s) for the 2022-2023 school lunch. This link includes menus, how to pay for student lunches, and other helpful information.
The Lost and Found Garden: Please encourage your child(ren) to check the lost and found for their missing items! All items will be donated at the end of the school year.
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 students and staff at HES.
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
June 2nd - Twin Day and 2nd Grade Habitat Hoopla
June 5th - 6th - HES Spring Concert
June 7th - 3D Publishing Party
June 8th - Mrs. Hamilton 3rd Grade Play
June 8th - 4th Grade Band Instrument Demonstration
June 9th - 5th Grade FUN DAY
June 9th - Pre-K Graduation
June 13th - Pre-K Celebration
June 14th - 5th Grade Graduation
June 14th - 3rd Grade Ice Cream Social
June 15th - 5th Grade Breakfast and Awards/Early Dismissal
June 16th - Last Day of School/Early Dismissal
#BeTheLightHES
Take Me Out to the Ballgame … on June 9! TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE
Don’t miss Stony Brook night at the Trenton Thunder ballpark on Friday, June 9 at 7p.m. Join us for a fun family night of games, a National Anthem performance by SB students and rooting for the home team! Tickets available by order form. Any questions contact Mrs. Smith - ktsmith408@gmail.com.
Yearbooks - we may have a small quantity available . If you would still like to order, it will be on a first come basis. FLYER
Spring Concert - Many thanks to Mr. Emhof, Ms. Libby, Mr. Morrison, SB Staff and our parent/high school volunteers who Let it Be known that All You Need is Love.
Field Day - Once again, voted the Best Day at Stony Brook. Thank you to Mr. Orlando and the SB All Star Staff and Parents for making this great day possible!
Hopewell Valley Food Pantry Summer Drive - Summertime is almost here. Our food pantry needs our help to stock for the summer. Please consider donating items listed in the Flyer. We will be collecting starting June 2 till June 15. Thank you for your all star kindness.
Kindergarten Registration and Camp: Kindergarten information and registration for children who will be five years old on or before October 1, 2023 can be found here: Kindergarten Registration. Kindergarten Camp 2023: An optional summer camp will be held at each elementary school for two weeks starting on 7/10 and 7/17. The camp will be Mondays - Thursdays from 8:30-11:30am. Information and Registration for Kindergarten Camp is available on the Kindergarten Registration Page. Only registered students will be accepted.
Pomptonian Food Service: Use the following link(s) for the 2022-2023 school lunch. This link includes menus and how to pay for student lunches along with other useful information.
SB Membership Toolkit: All volunteer opportunities, Spirit Wear, and ways to donate can be found on MembershipToolkit. Click here to register.
Absences & Late Arrivals or Changes in Students’ Dismissal: Call our Tel-Safe # 609-737-4006, Ext 2, by 8:00 am to report an absence or late arrival. For dismissal changes, email "sbmainoffice@hvrsd.org" that will go to both secretaries. Teachers do not always have the opportunity to check their email during school but including them in your email is helpful. If you have a change after 3pm, please call us at 609-737-4006 ext. 0.
DATES TO REMEMBER
June 2 - Field Day (Raindate is June 9)
June 7 - 5th Grade Fun afternoon at SB
June 8 - 5th Grade Pool Party (rain date June 14)
June 9 - Last Pretzel Day/SB Night at Trenton Thunder
June 13 - PEECH GRADUATION, ALL STAR CELEBRATION
June 14 - Flag Day Celebration and SB PTO Meeting
June 15 - Early Dismissal
June 16 - Early Dismissal/Last Day of School/June 16 - 5th Grade CLAP OUT.
Lost & Found: As the year comes to an end, please come and check our Lost & Found tables in the cafeteria hallway. There are a lot of unclaimed belongings.
Volunteers Needed: Rain Garden Watering: We are so excited to unveil the new Toll Gate Grammar School rain garden! It was made with a lot of love, sweat, and elbow grease of volunteers and Watershed Institute staff.
The native plants will need consistent watering this spring/summer to make sure they have the best conditions to establish and thrive. Sprinklers will be available for you to use and we ask that you water 2 times per week for at least 15-20 min, move the sprinkler if needed to areas that did not get watered.
See below for contingencies on watering:
If there has been a 1” rainfall that week – you only need to water once (15-20 min).
If it has rained 2 times or more that week – you do not need to water.
Please review the available slots here and click on the button to sign up to "adopt the garden" for a 1 week duration where you will water 2 times. Please choose quantity 1 when you sign up (even if it will be helping as a family). This is so, if you cannot water both days - another person can sign up to cover the slot.
Pomptonian Food Service: Use the following link(s) for the 2022-2023 school lunch. This link includes menus and how to pay for student lunches along with other useful information.
Dates to Remember
Monday, 6/5: Kindergarten Field Trip to The Pennington School
Wednesday, 6/7: Spring Concert at CHS
Thursday, 6/8: PTO Spring Social at Hopewell Valley Vineyards
Sunday, 6/11: Toll Gate at Trenton Thunder
Tuesday, 6/13: 5th Grade Promotion Event
Thursday, 6/15: Early Dismissal at 12:45 PM
Friday, 6/16: Last Day of School - Early Dismissal at 12:45 PM
Monday, 6/19: Juneteenth - Offices Closed
Thursday, 6/22: Report Cards Available on the Parent Portal
Community News & Events
Come Outside and Play with Hopewell Recreation! Join us on Thursday, June 8, from 6-8pm as Hopewell Township Recreation, Hopewell Township Public Works and Police Department and participate in Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance’s annual event, “Come Outside and Play!! The night will be chock-full of festivity and fun for children of all ages! All participants will receive a Hopewell Recreation Passport to travel through the park and experience activities such as:
- Whacky Relay Races & Carnival Games,
- “Touch a Truck” featuring the Hopewell Township Public Works Truck
- Interactions with Township Police Department
Woolsey Park is located at: 221 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville. This event is FREE and fun for the whole family! No registration required.
Join us for our 3rd Annual Soap Box Derby race in Hopewell Township on Saturday, June 24, 2023! We are looking for racers ages 7-20 for our event! No experience needed! This is a great experience for both the child and parent. The experience provides education in science, technology, engineering and math! It teaches leadership, sportsmanship, and perseverance! It gives children a chance to compete and make friends and is rooted in family and Community! Soap Box racing creates champions on and off the track!
All interested participants need to contact NJ Soap Box Derby: njsoapboxderby@gmail.com or 609-433-0340Participation fee is $100 per racer. This fee includes use of car, build workshops, inspections, and race day. Trophies will be awarded to the top three racers in each division.
The race will be held at South Timberland Drive between the middle school and high school. Click on this link to see a video of the event: Nj Soap Box Derby
Also see attached flyer for additional details. Let's get outside and race Hopewell!
Hopewell Recreation summer camps at Woolsey Park. Children can join us for a half day or full day of camp activities. We will be offering the following camps at the park:
Rec Camp - 9am -12pm. Six different weeks to choose from. Camp starts the week of July 3 and runs through August 11.
Nature Explorers Camp - 1pm-4pm. Two different weeks to choose from (Week 1: July 3-7; Week 2: July 10-14)
Magic Camp - 1pm-4pm. Two different weeks to choose from (Week 1: July 3-7; Week 2: July 10-14)
Junior Travel Camp - 1pm-4pm. Four different weeks to choose from. Camp starts the week of July 17 and runs through August 11)
Children registered for morning camp and afternoon camp can sign up for our Lunch Bunch program (12pm-1pm) and eat lunch with our Rec Camp staff. Children need to bring their own lunch.
All camp flyers with ages/grades, fees, and registration information are attached below.
Please call us at 609-737-3753, or email us at recreation@hopewelltwp.org with questions or to register. You can also mail in the attached registration forms and you will then receive an email from us once your child is registered.
Here are the links to the local libraries for upcoming storytimes, events and programs:
Summer Programs
Safety Town - For children entering Kindergarten or 1st grade
Safety Town is a one-week summer program offered to rising kindergarten and 1st-grade students, to provide a realistic, child-sized town with miniature streets, buildings, crosswalks, and working traffic lights. Students will navigate the safety town setting on a bicycle while learning the importance of bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicular safety. The camp will be held June 26 - June 30. Information and registration are available by visiting: Safety Town - Hopewell Valley YMCA (hvymca.org)
BULLDOGS FLAG FOOTBALL CAMP July 17th - July 20th, Grades K-8
Hopewell Valley Central High School Multi-purpose Field. Registration HERE
Youth Writing Camp at Rider University: July 10 - July 20/9am - noon/For students entering grades 3 - 8 . Rider University Writing Project is excited to offer an eight session writing camp designed for students of all reading and writing levels. Students who attend this writing camp will have an opportunity to work and learn alongside certified, experienced teachers whose goals are to inspire and support writers of ALL abilities.
Mercer County Technical Schools Summer Camp for students in 6th, 7th & 8th Grade!
Two week Career Exploration Camps (Coding & Robotics/Culinary Arts/Police & Detective and more!).
Hopewell Valley Soccer Association: Summer Day Camps, Girls Soccer Skills and Bulldog Soccer Camps.
Hopewell Valley YMCA Camp: Summer day camp.
Hopewell Recreation Summer Camp Guide: with all summer camps and programs.
Hopewell Valley Summer Collaborative Band:
Hopewell Valley Children's Theatre:
SOCCER SHOTS age appropriate programs for ages 2-8.
Rambling Pines Summer Camp: Summer day camp.
Painted Oak Nature School: Summer Forest Program.
The Watershed Institute: The Watershed Nature Camp.
The Watershed Academy for High School Students: The Watershed Academy for High School Students offers immersive environmental investigations on the Watershed Reserve.
ESF Summer Camps Chapin School:
Summers at The Pennington School: summer programs for youth in the Mercer County area and a day camp for younger children.
Summer Programs at Princeton Day School: