2026-2027 Back to School Newsletter

Mr. Edward C. Brandt

Principal

1. Goal 1 - Student Learning Experience - By May 2027, the District will deliver a data-based recommendation regarding a master schedule structure, specifically evaluating the efficiency of block scheduling, tutorial, and unit lunch, to optimize instructional time and student outcomes.
2. Goal 2 - Future Ready - By April 2027, the District will finalize a competency crosswalk that maps cognitive and higher-order thinking skills, academic and personal management skills, digital and information fluency, and citizenship and global readiness to ensure a cohesive 9-12 developmental pathway that supports the District’s design of a “Portrait of a Graduate.” The District will support this goal through professional learning opportunities, technical infrastructure and subscription review, and curricular revisions.
3. Goal 3 - Engagement - By April 2027, the District will strengthen its engagement strategies by finalizing an alumni database to bridge the gap between past and present students, while utilizing research-based methodologies and revamped climate and culture assessments to implement targeted re-engagement programs for students currently lacking a strong school connection.
4. Goal 4 - Health and Wellness - By April 2027, the district will document discipline-specific wellness practices, formalize the Social and Emotional tier within the Multi-Tiered System of Supports Framework, and utilize climate, culture, and counseling data to evaluate the effectiveness of these services, ensuring students have full awareness of and equitable access to all necessary support services.
5. Goal 5 - Finance and Operations - By February 2027, the district will conduct a budget retreat to develop multi-year budget scenario projections that link fiscal investments directly to program outcomes, improving the transparency and communication of district finances.

At the end of each school year, we will present on our progress towards the goals in the strategic plan at a board of education meeting and share on our website.

The 2026-2027 school calendar is available on our website: https://www.hcrhs.org/about-hc/hc-calendars, with print-friendly option. We will alert you to any changes to our school calendar throughout the year, such as closures for bad weather. A student's daily schedule includes four instructional blocks each day, with alternating A and B days. The A/B Day calendar is also posted on our website linked above.

In addition to the official school calendar, many student events are posted on our website calendar, which you can access from our homepage, www.hcrhs.org. You can subscribe to that calendar if you wish and directions are available at the bottom of the calendar here: https://www.hcrhs.org/about-hc/hc-calendars/calendar.

Students follow a block schedule at Hunterdon Central, with each instructional block totaling 82 minutes, and one unit lunch for all students. The regular bell schedule, along with early dismissal and delayed opening schedules, are available on our website here: https://www.hcrhs.org/about-hc/bell-schedules.

Signed into state law in January and starting this school year, all schools are required to implement a ban on all students' personal internet-enabled devices, such as smart phones, smart watches, smart glasses, tablets, etc, from bell to bell, meaning our homeroom bell at 7:35AM to dismissal bell at 2:03PM. Hunterdon Central has been requiring students to store away cell phones during instructional blocks for a few years now, however, students must now put phones away during unit lunch and passing time.

Since use of personal internet-enabled devices is now banned in school from 7:35AM to 2:03PM, we strongly recommend that students leave their devices at home. If devices are brought to school, here are the procedures students will now follow. The district shall assume no responsibility for the security of or damage to a student’s internet-enabled device brought onto school grounds.

1. Upon entry into a classroom, students will swipe their ID for attendance and turn in personal smart phones/tablets/smart watches/smart glasses, etc. - As requested by students and teachers, every classroom in Hunterdon Central now has the same collection method. Students will be instructed to leave their devices in a collection box*. Phones must be off.

2. Personal smart phones/tablets/smart watches/smart glasses, etc. must be away during passing time and unit lunch - All devices must be turned off and put away in backpacks in between blocks and during unit lunch.

3. In case of emergency -

• Per the new law, students must have access to their cell phones in an emergency. In the event of an evacuation, the teacher will bring the collection box of internet-enabled devices outside with the class.
• In the event of a lockdown which keeps students in the classroom, students will have access to their cell phones at an appropriate time.
• If parents must get a hold of their student during the school day, please call the house office secretary for urgent messages and they will get the message to the student, or parents can send a non-urgent message to their student through school email.

*In the event the collection boxes are not received by September 2nd, students must leave all devices in their backpack and have them turned off.

Students are allowed to use their internet-enabled devices on campus before 7:35AM and after 2:03PM, and during field trips if allowed by supervisor or principal. We are aware this shift in practice to comply with the new law, particularly during lunch and in between classes, will take some getting used to. However, repeated disregard for this new law and our procedures will result in discipline per our code of conduct under electronic device violation. In joining together as a school community to keep phones away during the whole school day, we look forward to seeing our students concentrating more on their academics as well as face-to-face interactions with their friends and classmates.

Below are items for which we frequently get questions when entering a new school year. Please review this information so your student is ready to go on day one!

Students will be able to see a list of their confirmed courses on or around August 17th in Genesis. Full course schedules with rooms, teachers and blocks will be available no later than August 25th. In order for students and parents to see the schedule, parent/guardian must complete the annual forms that pop up in Genesis, which are now available to be completed. (Note: The emergency form needs to be completed by Guardian 1 as listed in Genesis; all other forms can be completed by either parent/guardian listed).

Schedule Changes: If a student has any errors in their schedule, such as an unscheduled block or pre-requisite sequencing error, please email scheduling@hcrhs.org and a counselor will respond. If a student needs to drop a course or level, please refer to the instructions in the Academic Procedures document on our website. Please consult with your counselor before dropping a course or level.

As mentioned in our student handbook, we expect students to dress appropriately for school. Inappropriate dress that violates our dress code regulation can be disruptive to the educational process. Students must be mindful of the following guidelines when they are getting dressed for school.

1. Student attire shall be school appropriate - neat, clean, and posing no substantial interruption to learning or threat to safety.
2. Clothing or accessories with inappropriate pictures, liquor advertisements, sexually suggestive messages, profanity, weapons, tobacco or gang affiliation slogans, offensive or obscene language, symbols, signs or slogans degrading any race, color, disability, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnicity are not permitted. Drug or alcohol-related pictures and messages that support and/or condone drug use are also unacceptable.
3. Buttons, pins and other accessories are permitted as long as they comply with these guidelines and do not cause or do not have potential to cause disruption, disorder or danger.
4. Footwear must be worn at all times.
5. Hoods must be removed in the building.
6. Students must wear clothing that, at minimum, covers the body from the horizontal collarbone line to the mid-thigh (stomach must be covered). Undergarments must not be exposed.
7. Students must not wear bathing attire or transparent attire.
8. Articles which can cause injury to other students and/or damage to property are not permitted.
9. Sunglasses are not permitted indoors unless medically necessary. Masks that obscure the eyes are also prohibited.
10. Clothing worn for special occasions such as holidays or “spirit” days must be in compliance with the guidelines in this regulation.

If students need technology assistance, they can visit the Central Hub located in the IMC (Library) during school hours, or they can submit a ticket to the helpdesk (link is on our Technology webpage). Parents can also submit a helpdesk ticket for assistance, such as for Genesis isssues.

Parents can purchase Chromebook insurance annually by completing the form in Genesis and submitting payment of $50 to the technology office. Deadline to purchase insurance is September 14, 2026. More information on plan coverage is available on technology webpage linked above.

Genesis is our student information system. In Genesis, you will find your student's schedule, grades, attendance, and bus route. We will send email notification once bus routes and schedules are posted in Genesis. If any parent cannot access their Genesis account, please submit a helpdesk ticket through the technology webpage.

You can submit an absence for your student directly in Genesis. Click on Attendance in main menu, then click Notify Office. Fill out the form, upload doctor's note if needed, and submit. This information will go directly to the House Office secretary for your child's grade level. If you prefer to call in an absence, please call the House Office secretary.

Each grade level has a House Team that stays with them throughout their four years at Hunterdon Central. The Team consists of a Vice Principal, Secretary, Nurse, Counselors, and Student Assistance Counselor (SAC). House Team contacts are posted on our website under Contact Us.

Tutorial is time right after school that students can utilize to get extra help from a teacher, attend club meetings, or maybe use the IMC. Tutorial is offered on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday throughout the school year from 2:15-2:50 PM.

On tutorial days, late buses are offered that depart Hunterdon Central at about 3:30 PM. If students need to take the late bus, they MUST sign up in Genesis for the late bus (sign-up is under Forms in student Genesis portal). Sign ups must be received prior to 2:50 PM. Students will report to room 210 to wait for their late bus. Late buses drop off in centralized locations - the bus may not drop off students at their driveway. Late bus routes are posted on our Transportation webpage.

** Late buses will start running on Wednesday, September 9th.

Regular bus routes will be posted in Genesis before August 24. We will send an email notification once they are viewable. **

Forgotten Items 🥪 - If your student forgot their lunch or other item at home and you want to drop it off, please place the item on the designated table in the vestibule at the main entrance to 9/10 or 11/12 building and please complete the form provided. Security staff will notify your student that an item is available for pick up. Please do not coordinate a meet up time with your student during the school day as it effects our security practices.

No Food Deliveries 🍔 - Students are reminded to not order from Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc. and have food delivered to campus. This poses a potential security risk. The only vehicles that should be on campus during the school day are buses, staff and seniors' cars, confirmed visitors and contractors, and parents picking up or dropping off students.

Signing Out Your Student 🏨 - Unless urgent, please do not sign out your student between 1:45 - 2:03PM as it interferes with our security procedures at dismissal time.

Calling the School to Leave Message for Your Student 📲 - With the enhanced cell phone policy per the new law, please utilize a student's school email for non-urgent messages during the school day. However, if you need to contact your student immediately for an urgent matter, please call the house office secretary. You may also call the security desk at 908-284-5727.

After School Athletic or Activity Pick-Ups 🚗 - Please coordinate picking up your student in one of the main parking lots - do not pick up in the back of property by pond. The roadway that accesses the back athletic fields is for school personnel or for anyone needing handicapped parking during a game.

Student Drop Off Locations 🚗 - See photo below. There are three designated areas for student drop offs in the morning so cars are not interfering with bus arrivals. These areas are: 1) Front entrance of the 9/10 building by the fountain - enter parking lot from Rt. 31 proceed up to the building, drop off student and then circle back out to Rt. 31; 2) IMC parking lot off Junction Road - please proceed through middle of parking lot bear left to drop off near covered walkway, go past IMC and circle back out to Junction Road and make a right; and 3) Front entrance of 11/12 building - enter from Junction Road, drop off students along walkway at the building, proceed out of parking lot back onto Junction Road (entry and exit are one-way only in this parking lot so please follow signs.) We recommend you drop off your student before 7:25AM so they are not late to Homeroom/Block 1 classroom.

This department provides services designed to support each student's individual needs and assist them in overall development. These are offered through specialized services, such as Grade Level Counselors, Student Assistance Counselors, and College & Career Counselor. Please visit our Counseling website to learn more. If your student needs support, please reach out to their counselor, who is listed in Genesis.

Counseling offers several evening programs throughout the school year including, Financial Aid Night, Early College Planning Night, College & Career Planning Night for upper grades, and a College Admissions Panel. Most of the evening programs are recorded by HCTV in case you are unable to attend, and you can access them on our HCTV YouTube Channel. In addition, the counseling department coordinates the Hunterdon County College Fair, First Responders Fair, and Senior Awards Night. All counseling program dates are posted on our website calendar and posted on the counseling webpage.

Pictures of students in grades 9-11 will be taken for the yearbook by Normandy Studio on September 15 and 16. Students will head to the auditorium for pictures during their physical education/health class. You can pre-order photos through this link. Order form wil also be sent to parents closer to school picture day.

Looking for the house office or a specific staff member? Access our staff directory on our website:

https://www.hcrhs.org/contact-information.

General Email: communications@hcrhs.org
Website: https://www.hcrhs.org/
Location: 84 Route 31, Flemington, NJ 08822
Phone: (908) 782-5727