Hopewell's Happenings

We persevered through January’s chilly (okay—freezing!) weather, and what a month it was!

A huge thank you to our incredible music teachers, Ms. Dauer and Ms. Phillips, for preparing and organizing a truly spectacular winter concert. We are also so grateful to our dedicated parents for supporting their children’s practice and preparation. Our instrumental and vocal ensembles delivered outstanding performances that were enjoyed by parents, families, and staff alike. Check out the photos below from both the in-school and evening concerts.

And speaking of winter, it has certainly made its presence known! Be sure to check out the beautiful photo from our most recent snowstorm, captured by our very own custodian, Paul Wesley a reminder that even the coldest days can bring a little beauty. You’ll also see some adorable photos of our kindergarteners making the most of the snow and enjoying a little sledding fun!

As we head into February, we’re gearing up for a very busy (and exciting!) month with SEL Day of Play, our 2nd Annual SOUPer Bowl of Caring, the Valentine’s Day Dance, and an Author Visit. February may be short, but it’s packed with great moments and we are hoping it also brings slightly warmer temperatures along with it!

As we celebrate Hopewell Elementary School’s 100th anniversary, we’re also celebrating how our building has grown alongside our community. Originally built in 1926, HES expanded over the years to meet the needs of its students. In 1968, the North Addition was constructed along East Prospect Street, adding 15 classrooms along with a new cafeteria, library, updated gym/auditorium, and improved heating and ventilation—allowing the school to serve grades K–6.

Nearly 30 years later, continued enrollment growth led to the South Addition in 1997, expanding the school to serve over 500 students. This addition included new classrooms, a full gymnasium, and a larger cafeteria/auditorium, along with renovations that created today’s media center and administrative offices. These additions reflect a century of commitment to providing a strong learning environment for Hopewell’s children—past, present, and future.

1968 - North Addition - East Prospect Street

1968 North Addition - Architect's Plans

1997 South Addition - Playground

Clementine Moore

Éamonn Devine

Stas Laszcyk

It’s tourney time!!! Draft your team, throw on your jerseys, lace up your sneakers and get ready for the annual Hopewell Valley YMCA Tom Jackson 3v3 Basketball Tournament. Show your school spirit and take part in this fun event! . Students will have the opportunity to enter a team into the tournament or join a team, to get moving and having fun!

The tournament is open to all 3RD – 5TH grade students and is free to register and play; there will be a boys division and girls division. For 2026, we will continue the format of “region” brackets for both divisions, with “regions” being grade level matched games created, ultimately leading to an overall 3rd grade champion, 4th grade champion and 5th grade champion and the champions will receive the HOPEWELL VALLEY YMCA TOM JACKSON BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT DICK FITZPATRICK CHAMPION TROPHY.

First Grade is excited to host our Whole School Meeting on Feb. 5th where we will officially kick off our SOUPer Bowl of Caring.

We are collecting nonperishable items from Feb. 9th through Feb. 13th to benefit The Chubby's Project.
The grade level who collects the most items overall will be named HES 2026 SOUPer Bowl Champion! Divisional champions in grades Pre-K-2 and 3-5 will win a Popsicles & PJ Day.
See flyer for more information and details

In the spirit of the Super Bowl, we invite students to wear their favorite team shirt to our Whole School Meeting on Feb. 5th.

Put on your dancing shoes! The PTO is hosting a Valentine’s Day Dance on Friday, February 13th, exclusively for 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders. Dress up in your “finest” attire and join us for a sweet night of dancing with your child. DJ Gabe will join us again to MC the evening! Your ticket will cover the photobooth and a snack. Other refreshments and merchandise will be available for purchase. For ticket information and purchasing details, please visit the link HERE.

Laurie Wallmark is an award-winning children's author who writes full time, creating books that celebrate curiosity and STEM. A former software engineer, bookstore owner, and computer science professor, she brings her love of innovation to her stories. Laurie has earned six starred reviews, multiple Junior Library Guild Selections, and honors such as Outstanding Science Trade Book, Best STEM Book, and Parents Choice Gold. She is the author of seven picture book biographies of #WomenInSTEM, plus the fiction titles Rivka's Presents and Dino Pajama Party. Laurie speaks at national conferences and enjoys school visits.

HES PTO, in partnership with HVEF, is happy to offer signed copies of Laurie Wallmark’s books! To order please click HERE.

We are inviting families to support our SEL Day of Cooperation on March 18th with donations for a cooperative art project!

Our goal is to use upcycled materials whenever possible, so please feel free to donate items you already have at home. Leah Anderson, our art teacher, will lead students in a project to create sensory tiles cooperatively that will be displayed in the hallway in celebration of our Day of Cooperation. You do not need to use the Amazon links provided—they are simply there as a reference. We are happily accepting clean, unused items only.

Link HERE to Donate!

Donation Collection Dates: February 16 – February 27

Thank you for helping us model cooperation, creativity, and sustainability as we celebrate SEL together! If you have any questions about the donations or project. Please contact Ashley LaRose ashleylarose@hvrsd.org or Leah Anderson leahanderson@hvrsd.org.

We are excited for the 2026 Book Fair, happening March 2–4! All students will visit the book fair with their homerooms, and families are warmly welcome to visit on March 2nd and 3rd from 3:30 - 7:30pm, and on March 4th from 3:30 - 5:00pm.

Please mark your calendars, and watch your email for volunteer opportunities. Thank you in advance for helping to make this year’s book fair a success! Please be in touch with us if you have any questions.

Please be in touch with us if you have any questions:

Eileen Lloyd (eileen.g.lloyd@gmail.com)
Janet Rauscher (janetsrauscher@gmail.com)

One of the most anticipated evenings of the year is coming soon! Designed in response to the increasing demands of work and school on personal and family time, this community-wide initiative was created for families to “take the night off” to spend time together. With the support of local school officials, sports leaders, parents, community and religious leaders, all sports practices, classes and homework will be canceled on this special evening. Make it a tech-free night! Don't know what to do with your night off? Visit this link for some great ideas!

News for students by students! We are so proud of all of our members of the Newspaper Club who put a lot of effort into making their articles. You will get to learn more about what is happening at the school, learn more about teachers, pets of HES and so much more! Thank you for taking the time to read our paper!
January Newspaper

The Hopewell Valley Regional School District uses Securly to ensure your student's school-issued device is safe and filtered both at school and at home.

Beginning around February 2, 2026, we will be resuming this process to keep you informed:

You will now automatically receive a weekly email from Securly (subject line: "Your Child [Name]'s Activity Report") that provides a snapshot of your student's online activity on their school-issued Chromebook.
If you prefer not to receive these weekly reports, you may easily unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of the email.

Securly Home App: Full Parent Control

For parents who want more information and control, we offer the free Securly Home app. This tool allows you to:

View a real-time activity feed of your child's online activity when they are using the school Chromebook at home.
Pause internet connectivity on the device to help manage screen time.
Implement more rigorous content filtering rules while the device is at home.

Ready to get started? Find detailed setup instructions and information, including how to access the full parent portal, in our Technology Academy: https://sites.google.com/hvrsd.org/technology-academy/topics/securly (This link is also available on our district and school websites).

Kindergarten Registration for the 2026-2027 school year will open on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The registration information will be posted on February 17, and you cannot register before that date.

Due to continued growth in the district and fluctuations in enrollment, the School District may need to adjust attendance zones and/or school assignments before the start of the school year. As a result, the school listed at the time of registration may change. Families will be notified of any changes to their child’s school assignment before the start of the school year.

STRIVE PTO has moved their Resource Fair to Saturday, March 7, from 2:30–5:00 PM. Stop by to learn about the many resources and supports available in our community, including therapists, agencies, recreation programs, and more. Families can also learn about local camps and browse the Used Book Sale to support HVRSD STRIVE PTO. Link HERE for more information.

Thank you for supporting your child(ren)’s pursuit of Perseverance last month. We have loved seeing students set and already reach some of their goals. See below for some pictures of goal-setting and perseverance activities students engaged in during the month of January.

During the month of February, our Character Strong focus shifts to the trait of Honesty. Students will engage in activities and games around the topic of Honesty and other SEL skills - including during our Global School Day of Play recognition this Thursday, February 5. Global School Play Day, participants are encouraged to allow students ample time for free play without the use of screens, structured games, or adult direction. The idea is to let children explore their creativity, problem-solving skills, and social interactions in an unstructured and spontaneous environment.

February also commences with National School Counseling Week. National School Counseling Week is recognized this year from February 2-6, 2026. It is an advocacy week for counselors to support our role in schools and thank the staff and families that support our program! Check out the infographic to see a by-the-numbers look into the comprehensive school counseling program at HES. As always, please reach out if you need any assistance via phone at 609-737-4007 x7206 or email at ashleylarose@hvrsd.org

We’re mittens and gloves and hats, oh my!

Left on the playground as kids zoomed by.
We kept little hands and ears nice and warm,
But got left behind in a snowy storm.

If your fingers feel chilly or your head feels bare,
You might be missing a friend from here.
Come take a peek—don’t be shy, don’t wait,
Your cozy companion could be by the gate!

Help us find homes before winter’s through,
We’re lost… but hopeful we belong to you!

As the cold weather approaches, please be reminded that we will try to get the students outside for recess as much as possible. Please be sure your child is dressed appropriately with hats and gloves for recess.

PTO Meeting:
The February PTO Meeting is Friday, the 20th, from 8:45am - 9:45am in the HES faculty lounge. If you can not attend in person, please click here for a Zoom link.

Are you in the directory yet?
Did you know HES has a free, secure directory for families to find contact information to schedule playdates, send out birthday party invites or contact a parent in a pinch? Sign up for the school directory to manage the information you want to share and choose whether to receive important PTO announcements about upcoming events such as the school T-shirt giveaway and the book fair. The Membership Toolkit portal is secure, so your information will never be shared outside of our school community, and it gives you control over what you want to share. If you have any questions about the directory, reach out at hesdirectory@gmail.com.

February 2nd - 6th - National School Counseling Week/Thank You Ms. LaRose!

February 4th - Vocal Ensemble Rehearsal (7:50am); World Read Aloud Day; Garden Club Meeting (3:40pm)
February 5th - Early Dismissal for Students/Staff Development; Preschool Half Day - PM Only; Student Council Meeting - Officers ONLY (8:05am); Whole School Meeting (9:00am); SEL Day of Play; School Spirit Day - Wear Your Favorite Sports Team Shirt
February 9th - Souper Bowl of Caring Collection BEGINS; Board of Education Regular Meeting (6:30pm)
February 10th - Dungeons & Dragons Club Meeting (8:00am)
February 11th - Vocal Ensemble Rehearsal (7:50am)
February 12th - Orff Ensemble Rehearsal (3:45pm)
February 13th - 5th Grade's 1,000th Day of School; Kindergarten's 100th Day of School; Souper Bowl of Caring Collection ENDS; 1st Grade Valentine's Day Show (9:00am); PTO's Special Someone Valentine's Day Dance for Grades 2-4 (6:30pm)
February 16th - Schools & Offices Closed for President's Day
February 17th - Schools Closed for Lunar New Year
February 18th - Vocal Ensemble Rehearsal (7:50am)
February 19th - Author Visit - Laurie Wallmark; Student Council Meeting - Officers & Reps (8:05am); Orff Ensemble Rehearsal (3:45pm)
February 20th - PTO Meeting (8:45am)
February 24th - Green Team Meeting (3:40pm)
February 25th - Vocal Ensemble Rehearsal (7:50am)
February 26th - Debate Team Meeting (8:00am); Orff Ensemble Rehearsal (3:45pm)
February 27th - Newspaper Club Meeting (8:00am)
March 2nd-4th - HES Book Fair!!!

This section of our monthly correspondence is dedicated to posting our older community newsletters so that you can refer back to previous HES communication. We also recommend that you regularly visit our school's website and read HVRSD's weekly Focus to stay informed with the latest events and happenings at HES.

Previous Newsletters:

Hopewell's Happenings