The Friday Focus

Save the date! Our 23rd Annual HVRSD Governor's Teacher of the Year "Above and Beyond" Gala will take place on Friday, March 20th at Hopewell Valley Vineyards!

Kindergarten and Kindergarten Camp Registration are open.

Please click: Kindergarten Registration for information and forms

Please click: Kindergarten Camp Letter for more information!

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.

Parents of Incoming Kindergarten and First Grade Students! Safety Town will be held from June 22-June 26, Bear Tavern Elementary, 9-12. Safety Town is a one-week summer program offered to incoming kindergarten and first-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 provided bicycle while learning the importance of bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicular safety.The program is directed by YMCA staff members with assistance from local youth volunteers and features visits by police, firefighters, paramedics, and other local first responders and community members.

Pennington Day 2026 is on Saturday May 16th and volunteers are needed at at every level of time-commitment and experience! If interested, please fill out the Volunteer Form - and thank you!

Join us for a Morning of AI Exploration! Explore the world of Artificial Intelligence through hands-on breakout sessions hosted by Dr. Rosetta Treece and our EdTech team. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to dive into advanced creative uses and school policy, there is something for everyone.

• When: Saturday, March 7 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

• Where: HVCHS Media Center

• Who: Open to all parents, residents, and business owners.

Please see the flyer for full session details and the registration link.

Hopewell Valley Night Off is March 4th!: A community-wide initiative designed in response to the increasing demands of work and school on personal and family time. With the support of school administration, parents and community leaders - all sports practices, classes and homework will be cancelled so that families may enjoy a night together.

Stuart Country Day School, Cor Cordis Speaker Series Presents: "Emotion Language and Regulation for Youth Well-Being", Thurs. March 6 at 4:15pm: Erik Nook, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Princeton University and an Associated Faculty Member in the Princeton Neuroscience Institute.

This session will cover emerging evidence connecting the words people use to how they manage (or regulate) those emotions. We will discuss studies on phenomena like emotion differentiation (specifically identifying one's emotions) and linguistic distancing (using language to 'take a step back' from upsetting situations). All lectures are tailored for an adult audience and are open to the public.

Teachers: StreamWatch Schools Teacher Academy, The Watershed Institute, March 14, 9-4pm:

Discover how to explore and protect your local waterways with hands-on science. Through The Watershed Institute’s StreamWatch Schools Academy, you and your students will learn how to collect and analyze real water quality data. After training, our staff can join your class in the field to sample a local stream—bringing science to life right in your community! Your data will be shared on our interactive online platform, where you can compare results with other participating schools.

Make science meaningful, fun, and connected to the environment around you!

This program is intended for formal educators in public and private school settings

Today is the last day to register for the spring season of HVCHS Athletics! Please click here to access the registration page and print medical forms.

Summer Job & Service Fair: Did your student miss the job and service fair? Over 30 employers and service organizations participated offering summer employment and service opportunities. Questions? Please contact the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance at hvmunicipalalliance@gmail.com.

HVCHS Updates: Please be sure to review the February edition of HVCHS Updates, which contains information about course selection, NJGPA testing, Securly screenings, and more!

Course Selection Information: As you saw in the February edition of HVCHS Updates, course selection for the 2026-27 school year has begun. Teachers have provided initial eligibility information for students in OnCourse; however, please note that eligibility for honors and AP classes will be reviewed after the third marking period, and placements may change based on the students' eligibility at that point. In addition, students should choose four elective options in OnCourse prior to March 2. Since space and scheduling constraints may limit elective placement, please be sure that your student would be comfortable taking any one of the four electives chosen. Questions about course eligibility or elective selection can be directed to the counseling department or the department supervisors. Additional information about all courses can be found in the HVCHS Program of Studies.

The HVCHS Winter Musical is just around the corner! Pippin is a tale of one young man's quest to find his purpose in life. This updated version of the classic show features classic tunes like "Magic to Do" and "Corner of the Sky" by composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) and was originally directed and choreographed by the legendary Bob Fosse. Performances are February 27-28 and March 6-7 at 7:00 in the Performing Arts Center at Hopewell Valley Central High School. Tickets are $12 for students and seniors and $15 for adults and can be purchased ahead of time by visiting cur8.com and searching for Hopewell or at the door on the night of the show. Please "join us" for a night of song and dance featuring an extraordinary cast!

Local Food Resources & School Lunch Information: Please see the information sent by the district for information about nearby resources as well as school lunches, menus, pricing and Free & Reduced forms.

The HVRSD Digital Wellness Committee is holding an essay contest for HVCHS students! Winning essays will be chosen for The Most Impactful, The Best Researched, and Honorable Mention categories. The authors of the selected essays will earn recognition, bragging rights and a Visa gift card for their efforts. The deadline to submit your essay is THIS Friday, February 27th. Additional details and the contest submission form have been emailed to you and can be found on flyers posted in the hallways. See the counseling office if you need more information. Don't miss out on this opportunity to shine!

Absences, Late Arrivals, & Early Dismissals: Parents/Guardians should call our TeleSafe number 609-737-4003, Ext 1, by 7:45 am to report an absence or late arrival. Please provide a note if your child needs to be dismissed from school early. Please also review our attendance procedures for details about the district policies. *As a reminder, students must be in school for at least four hours in order to participate in all athletic or extra-curricular activities and events*

What’s Happening at HVCHS? Please follow us on Twitter: @HVCentralHS and Instagram: hopewell_valley_central_hs for pictures, updates, and fun facts. Our daily morning announcements can be found on the school website and via this link. Fundraising activities from our classes, clubs, and teams can be found on our fundraising calendar. Also, check out our HV Student Publications Network page for student-created podcasts, digital videos, and more! If you are a graduate of HVCHS, and you would like to join our Alumni Directory, please complete our Database Form and indicate what type of information you would like to receive from HVCHS.

Principal Turnbull's Page

Timberlane Topics Newsletter

TMS Site

The HVRSD Digital Wellness Committee presents a TMS Essay Contest to promote, encourage and initiate student learning and interest in the concept of digital wellness. Please encourage your students to participate! Submissions deadline February 27th. See Flyer for details.

On March 18, 2026, TMS will host our annual Cutting Hair Because We Care event, supporting the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and ChildrenWithHairLoss.org. Students can “brave the shave” to raise funds for childhood cancer research or donate long hair to help children experiencing hair loss. Local salons will be on site to make it a special day.

• HERE is the link to the presentation

• Our St. Baldrick's TMS Team 2026 can be found HERE

2026 TMS Spring Sports

• Registration and medical forms for Spring Sports are due by Friday March 13th1! 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.
• TMS Spring Sports will begin on Monday, March 23rd! Baseball and Boys & Girls Lacrosse (Open to 7th & 8th Grade Only). Softball and Boys & Girls Track & Field (Open to All Grades)

The HVRSD Digital Wellness Committee is holding an essay contest for TMS students! Winning essays will be chosen for The Most Impactful, The Best Researched, and Honorable Mention categories. The authors of the selected essays will earn recognition, bragging rights and a Visa gift card for their efforts. The deadline to submit your essay is THIS Friday, February 27th. Additional details and the contest submission form have been emailed to you and can be found on flyers posted in the hallways. See the counseling office if you need more information. Don't miss out on this opportunity to shine!

Absences, Late Arrival & Early Dismissal: Parents should call our TeleSafe # 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.

*Dates To Remember*

Thursday, Feb 26 - Staff/Student Basketball Game

Friday, Feb 27 - 8th Grade Snow Tubing

Friday, March 13- Trivia Night and Potato Decorating ( to support St. Baldrick’s) 5-7 pm

Wednesday, March 18- Cutting Hair Because We Care

Friday, March 27 - 7th Grade Wild Encounters Assembly

BT Principal's Page

BT On Instagram

BTPTO Flash

On Sat, Feb 21st, Bubbakoos will donate a portion of all sales to the BT PTO. Stop by, grab a meal, and give back! See Flyer.

5th Grade Mini Musical - Prepare for an epic night on Mount Olympus! Our fifth grade drama club is ready to take the stage in Olympus: The Greek Rock Musical, a mythical, high-voltage production filled with powerful gods and fearless mortals. Join us February 25 at 7:00 PM on the Bear Tavern Elementary School All Purpose Room Stage for a night of legendary music and Bear Tavern Pride!

BT B & N Bookfair - BT will host its annual Barnes & Noble Bookfair on Thursday, February 26th, at the Princeton Market Fair. Please join us for a fun evening filled with guest readers, activities, and an opportunity to strengthen your library at home. We will begin at 6:00- more info available soon.

2026 YMCA March Mania Basketball Tournament - It’s tourney time! The annual Hopewell Valley YMCA Tom Jackson 3v3 Basketball Tournament is open to all 3rd–5th grade students and is free to register, with separate boys and girls divisions and grade-level “region” brackets. Students can enter with a team or join one, and each grade-level champion will receive the Dick Fitzpatrick Champion Trophy—click HERE for more information and registration details.

5th Grade Glow Party - Come celebrate 1,000 days of school on Friday, February 28th from 6:00-8:30pm!

Rock Your Socks - Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on March 21 by ordering fun mismatched socks through local nonprofit DSACNJ and wearing them to show your support for acceptance and inclusion. Join the global movement and wear your crazy socks proudly! Order HERE

BT St. Baldrick’s Day - Each year, Bear Tavern students shave heads and raise money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation. St. Baldrick's Foundation is a leading charity funding childhood cancer research, known for its signature events where volunteers shave their heads to support kids losing hair during treatment, raising money for cures and promoting awareness, operating as a volunteer-powered organization with a mission to give survivors long, healthy lives.

Whether you or your children want to shave their heads, contribute to others who shave, or just raise money for the foundation, please help us reach our goal of $28,000 by joining our team: Bear Tavern ES and getting started. We will have our Bear Tavern Shaving Event on March 13th! Thank you!

• School Lunch Information - Please click this link for the 2025-2026 information.

• Absences & Late Arrivals - Parents/Guardians please call our TeleSafe number: 609-737-4005, Ext 2, by 8:00 a.m. to report an absence or late arrival.

• Changes In Students' Dismissal - If there is a change in how students will be going home (pick up, take the bus, after-school program, etc.), please be sure to call or email the main office at 609-737-4005 or btmainoffice@hvrsd.org. Please CC your child’s homeroom teacher.

*Dates To Remember*

2/21 - Bubbakoos BTPTO Dine Out

2/24 5th Grade: Olympians: Green Rock the Musical

2/27 - 5th Grade Glow Party - 1,000th Day

3/13 - St. Baldrick’s Day @ BT

3/20 - Wear Mismatched Socks For Down Syndrome Awareness

3/23 - Report Cards Available in Parent Portal

Principal’s Brettell's Newsletter - Hopewell’s Happenings

Hopewell Elementary School Website

2026 YMCA March Mania Basketball Tournament - It’s tourney time! The annual Hopewell Valley YMCA Tom Jackson 3v3 Basketball Tournament is open to all 3rd–5th grade students and is free to register, with separate boys and girls divisions and grade-level “region” brackets. Students can enter with a team or join one, and each grade-level champion will receive the Dick Fitzpatrick Champion Trophy—click HERE for more information and registration details.

HES Book Fair is coming March 2-4! Students will visit with their homerooms, and families are welcome to shop March 2nd-3rd (3:30-7:30 PM) and March 4th (3:30-5:00 PM). Watch your email for volunteer info!

Rock Your Socks - Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on March 21 by ordering fun mismatched socks through local nonprofit DSACNJ and wearing them to show your support for acceptance and inclusion. Join the global movement and wear your crazy socks proudly! Order HERE

New HES Spirit Wear is Here! - To celebrate Hopewell Elementary’s 100-year anniversary, the HES PTO is excited to launch two new spirit wear options:

1. Spirit Wear Store - Shop classic HES tees, pajamas, cups, and more. → merch.hopewellpto.org

2.Rooted Rags Collection - Hand-dyed and embroidered HES apparel made by a Hopewell school mom. Orders take 1-3 weeks. → handmade.hopewellpto.org

Yearbook Ordering - Yearbooks for the 2025–2026 school year are now available to purchase online. You can click here for ordering details. Orders are due by May 8, 2026

• School Lunch Information: Please click this link for the 2025-2026 information.

• Absences & Late Arrivals - Parents/Guardians should call our TeleSafe number, 609-737- 4007, Ext 2, by 8:00 a.m. to report an absence or late arrival. Thank you.

• HES Changes in Students’ Dismissal - If there is a change in how students will be going home, please be sure to call or email the main office at 609-737-4007 hwmainoffice@hvrsd.org

Dates to Remember:

Fri, 2/20: PTO Meeting (8:45am)

3/2 - 3/4: Book Fair

3/2-3/6: Read Across America

3/4: Hopewell Valley Night Off

Principal Gianfredi's Page

SB website

• Science Fair Webpage
• Student Registration
• Parent Volunteer Sign-Up (SignUpGenius)
• Click here to view the flyer, use a QR code to register & for additional details.

2026 YMCA March Mania Basketball Tournament - It’s tourney time! The annual Hopewell Valley YMCA Tom Jackson 3v3 Basketball Tournament is open to all 3rd–5th grade students and is free to register, with separate boys and girls divisions and grade-level “region” brackets. Students can enter with a team or join one, and each grade-level champion will receive the Dick Fitzpatrick Champion Trophy—click HERE for more information and registration details.

March Kicks Off a Month of Reading Fun with an Author Visit, Readafun & Book Fair!Our annual read-a-thon Read-A-Fun kicks off the week of March 2. Student login information will be sent home that first week of March.

• Author Laurie Wallmark will visit Stony Brook on March 3 to talk to students about her writing process and sign books purchased by students.

• The Spring SB Book Fair will take place the week of March 9-13. Student preview days will be Monday (3/9) and Tuesday (3/10) during school, and in-school shopping will be open Wednesday-Friday (3/11-3/13) of that week. Family shopping night will take place Thursday, March 12th, from 4pm-7pm.

Absences & Late Arrivals - Call our Attendance line at 737-4006, Ext 2, by 8:00 am to report an absence or late arrival. Refer to our Attendance Procedures for details.

Dismissal Changes - Email the main office in advance at sbmainoffice@hvrsd.org and refer to our Attendance Procedures for details regarding early dismissals.

*Dates To Remember*

Tues, 3/3: Author Laurie Wallmark Visits SB

Mon, 3/9-Fri, 3/13: Spring SB Book Fair

Ms. Lauri’s Principal Page

Toll Gate Grammar School Website

Toll Gate Grammar on Instagram

Email the Toll Gate Main Office

Toll Gate's Day of Service Thank you for all of your donations, for your time and all of your assistance with this very special project.

Hopewell Valley YMCA Tom Jackson 3v3 Basketball Tournament: This tournament is open to all 3rd-5th-grade students and is free to register and play. Tournament Dates are March 9th-27th. For more information, click the following link: 2026 March Mania Packet. Registration closes 2/27/26.

• School Lunch Information

• Dismissal Changes: If your dismissal plans change on any given day, please email tgmainoffice@hvrsd.org, (this email will go to both main office secretaries, Ashlee Dana and Patricia Jaczko) to inform them of the change. Please also cc' your child's homeroom teacher.

• Reporting Student Absences: Please remember to call the Telsafe line (609-737-4008, option 2) by 8:00am for any absences or tardiness. Emails to a teacher may not be seen in a timely manner. Telsafe is the best way to report an absence. If your child is not at school and you haven’t reported them absent or tardy, you will get a phone call from Mrs. Smith, our school nurse.

Dates to Remember:

Friday, 2/20: Toll Gate's Day of Service

Thursday, 2/26: Author Laurie Wallmark Visits TGG

Friday, 2/27: Wear Stripes for Rare Disease Day

Wednesday, 3/4: Hopewell Valley Night Off

Friday, 3/13: Trimester 2 Ends, Preschool Collab Day (No PEECH)

Wednesday, 3/18: Early Dismissal at 12:45 PM for Staff Development

Sunday, 3/22: TG Skate Night at Princeton Day School

3/30-4/3: Spring Break - Schools Closed

Black History Month Events at Mercer County Libraries! Join us for a variety of events - music, reading, crafts. Registration is required for most programs. Visit events.mcl.org to register.

Tots for Sculpture, Grounds for Sculpture, Sat. Feb 21st, 10:30-11:45 - indoors $5. for kids

Early learners will join us for story time as we read On the Bright Side by Anastasia Difino, then create bright, colorful sun-catcher butterflies to hang in a window at home! This multi-step project focuses on color recognition and fine motor skills including cutting with safety scissors, tracing, and placing. Each child will leave with their own butterfly sun-catcher. All Tots For Sculpture workshops are designed for kids ages 3 to 5 working alongside their adult caregivers.

Science Saturdays, Sponsored by Science Outreach at Princeton University: In collaboration with the Ewing Library, the Lawrence Library, and the Princeton Public Library systems, Science Outreach hosts Science Outreach Saturdays for students in grades 2-8. Students will engage in different hands-on engaging science activities each month. Registration is required - Check with your local library for information on program registration. Upcoming Science Saturdays:

• Sat, Feb 21, 11:00am - 12:00pm, Lawrence Public Library

Read & Explore: Fur, Feathers & Fluff: Keeping Warm in Winter, Terhune Orchards, Feb 21st at 10am: Learn about how animals keep themselves warm in winter! We will read two stories about animals and explore the sense of touch with wool, feathers, etc. Each child will make a paper bag animal to take home with lots of “fluff.”

Cooks & Books: Miss Frizzle's Birthday Cake!: Saturday, 2.21.26 @ 1pm: Spark the imagination of your favorite young chef in this hands-on literary and culinary experience! First, we will read one of our old favorites, The Magic School Bus Gets Baked in a Cake by Joanna Cole. Then our friends from Sticky Fingers Cooking will help us bake up a recipe inspired by the book- Ms. Frizzle’s Chocolate Birthday Cake! Register: www.PenningtonLibrary.org/CooksAndBooks

The Watershed Institute: Maple Sugaring! Sat. Feb 21st, Multiple times: Join Watershed Education staff to discover the history, folklore and science of maple sugaring. Visit our maple trees, find out how we tap them using drills and spiles, and try a sample of sweet maple sugar. Learn about the evaporation process and how sticky sap transforms into sweet maple syrup.

Hopewell Basketball: Registration is Open for Spring Hoops!

Hopewell Valley Baseball & Softball: Registration is Open for Spring 2026!

Hopewell Valley Youth Football & Cheer Spring Flag Football: Registration is open to boys and girls ages 5-14. Programs start on April 26th. Click here for more information and here for registration.

United NJ AAU Basketball: We are a local non-profit (501C3) youth basketball program for students 3rd-11th Grade. Please click the link for information about our AAU Team Tryouts for all divisions which begin in Feb.

$5 Family Matinees, Saturdays, The Princeton Garden Theatre: This series is designed for folks of all ages — from the burgeoning film-lover to those who simply wish to embrace their nostalgia. Feb movies include: 101 Dalmations, Son of Godzilla, The Muppet Movie, Batman: The Movie.

Open Studio Hours at the Princeton University Museum of Art: We provide the materials, you bring the creativity! Drop in for arts activities rooted in discovery and inspired by works from the Museum’s collections and special exhibitions.

Capital Flights Foundation: Become a certified Drone Pilot! Free Program for ages 14-18, Mercer County residents only. Trenton native and American Airlines pilot, Karon Chambers founded this organization to help students develop knowledge about aviation and drone technology, helping them earn their FAA Drone Certification and discover new career paths in STEM and aerospace. It is currently focusing on grades 9th-12th. For more info, please click HERE.

The Pennington Public Library Presents: "Relating with Kids & Tech: Building Bridges in a Digital World," featuring Dr. Jill Richards on Tuesday, March 10 at 7:00 pm via Zoom.

• Registration & Info Page: PenningtonLibrary.org/KidsAndTech

• Digital/PDF Flyer: https://libraryaware.com/3AZTK5

Join Hopewell Valley YMCA Community members and families on March 12, 2026, as the NJ Devils take on the Calgary Flames. Enjoy a discount by visiting the following link for the game. Each ticket includes admission to the game plus a New Jersey Devils T-shirt, making it a great night out for members, families, and friends!

McCarter Theatre, Theater Explorer Camp, Ages 7-12, March 30th - April 3rd:

Campers will rotate through mini creative projects—imaginative games, scene-building challenges, music jams, and movement activities—that keep every day fresh and exciting. Along the way, they’ll develop new skills, spark creativity, and practice teamwork in a playful, supportive environment. Perfect for curious young performers eager to explore the magic of theater and make new friends!

Lawrence Hopewell Trail "Complete the Loop 5k and Fun Run", Saturday, May 2nd, 9am, check-in 8am Rosedale Park, Pennington: Join the Lawrence Hopewell Trail for the first annual Complete the Loop 5k & Fun Run - a community event welcoming runners, walkers, and families while supporting the LHT's mission to complete the 20-mile loop.

Participant Details: Timed 5k (ages 8+); Approximately 1-mile Fun Run (all ages); Runners & Walkers Welcome!

Teams: Register with a team for the 5K and once your team hits 10 participants, everyone gets $3 off their registration.

Pricing: Early bird pricing available until March 1

Registration: https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Pennington/LHT5K

Sponsorship: https://lhtrail.org/5k-sponsors/

Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College: Click link for upcoming shows

Music Mountain Theatre, Young Audience 2026 Season: Frozen, Sleeping Beauty and Robin Hood.

Cure Arena Upcoming Shows include: Monster Trucks, Northeast Cheer Championships, The Harlem Globetrotters, Disney on Ice.

Here are the links to the local libraries for upcoming storytimes, events and programs:

Hopewell Public Library

Pennington Public Library

Mercer County Library - Hopewell Branch