Connors School Scoop

Dear Connors Families,

What a wonderful mini-week at Connors! School will be closed on November 5th and 6th for the NJEA Convention. Next week, we have our Connors PTO meeting and Fencing Demonstration assembly. There are so many events happening at Connors and throughout the district over the next few weeks, so please be sure to read the Connors School Scoop!

UPDATE TO OUR LUNCH ORDER PROCESS

We have received some feedback about our school lunch order form and we have a solution we think will work better for everyone. The lunch order form will be now be optional. Parents will choose how they would like to proceed with the lunch order process going forward:

• Option 1, Parent Order: If you want your child to receive a specific lunch, please fill out the lunch order form as you have been doing. You can now submit the lunch order form weekly or daily, but it must be completed by 8:30 AM on the day lunch is served. For example, for a hamburger lunch on Tuesday, you can submit it Sunday evening or Tuesday before 8:30 AM. Here is lunch order form for the week of November 9th - 13th. Please ensure that you have set up a Mealtime Account on our district website. Please make sure that you packed a healthy snack for your child to eat at school. This form is for those parents who would like to order their child's lunch meals. When choosing this option, we recommend that you fill out the form with your child to ensure that you are choosing a menu item that your child enjoys eating, as they will not have another choice when they are in the cafeteria line. Option #1 is a great choice for children with allergies or dietary needs.
• Option 2, Child Choice: Your child will choose their own lunch in the cafeteria line on days they buy school lunch. This is a great option for parents who don't want to fill out the lunch order google form each week and want their child to choose what they are eating for lunch at school.
• Option 3, Vegetarian Only Order: If you select this option, you no longer need to place a weekly vegetarian order. We will continue to have the vegetarian meals delivered from HHS as we have been doing, but you won't need to fill out the vegetarian lunch google form (from Aishah) each week. This is a great option for vegetarian only families.

Please click this link to choose which option you prefer for your child in regards to how you would like to order lunch. If your child brings home lunch to school daily, you don't need to fill out this form. If you do both home and school lunch or school lunch only, please fill out this form.

*Important Note About 2nd Slices of Pizza on Fridays: No matter which option you choose above, your child will be able to receive a 2nd slice of pizza, as long as your have a POSITIVE LUNCH BALANCE in your My MealTime Account. Your child needs a positive lunch balance by 8:30 AM on Friday to receive a second slice of pizza. Our lunch staff reviews balances early Friday morning and can’t recheck them once lunch has started. Today, about 25% of families who requested a second slice of pizza did not have a positive balance, and unfortunately, those children were unable to receive a 2nd slice today. Please check your Meal Time balance ahead of time. If anyone needs help with their My MeatTime Account, please email Kathy Khoury kkhoury@hoboken.k12.nj.us.

PASSPORT TO LEARNING | MP2 REGISTRATION-

IMPORTANT: Please review the MP2 PTL Family Packet before registering for program schedules, details and policies. The packet answers many FAQ and addresses the program by structure, cost, offerings, and includes all program links listed below. If you have any questions beyond the full review of this packet, please email JFasolino@hoboken.k12.nj.us

Connors: Register Here

PTL + Vendor Registration-Register for PTL + Vendor Programs

PTO CORNER

• Coming Up - More info on all can be found below in the Scoop. Click links for details, volunteer spots, and donation opportunities.

• Multicultural Dinner + Dance Party (11/19) - Join us, sign up for what you’ll bring, volunteer spots available!

• ThanksGIVING Dinner Baskets (11/9-11/23) - Help clear the list to create 30 Thanksgiving dinners for Connors families.

• Holiday Spiritwear Online Sale - Order now through 11/15.

• Also: Drop off your gently-used / outgrown Connors Swag by 11/12 for our upcoming Swag Swap Sale at our Multicultural Dinner.

• Meetings

• November PTO Meeting: November 10th at 8:30am (Guest Speaker: Principal Addi re: NJSLA Data) - join in person or via Google Meet.

• October Meeting Recap: Highlights + Slides + Minutes + Dr. Johnson’s presentation

• Special SEPAG Meeting re: School Safety + Lockdown Procedures with Dr. Johnson and Hoboken PD on November 12th at 8:30am (join in person at Wallace Elementary School or via Google Meet)

• PTO Website: ConnorsPTO.com | PTO Email: Hello@ConnorsPTO.com

ADDITIONAL SCHOOL ITEMS

ATTENDANCE + ABSENCES

For each day your child will be absent, you must email connorsattendance@hoboken.k12.nj.us along with your child’s homeroom teacher by 8:30am with the following information:

• Child’s Name

• Reason for absence

• Date of expected return

• Any documentation for your child’s absence (i.e. doctor’s note, court note, etc.)

• If your child is well enough to complete their assignments at home, please share that information with your child’s teacher so they can send you assignments that your child can complete while absent.

EARLY PICK-UP FROM SCHOOL

Please refrain from signing children out of school before the end of the instructional day unless there is an emergency and you need to do so. Parents will not be able to sign children out between 2:30pm and 3:00pm. After 2:30pm, you must wait until 3:00pm regular dismissal time. During 1:00pm dismissal days, parents will not be allowed to sign out children between 12:30pm and 1:00pm. If you must pick up your child early (before 2:30pm), send an email to connorsattendance@hoboken.k12.nj.us along with your child’s homeroom teacher by 8:30am with the following information:

• Child’s name

• Time that you will be picking up your child

• NAME of the person picking up your child. If this person is not the parent or guardian, please ensure that this individual is listed on your child’s approved pick-up list on the Connors Parent/Student Information Google Form 2026-2027. This is extremely important as per our safety protocols.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:

• November-Native American Heritage Month
• November 5th-6th - School Closed
• November 10th - PTO Meeting 8:30AM
• November 11th-Fencing Demonstration Assembly
• November 16th-First Day of 2nd Marking Period PTL Aftercare Program
• November 16th-20th - Little City Holiday Book Fair
• November 19th - Multicultural Dinner at Hoboken High School
• November 20th - MP1 Theatre Showcase (Ortiz, Schultes, Schulz)
• Hoboken Public School District November 2026 Commemorative Dates and Holidays

• Hoboken Public School District December 2026 Commemorative Dates and Holidays

IMPORTANT LINKS:

• Connors Family Manual + FAQs 2026-2027

• Connors School Faculty Directory 2026-2027
• Meet Our Connors Team 2026-2027
• Connors Calendar of Events 2026-2027
• Hoboken Public School District Calendar 2026-2027
• Who Should I Contact for Assistance?
• Breakfast + Lunch Menu
• Hoboken Public School District Website
• Connors PTO Website (brand new!)

We make it our priority to partner with parents in the academic growth and success of every child. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

All the best,

Principal Addi

Give thanks this Thanksgiving by giving back. Connors PTO will continue our annual tradition of creating complete ThanksGIVING Dinner Baskets for families in our Connors community.

Help us fill 30 baskets this year by helping us clear our wishlist or making a monetary donation to sponsor a basket. Friends, family, neighbors, local businesses are welcome to participate as well. Monetary donations are used by the committee to buy items from the list. Thank you in advance for your support of this beautiful community service effort.

• DROP OFF TO CONNORS:

• Non-perishable from 11/9-11/23 (or bring to Multicultural Dinner on 11/19)

• Turkeys and other perishable items on 11/23 by 8:30am.

• TURKEYS: We need 30 frozen turkeys (check if you and/or friends and neighbors have earned one through supermarket rewards programs!) and drop off on 11/23.

• BAGS: We need 90 Fresh Direct bags to pack everything. Donate and/or ask around!

• HELP? If you have questions or need to coordinate a pickup/dropoff for a large amount, email us at Hello@ConnorsPTO.com.

Join us to celebrate the vibrant diversity of our Connors community on Thursday, November 19th at 6pm in the Hoboken HS Cafeteria. Contribute to our potluck-style dinner featuring delicious food from around the world, and enjoy a lively DJ dance party with music from Hoboken’s own DJ Bri. This event is FREE and open to all Connors families.

All families attending are asked to bring a dish: main dish, appetizer, side dish, or dessert whether homemade, store bought, or even from your favorite restaurant. The dish can be directly linked to your culture, heritage, nationality OR could be a household favorite, restaurant specialty, or something to round out our buffet like salad, bread, etc. Serving Size: Cut up / ready to serve as small bites for 10+ people.

Plus: Shop our Connors Swag Swap Sale featuring gently-worn outgrown Connors spiritwear items that have been laundered and will be sold at a deep discount!

We are looking forward to a delicious and fun evening with all our Connors families!

Sign up now for what food you’ll bring, volunteer spots and song requests!

www.connorspto.com/dinner

Our Square 1 Art projects are ready! All students worked to create beautiful projects with Ms. Fenton in Art class based on the grade-level themes. Now, you can order custom keepsakes featuring your child’s unique artwork – perfect for your home and for special family holiday gifts! Order flyers are coming home with your child including free stickers featuring their design. Proceeds from this fundraiser will go back to the Connors Art program.

Be sure to place your order online by 11/24 (deadline extended from the original 11/13 date listed on the flyers).

**You can also search for, view and order here.**

Join us in-person at Connors or virtually via Google Meet on Tuesday, November 10 for our monthly PTO Meeting! We’ll kick off at 8:30am with updates from our PTO Officers and Committees, and then Principal Addi will present the District and Connors NJSLA Data.

All parents and guardians are welcome and encouraged to attend! Family involvement is part of what makes the Connors community so special, and PTO meetings are a great way to get involved and stay in the know. No worries if you need to leave early or if you’ve never been to a meeting. Younger children are welcome too. We hope to see you there!

It's the most wonderful time of the year: the Connors Holiday Spiritwear Sale!

Connors School Store

Perfect for holiday gifting, these retro hats, pj pants, cozy hoodies, and (back by popular demand!) "Connors Rocks" shirts are available to purchase online through November 15. Plus, there's more pink than ever!

In addition to the standard shirts and accessories you see for sale at select school events, the swag team offers two opportunities to purchase specialty items every year. Here's the catch: these items will not be available after November 15. We do have a spring spiritwear sale coming up, but the offerings will be different.

If you see something you like here, grab it while it's still available! You can order through the link above, and feel free to contact the swag team with any questions at swagconnors@gmail.com.

Happy gifting!

The 2027 NJ Math League Registration Form is now available for Parents.

The eSTEM Challenge Registration open to all 5th Graders is now available!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehn_bTCAIDr2rhQQ6TKycezzlL5js3Lvd9HXR5U6a5kfFIOQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=107945010671423249140

Hello 3rd–5th Grade Music Families,

The Hoboken Public School District proudly announces our 2027 Winter Elementary Concert, featuring performances by the Band and Strings (4th & 5th grades) and Chorus (3rd–5th grades). The concert will take place on Wednesday, January 13th in the Hoboken High School Auditorium.

We are thrilled to share that over 350 talented students will be performing this year, a truly remarkable turnout! To accommodate all families, each household will receive four tickets to the concert.

This structure takes into account that many families have students participating in only one portion of the concert, which helps ensure ample space in the auditorium for everyone. We are excited to see such enthusiasm for the arts and can’t wait to share this event with you!

2027 Winter Concert grades 3-5 Information packet

Ms. Bartolotti, Ms. Fernandez, Ms. Fleischer, Ms. Klag

ELA: This week in ELA, our KOALAfied Kindergarteners worked hard reviewing all letter names and sounds, as well as their sight words! We also focused on strengthening our reading strategies by listening to several stories and practicing sequencing events in the correct order. In writing, students proudly finished their pieces all about their favorite animals! Even a short week couldn't slow these Kindergarteners down. We are so proud of their hard work, growth, and enthusiasm for learning!

Social Studies: This week in Social Studies, we learned more about our state, New Jersey! We discussed some of our state symbols, including the state flower, state bird, and state tree. We located New Jersey on a map and also identified the state capital. We had fun answering trivia questions and sharing what they knew about our state! We also learned about some of our state and local leaders. We discussed the roles of a mayor and a governor and compared their responsibilities to those of a principal in a school. The children enjoyed learning about the different leaders who help our communities and state run smoothly!

Dual Language: Although it was a short week, our kiddos were busy reviewing letters, sounds, sight words, and blending skills in both English and Spanish, while continuing to strengthen their reading confidence! In matemáticas, we explored measurement using más corto (shorter) and más largo (longer), practiced counting and writing numbers, and represented numbers in different ways. We also had a fun classroom election to celebrate Election Day, learning that everyone's vote matters, even when the outcome isn't what we hoped for!

Ms. Vayda, Ms. Severino, Ms. Sheridan, Ms. Wolf

Math: This week first graders continued learning all about how to compose and decompose 2D shapes. Students had fun using Geoboards and rubberbands to create 2d shape designs in Math centers. Students completed the unit 2 math test. Everyone did a great job trying their very best! Next week we will begin Unit 3 in Math Investigatations, learning all about counting on, counting back, and solving how many of each and making combinations of 10.

ELA: This week was a review week as we revisited and practiced the skills learned throughout Unit 1. In phonics, students continued practicing reading and spelling words with beginning consonant blends r, s, and l. We also worked on retelling stories by identifying the beginning, middle, and end and putting events in the correct order with detail. Students reviewed the reading, phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension skills covered throughout Unit 1 to strengthen their understanding.

Social Studies: This short week in Social Studies, we took time to review the concepts and skills we learned last week! We revisited how people, places, and communities change over time, reviewed natural, human, and capital resources, and practiced interpreting graphs and survey data. We also reflected on how biographies help us learn about the past and compared life then and now. Students had the opportunity to revisit important vocabulary, share what they remembered, and strengthen their understanding of how the past connects to our lives today!

Dual Language: This short week in Spanish, we reviewed the concepts and vocabulary we learned last week! We revisited our nonfiction texts about how our bodies move and practiced using our new Spanish vocabulary words. We also reviewed how to change singular nouns ending in a consonant into plural nouns by adding “es.” In addition, students practiced writing their Spanish sight words and syllables to continue strengthening their reading and writing skills. It was a great opportunity to review, build confidence, and continue growing our Spanish skills!

HR 106: In ELA this week, students reviewed consonant r-blends and beginning s-blends. They brainstormed and practiced reading words and sentences with words containing these blends. In Math, students continued to work on counting and adding with ten frames.

Ms. Yoo, Ms. Lettat, Ms. Garcia, Ms. Gualario

ELA: Since this was a shortened school week, we used our time to review the skills and concepts learned throughout the unit. Students revisited previously taught material, strengthened their understanding, and practiced applying these skills independently. We also spent additional time reinforcing concepts that proved more challenging, providing opportunities for clarification, guided practice, and continued growth. Our focus was on building confidence, strengthening foundational skills, and ensuring students are able to apply what they have learned.

Dual Language: This week in SLA, we reviewed the Spanish skills we have been learning and continued practicing our reading skills. During guided reading, we read the narrative nonfiction story “Ayudar las Ballenas” (Helping Whales). Students read the informational text about helping whales, identified the author's purpose (el propósito del autor), and used diagrams and captions (diagramas y pies de foto) to support their understanding. We also continued practicing our grammar skills (la gramática) and strengthening our Spanish language skills. ¡Buen trabajo esta semana!

Ms. Hall, Ms. Schmidt, Ms. Tarquino

Math: This week third graders expanded their knowledge of multiplication, learning three multiplication strategies: equal groups, skip counting, and repeated addition. During this unit, students will discover which strategy they find most efficient, then use that strategy to solve various multiplication problems.

ELA: This week, the students finished their final post narratives and shared them during a Writer’s Café celebration! We are so proud of all their hard work during this unit. Additionally, students read chapter 2 of our novel and are excited to continue next week.

Social Studies: This week students continued exploring geography! Third graders compared and contrasted maps and globes in order to get a better understanding of our world. We learned about the seven continents and the five oceans. We also learned map elements such as map keys, map scales, lines of longitude and latitude, and our cardinal directions.

Dual Language: Our third-grade Dual Language students are learning about map orientation in Spanish! We are exploring the compass rose (rosa de los vientos), cardinal directions (puntos cardinales), and different types of maps. Students are gradually building their Spanish vocabulary and map-reading skills. We have officially started our Math Discourse Lab! Students are practicing how to verbally explain their mathematical thinking and reasoning in Spanish. They are using key math vocabulary, sharing strategies, and explaining their problem-solving processes with their peers. Our goal is to build confidence and strengthen mathematical communication in Spanish!

Ms. Schulz, Mrs. Rodriguez, Ms. Kalaigian, Mrs. Fasolino

Math: Phenomenal 4th Grade Mathematicians completed their unit on multiplication. Students were practicing for and taking the assessment this week. Students were confident and did very well.

Social Studies: This week in Social Studies, Phenomenal Fourth Graders continued learning about European exploration and colonization of the Americas, focusing on the main purpose of the conquistadors and the impact of European settlement. We also expanded our understanding of this time period through our new vocabulary words: conquistador, plantation, mission, import, and export.

ELA: Phenomenal 4th Graders completed their third Unit 1 Writer's Workshop this week, focusing on the writing process of analyze, plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish to write a four paragraph Informative/Explanatory essay about Animal Adaptations. They have shown so much progress in organizing and developing their essays! Students also completed the core text “Who is Sonia Sotomayor?” with a culminating project analyzing character traits that Justice Sotomayor demonstrated throughout her life.

HR 302: This short week, our class spent time reviewing and strengthening important skills. In Social Studies, we continued learning about maps and created a royal castle floor plan. In Math, we practiced subtraction with regrouping and telling time. In ELA, we focused on our spelling words and began learning about the long O sound. Students received individualized support through modeling, visuals, and small-group instruction. A special highlight was having our class lead the morning announcements for the whole school! At home, ask your child to share a word with the long O sound or tell you about their castle floor plan.

Ms. Schultes, Ms. Ortiz, Ms. Goodwin

ELA: This week 5th graders worked hard in ELA! They focused on their post narrative writing task. They showed their narrative writing skills by continuing a story. In addition, students continued reading Coraline. Have a great long weekend!

Math: This week in Math, students applied what they learned in Unit 2 to a creative, hands-on project: building a Volume City! Students combined their understanding of area, perimeter, and volume to plan and design their buildings. Using given areas and perimeters, they determined the dimensions of each building’s base, then used length, width, and height to calculate its volume. Students also created their own nets, connecting flat, two-dimensional shapes to the three-dimensional buildings they would become. This required careful planning, accurate measurements, and problem solving to ensure that each net would fold into the intended structure. The project gave students a meaningful opportunity to see how math is used in architecture and city planning while bringing their creativity into our classroom!

During the Individualized Learning Pathway (ILP) period, students who have qualified to participate in the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) programming engage in a wide array of verbal course offerings that address their specific strengths and interests. Johns Hopkins CTY believes in researching and advancing ways to identify and nurture academically talented learners. CTY furthers research, guides educators and families and inspires students from diverse communities and backgrounds to pursue their intellectual passions and create the world of tomorrow.

This week, we highlight one of the CTY courses offered to those students this fall.

CTY Young Readers Series: Magical Life Lessons

This week, fourth grade CTY Verbal students focused on the all-important skill of conducting research. Notably, they learned how to judge the reliability of a source based on its authoritativeness, currency, and content. Armed with this knowledge, students researched an Indian god or goddess for their end-of-unit Completion Activity, a number of whom appear in their current novel, Aru Shah and the End of Time. They then created dazzling slide presentations to display their research and share all sorts of interesting facts about their individual god or goddess. For instance, Vishnu, charged with being the preserver and protector of the universe, uses his four hands to hold symbols of the cosmic duties for which he is accountable: the element of water, cosmic order, the power to destroy evil and ignorance, and spiritual purity. And you thought you were an expert at multitasking!

This week, our Advanced Fourth Grade G&T Mathematicians stepped into a whole new dimension as they launched into Unit 2: 3D and Measurement! Transforming flat paper nets into custom 3D boxes, our young architects brought geometry to life as they explored the concept of volume. By filling their creations with unit cubes, students bridged the gap between hands-on discovery and mathematical precision—calculating volume both by counting cubes along the length, width, and height, and by using the formula (length × width × height). To top off their adventures, our mathematicians continued to work on an exciting Enrichment Project. Over the coming weeks, they will step into the spotlight to present their work to their peers, showcasing both their mathematical understandings and presentation skills. Awesome work, mathematicians!

Kindergarten: We are gearing up for our final PLTW - Structure and Function: Exploring Design project of creating a paintbrush that does it all. Our youngest scientists are thinking hard about how they will build something that can do it all.

1st Grade: This week students built houses out of "straw" and "sticks" using their designs and provided materials. We discussed how to build stable structures that could serve the function of standing strong even when strong wind (or the big bad wolf) tries to blow them down!

2nd Grade: We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new unit project: Explore Melting! Throughout this unit, students will: Observe and Record: Students will watch what happens when different materials are exposed to heat and will record their observations in science worksheet. Make Predictions: We’ll encourage students to make predictions before each experiment. Discuss Real-World Connections: We’ll talk about melting in everyday life, from ice cream on a sunny day to snow in the spring. Share your own experiences and stories about melting with your child to help them connect classroom learning to the world around them. Collaborate and Share: Students will work in small groups to share their findings and ideas.

3rd Grade: Students are still working on their STEAM Tank presentations. Lots of good conversations among the team members. Everyone is doing their part to make their presentations the best they can be.

4th Grade: Unit Project: "Test it – Stored Energy in a Rubber Band" We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new unit project, where students will explore the fascinating concept of stored energy using rubber bands! Throughout this engaging unit, students will: Investigate: Students will experiment with rubber bands to discover how stretching and releasing them demonstrates stored (potential) and released (kinetic) energy. Design and Test: Each student will design simple devices—such as rubber band-powered cars or launchers—to test how different variables (like stretch length or rubber band thickness) affect the outcome. Record Observations: Students will keep detailed notes and diagrams in their science worksheet, practicing scientific thinking and communication. Collaborate: Working in small groups, students will share ideas, compare results, and learn from one another in a supportive, inclusive environment. Reflect and Present: At the end of the unit, students will reflect on their findings and present their projects to the class, building confidence and public speaking skills.

5th Grade: As a final experiment about bacteria, students are curious which surfaces in the classroom hold the most bacteria. Which piece of contaminated bread will yield the most mold?

Hello Connors Families,

During the week of November 2nd, our Connors students were very busy, even though it was a short week!

In Ms. Severino’s class, the students focused on treble clef note placement. Once their work was complete, it was time to sing! I usually play the piano for our vocal warm-ups, but this week we had a special guest take over the keys. Sophia did a fantastic job playing the warm-up notes on the Ricoh Board piano. Awesome job, Sophia!

Over in Ms. Schulz’s class, the students were busy playing the ukulele and learning two brand-new songs. And these weren't just any songs—they included three, yes, THREE new chords! The students did an amazing job learning them. They even finished the session with a sing-along, accompanied by our talented cajon players. What a great way to end a music class! They sounded amazing!

This week in Mandarin we reviewed Unit 1, All About Me which included greetings, numbers, colors, family, and hobbies.

Kindergarten - Second Grade

This week our Kindergartners finished their rainbows by gluing on clouds and adding 3D lines to the bottom. First Grade will finish their rainy-day drawings and move on to learning about their next project, where they will create a collaborative pop-up neighborhood. Second Grade started learning about our next project inspired by Mary Blaire and her shape castles.

Third Grade - Fifth Grade

Students in grade three finished up their skeleton hands and began learning about their next project on color theory & Keith Haring. While our fourth graders added value to their Tim Burton portraits. Lastly, our fifth graders worked on sketching out their pumpkin projects.

Email: juliana.addi@hoboken.k12.nj.us
Website: http://www.hoboken.k12.nj.us
Location: 201 Monroe Street, Hoboken, NJ, USA
Phone: 201-356-3684