Tiger Weekly Update #12

Happy Friday, HMS!

I hope everyone had a wonderful week! Take some time to review the newsletter so you are aware of all of our upcoming events. As a reminder, on Wednesday, November 27, there will be an early dismissal at 1:00 PM. School will be closed on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, in celebration of Thanksgiving.

Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns ryan.sorafine@hoboken.k12.nj.us

Please take some time to read through the updates below to learn some more about this past week and upcoming events. Some highlights are:

• Hoboken Public Education Foundation ~ Giving Campaign Kick Off!
• Tiger Spirit Wear Holiday Sale EXTENDED!
• HMS PTO Corner
• Kristen Beriloff & Keanu Brueggemann: Named Best Buddies Champion of the Year!
• Governor's Educator of the Year Nominations
• SEPAG: Special Education Parent Advocacy Group
• Athletics Corner
• HMS Clubs & Activities Corner
• Guidance Counselor Corner
• Nurse's Corner
• Grade and content level summary to give you a peak into the classroom
• 2024-2025 School Year Information for Families (Breakfast/Lunch Program; Technology; FAQs)

This year, we’re focusing on STEM initiatives that will prepare students for high-demand careers and equip them with the skills they need to succeed. From hands-on field trips and math enrichment to updated technology and AP test prep courses, your donation will directly benefit students’ learning experiences.

Follow us on social media to:

1. DONATE directly

2. SHARE the campaign with friends

3. Learn about dollar-for-dollar MATCHING opportunities

4. Enter to WIN GIFT CARDS to one of five amazing local businesses, and

5. Find out how to RECEIVE A FREE GIFT from HPEF.

Stay tuned for more announcements starting Monday on Facebook and Instagram.

GREAT NEWS, TIGERS! The Local Thread, our Hoboken-based printing partner, is extending our HMS Online Holiday Sale through the weekend. The new extended deadline to order is Sunday, November 24. Remember, these items will be delivered in time for holiday gifting, so you can cozy up Tigers-style with the whole crew!

Thank you all for your enthusiasm and support. Go Tigers!

https://rivalrynj.tuosystems.com/stores/hmstigersfall2024

The PTO is excited to share its December fundraiser, the Winter Prize Calendar. This fundraiser is geared towards the parents/caregivers/teachers/staff community (please feel free to share it with others). HOW IT WORKS: Tickets are $10 each. Please Venmo @HobokenMiddleSchool-PTO and include "Prize Calendar" and your email address in the comment section. Once we receive payment, the PTO will email you your ticket number(s). Starting on Dec. 2nd, the PTO will hold a daily drawing for the specific prize shown on the calendar. The drawing will be posted on social media as well as each grade level's WhatsApp groups. All tickets will be included in the daily drawings, so the more tickets you buy, the more chances you have to win! Winners will be notified by email.

All tickets must be purchased by Sunday, Dec. 1st. Good luck and as always, thank you for supporting the HMS PTO! Every penny we raise goes back to the students and teachers, so please follow us on social media to see photos of all the smiles you help generate at teacher/staff lunches, bingo nights, dances, basketball games, field days, etc.!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

The HMS PTO

Stay in the know and up to date with HMS PTO and school events. Sync the PTO’s “live” calendar!

Click here for the calendar link optimized for Apple’s iCal and Microsoft Outlook.

Click here for the calendar link optimized for Google Calendar (click the + calendar at the bottom right to add to your calendar).

We're thrilled to announce our 2024 Top Champion of the Year, Kristen Beriloff! Kristen and her Mission Partner, Keanu Brueggemann, raised $23,267 throughout their campaign! Their dedication and passion truly embody our cause, motivating us to push the boundaries of our mission.

Our Champion of the Year Gala was truly a night to remember! Together, we raised vital funds that will support and expand our programs right here in New Jersey. Your contribution will directly impact those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), and create inclusivity and empowerment throughout our communities.

The Governor’s Educator of the Year (GEOY) program has officially launched! As in years past, we will be selecting both a Teacher of the Year and an Educational Services Professional (ESP) of the Year. Voting is now open and will run through November 29, 2024.

A ballot box and ballots are now available in the main office for your convenience. In addition, virtual voting options will be shared with all stakeholders

Eligibility Criteria:

• Nominees must be exceptional educators who demonstrate leadership, inspire students, and actively collaborate with the school community.
• Educators must have a summative or practice rating of at least "effective."
• Nominees for ESP of the Year must belong to one of the eligible categories (e.g., Guidance Counselor, CST, FYS, Nurse, RTI Specialist, Paraprofessional, OT,PT, Speech Language Specialist, etc.).
  
  

Let’s come together to honor the outstanding work and dedication of our educators! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. I can’t wait to see the ballot boxes filled with all the amazing nominations.

Here is a link to the hard copies of the form. Hard copies will also be sent home with students in their backpacks:

https://www.nj.gov/education/recognition/educators/geoy/materials/NominationForm.pdf

Eligibility Requirements can be found here:

https://www.nj.gov/education/recognition/educators/geoy/materials/eligibilitycriteria.shtml

SEPAG’s mission is to support and inform parents going through the special education process and

collaborate with administrators, teachers and support services staff for the purpose of enhancing the educational experience of all Hoboken Public School District students.

https://forms.gle/31FrUZLiATpEui7ZA

It has been a great first month for the River Keepers program. In just a short period of time the students have been very eager to take on ownership and responsibility of our lab. We welcomed a few new students to our program, as well as many new additions to our research lab.

Our students were welcomed into the lab by a new aquaponics pond and four hydroponic towers. Seeing their eyes light up with curiosity and excitement was an absolutely amazing experience.

Our aquatic section of the lab has a few new additions and has been a heavily favorite part of our students' curiosity. With the Hudson River being brackish water, a mixture of saltwater and freshwater, we have organized the observational tanks into 4 brackish tanks, one saltwater observational tank, one brackish touch tank, one saltwater touch tank, and our red ear slider turtle habitat.

The students have been logging the feeding schedule of the species currently in the lab which includes our starfish, 2 clown fish, hermit crabs, scallop, and snails in the saltwater touch tank. Our 3 turtles in their habitat, and our trout fry as the lab again is participating in the Trout in the Classroom Project. We currently have 87 trout fry flourishing and growing perfectly. All because of the hard work of our caring students and the responsible nature to protect living organisms. The students also were able to work together and harvested crops in just three and a half weeks from our hydroponic towers. The students enjoy harvesting lettuce from the towers and feeding our turtles, which the turtles also enjoy feeding on the freshly harvested food.

The River Keepers are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our updated scientific collection permit which will allow us to collect local species from the Hudson River to observe, research, collect data, and release back into the Hudson River. All in the name of scientific research and exploration of the river environment. Our River Keeper students will also be working on designing an aquaponic project along with a biofilter project which they will be focusing on when we are indoors during inclement weather. The program has just begun, but as you can see we have had great fun and learned so much.

Our tutoring and mentoring program in the elementary schools is continuing to be a big success with members volunteering their time in all three schools multiple days a week. This partnership allows our members to give back to our school community, and their elementary schools specifically which really adds to the service experience.

The Hoboken Public Library is holding a Youth Business Camp for students in grades 5-8. Interested students should use the links to sign up. This is a great opportunity to learn and build on scholarship and leadership.

December 7th, Session

December 14th Session

Beginning December 2nd, The HMS chapter of the NJHS will be holding a Holiday Drive to benefit Toys For Tots and The Pantry at the Hoboken Community Center, more information will be posted on that next week.

Membership in the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is one of the highest honors that can be awarded to a middle school student. Our chapter strives to give practical meaning to the Society’s standards of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. These four ideals are considered as the basis for selection. The National Junior Honor Society strives to recognize the whole student—one who excels in all of these areas.

Membership, however, is more than an honor. It is an ongoing responsibility and an obligation to continue to demonstrate those outstanding qualities that result in a student’s selection. Membership also carries a responsibility to the chapter. In order to be inducted into the Hoboken Middle School Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society students must achieve the following:

• High Honors in all subjects for 3 consecutive marking periods

• Demonstrate exemplary attendance and punctuality (fewer than 14 absences and 21 tardies for marking periods 1, 2, & 3)

• Consistent demonstration of good character through adherence to school rules and district policies

• Demonstration of leadership by being a model for other students to follow
  
  

Students eligible for induction will be notified in late May, 2025.

Student Council and Newsletter’s Club were super busy this week! Student Council Elections are around the corner. Student Council reviewed the different roles and responsibilities. Student Council Election will run from November 26th to December 5th.

During the week of November 25th, Student Council will be hosting a "Gratitude Table" during grade-level lunches. This is meant to celebrate Thanksgiving and reflect on what we have been grateful for in 2024. Check out the flyer below for more details.

Newsletter Club has a deadline approaching! Newsletter Club worked on interview questions for our Fine & Performing Arts Department and look forward to creating our Quarterly Newsletter! If your child is interested in joining Student Council and Newsletter Club, feel free to reach out to Ms. Falcone: sfalcone@hoboken.k12.nj.us.

If your child would like to join Student Council and Newsletter, please email Ms. Falcone: sfalcone@hoboken.k12.nj.us.

This week, the Academic Team competed in their second Continental Mathematics League (CML) meet of the school year. Students in grades 6-8 answered six multi-step mathematical problems in under thirty minutes. Our scores have been entered to be ranked individually and collectively by grade level. We have three more CML meets this year, which will all count toward a cumulative team score. Congratulations to our perfect scores for this meet: Magnus Peterka, Samuel Leong, Alek Fennell, and Saral Kulkarni.

This week in Junior Thespians students continued to work independently in small groups on their performances. Participants also enjoyed playing some warm-up activities. The room of redemption continues to be a hit giving students who get eliminated early a chance to redeem themselves. Students also guided themselves through a riveting round of Werewolf this week. Next week many junior thespians will be auditioning for Alice in Wonderland, and those that choose not to will have the opportunity to observe the audition process! Break a leg everyone!

I hope our HMS Tigers had a great week! Marking Period 1 ended on November 13th and Marking Period 1 report cards will be available on OnCourse on November 27th. If you would like for me to have a check-in with your child at any time, please email me and I will be more than happy to schedule one with him or her.

I have created grade-level Counselor’s Corner Google Classrooms. Counselor’s Corner will provide students with resources and announcements to support them to navigate their time at HMS! Check out some of the graphic organizers that were just added!

Please see below for the grade-level Counselor’s Corner Google Classroom Codes:

6th Grade: 66rmxjb

7th Grade:y6622fo

8th Grade:uyepiii

I had the pleasure of getting to know some of our 6th grade students a little bit better this week as well. A few students joined my first lunch bunch of the year, where we discussed the transition from elementary to middle school, played Uno, and even talked about our favorite TV shows! If your child is interested in strengthening relationships with their peers and would like to join me for lunch, please email me.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me

Email: sfalcone@hoboken.k12.nj.us

Phone: 201-356-3600 ext.3746

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 Johns Hopkins CTY courses offered to qualifying students

this fall.

In this course, CTY students learn the steps from prewriting all the way to publication, and explore strategies for composing, critiquing, revising, and refining their original writing. Through interactive peer workshops and individualized guidance and feedback from their instructors on weekly assignments, they learn to revise their own work and effectively critique the work of others. CTY students also hear from published authors and CTY alumni on what it takes to get their writing published. Along the way, they respond to freewriting prompts and collect resources that they can use to improve their craft or seek publication. The course culminates with the creation of an online literary magazine which will feature the original work of CTY students.

On Saturday, November 16, 2024, the YWCA hosted its annual event, Shaping the Future of

STEM, at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. This inspiring celebration of U.S.

STEM Day brought together girls from across the area to explore the endless possibilities within

STEM-based careers.

In attendance were many of Hoboken Public School District’s gifted and talented students who

enjoyed a day filled with hands-on activities, insightful career presentations, and dynamic speed

mentoring sessions. The event provided opportunities to challenge gender norms, foster

creative thinking, and envision a future in STEM fields.

We’re proud to have been part of such a meaningful day, supporting and empowering the next

generation of female innovators!

Welcome back to school, I hope everyone had a relaxing summer and enjoyed making new memories. Just a few friendly reminders for the new school year.

Crutches, Ace Bandages

If your child experiences an injury and needs to come to school with an assistive device or any kind of wrap, please send them in with a doctor’s note so that we know the type of injury that occurred and the doctor’s recommended restrictions. Wraps put on by parents at home cannot be adjusted by the school nurse without a doctor’s note. Gym and recess excuses also have to come from the child’s doctor. It is important to keep me updated and notify me of any change in physical status so that the appropriate measures are put in place.

Medications

If your child has any medical needs, please feel free to call me to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. As a reminder, if your child has any kind of over the counter or prescribed medication that needs to be kept in school, please let me know, have your doctor fill out a medication administration form and supply me with the medication. Please do not send in the medication in your child’s backpack. This is a safety concern! All medication must be handed to the nurse, by the parent, with orders.

Immunizations

Also, a reminder that there are two required immunizations for all 6th graders as per the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. If your child has been immunized and is up to date on their required immunizations please send me a copy as soon as possible. If they have yet to receive the two required immunizations please make an appointment and provide proof of immunization.

The 2 required immunizations are as follows:

N.J.A.C. 8:57-4.10: Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis Vaccine (TDap)

Every child born on or after January 1, 1997 and entering or attending grade 6 on or after September 1, 2008 shall have received one dose of TDap, given no earlier than his/her 10th birthday.

N.J.A.C. 8:57-4:20: Meningococcal Vaccine

Every child born on or after January 1, 1997 and entering or attending grade 6 shall have 1 dose of meningococcal vaccine such as the medically preferred meningococcal conjugate vaccine.

This week in Mandarin class, 6th grade students learned to ask and respond to a person's name and also practiced how to recognize and write some Chinese characters. 7th graders continued with the topic of " Panda and body part" . Students learned two stories which are " I am not good-looking" and " Blink man touching the elephant". Students learned more useful expressions from these stories, practiced to retell the story and discuss the wisdom from these stories. 8th graders learned the name of the European countries, the nationalities and different languages

This week in Spanish class Grade 6 students read and discussed how people in the Spanish Speaking countries express and use courtesy. Grade 7 students practice using these verbs, To be "estar", To live "vivir" and to go out "Salir" in a variety of activities. Grade 8 students practice using these verbs, To prefer "preferir", To eat "comer" and To think "pensar" in a variety of activities. ¡Hasta luego!

Each week, our grade level teams will be sharing content highlights from the week. Please check out the sections below that highlight the content for your child.

ELA students began the week by analyzing the impact of specific word choice on meaning and tone by completing a close reading of an excerpt from "The Eyes Have It" by Philip K. Dick. Students also completed a variety of multiple-choice and open-ended questions to determine the text's mood and tone. Next, students examined an excerpt of Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech to explore the differences of explicit and implicit text-based evidence and how to utilize both of these when inferencing. Students practiced these skills to cite text evidence to support an analysis of the text and inferences after discussing a model of close reading. Then, students explained how the excerpt from Walk Two Moons connects to the unit’s essential question “How do relationships shape us?”. Finally, students rewrote the excerpt of Walk Two Moons with Phoebe, Prudence, or Mrs. Winterbottom as the narrator instead of Sal, utilizing evidence explicitly stated in the text as well as inferences drawn from the text to identify the narrator's relationship with the other characters. Students also selected language that reflected an appropriate tone for the narrator they chose.

This week our sixth grade mathematicians continued their first look into Algebra. All students were taught how to write, evaluate, and simplify algebraic expressions.They also applied the distributive property and other properties of operations in order to identify and write equivalent expressions. Students used all skills learned throughout the week by creating and identifying equivalent algebraic expressions. Next week, students will continue their study of algebraic expressions and complete Topic 3. Students will complete their assessments after the holiday weekend.

This week in science, we had our first Physics in a Box labs! On Monday, we learned how to use a caliper and recorded precise measurements. On Wednesday, we calculated the volume of irregularly shaped objects using the displacement method. The rest of the week, we presented our STEAM Tank projects!

Student teachers were in action this week in 6th grade Civics! Throughout the week different students led class discussions and encouraged their classmates to discuss the key elements of the Declaration of Independence. We studied the difference between a loyalist and a patriot while dissecting an iconic image of a group of Patriots, tarring and feathering a loyalist to the King. They also examined two contrasting documents. First they analyzed a propaganda poem used by the Patriots and then they looked at a hard copy of the Declaration of Independence. Both documents sparked conversations and questions! We ended the week with the students writing letters to either their families or a newspaper editor espousing the virtues of being either a loyalist or a patriot.

This week, seventh graders read the short autobiographical story, “Museum Indians,” by Susan Powers. Students reviewed their inference making skills, using context clues to define unknown words and phrases. The story is filled with rich figurative language, which students examined closely to understand deeper meanings in the text. At the end of the week, all students also finished reading Part I of our core novel, Tangerine. Students are eager to continue reading into Part II next week!

This week in math, students concluded Topic 2: Analyzing and Using Proportional Relationships. Throughout the unit, they deepened their understanding of proportional relationships, working with representations in tables, equations, and graphs. In a future unit, students will extend this knowledge to solve multi-step problems and calculate more complex rates. Next week, during the short week, we’ll revisit proportional relationships as we prepare to explore percentages!

This week the seventh graders explored Alfred Wegener’s theory of continental drift, and how he fought to prove his belief to the scientific community. They also learned about how Harry Hess years after Wegener passed away, was able to help prove Wegener’s theory with his theory of plate tectonics. This unit is the best example of how what might be seen a failures in the scientific community, would later be known as successful outcomes or achievements when least expected. Next week the students will be digging a little deeper into the content they learned this week with a jigsaw project to express their understanding of the content gained from their lessons.

This week the 7th graders spent their class time learning about the forces behind migration. Students learned that people migrate for a variety of reasons, all of which can be separated into push (forced) or pull (voluntary) factors. STudents practiced their ability to differentiate between the two factors by participating in the push or pull card game. Students also spent time researching Native Americans as part of their Native American Heritage Month celebration. Finally, the 7th graders learned what culture is and how it varies throughout the world. Next week, the 7th graders will spend their class time working on a project where they will create their own Martian Culture to prove they can identify the different aspects of culture.

During this week of ELA, we concluded our reading of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. As we neared the end, students formed questions from the text about major literary elements in the novel. Students posed their own questions to their classmates to facilitate a group discussion. Additionally, after we finished reading, students took a holistic look at the plot by noting all elements of plot from the story. We also read “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost and analyzed the message and use of metaphor. Lastly, students demonstrated their knowledge of “Words Every 8th Grader Should Know” during the List 3 Vocabulary Quiz.

Algebra students have jumped headfirst into their desmos projects. This work - taking a picture of their choosing and recreating it in the online graphing calculator using equations for different functions - asks students to put together everything they know about algebra and geometry in one place. They are using points and visual clues to determine the slopes of lines, constraining the lines with inequalities and lookin at the relationships between lines to determine how one equation can be derived from the equation for another. Students are also previewing nonlinear functions as they add curves to their drawings. Throughout the project students are challenging themselves not only to better understand the math but to gain an in depth understanding of how technology can support their work. Each student is discovering the tools in desmos that are useful to their particular picture. They are then able to share their expertise with other students and it is exciting to see this kind of collaboration and excitement for learning throughout each class.

This week in Pre-Algebra we explored how to identify proportional relationships in tables, graphs, and equations. We learned that a proportional relationship always goes through the origin (0, 0) and has a constant rate of change! We practiced calculating the slope (or rate of change) between two points using the slope formula. Using our school steps to visualize, we talked about how slopes can be positive(going up the stairs) or negative (going down the stars). To wrap up the week, we played an exciting game of Math Jeopardy! The categories included: “Finding slope on a graph” ,“Finding slope between two points”, and “Positive or Negative” .Everyone did an amazing job collaborating, thinking critically, and competing to earn points. It was great to see the energy and enthusiasm as we reviewed the week’s concepts!

Students in Pre-AP World History and Geography continued identifying causes and effects of humans adaptation to the physical environment. This week students examined the Columbian Exchange to analyze how activities can result in the modification of environments and the long distance diffusion of plants, animals, and pathogens. Students also examined how human interactions with the environment have intended and unintended consequences, including alterations to landscapes and changes in biodiversity. At the end of the week, students created a poster to provide evidence if they supported or challenged the claim, “ Environmental consequences of human adaptation are rarely intentional.”

Students in Social Studies, reviewed Core Concepts Population, Culture, and Government. Students learned to measure population including birth rate and death rate, as well as identifying the causes and effects of rapid population growth. This was followed by students examining patterns of population distribution and population density and investigating the reasons why people leave one place and settle in another and how this causes culture diffusion. We also identified elements that make up a culture and the relationship between culture and geography. At the end of the week, we reviewed the origin and purpose of government and examined the powers that limit the government.

The week 8th Grade Science covered Electromagnetism and an Introduction to Waves. On the subject of electromagnetism we covered how electrical energy can be converted to mechanical energy via the electric motor. We covered how an electric motor works and how they are built, with an in depth coverage of how the electric motor takes advantage of powering multiple magnetic loops via bushings within two solid state magnets, creating movement.

Introduction to Waves covered transverse and longitudinal waves. How to measure wavelength, wave period and amplitude. We also began filming our Steam Tank presentations.

This week in Critical Thinking we started taking a look into music that has shaped our lives and began working on “ Our Mixed Tape” assignment. Students will create a mixed tape playlist of ten important songs. We also discussed motivation and had group discussions about motivators.

All the AP Dance classes were working on creating a movement sequence demonstrating the elements of dance.

Mindfulness and Movement class, the students are working on different locomotor skills. The students had a rally race where they have to collect as many as bean bag possible to win the game. After each round, we counted the points to see what team collected the most.

This week in Pre-AP Theater students across all grade levels enjoyed warming up each day with a round of Zip-Zap-Zop. 6th graders were introduced to the wonderful world of West Side Story and will work towards acting out Act II Scene II as part of the first module. 7th graders have begun exploring different theatrical structures and have each completed their own outline of a well known story as it follows climactic narrative structure. 8th graders are discussing Commedia Dell'Arte and performed 1 minute retellings of popular stories. The catch was they had to communicate the plot of their story without speaking!

The objective of the Hoboken Middle School Dress Code Guidelines are to promote an atmosphere of respect, academic success, and school culture while recognizing freedom of student choice and expression. Please find below a clear outline of acceptable student attire in our HMS Quick Reference Chart, HMS Dress Code FAQ's, and HMS Dress Code Style Guide.

Please forward any questions you may have to rsorafine@hoboken.k12.nj.us

Because Tiger Pride = Hoboken Pride, the HMS Swag Team is excited to announce our new Spirit Wear partnership with Hoboken's own The Local Thread! Currently our Online Store is CLOSED but will reopen again in the Fall.

Our Online Store is NOW CLOSED but Visit Here: HMS Tigers Online Store

HMS Apparel Product and Sizing Guide

Prep Sportswear is another vendor for students and families to purchase HMS Spirit Wear. Prep Sportswear is currently OPEN. Please visit the link below for ordering/purchasing information.

Hoboken Middle School Tigers Apparel Store (click me)

Here are some helpful items for our families:

My child is going to be absent...what do I do?

Email WVasquez@hoboken.k12.nj.us and SFalcone@hoboken.k12.nj.us to inform us about the absence.

I need to pick up my child early...what do I do?

Call the main office 15 minutes prior to pick up so your child can be waiting at the Bloomfield Street entrance. The main office is (201) 356-3754. You will need to come into the security area to sign the book for your child to leave.

I have an issue with my Chromebook...what do I do?

Please visit the HPS-Tech in Our Schools Site for any tech related questions or problems with Chromebooks.

I have a question about dress code or purchasing...what do I do?

Email Dr. Baskinger (robin.baskinger@hoboken.k12.nj.us) for information

I have a question for about my child making up work if they are absent...what do I do?
Email Ms. Falcone for assistance (SFalcone@hoboken.k12.nj.us)

• Free/Reduced Lunch Application English

• Free/Reduced Lunch Application Spanish

• If you are not interested in applying for free or reduced lunch, we kindly ask that you submit a hardcopy of the free/reduced lunch application by filling out your child’s name on Step 1 and note anywhere on the application that you are not interested in applying for free/reduced lunch.

What is for Lunch?

We offer hot school lunch daily in our cafeteria through Chartwells, our district’s food provider. You do not need to order lunch in advance, however, you can preview the daily lunch menu using the following link and then clicking on Hoboken Middle School. Each day, we offer a vegetarian option. Lunch is $3.85 per day per child, however it is at no cost for all students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. https://hoboken.nutrislice.com/menus-eula

How can I pay for Lunch?

Please ensure that you made a My Meal Time. Use the link below for the instructions that will walk you through the process of making an account.

https://www.mymealtime.com/

Is there School Breakfast Available?

Morning Breakfast is from 7:30-8:10 am in the cafeteria. Breakfast is $2.60 per child per day, unless your child qualifies for reduced or free breakfast/lunch, in which both breakfast and lunch will be at no cost for you. All children who would like breakfast should enter through the 4th Street Entrance. There will be staff at the door to greet you and your child. Additional staff members will escort your child to the cafeteria. There will be additional staff members supervising morning breakfast in the cafeteria. At 8:10 am, students will be escorted by our staff members to their designated homeroom location. In order to receive morning breakfast, please ensure that you have filled out the online lunch application when it is available as well as created an account.

https://www.mymealtime.com/

Please Complete the Following Form:

• Hoboken Middle School Acceptable Chromebook Use Form (CLICK ME)
  

District Technology Use and Policy Information

• All Chromebooks utilizes an Internet content filter that is in compliance with the federally mandated Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
• Policy 7523: STUDENT ACCEPTABLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY
• Policy 2361: ACCEPTABLE USE OF COMPUTER NETWORKS/COMPUTERS AND RESOURCES
• Parent Technology Site: https://sites.google.com/hoboken.k12.nj.us/guardians/home

How do I purchase insurance coverage? (For School year 2024-2025)

• Insurance coverage ($26.00 per device) for 2nd to 12th grade students can be purchased through Securranty anytime as long as your chromebook is in working order.
• Please Visit: https://sites.google.com/hoboken.k12.nj.us/guardians/home

• What does it cover? (click me for coverage information)

**Chromebook insurance is of no cost to students that qualify for free or reduced lunch. Only one form should be completed per family each school year.

Helpful Links & Information for Families

• Hoboken Parents & Guardians Technology Support
• Mealtime (payment site)

My child forgot their Gmail password. Can you please reset their Gmail account?

• Call/email the HMS Main office for assistance.

My child’s Chromebook is broken. Who do I contact?

• Fill out Hoboken Public School Technology Help Request for Parents, Guardians and Students

• Return the broken Chromebook to Ms. Munoz in the main office as soon as the damage is apparent.

• Do not wait to turn in a damaged Chromebook!

• Ms. Munoz will send your Chromebook for repair and will arrange for your child to receive a loaner Chromebook until their Chromebook is repaired.
  

Parents/Guardians/Caregivers:

Here is the link for parents to sign up for Oncourse Connect:

https://hoboken.oncourseconnect.com/login

I am also including the link that has FAQ's and videos to assist parents logging in:

https://www.hoboken.k12.nj.us/log-_in_options/on_course_connect_parent__student_login_portal

HMS Tigers received new locks and lockers for the 2024-2025 School Year. Every student is assigned a locker and a school issued lock. Both the locker and the lock are considered school property. Students may not share lockers. Lockers are school property and, as such, may be inspected periodically. It is the student's responsibility to take proper care of the locker, its contents and the lock. If a locker does not work properly, a student should notify Dr. Baskinger immediately. If a student loses their lock, a $10 fee will be charged for a replacement.

HMS Locker Schedule

Students are not permitted to utilize lockers between class periods. Backpacks, coats, cell phones, and sporting gear must remain in student lockers from 8:15am - 3:00pm.

Locker Schedule (6th)

8:15 arrival

11:18 Before 5th Period Lunch

12:03 After Period 5th Period Lunch

3:00 Dismissal

Locker Schedule (7th)

8:15 arrival

12:03 Before 6th Period Lunch

12:48 After Period 6th Period Lunch

3:00 Dismissal

Locker Schedule (8th)

8:15 arrival

12:51 Before 7th Period Lunch

1:33 After Period 7th Period Lunch

3:00 Dismissal

The entrance on the 4th street side of the building is open to all students beginning at 7:30. If your child arrives early, they should report to that door and enter the building. Students will then report to the HMS Cafeteria where breakfast will be served. Grade Level entrance doors open at 8:15am each day.

• Grade 6: Garden Street
• Grade 7: 4th Street
• Grade 8: Bloomfield Street
  
  

Any student arriving after 8:15 is to report to the Bloomfield Street entrance. Parents/Guardians that must pick up their child from HMS prior to the end of the school day must call the Main Office (201) 356-3754 at least 15 minutes prior to pick up. All early dismissal pickups are to report to the Bloomfield Street Security Entrance to sign out their child.

Most children today have a cellphone on hand and use it extensively to do homework, communicate with friends, and view social media platforms. It is almost unimaginable to think of a modern-day child who doesn’t take full advantage. These rapid advancements in technology have been proven to be a recent challenge. Below are two suggested cellphone monitoring services that include activity monitoring, location services, filtering, and screen time management. Though not offered through Hoboken Public Schools, these resources may be helpful in managing cell phone usage. Click on each link below below to be taken directly to the resource website.

Qustodio: The All-In-One Parental Control and Digital Wellbeing Solution

Mobicip: Designed for Digital Parents