Fall into a book 📚

Dr. Castro's Family Newsletter - September 18th

Back to School Night - Fall Festival Join us on October 8th 5:30 - 7 pm

Event Information

Back To School Night - Fall Festival

We’re leveling up Back to School Night! This year, we encourage scholars to bring their families and proudly lead them on a tour of their school. Enjoy delicious food, fun games, and meaningful introductions to your child's teachers and school staff.

To help us prepare enough food and activities for everyone, please complete the RSVP form below.

When?

Thursday, Oct 8, 2026, 05:30 PM

Where?

Halsted Street Middle School, Halsted Street, Newton, NJ, USA

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Free & Reduced Applications

Free and Reduce Forms - See Below

Breakfast is NOT Free for all. Breakfast is $1.50 for non-free & reduced qualifiers

Free and Reduce Form Click on the PDF below- English & Espanol
If you qualify, there is a 30-day grace period in September. Call the main office for support

pdf

insert_drive_file

free and reduced.pdf

Free & Reduced Lunch Application Form

Download

3.4 MB

📆 Upcoming Events

Mark Your Calendar

Back to School Night / Fall Festival -- October 8th, Halsted Middle School, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
September 29 - BMX Character Education Assembly: details below
September 29th-- 8th Grade Parent Committee Information Meeting -- HMS Auditorium 5pm. We will cover 8th grade events, committee duties, and fundraising
October 12th - School Closed -- Teacher Professional Development
October 22 - Scholar Assembly Session 2: Drug-Free Decisions

Tigger Foundation Assemblies

I held our first assembly with guest speaker Timothy Shoemaker, generously sponsored by the Tigger Stavola Foundation to support our ongoing commitment to helping scholars make safe and healthy choices. Yesterday's focus was Session 1: Vaping Prevention & Save Your Breath, followed by Session 2: Drug-Free Decisions on Thursday, October 22, 2026. To learn more about the Tigger Stavola Foundation and access valuable educational resources for families, please scan the QR code

Photos from our visit assembly

Event Information

BMX Anti-Bullying Assembly

We are excited to welcome Dialed Action Sports to our school on Monday, September 29th for an interactive, school-wide assembly focused on anti-bullying and positive school climate.

Featuring professional BMX and mountain bike athletes, this unique event pairs thrilling athletic stunts with an empowering message. Athletes will share personal experiences while teaching our scholars how to RECOGNIZE bullying, REFUSE to participate, and safely REACT when they see others being mistreated.

Topics covered will include:

Understanding bullying behavior
The physical and emotional impact of bullying on individuals and school culture
How practicing respect, teamwork, and inclusion opens up better opportunities for everyone

We encourage you to ask your scholar about the event on the evening of September 29th to help reinforce these positive choices at home!

When?

Tuesday, Sep 29, 2026, 01:00 PM

Where?

Halsted Street Middle School, Halsted Street, Newton, NJ, USA

Athletics

Field Hockey

First Home Game of the Season --- Monday, September 21st

Varsity games start at 4, with JV to follow at approximately 4:45

Merriam Ave. School

Thursday, September 24th - AWAY Game

Hardyston Middle School

183 Wheatsworth Rd, Hamburg, NJ 07419

Once sport schedules are loaded, you can find them here

Field Hockey Clothing Store is OPEN!

Field Hockey Store

Our Field Hockey clothing store is now open! See the link below if you are interested in purchasing any team apparel. The store closes on Friday, September 25th, so get your orders in soon!

Field Hockey Clothing Order

🏥 Nurse's Corner

CLICK HERE: Important Forms - Hand in any Medical Forms first week of School

All medical documents need to be supplied to Nurse Marinaro ASAP -- Ie. Asthma forms, diabetic forms, allergy forms, vaccination records **Incoming 7th graders need to submit proof of updated vaccinations. Specifically, Tdap and Meningococcal.

Attendance News

ATTENDANCE INCENTIVES

Halsted Middle School is excited to launch our 2026–2027 Attendance Initiatives to help scholars build strong habits and earn trimester rewards. Students can qualify for the Standard Attendance Incentive each trimester by having no more than 2 absences, no more than 8 lates (after 7:50 a.m.), and zero suspensions. Scholars who achieve perfect punctuality and attendance with zero absences and zero lates earn prestigious STAR Scholar status and special trimester rewards. Please review the document linked below for complete details on the Attendance Incentive criteria. ATTENDANCE INCENTIVE DOCUMENT

Attendance Pledge 2026 - 2027

As part of our 2026–2027 Attendance Awareness initiative, Halsted Middle School asks each family to review and sign the Attendance Pledge Form. This pledge highlights the shared commitment between scholars and parents to ensure students arrive on time, prepared to learn, and supported if unexpected absences occur. Partnering with us to prevent chronic absenteeism—missing more than 15 days a year—helps protect your child’s academic success and future growth. Please sign the attached document with your scholar and return it to their homeroom teacher by September 15, 2026. ATTENDANCE PLEDGE DOCUMENT

📝Important Reminders

Chaperone at all HMS & NHS Events

Newton Public Schools require a chaperone at all HMS & NHS School-Sponsored Events. This was first introduced in August of 2023. This measure was put in place to preserve the safety and the spirit of school events. All scholars who attend a school event during the year must be accompanied by an adult (age 18 or older). This includes NHS football games.

Arrival & Dismissal Procedures - Safety is critical to all of us so click on the link from our Security Team.
Make sure to set up your Meal Time Account.

Go to our Food Service link for more info.

Chromebook Insurance

Newton Public School Chromebook Insurance

Newton Public Schools Chromebook Insurance - Spanish Flyer. pdf Click on this pdf
Newton Public Schools Chromebook Insurance- English Flyer.pdf Click on this pdf
Newton Public Schools SDC Quote Sheet - Parent v11.23.pdf Click on this pdf

Contact Info

Halsted Middle School

Principal: Dr. Samantha Castro

Asst. Principal: Mrs. Angela Dunbar

Main Office: Mrs. Rachel Tremain (Attendance) 973-383-7440 x2222 & Mrs. Sarah Kuhns

Website: https://www.newtonnj.org/o/hms
Location: 59 Halsted St. Newton, NJ 07860
Phone: (973) 383-7440

Fall into a book 📚 Fall into a book 📚

Dr. Castro's Family Newsletter - September 18th Dr. Castro's Family Newsletter - September 18th

Back to School Night - Fall Festival Join us on October 8th 5:30 - 7 pm Back to School Night - Fall Festival Join us on October 8th 5:30 - 7 pm

Event Information

Free & Reduced Applications Free & Reduced Applications

Free and Reduce Forms - See Below

📆 Upcoming Events 📆 Upcoming Events

Mark Your Calendar

Tigger Foundation Assemblies

Photos from our visit assembly

Event Information

Athletics Athletics

Field Hockey

Field Hockey Clothing Store is OPEN! Field Hockey Clothing Store is OPEN!

Field Hockey Store

🏥 Nurse's Corner 🏥 Nurse's Corner

Attendance News Attendance News

ATTENDANCE INCENTIVES

Attendance Pledge 2026 - 2027

📝Important Reminders 📝Important Reminders

Chromebook Insurance Chromebook Insurance

Newton Public School Chromebook Insurance

Contact Info

Fall into a book 📚

Dr. Castro's Family Newsletter - September 18th

Back to School Night - Fall Festival Join us on October 8th 5:30 - 7 pm

Free & Reduced Applications

📆 Upcoming Events

Athletics

Field Hockey Clothing Store is OPEN!

🏥 Nurse's Corner

Attendance News

📝Important Reminders

Chromebook Insurance