October 2026

Dear Hoppock Families,

October is here, and we have so much to look forward to! Our students are settling into their routines, building relationships, and engaging in learning across their classrooms.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Back-to-School Night! It was a wonderful evening to connect with families, introduce you to our teachers, and share what your children will experience this year. We appreciate your partnership and the support you bring to our school community.

Our Period 5 lab groups are also going well! This time provides supplemental instruction, targeted academic support, and enrichment based on students’ needs. It also includes elective and club-style opportunities that allow students to explore interests beyond their academic classes. Our goal is to help each student grow, feel supported, and discover something that excites them.

We had a great visit from the vocational school for our 8th graders this past month, giving them an opportunity to learn about future educational pathways. Exploring these options is an exciting step as they begin thinking about their interests and life beyond middle school.

Be sure to visit the Teacher’s Corner below for updates from some of our staff. It is a great way to get a glimpse into the learning and activities happening in our classrooms!

Our Halloween celebration will take place on a half day, and we have a few fun events planned for our students! We will share more details as the day approaches.

Looking ahead, the end of marking period 1 is October 30th and parent-teacher conferences will take place November 2–4. Information about scheduling your conference will be available soon. These conversations are a valuable opportunity to celebrate your child’s progress and discuss how we can work together to support their continued growth.

Please explore the updates and links below for additional upcoming events and information. I look forward to a wonderful October together!

Warmly,

Meaghan Dagostino
Principal
Ethel Hoppock Middle School

Do you know a classroom teacher or educational services professional, past or present, who inspires students, supports families, and makes a difference in our school community? Please consider nominating them for the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program!

This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize the dedication, care, and hard work our educators bring to Bethlehem Township each day.

Each candidate will be scored based on the criteria below:

• Serves as an exceptionally skilled and dedicated educator in a public or charter school

• Inspires students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn

• Demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside the classroom

• Has the respect and admiration of students, parents, administrators and colleagues

• Plays an active role in the community as well as the school.

Complete the nomination form linked below and return it to the building principal by.

Thank you for helping us celebrate the people who make our school special.

• Monday - Friday, October 5th - 9th : Week of Respect
• Monday, October 12th: School Closed (Staff In-Service)
• Monday - Friday, October 19th - 23rd: School Violence Awareness Week
• Monday - Friday, October 26th - 30th: Red Ribbon Week
• Wednesday, October 28th: Board of Edu. Meeting
• Friday, October 30th: Early Dismissal (Staff In-Service), Last Day of MP1
• Monday - Wednesday, November 2nd - 4th: Early Dismissal, Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Thursday - Friday, November 5th - 6th: School Closed (NJEA Convention)
• Wednesday, November 18th: Board of Edu. Meeting
• Wednesday, November 25th: Early Dismissal
• Thursday - Friday, November 26th - 27th: School Closed, Thanksgiving Break

• The doors open @ Hoppock at 7:30 AM. Parent drop off is on the right side of the building. Please drive down to the lower basketball courts to turn around and return to the side door to drop off your child. This door is open from 7:30 - 7:40. Homeroom begins at 7:40 AM!
• Pick up is in the same location. The gate will not be open until 2:20 pm. Your child is dismissed at 2:25. Once the gate is open you can drive down to the lower lot/basketball courts, turn around, and return to the side door at the top near the gate. Please do not turn around in the lot near the dumpsters. If you arrive later at 2:30 and see that the side door is closed, you will need to pick up your child at the main office.

Once you have review the updated handbook as of 9/04/2026, please fill out and submit the linked google form for your records. The form is due by September 224th, 2026.

Student Handbook 26-27 Acknowledgment Form

Clubs: If your child is staying for clubs, please contact the teacher and put your child in Pick Up Patrol for us to know they are staying after.

Homework Club:

Tuesdays - Mr. Grannis

Wednesdays (starting the week of the 19th) - Mrs. Intrabartolo

Thursdays - Ms. Dilts

Chess Club:

Thursdays - Mr. Grannis

Athletics: In an effort to make the athletic experience more integrated into the academic environment, we will be incorporating a new motto for all of our student athletes. The slogan is designed to promote the traits we want our student athletes to have. It also will put a “brand” on our athletic department and create a sense of community. The slogan is H.O.R.N.S.:

🔹Humble

🔹One

🔹Respectful

🔹Noble

🔹Student Athlete

All of our coaches will be sporting t-shirts that proudly display this motto on the back. It would be great if many of our student athletes, and our supporters, join them in making our new brand known to others. T-shirts, as well as many other items, can be purchased from our new online athletic store at https://www.schoolbranded.com/bt/bethlehem-township-athletics

As we enter the chilly months of the school year, Hoppock’s math classrooms are heating up! We just finished up our first topics of the year in Accelerated 7th Grade, 8th Grade, and Algebra 1. In the month of October, the Accelerated 7th Graders will be completing their first 8th grade topic… Real Numbers! For 8th Grade and Algebra 1, they will both be taking a deeper look at Linear Equations & Functions. It’s been a great start to our school year, as math dialogue is bouncing off of the walls in Room 30!

The learning spirit is really in the air here at Hoppock!

¡Hola from Spanish class! Our students are putting their Spanish skills to work with these fun, creative projects:

• 6th Grade — Mini Me! Students are learning how to describe themselves using Spanish adjectives and practicing noun-adjective agreement rules for gender and number. They’re applying these skills by creating and coloring mini versions of themselves, then writing descriptive sentences using “Yo soy…” (I am…). Their mini creations will help them share a little about themselves with the class!

• 7th Grade — Meet the Family! Students are exploring family vocabulary by creating photo albums featuring fictional families. They’re using their imaginations to introduce family members, explain how everyone is related, and describe each person’s appearance and personality...all in Spanish!

• 8th Grade — Chores Take Center Stage! Students are learning how to talk about household chores and explain their responsibilities in Spanish. They’re currently working on fun skits that put their vocabulary into action as they act out everyday situations. With a little creativity, even chores can become an entertaining performance!

6th Grade ELA:

The 6th Graders are currently reading and also listening to the epic novel Peter Pan. In chapters 4 and 5, the Darling children, Wendy, Michael and John, soar to Neverland, where flying feels dreamlike and brings unexpected dangers-especially for Wendy, who is frightened when the children fall asleep in the air. The sun’s golden arrows guide them to the island, but as evening falls, the adventure begins to feel very real rather than make-believe. The children encounter the Lost Boys and learn about their hidden home underground, while the cruel and clever Captain Hook is introduced as a serious threat. As the Lost Boys wait for Peter, the pirates begin searching for their hideout, building suspense about what may happen next.

7th Grade ELA:

Students have been learning about a variety of active reading strategies (known as signposts). These signposts are used to help students notice and note themes, foreshadowing, repetition for effect, characterization, and more while they are reading. Through the first whole class novel The Breadwinner students have been showcasing what they've learned through class discussions about their post-it note findings.

8th Grade ELA:

Students have been undergoing an intense short story unit filled with Gothic / Horror literature. Classics including works by Edgar Allan Poe, "The Monkey's Paw", and even excerpts from The Aeneid have exposed students to challenging literature while providing them with an opportunity to learn about irony, story structure, and foreshadowing.

In 6th grade Social Studies we are discovering the wonders of the Shang Dynasty in ancient China, whose people settled in the Huang He Valley and lived in multiple clans. They’re learning how the Shang were known for their bronze tools, weapons, armor, and religious objects. Students are becoming “history detectives,” decoding secret words and “excavating” artifacts connected to a Shang Dynasty king. These hands-on activities help bring the ancient past to life!

Our 7th grade Social Studies students began the year by exploring the feudal system that was present during the Middle Ages. They enjoyed participating in a role play where some students were peasants, some were knights, some were lords, and one lucky one served as the king. The activity ended with one kingdom attempting to take over the other by using the deadly weapon of a rolled up piece of paper. The students are now traveling through time and through Europe to explore the influence of the Roman Catholic Church during the high middle ages.

Our 8th graders started the school year working on a number of projects. Each student had the opportunity to use their creative skills to create a project that reflected their thoughts on what America meant to them. Projects included some awesome three dimensional creations, some fact-filled maps, and even a home-made podcast. Our students commemorated the 25th anniversary of 9/11 by researching various people and places that played a significant part in the events of that day. The students came away with a clearer understanding of how the events of 9/11/01 changed the world forever. The third project involved the students creating a timeline of the events leading up to the Revolutionary War, which we will be jumping headfirst into starting this month.

Hoppock Music Highlights:

• 6th grade has been learning about the elements of rhythm and pitch, and explored percussion instruments around the world.
• 7th grade explored music in the Medieval and Renaissance Eras, and completed a project creating their own Illuminated Manuscripts.
• 8th grade dove into the history of the Blues, and finished a project where they wrote their own 12-Bar Blues song.

Ensemble Spotlight:

• String Ensemble and Concert Band are up and running! They will take place every Tuesday and Thursday.
• Stay tuned for upcoming news about Choir!

Music Announcements:

• Hoppock's Winter Concert is set for Tuesday, December 8th
• North Hunterdon High School Band Buddy Night is on Friday, October 23rd. Read more about it here!

Food Drive!

Address: 280 Asbury West Portal Road Asbury, NJ 08802

Phone Number: 908-479-6336

Website: https://btschools.org/index-Ethel.php