By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
School technology staffers smoothly finished Monday a near-perfect distribution of Chromebook computers — the textbooks of today — to intermediate grades and older.
Of 4,614 students in grades 5-12, more than 93 percent — or 4,312 — came to the school in the last two weeks to pick up their devices prior to the first day of school.
The district is in the second year of a lease-purchase plan for the devices, which have been given to each older student, staffer and teacher in the district.
Students will use them for modern homework, to follow lessons in class, to organize their studies and schedules and to explore the wide world of information that is on the Internet. Teachers can follow their students as they work independently, and provide assistance in class or even at night, if asked by the pupil.
Not only do students have to computer literate, but parents these days need to be, too. Genesis, a web-based student information system, provides a “portal” to give each parent access to a child’s placement, bus information, report cards and attendance.
The parent notification system, SchoolMessenger, is directly linked to Genesis. School Messenger will be used for automatic notification of emergencies, activities, and provide pertinent information regarding our students.
School is open today and tomorrow, but buildings will be closed Monday for Labor Day, and again Monday, Sept. 14, and Wednesday, Sept. 23, for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, respectively. A five-day school week won’t come until Sept. 28, but October has no off days.
Students in grades 2-12 should come back prepared to discuss reading they were assigned over the summer. In addition to coursework, all high schoolers had to read “I am Malaya: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban,” by the Pakistani 15-year-old Malala Yousafzai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.
School lunch prices are increasing. A basic student lunch will now cost $2.60. Snacks range from 50 cents to $1.25. If a child has funds remaining in a point-of-service lunch account, the money will be available for use immediately, or it can be replenished.
Before- and after-school care program is provided by Catholic Charities.
By building:
High School
Hillsborough High now has a Twitter account. You can follow @BoroHigh for updates and information about the high school.
High school yearbook can be ordered now at $85 through smart-pay.com. The price increases Oct. 14.
This year the student/parent handbook was be provided online, not in hard copy.
It contains info about such topics as the school dress code (particularly for potentially warm September days), attendance policy, notes andphone calls for absences and tardiness, family life education information/options and guidelines for medical excuses from physical education.
Student pictures will be taken on Sept. 10 and 11. They are necessary for the yearbook and student ID cards, which can also be used as a debit card for buying lunches and snacks from the cafeteria.
Fines paid for unreturned books or materials from the 2014-2015 school year will not be refunded after Sept. 15. Missing items that have been located should be returned as soon as possible in order to receive a refund.
Back to School Night is Thursday, Sept. 17, from 7-10 p.m.
Middle School
Debra Porowski will begin her tenure as vice principal for the 7th Grade Class alongside colleague John Ciccarone, VP for the 8th Grade Class.
The school is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HillsboroughMiddleSchool.
The student handbook is on the school’s website.
The Middle School Home & School Association has scheduled meetings for Oct. 7, Dec. 2, Feb. 3, April 7 and June 2, all in the school HMS Library/Media Center from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Back-to-School night is Wednesday, Sept. 16, for grade7 and Wednesday, Sept. 30, for grade 8.
Auten Road Intermediate
Scott Jensen is the school’s new vice principal for the 6th grade class. He’ll work alongside Jennifer Battista, vice principal for the 5th grade class.
Back-to-School Nights will be Thursday, Sept. 24, for 5th grade and Thursday, Oct. 1, for 6th grade.
Amsterdam Elementary
The school will celebrate 25 years with a community celebration scheduled for October.
The school is looking for nostalgic school T-shirts as well as memories and stories from years past. Special memories and stories from former students and teachers could be included in a video. Email principal Mary Ann Mullady at mmullady@htps.us.
Monday, Sept. 28, is Picture Day for student yearbook, individual and class pictures.
Back-to-School Night is Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m.
Hillsborough Elementary
The Student/Parent Handbook will be provided online, not in hard copy. The handbook with information on attendance, driving your child to or from school, school parties, and mealtime lunch services.
Back-to-School Nights are Tuesday, Sept. 8, for grades K-2 and Wednesday, Sept. 9, for grades 3–4.
The first HSA meeting will take place Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. in the library.
School portraits for grades K-4 will be Tuesday, Sept. 29.
Sunnymead Elementary
Back To School nights were Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
School portraits for grades K-4 will be taken Tuesday, Sept. 29.
Triangle Elementary
Open house and Back-To-School Night is tonight, Thursday, Sept. 3, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Woodfern Elementary
Back-to-School Nights are Tuesday, Sept. 8, for grades K-2 and Wednesday, Sept. 9, for grades 3 and 4, from 6 to 7:45 p.m. The evening will feature visits to special area teachers, a general meeting in the gymnasium and visits to classrooms and teachers.
Friday, Sept. 25, is the day for student yearbook, individual and class pictures.
Woods Road
Back-To-School Nights: Tuesday, Sept. 16, for kindergarten, pre-kindergarten, transitional primary and grades 1 and 2. The night for all pre-school classes and grades 3 and 4 is Wednesday, Sept. 17. Both are at 6:15 p.m.
School photos will be taken Monday, Sept. 15, for kindergarten and grades 1 and 2, and Tuesday, Sept. 16, for pre-school, TP and grades 3 and 4.