Elementary school · Hopewell Valley Regional School District
Hopewell Elementary School
Open · 8:35 AM–3:35 PM
Regular day 8:35 AM–3:35 PM · early dismissal ends 12:45 PM · delayed opening starts 10:05 AM
Report an absence or late arrival by 8:30 AM: call the TelSafe line and leave a message, or email the HES Main Office and your child's teacher. Leave your child's full name, grade, homeroom teacher and the reason. The line is available 24 hours a day.
This week
Full calendarLunch from the district's monthly menu. Whole month
Coming up
All datesNov3
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences: Nov 3 (afternoon session only). Specific times and locations to be shared later this month.
event
Nov4
Parent-Teacher Conferences (Makeups)
Parent-Teacher Conferences makeup day. Specific times and locations to be shared later this month.
event
Nov10
Nov14
Science Saturday - Lawrence Public Library
11:00 AM
Free hands-on science program for grades 2-5 (see Science Saturdays details). Registration opens 12 hours before start at www.mcl.org.
event
Dec5
Science Saturday - Lawrence Public Library
11:00 AM
Free hands-on science program for grades 2-5 (see Science Saturdays details). Registration opens 12 hours before start at www.mcl.org.
event
PTA
Dec1
PTO Meeting (Dec 1)
8:45 AM
Monthly HES PTO meeting, open to all parents/guardians; join in person or via Zoom.
PTA
Nov3
PTO Meetings (Nov 3 and Dec 1)
8:45 AM
HES PTO meetings are open to all HES parents/guardians, held monthly at HES with an option to join virtually via Zoom at zoom.hopewellpto.org. Upcoming: Tuesday, November 3 and Tuesday, December 1.
PTA
Who to contact
More from the newsletter
Latest newsletter summary
October 2026 newsletter from Hopewell Elementary School (HES). Highlights include the Family School Climate Survey (anonymous, link provided), the Counselor's Corner focus shifting to Respect, and the Week of Respect (Oct 5-9) with daily spirit-day colors: Monday Red (Leadership), Tuesday Yellow (Empathy), Wednesday Green (Acceptance), Thursday Blue (Perseverance), and Friday HES spirit wear. This HES newsletter covers Peace Week (Oct 19-23) with peace apparel on Oct 23 for the Whole School Meeting, Picture Retake Day on Nov 10, a district need for substitute teachers and paraprofessionals, the Halloween Parade on Oct 30, a call for HES Parent Council volunteers, and the Free & Reduced Lunch application deadline of Oct 16. The Halloween Parade is also reported in the Parade Route image block, which is a map and not a separate event. The newsletter covers New Jersey's new statewide bell-to-bell device ban (starting 2026-2027), Parent-Teacher Conferences dates (Nov 2-4), and several PTO events including the K-1 Monster Mash Halloween party on Oct 30, the Freddy's Pretzel Club schedule, the annual appeal, and a new PTO live calendar subscription. The HES PTO newsletter covers upcoming PTO meetings (Nov 3 and Dec 1, held at HES with Zoom option), the Student Directory sign-up (which also gets families on the PTO email list), HES merch store opening, ecoPTO news (Painted Oak afterschool forest school, Garden Volunteer Days on Oct 25, Nov 1, Nov 8, and a Dance Nite on Oct 23), Science Saturdays at local libraries for grades 2-5 (Sept 19, Oct 31, Nov 14, Dec 5, 2026), and a message about the elementary code of conduct and HIB (anti-bullying) process. The October 2026 HES newsletter lists the month's calendar: Week of Respect and Fire Prevention Week (Oct 5-9), PEACE Week (Oct 19-23), Columbus/Indigenous Peoples' Day closure with staff development (Oct 12), Halloween events, and early dismissals plus parent-teacher conferences in early November. Several items already exist in the current list and are repeated here.
Programs (3)
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Painted Oak Outdoor Afterschool Enrichment at HES
ecoPTO announces outdoor afterschool enrichment (forest school) at HES offered by Painted Oak.
program
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Join the HES Student Directory
Sign up for the HES Student Directory. Signing up is also how families get added to the PTO email list for updates, events, fundraisers and reminders.
program
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HES PTO Live Calendar Subscription (New This Year)
The HES PTO has a live calendar combining PTO events, meetings, volunteer opportunities, and HES school events. Subscribe via Google, Apple, or Outlook. iPhone users: Settings > Apps > Calendar > Accounts > Subscribed Calendars, tap HES PTO calendar, set Refresh to Every Hour.
program
Volunteering (4)
Nov8
HES Garden Volunteer Day
8:00 AM
Sunday volunteer day at HES garden, 8am to 11am.
volunteer
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Freddy's Pretzel Club Volunteers Needed
Volunteers needed to pick up pretzels from Philly Pretzel Factory in Flemington at 8:30 AM and deliver them to HES. Sign up online.
volunteer
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HES Parent Council Sign-Up (Last Call)
Seeking 8-10 parent volunteers to serve on the HES Parent Council, meeting monthly with the principal, with options for early morning in-person or virtual attendance. Equitable representation across grade levels is the goal. Selected parents will be contacted by end of September; the first meeting is in October.
volunteer
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Substitute Teachers and Paraprofessionals Needed
HVRSD needs substitute teachers and paraprofessionals. See the Substitute Forms page on the district website.
volunteer
Policy updates (2)
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Elementary Code of Conduct & HIB Resources
Message on distinguishing bullying (as defined by NJ, handled through the HIB process) from conflict, which is handled through the elementary code of conduct. Review the district anti-bullying page for an HIB process video and criteria. Questions can go to the principal or school counselor Ms. Ashley LaRose.
updated
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Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone & Smart Watch Ban
New Jersey enacted a statewide bell-to-bell ban (P.L. 2025, c. 195, signed Jan 8, 2026) prohibiting student use of personal internet-enabled devices (cell phones, smartwatches, tablets) during the entire school day starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Devices stay in backpacks. Students needing to contact home go to the Main Office. Parents should not text or call children during school hours, including lunch and recess; call the main office instead. Students may use watches to communicate after dismissal at 3:30 pm.
district
Spirit wear & local ads (1)
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HES Merch Store Is Open
Shop the HES merch store for hoodies, T-shirts and other HES gear.
merchandise
Initiatives (1)
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PTO Annual Appeal
Thank you to everyone who has donated; the PTO is almost at its goal. Donations support PTO-funded events and programs. Donate online.
initiative
People mentioned (1)
Ashley LaRose
HES School Counselor
Pulled from the school's newsletter and website, and the district calendar.