November 5, 2008
Dates to Remember:
November 6-7……………………………………………………………………………NJEA Convention- School Closed
Tuesday, November 11…………………………………………………………………………………PTA Meeting (7:00PM)
Thursday, November 13…………………………………………Coffee and Conversation with Mrs. Pilchman
Thursday, November 13………………………………………………………………………Barnes and Noble Book Fair
Thursday, November 13………………………………………………………………………………………Hillside’s Color Day
Saturday, November 15……………………………………………………Deadline for December Lunch Orders
Friday, November 21………………………………………………………………………………………………………Photo Retake
Friday, November 21………………………………………………………………Kung Fu Panda – Family Movie Night
November 24-25…………………………………………………………………………………………………………Education Week
Tuesday, November 25…………………………………………………………………Diva Lounge (Mom’s Night Out)
Wednesday, November 26…………………………………………………………………………………12:15pm dismissal
November 27-28…………………………………………………………………………………Thanksgiving-School Closed
Reminders:

December Lunch Orders can be placed until Saturday, November 15. Log onto
www.ezlunchorder.com. If paying by check, orders must be placed with EZ Lunch by
Wednesday, November 12 and checks must be turned in to school by 2:00pm on
Monday, November 17. If checks are not received by the 17th, your order will not be
placed. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Our next PTA meeting is this Tuesday, November 11 at 7:00pm in the Media
Center.
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Hillside Kids Have H.E.A.R.T.
Helpful ▪. Empathetic ▪ Accepting ▪. Respectful ▪ Trustworthy
November PTA Meeting:
We will be providing child care for our November PTA meeting in order to enable more parents
to attend. You must RSVP to Karen Gelenites at kgelenites@comcast.net or Cami Konecky at
camikonecky@yahoo.com by Friday, November 7 in order to plan for the child care. This is for
those attending the PTA meeting only.
Attachments To This Bulletin:
We have several attachments to this bulletin.
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Kung Fu Panda – Family Movie Night
Dine to Donate
Barnes and Noble Book Fair Flyer
Barnes and Noble Book Fair Voucher
5th Grade Baby Pictures:
It's that time of year again! The yearbook would like a picture (no bigger than a wallet size) of
your 5th grader between the ages of 1-3 years old. Please write your child's name on the back
of the photo and send it to school in an envelope marked "5th grade baby pics". These pictures
will not be returned. Please call Cheri Ratner @ 973.994.9221 with any questions. Thank you!
Blurb Deadline:
The deadline to post a blurb for the WWB is Monday at 8am for that week’s edition. Please
email your blurbs to Karen Gelenites at kgelenites@comcast.net or Cami Konecky at
camikonecky@yahoo.com.
Teacher Pages:
Tired of hearing your children say, “We did nothing in school today.”! Every Hillside teacher
has their own teacher page which contains information about what is going on in the
classrooms. These teacher pages will help prompt a conversation with your children about what
they are learning and doing at school. Our BSI teachers and specials teachers have their own
teacher page as well. Our specials include library, music, physical education, art and Spanish.
Even Nurse Mary has a teacher page which contains general information about staying
healthy and suggestions on when to keep your sick child home and when it should be safe to
send them back to school. To access the teacher pages, log onto www.livingston.org/hillside,
click on Teacher Pages, and then click on your teacher of choice.
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Hillside Kids Have H.E.A.R.T.
Helpful ▪. Empathetic ▪ Accepting ▪. Respectful ▪ Trustworthy
Buzz Books:
Buzz Books are at the printers and will be distributed soon.
Spring Fundraiser:
It may be getting cold but we're already thinking about spring....our spring tricky tray event that
is. We're starting to collect items that are much needed: Empty baskets and large decorative
containers can be dropped off at the house of Karen Gelenites at 57 South Ashby Avenue.
We're also interested in any new, unopened items that you or your family has received that
didn't quite fit with your style or tastes. These items can be dropped off at the house of Cami
Konecky at 73 South Ashby Avenue. We can make use of just about anything.
Committee Thank Yous:
Thank you to the following people for their help on these important PTA projects:
Apparel: Dayna Platnick, Stacey Klein and Lynda Pauwels
Box Tops Store: Ann Mollineaux, Christine Bullion, Madalena Lima, Aurora Primamore, and
Anju Singh
Halloween Hoopla: Judy Daniels, Judy Hui, Sara and Jane Grabelle.
HSM3 – Half Day Activity: Cami Konecky
Human Relations Committee - Halloween Candy Drive: Amy Dinicola
Snack Sacks: Michelle Allen
KidStuff and Entertainment Coupon Book Fundraiser: Cami Konecky, Jeri Fitzgerald,
Madalina Lima, Aurora Primamore and Debbie Danchak.
Thank you to all who purchased KidStuff and/or Entertainment coupon books. This fundraiser
raised over $3,000 for our school. Many thanks to everyone who purchased Hillside apparel.
We raised $2000 for our school. Way to go!
Hillside Classes Busy Showing Off Their Green Thumbs!
A couple of weeks ago our students were busy taking advantage of the beautiful weather by
getting outside and planting in the gardens. Students learned how to plant three different types
of bulbs: tulips, daffodils and crocuses. Many classes were fortunate to get a lesson from their
buddy class!! In all, over 1000 bulbs were planted throughout the various gardens. Spring will
sure be beautiful at Hillside!
Need help in your garden at home; ask your children…they are the experts!!!
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Hillside Kids Have H.E.A.R.T.
Helpful ▪. Empathetic ▪ Accepting ▪. Respectful ▪ Trustworthy
Volunteer Quote:
“I wondered why somebody didn't do something. Then I realized I am somebody. “
— Source Unknown
COFFEE AND CONVERSATION WITH MRS.PILCHMAN
It’s time for our favorite informal chat with our principal, Mrs.
Pilchman. Have something on your mind? Bring it to the table and
get your questions answered straight from the source. Join us on
Thursday, November 13 at 1:30pm in the Media Center.
See you
there.
Barnes and Noble Book Fair – Save the Date:
Hillside’s Book Fair is Thursday, November 13 from 5:30pm-8:00pm at Barnes and Noble
in the Livingston Mall. Teachers will be there to read aloud some favorite stories. Teachers will
also provide a classroom wish list as well as suggested reading. Come out and support the PTA
while you purchase some awesome books for your children. Please use the attached voucher
when making your purchase in order for Hillside School to get credit. The voucher is valid all
day Thursday, November 13 from 9:00am-10:00pm. Please see attached flyer.
Volunteers are needed to help that night. If you are available, please contact Patricia Murphy at
973.994.1511.
Also, for this night only, Applebee's restaurant -- located directly across from the Barnes &
Noble store -- will donate 10% of all meals to Hillside School. Just another reason to come out
to the book fair. Please print out the attached coupon and bring it with you that night. You must
have the coupon with you in order for Hillside to get credit.
Hillside’s Color Day:
It’s time to sport our Hillside Apparel and show our school spirit. Wear your apparel or school
colors, blue and gold, to school and the book fair on Thursday, November 13. Apparel will be
going home the beginning of next week.
Cookie Dough Fundraiser:
Our Sally Foster Cookie Dough sale is underway. Deadline for returning all order forms and
checks/money is Friday, November 14. Please make checks payable to “Hillside PTA”. Be sure
to write neatly and include your child's first and last name AND teacher on all forms or
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Hillside Kids Have H.E.A.R.T.
Helpful ▪. Empathetic ▪ Accepting ▪. Respectful ▪ Trustworthy
envelopes you send in. Cookie dough will be delivered the week of December 8th. Any
questions, please contact our Cookie Dough Chairperson, Susan McCann at 973.758.9652.
PAGE Meeting:
PAGE (Parent Advocate Group for Excellence), dedicated to enhancing the education of gifted
children, will hold its first meeting of the year on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 7:00pm.
Please join us in the Collins School Media Center as we discuss our G/T Academic, G/T Art,
G/T Music and our School Wide Enrichment Programs. For additional information, contact your
PAGE Rep, Ms. Lili Zhang at 732.447.5468 or G/T Teachers Ms. Sharon Handley at
shandley@livingston.org or Mrs. Michelle Bodow at mbodow@livingston.org. Meeting open to
all! Refreshments will be served.
Photo Retake:
Life Touch will return on Friday, November 21 to retake your child’s pictures if you are not
satisfied with them. Original package of pictures must be sent back to school on retake day.
You keep the class picture.
Family Movie Night:
Come watch Kung Fu Panda on Friday, November 21 from 7:00 to 9:00pm in the Hillside
School Upper Gym. Please see the attached flyer for more details.
Volunteers Needed:
We are looking for a few volunteers to guide parents when they enter the school on November
24 and 25 for education week. If you are available, please email Karen Gelenites at
kgelenites@comcast.net or Cami Konecky at camikonecky@yahoo.com.
Diva Lounge–Mom’s Night Out:
Come out and enjoy a night of fun with the girls at the Diva Lounge in Montclair, NJ on
Tuesday, November 25 from 7:30pm-10:00pm. Please send $55 per person to school in an
envelope marked “Diva Lounge” by Wednesday, November 12. Make checks payable to
“Hillside PTA”. Funds raised from this event will help support Hillside School’s PTA.
Reflect On This…
“Based on what we know about the plasticity of the brain, we can think of happiness as a skill
no different from learning to play a musical instrument…it is possible to train our minds to be
happy.”
- Richard Davidson Ph.D.-University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Hillside Kids Have H.E.A.R.T.
Helpful ▪. Empathetic ▪ Accepting ▪. Respectful ▪ Trustworthy