December Newsletter

Welcome to December! We hope you could enjoy a gratitude-filled Thanksgiving with your family to end the month of November. Now, if you hadn’t noticed, we are fully into the holiday season. Let us look beyond the whistles and bells that often dominate the season and pray for the peace that Christmas promises. May it be realized in this season and into the coming year.

We wish to thank all of you who so generously donated various food items during our annual Food Drive in November. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving two of our 7th grade students packed up these items and we delivered them to St. Peter’s Haven Food Pantry to be used to help needy families in the Clifton area.

This month, as we sense the needs of others, we highlight the virtue of Generosity. This is an active and natural response to our concern for others where we look beyond what is “due” and “just” to what is unexpected and will enhance the live and well-being of others. It is in this spirit that our choir hopes to sing for the mayor and his staff once again at City Hall sometime this month.

As you know, in November we launched our seventh annual Read-a-Thon, our 99Pledges fundraiser. Students have been busy working to fulfill their pledges to read 5 books in this period. As of this writing, New Hope School has raised over $2,500 with 48% of families participating. The fundraiser will end on Friday, Dec. 6. We encourage all of our families to join in support of their children by finding sponsors as they continue their reading.

If your child is in 3rd grade or above, we hope you will support his/her involvement in our annual Spelling Bee, which will be held the morning of Friday, December 20. We will be choosing ten finalists who will then compete in January to become this year’s school champion.

Finally, please note that our annual Winter Concert will take place at the church at 78 DeMott Ave. on Thursday, December 19, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. This year’s program will include a special performance by our Drama Club as well as our choir and each of our classes. Also, the winners of an essay contest on the topic Peace Starts With Me will read their essays.

This month, please note that the school’s governing board will be taking up issues associated with our upcoming accreditation team visit in January. You may contact Dr. Beebe to know more.

Wishing you Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year!

“For it is in giving that we receive.”

St. Francis of Assisi

November Newsletter

We wish to thank all the parents who gave to our October clothing drive. A record 15 bags of clothes were donated to the recycling center at City Hall for distribution to needy families. As well, we thank the many parents who came out in support of our annual Harvest Festival on October 31 (see picture). You helped to make it a great event for all of our students.

In November we will be holding our 7th annual Read-a-Thon, our fall fundraiser which also doubles as an encouragement to our students to read more. Each student will be asked to read at least 5 books during the month and we ask parents, related family, and friends to sponsor them in this task. Each child will be given a separate web page to which sponsors can indicate their pledges of support. Our overall goal for the fundraiser is $5,000 as a school. We will appreciate any support you can offer which will be counted towards the $200 we ask each family to donate to the school during the course of the school year. Look for an e-mail on it this week.

This month’s virtue of the month is Gratitude. November, of course, is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving, a special American holiday that invites us to move beyond our specific faiths and various ethnic traditions. It is a time to reflect on and appreciate everything that is good about our lives. This may be especially challenging today in a world full of conflict, both domestically and foreign, that may cause us to be despondent about the future. Yet, when we see the abiding goodness in our children and ourselves, we can always have hope for a better world. Our task is to listen our better sides act and do good for others. As we like to say at New Hope School: “Peace starts with me.”

To this end, we invite you to participate in our annual food drive running from Nov. 6-26 (see flier at pick up Monday). All donations will be forwarded to St. Peter’s Haven for distribution to those in need in time for Thanksgiving.

Please note on the November calendar that parent-teacher meetings are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 13-14, 3:00-5:00 pm. Look for sign up sheets at pick up time starting Monday. We hope that all of our parents will use this opportunity to meet with their child(ren)’s teacher(s) to understand their performance so far this school year and how you may better support them in their education.

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving this November!

"Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude."

A.A. Milne

‘Winnie the Pooh’

October Newsletter

As we enter the month of October, we are beginning to experience a change in the weather. Mornings especially are cooler and we shall soon see the appearance of the beautiful autumn foliage. Take a family drive!

We wish to thank everyone who attended our Back-to-School Night last Monday. Sixty percent of our families were represented. As we negotiate the challenges facing us this fall, more than ever we seek close communication with you, our students’ parents. We invite you to be part of New Hope’s Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) whose first meeting will be near the end of this month. In addition, thank you for volunteering to help us in some of our school’s activities. We will be in touch with you about these.

In the spirit of communication, and as one of our action steps in seeking re-accreditation this year, tomorrow we will be sending you a link to an online survey through Survey Monkey. As we engage in the process of relocation, we are looking ahead to finding a more permanent facility long term and would welcome your input as we do so.

Please note that this Thursday, Oct. 3, Rosh Hashanah, there will be no school as we are following the Clifton public school schedule. The next day, Oct. 4, will be Picture Day when individual, class, and whole school photos will be taken of the students. Be sure your child is dressed extra nice that day.

This Friday, Oct. 4, will be our monthly assembly at which we will present our Virtue-of-the-Month (see below). At the same time, we will be kicking off our first service project of the year—a clothing drive. Please bring in old (but in good condition) shirts, pants, hats, gloves, coats, blankets, shoes, sweaters, sweatshirts, etc., and drop them off in a bin that will be in the lobby entrance near the gym starting Monday, Oct. 7. The clothing will be given to St. Peter’s Haven for distribution to needy families.

This month’s virtue is Diligence. October is a month for celebrating the discipline and hard work necessary to be a good student and to live a fruitful life. We encourage our students to challenge themselves, to move beyond the “comfortable,” and strive for real accomplishment. Please note that throughout the year we will be announcing our Students of the Month at our monthly assemblies.

Our first field trip of the year, apple picking, will be on Fri, Oct. 11. Also, we plan to have our school Harvest Festival on Thurs, Oct. 31, 12-2 pm. The events will take place in the gym and art room. Children are welcome to come in Halloween costumes for that day (but not too scary!). Parents also are welcome to come and support either event.

Let’s have a great autumn together!

“Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence.”

Abigail Adams

September Newsletter

As principal of New Hope School, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2024-25 school year. After 22 years at the Athenia Reformed Church at 780 Clifton Ave., we are now in the process of relocating to the Clifton Family Church at 78 DeMott Ave, also in Clifton. Until that process is completed, hopefully within the next couple of months, we will be operating out of the Clifton Boys and Girls Club at 181 Colfax Ave. For the past couple of weeks our teachers have been diligently navigating between the two locations to prepare their classrooms first at the B&G Club and then to be ready to switch over to the DeMott location quickly when we can.

In any case, our teachers are excited to meet their new students in their classrooms. In preparation, we have been discussing the most effective ways to help them develop themselves academically, socially, and emotionally in the coming year. We remind ourselves that, above all, our mission is to teach our students God-centered universal values and service to others as the basis for personal integrity, harmony in the family, and peace in the world (see our mission statement). We look forward to partnering with you in the coming year to achieve this.

We are excited to welcome to our faculty David Eaton as our new music teacher and choir director. Mr. Eaton is the former director of the New York City Symphony and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in music. We are honored to have him join us for this new school year. In addition, Mrs. Elena Bahian, who has been our physical education teacher for many years, will be our kindergarten teacher this year. With her husband she has raised 8 children! She has a wonderful motherly heart.

As New Hope families, you play a critical role as partners in supporting your children at home and in the school. As a start to this partnership, we invite you to attend our Back-to-School-Night on Monday, September 23, 6:30-8:30 pm, at our eventual location at 78 DeMott Ave. in Clifton. As street parking is limited around the facility, we recommend that you park in the municipal parking lot on First St. between Madison Ave. and Clifton Ave. one block away (5 minute walk).

To stay up-to-date on what’s happening throughout the year, visit our website often, as well as TeacherEase, where you can check up on your child’s schoolwork.

New Hope School is a wonderful learning community. I feel so privileged to be a part of it. This is a very special place, and my colleagues and I appreciate the trust that you’ve shown us by sending your children to our school. We will do our best to ensure they have a fulfilling, happy, and safe year.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at rbeebe@newhopeschoolnj.com if you have any questions or concerns. I am looking forward to a great school year together.

Robert Beebe, Ed.D.

June Newsletter

We approach the end of the school year with a certain amount of sadness, knowing that this will be our final year at 780 Clifton Ave., which has been our home for the past 22 years. At the same time, we feel that God is opening a new chapter in the life of New Hope School, one that holds infinite possibilities. As we relocate, we do so in great anticipation of what God has in store for us. We appreciate so much your support over the past year as we work together to help your children become all they can be.

Our Virtue-of-the-Month for June is Wisdom. We have asked Pastor Errol Cooper of the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Bloomfield to speak on this topic at our final assembly of the school year on Friday, June 7. In June we strive to leave the children with a sense of possibility and challenge to aspire to greatness. Wisdom, based on knowledge and experience, is an important virtue to develop and nurture as children grow older to help them make good decisions for their lives. As our students head into summer vacation, we hope they will reflect on the choices they are making to become good and responsible adults in the future.

We wish to thank everyone for their participation and strong support for our spring fundraiser, the Race for Education. This year we exceeded $7,000 in donations for the first time! Give yourselves a big round of applause. Thank you so much!

This month our main event will be our End-of-the-Year Concert combined with a Graduation Ceremony on Thursday, June 13. We will begin with the graduation of our 8th graders. This will be followed by the presentation of awards to students for academic excellence and achievement, citizenship, character, and attendance. Next, each class will offer a musical presentation led by our music teacher, Ms. Tam Geller, followed by a short skit from our drama club, then our choir and dance class. The program will end with a grand finale with the students singing together.

For those of you who are wondering, the results of your child’s Terra Nova test will be included in his/her final report card. Look for it.

This summer please be sure your child(ren) read every day so as not to fall behind in their reading skills. In fact, we ask our returning middle school students to read a book of their choosing and to submit a book report on it. This will count as their first grade in the fall quarter.

Please note that June 14 is the final day of school. School will finish at 12:30 pm with no after care. You are also welcome to attend our Field Day events on Tuesday, June 11, at Richardson Oval Park where we had our Race for Education.

We look forward to a great finish to the school year and wish you all a wonderful summer.

                                                                                    New Hope School Staff

“Everything comes in time to him who knows how to wait.”

Leo Tolstoy

May Newsletter

As we move towards the end of the school year, we wish to express our gratitude for your support in the education of your children and the healthy functioning of our school.

The Virtue-of-the-Month for May is Wonder. Imagination and wonder are at the root of so many advances in knowledge and human civilization in general. They open our hearts and minds to the possibilities of human life. Although there is much about the world today that could lead us towards despair, there is also much about the human spirit that gives us cause for hope. It is our task as parents and teachers to cultivate the potential that resides in students to use their talents, interests, and imagination to create a better future.

As you know, last week our students took the annual Terra Nova exams. We expect to have the results in June and will include them in your child’s final report card.

Last week we also held our annual Race for Education Day. Thank you so much for all the support you have been giving in finding sponsors for your child in this spring fundraiser. Students ran or walked around a quarter-mile track for one hour. The boy and girl in each class with the most laps received a medallion. The student with the most laps in the whole school received a trophy. This year’s winner was 7th grader Jon Lawrence. Let’s give Jon a big round of applause! We wish to thank all the parents who turned out Friday and helped in so many ways.

Later in May will be having our two-day Science Fair, which will be held outside, weather-permitting. Starting at 9:30 am, kindergarten through fourth grade will present their projects on Thursday, May 30, and the fifth through eighth grade the following day. On the second day you are invited to a Family Barbeque from 4:00-6:00 pm. This will also serve as our final Open House before the summer break.

Finally, we wish to remind you that registration is still open for the 2024-25 school year. Places are limited so we encourage you to register your child quickly if you intend for him/her to return next year. As mentioned earlier, due to needing time to move to our new location at 78 DeMott Ave. in Clifton, we will not be having a summer program this year. We plan to organize a tour of the new location sometime in May for interested parents. Stay tuned!

Please enjoy the warm spring weather!

“Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.”

E. B. White

April Newsletter

For a while it looked like we were getting an early spring. Trees were starting to bud. Then, regression. But have faith! Spring is really on the way! Soon!

Our virtues of the month for April are Gentleness and Humility. These are important virtues, but hard ones to teach in a culture that values self-assertion and ambition. We can find dozens of great stories for children exemplifying such virtues as courage, diligence, and perseverance. There are also many good stories justifying the quest for human rights. It is much more difficult to find stories that speak to the importance of saying “forgive me,” “after you,” or “I was wrong.”

Please note that spring break begins this week on Good Friday, March 29, and continues next week. Report cards for the third marking period will be sent out after the spring break on Friday, April 12. The Wednesday and Thursday, April 17-18, following spring break parent-teacher conferences will be scheduled to give you a chance to consult with your children’s teachers about their progress this school year.

In addition, note that Terra Nova tests are scheduled for April 23-25. This annual standardized test helps us to see how our students are doing academically in comparison with children all over the country. They also provide you with an understanding of your child’s academic development year-by-year. Be sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and a nourishing breakfast the morning preceding each day of the test. He/she needs to bring to school two number 2 pencils (mechanical pencils are not allowed).

As you know, our spring fundraiser Race for Education has begun. This year we are seeking to raise funds generally in order to continue to provide a quality education for your children while keeping tuition rates down. As mentioned in the letter you received, students will receive various prizes according to the number of donations received. The actual Race Day will be Friday, April 26. We expect Clifton’s mayor, Ray Grabowski, to be on hand for the event. Parents are invited!

Finally, don’t forget to re-register your child for the next school year! You will receive a 50% reduction in the registration fee if you do so by April 30. Please read an important announcement attached to this newsletter regarding a change in our location for the 2024-25 school year.

May God bless you and keep you safe and healthy!

                                                                                    New Hope School Staff

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”
C. S. Lewis

March Newsletter

The groundhog was right! It seems we are in for an early spring with temperatures this week rising into the 60s.

In March, our Virtue-of-the-Month is Mercy, which means to show compassion to those who may have done us wrong, to one whom we may consider as an enemy, or to those over whom one has power. Mercy extends graciousness to those who, strictly speaking “deserve” much less. It is closely related to forgiveness and acts to reduce or end the distress of others.

This month we kick off our sixteenth Race for Education, our spring fundraiser. The actual Race Day will be held on Friday, April 26. Look for the notice about this later this month. We appreciate your support of past events and look forward to a great success in this year’s effort as well. This year the results for this activity will be used to continue to provide a quality education at an affordable tuition.

To update you, our Planning Team is continuing the self-study process which we began last spring to prepare for re-accreditation. A visiting team from Middle States Association, the accreditation agency, will be coming to the school in the fall to conduct a weeklong observation. Our tentative Plan for Growth & Improvement that we will present to the team is to work on developing further students’ reading and writing, augment our child protection policies and procedures, and to develop the school’s Parent-Teacher Organization. We welcome parental input on any of these plans.

Please note that our spring break this year starts with Good Friday on March 29 and continues through the following week, April 1-5. Upon returning, April 8, you may begin to re-enroll your children for the next school year. If you do so by April 30, you will receive a 50% discount off the $100 registration fee.

FYI, the school is holding virtual Open Houses the last Wednesday every month, 7:00-8:00 pm. These are good chances for you to invite any prospective parents you may know who are looking for a good quality private school for their children for the next school year. Tell them about the best kept secret in Clifton: your child’s school! The Zoom link for each event can be found under “Events” on our website: newhopeschoolnj.com.

Have a great spring!

“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.”
Abraham Lincoln

February Newsletter

Welcome to the month of February, the month where we celebrate Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day.

The Virtues-of-the-Month for February are Honesty and Justice. The virtue of honesty is a secondary virtue in the service of justice. Honesty is key to the flourishing of strong relationships and free communities. But we can think of situations in which absolute honesty would lead to injustice. For example, in the context of Nazi persecution of Jews before and during World War II, hiding Jews and lying about it, on its face, was untruthful, but it was an act in the service of justice, thus justified.

Open House

Wednesday, January 24, was our first Open House of the year—this one, held virtually, was in connection with National School Choice Week. We had several prospective parents attending, who were all well engaged. Dr. Beebe began by giving the parents a PowerPoint presentation, overviewing the school. We wish to appreciate parents Ms. Sara Ban and Mrs. Lynda Williams for their support by sharing their experiences with the school and answering parents’ questions. Yesterday, one set of these parents came to the school to register their child for next year. In the coming months New Hope School will be holding Open Houses on a monthly basis, the next being also virtual on Wednesday, February 28, 7:00-8:00 pm. If you know of any parents who might be interested in sending their child to New Hope, please invite them to this valuable information session where they can find out about our education program and extra-curricular activities.

Spelling Bee

This year’s spelling bee final was held last Friday with twelve finalists. We are happy to announce that sixth-grader Maison Raji is this year’s spelling champion! Lienise Wills, another sixth-grader, was runner-up. We wish to congratulate Maison on winning and to all of our finalists for their sincere efforts.

Scholastic Book Fair

Finally, please note that our annual Scholastic Book Fair will be held Wed-Fri, Feb. 14-16, 3-4pm in the downstairs area at the school. We encourage you to come and browse around for some books to encourage your child’s reading.

May God be with you and your family!

“Honesty and justice will prosper there, and justice will produce lasting peace and security.”

Isaiah 32:17

January Newsletter

Special Thanks!

The Christmas holidays are such a special time for all of us to be reminded of God’s never-ending desire especially in these perilous times to see a world of peace and happiness for all His children. As we look back over the activities of the first part of the school year, we would like to take the opportunity to express our appreciation for your support and involvement. Many of you came to our annual Winter Concert in support of your children. We hope it was a great experience for you all. In addition, recently we had our annual fall Read-a-thon fundraiser. We will use the funds raised to purchase another Promethean smartboard for one of our classes. We wish to thank everyone who supported this recent fundraiser.

We hope that over the winter break your child(ren) have a well-deserved rest and be ready to invest themselves into their academic work in the new year. Please note that school will be in session starting on Tuesday, January 2.

Virtue-of-the-Month

Our virtue-of-the month for January is Courage. This is a major virtue—with physical, moral, intellectual, and civic dimensions. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose life we commemorate this month, showed tremendous courage in fighting for the civil rights of African-Americans in the face of physical injury, imprisonment, and eventually even giving his very life. Our teachers will be addressing different dimensions of courage in their classrooms.

Spelling Bee

On Friday, Dec. 22, students in the 3rd through 8th grades will take part in the preliminary round of our annual spelling bee. Ten finalists will be chosen who will then compete a month later on Friday, Jan. 26, for the privilege of becoming our school champion. Please support your child if he/she will be competing in the final spelling bee by encouraging him/her over the winter break to study the list of words given to them that will be in the finals.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and may God bless your family!

                                                                                    New Hope School staff

“Courage is an inner decision to go forward in spite of obstacles and frightening situations… Courage faces fear and thereby masters it… We must constantly build walls of courage to hold back the flood of fear.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.