NEWS
March Newsletter
The Virtue-of-the-Month for March is Compassion. This is an important virtue for building a true community. It requires that we move in the difficult direction of otherness, of getting beyond ourselves and being sensitive to the situation of others. Compassion means sensing the distress and needs of our friends and neighbors and acting on their behalf. Community service is the natural expression of compassion.
Did you know that in Russia March 1st is considered the first day of spring? With the snow this morning, more snow expected tonight, and a dip in temperatures predicted for next week, here it seems that we’re in for a continuing winter. Stay bundled up and warm!
Congratulations to fifth grader Kenji Onishi for winning this year’s school spelling bee! His winning word was samurai. This year’s runner up was third grader Jinsun Consoro.
The Virtue-of-the-Month for March is Compassion. This is an important virtue for building a true community. It requires that we move in the difficult direction of otherness, of getting beyond ourselves and being sensitive to the situation of others. Compassion means sensing the distress and needs of our friends and neighbors and acting on their behalf. Community service is the natural expression of compassion.
At next Friday’s assembly we will have a kickoff for our twelfth annual Race for Education. Look for the folder that will be given to all the students. 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 improve our facility, both inside and outside, especially our playground area.
We wish to invite you to re-register your child(ren) for the next school year starting the month of March. A folder will be sent out early next week. Those who do so by April 12th will receive a 50% discount off the $100 registration fee.
In addition, in March we are planning to hold an Open House on March 27, 6:00-7:30pm, for prospective parents. This is a good chance for you to invite anyone you may know who is looking for a good quality private school for their children for the next school year, whether they be your relatives, friends, neighbors, or work colleagues. Tell them about the best kept secret in Clifton: your child’s school! In addition, look for our school’s new promotional video, coming soon to our website.
Finally, you are welcome to sign up your child for our 10-week martial arts class, which will begin on Tuesday, March 19. As usual, the fee for the class is $120.
God bless you all!
New Hope School Staff
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.”
Dalai Lama
February Newsletter
The Virtue-of-the-Month for February is Loyalty. History illustrates the critical importance of loyalty and love of country. Loyalty does not mean an uncritical acceptance of everything that a country does. It does mean affective attachment and solidarity. When parents and schools cultivate loyalty and love of country, we increase the likelihood of raising young citizens who will be agents for betterment and change. That means celebrating the good and learning from those who exemplified such traits. From Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther King, our greatest reformers have been our strongest patriots.
Winter has come back with a vengeance this past week with near zero temperatures. Let us pray for our fellow citizens in the Midwest, however, who are experiencing much worse than we are. Temperatures here are expected to climb back into the 50s next week, continuing our rollercoaster ride through the winter.
Service Project/Character Education
As you know, January’s school service project was Pennies for Patients, a fundraiser by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to support their effort to find cures for children diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, and other forms of cancer. We wish to thank you for all your support this past month. Together we were able to raise nearly one thousand dollars to help these children.
The Virtue-of-the-Month for February is Loyalty. History illustrates the critical importance of loyalty and love of country. Loyalty does not mean an uncritical acceptance of everything that a country does. It does mean affective attachment and solidarity. When parents and schools cultivate loyalty and love of country, we increase the likelihood of raising young citizens who will be agents for betterment and change. That means celebrating the good and learning from those who exemplified such traits. From Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther King, our greatest reformers have been our strongest patriots.
Open House
Last night, January 30, was our first Open House of the year—this one in connection with National School Choice Week. Despite the bitter cold, six sets of prospective parents amazingly attended. Dr. Beebe began by giving them a PowerPoint presentation, overviewing the school. In addition to our teachers, two of our middle schoolers, Hana Tripathee and Aleksei Alean, were on hand to guide the parents through the school and answer some of their questions. In the coming months New Hope School will be holding Open Houses on a monthly basis, the next being Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 6:00-7:30 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 meet our team of dedicated teachers and find out about our education program and extra-curricular activities.
Field Trip
Next Friday, February 8, the school will have a field trip to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. This is a great opportunity for our students to expand and deepen their knowledge of science through the many exhibits that are on display, many of which are interactive. Parents are welcome as well!
May God be with you and your family!
New Hope School Staff
“Loyalty means nothing unless it has at its heart the absolute principle of self-sacrifice.”
Woodrow Wilson
January Newsletter
As we approach the new year, we would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for all your support during the first four months of the current school year. With your support, we have already conducted many activities, including the Harvest Festival, Scholastic Book Fair, our annual clothing and food drives, and most recently our Winter Concert. Most important, however, is your support of your own child(ren) as they engage in their work in the classroom and at home. Parental engagement is key to children’s educational achievement. Let us continue to work together for the academic and character development of your child(ren).
Special Thanks!
As we approach the new year, we would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for all your support during the first four months of the current school year. With your support, we have already conducted many activities, including the Harvest Festival, Scholastic Book Fair, our annual clothing and food drives, and most recently our Winter Concert. Most important, however, is your support of your own child(ren) as they engage in their work in the classroom and at home. Parental engagement is key to children’s educational achievement. Let us continue to work together for the academic and character development of your child(ren).
Caroling at City Hall
New Hope Singers Junior, the school’s choir led by our music director, Mrs. Chieko Akashi, this week paid their annual visit to the Clifton City Hall to sing for the mayor and his staff. As usual, they fully enjoyed the performance. Afterwards the mayor presented the children with holiday coloring books.
New Year
In January, the students will be engaged in Pennies for Patients to raise money in support of the work of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to help children suffering from these forms of cancer.
Our virtue-of-the month for January will be Courage. This is a major virtue—with physical, moral, intellectual, and civic dimensions. Surely, the children with leukemia and lymphoma are facing their situation with great courage. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose life we celebrate next year on Monday, Jan. 21, showed courage in a different way in fighting for the civil rights of African-Americans even in the face of physical injury and imprisonment. Our teachers will be addressing different dimensions of courage in their classrooms.
In addition, in the months of January and February we expect to have a number of foreign students with us, mostly from Korea but already one from Japan, Aomi, joined us this week. Let’s welcome them to our New Hope School family!
In the new year New Hope School is offering a 8-week SAT/ACT Preparation Course for high school students here at the school on Saturdays from 10:00am to 1:00pm for a fee of just $300 (much less than the standard rate). Proceeds will help to support the school. Please inform Dr. Beebe if you know someone interested in enrolling for the course. The first class will begin on Saturday, January 5.
Happy New Year and God bless your family!
New Hope School staff
“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.”
Nora Ephron
December Newsletter
Our virtue for the month of December is Generosity. December is a time when, more than usual, we turn our thoughts and hearts towards the needs of others. It is a time to look beyond what we normally do and is expected in our relationships with others to consider what we can do to enhance the lives and wellbeing of others.
In this spirit, we wish to thank all of you who so generously donated food items during our Food Drive. Last Tuesday some of our middle school students packed up these items and brought them to St. Peter’s Haven Food Pantry. They were used for needy families in the area on Thanksgiving.
As we enter the final month of 2018, we hope you all were able to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends. No matter what our situation, let us always strive to be grateful to God for our lives and loved ones.
Our virtue for the month of December is Generosity. December is a time when, more than usual, we turn our thoughts and hearts towards the needs of others. It is a time to look beyond what we normally do and is expected in our relationships with others to consider what we can do to enhance the lives and wellbeing of others.
In this spirit, we wish to thank all of you who so generously donated food items during our Food Drive. Last Tuesday some of our middle school students packed up these items and brought them to St. Peter’s Haven Food Pantry. They were used for needy families in the area on Thanksgiving.
Next Wednesday-Friday, Dec. 5-7, is our annual Scholastic Book Fair. We encourage you to come and browse around for some children’s books. They make great holiday gifts! In connection with the Book Fair and New Hope’s promotion of reading, we are launching a fundraiser through an organization called 99Pledges. You should receive a notice about this over the weekend. Please look for it! It will involve minimal effort on your part, mainly asking you to encourage your relatives, friends, co-workers, and other acquaintances to sponsor your child as he/she reads a certain number of books over the next few weeks. The fundraiser will end on Friday, Dec. 21.
If your child is in 3rd grade or above, we hope you will support his/her involvement in our annual Spelling Bee, being held the morning of Tuesday, December 18. We will be choosing ten finalists who will then compete in January for the honor of becoming this year’s spelling champion.
We also look forward to seeing you at our annual Winter Concert on Thursday, December 20, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. This year’s program will include songs from each of our classes, pieces from our dance class, a skit, winners of our poetry and essay contest reading their entrees on the topic “Generosity,” plus a visit from a plump old man in a red suit.
Finally, Dr. Beebe is offering an SAT/ACT preparation course on Saturdays 10am-1pm from Jan. 5 through March 2 for a reduced price of $250, if paid before Dec. 31, and $300 afterwards.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
New Hope School Staff
“You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”
Kahlil Gibran
November Newsletter
A big thank you to all the parents who gave so generously to our October clothing drive. Judging by the mountain of bags of clothes in Dr. Beebe’s office, it appears to be our most successful clothing drive ever! The lighter clothes will be sent to Liberia as part of a project of the Women’s Federation for World Peace. Other clothes will be donated to the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Next, we are launching our annual food drive to help needy families and individuals in time for Thanksgiving. Please help this great cause by donating any canned foods and other nonperishables anytime between now and Tuesday, Nov. 20. Food items will be brought by our 6th-8th graders to the St. Peter’s Haven food bank on Clifton Ave.
A big thank you to all the parents who gave so generously to our October clothing drive. Judging by the mountain of bags of clothes in Dr. Beebe’s office, it appears to be our most successful clothing drive ever! The lighter clothes will be sent to Liberia as part of a project of the Women’s Federation for World Peace. Other clothes will be donated to the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Next, we are launching our annual food drive to help needy families and individuals in time for Thanksgiving. Please help this great cause by donating any canned foods and other nonperishables anytime between now and Tuesday, Nov. 20. Food items will be brought by our 6th-8th graders to the St. Peter’s Haven food bank on Clifton Ave.
In conjunction with our monthly service project, November’s virtue of the month is Gratitude, in connection with Thanksgiving—the American holiday. It is a time to move beyond our specific faiths and various ethnic traditions. Like the early Pilgrims, it is a time to express our gratitude to God for the blessings He has given us. It is very important for children to learn to be grateful for what they have. Too often they may take for granted these things: their parents, their family, their home, their health, their education, etc.
As you know, on Monday, November 12, at 2:00 pm at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, a rally entitled “Peace Starts With Me” will be taking place. Although this is not specifically a school event, I hope you will consider attending in a show of support for healing and reconciliation in America. Our dance class has been invited to participate and has also been entered into a competition for a prize of $1,000. If you purchase tickets through New Hope School, you can receive a $10 discount as well as making a donation to the school. The deadline for this is Friday, November 2.
Please note on the November calendar that parent-teacher meetings are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday, Nov. 13 and 15, 3:00-6:00 pm. Look for the sign-up sheet in the outer hallway soon. 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.
We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!
New Hope School Staff
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” Albert Schweitzer
October Newsletter
Finally, after a very hot August that lasted into September, the weather seems to be changing. Let’s hope for a mild and pleasant October. We wish to thank everyone who could attend our recent Back-to-School Night. Nearly all of our families were represented--a wonderful show of support for your children. The new school year is off to a great start. We look forward to a good collaborative relationship with you throughout this year. We especially hope that you will find time to volunteer to help us in some of the many activities being planned.
Finally, after a very hot August that lasted into September, the weather seems to be changing. Let’s hope for a mild and pleasant October. We wish to thank everyone who could attend our recent Back-to-School Night. Nearly all of our families were represented--a wonderful show of support for your children. The new school year is off to a great start. We look forward to a good collaborative relationship with you throughout this year. We especially hope that you will find time to volunteer to help us in some of the many activities being planned.
October’s Virtue of the Month is Diligence. This month we will be celebrating the discipline and hard work necessary to be a good student and to live a fruitful life. We urge all students to push themselves. They should move beyond the comfortable and not be afraid of real challenge. Please note that we will announce our Students of the Month for October at our assembly next Friday, Oct. 5.
That day we also plan to kick off our service project for October—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 box that will be provided in the inside hallway. The clothing will be donated to a local organization for distribution to needy families.
Next Thursday, October 4, we will be taking the students on a field trip to Alstede Farms in Chester where they will participate in a 90-minute educational tour as well as have a chance to pick some apples. Parents are also welcome!
This month Mad Science is back offering an afternoon class in Brixology every Wednesday from 3-4pm starting October 17. A flier will be forthcoming soon about the program. You will be able to sign your child up on their website at northeastnj.madscience.org. The cost for the 6 sessions is still to be determined.
Note that Monday, Oct. 8, is Columbus Day which is a NO SCHOOL day. The following week, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 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.
Please note that on Friday, October 26, the school will have its annual Harvest Festival from 1:00-3:00 pm. Children are invited to come in Halloween costumes (not too scary!). Among the events scheduled for that day are face painting, popcorn hands, balloon animals, spider pencils, and the famous Haunted House! Parents are welcome to come and support.
Let’s have a great autumn together!
New Hope School Staff
“Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence.”
Abigail Adams
Welcome to the New School Year!
As principal of New Hope School, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2018-2019 school year, my 15th year with this learning community. We are all excited to have students back in our classrooms. It is our mission 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. We look forward to partnering with you in the coming year to achieve this.
As principal of New Hope School, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2018-2019 school year, my 15th year with this learning community. We are all excited to have students back in our classrooms. It is our mission 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. We look forward to partnering with you in the coming year to achieve this.
As we embark on the new school year, I want to take a moment to reflect what we achieved last year. First of all, our students did very well on their standardized Terra Nova tests. The scores were among the best our school has ever had. Three of our classes finished in the top 10% and four others in the top 20% of all students nationwide. In addition, New Hope was granted accreditation by the Middle States Association—Committee on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), a validation of the quality of our educational program as well as our overall school environment.
We look forward to building on these successes and making even more progress this year. This year our key goals are to continue to enhance students’ reading levels and helping them to develop their social-emotional relationship skills. We have a number of action plans in place in support of these goals which we began implementing last year.
Each child is a unique individual. We pride ourselves on the opportunities we offer to help every one of our students succeed. These opportunities are included in our academic programming, from core subjects to electives and after school activities that help them develop their strengths, interests and talents in many areas. We are always looking towards the future—and preparing them for what comes next in their lives.
This work is not easy. But New Hope School is a community of professionals. We all—teachers, administrators, and support staff—are collaborating to create a safe, supportive, welcoming learning community where all students are treated fairly and have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Families and other community members play a critical role as partners in supporting both your students at home and work in the schools. We look forward to working with you throughout the year to make important decisions that impact both your child as an individual and the school as a whole. As a start to this partnership, we invite you to attend our Back-to-School-Night on Friday, September 14, 6:30-8:30 pm.
To stay up-to-date on what’s happening throughout the year, visit this website often, as well as our Facebook page, and 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 here every day. 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.
Sincerely,
Robert Beebe, Ed.D.
Principal
New Hope School
Standardized Test Scores Are In!
Great News! Our students' annual Terra Nova standardized test scores are in and the results indicate one of our best years in terms of overall averages. Three grades were above the 90th percentile and four more were above the 80th percentile, meaning that our students performed better than 80-90% of comparable students from around the country. Let's all give a big shout out to our remarkable students!
Great News! Our students' annual Terra Nova standardized test scores are in and the results indicate one of our best years in terms of overall averages. Three grades were above the 90th percentile and four more were above the 80th percentile, meaning that our students performed better than 80-90% of comparable students from around the country. Let's all give a big shout out to our remarkable students! Please see the chart below:
Principal's Letter to Students
Dear Students,
As we wind down another school year, I hope that you can look back and see the ways that you grew these past nine months. Think about what you learned and how you might apply those things in the future. At New Hope School, as you know, we are just as concerned about the growth of your character and heart as much as we are about your developing your stock of knowledge. We want you all to become good people that in the future will do a lot of good things to help make the world a better place. As the saying goes, “the children are the future.” You will one day be citizens with all the rights and responsibilities that go with it, and, hopefully as well, mature adults in your minds and hearts. For now, though, I just wish you all a great summer. Have lots of fun, and I look forward to seeing many of you again in September.
Dear Students,
As we wind down another school year, I hope that you can look back and see the ways that you grew these past nine months. Think about what you learned and how you might apply those things in the future. At New Hope School, as you know, we are just as concerned about the growth of your character and heart as much as we are about your developing your stock of knowledge. We want you all to become good people that in the future will do a lot of good things to help make the world a better place. As the saying goes, “the children are the future.” You will one day be citizens with all the rights and responsibilities that go with it, and, hopefully as well, mature adults in your minds and hearts. For now, though, I just wish you all a great summer. Have lots of fun, and I look forward to seeing many of you again in September. God bless!
June Newsletter
Thank you for your support of your child’s recent science project. Everyone made such wonderful presentations last week, rising to the challenge and growing through the experience. We hope you enjoyed our Family Barbeque on Friday and the parents meeting afterwards by Dr. Beebe on supporting your child’s reading.
As we approach the end of the school year, we wish to thank all of you for your consistent support over the year. As parents and teachers, we have a joint responsibility to raise and educate our children, helping them grow to become loving and responsible adults. In a world where family values are under challenge, this task is more critical than ever. Thank you for helping to make New Hope School a safe haven where our students can receive the best possible instruction—morally, spiritually and academically.
Thank you for your support of your child’s recent science project. Everyone made such wonderful presentations last week, rising to the challenge and growing through the experience. We hope you enjoyed our Family Barbeque on Friday and the parents meeting afterwards by Dr. Beebe on supporting your child’s reading.
As we approach the end of the school year, we wish to thank all of you for your consistent support over the year. As parents and teachers, we have a joint responsibility to raise and educate our children, helping them grow to become loving and responsible adults. In a world where family values are under challenge, this task is more critical than ever. Thank you for helping to make New Hope School a safe haven where our students can receive the best possible instruction—morally, spiritually and academically.
Our Virtues-of-the-Month for June is Peace and Citizenship. Peace in the world begins with peace within, which comes by striving for and living up to our God-given potential. Becoming the people God wants us to be also makes us good citizens, concerned about our community and our country. Today we are in need of such citizens more than ever.
Coming up is our End-of-the-Year Concert & Graduation, to be held on Tuesday June 12. Preceding the main program, we’ll have a Meet & Greet from 6:00-6:45 pm at which parents may bring some finger food, preferably from your native culture. At 7:00 pm our graduation program will begin, which will be followed by our concert program with music and dance being performed by the students.
This summer please be sure your child(ren) read every day so as not to fall behind in their reading skills. Studies show that children who read throughout the summer are a step ahead when they return to school in the fall. Your child(ren) are welcome to attend our Summer Enrichment Program where they can receive quality instruction in reading, writing, math and study skills. In addition, this year we are adding a special Challenge Island portion. Please see Mrs. Gimay in the office for details.
Please note that June 15 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 Thursday, June 14, at Richardson Oval Park where we had our Race for Education.
We look forward to a good finish to the school year and wish you all a safe summer.
New Hope School Staff
“Peace begins with a smile.”
Mother Teresa