December Newsletter

Welcome to December, which means we are fully into the holiday season. Let us be grateful for the blessings God has bestowed upon us. At the same time, we must be mindful of the many problems facing our world today. We pray the season’s promise of peace may truly be realized.

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 three of our 8th 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 Service. This is an active and natural response to our concern for others. This December once again, in the spirit of service, our choir will be going to City Hall to sing for the Mayor of Clifton and his staff as well as at the nearby senior citizens center. For the first time, our students will have the opportunity to sing for Clifton’s new Mayor Ray Grabowski.

As you know, in November we launched our sixth 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 $1,326 with 27% of families participating. The fundraiser will end on Friday, Dec. 8. We encourage all of our families to join in support of their children by finding sponsors as they continue their reading.

We invite you to join a PTO meeting on Zoom Friday, Dec. 8, 7:00-8:00 pm. Look for the link!

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 22. 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 on Thursday, December 21, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. This year’s program will include a special performance of A Christmas Carol by our Drama Club as well as our dance class, choir, and each of our grades. In addition, the winners of an essay contest on the topic Service For Peace will read their essays.

Wishing you Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year!

                                                                                                New Hope School Staff

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”

Rabindranath Tagore

November Newsletter

We wish to thank all the parents who gave to our October clothing drive. The clothes will be donated this week to the Salvation Army for distribution to needy families.

In November we will be holding our 6th 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.

We wish to thank Clifton Mayor Ray Grabowski for his visit to our school last month and speaking to our students on the virtue of Perseverance. Drawing on his own personal experiences, he demonstrated the importance of facing one’s challenges while going through life. This month’s virtue of the month is Stewardship. We take time to reflect on using our natural resources responsibly and, in general, to respond lovingly to the gifts of others. Good stewardship means the thoughtful care of the many gifts we have been given and, in gratitude, to give to others. To this end, we invite you to participate in our annual food drive running from Nov. 3-21 (see flier this Friday). 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. 15-16, 3:15-5:00 pm. Look for a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the outside hallway next week. 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.

Finally, we are excited to introduce you to ThinK-New Hope School! ThinK-New Hope School is a new online platform we're offering to help you maximize your New Hope experience. You can watch Q&A videos with members of our school community, read informative articles, get to know our staff, and learn more about the great things we're achieving at New Hope. As a current New Hope family, we also encourage you to sign up for ThinK-New Hope School using the code Peace_Academy to receive email notifications with access to information about how to maximize your New Hope experience and help your child succeed at New Hope and beyond. 

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving this November!

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

Psalm 24:1

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 Thursday. Sixty-three percent of our families were represented. We look forward to a good collaborative relationship with you throughout this year. We invite you to be part of New Hope’s Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) whose first meeting will be sometime in November. 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.

Next Friday, Oct. 6, at our monthly assembly we are honored to have the Mayor of Clifton Ray Grabowski come to speak to the students on our Virtue-of-the-Month: Perseverance (see below). Parents are also welcome starting at 9:30 am. 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 box that will be in the hallway starting Monday, Oct. 2. The clothing will be given to St. Peter’s Haven for distribution to needy families.

As mentioned above, October is a month for celebrating Perseverance. By October, school is starting to be hard. Some of the September back-to-school-blush is coming off the rose. Even for the most dedicated students, classes, homework, and daily routine are no longer quite so alluring. Students are challenged to dig in and wade their way through various challenges that are sure to come up. Please note that throughout the year we will be announcing our Students of the Month at our monthly assemblies.

As you know, our first field trip of the year, apple picking, will be on Thursday, Oct. 12. Also, we plan to have our schoolwide Harvest Festival on Friday, Oct. 27, 1:00-3:00 pm. 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.

Finally, Thursday, Oct. 26, 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.

Let’s have a great autumn together!

“By perseverance the snail reached the ark.”                                                            

Charles Spurgeon

September Newsletter

As principal of New Hope School, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2023-24 school year. Our teachers are excited to have students back in their classrooms. We spent all of last week preparing for the new school year while discussing the most effective ways to help students develop themselves academically, socially, and emotionally in the coming year. We reminded 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. We look forward to partnering with you in the coming year to achieve this.

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 and administrators—collaborate in order to create a safe, supportive, and welcoming learning community where all students are treated fairly and have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

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 Thursday, September 21, 6:30-8:30 pm, here at the school.

To stay up-to-date on what’s happening throughout the year, visit our website and Facebook page 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.

Principal

June Newsletter

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 conscientious 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, emotionally, and academically.

Our Virtue-of-the-Month for June is Lives to Learn From. This month we honor and celebrate those individuals who have lived lives of great intellectual and moral virtue, whether they be scholars, artists, or public figures. Character is not simply the assemblage of many traits but involves the integration of the whole person towards a noble end. Children need to see models of good character, either real or imaginary. Their teachers should be good role models as well as you as their parents. Beyond ourselves, the possibilities are endless. In June, we strive to leave our students with a sense of possibility and challenge them to aspire to greatness.

We wish to thank everyone for their participation and strong support for our spring fundraiser, the Race for Education. This year we reached a total of over $4,000 with 60 donors. Thank you so much for your support!

This month our main event will be our End-of-the-Year Concert combined with a Graduation Ceremony on Thursday, June 15. 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. Stephanie, to be followed by 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. Your child(ren) are welcome to attend our Summer Enrichment Program where they can receive quality instruction in reading, writing, and math as well as other fun activities.

Please note that June 16 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 13, 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

“I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.”

Maya Angelou

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 Joy. Traditionally, May has been a time of festivity: May poles and May flowers bespeak a time of the full arrival of spring, lifting our minds and spirits. Unfortunately, a great deal in our culture and media can turn our children towards cynicism, loss of hope, and despair. This presents a real threat to their sense of hope and natural desire to experience joy. Let us combat this with instilling in our children hope for the future and a feeling of joy at the many gifts that life offers us.

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

Also, today we held our annual Race for Education Day. Thank you 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. Students in each class with the most laps received a medallion. The student with the most laps in the whole school received a trophy. Newly-elected Clifton mayor Ray Grabowski was on hand to show his support and take a picture with our students. We wish to thank all the parents who turned out today 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 25, 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 2023-24 school year. Places are limited so we encourage you to register your child quickly if you intend for him/her to return next year. You are also welcome to register your child for our summer program, which will run from June 26-August 11.

Please enjoy the spring!

“There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.”

Khalil Gibran

April Newsletter

Winter is officially over, and temperatures are slowly inching higher. We are sure that you are happy about the recent sunny days. Let’s hope we get a lot more of them.

Our virtues of the month for April are Graciousness and Courtesy. These are self-effacing virtues. They are often lost in a culture as self-aggrandizing as our own. But to speak to our children about these qualities and to model these virtues for them is not to mold “wimps” and “losers,” as some might say, but to fortify people of deep inner strength. We use April—the month when Christianity commemorates the resurrection of Jesus, Judaism recalls the flight from Egypt, Islam celebrates Ramadan, and we all celebrate the gentle birth of spring—to speak of quiet characteristics that make for better people and a better world.

Report cards for the third marking period will be sent out Thursday, April 6. Please note that spring break begins on Good Friday, April 7, and continues the following week. The Wednesday and Thursday, April 19-20, 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 25-27. 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 28. We expect Clifton’s new 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 17 (the day we return from spring break).

May God bless you and keep you safe and healthy!

“If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world.”

Francis Bacon

March Newsletter

Congratulations to Lesley Alean (pictured above with Dr. Beebe) on winning this year’s school spelling bee. She will be representing our school in the regional bee in PA. Go get ‘em, Lesley!

In March, we focus on a virtue important for building and strengthening community: Faithfulness. This virtue moves us in the difficult direction of otherness—of getting beyond ourselves and sensing the needs of others. Faithfulness bespeaks being in solidarity with our community. It is closely associated with loyalty and fidelity and, when practiced, fosters social cohesion, something that our country is in dire need of today.

This month we kick off our fifteenth Race for Education, our spring fundraiser. The actual Race Day will be held on Friday, April 28. 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 continue to provide a quality education at an affordable tuition.

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 this week. Those who do so by April 14 will receive a 50% discount off the $100 registration fee.

In the month of March, the school will kick off a year-long self-study as part of our preparation for re-accreditation process. Our planning team will be getting together to begin this process, part of which is a survey that will be sent to parents, staff, and students. We will be examining our curriculum, teaching methodology, and assessment practices, as well as broader measures such as our overall mission as a school, itd governance and organization, students’ well-being, and our various resources, including our finances and facility.

Finally, April 1 will be Career Day. We do this to encourage our students to think about their future as they continue their education process. The day will begin with an assembly to which we invite a few of our students’ parents to share about their work. If you are interested to speak, please let us know!

God bless you all!

“Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.”
Confucius, The Analects

February Newsletter

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

The Virtue-of-the-Month for February is Love of Country. This does not mean “my country, right or wrong.” History teaches the importance of attachment to and solidarity with the finest fruits of one’s country. Schools have been key vehicles for imparting knowledge about and attachment to America. That is still our task. We want our students to mature with a sense of US history, both its triumphs and failings, its heroes and heroines. Historically, our greatest reformers have also been our greatest patriots. One cannot read the speeches of Abraham Lincoln, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Eleanor Roosevelt, or Martin Luther King without feeling their love for America. We seek to encourage a sense of shared identity and citizenship with such people among our students.

Open House

Wednesday, January 25, was our first Open House of the year—this one in connection with National School Choice Week. As with Open House’s since the pandemic, this Open House was held online.. We had eight prospective parents attending—one couple even came to the school!— They all were well engaged. Dr. Beebe began by giving the parents a PowerPoint presentation, overviewing the school. I wish to appreciate our parents Ms. Yaritsa Serrano and Ms. Yolande Hamilton-Lawrence for their support by sharing their experiences with the school and answering parents’ questions. In the coming months New Hope School will be holding Open Houses on a monthly basis, the next being also virtual on Friday, February 24, 7:00-8:00pm. 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 will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 9:00 am. Ten finalists will be competing for the distinction of representing New Hope School in the regional spelling bee in March. Let’s cheer him on!

Scholastic Book Fair

Finally, please note that our annual Scholastic Book Fair will be held Wed-Fri, Feb. 15-17, 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!

                                                                                    New Hope School Staff

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

President John F. Kennedy

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 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 were at our annual Winter Concert last night 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 deeply appreciate your support for these activities. 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 3.

Virtue-of-the-Month

Our virtue-of-the month for January will be 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

Tomorrow, 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 three weeks later on Friday, Jan. 27, for the privilege of representing our school at the regional spelling bee being held at Bergen Community College in March. The winner of this event gets an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC, for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May. Please support your child if he/she is competing in the spelling bee by encouraging him/her to study the list of words given to them over the winter break that will be in the spelling bee.

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

                                                                                    New Hope School staff

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”

J.K. Rowling