Mission Statement

Hillside Avenue School is a learning center, multi-cultural environment reflecting an active partnership of students, staff, parents, and the community. We are committed to evaluating and accepting new ideas, creating a climate of respect, and developing responsible citizens.

Our school is comprised of students from kindergarten through eighth grade, including a middle school program for grades six through eight that utilizes the team concept. Special Education, Gifted and Talented, English as a Second Language and Basic Skills services are available to our students. There are a vast number of interscholastic athletics and co-curricular activities available for students and we proudly boast a student participation rate which exceeds 91 percent of our student body participating in one or more school sponsored extra-curricular activities.

Teachers are committed to the academic and social development of students. A life-long interest in learning that fosters critical thinking while building self-confidence are goals addressed at every grade level by a staff committed to young people. Staff members continually seek professional development opportunities in order to hone their skills in the art of teaching. We have recently adopted "The Teaching for Understanding" model of curriculum design. This coupled with our focused professional development on Learning Styles, Multiple Intelligences, and Differentiated Instruction has certainly enhanced not only the instructional process, but student understanding and learning.

We are also proud to be part of Cranford's Professional Development Schools Grant, which partners Hillside Avenue School with Seton Hall University to help train future teachers and to provide our own teachers with ongoing support and enhancement of skills.

An active parent/teacher organization at Hillside Avenue School helps to maintain and strengthen the bond between home and school. Parents play an active role in the school community, volunteering for many classroom and school-wide activities. Parents have joined with teachers and administrators to form a school-based planning committee to share in the decision making that affects our children.

Hillside Avenue School's mission is to create a learning environment that encourages individual as well as interpersonal growth, a love of learning, and a commitment to improving and caring for the community. Our annual school-wide theme unites us to work together toward achieving our common goal, "making today's learners tomorrow's leaders."