HBE Principal's Page
A Message From Your Principal
Welcome to HBE!
Dear HBE Students and Families,
Welcome to Nial A. Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary school, affectionately known as HBE. It is with the utmost honor that I begin my fifth school year as the Principal of HBE. For those who are new to our building, I am proud to say that I was a student here at HBE, a teacher, a parent of two former HBE students, and am now the building administrator. HBE has been a place that “I call home” for 40 years and I welcome you to be a part of our “home”.
Nestled on the banks of the Neversink River, the staff and students at HBE believe that we are more than just individuals but part of a community of learners. At HBE, we proudly serve students in Pre-K through 5th Grade and believe that all children can thrive in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment. Our dedicated staff is ready to partner with you in making this year one of success and celebration.
This year, we are also proud to begin implementing The Leader in Me curriculum, a whole-school framework that helps students build leadership and life skills. Rooted in Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, this program empowers students to take ownership of their learning, set goals, and contribute positively to our school community. We are excited to see the growth and confidence it will inspire in our students. We will continue our work with Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies (PBIS) and promote the Port Pride 5! Students will once again have the opportunity to earn Bicentennial Bucks (B Bucks) for demonstrating positive behaviors, which they can use to shop for fun rewards in our school store.
Academically, we are proud to launch our new Into Reading program. Our teachers began professional development in June and have continued throughout the summer, diving deep into the program to ensure a strong start for all learners. We’ll also continue building strong foundational skills through Wilson Fundations and Just Words programs, setting the stage for literacy success.
Our focus on STREAM (Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Arts, and Math) remains strong. We are excited to continue our Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum, which engages students in hands-on, exploratory learning. In math, we will continue using Eureka Math², a curriculum introduced last year that is both child-and parent-friendly, making learning Math more accessible in and out of the classroom.
Our office staff and leadership team are always here to support you. Whether you have a question, concern, or simply want to get more involved, we welcome your partnership. At HBE, we believe that when families and schools work together, students thrive.
We are truly looking forward to a fantastic school year ahead. Welcome back to HBE—The Place to Be!
Sincerely,
Emily Mesnick