May Newsletter 2025

CEDAR HILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL

May Newsletter 2025 Educating Students Since 2003

Art Exhibit Page 21

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An Evening of Music and Joy: CHP Spring Concert Our Spring Concert was nothing short of magical! The students took the stage with confidence and grace, filling the room with beautiful harmonies and heartfelt melodies. Their voices rang clear and strong, a true reflection of their hard work and passion for music.

Parents, families, and friends came together to celebrate this special evening, creating a warm and supportive atmosphere that made the event even more memorable. The joy and pride in the room were undeniable!

A special shoutout to Mr. Altman, whose dedication, guidance, and love for music continue to inspire our young performers. Thank you for making this concert a night to remember!

Bravo to all our talented singers – you made us proud!

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PRESCHOOL - KINDERGARTEN NEWS Poetry Day Poetry Day at Cedar Hill Prep was celebrated on May 1st.

Our preschool and pre-K children beautifully performed five poems they had practiced daily, and their hard work truly shone through on stage. Parents watched with excitement and pride as their little ones recited with confidence. The children were amazing!

Magic and Balloon Show The magic and balloon show was an incredible experience that brought smiles and laughter to all. The event began with a mesmerizing performance by Magic Bob, capturing the children’s imaginations. After the show, each child received a special balloon creation from a talented balloon artist—unique, colorful, and absolutely amazing!

Butterflies Our preschoolers had the wonderful experience of observing the metamorphosis of caterpillars into butterflies right in their classroom. The class received five tiny caterpillars in a jar, complete with food. Each day, the children watched in awe as the caterpillars grew, eventually forming chrysalises.

Once transferred carefully into a net habitat, the children eagerly awaited the next stage. Just days later, beautiful butterflies emerged! The children fed them slices of orange and watermelon before setting them free into their natural habitat.

Mother’s Day To celebrate Mother’s Day, our preschoolers created heartfelt cards and planted marigolds in personalized cups for their moms. Each card and flower was crafted and given with an abundance of love and joy. www.cedarhillprep.com | 3

PRESCHOOL - KINDERGARTEN NEWS Planting Our preschool class loves planting and watching nature in action! This time, the children grew grass. They filled clam shell containers with soil, sprinkled grass seeds on top, added water, and placed them by a sunny window. As days passed, the grass grew taller and taller. Through this activity, the children learned that plants need water, sunlight, and a little TLC to thrive.

Ball Study Our final study of the year was the Ball Study. Some of our investigations included exploring the different types of balls, how they are alike and different, how they bounce and roll, what’s inside a ball, and how people use them. As a class, we also explored the circumference of various balls. The children used different lengths of yarn to measure around balls of various sizes. One of the highlights was when students brought in balls from home and placed them in a large container of water to observe whether they would sink or float. The children had a wonderful time learning through hands-on exploration and discovery!

Young Innovators Shine On May 6th, the Pre-Kindergarten class lit up with excitement as they showcased their science fair projects to parents and fellow students at CHP. Bursting with creativity, each student selected a topic aligned with classroom learning and approached their project with enthusiasm. The atmosphere buzzed with infectious energy as the young scientists shared their discoveries, their passion for science shining brightly. It was a day when curiosity knew no bounds and the joy of exploration echoed throughout the halls of our Pre-Kindergarten class.

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PRESCHOOL - KINDERGARTEN NEWS

Pre-Kindergarten Poerty Day Our Pre-K students celebrated the beauty of words during Poetry Day with joyful curiosity. Through playful rhymes, expressive reading, and simple poem-making activities, our young learners explored the rhythm and wonder of language. It was a delightful introduction to the world of poetry, sparking imagination and early literacy in a fun, engaging way.

Little Minds, Big Ideas!

Our CHP Kindergarten students showcased their creativity and curiosity through theme-based Science Fair projects on “Our Earth, Our Home” and “Our Five Senses.” Each student was assigned a topic and proudly presented their work during morning meeting time. With enthusiasm and confidence, they shared key facts using simple, accurate language— demonstrating both understanding and excitement for their subjects.

Classmates and teachers were captivated by each presentation, celebrating the effort and knowledge each child brought to the spotlight. That evening, the projects were beautifully displayed in the classrooms, transforming the space into a vibrant gallery.

Families and friends filled the rooms, admiring the thoughtful, hands-on work of our youngest scientists. It was truly a joyful celebration of learning, discovery, and community!

A Magical Morning with Bob the Magician!

This May, our youngest learners—from Preschool through Kindergarten—were treated to a spectacular magic show by the one and only Magic Bob! With laughter, awe, and plenty of “oohs” and “aahs,” students were captivated by his enchanting tricks and interactive performance. It was a magical morning filled with wonder, joy, and unforgettable memories! www.cedarhillprep.com | 5

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS Journey Back in Time First Grade Visits The Red Mill Museum First grade students at Cedar Hill Prep School recently traveled back in time during a memorable field trip to The Red Mill Museum. The visit offered a hands-on exploration of life 100 years ago, sparking curiosity and appreciation for early American history. Students watched a blacksmith in action as he skillfully crafted a hook and fork using traditional tools. They toured the historic mill, explored an old quarry, and stepped into the past by attending class in a 200-yearold schoolhouse. The immersive experience brought history to life and left our students with lasting memories of how people lived, learned, and worked a century ago.

Head in the Clouds, Feet on the Farm: 1st Grade’s Final Field Trip 1st grade wrapped up their final farm trip of the year with an action-packed day full of baby animals, clouds, cupcakes, and Science Fair presentations! The theme of the trip focused on clouds and sky patterns. Students began by answering preview questions about clouds, then listened to The Cloud Book by Tomie dePaola. They created their own cloud viewers and took a nature walk to observe and identify different types of clouds in the sky. As an added treat, they got to see ducklings, turtles, and baby goats! With beautiful weather and endless excitement, it was the perfect way to celebrate the end of an incredible year in 1st grade.

Exploring the Wonders of Science The Grade 1 Science Fair projects were absolutely incredible! Our students worked hard to create engaging displays across various fields of science. Highlights included life science topics such as how a seed grows into a plant, the life cycle of a chicken, and the migration patterns of butterflies and whales. In physical science, students explored concepts through experiments like lemon batteries, float vs. sink, balloon air pressure, and sugar content in drinks. They also presented models demonstrating ocean layers. Environmental awareness was brought to life through creative “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” projects—including robots made from recycled materials! Earth and space science topics included the solar system and the rotation and revolution of Earth. It was a celebration of curiosity, discovery, and hands-on learning!

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS A Beautiful Goodbye: 1st Grade Butterfly Release Our 1st graders celebrated a magical moment as we released our Painted Lady Butterflies into the wild! Over the past few weeks, we’ve had the joy of observing the complete butterfly lifecycle up close—from tiny 1-inch caterpillars to 2.5-inch wonders, then into their delicate chrysalises, and finally emerging as graceful adult butterflies.

It was a truly exciting and educational journey as students watched each stage unfold: caterpillar→chrysalis→butterfly. To send them off in style, we read a sweet goodbye poem and cheered them on as they fluttered into their new home.

What a wonderful way to witness nature in action and celebrate the beauty of transformation!

A Celebration of Scientific Discovery Grade 2 students recently wrapped up their Science Fair with class presentations, culminating in an exciting evening event on May 14. Families and guests were invited to explore the students’ creative and wide-ranging projects — from tracking mold growth to testing paper plane performance and exploring how different materials absorb water.

Throughout the year, students have been building essential skills in observation, experimentation, and analysis. The Science Fair showcased their hard work, curiosity, and growing confidence as they presented their experiments and explained their findings.

A heartfelt thank you to all the families who joined us — your presence and encouragement made the event even more meaningful.

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS

SUPER STUDENTS J. Li is a third grader in Mrs. Kotasthane’s class. He proudly describes himself as a Mighty Mathematician, Tremendous Team Player, Ravenous Reader, and Amazing Artist. Li’s family includes his dad, mom, brother, and sister. He hails from the galaxy “Electron,” and his theme song is “Thunder.” In his spare time, Li’s enjoys reading and chatting with friends about Pokémon. When he’s happy, he imagines the color yellow. Some of his favorite books are Dragon Ball Super and The 39-Story Treehouse. If Li’s could choose a sidekick, it would be T. Bhutia. If a movie were made about his life, it would be about Li discovering his superpowers. One of Li’s biggest wishes is to fix bullying in the world.

S. D. Vennavalli is a third grader in Mrs. Kotasthane’s class. He describes himself as a stellar scientist and a harmonious helper. He hails from the Milky Way Galaxy, and his sister is his hero. When Vennavalli is happy, he thinks of the color blue, and he loves talking to his friends about Roblox. He enjoys reading the Dog Man series and playing outside in his spare time. If Vennavalli could make a difference in the world, he would end wars. Lastly, he would choose O. Smith and N. Smith as his sidekicks.

Curious Minds at Work Third graders explored topics of scientific interest and gained a deeper understanding through handson experiments at the science fair. They conducted research, designed experiments, and collected and analyzed data. Their work was showcased through display boards and presentations. As they presented their projects, they gained self-esteem and confidence.

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS Thinking Like a Leader: A Visit from Our Mystery Reader Xavier’s dad, Chris Bridges, visited our third-grade class as our Mystery Reader and shared an inspiring book: How Successful People Think: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life by John C. Maxwell. A Wall Street Journal bestseller, this compact yet powerful read is perfect for today’s fast-paced world. As America’s leadership expert, Maxwell teaches readers how to be more creative, when to challenge popular thinking, and how to focus on the big picture while sharpening critical thinking skills. Our students engaged in a wonderful discussion about the book, exploring ideas like tapping into creativity, learning from the past, and working collaboratively. Thank you, Mr. Bridges, for inspiring our young thinkers and reading with us!

Celebrating Courage and Connection with Our Mystery Reader Jayden’s mom, Julia, was our Mystery Reader this week. She read The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson. “There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you.” This powerful story explores the many reasons we might feel different—whether it’s how we look or talk, where we’re from, what we eat, or something entirely unexpected. It reminds us that while taking the first steps into the unknown can be hard, it’s also brave. And when we share our stories, we open the door for others to meet us with kindness and understanding.

Jacqueline Woodson’s lyrical text and Rafael López’s stunning illustrations resonated deeply with our students.

May Finds Grade 4’s A-Buzzing!

Thank you to all of our Grade 4 families for helping to make Teacher Appreciation week so very special!!!

This year’s Art Exhibition treated us to an amazing display of our students’ varied talents! Throughout the week, we have enjoyed viewing the displays in our hallway and gym. Thank you Ms. Dempsey for inspiring the artistic talent within each student!

Grade 4 had a chance to celebrate three more double-digit birthdays this month! Happy Birthday to Agastya, Ariana, and Riyansh!!!

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS Throughout the month, Grade 4 students were busy working on their individual Science Fair projects.

Selecting from range of topics inspired by the themes they have covered in their Science class this year (Energy Conversion, Systems using Energy Conversion, Waves and Energy), each student decided on a “Big Question” and Hypothesis they were interested in further exploring.

Following the Scientific Method, using Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) to support their findings, students conducted their various experiments at home and displayed their findings in their creatively designed trifolds at our annual Science Fair. Congratulations Grade 4 for your excellent presentations at the Science Fair!

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During the week leading up to Memorial Day weekend, six of our 4th graders participated in the National Finals of the International Academic Competitions. Congratulations to Arjun, Ishan, Kiaan, Nicholas, Nikita…and to Nikhil who was a 2025 Quarterfinalist in the National Science Bee! A couple of our 4th graders also qualified for the National Finals but were unable to attend. Congratulations to Christian and Milan for qualifying for the National Finals in the National Science Bee and National Geography Bee, respectively!

Grade 4’s annual trip to the New Jersey State House was quite a memorable one! Assemblywoman Linda S. Carter, Majority Leader of the 22nd Legislative District, arranged for a special tour of the State House and a visit by New Jersey’s Lieutenant Governor, Tahesha Way, who spoke with us while we were participating in the “Make a Law” program. Thank you to the Jalloh Family for coordinating this wonderful experience!

Along with the flowers that bloom in May, Grade 4 students have been blooming, as well! It was during this month, as the students were taking their graduation photos and completing each day’s classwork, that they began reflecting on all that they have accomplished since September…and how much taller they are! The feeling shared among all is how aware they are of all that they can now successfully accomplish in one day and how much more independent and confident they have become since September! Currently, we are busy preparing for our Graduation Ceremony. Congratulations Grade 4 as you head towards Graduation and Middle School!

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Cedar Hill Prep Students Advanced to the National Finals in Orlando FL! Cedar Hill Prep School congratulates its ten students who participated in the National Finals of the International Academic Competitions from May 21 – May 25. Having advanced from the Regional Competitions to the 2024 National Championships of the National History Bee, National Geography Bee, National Science Bee, Academic Bee, Spelling Bee, and Academic Bowl, these CHP students were thrilled to have an opportunity to join students from around the U.S. at this next level of competition.

Congratulations to 4th graders, Arjun Bhaskar, Nicholas Codreanu, Nikhil Paladugu, Nikita Paladugu, Kiaan Pingle, and Ishan Rajiv, 5th graders, Aaryan Shah and Vallabh Vijayaraj, and 6th graders, Samarth Dakhera and Yajur Subramaniam, for their terrific participation in these buzzer-based 4-day competitions where many of them competed in more than one Bee! Additional congratulations go to 4th graders, Christian Byrd and Milan Williams, 6th grader, Shivad Desai, and 7th grader, Vishnu Badhan, who qualified for the National Finals but were unable to attend.

CHP is so proud of the motivation, effort, and sportsmanship that these students put forth!

Congratulations to all!

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MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS From Curiosity to Discovery: The Science of Dissection Frog dissection offers students a hands-on opportunity to study the anatomy of living organisms. It serves as an engaging introduction to the anatomy and body systems of vertebrates. As part of the Grade 7 science curriculum at CHP, students are currently learning about the functioning of human body systems under the Metabolism unit. During the dissection, they were able to observe both the external and internal anatomy of the frog.

Students examined the network of blood capillaries beneath the skin and the connective tissue covering the heart. They also identified various internal organs, including the heart, liver (lobes), lungs, stomach, intestines, kidneys, gallbladder, oviducts, and eggs (which resembled salt and pepper in appearance) within the viscera of the frog. Additionally, they observed the vertebral column. Our charismatic Grade 8 students also participated in the frog dissection, adding to the excitement and curiosity in the lab.

Game On On May 22nd the Annual Staff vs. Students Basketball Game was a slam dunk of fun! From buzzer-beaters to big laughs, everyone had a blast on and off the court. The Staff took home the win with a score of 58–39, but the real victory was the school spirit! Go Wildcats!

Cedar Hill Prep Student Triumphs at U.S. East Chess Championship We’re proud to announce that A. Mohammed, a 7th grader at Cedar Hill Prep, clinched first place in the Under 1400 category at the 79th Annual U.S. East Championship held this Memorial Day weekend. Over two intense days and six matches, Mohammed secured five wins and a draw in the final round — a performance that earned him the championship title among hundreds of talented young competitors from across the Northeast. This achievement highlights how our students thrive when they pursue their passions, supported by the encouragement and nurturing environment at Cedar Hill Prep.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS Green Team Blooms with Purpose Ahead of Mother’s Day Our CHP Green Team was quite busy the week before Mother’s Day. Members held a Mother’s Day Plant Sale, selling nearly 240 beautiful flowers. Von Thun’s local farm grew them all from seed. All proceeds benefited the Food Insecurity and Safety Coalition in Somerset, supporting local families. The Green Team did an amazing job!

Next up: setting up a rain barrel for our blooming rain garden!

CHP House Cabinet Cleans Up Union Beach for Community Service Day Tuesday, May 20, was a great day for our CHP House Cabinet members from Grades 5 and 6. This annual outing, chaperoned

by Coach Frankie and Mrs. Galiano, was filled with sunshine, hot sand, and cool water—perfect for Community Service Day. Our Cabinet members collected several large bags of trash along the shoreline and grass line.

Grateful community members thanked our volunteers and gifted them fun swag bags from the township. Union Beach is now ready—just in time for Memorial Day. Enjoy the holiday!

Celebrating Young Voices: Poetree Award Winners Announced Congratulations to the following students in Grades 5 through 8! Their exceptional poems have been selected for the Poetree Award. Entries from all middle school students were submitted and judged by an objective committee. The Poetree Program, launched two years ago by Samyuktha Nair, continues to support and celebrate poetry in schools. Samyuktha attended our recent Poetry Day and was inspired by the creativity and spirit shown by our students. We’re proud of everyone who participated — thank you for sharing your voice!

5th Grade - E. Usman, 6th Grade - S. Desai 7th Grade - E. Backenroth and A. Mohammed, 8th Grade - S. Kumar and G. Liu

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Garden State Debate League CHP Debate Ends the Year with a Strong Finish!

What a fantastic way to wrap up the debate season! Our Cedar Hill Prep debaters participated in their final tournament of the year, debating three thought-provoking topics: Cryptocurrencies should replace traditional banking systems Ban patents on life-saving medicines Diplomatic immunity does more harm than good In Dr. Nan Menon’s 13 years of leading the program, this marked a milestone—for the first time, all CHP teams won a particular round. Every one of our 8 teams secured a win debating the topic of cryptocurrency, with 6 on the proposition side and 2 on the opposition.

CHP performed remarkably well overall, winning 17 out of 24 rounds and finishing with a 71% win rate.

While the Orange County Debate Club (OCDC) took the top spot with a 90% win rate, CHP held its own against tough competition from schools including WAMS, Wilberforce, Hun, Stonebridge, Saddle River Day, Rising Star Charter, and Broad Street.

A heartfelt thank you to Ms. Simon, Ms. Lekhi, and Ms. Villafranca for their unwavering support. Special appreciation to Ms. Simon for coaching our 6th graders and to all the Debate Parents who kept our team fueled during evening sessions.

Speaker Awards 5th Top Speaker Award R. Aman, A. Mohamed, and N. Kim Top Speaker for CHP M. Indupuru Top Teams CHP ABY - A. Youseff; E. Backenroth and R. Aman won 6th Top Team.

Congratulations to all our debaters for their passion, poise, and powerful voices throughout the year!

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Wildcats@CHP Excel at FLL Robotics Tournament On Saturday, May 4th, the Wildcats@CHP Robotics Team participated in the First Lego League (FLL) Menlo Park Mashup—the final tournament of the 2024–2025 season—held at Menlo Park Mall in Edison, NJ. The event brought together 33 teams from across the state, each demonstrating creativity, technical skill, and a commitment to innovation.

Our team performed exceptionally well in all four judging categories: Robot Design, Robot Game, Innovation Project, and Core Values In recognition of their outstanding performance, the Wildcats@CHP team was awarded a trophy, celebrating their growth, collaboration, and passion for learning.

The tournament’s unique structure included both video submissions—sent in a week prior— and in-person judging. The judges highlighted teams that had made significant progress in their confidence and capabilities in both the Robot Game and the Innovation Project. Special emphasis was placed on teams that embodied the Core Values of FLL, demonstrating that the journey of discovery is even more meaningful than the accolades.

Representing CHP at the tournament were: M. Krovi, A. D’Souza, J. Nguyen, J. Li, and V. Vijayaraj Team members who contributed to robot design, programming, and video submissions: Y. Subramanian, A. Mohamed, S. Desai, A. Mabbu, V. Pandya, C. Johnson, C. Bristol, N. Kim, and D. Gafoor We are incredibly proud of our young innovators and their commitment to teamwork, perseverance, and scientific exploration.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS Celebrating Science CHP celebrated its Middle School Science Fair on Thursday, May 9th. Eleven judges from various fields of science came to interview and assess our students’ projects. These projects, which began in December and concluded in April, covered a wide range of topics including Physics, Botany, Earth Science, and more. Students measured antioxidants in basil leaves, conducted tests on coffee grinds and egg shells, grew oyster mushrooms, and engaged in numerous other significant studies that connected us with our NJIN Farm and our CHP Campus.

The NJIN Summer Capstone Projects stood out as the highlight of the exhibit! Each middle school student showcased their ability to discuss variables, reliability, background research, and graphed conclusions. Everyone demonstrated exceptional effort, and our students received compliments from judges who remarked, “The students put on more professional presentations than adults that I have worked with.” Way to go CHP!

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MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS

Adventure & Memories: 8th Grade Overnight Trip to Camelback The 8th grade enjoyed a fun-filled overnight trip to Camelback to celebrate the approaching end of the school year. From zip lining and the mountain coaster to the indoor waterpark, arcade, and laser tag, students had an absolute blast.

With great food, exciting adventures, and plenty of laughter, it was a memorable experience for all!

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WILDCATS SPORTS CHP Volleyball Team Shows Heart in Final Stretch Despite close losses to Princeton Charter School on Tuesday, May 6, and Metuchen Christian Academy on May 9, the CHP volleyball team showed tremendous grit, with exciting comefrom-behind rallies and steady improvement in each game.

The final match against Princeton Charter on Friday, May 19, was also a close game that showcased the team’s resilience and teamwork.

Huge shoutout to all our players— and especially our 8th graders, A. Davis, K. Hughley, Z. Mitchell, and A. Prabhakaran—for their dedication and leadership throughout the season!

Season Recap: Boys Tennis The CHP Boys Tennis Team had a fantastic start to the season, securing victories in their first two matches. Our Wildcats defeated Princeton Academy with a 4-1 win and edged out Pingry in a close 3-2 match. Great job, Wildcats — your hard work and determination truly paid off!

In their final match, the Boys Tennis Team lost a hard-fought contest to Princeton Day School, 4-0. All of the sets were extremely close, and our athletes gave their best effort. The Wildcats finished the season with a strong 2-1 record.

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Racing Toward Excellence

2025 Track & Field Season Highlights Cedar Hill Prep’s Wildcats Track Team had an exciting and competitive 2025 season, participating in four out of six scheduled meets. While two meets were unfortunately canceled due to weather, the team made their mark at the Big Blue Relays at The Pingry School (April 10), Greenbrook Meet (April 28), Silver Spike Invitational at Gill St. Bernard’s (May 7), and The Middlesex Meet (May 15).

Our student-athletes competed in a wide range of events, including sprint medley, 4x100m, 4x200m, 100m, 200m, 400m, and 1600m races. In field events, they participated in high jump, shot put, and discus—demonstrating a well-rounded athletic program.

Season Highlights At the Big Blue Relays—the largest middle school meet of its kind in New Jersey—our girls placed second in the sprint medley, finishing ahead of nine other schools. In the same meet, K. Patel gave CHP a strong start in the boys 4x100m relay, making the first handoff ahead of all competitors in his heat.

At the Greenbrook Meet, competing against three schools and nearly 90 athletes, CHP earned four second-place finishes and one third-place finish in the 100m heats. Our mixed relay team also finished second in a highly competitive race.

The Silver Spike Invitational saw even more success, with CHP placing second in both the 4x100m relay and the 200m race. Inspired by these strong finishes, our athletes gave one final push—and G. Liu delivered. She took first place in her heat of the girls 100m, crossing the finish line ahead of all competitors.

G. Liu & K. Patel: Names to Remember Fun fact: G. Liu ran the very first leg of CHP’s inaugural girls 4x100m relay team three years ago and made the team’s first handoff in school history. In her 8thgrade year, she anchored the team and helped lower the team’s 4x100m time from 1:09 to 1:01 over the course of the season.

K. Patel, a 5th grader, ran an astonishing 13.20 seconds in the 100m early in the season, then broke his own record twice, ending with a 12.9—making him the fastest student on campus. Notably, only 8th graders had previously broken the 14-second mark in CHP history. Kaelan’s growth represents the dedication and progress of all our athletes.

A Season of Growth With the guidance of Coach Teryn and Coach Allen, we were able to provide personalized training in addition to a comprehensive team program. Every athlete who committed to training improved their times from the beginning to the end of the season—a testament to their perseverance and athletic development. As we look ahead, we have every reason to be excited about the future of Track & Field at Cedar Hill Prep. With rising talent, strong coaching, and a growing culture of commitment, the Wildcats are well on their way to reaching new heights.

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Athletics Awards Banquet Celebrating a Year of Wildcat Excellence On May 28th, we proudly hosted our annual CHP Athletics Awards Banquet in the gymnasium, honoring the achievements of our incredible student-athletes.

From scoring game-winning goals to delivering clutch serves, our Wildcats gave it their all this season— and created unforgettable memories along the way.

A heartfelt thank you to all our coaches and athletes for your hard work, commitment, and passion. Your dedication continues to elevate our athletic programs and inspire the CHP community!

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SPECIALS Cinco de Mayo Comes to Life for Lower School Spanish Classes It was a festive occasion as each Lower School Spanish class— from Preschool to Grade 2—set aside academics and dove into a lively Mexican fiesta! After learning about the roots of Cinco de Mayo, we set the scene with traditional décor. Students designed their own ethnic symbols—piñatas, piñas, jalapeños, sombreros— and used them to decorate the walls and halls of the Spanish room. We answered trivia questions and earned authentic Mexican handicrafts as keepsakes.

Then, we moved to the beat of Mariachi music as we danced around the sombrero. Of course, no Cinco de Mayo celebration would be complete without a flavorful tasting of chips, queso, and salsa! We can’t wait to do it all again next year—we love the Mexican fiesta!

A Day of Culture, Creativity, and Collaboration!

Our recent celebration was a fantastic showcase of student learning, creativity, and collaboration!

The event began with a welcome speech by our 6th-grade students, A. Kahlon and C. Bristol, who set a festive tone and warmly welcomed everyone. Next, V. Rott and L. Parekh-Patel wowed us with a presentation of their Mexican restaurant menu and even gave a live demonstration on how to make a taco — ¡delicioso! M. Indupuru, D. Tandon, and M. Singhal followed with an informative and engaging presentation on the meaning and history of Cinco de Mayo, helping everyone understand the significance of the day. The celebration ended on a high note with a lively Kahoot game created by D. Rott and G. Liu, which tested everyone’s knowledge in a fun and interactive way! ¡Gracias a todos! It was a day full of learning, laughter, and cultural pride.

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Drama

SPECIALS

CHP Shines at NJ Junior Thespian State Festival!

What an incredible journey!

Our Middle School Students had an unforgettable experience on May 3rd at the NJ Junior Thespian State Festival! From inspiring workshops in voice, dance, and improv to the outstanding adjudicated performances of individual events, our troupe showcased their passion, creativity, and teamwork every step of the way.

The pieces our students brought for adjudication included Shakespeare monologues and solo selections from the Contemporary Musical Theatre Canon—each performed with heart and dedication. Student C. Bristol was awarded a Superior rating, a Perfect Score, and placed in the Top Five in the competition for his Individual Event, “Middle of a Moment” from James and the Giant Peach: The Musical.

Art Exhibit Celebrating Student Creativity at the Art Showcase Our students’ creativity was on full display at this year’s Art Showcase, a vibrant celebration of imagination and expression. With artwork from every grade level, the event highlighted the incredible talent nurtured in our art studio.

A special thank you to Ms. Allison Dempsey for leading this inspiring showcase and for her dedication to fostering artistic growth in our students. We are so proud to celebrate their unique artistic voices and the passion they bring to their work!

Click Here to See the Art Exhibit 22 | May Newsletter

AROUND THE SCHOOL Showcasing the Classrooms A Look Ahead: Classroom Showcase Gives Parents a Glimpse into the Next Academic Year Last week, families had the opportunity to step into their child’s future during our annual Classroom Showcase event.

Parents visited the classrooms their children will be entering in the upcoming academic year—Kindergarten families explored 1st grade, current 1st grade families visited 2nd grade, and so on throughout the school.

This special event offered a valuable chance to meet the teachers, learn about the curriculum, and ask questions about what to expect in the next grade level. It’s a meaningful way to ease transitions and build excitement as students continue their educational journey at CHP!

May and June Pizza with the Princial That’s a wrap on Pizza with the Principal for this academic year!

A big thank you to all the students who joined us for great conversations and even better slices.

We can’t wait to continue the tradition in the 2025–2026 school year.

Preschool - Kindergarten

Grades 1 - 2

Grades 3 - 4

Grades 5 - 8

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CHP EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOUNDATION PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION

Cheers to an Amazing Year!

A Note from Your CHP PTO

Wow – what a year! As we head into summer (and finally put away the lunchboxes for a while), the CHP PTO wants to take a moment to say a big, loud, sunshine-filled THANK YOU to our amazing school community.

First up, parents and families – you rock! Whether you baked cupcakes, sorted lost-andfound, sent in glue sticks, ran a booth, or just got your kid to school (mostly) on time – we see you. We appreciate you. You helped make this year awesome.

To our incredible teachers and staff – thank you for your endless energy, patience, and heart. You’re the real MVPs, and we’re so lucky to have you shaping our kids into kind, curious, and capable little humans.

To every volunteer who gave their time (and sanity) to help out at events, organize fundraisers, staple a thousand papers, or herd kids at field day – you are heroes in our book.

The PTO couldn’t have pulled it off without you.

A round of applause to our PTO board members and committee chairs – for planning, leading, emailing at all hours, and keeping the fun going. Your work behind the scenes made so many things possible!

And let’s not forget our amazing students – thanks for your smiles, energy, dance moves at multicultural night, and creativity in every corner of campus. You are the reason we do what we do!

This year was packed with unforgettable moments – art exhibits, book fairs, teacher appreciation week, fundraisers, field trips, and more. Together, we built memories, raised support, and made our school stronger and more connected.

Now go enjoy the summer – sleep in, splash around, read something fun, and recharge. We’ll be back next year ready to do it all again (with even more snacks, school plays, and school spirit).

With gratitude and lots of sunshine, Your CHP PTO

24 | May Newsletter

Looking Ahead to Upcoming Special Events

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4 Grades 7 and 8 Dance 5 Math Mart 6 Junior Olympics/Field Day 9 Water Play Day 10 Celebration of Achievements Elementary School (Grades 1 - 3) 9:00 am Middle School Grades (5 - 8) 5:00 pm 11 Graduation Ceremonies Kindergarten at 9:00 am Grade 4 at 11:00 am 12 Grade 8 Graduation

SAVE THE DATES

June

to the May Staff Birthdays!

Julie Haynoski

Luke Altman

Camryn Young

www.cedarhillprep.com | 25

152 Cedar Grove Lane Somerset, NJ 08873 Phone: 732-356-5400 Fax: 732-356-5409 Email: admissions@cedarhillprep.com Web: www.cedarhillprep.com

Contact Us

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26 | May Newsletter