Family Update

Posted on May 27, 2022

Dear Families,

This past week has been filled with both celebrations and tragedy.  As our nation grieves with the students, families, school staff, and the community of Uvalde, Texas, the Walnut Square staff is committed to providing a safe learning environment where all students can learn and grow.  On Wednesday, the HPS Leadership Team sent an email to families reviewing the following safety procedures:  

  • All entrances and doorways to all of our schools are locked at all times 
  • All visitors to the schools are only admitted through the main office. We have intercom systems and security cameras at each entrance that allow office staff to verbally and visually screen any visitors to the school prior to admitting them into the buildings.
  • Administrators at each of our schools regularly review emergency procedures and precautions with their staff. In response to recent events HPD is planning to have an increased presence at our schools this week and will drive through and monitor buildings and grounds periodically throughout the day. They will continue to monitor any potential threats.  We collaborate closely with police, and they run drills in our schools during school and off school hours.  

I want to thank you all for following the safety procedures and contacting me when there are any questions or concerns.  I am grateful and appreciative of your support and help.  

On Wednesday, second graders in Mrs. Sanchez’s class who were published in NECC’s Peace Poetry book read their poems at the School Committee meeting.  I would like to thank Mrs. Sanchez and the families that were able to make this possible for the students.  Not only are the students published poets, but they have also been on TV!  Please click here to watch the May 25, 2022 School Committee meeting.  

Thursday was our Memorial Day Concert, and we had such an amazing turnout!  Thank you for coming to show your support!  The students were so excited to perform and celebrate Memorial Day with you.  Thank you to the Walnut Square staff for their support and help to ensure the concert and dismissals ran smoothly and safely.  A special shout out to Mrs. Peck for an amazing concert!  To learn more about Memorial Day, please visit this website:  https://sites.google.com/haverhill-ps.org/memorial-day-honor-and-remembe/home.  It includes monuments in Haverhill as well as a read aloud of Rolling Thunder by Kate Messner.  

 Below are videos of the songs performed by our students:  

Students took the Reading iReady Diagnostic this week and will take the Math diagnostic next week.    The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions to suit your child’s needs. Each item a student receives is based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier ones. The purpose of this is not to give your child a score or grade but to determine how to best support their learning and communicate growth.  Please see the schedule below this letter to see when your child will take the assessment.  

To help prepare your child for the i-Ready Diagnostic, encourage them to: 

  • Get a good night’s sleep and eat a full breakfast the day of the assessment.
  • Try their best on each question and try not to rush.
  • Try not to worry about questions to which they do not know the answers—remind them that it is expected that they will only get about half of the questions correct.
  • Be respectful of other students who take longer to finish.
  • For the math diagnostic, use paper and pencil to show work for math questions.  

As the year winds down, there are many end of year events planned, and all are included in the “Mark Your Calendar” section below.  For the last 26 days of school, Walnut Square has an Alphabet Calendar Countdown!   Field Day is scheduled for Thursday, June 9th at 1:30, and volunteers are welcome!  Please note that a CORI must be on file to volunteer.  We have CORI forms in the office, and a copy of your license is needed to complete the application process.   Please get your forms in early as there may be delays in processing.  

Families, your help is requested!  We are looking for donations of the following:  

  • Oranges (for Tuesday, 5/31) 
  • Pirate’s Booty snack (for Wednesday, 6/1) 

Please bring the donations to your child’s classroom teacher.  Thank you!  The PTO will host its next meeting after school on Tuesday, May31st.  We hope to see you there!  

Grade 2 has special events planned, as they will be “moving up” to Pentucket Lake Elementary School next year!  Grade 2 Walk Up Day to Pentucket Lake is on Wednesday, June 1st.  There will be a grade 2 promotion ceremony scheduled for Monday, June 13th at 9:30 am, and students will enjoy a luau in the afternoon.  The rain date is Tuesday, June 14th.  Families are invited to the ceremony at 9:30 am.  We will have folding chairs set up, but please feel free to bring your own lawn chairs as we may not have enough chairs for everyone.  

As we prepare for next year, please let us know if your family is moving.  This will help us prepare the necessary paperwork to help you register your child at a new school.

HPS Registration is OPEN!  Kindergarten Registration for 2022-2023 opened on February 1st and families are welcome to begin completing the registration applications for enrollment.  

For other resources and information about Walnut Square, please go to https://walnutsquare.haverhill-ps.org/.   In addition to the Walnut Square School website, you can also “like” our Facebook page, Walnut Square Elementary School, and follow us on Instragram @walnutsquaresuperstars to get updates and see all of the fun and learning that happens at Walnut Square!

Sincerely,

Jen Rubera, Principal

Here are other updates for the week:  

iReady Diagnostic Assessment Schedule:  

Math:  

  • Tuesday, 5/31:  Mrs. Sanchez and Ms. Luttig 
  • Wednesday, 6/1:  Ms. Abreu and Ms. Luttig 
  • Thursday, 6/2:  Ms. Sargent and Ms. Caruso
  • Friday, 6/3:  Mrs. Hughes and Ms. Abreu
  • Monday, 6/6:  Mrs. O’Leary 

Makeups:  June 6-10th

Mark Your Calendar!

  • Tuesday, May 10th:  Walnut Square Alphabet Calendar  Begins
  • Friday, May 27th:  Early Release Day (Dismissal is 11:35 am)
  • Monday, May 30th:  Memorial Day NO SCHOOL 
  • Tuesday, May 31st:  PTO Meeting 3:20 pm  
  • Wednesday, June 1st:  Grade 2 Walk Up Day to Pentucket Lake (9:30 am) 
  • Thursday, June 9th:  Field Day (1:30 pm) 
  • Monday, June 13th:  Grade Move Up Ceremony 9:30 am and Luau (afternoon) 

HPS and Community Updates:  

  • Saturday, July 16: Back to school outreach/Block Party with Riverside Church and The Merrimack Valley Dream Center. More details to come!

 Student Supplies

Please send your child to school with the following supplies:  

  • Water bottle (to refill at our water bottle station)
  • Extra change of clothes (can be kept in backpack)