Family Update

Posted on August 25, 2023

Dear Families,

The staff at Walnut Square School are excited to welcome you to a new school year filled with opportunities to learn and engage!   

Getting into the habit of daily attendance is more important than ever.   It helps to:  

  • reduce stress
  • make it easier to connect with friends and teachers
  • support learning   

We are working to make our school environment a place where everyone can be safe, healthy, and learning.  We will do our best to listen and partner with you so that your child will have a successful year.  Please call me if you need help with attendance at (978) 374-3471.  

As with all family updates, this will be posted on our school website, https://walnutsquare.haverhill-ps.org/ and sent to you via School Messenger and Remind.  In addition to the Walnut Square School website, you can also “like” our Facebook page, Walnut Square Elementary School, follow us on Instragram, @walnutsquaresuperstars, and/or follow my channel on YouTube, @jenrubera, to get updates and see all of the fun and learning taking place at Walnut Square!  We are so excited to see our first, second, and third graders on Tuesday!  Our school playground opens at 8:45 am. We are also excited to meet our Kindergarten students during screening!  Please contact me if you have any questions.  Thank you!  

Sincerely, 

Jen Rubera 

Principal

 

Title 1 Letter to Families 

Walnut Square is a Title 1 School.  Please click on the link to read the letter to families about Title 1.  Title 1 Notice English    Title 1 Notice Spanish Title 1 Notice Portuguese.

We hope to see you on Monday, August 28th at our Open House and Title 1 Annual Parent Meeting!

 

Open House/Title 1 Annual Parent Meeting

We are looking forward to seeing you at our Open House and Title 1 Annual Parent Meeting on Monday, August 28th from 4:00-5:30 pm!  

  • Kindergarten and First Grade 4:00-4:45 pm 
  • Second and Third Grade 4:45-5:30 pm 

This event will be held outdoors, and families will have the opportunity to take a tour inside.   Please note that the staggered times prevent crowding and parking issues.  If you have children in different grades, please select one time to come.   

Please click here to view the Open House Flyer in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.  

 

Walnut Square Family Guides:  Please visit https://walnutsquare.haverhill-ps.org/walnut-square-routines/ to learn more about the expectations and procedures for Walnut Square School.  

 School Supply List 

The following items are greatly appreciated!  

  • Headphones that will plug into student Chromebooks.  
  • Number 2 pencils (Ticonderoga pencils are preferred)
  • Crayola crayons 
  • Large glue sticks 
  • Dry erase markers
  • Paper towels 
  • Ziploc bags of all sizes 
  • Baby wipes 
  • Clorox wipes
  • For grade 3 students:  a package of 5 highlighters:  pink, green, orange, blue, and yellow 

Transportation

Bus routes are available and posted here:  https://www.haverhill-ps.org/transportation/.  

 

Kindergarten Information 

Entering kindergarten is such a big step and we are excited to welcome you and your child to Walnut Square School, home of the Superstars!

Prior to entering kindergarten, all students participate in a screening process in English Language Arts and Mathematics and allows us time to become acquainted with your child.  

Screenings will take place Tuesday, August 29, and Wednesday, August 30, 2023.  Please call the school at (978) 374-3471 to set up your child’s screening appointment.  Each screening will take approximately ½ hour.  

On Friday, September 1, we will have a kindergarten Meet and Greet from 9:30 – 10:30 AM. At this time, your child will have the opportunity to meet his/her teacher along with classmates.  The first day for Kindergarten students will be Tuesday, September 5, 2023.   To help your child get acquainted with Walnut Square, please click on the social story:  Kindergarten Social Story English   Kindergarten Social Story Spanish.  

Technology Updates 

 

HPS has chosen School Device Coverage (SDC) to insure the Chromebooks that students have been issued. The cost of coverage for the year is $20 and includes accidental damage, loss, fire, and theft. Families have the option to sign up during the month of September:  

https://www.haverhill-ps.org/technology/device-insurance/

Qustodio, a FREE student safety/digital wellbeing platform, helps parents/guardians control their child’s access to the internet on their school issued devices. Qustodio is FREE for HPS Students/Families. More information and how to sign up for Qustodio can be found on our website at:  https://www.haverhill-ps.org/technology/athome/student-safety-and-digital-wellbeing-platform/

 

School Improvement Plan

Each year, every school shall adopt school performance goals and develop and implement a written School Improvement Plan to advance those goals and improve student performance. Please click on this link to view Walnut Square’s School Improvement Plan.  

 

Get Involved!  

  • School Site Council:  The Site Council is a balanced group of educators and families who meet monthly to discuss and develop the School Improvement Plan. 

 

Mark Your Calendar!

  • Tuesday, August 29th:  First Day of School Grades 1-12; Kindergarten Screening
  • Wednesday, August 30th:  Kindergarten Screening
  • Friday, September 1st:  Early Release (Dismissal is at 11:35 am) 
  • Monday, September 4th:  Labor Day- NO SCHOOL 
  • Tuesday, September 5th:  First Day of School Pre-K and Kindergarten 
  • Thursday, September 14th:  Plant, Paint, Cross-Pollinate Project Grade 3 and Title 1 Event:  Grade 3 1:30-2:30 pm; Title 1 Event:  5:30-6:30 pm 
  • Wednesday, September 20th:  School Picture Day 
  • Thursday, October 5th:  Title 1 Event:  “SEL”-ebrate the ABCs of Walnut Square!  6:00-7:30 pm