Family Update

Posted on September 15, 2023

Dear Families,

Superstars are working so hard to learn and practice school and classroom routines.  They are also working on completing assessments like the iReady Diagnostic (in both Reading and Math) and other literacy and math tasks.  The Walnut Square community participated in a Plant, Paint, Cross-Pollinate Community Art Project with Art professor and local artist Jenn Houle.  Third grade students painted flowers on butterflies during the school day, and in the evening there was a Title 1 Event for families to come and paint together.  Not only was it so much fun to connect and paint on a beautiful evening, but the finished art products on the “slope” look amazing!  Next up, more pollinator plants to be planted!  Stay tuned!  

September is also Attendance Awareness Month!  To celebrate Attendance, the Attendance Awareness Breakfast Contest is on!   The homeroom with the best attendance for the month of September will be honored with breakfast at school to thank them for making getting to school a priority in their home. There will also be special guests in attendance!  Daily attendance routines can reduce stress, increase your child’s self-confidence, and lay a foundation for good attendance in later grades.  Participation in school helps your child connect with other children and adults and get excited about learning.  Children learn best from hand-on activities and through meaningful interactions with their teacher and other students.  Give your child one of the best gifts possible- the gift of daily school attendance!  

On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, we will hold our first PTO and Site Council meeting on Google Meet.  PTO will begin at 5:00 pm, and Site Council will begin at 6:00 pm.  Thank you to those who have reached out to join in this important work or helping our school community grow and improve.  Here is the Google Meet joining info/Video call link: https://meet.google.com/tew-ezgq-jat.  If you are still interested in joining Site Council, please email me at jrubera@haverhill-ps.org.  

The PTO is also beginning the Dollar Fundraiser starting on Monday, September 18th and ending on Friday, October 13th.  Here are copies of the handouts you will receive with an envelope: 

If there are any changes to your child’s dismissal routine, please send a handwritten note to school with the following information:  

  •  Child’s name
  •  The time student will be dismissed 
  • Who will be dismissing the child.  **Please note, the person dismissing the child must be listed as an emergency contact in Schoolbrains.  

Please come to the entrance on the Main Street side of the building. A photo ID is required when dismissing children.  Thank you for your cooperation for a safe and smooth dismissal!

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!   Please contact me if you have any questions.  Have a wonderful long weekend, and I look forward to seeing you when school resumes on Tuesday, September 5th.  Thank you!  

 

Sincerely, 

 Jen Rubera 

Principal

District and Community Resources

September is Library Card Month!

With access to technology, innovative programming, and educational resources, a library card gives students of all ages the tools to succeed in school. Best of all, it has so many amazing books!  To celebrate Library Card Month, take a picture with your library card and email it to jrubera@haverhill-ps.org.  If you don’t have one, you can apply for one here:  https://haverhillpl.org/library-card-application/.  The Haverhill Public Library is one of my favorite places to visit…maybe I’ll see you there sometime!  

Haverhill Promise Book Buddies 

Please visit www.haverhillbookbuddies.org to learn more about the program and what you can to if you’re interested in volunteering.  The link to the Sign-Up form is here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-tU3hY2oTbCWe_OQqc-OpNafg42sCQahlOaj2QHkQZ20-4Q/viewform

 

Superstars Monthly Theme:  Safety 

For our Superstars at Walnut Square, our monthly theme is safety.  School is a safe place where all students can learn and grow.  To stay safe, we follow school rules.   School rules are basic expectations on how you behave at school.  They are in effect at all times.  We have rules to keep everyone safe and help everyone learn.  We have two rules at Walnut Square:  

1:  Follow directions given by grown ups. 

2:  Keep your hands and feet to yourself.  

During the month of September, we will be teaching and reviewing rules as well as teaching routines (what students do frequently throughout the day and procedures (the steps students need to take in order to accomplish a routine).  Discussing rules, routines, and procedures at home with your child is a great way to help support your child in school!  

 

Technology Updates 

 

Grade 1 and 2 students, please bring your Chromebooks and chargers with you to school if you haven’t done so. If you have lost or misplaced your charger, you may purchase a new one for $39.00.  Please contact Mrs. Greene if you have any questions.  

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/.  This information is also posted on the Parent and Student Resources page and the HPS Technology page.  For a copy of the HPS Student Device Policy, please click here:  HPS Student Device Policy English  HPS Student Device Policy Spanish.  

 

Mark Your Calendar!

  • Wednesday September 20th:  PTO Meeting 5:00-6:00 pm 
  • Wednesday September 20th:  Site Council Meeting 6:00-7:00 pm 
  • Wednesday, September 27th:  Early Release Day (Dismissal is at 11:35 am) 
  • Thursday, October 5th:  Title 1 Event:  “SEL”-ebrate the ABCs of Walnut Square!  6:00-7:30 pm 
  • Friday, October 6th:  Attendance Breakfast Contest Celebration
  • Friday, October 13th:  PTO Dollar Fundraiser Due 
  • Wednesday, October 18th:  Title 1 Fall Nature Walk with Pentucket Lake and JG Whittier 
  • Wednesday, October 25th:  K-8 Progress Reports Issued 
  • Wednesday, October 25th:  Early Release (Dismissal is at 11:35 am) 
  • Wednesday, October 25th: PTO Meeting 
  • Wednesday, October 25th: Site Council Meeting 
  • Thursday October 26th:  PreK-8 Parent/Teacher Conferences
  • Friday, October 27th:  Pumpkin Day/Pumpkin Parade