Family Update

Posted on November 22, 2023

Dear Families,

This week, we celebrated Turkey Tuesday, and all Superstars completed a turkey craft to take home!  To learn more about turkeys in Massachusetts, click here.  As we prepare to take time off from school Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th for the Thanksgiving break, I am grateful for everyone who has helped the routine for showing up to school while supporting students and families.

Daily routines are essential for reducing stress and creating a sense of security for students and adults.  Please take steps to keep your child healthy and send them to school unless they are truly sick.   Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as connect to peers and their teachers.

I would like to thank:

  • Our students and their families who do their best to show up to class every day even when it isn’t easy.
  • Our teachers who have gone above and beyond to help make school a welcoming learning environment where students can thrive.
  • Our support staff who provide the extra hands and attention our children need while ensuring a healthy and safe environment for all.

I’m excited about the ST Math Challenge!  For the next 3 weeks, (November 20 – December 11) we will be holding a ST Math Challenge for Walnut Square School.  Two classes will be chosen to have a pizza party and extra recess.  The class that has the highest participation in bringing back a decorated JiJi will be chosen and the class that has completed the highest number of ST Math puzzles during the specified time frame will also be chosen.  If you have any questions please contact Jean Sargent at jsargent@haverhill-ps.org.

  • Challenge 1:  This challenge will be done at home, and then returned to school.  Attached to this page is a copy of a penguin (JiJi) from our ST Math program.  You and your child should decorate, color, and name your penguin.  You can also have your penguin participating in a favorite family activity by adding a scene to the penguin.  You may cut him out or keep him on the sheet provided.  The class that brings back the most completed penguins by December 11, will receive a pizza party and extra recess on December 15.
  • Challenge 2:  This challenge will take place at school.  The classroom with the highest number of ST Math puzzles, starting on November 20 and ending December 11, will receive a pizza party and extra recess on December 15.

Please send a water bottle to school each day with your child.  We are also accepting donations of plastic cups.  Thank you for attention and help with this!

This week, Site Council met for a building walkthrough.  To view the agenda and meeting minutes, please visit https://walnutsquare.haverhill-ps.org/school-improvement-plan/.

In PTO MATH-A-THON news, thank you to all who have returned pledges and flat rate donations!  All collected pledges and flat rate donations are due by Friday, December 1st. 100% of all proceeds collected will go directly to the PTO to help fund school activities and goals!  PTO has also partnered with Cottage Gardens for a holiday fundraiser to order wreaths, kissing balls, and/or poinsettia.  50% of the profits will go to the Walnut Square PTO.  Thank you to those who have sent in order forms.  More information about the PTO can be found by clicking here.  

Thank you to all who have completed the Fall Family Feedback Survey.  More than half of our families have completed it!  A paper copy was sent home, or you can complete it by clicking on this link:  https://forms.gle/ebED3Hgycace1FUS8.  If you haven’t completed it yet, please consider completing the brief survey.  Your input is very much appreciated and valued.  This survey is shared with staff, Site Council, and PTO, and your feedback is important!

Our school nurses have started vision and hearing screenings. Parents will be notified if the student does not meet the school criteria.  If you have any questions, please contact Nurse Helene or Nurse Jillian. 

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.   Thank you!  

 Sincerely, 

Jen Rubera 

Principal

District and Community Updates and Resources

District is adding text messaging (SMS) to SchoolMessenger Communicate

PTO News

The Walnut Square PTO is kicking off our Math-a-thon fundraiser, and we need your help and support to make this a successful event.  100% of the proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit Walnut Square School activities.  Additionally, this fundraiser allows students to play an active role in the process!  This fundraiser promotes math skills while building students’ self confidence.  

Each student will be given a Math-a-thon information letter and a pledge sheet.  Students can gather pledges per problem or a flat rate donation.  We encourage students to only ask family members, close neighbors, close friends, or family coworkers for pledge support.  

Students can collect pledges and donations.  All collected money should be returned to school by Friday, December 1, 2023.  

Thank you for your help and support to make this a successful fundraiser!  

PTO has also partnered with Cottage Gardens for a holiday fundraiser to order wreaths, kissing balls, and/or poinsettia.  50% of the profits will go to the Walnut Square PTO.  Order forms went home with students this past week.  Please look for them in your child’s folder.

For more information about the PTO, please click here.  

Mark Your Calendar!

  • Wednesday, December 6th:  PreK-Grade 8 Report Cards Issued
  • Wednesday, December 13th:  Early Release Day (Dismissal is at 11:35 am) 
  • Wednesday, December 13th:  PTO Meeting (5:00-6:00 pm) and Site Council Meeting (6:00-7:00 pm)  **Both are held on Google Meet 
  • Monday, December 18th:  Mitten Monday 
  • Tuesday, December 19th:  Gingerbread Day 
  • Wednesday, December 20th:  Winter Wonderland 
  • Thursday, December 21st:  Sweater Weather Thursday 
  • Friday, December 22nd:  Hibernate Friday and Early Release Day (Dismissal is at 11:35 am)