Family Update

Posted on March 15, 2024

Principal’s Post 

Dear Families,

We have officially “sprung ahead” into a very busy season with many upcoming events!  Please check the Mark Your Calendar section of the weekly family update to stay informed.  Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn and connect to peers and their teachers and staff at Walnut Square.  For the month of March (March 1-15th), our current attendance rate is 94.76%.   I appreciate everyone’s hard work and commitment to our school community.

The Walnut Square Site Council is collaborating with the Haverhill Police Department Traffic Division to review the North Ave. side drop off and pick up so that it is safe for families.  There is a specific area on North Ave. (between the signs) for parents to drop off  and pick up their students.  Please note, this is not a place to park between the hours of 8:00 and 4:00 pm.  This area is to remain open during drop off  in the morning and pick up in the afternoon.  Thank you for your attention to this matter as we work to improve the arrival/dismissal procedures.  

The Haverhill Conservation Department is sharing their Open Space & Recreation Plan Survey. The City of Haverhill is in the process of updating its Open Space and Recreation Plan.  This occurs about every 7 years.  Approval of this Plan by the MA Division of Conservation Services makes us eligible to pursue funding through several grant programs for playground and ballfield improvements, as well as land acquisition.  However, the Plan is also a vehicle for identifying areas of needed programming improvements, accessibility improvements, and even ordinance changes. Here is the link to complete the survey:  https://forms.gle/txr8TFv5RR617r3Y9.  Thank you so much for your consideration!

Field Day is fast approaching, and it takes many people to make this day a success.  We are looking for volunteers to help out at the various stations throughout the morning.  Field Day will be held on Wednesday, May 29th 9:30 am – 11:30 am.  The rain date is Wednesday, June 5th from 9:30 am – 11:30 am.  All volunteers should plan on arriving at 9:00 AM and plan to stay until 11:45 AM.  Only volunteers will be allowed to attend this event and must have an active CORI on file.  If you would like to volunteer, please click on this link and complete the form:  https://forms.gle/u7xU1RhehsbMcWRX7

I  hope you all enjoy the weekend, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Sincerely,

Jen Rubera

Principal

Attendance Matters: Showing Up Together!  

District and Community Updates and Resources

School Reminders

  • 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!

Help Wanted

  • We are in need of the following items if you’d like to donate:
    • plastic cups
    • headphones that plug into Chromebooks
    • Walnut Square Clothes Closet:  We mostly need boys and girls 4-6 & 6-8 pants, and boys 8-10 pants. Looking for donations/gift cards to Walmart/Target to purchase items as well.

PTO News

The Walnut Square PTO is hosting a t-shirt fundraiser!  Click on the link below to view and order Superstars gear!

https://www.customink.com/fundraising/t-shirts-for-walnut-square-school

Teacher Appreciation Week is Monday May 6th-Friday, May 10th this year, and we’d like to celebrate all of the staff at Walnut Square for their hard work and dedication!   We need your help and hope you are able to participate in the activities we have planned!  We would also appreciate the following donations: 

  • flowers (to be brought to school on Friday, May 10th)
  • chocolate (various kinds)
  • gift cards to the following places:  Amazon, Dollar Tree, Target, Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks, and Heavn’ly. 

If you are able to donate, please donate by Wednesday, May 1st.  Thank you so much for helping to make this week amazing for the staff!  

For more information about the PTO, please click here.  

Mark Your Calendar!

March

  • Monday, March 18th:  PreK-8 Marks Close 2nd Trimester 
  • Wednesday, March 20th:  Early Release Day- Dismissal is at 11:35 am 
  • Monday, March 25th:  PreK-8 Report Cards 
  • Wednesday, March 27th:   Class Photo Day  
  • Friday, March 29th:  NO SCHOOL- Good Friday

April 

  • Tuesday, April 2nd:  MCAS Practice Test Grade 3 ELA 
  • Wednesday, April 3rd:  MCAS Grade 3 ELA Session 1 
  • Thursday, April 4th:  MCAS Grade 3 ELA Session 2
  • Monday, April 15th-Friday, April 19th:  No School Spring Recess 
  • Monday, April 22nd:  MCAS Makeups
  • Tuesday, April 23rd:  MCAS Makeups
  • Wednesday, April 24th:  Early Release Dismissal is at 11:35 am 
  • Wednesday, April 24th: PTO and Site Council Meetings 5:00-7:00 pm *Each meeting is scheduled to be 1 hour long and is on the same Google Meet Link.  
  • Thursday, April 25th:  MCAS Makeups 

May

  • Thursday, May 2nd:  Connor’s Kindness Project Presentation 1:10 pm 
  • Friday, May 3rd:  K-8 Progress Reports Issued 3rd Trimester 
  • Monday, May 13th:  MCAS Practice Test Grade 3 Math 
  • Tuesday, May 14th:  MCAS Grade 3 Math Session 1 
  • Wednesday, May 15th:  MCAS Grade 3 Math Session 2 
  • Wednesday, May 15th: PTO and Site Council Meetings (5:00-7:00 pm via Google Meet) 
  • Wednesday, May 22nd:  Early Release Dismissal is at 11:35 am 
  • Monday, May 20th- Friday, May 24th:  MCAS Makeups 
  • Tuesday, May 28th:  Grade 3 “Move Up” Day to Pentucket Lake 9:30 am 
  • Wednesday, May 29th: Field Day 9:30-11:30 am (Rain Date Wednesday, 6/5/24) 
  • Friday, May 31st:  Spring Concert 10:00 am- Doors open for seating at 9:30 am (Rain Date Monday, 6/3/24) 

June 

  • Monday, June 10th:  Kindergarten Teddy Bear Promotion Picnic 9:45 am-10:45 am (Rain Date Tuesday, June 11th) 
  • Tuesday, June 11th:  Grade 3 Promotion Ceremony 9:30 am 
  • Wednesday, June 12th:  Last Day of School