Family Update

Posted on April 5, 2024

Principal’s Post 

Dear Families,

This week, 3rd grade Superstars took their first MCAS test in English Language Arts.  The staff is so proud of their hard work and effort!  Due to yesterday’s 2 hour delay, MCAS English Language Arts Session 2 has been postponed until Wednesday, April 10th.  In other 3rd grade news, Room 1 said goodbye to Ms. Ezepek and welcomed Ms. Brown during a “Meet and Greet” this afternoon.  We are going to miss Ms. Ezepek, but we are excited to welcome Ms. Brown to the Walnut Square community!

On Monday next week, there is a solar eclipse!  Please click here to read the important message from Dr. Marotta about the solar eclipse.  

Haverhill’s Annual City Wide Earth Day Clean Up is scheduled for Saturday, April 20, 2024 starting at 9:00 am.  Walnut Square participated last year, and we were part of a team that helped to clean Lake Pentucket.  This year, to support the theme of “City Spaces and Historical Places,” Walnut Square will be cleaning and sprucing up the Walnut Square grounds as well as the Fred Butterfield Square park.  If you’re not familiar with the park, it is the small “pocket park” that is right next to Walnut Square!  This is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to team up with our Haverhill community and do our part to help!   To RSVP, please click on the link:  https://forms.gle/fPR2FBK3VEodXd6t9

Haverhill Public Schools has released all of the summer opportunities for summer 2024!  You can visit https://www.haverhill-ps.org/2023-summer-extended-learning/ to learn more.  You can also click on the HPS Summer Flyers:

I also wanted to review the procedure if there is a change to a child’s regular 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 come to the entrance on the Main Street side of the building. A photo ID is required when dismissing children.  Please ring the bell and wait for the door to be unlocked.   Then you can walk up the steps to the office to sign the log that you are dismissing your child.   Thank you for your help and attention to ensuring every student gets home safely!

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!

Sincerely,

Jen Rubera

Principal

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!

April 

  • Autism Acceptance Spirit Week:  Monday, April 8th- Friday, April 12th
  • Monday, April 8th:  Sensory Friendly Monday- wear comfortable clothes and/or sunglasses
  • Tuesday, April 9th:  TEAM Tuesday- Together Everyone Accomplishes More– Wear your favorite sports team or sports shirt.
  • Tuesday, April 9th:  Kindness Project 10:30 am-11:15 am 
  • Wednesday, April 10th: MCAS Grade 3 ELA Session 2
  • Wednesday, April 10th:  Hats off to Autism! Wear a hat to show your support and acceptance of autistic individuals!
  • Thursday, April 11th:  Dress up to show something you love!  For example, if you love turtles, you can wear a turtle t-shirt or hat!  
  • Friday, April 12th:  Dress in Blue and White or your Walnut Square Shirt to show your spirit for Walnut Square!
  • 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, Grade 3 Luau (students only- afternoon)
  • Wednesday, June 12th:  Last Day of School