Family Update: Family Engagement Opportunities

Posted on August 23, 2024

Dear Families,

I’m very excited to begin the 2024 school year!  I hope to see you all at Open House on Monday, August 26th from 4:00-5:30 pm.  School begins for students in grades 1-3 on Tuesday, August 27th, and the first day of school for our Kindergarten Superstars is on Wednesday, September 4th.  This family update is dedicated to family engagement.  The goal of family engagement is to collaborate and share responsibility for the growth and learning of our children.  When school staff and families work together, our students thrive socially, emotionally, and academically!  At Walnut Square, two family groups meet monthly to support our school:  the Site Council, and the PTO (Parent/Teacher Organization).  More information is included below.  If you are interested in joining the Walnut Square PTO, please click here to complete the PTO Interest form or scan the QR code below.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  Thank you!

Sincerely,

Principal Jen Rubera

 

 

Walnut Square School Site Council:  The Site Council is a balanced group of educators, families, and community members who meet monthly.  The School Site Councils assists the principal in:

    • Adopting educational goals for the school that are consistent with local educational policies and statewide student performance standards
    • Identifying the educational needs of students attending the school
    • Reviewing the annual school building budget
    • Formulating a school improvement plan

If you are interested in joining Site Council, please contact Principal Jen Rubera.  

 

The Walnut Square School PTO (Parent Teacher Organization):  The PTO is a group of families, educators, and Walnut Square Alumni who work together to raise funds to plan enrichment activities and purchase resources to support students.  For the 2023-2024 school year, the Walnut Square PTO raised $3,243.00 and received a Music Bingo Donation of $5,439.00 for a combined total of $8, 682.00 to support efforts for students and staff!  

Below is a breakdown of Fundraisers, Accomplishments, and Meeting Minutes from the PTO Executive Board Meeting held on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.  If you are interested in joining the PTO, we hope you’ll attend the first meeting scheduled on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 5:00 pm.  This meeting will be in person, and child supervision will be provided by High School NHS members.  

PTO Fundraisers:  

  • Dollar Fundraiser:  $1,247.25 
  • Romano’s Restaurant Night:  $150.00
  • Kimball Farm Corn Maze Fundraiser:  $230.00 and $70.00 in donations
  • Pumpkin Parade Donations:  $63.00 
  • Cottage Gardens Wreath Fundraiser:  $170.00
  • Math-a-thon:  $852.75
  • T-Shirt Fundraiser:  $460.00 

Total Fundraising Amount:  $3,243.00 

Music Bingo Donation of $5,439.00 coordinated by HHS alumni Ryan Ricci, Adam Desmarais, and Jim and Jen Rubera 

Combined Total Fundraising/Music Bingo Donation:  $8,682 

PTO Accomplishments for the 2023-2024 School Year:  

  • Total:  $5,203.68 allocated to request for funds by teachers.  This includes new classroom rugs, books, classroom furniture (white board on stand, wiggle seats, flexible seating, carts with drawers, bookends) consumable materials for students, crafts for students, items for students during spirit weeks, sensory materials, headphones, clipboards, visual timers, gift cards to purchase materials, electric pencil sharpeners, and field day materials (face paint, q-tips, and baby wipes).  
  • Walnut Square T-shirts were purchased for staff and students for field day.  
  • Purchased slush for students for Field Day and Grade 3 Luau.  
  • Applied for and received books for the library from the Toys for Tots Literacy Program
  • Planned, coordinated, and funded a Spaghetti Dinner that brought Walnut Square students and families together as a community
  • PTO purchased flowers and mulch for Walnut Square grounds for the City of Haverhill’s Annual Earth Day Clean Up community event.  
  • Funded and coordinated Teacher Appreciation Week goodies, food, and gift cards 
  • Brought Curious Creatures for” “In School Field Trip to Walnut Square
  • Provided funds  to purchase books, snacks, drinks, and gift bags for the Kindergarten Teddy Promotion Picnic 
  • Provided funds for the Grade 3 Promotion Ceremony and Luau which included gifts, supplies, and slush 

 

PTO Executive Board Meeting Agenda and Meeting Minutes 

8/24/23 5:00-7:00 pm 

Walnut Square School 

Attendance:  Evelyne Cascio, Morry Korinow, Alicia Korinow, and Jen Rubera 

Notetaker:  Jen Rubera 

To Do:  

  • First meeting is Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 5:00 pm.  This meeting will be in person, and child supervision will be provided by High School NHS members.  
      • Get feedback for future meetings and set the meeting dates. 
  • Open House 
    • Will have table set up where families can sign up to get PTO emails.  
    • Morry will create a slide with a QR code to have families sign up.  
  • Set Goal for 2024-2025 School Year 
    • Continue to fundraise to support and enrich the goals of Walnut Square School
  • Calendar Walk-Tentatively Plan for 2024-2025 
    • 9/9 PTO Dollar Fundraiser Kick Off  
    • 10/15 PTO Dollar Fundraiser Due 
    • 9/17 Title 1 Annual Meeting 
    • 9/26 PTO Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser 
    • 2nd week in October Title 1 Fall Nature Walk 
    • 10/25 Pumpkin Day/Pumpkin Parade/PTO Kimball Farm Fundraiser 
    • 11/4 PTO Pancakes with the Principal Kick-Off 
    •  12/2 PTO Pancakes and Pajamas with the Principal Fundraiser Due 
    • 12/6 Pancakes and Pajamas with the Principal 
    • 3/1 Music Bingo Fundraiser 
    • Read Across America End of Feb or beginning of March (March 2nd falls on a weekend)- Volunteering option for families?  Read-A-Thon ***We need to finalize the dates for this fundraiser 
    • End of March:  Title 1 Spring Nature Walk 
    • May/June:  PTO Math-a-thon Fundraiser
  • To Do:  Custom Ink t-shirt fundraiser Alicia Korinow will check with Shannon about setting it up.