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Family Update

Dear Families,

Superstars took the iReady Mathematics Diagnostic this week, and we are all so proud of how hard they have been working!  Progress reports went home with students today in both Reading and Mathematics.  Please note that if students were absent and/or did not complete the iReady Diagnostic, only the fall scores are showing.  A new copy of the progress report will be shared with you upon completion of the iReady diagnostic.  Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, January 30 from 4:00-5:30 pm; notices to sign up for conferences went home with your child this week.  It is exciting to share Superstars’ progress!

On your child’s progress report, you’ll notice that there is a Lexile Measure.  The Lexile Framework for Reading measures a student’s reading skills and the difficulty of texts on the same scale. This means you can easily find books that match your child’s reading level while also challenging them.  With Lexile measures, you can discover books that fit your child’s abilities, helping them improve their reading skills.  You can match their Lexile measure with books that are about 100L lower to 50L higher than their level, ensuring they’re reading materials they can understand.  By doing this, you promote their success and help them develop a love for reading. To learn more about the Lexile Framework for Reading. please visit https://hub.lexile.com/lexile-measures-parent-guide/.  

Our next spirit week will be the week before February, and the theme is “Spread the love of Reading!”   Please click on link to view the flyers:   Spread the Love of Reading Spirit Week 2/10/25-2/14/25   To encourage reading both at school and home, I invite all Superstars to fill out the Superstar Book Review.  By completing this log, you will help our school community create a wonderful resource to share that will help to encourage others to read!   Here is the link to complete the form after you read each book:  https://forms.gle/iDTbdMb6mkwBkmAu6.  

This morning was Pancakes and Pajamas with the Principal, and I had a blast enjoying some time with Superstars while making one of my favorite foods!  Please be sure to check our social media for pictures!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, and I hope you’re able to enjoy reading together!

Sincerely,

Jen Rubera

Principal

ATTENDANCE MATTERS:  SHOWING UP TOGETHER 

KIDS CLUB AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM AT WALNUT SQUARE

The Haverhill Boys and Girls Club is hosting an afterschool Kids Club at Walnut Square.  Please click on the flyer below for more details and contact information if you are interested in enrolling your child.


PTO NEWS

Walnut Square PTO:  https://walnutsquare.haverhill-ps.org/pto/

SITE COUNCIL NEWS:  https://walnutsquare.haverhill-ps.org/site-council/


Shine Bright Reader Tips from Ms. Dullea

This weekend is a great opportunity to reread one of your favorite books and practice your fluency. Read the book to someone at home and show them that you can read it easily, paying attention to all the punctuation and with expression. Also, choose a few of the fluency passages from Wit and Wisdom to practice your fluency too! I know a stuffed animal or pet would also love to hear you read!


ILLNESS EXCLUSION GUIDELINES 

As we return from break, I want to stress the importance of daily school attendance.  Daily school attendance is important because it fosters consistency in learning and helps students stay engaged with their education. Regular attendance allows children to build a routine, enhances their social skills through daily interactions with peers, and supports their academic growth by ensuring they don’t miss out on important lessons and activities. Additionally, attending school consistently helps develop responsibility and discipline, which are valuable life skills. It also provides an envionnment where social and emotional learning is supported.  In short, being present in school sets the foundation for a more successful and well-rounded educational experience.

Building the habit of daily school attendance is important, but it can sometimes be challenging to know when to keep your child home if they’re not feeling well.   When is sick too sick for school?  Here are the illness exclusion guidelines from HPS Health Services:

Staying Home When Sick

If a child’s needs while sick with an infectious illness would interfere with the school staff’s ability to teach and care for other students, the child should stay home.  Schools must balance the risk of infectious disease spread with educational, social and mental health needs of children when determining when students should stay home.

If someone has the following symptoms, they should stay home (or be dismissed):

  • Fever, including a fever with a new rash
  • Vomiting more than twice in the preceding 24 hours
  • Diarrhea that causes ‘accidents,’ is bloody, or results in greater than 2 bowel movements above what the child normally experiences in a 24-hour period
  • Skin sores that are draining on an uncovered part of the body and are unable to be covered with a bandage
  • Respiratory virus symptoms that are worsening or not improving and not better explained by another cause, such as seasonal allergies

*The CDC definition of fever: temperature 100.4 or greater, or feels warm to the touch or gives a history of feeling feverish

Handwashing Song for Kids to Sing While Lathering Hands

Mark Your Calendar!  **Subscribe to our Google Calendar!  

January 2025

  • Thu 1/30, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm • PreK-8 Parent Teacher Conferences

February 2025

  • 100th Day of School:  Monday, February 3rd *pending no snow days 
  • Spread the Love of Reading Spirit Week 2/10/25-2/14/25 
    • Monday, February 10th: Hats off to Reading!
    • Tuesday, February 11th:  Reading Knocks Your Socks Off!
    • Wednesday, February 12th:  Cozy up with a good book and Read
    • Thursday, February 13th:  Reading Gives Your Superpowers!
    • Friday, February 14th:  Spread the Love of Reading!

Early Release Dates: 

  • On Early Release Days, student dismissal time is 11:35 am
    • Wednesday, March 12th
    • Wednesday, April 9th 
    • Friday, May 23rd 

District and Community Updates: