Family Update

Posted on June 13, 2025

Dear Families,

School year 2024-2025 has ended for our Superstars!  Our final week was filled with joyful celebrations, recognizing all the incredible learning and growth your children have achieved this year.  We were so proud to cheer on our Class of 2025 Walnut Square alumni during our high school clap out, celebrating their graduation and bright futures.  We also celebrated our grade 3 Superstars who will be moving up to Pentucket Lake School next school year!  Our Grade 3 Promotion Ceremony was followed by an amazing Luau, a fantastic celebration for our third graders as they prepare for the next chapter!  Students enjoyed delicious slush, lively dancing, challenging limbo, and a variety of fun games.  It was a memorable way to mark their achievements and send them off to summer with smiles.  These moments truly highlighted the spirit and accomplishments of our entire Walnut Square community.  Yesterday evening, we had the pleasure of watching our talented Peace Poetry winners read their inspiring poems at the School Committee meeting.

As summer approaches, there are many opportunities for continued learning and personal growth!  To prevent summer learning loss and instill a love for reading, Walnut Square encourages all Superstars to participate in the Summer Reading Challenge, aiming to log 1,000 books using the recommended reading lists from Haverhill Public Schools and our Superstars Book Recommendations.  Additionally, the iReady Summer Challenge motivates students to complete two lessons per week in both Reading and Math to reinforce foundational skills, personalize learning, and ensure a strong start to the next school year.  These initiatives are complemented by the exciting Haverhill Public Library Summer Reading Kickoff Event tomorrow, which offers engaging activities and further promotes summer literacy.  Details are provided below.

The HPS calendar for the 2025-2026 school year has been approved and can be found here:  https://www.haverhill-ps.org/district-calendar/.  

Please click on this link to view the Summer Food Sites that begin on June 23rd.  

I hope you all have an amazing summer with family and friends…and I hope to see you around!

Sincerely,

Jen Rubera

Principal

Haverhill Public Library Summer Kick Off Event:  https://haverhillpl.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/gaming-and-golf/

Summer Reading Kickoff Event!

Saturday, June 1411:00 AM—3:00 PMJohnson AuditoriumHaverhill Public Library 99 Main Street, Haverhill, MA, 01830

gaming and golf
Level Up your summer with our kickoff event featuring mini-golf and video games provided by OneUp Games!Plus, stop by the Children’s Room to do some Super Mario Bros. related crafts and activities.  Outside, enjoy a shaved ice treat from Kona Ice from 11AM-1PM (while supplies last) and large-scale versions of games like Jenga, Four in a Row, and Tic-Tac-Toe on the Library’s lawn from 11:30AM-12:30PM.  *You can also start to sign up for our summer reading challenges.   All ages welcome!Click the link to find out more about our 2025 Summer Reading Programs!

District and Community Updates and Resources

 

Superstars Summer Reading Challenge: Can We Read 1,000 Books?

Reading every night with your child is one of the most powerful ways to boost their vocabulary, strengthen comprehension skills, and improve overall academic performance.  Beyond academics, reading fosters a lifelong love of literature and encourages critical thinking.

We invite all Superstars to participate in our Summer Reading Challenge!  Let’s see if the Walnut Square community can read an amazing 1,000 books this summer!

To participate, please complete the Walnut Square Summer 2025 Superstar Summer Reading Log after reading each book: https://forms.gle/t6zDt6G9PkE9inYn6.  By logging your books and giving them a rating, you’ll contribute to a wonderful resource that will inspire others in our school community to read!  Thank you for promoting the love of reading!

Looking for book ideas?

iReady Summer Challenge: Sharpen Skills and Prevent Learning Loss!

Another fantastic way to keep academic skills sharp and prevent summer learning loss is through our iReady Summer Challenge!  We encourage every Superstar to complete 2 lessons per week in Reading and 2 lessons per week in Mathematics.

Why is consistent iReady practice so important during the summer?

  • Prevents Summer Learning Loss (Summer Slide): Research shows that students can lose significant academic ground over the summer months if they don’t engage in learning activities.  iReady provides targeted practice that reinforces concepts learned during the school year, keeping those skills fresh and preventing regression.
  • Maintains and Builds Foundational Skills: iReady’s adaptive lessons meet your child where they are, providing practice that solidifies foundational reading and math skills.  Consistent practice ensures that they don’t forget key concepts and are ready to build upon them in the next grade.
  • Individualized Learning Path: iReady’s personalized approach means your child is working on lessons tailored to their specific needs, addressing areas where they might need more practice and challenging them in areas where they excel.  This targeted practice is crucial for sustained academic growth.
  • Prepares for the Next School Year: Regular engagement with iReady helps students retain information and build confidence, setting them up for a strong start when they return to school in the fall.   They’ll be better prepared to tackle new material and continue their academic progress.

District and Community Resources: