Principal’s Post

Dear Families,

As the weather gets colder, I recognize that food and clothing insecurities can be a growing concern for some of our families and neighbors.  Our school community is built on care, and we all want to ensure everyone stays nourished and cared for this season.

To help achieve this, Walnut Square School is  launching a Canned Food and Jars Drive and a Mittens/Gloves Collection starting next week and running until  Winter Break on Tuesday, December 23rd.  If you are interested in helping, we are collecting the following items:

• Canned and Jarred Food: Non-perishable items like canned vegetables, soups, tuna, peanut butter, and jarred sauces.
• New or Gently Used Mittens and Gloves: Keeping small hands warm is essential as the temperatures drop!

Look for the donation bins located near the main office starting on Monday!  Together, we can ensure everyone in our community feels cared for and supported during the winter season.  Thank you for your continued generosity and kindness.

We recognize that the need for support may extend to our own school families.  If you or your family could use a little extra help or support with food, clothing, or other resources, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can contact our School Adjustment Counselor, Cherie Rousseau, or myself, directly. We are here to help in any way we can.  Additionally, there is a wide network of support available right here in the Haverhill community.  Whether you are seeking immediate crisis support, need assistance with housing, or are looking for therapeutic services for a family member, the HPS Community Resources web page highlights essential resources designed to help.  Please click here to view the HPS Community Resources Page.  If you are still unsure of what resources you qualify for or where to go, please contact Community Action in Haverhill at 978-373-1971.  They have bilingual staff and are excellent at connecting families to the right assistance.  Your well-being and the well-being of our Superstars are what matters most.

As I shared last week, Walnut Square Elementary is thrilled to be participating in Haverhill’s annual Santa Parade on Sunday, November 23rd, from 1:00-3:00 pm!  This year’s official parade theme is “The Island of Misfit Toys,” and our float will embrace a message of inclusion with the welcoming spirit of “All are welcome at Walnut Square.”  Our float design will feature a model of our school, decorative trees, a collection of wonderful misfit characters and toys, and of course, our school mascot, the Superstars!  By using the beloved story of Rudolph and the Misfits, we aim to celebrate the idea that every student, staff member, and family member truly belongs.  We need your help to bring this vision to life!  We are seeking donations or items to borrow, volunteers to assist with creating and setting up the float on Saturday, November 22nd (time TBD), and parade participants for the big day (please note participants will need to report to Hunking School earlier than 1:00 pm).  If you are interested in volunteering or participating, please click here to sign up to volunteer and/or participate in Haverhill’s Santa Parade with Walnut Square School! . If you have any questions, please reach out to me via Remind or email at jrubera@haverhill-ps.org. I am so excited for this wonderful community event!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Jen Rubera

Principal

Superstar Reading at Home Resources

• https://lote4kids.com/us-haverhill-public-library/  The Haverhill Public Library offers this wonderful resource with books in multiple languages!
• https://storylineonline.net/library/  Storyline Online
• Vooks Storybooks YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@VooksStorybooks
• Digital Reading Log:   https://forms.gle/bshU4hcReq2WGJ8r5
• Paper Log Passed out to Students: Traditional Paper Reading Log

Walnut Square PTO Updates

Walnut Square PTO Fundraiser:  As we gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving season, the Walnut Square PTO is excited to kick off our Thanksgiving Pie Sale! This delicious fundraiser not only gives you the chance to enjoy homemade pies but also supports our school and enriches our students’ educational experiences.  This fundraiser will help us raise funds for various educational resources and activities that enrich our students’ learning environment. Together, we can make a difference!  Thank you for your continued support. We wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with warmth, joy, and delicious pies!

Click here to view the flyers for the PTO Fie Fundraiser.  

Please click here to order pies!  

Please click here to read about more PTO updates and opportunities to volunteer.

Superstars Monthly Theme: Perseverance

Our Superstars Monthly theme for November is Perseverance!

What is Perseverance? Perseverance is simply sticking with it—it’s the quality of continuing to work toward a goal despite facing difficulties, obstacles, or setbacks. It’s about not giving up when something is hard or takes a long time. This is a crucial skill for learning; when a math problem is challenging or a reading passage is confusing, perseverance is what encourages a student to try a different strategy, ask for help, or keep practicing until they succeed.

Developing Perseverance at Home: You can foster this important trait through simple interactions:

• Model It: Share a time you had to work hard to achieve something difficult.
• Encourage Effort Over Perfection: When your child completes a task, praise their effort (e.g., “I love how many times you tried that!”) rather than just the final result.
• Use the Power of “Yet”: If your child says, “I can’t do this,” encourage them to say, “I can’t do this yet.” This simple word changes a statement of failure into one of potential growth.
• Break Down Big Tasks: Help them take a challenging goal (like cleaning a room or finishing a large project) and divide it into small, manageable steps.

Picture Books to Encourage Perseverance: Reading books where characters overcome challenges is a fantastic way to reinforce this theme! Here are a few suggestions you can find at your local library:

• Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg
• A Dragon Has To Persevere by Steve Herman
• After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat
• A Chip Off the Old Block by Jody Jensen Shaffer
• The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
• The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein
• The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
• Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
• When Things are Hard, Remember by Joanna Rowland
• A Chair for my Mother by Vera Williams
• Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream by Delores Jordan & Roslyn Jordan
• Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
• I’m Gonna Push Through by Jasmyn Wright
• Fail-a-bration by Brad and Kristi Montague
• Yay! You Failed! by Shannon Anderson
• The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

School Attendance:  Your Presence is Powerful! 

Please click on the pictures below to see the attendance rate for this week.

To view weekly and monthly attendance data, please click here.  You can also view other data that is shared with all stakeholders in regards to attendance, behavior, course performance, and family engagement.

Mark Your Calendar!

Please visit https://walnutsquare.haverhill-ps.org/events/   or view the calendar on Parent Square to stay informed about important dates and events!  You also have the opportunity to subscribe to the Walnut Square calendar to get updates right on your device!

November 2025

 Fri 11/21 • PreK – 8th Grade Marks Close – 1st Trimester

 Wed 11/26 • Early Release – All Students

 Thu 11/27 • Thanksgiving Break

 Fri 11/28 • Thanksgiving Break

December 2025

 Tue 12/2 • PreK – 8th Grade Report Cards Issued – 1st Trimester

 Tue 12/23 • Early Release – All Students/Staff

 Wed 12/24 • Winter Break

 Thu 12/25 • Winter Break

 Fri 12/26 • Winter Break

 Mon 12/29 • Winter Break

 Tue 12/30 • Winter Break

 Wed 12/31 • Winter Break

January 2026