Principal’s Post

Dear Families,

The first floor hallway is filled with items for our drives as well as Santa Parade float decor- the season of giving and sharing memories has begun!  Walnut Square School launched a Canned Food and Jars Drive and a Mittens/Gloves Collection starting next week and running until  Winter Break on Tuesday, December 23rd.  Girls on the Run is also collecting pet items until December 5th for the MSPCA.  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!
• Pet Items for the MSPCA:  dog or cat food, blankets, towels, pet toys.

Thank you to families who have donated!

The Santa Parade is Sunday, and we have been busy getting the float ready!  This is a cherished community event, and I’m so excited that we have a float!  For families that plan on participating with Walnut Square, I have included important information below.  I have also sent emails to families who signed up to help with the float and/or RSVPed to attend.  I am thrilled that many of our families plan to participate in the upcoming Santa Parade!   The wetaher looks good, and if you’d like to participate, I hope you’ll join us!  Please note that this is a family event, and all participating children must have a parent or guardian stay with them throughout the event.

Have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see many of you on Sunday at the Santa Parade!

Sincerely,

Jen Rubera

Principal

Santa Parade Information (For Participating Families)

Parade Morning Logistics:

1. Drop-Off Time: Float Participants should be dropped off by 11:00 AM.

2. Move Time: All groups need to be prepared to move by 12:15 PM.

3. Drop-Off Location: You cannot enter the school from South Main Street. Turn onto Fernwood Ave and then take your second right onto Winchester Street.

4. Parking: There is NO PARKING in the Hunking School Yard. This is a drop-off area only. If parents would like to escort their children to the school yard, they will need to find parking on one of the side streets and walk to the school yard, though be advised that parking is EXTREMELY LIMITED.

5. Amenities: Outdoor restrooms will be available. The school will be open if needed for inclement weather.

Float & Vehicle Decoration Rules (STRICTLY ENFORCED):

Attached to this letter are the official Rules and Regulations for Parade Day. Support vehicles are required to be decorated with the theme of the parade and/or the Christmas spirit. Vehicles that are not decorated will not be allowed in this year’s parade.

Post-Parade Details:

1. Disbanding Location: The parade will disband on Bailey Boulevard near the Haverhill Police Station.

2. Post-Parade Gathering: The Haverhill Boys and Girls Club will be open with additional restrooms, and food/hot chocolate will be served inside.

3. Child Pick-Up: Parents can pick up their children at the Citizens Center at 10 Welcome Street, just up the hill through GAR Park (which is across from the Haverhill Police Station).

4. Shuttle: A shuttle will run from the Police Department back to the beginning of the parade for group members who parked there.

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 Pie Sale:  We Need Your Help!

The Walnut Square PTO Pie Sale has been extended through this Sunday, November 23rd!

Last year, we sold over 200 individual pies, raising more than $1,200 for the PTO. This year, pie purchases are currently down over 50%. If every student were to purchase just two pies, we would easily exceed 300 pies sold! Your support directly funds important school programs and events for our students.

Order Pies Here: pies.walnutpto.org

Payment Reminder: All orders must be paid in full before Pie Pick Up Day on Tuesday, November 25th.

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.

Community Resources

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.

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

 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