Principal’s Post
Dear Families,
Welcome back from Thanksgiving break! I hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable time with family and friends. As we welcome December and look ahead to the upcoming December winter break, I want to share our gratitude for everyone in our school community and emphasize the importance of these next few weeks. We have only 16 more school days until the winter break! Together, we have worked to establish strong routines of showing up to school every day, on time, and ready to learn, creating a welcoming and supportive community for all. Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to keep learning, connect with friends and teachers, and grow personally, socially, and academically. I know the winter season is busy, and I appreciate your efforts to avoid taking extra days off around the winter break. Our teachers will be teaching and our students will be learning right up until vacation starts on Tuesday, December 23rd at 11:35 am.
Students will begin the i-Ready® Diagnostic this week. The second Diagnostic is an important benchmark for understanding your student’s growth, which is why it’s so important they try their best. These results allow us to better support them in achieving their growth goals for the year. The most important thing we can do is prepare students and motivate them to put forth their best effort. Here are a few things you can do to help support your child:
- Make sure they get a good night’s sleep and eat breakfast in the morning.
- Let them know you’re excited to celebrate their progress.
- Talk to your student about why the second Diagnostic is important. You can say things like:
- The second Diagnostic helps you find out how much progress you’ve made since the beginning of the year.
- It allows your teacher and I to celebrate your accomplishments!
- Try your best, and do not rush—but don’t spend too much time on a question either.
- Remember, questions on the Diagnostic change based on your answers to earlier questions. You will see some questions you don’t know. That is okay! Just try your best.
What is i-Ready?
i-Ready is an online program that will help us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform instruction.
The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions to suit your child’s needs. Each item a student receives is based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier ones. The purpose of this is not to give your child a score or grade but to determine how to best support their learning.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to your child’s education and our school community. Your encouragement and involvement play a crucial role in your child’s success! I am grateful for your partnership and look forward to celebrating the progress and achievements of all our students during this important assessment period. Thank you again for your dedication!
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
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.
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
Early Release Dates:
Dismissal time is 11:35 am on the following dates:
- Wed. 11/26
- Tues. 12/23
- Wed. 1/28
- Wed. 3/11
- Wed. 4/8
- Wed. 5/13
- Fri. 5/29
- Wed. 6/10 (Day 180-Last day of School)