Dear Families,

This week we had a Title 1 Event with Pentucket Lake, and the theme was Dance Night!  It was a great success!   It was wonderful to see the Pentucket Lake and Walnut Square communities coming together to share rhythms, learn new steps, and celebrate the diverse cultures that make our schools so special.  If you attended and didn’t complete the event evaluation yet,  please click on this link to complete the brief evaluation:  https://forms.gle/AQLB3KCnSNX2QPi36. Your feedback is valuable as it helps us plan future events.  If you weren’t able to attend and are interested in learning how dance can help your child’s development, please click on the resources below.  The set list is included, and you can practice and perform the dances at home! 

• Title 1 Event: Dance Night Family Resources English
• Title 1 Event: Dance Night Family Resources Spanish
• Title 1 Event: Dance Night Family Resources Portuguese 

The City of Haverhill is offering a program to reduce lead hazards in homes for eligible households.  To learn more, please click on this link.  Another great community resource is the Haverhill Public Library’s Kids Department.  In addition to books, they offer various programs for children.  Here is the link to learn more about the HPL Kids Department:  https://haverhillpl.org/kids/.

Lastly, there is no school on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  I hope you enjoy this extra time with your children to reflect on Dr. King’s message of kindness and equality.  Whether you spend the day relaxing or helping others, we look forward to seeing everyone back on Tuesday.  Have a wonderful long weekend!

Jen Rubera

Principal

Attendance Matters:  Your Presence is Powerful!  

Please click on the picture to view this week’s attendance rate.

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

PTO Updates

We invite you to become an active part of our school community by supporting the Walnut Square School Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)!

The PTO funds essential programs, purchases classroom resources, and organizes community-building events that directly benefit every student.  Your involvement—no matter how big or small—makes a real difference!

Why Should You Participate?  

• Direct Impact: See firsthand how your time and skills translate into better resources and activities for our students.
• Build Community: Connect with other parents, teachers, and staff, strengthening the entire school environment.

Upcoming Activities & Projects Where We Need Your Help

We have several key initiatives and fundraising events coming up, and we’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us ensure they run smoothly.  Please complete this Google form to select the specific activities that interest you and fit in your schedule:  Please click on this link to sign up to volunteer!  Thank you so much for your support! 

Fundraising & Logistics Support

• Walnut Square T-Shirt Fundraiser (March TBD): Similar to the pie fundraiser, we need volunteers to organize/sort t-shirts and coordinate family pick-up.

Teacher Appreciation Week May 4-8, 2026 

This is a vital week to show our educators how much we value them! We need help with:

• Meal Coordination: Organize a staff breakfast or luncheon.
• Gift Organization: Organize staff gift cards or donations of chocolate or plants/flowers.
• Business Outreach: Contact local businesses to seek donations or gift cards.

School Events & Clean-Up

• Grade 3 Luau Coordinator: Lead the planning and execution of the luau event, which takes place on the afternoon of the last full day of school.
• Grade 3 Luau Station Volunteer: Work an activity or game station during the luau event.
• Slush Pick-Up: Help with the pick-up and distribution of slush treats for Field Day and the Grade 3 Luau.
• Earth Day Clean-Up: Help organize and participate in our school grounds clean-up efforts on Haverhill’s Annual City-Wide Earth Day Clean Up Event.  

Can you spare an hour or two for one of these crucial tasks? We welcome all assistance and will provide clear instructions for every role!  Please click on this link to sign up to volunteer!

Thank you so much!

-The Walnut Square PTO

Illness Exclusion Guidelines:  Staying Home When Sick

from https://www.haverhill-ps.org/school-health-services-2/exclusion-and-dismissal-information/

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

Return to School criteria

• No fever (and is not using fever-reducing medicine) for at least 24 hours
• Fever with a new rash has been evaluated by a healthcare provider and fever has resolved
• Uncovered skin sores are crusting, and the child is under treatment from a provider
• Vomiting has resolved overnight and the person can hold down food/liquids in the morning
• Diarrhea has improved; the person is no longer having accidents or is having bowel movements no more than 2 above normal per 24-hours period. Bloody diarrhea should be evaluated by a healthcare provider prior to return
• Respiratory virus symptoms are getting better overall for at least 24 hours.  Students and staff returning after a respiratory illness can consider additional actions to reduce spread

Guiding principles:

1. Our primary goal is to maximize school attendance and its benefits for all students, while also minimizing the spread of infectious diseases
2. School nurse assessment is guided by Standards of Practice
3. Haverhill Public Schools aligns with CDC and MA DPH/DESE guidance, including prevention strategies (such as immunization, hygiene and ventilation)
4. There may be instances when these procedures are adjusted due to community disease spread (e.g. an outbreak or pandemic or time of excessive absences)
5. School staff who are assigned responsibility for caring for sick children or who will be exposed to infectious materials have access to personal protective equipment

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!

January 2026

Early Release Dates: