Family Update

Posted on March 20, 2026

Dear Families,

Happy First Day of Spring!  I’m looking forward to warmer days!  To keep our students hydrated and healthy during these warmer days, please send a water bottle to school with your child each morning.  There are water bottle filling stations available,  and by using reusable water bottles, we can significantly reduce the number of paper cups used and help our school become more environmentally friendly.

I also want to thank you for your partnership in prioritizing daily school attendance.  Life can be busy,  and your commitment to getting your children here truly sets them up for success.  A student is considered chronically absent when they miss 18 days or more in a year- even just two days a month can add up quickly.  Consistent attendance is about so much more than just the curriculum; it allows them to maintain social connections with peers and staff that make school a place where our Superstars can shine bright!   The staff at Walnut Square is here to support you in building these lifelong habits, and you can always check your child’s attendance through our portal at https://www.haverhill-ps.org/technology/athome/portal/.

Lastly, thank you so much for your support in keeping personal toys, trading cards, and figurines at home.  I know how much these items mean to your children, and I appreciate you helping them understand that school is a place where students use our shared classroom materials instead.  By keeping these precious items at home, we prevent the heartbreak of things getting lost or broken and keep our focus on the exciting learning happening in class.  If a toy does happen to make its way into a backpack, our staff will simply keep it safe until the end of the day to ensure it returns home to you.

Thank you for everything you do to support our school community and for being such wonderful partners.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Jen Rubera Principal

 

HPS Transportation Update

The new Family App for transportation tracking is now available, though please note that this system is serviced and managed by NRT rather than Haverhill Public Schools.  Currently, eligibility is limited to students riding “Big Bus” vehicles, as the service is not yet provided for specialized transportation.  To get started, please refer to the Setup Guides in English or Spanish for step-by-step instructions on downloading the app and linking your account.   Should you encounter any technical issues, we encourage you to contact the dedicated Help-Desk directly at BeaconConnect@gobeacon.com for the most expedited support. We appreciate your cooperation as we roll out this new tool to improve our communication with you; please click the link below to access the full guide.

Girls on the Run- Spring 2026 Season 

Dear Families,

I am so excited to announce that through the Mayor’s grant for Youth Activity and Mental Health, we are able to have another Girls On The Run season here at Walnut Square School for the spring.  I have included a link to a flyer that explains how to register for the team.  The grant is covering the participation cost for all students at Walnut Square who register for the Spring Season.

Girls On The Run is an 8 week program that teaches kids how to be strong, confident and connected.  At the end of the program the girls will end the season with a celebratory 5K run with their teammates on the Boston Common.

The coaches for the fall program include Cherie Rousseau, Andrea Oland, Shannon Luttig and Molly Jannell.  We are all looking forward to a great season, and hope that you will consider registering your daughter to participate.

Click on this link to see a flyer that includes information about the program and how to register.

Girls On The Run Spring 2026 WSQ

Here is the registration link to register:

https://www.pinwheel.us/register/index/SPRING26Reg

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to reach out to me.

Sincerely,

Coach Cherie Rousseau

Superstar Reading at Home Resources

Superstars Theme of the Month for January: Respect.

Throughout the month, our classrooms will focus on what it means to be a “Respectful Superstar.” We will be exploring how we treat ourselves, our peers, and our environment with kindness and consideration.

 

March SEL Theme of the Month:  Teamwork

Our Superstar SEL Theme of the Month is Teamwork!  Teamwork is all about working together toward a common goal, listening to others’ ideas, and realizing that we are stronger when we combine our unique strengths.  In our school community, we define a “team player” as someone who communicates kindly, takes turns, and helps others when they are stuck.

How to Practice Teamwork at Home

Building these skills at home helps children become better collaborators in school and at home.  Here are a few simple ways to encourage teamwork:

  • Family Chores as a “Team Challenge”:  Instead of assigning individual tasks, try a “beat the clock” team cleanup where everyone works together to tidy a room in five minutes.

  • Collaborative Cooking:  Invite your child to be the “Sous Chef.”  Assign specific roles, like washing vegetables or stirring, to show how every person’s job is essential to finishing the meal.

  • Joint Problem Solving:  The next time a small problem arises (like a lost toy or a tricky puzzle), approach it as a team.  Use phrases like, “Let’s put our heads together to solve this!”

  • Build Something Together:  Use LEGOs, blocks, or even a pillow fort to create a “Group Build.”  Practice asking, “What do you think we should add next?” to value each other’s input.

  • The “Story Chain” Game:  Start a story with one sentence and have each family member add the next sentence.  This teaches children to listen carefully and build upon someone else’s ideas.

SEL Picture Books About Teamwork

Reading together is a fantastic way to spark conversations about collaboration. Here are some of our favorite titles:

SEL Picture Books About Teamwork

      • Unstoppable by Adam Rex

      • Boxitects by Kim Smith

      • Packs: Strength in Numbers by Hannah Salyer

      • Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler and Loren Long

      • If Winning Isn’t Everything, Why Do I Hate to Lose? by Bryan Smith

      • Winners Don’t Whine by Julia Cook

      • The Hard Hat for Kids by Jon Gordon and Lauren Gallagher, PhD

      • Watch Me Throw the Ball! by Mo Willems

      • Sally Sore Loser by Frank J. Sileo

      • Maxine and the Greatest Garden Ever! by Ruth Spiro

      • The One Day House by Julia Durango

      • Teamwork Isn’t My Thing and I Don’t Like to Share! by Julia Cook

      • Making Friends Is An Art by Julia Cook

      • Stone Soup by Jon J. Muth

      • Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea by Meena Harris

      • Swimmy by Leo Lionni

      • That Fruit is Mine! by Anuska Allepuz

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!

March 2026

Classroom Group Photos: Tuesday, March 24th

April 2026 

  • Monday, April 6th:  PTO/Site Council Meeting 5:00-7:15 pm
  • Tuesday, April 7th:  Grade 3 ELA MCAS Session 1
  • Tuesday, April 7th:  Title 1 Earth Month Clean Up Nature Walk Around Lake Pentucket.  5:00-6:30 pm
  • Thursday, April 9th:  Grade 3 ELA MCAS Session 2

    • ELA Make-up Dates: April 10th and April 13th – 17th

  • April 13th-17th:  April Showers Bring Math Powers Spirit Week
    • Monday, April 13th: You Can Count on Math!  Wear a shirt with a number on it.
    • Tuesday, April 14th:  Math Shapes Your Mind!  Wear a shirt with shapes or wear your favorite workout clothes or sports clothes.
    • Wednesday, April 15th:  Math Ties Into Everything!  Wear your favorite tie, hair ties, or tie-dye apparel.
    • Thursday, April 16th:  Math is Full of Patterns!  Wear your favorite patterns (stripes, polka dots, plaid, or checkered clothes) to show that math is all about patterns.
    • Friday, April 17th:  Our Superstars are Problem Solvers!  Wear your Walnut Square t-shirt or a blue shirt to school.
  • April 20th-24th:  NO SCHOOL SPRING RECESS
  • April 25th:  Haverhill’s Annual Earth Day Clean Up 8:30-1:00 pm **We will be cleaning Walnut Square School and the park that abuts our school.
  • Tuesday, April 28th:  Pre-K – 8 Progress Reports Issued- Third Trimester

May 2026 

  • Monday, May 4th:  PTO/Site Council Meeting
  • Monday, May 4th- Friday, May 8th:  Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
  • Monday, May 11th:  Grade 3 MCAS Session 1
  • Tuesday, May 12th:  Grade 3 MCAS Session 2

    • Math Make-up Dates: May 14th, 15th, 18th, and 19th

  • Wednesday, May 13th:  Early Release Day- Dismissal is 11:35 am
  • Monday, May 25th:  Memorial Day- NO SCHOOL

June 2026 

  • Wednesday, June 17th:  Last Day of School *Early Release Day- Dismissal is 11:35 am

 

Early Release Dates:

      • Dismissal time is 11:35 am on the following dates:
        • Wed. 3/11
        • Wed. 4/8
        • Wed. 5/13
        • Wed. 6/17 (Last day of School