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Walnut Square Elementary School

Shine Bright, Superstars!

Family Update

Posted Date: 06/17/26 (01:07 PM)
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Dear Families,

Happy last day of school!  This time of year is always bittersweet.  While I am looking forward to time with my family and friends, I am going to truly miss the daily joy, energy, and warmth of our incredible Walnut Square community.  To our wonderful third graders who are moving on to upper elementary school, and to all of our Superstars who are transitioning to new schools:  I am so incredibly proud of you!  Watching you grow, learn, and lead this year has been an absolute privilege.  While you may be moving on to new buildings and exciting new adventures, please remember that once a Superstar, always a Superstar.  You have left a lasting mark on Walnut Square, and I know you will continue to shine incredibly bright wherever you go!

Here are a few end-of-year logistics:  

  • Report cards will be posted to the student portal tomorrow, June 18th by approximately noon.  Click on this link for Parent Portal support:  https://www.haverhill-ps.org/68042_4. 
  • Moving?  If you have moved, please call the school at (978) 374-3471  to let us know so we can prepare transfer paperwork.  

As the sunny days of summer begin, it’s the perfect time to discover the pure joy of reading for fun.  Beyond just keeping children entertained, summer reading is a powerful tool that bridges the gap between school years and prevents the well-documented "summer slide," the loss of academic skills that can occur over the long break.  When students immerse themselves in books during the summer months, they don't just maintain their current reading levels;  they actively build their vocabulary, sharpen their critical thinking skills, and foster a deeper imagination.  More importantly, allowing children to choose their own books during the break transforms reading from a schoolwork requirement into a joyful, lifelong habit that sets them up for incredible success in the fall and beyond.  We will continue to use the Superstar Reading Log to log the number of books that we are reading!  For those reading chapter books, you don't have to log in every night- just log in the number of books that you have read!  Here is the link for our Superstar Reading Log:    https://forms.gle/bshU4hcReq2WGJ8r5.  Let's see if we can exceed the number of books we read last summer!  

The Walnut Square Spring 2026 Family Feedback Survey remains open until the end of this week, and your help is needed: https://forms.gle/a5EWnFufoVccyPw96.  Currently, a little over 50% of our families have completed the survey, and we would like to meet or exceed the 63% paricipation rate from the Fall 25 survey.   The data we collect from this survey is incredibly valuable.  It is shared directly with our school staff, Site Council, and PTO to guide our school improvement efforts, measure our goals, and inform decisions about the future of our school community.  We want to ensure the survey data reflects our entire school community.  Please help us finish the year strong and set up next school year for success! 

Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 school year, Haverhill Public Schools will be fully transitioning to a the communication platform called ParentSquare.  Please rest assured that you will retain all the convenient features you enjoyed with the Remind app, including instant messaging and direct updates, but now everything will be streamlined into a single, organized platform.  To help make this transition as smooth as possible,  HPS has posted step-by-step instructions and sign-up details on our website. Please click here to view the setup guide and prepare for the upcoming school year.   https://www.haverhill-ps.org/410052_2


Additionally, for those looking ahead to the upcoming school year, important dates can be found in the "Mark Your Calendar" section below.  You can also view the school calendar directly within the ParentSquare app or subscribe to our school's Google Calendar by clicking on this link.   I hope these resources help your family stay connected, informed, and organized as we prepare for the fall.

As I complete my 26th year in Haverhill Public Schools, I am deeply grateful and appreciative to have spent the last 5 years serving as the principal of Walnut Square.  Leading this truly amazing school community is an absolute honor, and I am incredibly thankful for the continuous partnership, support, and dedication of our wonderful families.

As you enjoy the sunny months ahead, remember to rest, play, and always...

SHINE BRIGHT, SUPERSTARS!  

Sincerely, 
Jen Rubera
Principal


Superstar Reading at Home Resources

Mark Your Calendar!

Please visit https://www.parentsquare.com/schools/29184/calendars 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!

September 2026
  • Tue 9/01, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm • Walnut Square School Open House
  • Wed 9/2 • First Day of School Grades 1-12
  • Wed 9/2 • Kindergarten Screening
  • Thu 9/3 • Kindergarten Screening
  • Fri 9/4 • Kindergarten Screening
  • Fri 9/4 • Early Release Dismissal is 11:35 for Students
  • Mon 9/7 • NO SCHOOL- Labor Day
  • Tue 9/8 • Kindergarten Screening
  • Wed 9/9 • First Day of Kindergarten (and Pre-K)
  • Wed 9/30 • Early Release- Dismissal is 11:35 am for Students/Staff PD

October 2026
  • Mon 10/12 • No School- Holiday
  • Wed 10/14 • Pre-K-8 Progress Reports Issued 1st Trimester
  • Thu 10/15 • PreK-4 Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-5:30 pm
  • Wed 10/21 • School Picture Day
  • Wed 10/28 • Early Release Dismissal is 11:35 for Students/Staff PD

November 2026
  • Tue 11/3 • No School for Students/Staff PD Election Day
  • Wed 11/11 • No School-Veterans Day Holiday
  • Wed 11/25 • Early Release-Dismissal is 11:35 am Holiday Break
  • Thu 11/26 • No School-Holiday Break
  • Fri 11/27 • No School-Holiday Break

December 2026
  • Wed 12/2 • Makeup Picture Day
  • Thu 12/3 • PreK-8 Marks Close 1st Trimester
  • Thu 12/10 • PreK-8 Report Cards Issued 1st Trimester
  • Wed 12/23 • Early Release- Dismissal is Start of Winter Recess
  • Thu 12/24 • No School-Winter Recess
  • Fri 12/25 • No School-Winter Recess
  • Mon 12/28 • No School-Winter Recess
  • Tue 12/29 • No School-Winter Recess
  • Wed 12/30 • No School-Winter Recess
  • Thu 12/31 • No School-Winter Recess

January 2027
  • Fri 1/1 • No School-Winter Recess
  • Mon 1/4 • Schools Reopen-Welcome Back to School!
  • Mon 1/18 • No School- MLK Holiday
  • Tue 1/26 • Prek-8 Progress Reports Issued 2nd Trimester
  • Wed 1/27 • Early Release- Dismissal is 11:35 am Staff Professional Development

February 2027
  • Thu 2/4 • PreK-4 Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-5:30 pm
  • Mon 2/15 • No School-Presidents Day Holiday
  • Tue 2/16 • No School-February Recess
  • Wed 2/17 • No School-February Recess
  • Thu 2/18 • No School-February Recess
  • Fri 2/19 • No School-February Recess

March 2027
  • Tue 3/16 • PreK-8 Marks Close 2nd Trimester
  • Wed 3/17 • Early Release-Dismissal is for Students/Staff PD
  • Wed 3/24 • PreK-8 Report Cards Issued 2nd Trimester
  • Fri 3/26 • No School-Holiday

April 2027
  • Wed 4/7 • Early Release-Dismissal is for Students/Staff PD
  • Mon 4/19 • No School- Patriots Day Holiday
  • Tue 4/20 • No School- Spring Recess
  • Wed 4/21 • No School- Spring Recess
  • Thu 4/22 • No School- Spring Recess
  • Fri 4/23 • No School- Spring Recess

May 2027
  • Wed 5/5 • PreK-8 Progress Reports Issued 3rd Trimester
  • Wed 5/12 • Early Release Day- Dismissal is 11:35 am for Students/Staff PD
  • Mon 5/31 • No School-Memorial Day