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Walnut Square Elementary School

Shine Bright, Superstars!

Back to School Family Update

Posted Date: 08/24/26 (02:52 PM)
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Dear Families,


Happy August!  I hope you are all enjoying summer!  At Walnut Square, we are busy getting ready for the upcoming school year.  We are excited to work with you to help your children learn and grow!  This update is filled with information about back to school.  This newsletter is packed with important details to help prepare for the new school year, so please take a few moments to read through it carefully.  


As with all family updates, this will be posted on our school website, https://walnutsquare.haverhill-ps.org/ and posted in Parent Square.  In addition to the Walnut Square School website, you can also “like” our Facebook page, Walnut Square Elementary School, follow us on Instagram, @walnutsquaresuperstars, and/or follow my channel on YouTube, @jenrubera, to get updates and see all of the fun and learning taking place at Walnut Square!  As you enjoy the final days of summer, we will continue to plan for a happy and productive school year.  Please contact me if you have any questions.  Thank you!  


Sincerely, 

Jen Rubera 

Principal


Title 1 Letter to Families 

Walnut Square is a Title 1 School.  Please click on the link to read the letter to families about Title 1.  

We hope to see you on Tuesday, September 1st at our Open House and Title 1 Annual Parent Meeting!


Open House/Title 1 Annual Parent Meeting

We are looking forward to seeing you at our Open House and Title 1 Annual Parent Meeting on Tuesday, September 1st from 4:00-5:30 pm!  To help ease parking and reduce crowding in the building, we have staggered the open house times by grade level.  If you have children in multiple grades, please feel free to drop in, adjust your schedule, or move between sessions as needed- we completely understand and want to make your visit as smooth as possible! 

Open House Schedule:

  • 4:00-4:30:  Kindergarten 

  • 4:30-5:00 Grade 1 

  • 5:00-5:30 Grades 2-3 

Walnut Square Family Guides:  Please visit https://walnutsquare.haverhill-ps.org/walnut-square-family-information to learn more about the routines, expectations, and procedures for Walnut Square School.  


Teacher Assignments 

Teacher assignments for grades 1-3 have been posted to the Schoolbrains parent portal.  It may take a couple days for all students to sync.  You can access the Parent Portal on the HPS Launchpad, or click on this direct link  https://home.haverhill-ps.org/ .  More information about the Parent/Student portal is available here:  https://www.haverhill-ps.org/technology-athome-portal.  

If you have any questions or need help, please email Support at portalsupport@haverhill-ps.org.

Please have the following included in any email to Portal Support:

  • Full Name

  • Full name of child(ren)

  • Full email address (be sure to contact Portal Support from this same email)

  • Your child(ren)’s Grade Level(s) and School(s)

  • Detailed explanation of issue

After emailing portalsupport@haverhill-ps.org, you will receive an automated email from HPS Tech Support confirming receipt of the request. You can respond directly to any emails from the HPS Tech Support system (no login necessary!). You can expect a response within 24 hours during the school week (Monday through Friday) on non-holiday weeks.

School Supply List 

It is recommended that your child bring the following items to school each day:  

**Please label all of the items with your child’s name so they can be easily returned if misplaced or lost.


General School Donations 

  • Headphones 

  • Dry-erase markers

  • Pencils

  • Glue sticks 

  • Tissues

  • Paper towels

  • Baby wipes

  • Lysol/Clorox wipes 

  • Plastic cups (for the water bottle filling stations)

  • Nurse’s Office:  New packages of  children’s underwear 

  • Nurse’s Office:  Socks for extra clothes closet, all sizes needed

  • Nurse’s Office:  In need of unisex pants (dark colors preferred)


Kindergarten:  

  • Wired Headphones x2

  • Thin black Expo markers

  • 24 pack Crayola crayons

  • Large Glue sticks 


The following items would be appreciated:

  • Tissues

  • Paper towels

  • Paper plates

  • Ziploc sandwich bags

  • Unscented baby wipes

  • Disinfecting wipes 


Grade 1:  

For Individual Use

  • Sturdy Wired Headphones x2  (Please Label)

  • Plastic pencil box (click on link for example)


For Community Use:

  • Thin black expo markers

  • 24 pack Crayola Crayons

  • 8 pack thick Crayola Markers

  • Large Glue sticks 

  • Ticonderoga #2 Pencils


The following items would be appreciated:

  • Soft Tissues

  • Paper towels

  • Unscented baby wipes

  • Lysol/Clorox wipes 

  • Paper plates

  • Erasers for Pencils (both types)

  • Zip lock bags (Sandwich and Gallon Size) 


Grade 2 

  • Headphones (good quality)

  • Dry erase markers

  • Ticonderoga Pencils

  • Glue sticks 

  • Tissues

  • Paper towels

  • Baby wipes

  • Lysol/Clorox wipes 

  • Crayola Crayons 24 count

  • Colored Pencils

  •  Large Zip lock bags

  •  Erasers for pencils (both types)

  •  Twistables


Grade 3:  

Individual Supplies

  • Sturdy, labeled headphones

  • Crayons (Crayola, preferred)

  • Pencil box

  • Pencil erasers

  • 4 Highlighters (green, blue, orange, pink)

  • 4 Sturdy, plastic pocket folders of different colors


Classroom Supplies:

  • Post-its

  • Dry erase markers (skinny, black)

  • Sharpened Pencils (#2 Ticonderoga preferred)

  • Tissues

  • Paper towels

  • Lysol/Clorox wipes 

  • Hand sanitizer

  • Ziplock Bags of all sizes



The Haverhill Public Schools Family & Student Help Center 

The Haverhill Public Schools Family & Student Help Center is an easy place for families to find school information. You can use it to learn about school health rules, find mental health support, and get help with school forms. It also has helpful tips for after-school care, technology, and finding contact information for your school. 


https://www.haverhill-ps.org/helpcenter 



Transportation


HPS Device Waiver Fee 

As part of Haverhill Public Schools' 1:1 technology initiative, every student in grades 1 through 3 receives an HPS-issued Chromebook.  Families have the option to purchase an annual $20 Device Waiver Fee to protect against potential damage, repairs, or loss during the school year. This fee can be purchased at any time throughout the school year, and coverage begins on the exact date of payment rather than applying to prior damage.  Please note that stolen devices must still be reported to the police.  Here is the link:  https://www.haverhill-ps.org/device-waiver-fee 


HPS Media (No Photo/Video) Opt Out


The Haverhill Public Schools (HPS) recognizes the importance of celebrating student achievements and sharing school activities with the community through various media outlets, including the district website, social media, local news, and printed publications. This policy establishes a standardized "Opt-Out" procedure to ensure student privacy is respected while streamlining administrative tasks for district staff.

To view the complete Haverhill Public Schools’ Student Media Opt-Out Policy, visit the webpage.  Fill out the HPS Student Media Opt-Out Form here.