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Walnut Square Elementary School

Shine Bright, Superstars!

Family Update: Recognition of Finalists, Wear Blue on Mondays, Family Survey, Reading Log, and Attendance

Posted Date: 10/02/26 (05:12 PM)
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Dear Families, 

I hope you all had a wonderful week and are looking forward to a relaxing autumn weekend!

To ensure a smooth and safe dismissal for all students, please remember to send a written note with your child in the morning for any end-of-day routine changes (as noted in our Family Guide).  Our office has started receiving a large volume of afternoon phone calls, which makes dismissal trickier to coordinate and disrupts afternoon lessons.  Written notes handed to the teacher in the morning help us make sure everyone gets where they need to go safely.  Emergency changes during the day are always accepted via phone. Thank you for your help and support in following this important safety routine!  

I am thrilled to share some wonderful news and ask you to join us in celebrating three of our talented Superstars who have been selected as finalists in the Haverhill Public Schools “Stand Up, Speak Up” Logo Contest!  We could not be prouder of the hard work, creativity, and thoughtful design each of them put into their entries to support such an important message.  Being named a finalist among so many entries is a remarkable achievement, and to honor their dedication, Logan, Lennox, and Jose have been invited to be recognized at the upcoming Haverhill School Committee meeting on October 8th at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Chambers (2nd Floor), where they will also have the special opportunity to present their logo designs to the committee.  Congratulations to Logan, Lennox, and Jose on this outstanding accomplishment, and thank you for representing our school community so proudly!

In October, HPS is showing our support for National Anti-Bullying Month by wearing blue on Mondays.  Join us in promoting awareness every Monday this month!   We invite everyone to wear blue to promote kindness and stand together against bullying!  Let’s spread the message: On Mondays, We Wear BLUE!

It is also time to complete the Fall 2026 Family Feedback Survey:  Fall 2026 Family Feedback Survey.  Your insight and perspective are important to helping us continuously grow and strengthen our school community.  The feedback you share will be reviewed by our Site Council, PTO, Walnut Square staff, and district leadership within Haverhill Public Schools to help guide our school improvement goals, inform decision-making, and ensure we are best supporting every Superstar and family.  Please take a few moments to share your thoughts with us!

The month of September ended on a high note with an early release day and an incredible attendance rate of 94.94%- the highest attendance rate on an early release day in the past two years!  Thank you for prioritizing daily school attendance; being in school every day builds a strong foundation for academic growth, helps students form strong relationships with peers and supportive staff, and fosters essential social-emotional skills.  We also celebrated the end of the month with a special visit from the HPS Food Truck, where all of our Superstars got a chance to stop by and receive a delicious treat!  A big thank you to Food Services for helping us make the day so memorable for our students.  Mark your calendars, as our next early release day is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28th! 

As we welcome October, we have officially kicked off a new monthly reading challenge!  To participate, log books that you finished reading into the Superstar Reading Log.  Ideally, we would like every Superstar to use the digital log, but we will also accept paper logs at the end of the month.  Today was the last day to turn in September logs, and we look forward to celebrating all our Superstars who participated!  As part of our ongoing commitment to promoting literacy, we encourage families to participate in our monthly reading challenges together.  Reading with your child at home not only fosters a love for literature, but also enhances their vocabulary, improves comprehension skills, and strengthens the bond between you.  Engaging in storytelling and discussions about the books can spark curiosity and inspire a lifelong passion for learning.

Enjoy the weekend, and I will see you all on Monday!  

Sincerely, 
Jen Rubera
Principal 

Superstar Reading at Home Another way to enjoy books is online, and we hope you enjoy these sites with a variety of stories to enjoy!  


Mark Your Calendar!  

  • Mon 10/5/26, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm • WSQ Site Council Meeting (5:00-6:00 pm) and PTO Meeting (6:00-7:00 pm) **In Person at Walnut Square School 

  • Monday, 10/12/26:  NO SCHOOL:  HOLIDAY

  • Wednesday, 10/14/26:  PreK-8 Trimester 1 Progress Reports Issued 

  • Wednesday, 10/21/26: School Picture Day 

  • Wednesday, 10/21/26:  6:00 pm - 7:15 pm • Site Council Training

  • Friday, 10/23/26:  Kindergarten Field Trip -  Fire Safety Program

  • Wed 10/28/26 • Early Release:  Dismissal is 11:35 for Students/Staff PD