Family Update: HPS District Council, Superstar Monthly Theme, Mark Your Calendar
Posted Date: 11/06/26 (02:57 PM)
Dear Families,
We had an awesome turnout for our Walnut Square schoolyard cleanup and fall bulb planting! Thank you to all who made this happen! We lucked out with the weather and planted so many bulbs...I'm very excited to see what our school grounds look like next spring! Thank you to our families who stayed after school to help! To our Girls on the Run Team, thank you for selecting this as a service project! Thank you to Ms. Gregoire for getting supplies and coordinating this event with the Gateway Grizzlies. When our community comes together to invest in our schoolyard, our Superstars see firsthand the care and connection that surround them every day, and it fosters a strong sense of school pride and offers a lesson in nature stewardship.
In other ways to make a difference, the Haverhill Public Schools District Parent Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month during the school year from November through June at 9:30 AM in City Hall, Room 104. Joining the council offers parents a meaningful opportunity to stay informed, collaborate directly with educators and administrators, advocate for students, and help shape school improvement initiatives that directly impact student achievement.
November means we have a new Supestar theme this month: perseverance. Perseverance is the ability to keep going, stay focused, and try again when things get difficult, frustrating, or take longer than expected. It is not about never making mistakes or getting everything right on the first try; rather, it is about understanding that effort, practice, and patience help our brains learn and build resilience. How can you nurture this at home? Here are some ideas:
- Praise the Process, Not Just the Outcome: Celebrate effort, strategy, and problem-solving rather than just natural talent or the final grade (e.g., "I love how you kept trying different puzzle pieces until you found the right fit" instead of "You're so smart!").
- The Power of "Yet": When your child says, "I can’t do this," gently remind them to add the word "yet." This simple shift frames current difficulty as temporary practice rather than a permanent barrier.
- Normalize and Reframe Mistakes: Share your own daily slip-ups and show how you work through them. Talk openly about failures as essential learning moments rather than things to fear or hide.
- Break Big Goals into Manageable Steps: When a task feels overwhelming (such as learning to tie shoes, reading a longer chapter, or cleaning a room), help break it down into smaller, bite-sized tasks to prevent frustration.
- Step Back Before Stepping In: Give children productive struggle time. When they hit a snag, count to ten before intervening, or ask guiding questions like, "What do you think our next step could be?" before providing the solution.
Sincerely,
Jen Rubera
Principal
Superstar Theme: Perseverance Book List:
A Dragon Has to Persevere by Steve Herman
After the Fall by Dan Santat
A Chip Off the Old Block by Jody Jensen Shaffer
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett & Gary Rubinstein
The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
When Things Are Hard, Remember by Joanna Rowland
A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams
Salt in His Shoes by Deloris Jordan & Roslyn M. Jordan
Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
I'm Gonna Push Through! by Jasmyn Wright
Yay! You Failed! by Shannon Anderson
November 2026
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