Hello Hunking Community,

We are now in the thick of our school year, and have established some clear and consistent routines and structures. I once again want to thank our entire community for the continued support. We continue to be off to a positive start.

With that being said, I would like to take a moment to thank our PTO for sponsoring are new “Hunking Hero” t-shirts! Many of you may have seen them being modeled at our 1st Annual Block Party! The PTO has also sponsored enough “Hunking Hero” shirts for us as a Hunking staff to distribute to deserving students on a monthly basis!

COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS: 

Youth game design night:

Family Game Design Day Flyer 2022 Middle School

(Spanish) Family Game Design Day Flyer 2022 Middle School

WALK FOR PEACE

Before & Afterschool Programs Flier: 2022-2023 Before After Hunking

PTO NEWS: The next PTO meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 13th at 6:30 p.m. in the school library. Next on the calendar are the Mann’s Orchards Thanksgiving Pie Sale and the Halloween Extravaganza at Kimball Farms on October 23rd! This meeting will last about an hour and babysitters will be available. 

The Meadow Farms fundraiser closes next Wednesday, Sept. 28th, so get your orders in! Historically, this has raised a lot of money for the school, which will be allocated to extracurricular activities, including field trips. [flyer attached]

We’re looking for donations for raffles and auction items from local businesses. If you know anyone, or have suggestions, please send them to HunkingPTO28@gmail.com.  

A big thank you to everyone who purchased Mums from Cottage Gardens!

EDUCATIONAL HAPPENINGS: 

** Exciting math news!  This year we are offering a Drop-in Math Center from 8:00am – 8:30am Monday – Friday in the library.  Mrs. Kim Surette, our Grade 5/6 Math Interventionist, will be running this center.  We will begin with students in grades 5 and 6 and, based on attendance, may be able to open up to additional grade levels.  If your child would like to participate, please have them join the Drop-in Math Center Google Classroom, code vhur2o4. Please note that students must provide their own transportation.

ATHLETIC NEWS: 

Soccer:  The 1st game for each team will be Thursday, 9/29 Home vs. Nettle (Girl’s playing first). The practice schedule for this coming week is as follows:

Boys & Girls will both practice on Monday and Tuesday 9/26 & 9/27 from 3:00-4:15pm

Cross Country: 

Grades 4&5 Practices on Tuesdays 3-4:15 

Grades 6-8 Practices on Thursdays 3-4:15 

CLUB NEWS:

LEAD Program (Formerly VIP): Ms Curry held an informational meeting on Thursday for those interested in the LEAD program ( Leadership, Empowerment, Activism and Diversity), There were 27 students who expressed interest so at this moment the program is full and cannot accept any other students. Those who expressed interest will have their next meeting on Thursday, Sept 29. That meeting will be from 2:45 – 3:30.

GRIT:  Mr. Schaefer and Ms. Curry enjoyed the first session of GRIT on Monday. They were amazed at the leadership and teamwork that was already being shown during the first day’s activities. More importantly, they are already seeing some of the results of the GRIT program during the school day. Each session of GRIT runs for 8 weeks. There will be announcements made when sign ups for the next group are open.

GSA: Mr. Molloy (8th Grade ELA) will be running a Gay-Straight Alliance open to 7th and 8th graders. The club is open to all regardless of sexuality or gender identity. We hope to create a meaningful, safe space for LGBT+ students and their supportive friends and allies to form community, forge friendships, and discuss issues around their identities. Meetings will be held monthly; the first meeting will be held Friday, September 30th from 2:45 to 4:00.

DRAMA CLUB: Mr. Kowalewski and Mrs. Fairbrother are pleased to announce the Drama Clubs 2022/2023 Season. Auditions for James and the Giant Peach will take place the week of October 3, 2022. All forms and permission slips can be found in Mr. Kowalewski’s room, 216.  The next ALL drama club meeting will be Thursday, October 20, 2022, from 2:45-3:45.  Parents can also join us on the Remind app

https://www.remind.com/join/cdhdrama

SCHOOL POLICIES: 

Lower school pick up: If you are walking to pick up your K student please wait near the kindergarten doors and if you are walking to pick up your grade 1-4 student please wait at the lower school walker pick up door. DO NOT come to the lower school playground to pick up your child. The students in the playground area are waiting for car pick up only. 

Chromebook Insurance Policy:  Haverhill Public Schools has chosen School Device Coverage (SDC) to insure the devices that will be given to your student as part of this year’s 1:1 device program. For only $20 per student, this insurance program will protect you and your student(s) in the event that your device is lost, stolen, or damaged accidentally over the course of the school year.  Please follow this link for more information and to sign up.  Haverhill Student Device Insurance

This information is also posted on the Parent and Student Resources page, Our Technology page, and the HPS Student Technology Device Policy  (Spanish Version) document.

https://www.haverhill-ps.org/technology/device-insurance/

Student Dress Code: We have had several questions this week about the dress code policy at Hunking. I have attached the dress code policy that can be found on page 23 of the HPS student handbook for all families to review:

“The responsibility for the dress and appearance of the students will rest with individual students and parents. 

They have the right to determine how the student will dress providing that attire is not destructive to school property, complies with requirements for health and safety, and does not cause disorder or disruption. The administration is authorized to take action in instances where individual dress does not meet the stated requirements. 

This does not mean that student, faculty, or parent groups may not recommend appropriate dress for school or special occasions. It means that students will not be prevented from attending school or a school function, or otherwise be discriminated against, so long as their dress and appearance meet the requirements set forth above. 

Students are not permitted to dress in any manner that is distracting to teaching or learning, to other students or disrupting to the educational process or environment of the school. Clothing that is considered to be distracting includes but may not be limited to the following:

• Extremely short skirts or shorts rising more than 7″ above the knee.
• Shirts or blouses baring midriffs. 
• See-through clothing.
• Halters or tank tops with less than 1″ straps, tube-tops, or blouses with excessively  low cut tops. 
• Low rider pants and pants that do not cover underwear. 
• Clothing or jewelry that advertises or promotes products or activities that are illegal. 
• Clothing containing inappropriate or suggestive language or pictures. 
• Clothing that identifies students as members of a gang or an imitation of gang paraphernalia will not be permitted. This includes but is not limited to bandanas, pins, insignias, colors, jewelry, emblems, wave caps, etc. 
• Studded accessories such as belt buckles, bracelets, chains, etc. are not permitted.
• Any other dress that distracts, disrupts, intimidates or provokes can be deemed inappropriate by the Principal or Assistant Principal. 

The Principal and Assistant Principal have the final decision in making the determination that there has been a violation of the dress code policy. In the event that the Principal is unavailable, the Assistant Principal has the full authority to make the final determination on whether a student’s clothing is in violation of the dress code policy.”

CELL PHONE POLICY: 

It seems we are off to a positive start with cell phones. We would like to remind all students and families of our cell phone policy. 

-Cell phones are not allowed to be used throughout the school day. The expectation is that the phone is turned off and put away. 

-If students are found to be using their cell phone for any purpose the following policy will be followed:

-1st offense: Cell phone will be confiscated and submitted to the main office where the student can get the phone back at the end of the day with a warning. 

-2nd offense: Cell phone will be confiscated and submitted to the main office where a parent/guardian will need to pick up the phone.

-3rd offense: Cell phone will be confiscated and submitted to the main office where a parent/guardian will need to pick up the phone and the student will be issued an office detention. 

-4th offense: Cell phone will be confiscated and submitted to the main office where a parent/guardian will need to pick up the phone and a meeting will need to take place in order to establish a contract where phone can either be dropped off at arrival time and picked up at dismissal, or the phone is not allowed in school. 

-Students will not be allowed to have cell phones in the bathroom. Students will need to leave their phones face down on their desk when leaving for the bathroom. 

-We recognize the importance for students to have cell phones, but we respectfully ask for your support in reinforcing the cell phone rules. If there is ever a reason for a student to call home, I am happy to allow them to utilize my office phone. Also, if you have to get in touch with your student, we would ask that you please contact the main office during school hours.