Hello All,
It is amazing to think that we are already half way through the month of October! I just wanted to send out a couple of quick “housekeeping” reminders to all families:
-Please make sure that your student(s) are coming to school daily with a fully charged chromebook.
-Please make sure that you are sending your student(s) with a water bottle. We have a limited supply of cups and we do not have access to water fountains, only water bottle filling stations.
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS:
PICTURE DAY: Picture day is approaching! Hunking will have student picture day on Tuesday, October 25th. Students should be coming home with picture forms early next week. Parents can also order online at www.geskusprint.com
Our Hunking School code is: W7XPSDTP
If you choose to use the order forms please have your student bring the form in on the day of pictures and hand it directly to the photographers.
VIP: The VIP (Violence Intervention and Prevention) program of the Haverhill community is sponsoring a fundraiser Halloween dance for ALL middle school youth in the city. Any student in grades 5 – 8 may attend. It is on Friday, Oct 21 at the Citizen’s Center on Welcome St. It will be from 7 – 9 pm and tickets are $5.00 at the door. Costumes are allowed but not necessary to attend. Drinks, snacks and various glow items will be sold inside.There will be plenty of VIP Staff chaperoning.
PTO NEWS: (INSERT FLYER FOR DANCE & Halloween fest)
- The Hunking Spirit Wear Sale is open and will run through October 19th: https://www.showapparel.store/hunking-school. If you select “Pick up in store” as a delivery method, all items will be delivered to the PTO and they’ll coordinate pick up/drop off! All items should arrive before the holidays!
- Mann’s Orchards Thanksgiving Pie Sale is running until Nov 1st: my.cheddarup.com/c/2022-thanksgiving-pies
- The next PTO meeting is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, November 1st at 6:00 p.m. in the school library. This meeting will last about an hour and babysitters will be available.
- The Halloween Extravaganza at Kimball Farms on October 23rd is fast approaching! Buy your tickets here: my.cheddarup.com/c/hunking-corn-maze-event. With admission, you’ll have access to the maze, the slide (ages 8 and up), receive a small pumpkin (while supplies last), plus cash concessions and more! Sign up to volunteer or donate items here.
- Middle School Halloween Dances are happening! Mark your calendars for Friday, October 28th: Grades 5 & 6 will take place from 4:00pm – 5:30pm; and Grades 7 & 8 will be from 6:00pm – 7:30pm in the school cafe. Tickets can be purchased at: my.cheddarup.com/c/2022-halloween-dance-77177. Sign up to volunteer and/or to donate items here.
- Rock & Roll Bingo is back (Friday, 11/18)! Purchase your tickets at: my.cheddarup.com/c/rock-n-roll-bingo-2022-88200 for a fun adult-only night out of Bingo, late-night snacks, and plenty of raffle and auction items to help raise money for Hunking! There will be a cash bar. We’re still looking for donations for raffles and auction items (at least $20 values). If you’d like to donate to the cause, please drop any items off at the school. All questions can be directed to varaftery@comcast.net.
EDUCATIONAL HAPPENINGS:
PROGRESS REPORTS: Your student’s progress report will be available to view online through the student/parent portal starting Wednesday, October 26th at 3pm. Please follow these directions to gain access:
- Go to HPS main page: https://www.haverhill-ps.org/
- Click on Parent & Student Resources
- Click on Parent & Student Portal Login
- Click Log-in
- Use your student’s username & password to login
- Click on Student Portal (top of page)
- Select Report Cards/Progress Reports
- Click Download
Parent/Teacher Conferences: 1st Trimester Parent/Teacher conferences are scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 27th. Here is information you need to know:
-Grades K-4 conferences will take place from 4:00-5:30pm
-Grades 5-8 conferences will take place from 5:30-7:00pm
-Specialists conferences will take place from 4:45-6:15pm
-ALL conferences will be held IN PERSON. (If you would like/prefer a remote/virtual conference, please reach out to your student’s teacher directly and set up a time that is convenient for both you and the teacher).
-Please be on the lookout for an electronic sign up form from your student’s teacher(s) between Friday, 10/21 and Monday 10/24 so that you may sign up for a time slot.
**Math news!** We are expanding our morning program to include a grade 7 and 8 drop-in math center on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8:00am – 8:30am in the library with Mrs. Corcoran. If your child would like to participate, please have them join the Grade 7 and 8 Drop-in Math Center Google Classroom, code ubuhlz7. Please note that students must provide their own transportation. Any questions, please email me at tcorcoran@haverhill-ps.org
5th Grade News:
Mrs. Fielding’s iready 500 passed lesson challenge.
The students in Mrs. Fielding’s homeroom are challenging the students in Mr. Ivancic’s homeroom to see who can pass 500 Iready lessons first. Once a student passes a lesson which is a 75% or better on a lesson, they can color in a square and add their initials. The two home rooms are neck and neck right now with around 40-50 lessons passed in this first week. Stay tuned for next week’s update!! Who do you think will win???
NEWS FROM OUR NURSES: We are continuing vision screenings next week at our school for 3rd through 5th grade and the 7th grade. 6th and 8th grade are not required to be screened per Massachusetts guidelines. If your child wears glasses, please make sure they bring them to school. If a student does not pass screenings, we will be sending home referrals to be seen by providers/specialists. Please call the office at 978-420-1913 if you have any questions or concerns.
LOST AND FOUND: The lost and found is already overflowing with sweatshirts, lunch boxes and water bottles. If your child is missing something please remind them to check the lost and found behind the security desk at the main entrance. We will be donating any items left over this coming week.
ATHLETIC NEWS:
Soccer: The soccer teams have games on Monday, 10/17 at home vs. Nettle (Girls play first) & Thursday, 10/20 at home vs. JGW (Boys play first).
Both teams will practice on Wednesday, 10/19 from 3:00-4:15 pm.
Cross Country:
OUR NEXT MEET FOR GRADES 6-8 is on TUESDAY, October 18th, 2022 at Winnekenni! Just as our last meet, bussing is available from Hunking on the day of the meet; pick up is @ 3:15 and drop off at Winnekenni will be for approximately 3:35. As always, we encourage parents to pick up from Winnekenni at the conclusion of our race, simply due to traffic at that (*which is traditionally between 5:00-5:35*) We do have a bus that will be available for a ride back to Hunking, if needed. Please feel free to contact our XC Coaches via the Remind app. If you haven’t already, please join us @ https://www.remind.com/join/hunkingx?utm_medium=ios for instant access to updates from our coaches!
*DUE TO THE UPPER SCHOOL MEET DATE- GRADES 3 & 4 WILL HAVE PRACTICE ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20th THIS WEEK!
CLUB NEWS:
LEAD Program (Formerly VIP): Next meeting is Thur. Oct 20. The group is full and cannot accept new members.
GSA: The next GSA meeting will be on Friday, 10/21 from 2:50-3:50pm
MODEL UN: Meeting on Friday, 10/21 2:45- 3:30 pm. Please check Google Classroom for updates.
CHORUS: Junior Bobcat Singers (grades 3-5) had a GREAT first rehearsal on Tuesday with over 50 members, and the numbers keep climbing! We will meet again after school next Tuesday, October 18th until 3:45pm. Students can be picked up at the lower school exit.
Senior Bobcat Singers (grades 6-8) are actively searching for NEW MEMBERS! If you are interested, please come to rehearsal on Thursday, October 20th. Hope to see you there!
ART CLUB: Students grades 4-8 interested in Art Club, sign up sheets are available in the art room. Please see Ms. Cerullo or Ms. Marte with questions. The first meeting will take place on Monday October 24th 3pm-4pm. You must be at this meeting to attend the art club. Please sign up by Friday October 21st.
DRAMA CLUB: 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.