ATTENDANCE CONTEST: There are exactly 20 days of school between Thanksgiving break and Winter break. Hunking is in the midst of an attendance contest which started on Monday, November 28th. For every student who has perfect attendance from that day until December 23rd will be entered into a raffle to win an Amazon gift card. Please see the attached flyer:
Hunking Perfect Attendance Raffle
Picture Retakes- Retakes are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 6th.
HAT AND MITTEN TREE: Our hat and mitten tree has been set up in the lobby. We are accepting donations of NEW hats, mittens and gloves of all sizes. These items will be available to any Hunking student who may need them now that the cold weather is upon us.
HUNKING THEME OF THE MONTH: Hunking will be embracing a theme of the month which will be focused on in and around our School building throughout each month. Hunking staff will promote and nominate students each month who they feel have personified the monthly theme on a consistent basis. Based on those nominations, one boy and one girl in each grade will be recognized as a “Hunking Hero” and receive a t-shirt.
This month’s theme is Generosity which is the quality of being kind and generous. It is showing readiness to give more of something than is necessary or expected.
Future themes will include:
January – Commitment:
February – Kindness and Respect:
March – Patience:
April – Peace:
May –Honesty:
June – Pride:
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS:
Roof Deck Glow Up! Donations are DOUBLED on 11/29/2022
We are more than half way to our goal for roof deck furniture. If you are willing to share this on social media or with family and friends I’m sure our students will have this funded in no time and ready to enjoy as soon as snow is melted. Thank you for your support and generosity. (Please click the link “Roof Deck Glow Up!” to be connected.
PTO NEWS:
- Thank you to everyone who participated in our first online auction and congratulations to all of our winners!
- The next PTO meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 14th at 6:30 p.m. This is an early release day and we have decided to hold this meeting virtually via Zoom: https://sentinelgroup.zoom.us/j/94095326757
- Meadow Farms prizes have arrived! We’ll get these sorted as quickly as we can and students should be bringing them home from school soon! Apparel orders should also be delivered this week! Reach out to HunkingPTO28@gmail.com with any questions!
- There’s still time to donate to Heroes & Helpers! This need-based program is for middle school students. Selected students are given $100 spending money and are paired up with a Haverhill first responder to shop and wrap presents together for their families! All funds donated through this collection will go to sponsor children for this great program! Let’s rally this holiday season around this cause: my.cheddarup.com/c/heroes-and-helpers-copy
- The PTO has partnered with the Celebration of Lights being offered through fiesta shows at Mann’s Orchard this year!! Located in Methuen, MA, see over 1 mile of roadway that has been transformed into a glittering display of over 1 million LED lights — featuring a 90′ Christmas Tree! Listen to music played through FM radio in your own vehicle during this safe, holiday experience. Get tickets here!
NEWS FROM GUIDANCE:
Hello 8th-grade students & families!
Haverhill High School Tour
Monday, December 5th
- Buses will arrive at Hunking in the morning, and we will return before lunches.
- Any student that participates in the LOOP Program at Haverhill High School will plan to remain at Haverhill High School and will join all 8th-grade students upon arrival.
We are introducing a new avenue for you to access all information regarding applications and the transition to high school. We recommend you utilize this resource as often as possible, as we will consistently update this site throughout the week. We at Hunking believe that working together to support student success is paramount.
https://sites.google.com/haverhill-ps.org/roadmaptohighschool/hunking-home-hnk
EDUCATIONAL HAPPENINGS:
Hunking’s ST Math Puzzle Clubs!
Hunking’s Snowball Challenge!
Ready for some competition?!
Each week your class hits the puzzle goal:
40 puzzles/week – grades K and 1
60 puzzles/week – grades 2-5
Or your class solves 15 more puzzles than the previous week
Your class will get a snowball to add to the wall! The class with the most snowballs by December 22nd wins a hot chocolate and munchkin party with Mrs. Corcoran on 12/23!*
*If there are multiple classes with the same number of snowballs, we will pick a class raffle style.
Hunking’s Grades 6-8
i-Ready December Snowman Challenge!
Starting December 5th, each week the Homeroom ELA and Math Average Percent Lessons Passed will be averaged.
The class with the highest combined ELA and Math Lessons Passed Average by December 22nd wins cookies and coco with the Coaches on 12/23!
Good luck!
Mrs. Corcoran and Mrs. LaCoste
Snowmen will be displayed outside the cafeteria.
Kindergarten- Our kindergarten classes have begun their Gingerbread Man unit. This week and next week, students will read different versions of the classic story while comparing and contrasting. Each class will also decorate their very own Gingerbread Man. Let’s hope he doesn’t run away like years past!
NEWS FROM OUR NURSES: Next week we will be finishing screening for vision and hearing. If you received a referral for your child, please send in documentation from the eye doctor. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at 978-420-1913.
LOST AND FOUND: Our lost and found for any clothing items is located in the locker room area in the main hallway of the school. Any lost lunch boxes or water bottles can be found on the shelves in our cafeteria. We encourage you to have your students check frequently as we plan to donate clothing that is unclaimed at the end of each month.
ATHLETIC NEWS:
Boys Basketball: Practices on Monday and Wednesday from 3:15-5:15. No games this week.
Cheerleading: No games this week. Practice on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 3-5:30.
CLUB NEWS:
GRIT: The next GRIT meeting will be held on Monday, December 5 in Mr. Schaefer’s classroom.
GSA: The next GSA meeting will be Friday, 16th until 4:00
MODEL UN: Meetings are Fridays 2:45 to 3:30 in Room 117. Please check Google Classroom for updates.
CHORUS: Junior and Senior Bobcat Singers have had some great rehearsals and are looking forward to their performance at the Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 13th at 6:30pm. Join us for an evening showcasing the talent of Hunking School students!
ART CLUB: Reminder for art club members who have not started needle felting, please come prepared with your idea so that you can get set up to start working on your project at the start of art club on Monday. Feel free to email Ms. Marte with your idea: daniela.marte@haverhill-ps.org
DRAMA CLUB: Online Tickets are now available for James and the Giant Peach Jr.
https://james-and-the-giant-peach-jr.cheddarup.com
January 13, 2023 @ 7pm and January 14, 2023 @ 12 pm and 4 pm. Tickets are $5.00 per person
GUITAR ENSEMBLE: will meet next Thursday (12/8) in preparation for our concert with the band and chorus on December 13th. Mrs. Fairbrother will be reaching out with all the show details.
NJHS: Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday December 6th in Mrs Sciuto’s room, room 118. We will be brainstorming ideas of how we can continue to support our school and community.
STUDENT COUNCIL (grades 6-8): The Student Council will be hosting a pet drive. All donations will go to the MSPCA. It will run from 11/21/22-12/16/22. Donations can be put in the boxes near the main office. Every donation counts! Donations include: treats, food, toys and gently used blankets. Thank you for your support! Also on meeting days, please be sure your child is picked up promptly at 4:00 p.m.
YEARBOOK: The Yearbook Committee needs your help gathering photos! Any and all throwbacks, candids, group shots or selfies of the graduating 8th grade class will be considered. There are two ways to upload:
- Students can use this Google drive folder – Instructions
- Anyone without an HPS email account can use this link to TreeRing
- Note: This method requires creating a username/password
ODDS & ENDS:
-All students in grades 5-8 have been issued school IDs. It is required that they bring and wear their ID badges each day.
-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.
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: 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 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 bearing 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:
-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.