EARLY RELEASE DAY: This coming Wednesday, December 14th will be an early release day for all students. Dismissal will be at 11:05am.
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
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.
Congratulations to all of the students who won Hunking Hero t-shirts for personifying our theme of Gratitude for the month of November. Here are the winners: K- Ella L. & Christopher M. Gr. 1- Emilia B. & Jaxon T. Gr. 2-Aaliyah B. & Jaden C. Gr. 3- Sadie P. & Joey Z. Gr. 4- Jenializ F. & Jhonjadis F. Gr. 5- Carter T. & Kendall D. Gr. 6- Jannat H. & Jacob P. Gr. 7- Jomannah K. & William G. Gr. 8- Hannah D. & Georgios P.
Future themes will include:
January – Commitment:
February – Kindness and Respect:
March – Patience:
April – Peace:
May –Honesty:
June – Pride:
PTO NEWS:
- 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
- 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!
- The PTO is looking for parent volunteers who are interested in transitioning to Board Members for the 2023-2024 school year. Specifically, we’ll need a new Vice President and Communications Secretary/social media guru. If you want to learn more, please reach out to HunkingPTO28@gmail.com.
NEWS FROM GUIDANCE:
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 Middle School students are participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee 2023. Grades 5 – 8 will compete in their ELA classrooms, and the two best spellers in each class will move on to the school-wide spelling bee in mid-January. Our school champion will be invited to qualify for the regional spelling bee, held in March 2023.
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: After almost a week of our classroom gingerbread men missing, they were found and safely (though a little banged up) returned to us by our very own Haverhill firefighters. We are so glad to have them back!
NEWS FROM OUR NURSES: The nurses are aware there are several illnesses going around the school. Please communicate to the nurses if your child has been diagnosed with an illness such as influenza and COVID. If your child is sick at school, please have your child come to the health office. Students should not be calling parents on their cell phones for health issues.
Please send your child in with a water bottle each day. The health office is running low on cups at this time.
We will be rescreening students for hearing and vision this week. If you received a referral for your child, please send in any paperwork from the visits with your health professionals.
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: Practice- Monday & Thursday 3:15-5:15; Game- Tuesday(12/13) at Sacred Hearts at 3:30pm. Transportation will be provided.
Girls Basketball: Practice Monday and Wednesday 3-4:15; Game Tuesday (12/13) at Sacred Hearts, girls play second game. Transportation will be provided.
Cheerleading: Practice Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 3-5. Game on Tuesday at Sacred Hearts.
CLUB NEWS:
ACADEMIC BOWL: The Academic Bowl is back!
This winter Hunking Middle School will be starting up our Academic Bowl teams. The Senior division is open to any 7th and 8th graders. The Junior team will be open to any 5th and 6th graders. If you’re unfamiliar with these teams, they are like the Jeopardy TV show only with teams.
We will be having an informational meeting after school for anyone interested on
December 13th, next Tuesday, in room 206. The meeting will be from 2:45 to 3:30–please arrange for a ride home. If you have any questions, see Mr. Ivancic (206) or Mrs. Seed (211).
LEAD Program (Formerly VIP): Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Dec 15 until 4:00.
GRIT: Next meeting is Monday, Dec 12. Meetings are until 4:30.
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!
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: Remember that our concert is this Tuesday evening! Ensemble members should meet in Mrs. Fairbrother’s room at 6pm. Remember to wear holiday colors or black and white.
STUDENT COUNCIL (grades 6-8): Only one week left for your pet donations! The Pet Drive ends on 12/16/22. A huge thank you for all that donated. There will be some very happy pets! The next meeting is Tuesday, December 13th and ends 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:
CAR PICK UP & DROP OFF: Safety and Security of our students, staff, and families is our number one priority, so we would like to ask that those families who utilize car pick up and drop off be cognizant of our security guards directing traffic. Security would like to emphasize the use of turn signals when picking-up or dropping-off your student. If you are not turning, please flash your headlights so that they are aware that you are continuing straight. We want to make sure everyone remains safe and unfortunately, we have had a couple of close calls very recently. We greatly appreciate your attention and support with this matter.
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.
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.