KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION NEWS:
HUNKING’S 1ST ANNUAL MULTICULTURAL CELEBRATION: Hunking’s 1st annual Multicultural Night is happening Wednesday, March 8th from 6:00-7:30 at Hunking!
We’re still looking for families to help bring this event to life! If you’re interested in sharing your culture, please sign up here: https://hunking-s-multicultural-night.cheddarup.com.
If you’d prefer to attend as a tourist instead of sharing, then please register here: my.cheddarup.com/c/multicultural-night-registration.
So far, the countries represented are: Brazil, Dominican Republic, Greece, Guatemala, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Morocco, Palestine, Russia, Egypt, Japan and Scotland!
Help us bring our community together and celebrate the diversity and what makes Hunking so great!!
MULTICULTURAL SPIRIT WEEK: Hunking Bobcats are full of culture, charisma and creativity! We want to kick off Multicultural Night with a week long celebration! Students and teachers are invited to participate in showing off your cultural creativity in a Multicultural Spirit Week, March 6th-10th. Daily themes include colors, sports, and flags!
On Wednesday, March 8th from 6-7:30pm we invite you and your families to build connections, try new foods, learn about others and appreciate diversity!!
Themes for the week
Monday– Dress Like a Tourist, learn about a new place
Tuesday-Wear Your True Colors, wear the colors of your country’s flag
Wednesday– Let’s Celebrate! Multicultural Night-wear cultural clothing
Thursday-Sports Day, represent a country’s most popular sport
Friday– Unity Day! Finish off this week as a united group and wear our school colors.
**Please remember to adhere to the dress code. Can’t wait to celebrate good times!
MCAS Grade 3-8 Schedule: Hunking MCAS Calendar
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.
Throughout the month of February, our theme will be a familiar one to morning announcements…. Kindness & Respect. Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Showing others they are valuable by how you treat them. How you can care for others. Respect is the admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. It is the regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others. It is Treating someone how you and they want to be treated. You can care about others. Staff will be on the lookout this month as we are everyday for the students who personify kindness & respect.
Future themes will include:
March – Patience:
April – Peace:
May –Honesty:
June – Pride:
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS:
MAKE IT HAVERHILL ELL CLASSES: In-Person English Classes Schedule
VACATION ACADEMIES:
For the 3rd year, along with our partners at the YMCA, YMCA and the BGC, Haverhill Public Schools will be offering February and April Vacation Academies. Academies are open to all students in grades K-8. If you are interested in registering your student for either one or both of these academies, please contact the YMCA, YWCA or the BGC directly at the numbers provided below.
Boys & Girls Club – 55 Emerson Street – Jessi Feiner – 978-374-6171
YMCA – 81 Winter Street and Pentucket Lake School – Cathay Wolf – 978-374-0506
YWCA – 107 Winter Street – Amy Desimone – 978-374-6121
Please see the attached flyer here:
February 2023 Vacation Academy.docx
Spanish – February 2023 Vacation Academy.docx
Portuguese_February 2023 Vacation Academy.docx
Arabic February 2023 Vacation Academy.docx
PTO NEWS:
Thank you to all who participated in the Adrenaline Cookie Fundraiser! Amazon prizes will be sent home with students next week and the tee-shirts and backpacks have been ordered but will take about 4 weeks to arrive. Cookie pick up details will be communicated soon!
Thanks also to everyone who attended last night’s PTO meeting! The next meeting is scheduled for Thurs, Mar 2nd at 6:00 p.m. in the school conference room. This will last about an hour and we will have babysitters available.
Don’t forget to register for the lower-school “Someone Special” Dance on Saturday, February 11th in the Hunking cafeteria: my.cheddarup.com/c/2023-someone-special-dance
- Kindergarten, 1st Grade and 2nd Grade will be from 1:00-2:30pm
- And 3rd Grade and 4th Grade will be from 3:00-4:30pm.
This is for Hunking students and the someone special in their lives. Students must be accompanied by an adult. Cash concessions will be available for purchase.
NEWS FROM GUIDANCE:
Your School Counselors:
Sarah Petrick k-4 School Counselor sarah.petrick@haverhill-ps.org
Terri Carney 5-8 School Counselor terri.carney@haverhill-ps.org
Whittier Interviews Soon!!!
The team from Whittier will be at the Hunking to interview applicants on Friday, March 10th and Monday, March 13th. The interview appointment list will be posted in the 8th grade hallway when Whittier has screened all of the applications and sends us the list. Look forward to the interview list being posted closer to the interview dates!
Work Permits
Lots of students are looking to start jobs! Work permit information can be found here:
https://www.haverhill-ps.org/work-permit-information/
Guidance Information
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
Explore Haverhill High School’s Career Technical Education Programs
“Where Hands-On Learning Meets Real-World Experience”
The deadline to apply is February 17, 2023!!
Applications are now available on the HHS CTE website https://cte.haverhill-ps.org/
Incoming 9th grade students can enroll in one of the following programs:
- Information Technology;
- Computer Science and Web Development;
- Healthcare Occupations;
- PLTW Engineering/Manufacturing; or
- PLTW Biomedical Science.
Questions about these programs that are not addressed on the website can be directed to program leaders at CTE@haverhill-ps.org
EDUCATIONAL HAPPENINGS:
Hunking’s ST Math Puzzle Clubs!
Grade 1 ST Math “We Love Jiji” Challenge!
Jiji is feeling the love with all the hearts from our 40 or more puzzle solvers! Keep up the great work grade 1!
Grade 3 enjoyed a reading of Island Born by Junot Diaz to get excited for our Multicultural Night. This book is part of Mrs. Van Doren’s Multicultural playlist on YouTube. Feel free to check it out!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcm_P1pIIVkJ93J3ki1j8jHDaYKEyBWsK
There is also a playlist to celebrate Black History Month.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcm_P1pIIVkKj9O2v2oTUevMZ3mvYcZEh
Grade 5 & 6 Drop-in Math Center
Congratulations to Emily LeBlanc – winner of the January raffle!
Grades 5 and 6 problem of the week forms are available in the library. Students will receive one raffle ticket for trying the problem and showing their work. Students who show the correct answer along with their work will receive an additional raffle ticket. Winning tickets will be drawn the first Friday of each month.
If you would like your student to gain fluency and confidence in math there are many great resourcese. Here are the links to a few.
https://www.ixl.com/math-allows students to practice ten problems each day and helps them master essential skills at their own pace through fun and interactive questions with built in support
https://www.mathplayground.com
Any questions please contact Kim Surette ksurette@haverhill-ps.org
KINDERGARTEN: Kindergarteners have been bringing in projects in honor of our 100th day of school coming up this Monday. Students will also be dressing as 100 year olds and participating in lots of fun and educational 100th day activities!
GRADE 8: Link for conferences on February 16th 5:30-7:00
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a45adad22a4f49-grade#/
NEWS FROM OUR NURSES: The Health office will be continuing mandatory Postural screening for 5th through 8th grade next week during gym class. The purpose of the screening is to detect possible curvature of the spine in children. The school nurse will check your child’s back by observing it while your child is standing and bending forward. To assure a view of the spine, we will request that students expose their backs during screening. It is recommended that boys wear a shirt that can be easily removed. Girls should wear a bathing suit top or sport bra or a halter top under a shirt or sweater. If you would like to opt your child out of the screening, the health office will require written notification. If your child has an issue with Scoliosis or posture, please provide information from the doctor so we may update your child’s health record. Please see the link below for information letters in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pv8cVDw9k4z1ys5C70hiWZdFQiYeG8-o4fN9iAeStsI/edit?usp=sharing
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 all unclaimed clothing at the end of each month is then donated by the school.
ATHLETIC NEWS:
Volleyball Tryouts: Girls grades 6-8 tryouts will be Monday, 2/13/23 from 3:00-4:30. Selected students will be asked to come back to a 2nd tryout on Tuesday, 2/14/23 from 3:00-4:30
CLUB NEWS:
ACADEMIC BOWL: Next practice will be after school on Monday, February 13th for both teams. Our next meet is at Consentino on Tuesday, February 14th—parents are welcome to attend. Meet should start no later than 9:15 and should run until 10:45.
GRIT: The next session of GRIT begins Monday after school in Mr. Schaefer’s classroom. Students can be picked up at the Upper School entrance at 4:30.
GSA: The next meeting of the GSA will be Friday, March 3rd from 3:00 to 4:00 in Room 300. Please contact Mr. Molloy with questions.
CHORUS: Junior Chorus will meet on Tuesday, February 14th until 3:45pm. Senior Chorus will NOT meet next Thursday, February 16th due to parent/teacher conferences. New members are still welcome, please see Mrs. Rico for a permission slip!
Student Council: The student council will be hosting a “Pennies for Patients” fundraiser to benefit leukemia after vacation. Look for more information in the following weeks.
ART CLUB: Monday, 2/13 is our final day for the art club.
DRAMA CLUB: The Broadway Bobcats are back in the swing of auditions and rehearsals. We have a cast for the 8th grade class play! Those rehearsals will start next Wednesday from 2:45 to 4:45.
Auditions for Xanadu Jr. are on Monday February 13 and Feb 14, 2023 from 2:45 to 5:45. Students should prepare two songs from the 1980s. Students are not required to stay the whole time. Students must audition for the show on the 13th and/or 14th, there will be no exceptions made if they miss the dates.
GUITAR ENSEMBLE: IS meeting on Thursday (2/16) in Mrs. Fairbrother’s room at 8am. See you then!
YEARBOOK: The Yearbook Committee has switched our meeting day to Thursdays at 2:45 in Room 213.
Additionally, 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
- SCHOOL PASSCODE: 101663874693208
Lastly, if you would like to pre-order your yearbook, click this link to create an account and purchase a yearbook. Here’s an informational flyer with all the same information.
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:
MORNING DROP OFF: To all families that drop their students off in the morning, please remember to drop your students off at the proper end of the building. All K-4 students should be dropped on the lower school side of the building. All 5-8 students should be dropped off on the upper school side of the building. Please be aware that there should be NO DROP OFFS AT THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING BETWEEN 8:00AM-8:30AM. This is for safety reasons. We appreciate everyone’s support and cooperation with this procedure. Thank you!
UPPER SCHOOL DROP OFF: Parents and Guardians, please be aware that the safety and security of our students is the number one priority. We kindly ask that all parents/guardians who drop students off in the morning on the upper school side of the building, please follow the proper traffic pattern to ensure everyone’s safety. Please do not cut across the parking lot. We ask that you drive slow while on school grounds, and we appreciate your patience as we are aware that many people have places to be after dropping off. Again, we appreciate you prioritizing the safety of our students. Thank you!
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. 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 phones 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.