WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20TH WILL BE A HALF DAY FOR ALL STUDENTS. DISMISSAL WILL BE AT 11:05 AM.
2ND ANNUAL MULTICULTURAL NIGHT: What a night! I want to take this opportunity to thank every single person who was involved in making our 2nd Annual Multicultural Night such a success! Thank you to all of the families who came out and shared their cultures and so much more with us all. Thank you to all of the performers who put on such a great show. Thank you to all of the staff on the planning committee that helped see the vision through, with a special shout out to Ms. Law for making sure the execution was flawless. Thank you to all of the staff who came to the event and also for your hardwork in making sure that our whole student body was represented! A special thanks to our incredible PTO who is always amazing to partner with on events like this. Thank you to all of our students for their great projects and work that was displayed throughout our main halls. A special shout out to the Student Council and NJHS for their volunteer work at the event, and finally to all of the families and community members who came out to enjoy our 2nd Annual Multicultural night! I am truly humbled to be a part of such an amazing community! I can’t wait until our 3rd annual event!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR LUCKY RAFFLE WINNERS:
- Cedar’s Gift Basket: Jazmin S. (Mrs. Caron)
- $25 Peddler’s Daughter: Noah A (Mrs. Wood)
- $25 Phoenician: Katie C (Mr. Santoro)
- $25 Azul: Delilah M (Mrs. Bielski)
- $25 Roma: Gleydson C. (Mrs. Hall)
- $25 Kobe: Grady H. (Mrs. Woolf)
- $25 Wang’s: Kimberly (Ms. Murphy)
- $25 Fat Greek: Felicity C (Mrs. Whittredge)
Please enjoy some of the pictures from our event:
Report Cards: Grades for trimester 2 will close on Monday, March 18th. Report Cards in grades K-8 will be issued on Monday, March 25th.
Literacy News!
- Mark your calendars! The Literacy Coaches and Interventionists are hosting a K-5 Literacy night on Thursday, April 11 from 5:00-6:30. More information will be coming home soon!
MCAS: We are quickly closing in on that time of year again. Please click the link below to view the calendar with our MCAS schedule, to see and be prepared for when your student(s) will be taking MCAS: MCAS Calendar 2024
World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated each year on March 21. It is a global awareness day which has been officially recognized by the United Nations since 2012. The theme of 2024 is End the Stereotypes. If you’d like to learn more, click on the link for World Down Syndrome Day.
https://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/
Here at Hunking we can wear mismatched socks and also wear the colors blue and yellow next Thursday!
HUNKING THEME OF THE MONTH: We are embracing the theme of GRIT throughout the month of March. Grit simply means courage and resolve; and strength of character. To further explain, Grit is passion and perseverance for long term and meaningful goals. It is the ability to persist in something you feel passionate about and persevere when you face obstacles. This kind of passion is not about intense emotions or infatuation. It’s about having direction and commitment. Staff will be on the lookout this month for students who personify this theme of Grit.
Congratulations to all of our winners for the theme of Friendship in February:
| Lorenzo L |
| Aethan T |
| Yvette P |
| Bryce E |
| Emmeline A |
| Callie D |
| Brianelle G |
| Emma M |
| David M |
| Nicholas J |
| Ihamdra A |
| Piper L |
| Rafael C |
| Margaret K |
| Maysen F |
| Landon V |
| Cing L |
| Sadie P |
| Miles G |
| Mark P |
| Abby O |
| Katie C |
| Jad B |
| Kaiden C |
| Daniel K |
| Veronica M |
| Jariel O |
| Violet L |
| Alex U |
| Arianna P |
| Laila Z |
| Charlie M |
| Colin C |
| Carter T |
| Leah J |
| Crystal S |
| Riley H |
| Andrew F |
| Zoe H |
| Jannat H |
| Gabe R |
| Myles K |
| Dominic R |
| Emily B |
| Jameson C |
| Brianna G |
| Angelina A |
| Aaliyah F |
| Adriana B |
| Chritstopher T |
(If the links are not working, please go to https://www.fdmealplanner.com/ , and type in “Hunking” for the school location)
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS:
Before & After School YMCA Program: If you have not signed up for good friday, March 29th attached is the link. Hunking will be at the Haverhill Ymca
WASHINGTON, DC GRADE 8:
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- Rooming: Student Rooming Form -list up to 3 other students for room preference. Based on numbers and choices, students may only get one suggested friend. All groups will be reviewed by trip coordinator and/or admin and preferences will be taken into account, but can not be guaranteed. Registered students: deadline to fill this out 3/22/24.
- Student Contract & District Permission slips have been due. Students will not be allowed to attend the trip if these forms have not been filled out. Parents/guardians whose students have not turned them in have been emailed as a reminder.
- What to wear? Look here!
- Next payment is due: April 12th- $264 or the balance of what is owed. Don’t forget if you participate in the Spring cookie PTO fundraiser, individual funds for what the student sells comes off the balance.
Dates/Info to remember:
- May 22, 2024: Parent/Guardian meeting @ 6pm, Hunking. Please attend specifically for those students who will have medication distributed on the trip. Nurses will be available. Medication and doctors orders (please use this form) are to be brought to this meeting.
Questions????- Megan.arivella@haverhill-ps.org
PTO NEWS:
- The next PTO meeting is scheduled for April 10th at 6:30pm in the Hunking conference room! If you can’t make it in person, we will offer a link to join remotely (link to follow)! We’re looking for more lower school parents to get involved, so grab a friend and bring your ideas!
- The Hunking Community is strong and we’re asking you come together to help a family in need. Avery is a first grader who was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. Please consider making a donation to help her family get through this difficult time: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-avery-callagys-fight-against-leukemia.
- The Hunking Spring Spirit Wear Sale is underway! Choose from hundreds of designs and garments that are delivered to your home in days! You’ll save 25% off the entire site! New product lines include Nike and Adidas! Shop at https://1stplace.sale/40727.
NEWS FROM GUIDANCE:
Grades 5 and 6: Sarah Petrick sarah.petrick@haverhill-ps.org
Grades 7 and 8: Terri Carney terri.carney@haverhill-ps.org
NEED A WORK PERMIT?
https://www.haverhill-ps.org/work-permit-information/
Haverhill High School
Career Technical Education (CTE): CTE will send decisions to the email address used for the application on or about March 29th. Be sure to check spam email!!!
Whittier: Whittier will send decisions to the email address used on your application on or about April 1st. Any questions about Whittier, their admissions process, or decisions should be directed to the Whittier Admissions office. 978-373-4101
EDUCATIONAL HAPPENINGS:
ST Math News!
We finished our first week of March Mathness! Congratulations to the HRs moving on to week 2. Here is the updated bracket.
Jiji came to visit up on Pi Day and the kids were so excited! Jiji even did the griddy for the kids!
7th Grade SS: In honor of the multicultural night, some 7th-grade students submitted family recipes. You can click on the link below to take a look at the finished recipe book.
Grade 8: Like many other math classes, our grade 8 students celebrated “Pi Day” on Thursday, March 14. We “re-discovered” the meaning of Pi by taking measurements of many different circles and F Group and B Group each came within 1/50th of the actual value of Pi! On Friday, our Math classes completed their module on “Systems of Linear Equations” and on Monday, we will begin our FINAL module of the year, “Functions and Bivariate Statistics.” (Now that sounds exciting!). Civics classes are starting their civics project and will be taking the next couple of weeks to research and work in groups to find solutions to community-related issues. ELA students are filming or presenting live PSA or product-based commercials using Pathos, Ethos, and Logos.
Mrs. Fairbrother’s Music Classes:
7th & 8th grade music classes are learning about the many ways that rhythm is read and performed. We have read & performed body percussion using traditional notation and read & performed rhythms using nontraditional notation in 6/8 time. We are enjoying using a mix of instruments and methods to create some great sounds.
4th grade music classes just finished creating and presenting their poison rhythms. Maybe some of them even tried them out with you at home. We are now working on a song from Brazil that has an accompanying cup game. Combining the cup game with the singing is challenging but they are stepping up!
2nd grade music classes are starting to learn the song “Alabama Gal”. We will be learning the folk dance that goes along with the song, as well as, including instruments. Students have been working on using their best singing voices all year and they sound amazing! Please ask them to share a song they’ve learned.
In the world of HEALTH…
5th grade is finishing up their unit “The Danger Zone” which is an introduction to the effects of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.
6th grade has been learning about peer pressure and how to recognize it and refuse it. They have been practicing their refusal skills through some fun skits.
7th grade has been learning about conflict and how to resolve conflict through the practice of de-escalating techniques and communication skills.
8th grade has started their mental health unit and recently completed a mental health scavenger hunt gathering information about many mental health disorders.
NEWS FROM OUR NURSES: Mandatory Postural/Scoliosis screenings will continue during the week of March 18th during gym class. The Purpose of the screening is to detect possible curvature of the spine in children. If the condition is detected early and appropriately treated, progressive spinal deformity may be prevented.
To assure a good view of the spine, we will request the 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. Please make sure to have your child come dressed as recommended above on the day they are scheduled for gym.
If your child is currently under active treatment for a spinal problem, or if you have any objection to having your child participate in the screening program, please inform the school nurse in writing. A report from your healthcare provider is requested.
If your child was given a vision or hearing referral, please make sure it is sent back to the health office after seeing an eye or hearing specialist. Stay healthy.
ATHLETIC NEWS:
Volleyball:
EARLY SPRING TRACK SIGN UP
My fellow coaches and I are excited for our upcoming 2024 track season! I am hoping to get a good idea as to how many kiddos are interested in joining us this year, so I wanted to create this form to make sign-ups easier. SPRING TRACK SIGN UP
(*This sign up link has also been added to our school website*)
Prior to the beginning of the season I will follow up with students/parents that have filled this form out to confirm if they are still interested. We will still have a “sign up” available in-person as we have in the past; however this form can expedite that process.
Last, but certainly not least, if your athlete took part in a school sport during this year (2023-2024) you do not need to fill out another health participation packet.Only the first and last page is needed. If not, the entire packet needs to be filled, current physical submitted, signed and returned before participation is permitted.
Our main office retains hard copies for students to take home, but I have also included the link below if you’d prefer to print out and return ahead of time.
HPS (Middle School) Sport Permission Packet
When our season officially commences I will provide practice dates, schedules, meet information and all things track via our Remind class link (see below).
As always thank you for your continued support and please reach out should you have any questions!
-Coach Law
CLUB NEWS:
Academic Bowl: The schedule for competitions can be found here.
Meets will be held Tuesday 3/19 @ Hunking with the Senior Team going first and Friday 3/22 @ JGW with Junior Team going first.
GSA (Gender-Sexuality Alliance): The GSA calendar can be found here.
LEGO Club: The LEGO club calendar can be found here.
NJHS: The NJHS calendar can be found here. Bobcat Buddies will take place on our next half day March 20th. Looking for new members from grades 6 and 7! Current members will be attending grades 6 and 7 Library Specials to share the requirements and application process. Coming ahead will be dates for new applicants and a Spring induction ceremony.
Student Council: Here is our Meeting Schedule.
Guitar Ensemble: We are continuing to meet on Thursday mornings and are getting ready to strut our stuff at the May concert!
Drama Club: Rehearsals are going well, we are a little over a month away. The dates for Mean Girls Jr. are April 26 @ 7pm / April 27 @ 12pm / April 28 @ 1pm. Tickets are available online and will also be available at the door.
Chorus: Congratulations to the chorus students who participated in an amazing performance last night at the Multicultural Night! We will continue rehearsals every Tuesday and Friday morning at 6:45am. We are excited for our Fisher Cats game in May, please see the attached flyer if you are interested in purchasing tickets to support our singing Bobcats! We will also see you in May for our combined music concert!
GRIT: Just a heads up that soon GRIT will be starting their third and final round for the year. All 7th & 8th graders who have never participated but are interested, can apply with the application that will be posted in the Google HEALTH classroom as well as the grade 8 Google classroom. Applications will be posted starting next week and will be open until Friday, March 22.
Mentor/Mentee:
YEARBOOK: ATTENTION ALL ARTISTS! The Yearbook Cover Contest is now open! Submissions will be accepted until April 12th. If you would like to submit a cover, please bring a letter-sized, colored drawing to Room 213 or email a detailed picture to Mr. Thornton (matthew.thornton@haverhill-ps.org)
ODDS & ENDS:
-All students have been issued school IDs. It is required that they bring and wear their ID badges each day. These badges are also used for breakfast and lunches as well as to “swipe” on & off the bus.
-Please make sure that your student(s) are coming to school daily with a fully charged chromebook.
HPS has chosen School Device Coverage (SDC) to insure the Chromebooks that students have been issued. The cost of coverage for the year is $20 and includes accidental damage, loss, fire, and theft. As of right now, families have the option to sign up during the month of September (we will let you know if it extends). After sign up closes, only new students will be given a special code to sign up at registration. Our website explains SDC and has instructions on how to signing up online:
https://www.haverhill-ps.org/technology/device-insurance/
Qustodio: a FREE student safety, digital wellbeing platform that helps parents/guardians control their child’s access to the internet on their school issued devices. Qustodio is FREE for HPS Students/Families. More information and how to sign up for Qustodio can be found on our website at:
https://www.haverhill-ps.org/technology/athome/student-safety-and-digital-wellbeing-platform/
-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: Please click on the link below to review Hunking policies including cell phone, dress code, and pick up & drop off procedures:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OOOIPyskLX9WyYSuAWqfyQCB0ZJZ8JFsTTgB_sNW8d4/edit?usp=sharing