As we quickly approach our holiday break I would like to thank everyone for your continued support. Safety & security is the number one priority and with that being said, I just want to remind everyone that Hunking is an extremely busy place, especially during arrival and dismissal times (8:00am-8:30am & 2:45-3:00pm). With that being said, we ask that if you are driving your students to school that you please use caution, drive slow, and use your directionals to help those that are directing traffic. Please keep an eye out for students at all times and follow our drop off and pick up procedures.
We have been having safety conversations with all of our students around arrival and dismissal times and continue to encourage students to use crosswalks, stay off of their bikes and scooters on school grounds, and stay on the sidewalks.
We will continue to monitor this, but again, we very much appreciate your support in making sure that everyone is safe.
Thank you!
HOLIDAY SPIRIT WEEK: We hope that all students will please join us as we prepare for our upcoming holiday break with a special holiday themed spirit week! Please click the link below to see the themes:
THEME OF THE MONTH: We will be embracing the theme of Generosity throughout the month of December. Generosity is the quality of being KIND and generous. This is a willingness to give help or support especially more than is usual or expected. It is giving beyond one’s means. Some ways to show generosity include, sharing or giving something that has meaning to you. Not expecting something in return. To support a cause that you believe in. To consider the benefits and embrace gratitude. Staff will be on the lookout for students who best personify this theme throughout the month.
DECEMBER BREAKFAST & LUNCH MENUS
(If you have trouble with the links above, please go to www.fdmealplanner.com, and enter “Hunking” for the school location.)
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS:
The Haverhill High Girls Basketball team would like to invite the Hunking community to honor one of our Bobcats, Avery Callagy.
Please join us this Saturday, December 14th at noon at the Haverhill High Gymnasium where Avery will be the honorary captain of the girls Haverhill high school varsity team!
Avery has been battling leukemia for the last ten months and all proceeds at the concession stand and raffle will go directly to Avery! We hope to see lots of Bobcats in the stands!!
YMCA program:
PTO NEWS:
The next PTO Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 16th at 5:30om in the Hunking Conference Room! We’re always looking for new lower and upper-school families to get involved!
NEWS FROM GUIDANCE
School Counselor: Terri Carney terri.carney@haverhill-ps.org
Attention All 8th Graders!!!
Once a student has applied to the high school program of their choice, the next step is an interview which does not take place until Feb or March 2025.
You will not hear anything until the interview schedule is posted. Thank you for your patience!
HHS CTE practice interview questions are available on the School Counseling google classroom and CTE posts them on their application page: https://cte.haverhill-ps.org/application-process/.
8th grade School Counseling google classroom code
Students, join the google classroom with: egta65o
WVT does not release their interview questions.
Classical Academy @HHS
Classical Academy at HHS is accepting applications!!!!
The Classical Academy seeks students who are intellectually curious, who are passionate about learning, and who want to deepen their knowledge of the arts and sciences. Classical Application 2023_2024.docx
Career Technical Education (CTE) @HHS
HHS Career Technical Education (CTE) Program: https://cte.haverhill-ps.org/
Is accepting applications NOW!!!! Please use a parent/guardian email address. School emails do not work for the application. Deadline Feb 14th. Decisions are made March 29th, 2025.
Whittier: Apply here and find important dates! https://whittiertech.go2cte.com/
Work Permits: Find all the information needed to obtain a work permit here:
https://www.haverhill-ps.org/work-permit-information
EDUCATIONAL HAPPENINGS:
i-Ready Winter Growth Contest for Grades 5-8!
Who will receive the ‘Golden Ticket?!’ The top two homerooms in each grade with the highest Math and the highest ELA growth average will receive a special scratch ticket redeemable for a cool treat but one ticket will be good for a free lunch at Ari’s! So students do your best and let the competition begin! Come see Mrs. Corcoran with any questions.
Kindergarten: To wrap up our Gingerbread Man unit, each student and a family member decorated their very own gingerbread cookie. It was a wonderful family event!
8th Grade: 8th Graders worked on their math diagnostic this week and have their ELA diagnostic on Monday and Tuesday of next week. Make sure to come to school on time!
8th Grade has a field trip to see A Christmas Carol this Wednesday! Please note that the field trip is required and reach out if you are unable to cover the $10 cost.
ELA Students have been reading Dominican-American writers to prepare for a Literature Circle discussion this upcoming week. They have their iReady diagnostic Monday and Tuesday.
Math Last week, students completed the iReady diagnostic. Students also continued to explore similarity, applying the principles of similarity of figures to real world problems.
Science Students are beginning a project on Climate Change. Students will research data and eventually write a letter to the mayor
Civics Students conducted a webquest on a president of their choice. Ask your student to see their presidential portraits!
NEWS FROM OUR NURSES: If you have received a referral for vision or hearing, please send it back as soon as possible. If your child has a physical, please send a copy to the health office so we may keep track of your child’s health needs at school.
Cold and flu season has arrived. Please make sure your child is wearing appropriate clothes for the weather and using good hand hygiene to prevent getting sick. Proper cough etiquette is important to keep from spreading germs so please sneeze or cough into your elbow or a tissue.
CLUB NEWS:
GRIT: We are excited for the new GRIT group to start Monday Dec. 16th, at 2:45-4:30 in room 305. Students can walk home with permission or picked up at the Upper School Entrance.
Chorus: Important Chorus updates: We will be having an after school rehearsal Monday Dec 16th until 4:15pm, please see Ms. Avalos for details. The chorus is also scheduled to appear on WBZ-TV news again on Wednesday December 18th at 5:15 and 6:15am! Most importantly, the chorus will have it’s Winter Concert with the Hunking Band on Tuesday December 17th at 6:00pm!! It’s free to the public, come support our musical bobcats!
NJHS: The NJHS calendar can be found here. Many teachers have been requesting holiday helpers. Please see the Google Classroom for sign ups. Next Bobcat Buddies activity is Dec. 20th.
GSA: The calendar for the GSA can be found here.
LEGO Club: The LEGO Club calendar can be found here.
Art Club: Students who signed up for Art Club must have their packets filled out with parent/guardian and teacher signatures by December 19th in order to be a part of the club.
STUDENTS IN 4TH GRADE:
January Thursdays 3 – 3:50pm ( 9th, 16th, and 23rd)
STUDENTS IN 5TH GRADE:
February Tuesdays 3 – 3:50pm ( 4th, 11th, 25th)
STUDENTS IN 6TH GRADE:
March Thursdays 3 – 3:50pm (6th, 13th, 20th)
STUDENTS IN 7TH GRADE:
April Tuesdays 3 – 3:50pm (1st, 8th, 15th)
STUDENTS IN 8TH GRADE:
May Thursdays 3 – 3:50pm (1st, 8th, 15th)
Student Council: Student Council Meeting Calendar can be found here. Friday December 13th meeting includes a pizza party supplied by the PTO in appreciation for our help at the holiday shop! This Tuesday’s K-2 Winter Fun Event was a success! Thank you to Mrs. Bielski, Mrs. Silveira, and Mrs. Wood for sharing your rooms for the afternoon!
Model UN: We have our HillieMUN field trip next Thursday and Friday, December 12 and 13th. Students are expected to inform their teachers they will not be in classes those days and are responsible for making up any missing assignments. Permission slips for HillieMUN are due 12/10.
ODDS & ENDS:
-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:
-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