MCAS SCHEDULE: MCAS season is once again nearly upon us. Our grades 3-8 students will be participating in the state’s annual MCAS testing. This is still a very important assessment for our students and measures our progress as a school in comparison to other schools in our district and throughout the state of Massachusetts. Students’ participation in this test is of utmost importance.
Please find the link to the MCAS schedule below, where you can find out exactly when
your student(s) are scheduled to test.
THEME OF THE MONTH: We are embracing the theme of GRIT throughout the month of March. Grit is courage or resolve; strength of character. Grit is courage and determination despite difficulty. Grit is a personality trait characterized by perseverance and passion for achieving long term goals. Grit entails working strenuously to overcome challenges and maintaining effort and interest over time despite failures, adversities, and plateaus in progress. Staff will be on the lookout throughout this month for the students who best personify this theme.
(If you have trouble accessing the menus, please go to www.fdmealplanner.com and enter “Hunking” as the school location.)
Literacy Night: The Hunking Literacy Team is happy to announce that we will be hosting a Literacy Night, here at Hunking, for grades K-5. This event will take place Thursday, April 10 5-6:30 in the cafeteria. Come enjoy an evening of literacy games with the literacy coaches and interventionists. The highlight of the night will be playing BINGO for Books! You will also receive information about our June Scholastic Book Fair and reading tips for home.
Please sign up here, to be sure we have enough snacks and prizes:
https://hunking-literacy-night-k-5-2025.cheddarup.com
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS:
Anne Frank Exhibit: Hunking will be hosting a traveling Anne Frank Exhibit. Some 8th grade students were trained to become tour guides and will lead 6th-8th grade students on guided tours. On Thursday, April 3rd, from 4:30-6, Hunking will host a night for families and community members to come and experience the tour.
EASTER EGG HUNT: Egg Hunt (4)
K-Registration: 2025 -K Registration Flyer (1)
Community Action Flyer: Community Action Flyer
PTO NEWS:
- Our next PTO Meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, April 3rd at 5:30pm in the Hunking Conference Room! Please join us if you can!
- Time is running out to take advantage of the 20% off Spring Sale. Hurry before the sale ends on April 1st! Stock up on tees, hoodies, and jackets!
Shop Now!
NEWS FROM GUIDANCE
School Counselor: Terri Carney terri.carney@haverhill-ps.org
**Please note that both CTE and WVT have earlier deadlines for accepting/declining placement. You will need to submit your decision before the deadlines of each program. **
HHS CTE decisions will be emailed on March 29th.
**If you are accepted to HHS CTE, you must respond (accept or decline) no later than Friday, April 11th.
Whittier decisions will be emailed on April 1st.
** If you are accepted to WVT, you must respond (accept or decline) no later than April 15th.
Work Permits: Find all the information needed to obtain a work permit here:
https://www.haverhill-ps.org/work-permit-information
EDUCATIONAL HAPPENINGS:
Grade 4: Free Bowling Night! April 11th from 6-8pm at Academy Lanes. This will be a great time for families to meet and students to bond with their peers. Please sign up here!
Grade 7: The English Language Arts MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) test begins next week. 7th grade will be testing on Friday, April 4th and Thursday, April 10th. Students will need to come to school with a fully charged Chromebook because the test is completely digital.Please help your student be successful by encouraging them to get a good night’s sleep, have a healthy breakfast, and arrive on time to try their best during both test sessions. Thank you for all your support!
Grade 8: Pictures for superlatives, homerooms and the entire grade have been taken. Remember that year books are for sale and customizable pages are available. In addition, students completed the attitudes and behaviors survey.
Our first MCAS session is ELA on Thursday 4/3. Please have your child get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, have a charged Chromebook and arrive at school on time! We have 8 sessions in 8th grade.
HEALTH – Ms Curry: At the beginning of the school year there was information that went out through Mr Betty regarding the Sexual Health Curriculum for grades 6 – 8.
Health Education Opt Out letter 6-8
Translated copy of Health Education Opt Out letter 6-8
Translated copy of Health Education Opt Out letter 6-8
Translated copy (Haitian Creole) of Health Education Opt Out letter 6-8
Those classes will be starting next month in April. If you have any concerns or questions, please email Lori Curry.
Also, grade 5 will be starting their hygiene/puberty classes in April as well. Those classes are co-ed and taught as part of the health curriculum.
Here are the letters for that.
English Grade 5 Puberty Family letter
Copy of Spanish Grade 5 Puberty Family letter
Copy of Portuguese Grade 5 Puberty Family letter
Translated copy (Haitian Creole) of Grade 5 Puberty Family letter
Mrs. Fairbrother’s Music classes:
Grade 5 has been singing, dancing and drumming along to the song “Cheki” from Puerto Rico! It’s been a lot of fun hearing them sing in Spanish and watching their best dance moves! We are starting to learn about rhythm and syncopation.
Grade 4 is singing “Kye Kye Kule” (a call and response song from Ghana). We are beginning to add instruments as well. I’ve been impressed with how many students are volunteering to be the caller.
Grade 7 is finishing up the song “Escatumbaraibe” (a song in Portuguese from Brazil). In addition to learning the song, they have been playing a cup game that goes along with their singing. It’s a bit tough at first, but they have stuck with it and it’s been a blast!
Grade 8 finished up their keyboard songs and are now creating their own music festival. They are getting the chance to put their favorite musicians, performers and activities all in one place. It will be exciting to see what they come up with.
Grade 2 has been working on their 2 concert songs and we recently learned a hand clapping game to go along with one of them. We are also starting to listen to and learn about “Spring” from the composer Vivaldi’s larger work “The Four Seasons”.
CONCERT NEWS: Grades K,1 and 2 are having a Spring concert! Students will be performing on Thursday, April 17th. Doors open at 1pm and the concert starts at 1:15. Mrs. Fairbrother and Mrs. Avalos will be sending more information along soon.
NEWS FROM OUR NURSES: Spring is here which brings milder weather but also allergies. The health office does not have allergy medication, so please have your child take allergy medication if needed before coming to school. Also please send your child in with a water bottle.
There has been an increase in Conjunctivitis in the school. Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is an irritation or inflammation of the conjunctiva, which covers the white part of the eyeball. It can be caused by allergies or a bacterial or viral infection. Conjunctivitis can be extremely contagious, and is spread by contact with eye secretions from someone who is infected.
Symptoms include redness, itching, and tearing of the eyes. It can also lead to discharge or crusting around the eyes. If your child is showing signs of conjunctivitis, please take your child to the doctor.
Your child can return to school after 24 hours of starting antibiotic treatment for bacterial infection, or after symptoms improve and they are no longer contagious for viral infection.
If your child has a physical, please send a copy to the health office. It is important for the health office to be updated on any changes to your child’s health. If your child will be absent for a health issue, please call the health office at 978-420-1913 or for any health related issues.
ATHLETIC NEWS:
Volleyball: Schedule for the week of 3/31/25-4/4/25:
Coed practice Monday 3/31, 3-5pm.
Game at home against Nettle on Tuesday 4/1 (Girls play 1st).
Girls’ practice Wed. 4/2/25, 3-5pm.
Boys’ practice Thurs. 4/3/25, 3-5pm.
No practice on Friday.
Spring Track: Attention Bobcat parents! Early sign-ups for Spring Track tryouts are officially open! (Click here!) We will be holding tryouts and capping participation again this year, so please sign up as soon as possible! We are hoping to have 20 runners per grade for grades 5-8.
Once we are nearing capacity I will be sure to post an update in our Track Family Remind Class
If your student athlete is interested in participating please take time to review our expectation guide as we adhere to these guidelines without exception. This packet can be found posted in our Remind class.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, the best way to connect with Coach Law is via our Remind group! (link above)
Here’s to a season of positive vibes and negative splits!
Your Kiddos Biggest Fans,
Coaches Law & Gibbs
CLUB NEWS:
Academic Bowl: Congratulations to the Junior & Seniors teams for their wins to become the Academic Bowl Champions!!! The teams will have a pizza party to celebrate – date to be determined. Great work this season!!
Guitar Ensemble: Looking forward to seeing you all on Friday afternoon in Mrs. Fairbrother’s room after school until 3:30!
Drama Club: Say it 3 times! Beetle Juice Jr. is coming. Apr 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM and Apr 12, 2025 11:00 AM and 2 PM.
Purchase tickets here Ticket Sales or copy and paste this link https://hunking-beetlejuice.cheddarup.com/
As a reminder rehearsal schedules are posted in Google Classroom. Rehearsals will be Monday thru Thursday from 2:45 to 5:45 starting on Monday for all cast members.
GRIT: GRIT started its final group for the year last week. We have more students (21) than ever participating in this group! Next week our meeting needs to be on Thursday instead of our usual Monday due to a scheduling conflict. So the next GRIT meeting is Thursday, April 10 and then we return to the Monday schedule on April 14.
Mentor/Mentee: Basketball, Football, Art, Legos, Puzzle Books, etc. These are just some of the activities the mentors have been doing with their mentees.
Chorus: Chorus has some exciting events coming up! We will be performing the National Anthem at a NH Fisher Cats game on Friday May 9th! Click here to purchase tickets to support your singing Bobcats! Our Spring concert is coming up as well on Wednesday May 14th. Please note: there is NO REHEARSAL next Thursday 4/3 or Friday 4/4. For further reference, please see the April chorus calendar here.
Tri-M: Tri-M students had their first mentorship opportunity this week with the Lower School chorus students. Students led sectionals on one of the more challenging pieces we are working on, and did an excellent job! Our next meeting will be Wednesday April 16th from 2:45-3:30.
Student Council: Meeting & Agenda Calendar can be found here.
NJHS: The NJHS calendar can be found here. Please continue to check this sign-up for PTO meetings, Literacy Night, as well as check Google Classroom and your personal email weekly.
GSA: The calendar for the GSA can be found here.
LEGO Club: The LEGO Club calendar can be found here.
Yearbook: The yearbook is $20 ($18.82 + tax) and includes 2 free pages you can personalize with your own photos and memories. Click here for the informational flyer. The custom pages are optional, but if you decide to customize your pages they must be complete by May 9, 2025. Sign in and complete your custom 2 free pages!
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