APRIL VACATION: April break will take place from 4/20-4/24. We will see everyone back at school on Monday, 4/27/26.
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.
Family Engagement Survey Results Link
Thank you to all the families who took our spring survey. Here’s a brief overview of the results to share as we look ahead to implementing new goals next year.
Theme of the Month: This month, we will be embracing the theme of Honesty. Honesty is a core moral virtue characterized by truthfulness, sincerity, and integrity, where actions align with inner values. It involves transparent communication, owning mistakes, and avoiding deception. Benefits include strengthened trust in relationships, improved reputation, and personal integrity, while fostering deeper connections through vulnerability. It is true that honesty is the best policy! Staff will be on the lookout throughout this month for the students who best personify this theme.
Food Services has changed the menus this year. When you go to FD MealPlanner, and type in “Hunking” for the school location, you will see a WEEKLY menu. You will see the main lunch and other options available for the day. You will still be able to filter according to food allergens. Any questions, please contact Food Services at justin.hodgkins@haverhill-ps.org.
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS:
InclYOUsion Sports Spring 2026 Haverhill Flyer!
Summer School & Programming (Opportunities): We are excited to announce a fresh direction for this year’s summer programs! To enhance the student experience, we are revamping our extended-year offerings for grades K-4 through a new partnership with our Discovery and Access 21 Clubs. The Literacy Academy and the Language Institute are merging with Discovery and Access 21 to provide a more hands-on learning experience using DESE-approved curriculum. The district will continue to identify students to invite based on data. In addition, our community partners, The YMCA and The Boys and Girls Club, will be offering an afternoon program with limited openings.
Applications will be going out in the next few weeks – please check your email.
Attached is a summary of the Summer 2026 Learning Opportunities for our students. Please keep in mind that most of these programs are by invitation, based on specific criteria.
2026 Summer Learning Opportunities – Spanish
PTO NEWS: Next Meeting is May 7th @ 5:30pm
Bobcat Bingo and Band tickets are live! This event will run alongside an online auction. Ticket sales close April 27th! Don’t miss out on a great night out.
Grab your favorite blue outfit, gather friends and get ready for a fun adult only night out to raise money for Hunking School. Tickets can be purchased here https://my.cheddarup.com/c/bobcat-bingo/items
NEWS FROM GUIDANCE
Terri Carney, School Counselor, grades 5-8
Eighth Grade parents: Students are still being moved from the “waitlist” to “accepted” at both WVT and CTE. Please be sure to check the email used to apply because there are deadlines to reply if your student was accepted. Continue checking over the summer as well!
Work Permits
For those that have obtained a job:
Work Permit Applications: https://www.haverhill-ps.org/work-permit-information/
EDUCATIONAL HAPPENINGS:
Kindergarten, First grade and Second grade families: Congratulations to your students for an amazing K-2 Concert on Wednesday! We are so proud of what your students have accomplished, they are truly something special. ~Ms. Avalos and Mrs. Fairbrother
Grade 8 Action Civics Project:
Hello Hunking Families. Our 8th Grade Action Civics Project is highlighting the high cost of youth sports and equipment. The change we want to make is to start a sports equipment donation drive for our younger Hunking athletes who are just starting out in sports and don’t have the means to get that equipment. This is NOT a sale, it is a donation if you are willing to donate. We are looking for all types of equipment such as a variety of balls, cleats, bats, sticks, gloves, or anything you have on hand. This will be held in the Hunking gym after school the week of May 4th. Please help us reach our goal and we appreciate all your efforts.
Tommy Betty
Zeke Jones
Gianna Lundgren
Gavin Wakefield
Grade 8: End of the year events are starting to come together, so please, Save the Dates! Canobie 6/12/26 9-5pm and Bradford Swim Club 6/15/2026 9-2pm. Stay up to date on the PTO and Grade 8 Facebook Pages. More to come!
HEALTH: Ms Curry invited some 8th grade students to speak to her 5th grade health class about peer pressure and the negative impacts from vaping. Students explained some of the dangers of vaping and how important it is to stay strong when dealing with peer pressure and friends who may try to get you to vape. Students who spoke were Dinis and Matheus Pacheco and Noah Peralta.
NEWS FROM OUR NURSES: Allergy season is upon us. The health office does not have allergy medication so please give your child allergy medication at home so they can have a great day of learning. We also request sending your child in with a water bottle. Good hydration prevents headaches and dizziness as we head into the warmer weather. Also wearing sunblock is very important this time of year so your child does not get burned
If your child has had a physical recently, please send a copy to the health office. It is important for the health office to have up to date information so we may keep your child safe and healthy while at school.
If you have any questions or concerns, you may reach the health office at 978-420-1913.
Have a wonderful and safe spring back.
ATHLETIC NEWS:
In order to participate in any Hunking sports a current physical exam (done within the last 12 months) needs to be provided to the health office. This is a Haverhill Public School policy.
Spring Track- Hi Track Crew! Upon our return from break practices will begin! Please see Track Remind Class for details! Below is a workout schedule for your athletes to begin training acclimation over break!
As always, please reach out to Coach Law with any questions!
Hunking Track & Field
April Break Workouts
Grades 5 & 6
Day 1 – Speed
5 x 20 sec sprints, 3 x 40m runs
Why: Builds speed and running form
Day 2 – Endurance
10–15 min jog + intervals
Why: Improves stamina and pacing
Day 3 – Power
Long jumps, bounds, squat jumps
Why: Develops explosive strength
Day 4 – Agility
Shuttle runs and quick direction changes
Why: Improves quickness
Day 5 – Recovery
Light jog and stretching
Why: Helps body recover
Grades 7 & 8
Day 1 – Acceleration
6 x 30m sprints, 4 x 60m strides
Why: Improves sprint mechanics
Day 2 – Tempo
20 min run + intervals
Why: Builds endurance
Day 3 – Strength
Lunges, jumps, core work
Why: Prevents injury
Day 4 – Speed Endurance
100m and 200m repeats
Why: Prepares for races
Day 5 – Recovery
Light jog and stretching
Why: Resets body
Coach Law Note: Train 4–5 days this week. Practices begin immediately after break.
Volleyball: What a season!The girls team was able to make it to the finals and push a really talented Consentino team, and the boys were able to bring the championship back to Hunking by defeating Nettle with a big comeback in the last set. The coaches are extremely proud of both teams and are grateful for all the time and effort they put into this season to make it a great one.
While the season is done, the play continues. We are running our second clinic on Saturday May 2, 2026. The last clinic we had a blast! We are also looking to try to get something going for the summer, so stay tuned! Below you can find the flyer we sent out and the individual links to sign up for different grades. If you attend, just note the time your grade group shows up.
CLUB NEWS:
Guitar Ensemble: We continue to meet on Fridays in preparation for our concert on May 29th (details to follow).
Chorus: Upper school chorus had solo auditions this week, and everyone did a fantastic job! If anyone else would like to submit an audition via email, please reach out to Ms. Avalos. We have our next fundraising event coming up on May 1st, where we go to Fisher Cats to sing The National Anthem! You can get your tickets here: https://www.gofevo.com/event/Calebdustin6 to help support the Chorus! Tickets are $18. Our Spring Concert is Thursday May 7th at 6:30pm in the Hunking Gym. I hope everyone has a fantastic break!
Tri-M: Tri-M had a busy week with two successful events! The first Movie/Stuffy night featuring “The Lion King” was a lot of fun and a huge success. Thank you to everyone who participated for supporting Tri-M! And, the Tri-M students were a huge part in making the K-2 concert run smoothly on Wednesday. We have our second Movie/Stuffy event on Tuesday April 28th, featuring “The Descendants”, and then we are preparing for Spring Concert and our Tri-M Recital on May 27th.
Student Council: Monthly Meeting and Events Schedule can be found here.
NJHS: The NJHS calendar can be found here. Grade 8 had a fun time exploring MIT and participating in a Laser Maze Activity. The window to get an application has closed. Please closely follow all due dates within the packet provided.
GSA: The GSA calendar can be found here.
Lego Club: The LEGO Club calendar can be found here.
Yearbook: We are looking for any photos of the 8th Grade class, past or present, to use for the yearbook. Upload your pictures using this Google Drive link.
Are you interested in purchasing a yearbook? Click here for more information.
Technology Resources:
DESE Learning Standards for Families: learning benchmarks for math and ELA per grade level.
Technology Webpage: How to Access Parent Portal (PDF), Google Classroom, Parent controls (Qustodio), and basic iPad and Chromebook usage tips.
Remind app: How to download and use Remind to communicate with teachers.
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 ensure 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. The HPS website (under technology) explains SDC and has instructions on how to sign 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 PROCEDURES: Please click on the link below to review Hunking procedures, including cell phone and pick up & drop off procedures:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u0UOrpoO9vRnMMJuYpeJmaSGKcywt29SX94AQmSHFzQ/edit?usp=sharing