BOBCAT BULLETIN

10/2/26

Meet Hunking’s New Attendance Liaison! 

Please join us in welcoming Gianny Cleto to the Hunking team! We’re glad to have her in this new role dedicated to attendance and to supporting our students and families. Gianny will be reaching out to families with attendance-related questions or concerns. She is here to partner with you, help address attendance challenges, and support your child's success at school. 

Attendance and Tardy Policy Reminders 

Being at school regularly helps build the same habits of responsibility and reliability that students will apply throughout their school careers and beyond. Which is why we partner with families to support consistent attendance and help students arrive on time, ready to learn.

Please contact the school each day your child is absent and submit all required documentation within 2 days of your child's return to ensure excused absences are documented as such. If we do not hear from you, these absences are automatically coded as unexcused. 

Students arriving late must check in at the main office. 

Our tardy policy is now in effect. At 5 tardies, a student in grades 5-8 will be issued an after-school detention. (*Held Mon-Thursday until 3:30 in the main office) 

If your family is experiencing challenges with attendance or punctuality, please reach out to gianny.cleto@haverhill-ps.org so we can work together on a plan to best support your child and family. 

As always, thank you for partnering with us to help students arrive on time and ready to learn! 

PTO NEWS: 

Boosterthon Fun Run: Thank you to all who registered and participated in this year's Boosterthon Fun Run! We exceeded our fundraising goal and are super excited for the year ahead!

Next Meeting Oct Tuesday 6th at 4:00pm:

We will debrief the Boosterthon and Block Party. Then set goals for the 26-2027 school year. We’d love to hear from you! Free babysitting will be available!

Other Easy Ways To Get Involved:

• Join the FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/683794485075364 

• Upload your receipts to Box Tops: Just download the app and scan your receipt each time you grocery shop to raise money for Hunking: https://boxtops4education.com/get-the-app?

• Complete a CORI so you can volunteer: https://www.haverhill-ps.org/hps-online-forms

Trunk or Treat: Registration is OPEN for our FREE 2026 Trunk or Treat event in collaboration with the Haverhill YMCA and the Haverhill Fire Department Local 1011!

Wednesday, October 7th

5:00 - 6:30 pm

Hunking Middle School parking lot

Pre-register as a trunk-or-treater here: https://forms.gle/hZ7x3BNjF2WNCCaJ7 

Pre-register to decorate your trunk & hand out candy here: https://forms.gle/rSUNpvzSqRWh97SX8 

*Please keep all costumes and trunk themes family-friendly!

NEWS FROM GUIDANCE

Parents/Guardians of 8th Graders: I have met with all 8th grade classes to discuss high school options and 8th graders have joined my Google Classroom where I will be posting all high school information, such as open house dates and relevant updates. It is important for students to check this Google Classroom regularly throughout the school year.  

Haverhill High’s Career Technical Education (CTE) Program and Classical Academy are currently accepting applications!

HHS CTE Application     

Classical Academy Application

If your child is planning on applying to private high schools, please email me directly at jvlahos@haverhill-ps.org as soon as possible to ensure the application deadlines are adhered to. For any high schools/programs you and your child are considering, be sure to look at the websites for specific admissions requirements and timelines. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. - Mrs. Vlahos

EDUCATIONAL HAPPENINGS: 

5th/6th Grade: We are looking forward to our field trip to Topsfield Fair on Friday October 9th. School lunch can be provided but students must tell their teacher ahead of time. Students are allowed to bring money if they would like to buy a snack or souvenir. Dress appropriately for the weather that day. We can’t wait for a fun-filled day!

8th Grade: Math: classes learned about the properties of exponents during September and we used these properties to work with very large and small numbers using "scientific notation." In October, we will be learning about rational and irrational numbers. 

ELA: has begun our 1st Study Sync Unit “Everyone Loves a Mystery”.  Edgar Allan Poe’s classic short story “The Tell-Tale Heart,” the central mystery about the main character concerns his sanity in the midst of a terrible murder confession. Will he give himself away, or get away with murder? 

Civics: This year, as part of our Genocide Education grant work, we will be beginning a partnership with Peace and Love Proclaimers--Youth for Change, an organization based in Rwanda working on rebuilding that and other African communities from the genocides and civil unrest that they have faced. They are going to be bringing their strategies and educational opportunities to us in Haverhill at the middle and high school levels. 

Science:  Still piloting the first book, OpenSciEd, students are currently learning about natural selection and body structures.

NEWS FROM OUR NURSES:  We are continuing our vision and hearing screening with our lower school students next week. We will finish up with our new kindergarten class and then start with our first graders.  Please ensure your child wears their glasses to school (if they need them). We will be sending home referrals for any child who has trouble seeing or hearing. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

If your child requires any medications at school, such as EpiPens or inhalers, please drop off the medication and necessary forms in the health office. The Health Office requires an order from the student’s provider and parental consent for medication administration. The medication must be in its original bottle/box with a pharmacy label. Please contact the Health Office if you did not receive an allergy/asthma packet. 

If your child will be participating in any sports this year, they will need a current physical in order to play. Our fax number is 978-374-5790 if you would like the doctor to fax it to our office.

ATHLETICS

Cross Country News: 

We are pleased to announce that our Cross Country meet at Winnekenni Park has officially been rescheduled!

Rescheduled Meet:

• Date: Thursday, October 15

• Location: Winnekenni Park (Haverhill)

• Start Time: ~3:45 PM

Practice Schedule for Next Week (3:30 PM - 4:30 PM):

• Grades 5-6: Tuesday, October 6

• Grades 7-8: Thursday, October 8

Questions? See Coach Molina or email Christian.Molina@haverhill-ps.org.

Volleyball - Our next clinic is scheduled for Saturday, Oct 17th. Flyers have been put in the cafeteria for students to pick up and the clinic is posted in the Hunking Volleyball Google Classroom. The code to the classroom is t7ezqpi. Sign up through the QR code and wait for your confirmation email. 

CLUB NEWS:

MUN: If you missed the informational meeting for Model U.N. but may still be interested please join the Google Classroom with code: Kdbiio6i or check in with Ms. Kenneally.

The first meeting will take place the week of October 5th. Stay tuned…

Beginning Guitar Ensemble: Beginning guitar ensemble will take place on Thursday afternoons in Mrs. Fairbrother’s room until 3:30.  Please be sure to have a way home and all students will leave through the main entrance. Please reach out to Mrs. Fairbrother with any questions.

Advanced Guitar Ensemble: (The OG’s): Advanced guitar ensemble members will continue to meet on Friday afternoons in Mrs. Fairbrother’s room until 3:30.

Drama Club: Just a reminder that auditions for 9 to 5 Jr. will take place on Monday, October 5th, and Tuesday, October 6th, from 2:45 to 5:00 in the Music room. Auditions are open to all 5th- 8th-grade students. Students may be finished before 5:00; please have rides on standby. If you have any questions please see Mr. K or Mrs. Fairbrother. 

Mentor/Mentee: Applications for 7th and 8th grade students who wish to apply for a mentor position need to be turned in by Wed., Oct 7.

Tri-M: Attention all Chorus, Band, and Guitar ensemble students in 6th-8th grade! If you are interested in joining the Tri-M Music Honor Society, we will have an informational meeting on Wednesday October 16th after school from 2:45-3:30pm in the Music Room. Existing members of Tri-M will be presenting information and should be present as well. Please reach out to Ms. Avalos if you cannot attend this meeting or if you have any questions.

Art Club: Attention 7th and 8th grade students! If you are interested in joining Art Club, please stop by Mrs. Cerullo’s room to sign the interest roster. The roster will be available until October 15th. Dates and times will be announced the following week. 

Student Council:  All students will be contacted about their application status Monday October 5th with next steps in the election process.  Good luck everyone!

HPS offers the opportunity to protect school-issued devices for the school year by paying a Device Waiver Fee. As outlined in the HPS Student Technology Device Policy, this $20 fee will help to cover the costs of potential damage, repair, or loss for the school year for the assigned device. Please note: issues of theft should still be reported to the police. The $20 covers 1 student for 1 school year. So families with more than one student will have to sign each student up separately. Some of the replacement costs are as follows:

Charger - $39

LCD Screen - $80

Top/Bottom Cover - $30-$35

Keyboard $70

Trackpad $15

Device Replacement Costs (when Chromebook is unrepairable) $199

You can find more information on our website:

https://www.haverhill-ps.org/technology/device-waiver-fee/

Technology Webpage: How to Access Parent Portal (PDF), Google Classroom, Parent controls (Qustodio), and basic iPad and Chromebook usage tips. https://www.haverhill-ps.org/technology

-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. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u0UOrpoO9vRnMMJuYpeJmaSGKcywt29SX94AQmSHFzQ/edit?usp=sharing