BOBCAT BULLETIN

10/9/26

NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 12TH DUE TO COLUMBUS DAY

PTO NEWS: 

The next PTO Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27th at 4:00pm! Please come if you can! 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

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to Find Waldo at the Trunk or Treat!

NEWS FROM GUIDANCE

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

HHS CTE Application     

Classical Academy Application

Whittier Tech and Essex Tech will begin accepting applications online on November 1st. 

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: 

Join Us for Our Mini Book Fair! 

Make sure to stop by our Mini Book Fair during Parent-Teacher Conferences on October 22, hosted by Hunking’s literacy coaches. It is the perfect opportunity to browse a curated selection of fantastic books, find your child's next favorite story, and support our school community.

• Where: Main Lobby

• When: Running concurrently with conference hours (3:45pm - 6:15pm) 

Whether you are looking for early readers, graphic novels, or family read-alouds, we have something for everyone. We can’t wait to see you there and celebrate the joy of reading together!

For those who can’t attend parent-teacher conferences, there will be limited time for your child to visit and make a purchase on Friday, October 23, if time and supervision allows. 

Boosting Math Fluency Across the Grades!

We are thrilled to share some exciting math updates from both our elementary and middle school classrooms! This year, we are deeply committed to building strong math fact fluency at every grade level, ensuring our students have the confidence and skills they need to tackle higher-level mathematics. Here is a look at the targeted initiatives happening across our school:

Grades 1–3: Facts on Fire!

Our elementary classrooms are kicking off Facts on Fire, a highly effective, research-backed program designed to help younger students master foundational math facts quickly and confidently.

• The Process: This activity takes less than 10 minutes of classroom time. Students work through a tailored sequence of facts at their own pace.

• The Goal: Students track how many problems they complete and set personal goals to beat their own scores. We heavily reward effort, persistence, and growth rather than just a perfect score.

• Why it Matters: Building automatic math recall in grades 1–3 frees up critical brainpower, allowing students to focus on tougher, multi-step word problems later on.

 Grades 4–8: Fluency Fridays

Our middle schoolers will begin Fluency Fridays during their weekly WIN block. If you remember the stressful, 1-minute timed math sheets from your own school days, we want to assure you that this looks very different! In middle school, fluency is not a race, it is about deep, strategic thinking. Students will work on individual needs focused on four core components:

1. Efficiency: Choosing a logical, direct path to a solution without overly complicated steps.

2. Accuracy: Reliably reaching the correct answer through sound mathematical reasoning.

3. Flexibility: Knowing multiple ways to solve a problem and picking the best strategy.

4. Automaticity: Quick, effortless recall of core arithmetic facts so the brain is free to focus on complex problem-solving.

5. Tracking Progress: To build ownership, students will actively record and track their own growth from week to week, reducing math anxiety and boosting confidence.

How You Can Support at Home

While we handle the instruction during school hours, you can partner with us to build your child's confidence with these quick, easy, and fun activities at home. Just 2 to 3 minutes of light practice a day makes a big difference!

For Elementary Students (Grades 1–3):

• Ask About Their Goals: Make it a habit to ask, "Did you hit your goal in Facts on Fire today?" Focus the conversation on personal improvement.

• Sneak Math into Daily Life: Ask quick mental math questions during routines (We have 4 red apples and 5 green apples. How many altogether?").

For Middle School Students:

• Multiplication War

• Homemade Flash Cards

• Jenga Math: Write math problems on Jenga blocks. Players must solve the problem on their block before stacking it.

• Dice Roll: Roll two dice and multiply or add the numbers as fast as you can.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in your child's education. We look forward to a fantastic year of mathematical growth! If you have any questions about our fluency initiatives, please feel free to reach out to our Math Coach, Tiffany Corcoran, at tcorcoran@haverhill-ps.org.

8th Grade: 

The first Washington DC meeting is being held Tuesday, Oct. 13th at 6pm in the Hunking Cafe.  This is an informational meeting for guardians and students. 

Parent Teacher Conferences are Thursday October 22nd from 5 pm-6:30 pm.  Please sign up to meet with your student’s teachers through our Sign Up Genie at this LINK.  If you are unable to attend, you can always reach out to teachers through email.

Congratulations to our September Students of the Month.  These students were chosen from their peers for the Kindness they’ve embodied! 

(See Attached Image)

Congratulations to the students in Room 315 who are leading the Homeroom Competition with 72 points!  How long will they be in possession of the #1 Trophy? 

[See Attached Image]

In academics: Grade 8 math classes have completed their study of Scientific Notation and are beginning to work with right triangles and the Pythagorean Theorem. We are also introducing "Fluency Fridays" this year to reinforce skills learned in previous years that we need for current topics. Letters describing the program are being sent home via Parent Square. In science students are continuing to focus on natural selection and adaptation while in Civics they are working on a visual timeline of events leading up to the American Revolution.  Ask to see your student’s Road to the Revolution map. In ELA students have completed a close reading of “The Tell Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe and compared the text to a film version before focusing on the irony and symbolism used to develop the theme.

NEWS FROM OUR NURSES:  We are continuing our vision and hearing screenings next week. We will be working with 5th grade students to screen for vision. 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: 

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

• All-Team Practice Grades 5-8: Tuesday, October 13

Rescheduled Meet at Winnekenni Park:

• Date: Thursday, October 15

• Location: Winnekenni Park (Haverhill)

• Start Time: ~3:45 PM

Transportation Details: 

• Bus transportation is provided to and from the meet for all runners.

• If your ride plans have changed since the original date, please inform Coach Molina

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

Volleyball: Our next clinic is Saturday, October 17th! Please register by Wednesday at midnight. The Google Form won’t be open to sign up past then so we can have an accurate idea of how many will be coming. You can sign up either through the flyer your student picked up at school or through the Hunking Volleyball Google Classroom. We look forward to seeing everyone! 

Cheerleading: 6th, 7th, and 8th graders! Cheerleading tryouts will be held in the Hunking gym from 3:00pm-4:30 Monday, October 26th AND Tuesday, October 27th. Please bring a water, wear sneakers, and appropriate gym attire. Any questions please contact Coach Lauren at lauren.binkunski@haverhill-ps.org

SkiBradford:    https://my.cheddarup.com/c/2027-ski-club/items

Please copy and paste the above link to see information on ski Bradford as well as the cheddar up to pay. Thank you

CLUB NEWS:

Music Dept: (Please see attached flyer)

MUN:  Our first meeting with our HHS MUN mentor is now on Wednesday 10/14 from 2:45- 3:30    (Sorry for the last minute change; the mentor had a change in his plans)

The Google Classroom code is kdbiio6i

Beginning Guitar Ensemble: Excited to continue working with you.  We will meet on Thursday 10/15 until 3:30.  We will NOT meet on 10/22 due to parent conferences.  

Advanced Guitar Ensemble: (The OG’s): Great to have you back!  We will meet on Friday 10/16 until 3:30.  We will NOT meet on 10/23 OR 10/29.  We may have make-up rehearsals but will decide that together.

Drama Club:  We have a cast! Rehearsals start on Monday, October 19, from 2:45 to 4:45 in the music room. All students who auditioned should check room 113 and the music room for the cast list. Please see Mr. K for a permission slip and have it returned before October 19. 

Mentor/Mentee: Applications closed this past Wednesday and there were 98 students who applied for mentor positions. About 30 of them will be chosen for roles as a classroom mentor or a 1:1 mentor. Those students who were selected will be notified by the end of the week next week.  

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 14th 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:  Student Council is busy planning the Halloween Dance to be held Friday October 23!  Grades 5&6 can attend 5pm-6:30pm and grades 7&8 from 7pm - 8:30 pm.  Tickets will be available for purchase the week of the 19th either at lunch or through Cheddar Up.  They will also be available at the door on the 23rd.  

NJHS: On Oct. 21st  we are joining our Bobcat Buddies on a fun day at Connors Farm. Coming head, will be a Bake Sale at PTC Oct. 22nd, stop by the front entrance for some tasty treats.  Each member is expected to bring something with ingredients listed.   

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

ODDS & ENDS: 

-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