Dear Families,

I am delighted to share a few exciting updates and important reminders as we welcome November and move into the busy holiday season.  First, Walnut Square Elementary is thrilled to be participating in Haverhill’s annual Santa Parade on Sunday, November 23rd, from 1:00-3:00 pm!  This year’s official parade theme is “The Island of Misfit Toys,” and our float will embrace a message of inclusion with the welcoming spirit of “All are welcome at Walnut Square.”  Our float design will feature a model of our school, decorative trees, a collection of wonderful misfit characters and toys, and of course, our school mascot, the Superstars!  By using the beloved story of Rudolph and the Misfits, we aim to celebrate the idea that every student, staff member, and family member truly belongs.  We need your help to bring this vision to life! We are seeking donations or items to borrow, volunteers to assist with creating and setting up the float on Saturday, November 22nd (time TBD), and parade participants for the big day (please note participants will need to report to Hunking School earlier than 1:00 pm).  If you are interested in volunteering or participating, please click here to sign up to volunteer and/or participate in Haverhill’s Santa Parade with Walnut Square School! . If you have any questions, please reach out to me via Remind or email at jrubera@haverhill-ps.org. I am so excited for this wonderful community event!

As the excitement of the holidays approaches, we also want to emphasize the critical importance of daily school attendance for your child’s success.  Every day in the classroom counts!  Missing even one or two days a month can quickly add up, making it challenging for students to keep pace with lessons, master foundational skills, and participate fully in classroom activities.  Consistent attendance ensures your child doesn’t miss key concepts, especially as we curriculum becomes more complex.  When students are in their seats on time every morning, they establish a reliable routine that supports their academic growth and strong sense of belonging within our school community.  Please help us maintain this momentum throughout November and the rest of the year by ensuring your child is here and ready to learn every single day.

Finally, our Superstars Monthly theme for November is Perseverance!  Perseverance is the crucial skill of sticking with it—it’s the quality of continuing to work toward a goal despite facing difficulties, obstacles, or setbacks.  It’s about not giving up when something is hard or takes a long time.  This is a vital trait for learning;  whether a math problem is challenging or a reading passage is confusing, perseverance encourages a student to try a different strategy, ask for help, or keep practicing until they succeed.  You can foster this important trait at home by modeling it (share a time you worked hard to achieve something difficult), encouraging effort over perfection (praise their attempts, e.g., “I love how many times you tried that!”), using the Power of “Yet” (encourage them to say, “I can’t do this yet“), and by breaking down big tasks into small, manageable steps.  Reading books where characters overcome challenges is also a fantastic way to reinforce this theme.  Picture book suggestions are included below that showcase perseverance.  Reading books where characters overcome challenges is also a fantastic way to reinforce this theme; I encourage you to reinforce these lessons through shared reading at home.

Reading is one of the most fundamental skills for academic success, and one of the best ways to support your child’s growth is by establishing a nightly reading routine at home.  Spending even 15-20 minutes together reading, whether it’s an independent book or a family read-aloud, significantly boosts vocabulary, comprehension, and a lifelong love of stories.  This is especially relevant as we embrace our theme of Perseverance this month; reading about characters who overcome challenges, like those featured in the picture book list below, provides powerful examples for your child.  In addition to visiting your local public library, there are many free resources to access books and stories, such as the Libby/OverDrive app (available with a library card), Storyline Online (actors reading children’s books on video), and Unite for Literacy (free digital picture books).  I encourage you to explore these options and make reading a consistent, cozy part of your family’s evening routine.  Please see below for resources as well as the digital and paper copy of our Superstar Reading Log.

I  look forward to a successful November filled with learning, attendance, perseverance and reading!

Sincerely,

Jen Rubera

Principal

 

Walnut Square PTO Updates

Walnut Square PTO Fundraiser:  As we gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving season, the Walnut Square PTO is excited to kick off our Thanksgiving Pie Sale! This delicious fundraiser not only gives you the chance to enjoy homemade pies but also supports our school and enriches our students’ educational experiences.  This fundraiser will help us raise funds for various educational resources and activities that enrich our students’ learning environment. Together, we can make a difference!  Thank you for your continued support. We wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with warmth, joy, and delicious pies!

Click here to view the flyers for the PTO Fie Fundraiser.  

Please click here to order pies!  

Please click here to read about more PTO updates and opportunities to volunteer.

Superstars Theme: Perseverance

Our Superstars Monthly theme for November is Perseverance!

What is Perseverance? Perseverance is simply sticking with it—it’s the quality of continuing to work toward a goal despite facing difficulties, obstacles, or setbacks. It’s about not giving up when something is hard or takes a long time. This is a crucial skill for learning; when a math problem is challenging or a reading passage is confusing, perseverance is what encourages a student to try a different strategy, ask for help, or keep practicing until they succeed.

Developing Perseverance at Home: You can foster this important trait through simple interactions:

• Model It: Share a time you had to work hard to achieve something difficult.
• Encourage Effort Over Perfection: When your child completes a task, praise their effort (e.g., “I love how many times you tried that!”) rather than just the final result.
• Use the Power of “Yet”: If your child says, “I can’t do this,” encourage them to say, “I can’t do this yet.” This simple word changes a statement of failure into one of potential growth.
• Break Down Big Tasks: Help them take a challenging goal (like cleaning a room or finishing a large project) and divide it into small, manageable steps.

Picture Books to Encourage Perseverance: Reading books where characters overcome challenges is a fantastic way to reinforce this theme! Here are a few suggestions you can find at your local library:

• Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg
• A Dragon Has To Persevere by Steve Herman
• After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat
• A Chip Off the Old Block by Jody Jensen Shaffer
• The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
• The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein
• The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
• Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
• When Things are Hard, Remember by Joanna Rowland
• A Chair for my Mother by Vera Williams
• Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream by Delores Jordan & Roslyn Jordan
• Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
• I’m Gonna Push Through by Jasmyn Wright
• Fail-a-bration by Brad and Kristi Montague
• Yay! You Failed! by Shannon Anderson
• The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

Please visit https://walnutsquare.archive.haverhill-ps.org/events/   or view the calendar on Parent Square to stay informed about important dates and events!  You also have the opportunity to subscribe to the Walnut Square calendar to get updates right on your device!

 Tue 11/11 • Veteran’s Day – No School/District Offices Closed

 Wed 11/12, 9:15 am – 10:30 am • School Picture Retakes/Makeups

 Fri 11/21 • PreK – 8th Grade Marks Close – 1st Trimester

 Wed 11/26 • Early Release – All Students

 Thu 11/27 • Thanksgiving Break

 Fri 11/28 • Thanksgiving Break

 Tue 12/2 • PreK – 8th Grade Report Cards Issued – 1st Trimester

 Tue 12/23 • Early Release – All Students/Staff

 Wed 12/24 • Winter Break

 Thu 12/25 • Winter Break

 Fri 12/26 • Winter Break

 Mon 12/29 • Winter Break

 Tue 12/30 • Winter Break

 Wed 12/31 • Winter Break

Early Release Dates:  

Dismissal time is 11:35 am on the following dates:

• Wed. 11/26
• Tues. 12/23
• Wed. 1/28
• Wed. 3/11
• Wed. 4/8
• Wed. 5/13
• Fri. 5/29
• Wed. 6/10 (Day 180-Last day of School)