Dear Families,

Welcome back to school!  I hope you all had a wonderful winter break filled with joy, relaxation, and quality time with loved ones.  I enjoyed having the time to spend with my family and friends, and I also enjoyed having time to do one of my favorite activities- READING!  I love to read, and I also love to listen to books.  I frequently borrow books and audio books from the Haverhill Public Library and love to see Superstars there!   Reading every night with your child is a wonderful and important activity!  Reading together not only enhances children’s literacy skills but also fosters a love for books and storytelling. It’s a wonderful way to bond and explore new ideas. After reading, please fill out the Superstar Reading Log   Here is the link to complete the form after you read each book:  https://forms.gle/bshU4hcReq2WGJ8r5  Thank you for being such an integral part of your child’s education!

I’m also really excited for the  Title 1 Dance Night on Wednesday, January 14th, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Pentucket Lake School!  This high-energy evening is all about movement and celebration, featuring everything from popular line dances like the Electric Slide to beautiful multicultural dances from around the world.  In an effort to showcase the rich heritage of our community, if you or your family would like to lead a short 3-5 minute demonstration or teach a simple traditional dance, please sign up!   Remember to wear comfortable clothes and sneakers, and please note that all children must be accompanied by an adult. For more details or to volunteer your dance moves, please RSVP here, view the multilingual flyer, or contact Jen Rubera at jrubera@haverhill-ps.org.

As we return from break, I want to stress the importance of daily school attendance.  Daily school attendance is important because it fosters consistency in learning and helps students stay engaged with their education.  Regular attendance allows children to build a routine, enhances their social skills through daily interactions with peers, and supports their academic growth by ensuring they don’t miss out on important lessons and activities.  Additionally, attending school consistently helps develop responsibility and discipline, which are valuable life skills.  It also provides an envionnment where social and emotional learning is supported.   In short, being present in school sets the foundation for a more successful and well-rounded educational experience.

Building the habit of daily school attendance is important, but it can sometimes be challenging to know when to keep your child home if they’re not feeling well.   When is sick too sick for school?  Click on the illness exclusion guidelines link from HPS Health Services to read them.  I’ve also included them below.

Hopefully, we will have a healthy winter season!  Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Jen Rubera

Principal

Attendance Matters:  Your Presence is Powerful!  

Please click on the picture to view December’s monthly attednance rate and this week’s attendance rate.

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You’re Invited: A Night of Rhythm and Community!

Pentucket Lake and Walnut Square School Title 1 Event:  Dance Night

Dust off your dancing shoes! We are thrilled to invite the students and families of Pentucket Lake Elementary and Walnut Square School to a special collaborative Title 1 Dance Night.  This evening is all about movement, music, and celebrating the diverse cultures that make our school communities so wonderful.  Whether you’re a seasoned pro or have two left feet, this night is for everyone!

Event Details

• When:  Wednesday, January 14th
• Time:  6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
• Where: Pentucket Lake School
• Who: All Pentucket Lake and Walnut Square families

What to Expect

We will be kicking things off with high-energy popular line dances (think the Cupid Shuffle and the Electric Slide!) and including multicultural dances.   It’s a great way to get active, meet neighboring families, and learn something new.

Share Your Heritage!
Our community is rich with traditions, and we want to see yours in action!  Would you like to share a dance from your culture?   We are looking for families or small groups who would be willing to lead a short (3-5 minute) demonstration or teach a simple traditional dance to the group.   Interested in performing or teaching?   Please complete the form below so we can add you to our dance card!

Quick Reminders

• Attire: Wear comfortable clothes and sneakers—you’ll be moving!
• Supervision: This is a family event; children must be accompanied by an adult.  We can’t wait to see the Pentucket Lake and Walnut Square communities come together on the dance floor!

Questions? Please contact Jen Rubera (jrubera@haverhill-ps.org).

RSVP HERE:  

https://forms.gle/ffF3pxg4R2cf2BAo9

View the flyer here in English, Spanish, and Portuguese 

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Superstar Reading at Home Resources

• https://lote4kids.com/us-haverhill-public-library/  The Haverhill Public Library offers this wonderful resource with books in multiple languages!
• https://storylineonline.net/library/  Storyline Online
• Vooks Storybooks YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@VooksStorybooks
• Digital Reading Log:   https://forms.gle/bshU4hcReq2WGJ8r5
• Paper Log Passed out to Students: Traditional Paper Reading Log

PTO Updates

We invite you to become an active part of our school community by supporting the Walnut Square School Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)!

The PTO funds essential programs, purchases classroom resources, and organizes community-building events that directly benefit every student.  Your involvement—no matter how big or small—makes a real difference!

Why Should You Participate?  

• Direct Impact: See firsthand how your time and skills translate into better resources and activities for our students.
• Build Community: Connect with other parents, teachers, and staff, strengthening the entire school environment.

Upcoming Activities & Projects Where We Need Your Help

We have several key initiatives and fundraising events coming up, and we’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us ensure they run smoothly.  Please complete this Google form to select the specific activities that interest you and fit in your schedule:  Please click on this link to sign up to volunteer!  Thank you so much for your support! 

Fundraising & Logistics Support

• Walnut Square T-Shirt Fundraiser (March TBD): Similar to the pie fundraiser, we need volunteers to organize/sort t-shirts and coordinate family pick-up.

Teacher Appreciation Week May 4-8, 2026 

This is a vital week to show our educators how much we value them! We need help with:

• Meal Coordination: Organize a staff breakfast or luncheon.
• Gift Organization: Organize staff gift cards or donations of chocolate or plants/flowers.
• Business Outreach: Contact local businesses to seek donations or gift cards.

School Events & Clean-Up

• Grade 3 Luau Coordinator: Lead the planning and execution of the luau event, which takes place on the afternoon of the last full day of school.
• Grade 3 Luau Station Volunteer: Work an activity or game station during the luau event.
• Slush Pick-Up: Help with the pick-up and distribution of slush treats for Field Day and the Grade 3 Luau.
• Earth Day Clean-Up: Help organize and participate in our school grounds clean-up efforts on Haverhill’s Annual City-Wide Earth Day Clean Up Event.  

Can you spare an hour or two for one of these crucial tasks? We welcome all assistance and will provide clear instructions for every role!  Please click on this link to sign up to volunteer!

Thank you so much!

-The Walnut Square PTO

Illness Exclusion Guidelines:  Staying Home When Sick

from https://archive.haverhill-ps.org/school-health-services-2/exclusion-and-dismissal-information/

If a child’s needs while sick with an infectious illness would interfere with the school staff’s ability to teach and care for other students, the child should stay home.  Schools must balance the risk of infectious disease spread with educational, social and mental health needs of children when determining when students should stay home.

If someone has the following symptoms, they should stay home (or be dismissed):

• Fever, including a fever with a new rash
• Vomiting more than twice in the preceding 24 hours
• Diarrhea that causes ‘accidents,’ is bloody, or results in greater than 2 bowel movements above what the child normally experiences in a 24-hour period
• Skin sores that are draining on an uncovered part of the body and are unable to be covered with a bandage
• Respiratory virus symptoms that are worsening or not improving and not better explained by another cause, such as seasonal allergies

*The CDC definition of fever: temperature 100.4 or greater, or feels warm to the touch or gives a history of feeling feverish

Return to School criteria

• No fever (and is not using fever-reducing medicine) for at least 24 hours
• Fever with a new rash has been evaluated by a healthcare provider and fever has resolved
• Uncovered skin sores are crusting, and the child is under treatment from a provider
• Vomiting has resolved overnight and the person can hold down food/liquids in the morning
• Diarrhea has improved; the person is no longer having accidents or is having bowel movements no more than 2 above normal per 24-hours period. Bloody diarrhea should be evaluated by a healthcare provider prior to return
• Respiratory virus symptoms are getting better overall for at least 24 hours.  Students and staff returning after a respiratory illness can consider additional actions to reduce spread

Guiding principles:

1. Our primary goal is to maximize school attendance and its benefits for all students, while also minimizing the spread of infectious diseases
2. School nurse assessment is guided by Standards of Practice
3. Haverhill Public Schools aligns with CDC and MA DPH/DESE guidance, including prevention strategies (such as immunization, hygiene and ventilation)
4. There may be instances when these procedures are adjusted due to community disease spread (e.g. an outbreak or pandemic or time of excessive absences)
5. School staff who are assigned responsibility for caring for sick children or who will be exposed to infectious materials have access to personal protective equipment

Mark Your Calendar!

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!

January 2026

Early Release Dates:

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