Family Update

Posted on March 27, 2026

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:  when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”  

-Charles Dickens

Principal’s Post 

Dear Families,

It’s been another busy week of learning here at Walnut Square!  The weather is always changing, and I encourage Superstars to dress in layers.  With layers comes clothing that is left outside; it is very helpful if names are written on the tag so we can easily get items back to each Superstar!  If your child is missing any clothing or items, we have a lost and found clothing rack and bin to get these items returned.  I would also like to send another reminder to please send a water bottle to school with your child each morning.  There are water bottle filling stations available,  and by using reusable water bottles, we can significantly reduce the number of plastic cups used and help our school become more environmentally friendly.

This time of year our school community is incredibly busy, and there are so many activities, events, and important dates to remember!  Please be sure to regularly check the “Mark Your Calendar” section at the bottom of this update, as new events and important dates are added as soon as they are scheduled to keep you fully informed and help you plan accordingly.  You can also go to https://walnutsquare.archive.haverhill-ps.org/events/  on our school website to view all of the events in calendar or list format.  In addition, if you scroll to the bottom of the page, you have the option to subscribe to the calendar.   I’d like to announce our upcoming K-3 Spring Music Concert is scheduled on May 22nd and its designated rain date on May 29th.  In addition to our Spring Music Concert, the next few months are packed with activity, ranging from Grade 3 MCAS testing sessions and Site Council/PTO meetings to our “April Showers Bring Math Powers” Spirit Week and Title I community events like the Nature Walk and Earth Day Clean Up and Art Night in collaboration with our PTO.  Walnut Square will also be particiatping in the Haverhill’s annual city wide Earth Day Clean up on Satursday, April 25th and hope you will join us!  Additionally, please take note of important academic dates including the distribution of third trimester progress reports on April 28th, various early release days, and the upcoming Spring Recess.

Lastly, thank you so much for your support in keeping personal toys, trading cards, and figurines at home.  I know how much these items mean to your children, and I appreciate you helping them understand that school is a place where students use our shared classroom materials instead.  By keeping these precious items at home, we prevent the heartbreak of things getting lost or broken and keep our focus on the  learning happening in class.  If a toy does happen to make its way into a backpack, our staff will simply keep it safe until the end of the day to ensure it returns home to you.

To ensure that our students remain focused on their learning and social interactions throughout the day, we kindly remind families that cell phones and smartwatches are not permitted for use during school hours. Our expectation is that these devices remain turned off and securely stored in the student’s backpack from the moment they arrive until dismissal, including during lunch and recess.  If a device is seen by a staff member, it will be collected for safekeeping and held in the main office, where the student may pick it up at the end of the day.  Please note that repeated offenses may require a parent to come in to retrieve the device or lead to a requirement for the student to check it into the office daily.  We appreciate your partnership in helping us maintain a distraction-free environment where our superstars can truly shine!

Thank you for everything you do to support our school community and for being such wonderful partners.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Jen Rubera

Principal

 

HPS Updates:  SURVEY

Please complete this survey by March 30, 2026. Haverhill Public Schools is sending this short survey to families to help HPS begin to identify additional students who might be eligible to be counted as low income for school aid purposes. HPS receives additional state and local funding to support learning and activities for students whose families are identified as low-income. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education identifies most of these students already based on their participation in public assistance programs, but not all. **This is voluntary. Families are not required to submit this information.
Thank you.
https://forms.gle/WJkoSLFAwsW93VFq9

 

Title 1 Event Invitation:  Join Us for an Earth Month Cleanup and Nature Walk at Lake Pentucket!

We warmly invite our families to celebrate Earth Month by giving back to our local environment!  On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, from 5:00 to 6:30 PM, we are partnering with Team Haverhill for a community cleanup and nature walk around beautiful Lake Pentucket.  This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the fresh air, learn about our local ecosystem, and work together to keep our neighborhood beautiful. Team Haverhill will generously provide all necessary cleaning supplies, so all you need to bring is your community spirit and comfortable walking shoes!

After the clean up and hike, families will receive information and tips to experience nature as a family.  This event will be held rain or shine, so proper dress and footwear are highly recommended!  The trail is 1.1 miles long, and carriages and bikes are not recommended as it is a hiking trail.  Please leave pets at home.

Event Details & RSVP

  • When: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 | 5:00 – 6:30 PM

  • Where: Lake Pentucket

  • Deadline: Please RSVP by Friday, April 3rd to ensure we have enough supplies for everyone.

  • Questions? Reach out to Jen Rubera at jrubera@haverhill-ps.org.

Click on the link to RSVP:  https://forms.gle/AEWAUHTdX1ZeVKax6

Title 1 and PTO Event Invitation:  Join Us for Art Night!

Walnut Square School  and PTO cordially invites you to attend our Title I and PTO Art Night on Monday, April 13, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.  During this special evening, families will have the exciting opportunity to learn about various famous artists while creating their own unique masterpieces using a variety of fun and new art supplies.  We are thrilled to announce that the finished artwork will be showcased at the Haverhill Public Library for a Public Exhibition throughout the month of April.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, all art supplies for the event have been donated, and the PTO will kindly be providing pizza for all attendees to enjoy.  If you have any questions regarding the event, please feel free to reach out to the PTO at ptowalnutsquare@gmail.com.  We ask that you please RSVP by Friday, April 3, 2026, by clicking on this link:  http://art.walnutpto.org or by filling out and returning the bottom portion of the invitation form to the school by Thursday, April 2nd.

Haverhill’s Annual Earth Day City-Wide Cleanup Event Invitation

Please join the Walnut Square community for the City’s Annual Earth Day City-wide Cleanup.  This year, we are celebrating a special milestone with our theme: “A Green and Clean 250th USA City!”

Event Details:

  • When: Saturday, April 25, 2026

  • Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

  • Meeting Location: Walnut Square School

Our Specific Focus:

While the city tidies up everywhere, our team is dedicated to refreshing the heart of our neighborhood. We will be focusing on:

  • Walnut Square School grounds (sidewalks and play areas).

  • The Green Pocket Park right next to the school.  The pocket park abutting our school is more than just a cleanup site; it’s a place of growth!  We are excited to announce that this park will be the location of a special tree planting to commemorate Arbor Day on Monday, April 27th.  By cleaning the park on Saturday, we are preparing the ground for this new addition to our community!

Whether you are a student, a parent, or a neighbor, your hands make a huge difference in keeping our local spaces vibrant and green for the city’s 250th year.

Let’s roll up our sleeves and show Walnut Square some love!  Please RSVP by clicking here on this link.  

HPS Transportation Update

The new Family App for transportation tracking is now available, though please note that this system is serviced and managed by NRT rather than Haverhill Public Schools.  Currently, eligibility is limited to students riding “Big Bus” vehicles, as the service is not yet provided for specialized transportation.  To get started, please refer to the Setup Guides in English or Spanish for step-by-step instructions on downloading the app and linking your account.   Should you encounter any technical issues, we encourage you to contact the dedicated Help-Desk directly at BeaconConnect@gobeacon.com for the most expedited support. We appreciate your cooperation as we roll out this new tool to improve our communication with you; please click the link below to access the full guide.

Superstar Reading at Home Resources

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!

 

April 2026 

  • Monday, April 6th:  PTO/Site Council Meeting 5:00-7:15 pm
  • Tuesday, April 7th:  Grade 3 ELA MCAS Session 1
  • Tuesday, April 7th:  Title 1 Earth Month Clean Up Nature Walk Around Lake Pentucket.  5:00-6:30 pm
  • Thursday, April 9th:  Grade 3 ELA MCAS Session 2

    • ELA Make-up Dates: April 10th and April 13th – 17th

  • April 13th-17th:  April Showers Bring Math Powers Spirit Week
    • Monday, April 13th: You Can Count on Math!  Wear a shirt with a number on it.
    • Tuesday, April 14th:  Math Shapes Your Mind!  Wear a shirt with shapes or wear your favorite workout clothes or sports clothes.
    • Wednesday, April 15th:  Math Ties Into Everything!  Wear your favorite tie, hair ties, or tie-dye apparel.
    • Thursday, April 16th:  Math is Full of Patterns!  Wear your favorite patterns (stripes, polka dots, plaid, or checkered clothes) to show that math is all about patterns.
    • Friday, April 17th:  Our Superstars are Problem Solvers!  Wear your Walnut Square t-shirt or a blue shirt to school.
  • Monday, April 13th 5:30 to 7:00 pm:  Title 1 and PTO Art Night
  • April 20th-24th:  NO SCHOOL SPRING RECESS
  • Saturday, April 25th: Haverhill’s Annual Earth Day Clean Up 8:30-1:00 pm **We will be cleaning Walnut Square School and the park abutting our school.
  • Tuesday, April 28th:  Pre-K – 8 Progress Reports Issued- Third Trimester

May 2026 

  • Monday, May 4th:  PTO/Site Council Meeting
  • Monday, May 4th- Friday, May 8th:  Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
  • Monday, May 11th:  Grade 3 MCAS Session 1
  • Tuesday, May 12th:  Grade 3 MCAS Session 2

    • Math Make-up Dates: May 14th, 15th, 18th, and 19th

  • Wednesday, May 13th:  Early Release Day- Dismissal is 11:35 am
  • Thursday, May 14th 4:00-7:00 pm:  HPS City-Wide Art Show at HHS
  • Friday, May 22nd:  K-3 Spring Music Concert 10:15 am
  • Friday, May 29th:  K-3 Spring Music Concert 10:15 am RAIN DATE
  • Monday, May 25th:  Memorial Day- NO SCHOOL

June 2026 

  • Wednesday, June 17th:  Last Day of School *Early Release Day- Dismissal is 11:35 am

 

Early Release Dates:

      • Dismissal time is 11:35 am on the following dates:
        • Wed. 4/8
        • Wed. 5/13
        • Wed. 6/17 (Last day of School