Dear Families,

Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year! It is a great pleasure to welcome both our returning families and those who are new to our school community. We are excited to greet over 8000 students to our schools next week!

A lot of work has been done this summer to improve our school facilities. Work has been completed in every building from basic painting and routine repair work to system-wide roof repairs, safety upgrades, paving, bathroom upgrades, lighting improvements in our building and outdoors, and much more. Our intent is to provide a safe and welcoming school environment for every student and staff member, as we embark on a long-term facilities revitalization plan.

Beyond the basics, in hopes of improving access and equity for all students, we have instituted a one-to-one chrome-book initiative at the middle and high schools, introduced free breakfast and lunch in all schools, eliminated athletic fees and rolled out free all-day kindergarten.  We are setting the stage for all of our students to enjoy a safe, healthy and engaging school year.

This summer Haverhill administrators and teachers spent a great deal of time preparing for the upcoming year. Summer is not only a time for our faculty members to refresh and rejuvenate, for many it is also a time to focus on their own learning – something they do not have as much time for during the school year. During July and August, several hundred faculty and staff engaged in workshops, curriculum development, courses and other sources of professional development. Other staff spent their summer educating over 800 students who attended our summer extended learning time programs. How lucky our students are to have such a committed staff!

This school year we have the privilege of welcoming over 84 new faculty joining our district-wide team of over 600 educators. Hiring is one of the most important aspects of our work and we do everything possible to ensure a thorough and thoughtful process. Earlier this month, in combination with Research for Better Teaching (RBT), we began our revised Induction and Mentoring Program.  Our goal is to provide the highest quality supports for our new teachers, while simultaneously working on different ways to retain and support the growth of our veteran educators.

September is a wonderful time for those of us involved in education because it allows us to develop new goals, build new relationships and embark upon new challenges. This year our system-wide goals highlight both academic and social and emotional learning. While improving student achievement is an important part of our mission, we know it is essential to focus on the health and well-being of the child as a whole.

One of the most important aspects of my job is to be in the schools on a regular basis connecting with teachers and students. I also look forward to engaging with families in the coming year. I welcome the chance to share our opportunities and challenges and to address your questions or concerns.

As we begin again, please accept my best wishes for a wonderful school year.

Sincerely,

Margaret Marotta Ed. D.

2019-20 School Hours and Start Dates

2019-20 School Hours and Start Dates – Spanish

2019-20 Open House Schedule

2019-20 Open House Schedule – Spanish

Dear Parent or Guardian:

We are pleased to inform you that Haverhill Public Schools will be providing ALL students with free lunch and breakfast this school year. We are able to do this because we have a large percentage of students that qualify for Free and Reduced Price Meals and this allows us to implement a new program called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Studies have shown that children who are not hungry perform better in school. By providing lunch to all children at no charge, we are hoping to create a better learning environment for our students. The school breakfasts and lunches that we serve follow U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for healthy school meals.

What does this mean for me and my students?

All students enrolled in HPS are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to your household each day of the 2019-2020 school year. No further action is required. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application.

Do I still need to complete Free and Reduced Price Lunch Forms?

We will still ask you to complete a new form. Our school is eligible to receive additional state and federal funds based on the number and/or percentage of students enrolled who reside in households that meet established federal income guidelines. We use the CEP Alternate Household Income form to collect relevant  information. The application also helps our district qualify for education funds and discounts, please help our district by completing and submitting the form.

The School Breakfast and Lunch Programs cannot succeed without your support; please encourage your children to participate in the school meal programs. We are particularly hoping to increase participation in the breakfast program. Mornings can be hectic and making sure your kids eat a healthy breakfast can be difficult in the thick of the A.M. rush. Fortunately, a nutritious, balanced and free meal is offered in school at the start of each day! It’s fun, easy, and provides your children with the fuel they need to energize their day and perform their very best. So don’t let them run on empty…give school breakfast a try today!

If you have any questions about the program please feel free to contact us at 978-374-3423.

Sincerely,

Margaret Marotta Ed.D.
Superintendent Of Schools

Linked below, you will find a review of the HVAC and Plumbing Systems and Structural components at Whittier Middle School in the months of April through June 2019.

The intent of this report is to provide an overview of existing HVAC, plumbing, and structural conditions taken with a view to keeping the school in sound order and operative condition until eventual replacement of the structure, or its major renovation, in five to ten years, the impact of those conditions, and to outline repair options and the resulting construction cost estimates.

SBNA Whittier Middle School

Click through to view flyers.

The program is offered to students currently in grades 5-12.
DATES AND TIMES
Monday – Thursday ✦ July 8– August 1, 2019 ✦ 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Haverhill High School
Summer program information and application is available on Discovery Club website.

Click here to visit the website.
Click here to fill out the application.

Click through to take the survey.