As Spring blooms into full swing, we’re excited to bring you another edition of our monthly newsletter! May brings with it a host of exciting events and celebrations. From Mother’s Day to Memorial Day, there are many reasons to come together and commemorate special moments and milestones with your child.
In April, we had some great moments together. The solar eclipse brought great excitement, and students were supplied with special solar glasses to view the eclipse. Although Haverhill wasn’t in the direct line of the total eclipse, we did see about 94% of the sun covered. Spring sports are in full swing, including the Unified Track Team! We captured some great pictures of their most recent meet against Dracut. Their next meet is on Monday, May 6, 2024, at 4:00 on the HHS Sapienza Memorial Track and Field vs. Methuen. You can find their schedule and other Spring sports on our website. This Saturday, May 4, from 10 am to 2 pm, Haverhill High’s Unified Boosters will hold a CAR WASH at the Water St Fire Station. These fundraising events will benefit the Unified Sports Teams and provide a banquet at the end of the year.
May brings many events, from art shows, theatrical plays, concerts, the City-Wide Civics Showcase, and graduation! We have a “Save The Dates” for the Class of 2024’s events. We hope you join us for our May events; check our website for more up-to-date schedules. Students have worked hard this year, and we are excited for them to showcase all of their talents and accomplishments!
IMPORTANT DATES
May 2, 2024 – 9:00 AM
Senior Class Trip – In The Game
May 3, 2024 – 7:00 PM
Seussical, Jr. at Consentino School
May 4, 2024 – 1:00 PM
Seussical, Jr. at Consentino School
May 9, 2024 – 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
HHS Fine Arts Academy presents The Best of Us
May 16, 2024 – 5:00 PM
Early College Graduation
May 16, 2024 – 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Kindergarten Information Night at Hunking School
May 20, 2024 – 6:00 PM
City-Wide Civics Project Showcase – City Hall Auditorium
May 21, 2024 – 6:00 PM
Senior Prom – Castleton
May 22, 2024
Last Day of Class Seniors/Express Senior Sign Out
May 22, 2024 – 6:00 PM
CTE Celebration- HHS Auditorium
May 23, 2024 – 8:30 AM
Chapel Practice – HHS Library
May 23, 2024
Senior Sign Out/Pick-Up Cap/Gown – Courtyard/Gym
May 23, 2024 – 6:00 PM
Night of Stars – HHS Auditorium
May 24, 2024
Early Release – HHS only
May 24, 2024 – 9:45 AM
Chapel – HHS Auditorium
May 27, 2024
Memorial Day – No School
May 29, 2024 – 5:00 – 6:30 PM
Consentino Community Night
May 30, 2024 – 10:30 AM
Graduation Practice/Senior BBQ – Haverhill Stadium
May 30, 2024 – 7:00 PM
Senior Farewell – Haverhill Stadium
May 31, 2024
Graduation – Haverhill Stadium
Freight Farm at Gateway Academy
Gateway Academy was busy this morning hosting tours of the freight farm for local leaders! On hand were North Shore YMCA President and CEO Chris Lovasco, Regional Executive Director Tracy Fuller, Congresswomen Lori Trahan, State Senator Pavel Payano, State Representatives Andy Vargas and Ryan Hamilton, as well as Haverhill Mayor Melinda Barrett, Haverhill Public Schools Superintendent Margaret Marotta, Principal of Gateway Academy Brian Edmunds and Dianne Connolly, Director of Community Outreach, Haverhill Public Schools.
We are proud to partner with the Haverhill YMCA and Beth Israel Lahey in managing the Freight Farm at Gateway Academy. This is the country’s first YMCA Freight Farm, offering educational opportunities and addressing food insecurities. We appreciate our community partners working with us to create such fantastic opportunities for our students!
Career Technical Education
Career Technical Education Seniors in the Information Technology and Computer Science & Web Development programs were fortunate to hear from George Peters, the president of New England Invents, during their Entrepreneurship class. As an independent inventor for over 25 years, Mr. Peters was able to share important information and lessons learned related to the patent process. This will be helpful as these students move on after high school.
Haverhill High School
Recently, Haverhill High School Science Teacher Grace McIntyre was recognized by Mass Insight for her work in her AP Environment class. We are incredibly grateful for our incredible teachers and their contributions to our students and community! On behalf of Hillie Nation, we are very proud of you!
Haverhill High School MCJROTC
Check out the new edition of the HHS MCJROTC Newsletter! The Marine Corps JROTC was very busy in March. They were traveling to NJ / NY for our Regional Physical Fitness competition. Our girls earned 3rd overall, and the boys earned 4th. Our Marksmanship team earned 2nd in the Metro out of 12 teams, and 2nd at the Haverhill hosted shoulder to shoulder and finding time to march in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade. April and May will also be very busy.
Silver Hill Elementary
We hear lots of NICE things coming from Silver Hill Elementary! As a community, the school is trying to hit 10,000 acts of kindness by the end of the school year to earn a Kindness Karnival. We began on March 18 (counted from March 18 to March 29), surpassed their monthly goal of 2,000, and got to 3,004, earning the students extra recess. Our next goal is to make it to 6,000 for April and, finally, to make it to 10,000 by the end of May to earn our kindness Karnival in June. All school staff are tallying acts of kindness that they see and reporting from students of acts of kindness, and it has been wonderful to see the buy-in from students! We are incredibly PROUD of these Jaguars! We hope the kindness spreads throughout Haverhill! Below is their “Kindness Meter.” We can’t wait to see it complete by June!
Health & Wellness Department
The Wellness Department supports students in staying safe and understanding the community resources in Haverhill. The YWCA and HPD are extra special! YWCA tabled at Gateway and HHS this week to provide students with education and fun takeaways.
Kindergarten Information Nights
Solar Eclipse 2024
On April 8, 2024, The City of Haverhill experienced a partial solar eclipse. In parts of Northern New England, people could view a total solar eclipse; in Haverhill, we had approximately 94% coverage. Although the eclipse mainly occurred after school, students, staff, and residents of Haverhill all stepped outside with their eclipse sunglasses to view the event! Jennifer Silva, who works in the Superintendent’s Office, shared her talents as a photographer with a time-lapse photo featured below!
2nd Annual City-Wide Civics Project Showcase
The Haverhill Public Schools Social Studies/History Department cordially invites you to attend the 2nd Annual City-Wide Civics Project Showcase. This showcase will feature the top projects from our 8th and 10th Grade Students! For more information and translations, visit our website.
Haverhill High School G.E.M.S
Haverhill High School’s Girls Empowered Means Success (G.E.M.S) Keisy Margarella (10) and Yanelly Vazquez Nieves (9) had the opportunity to speak at the White Ribbon Event on March 27, 2024 where they shared the impact of our partnership with Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center. The G.E.M.S afterschool program and its advisors Eridania Nieves and Leydi Diaz-Breton were invited to attend the White Ribbon event which is the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls, promote gender equity, healthy relationships and a new vision of masculinity.
Haverhill High School R.I.S.E. Program
The Respect Inclusion Service Equity ( R.I.S.E.) Multicultural after School program and its advisors Eridania Nieves and Leydi Diaz Breton had the opportunity to tour Haverhill’s Northern Essex Community Campus. Students also learned about the 60+ Programs of Studies offered between the Lawrence and Haverhill campus. Along with information on what is needed to apply to NECC.
Career Technical Education
HHS CTE students were fortunate to attend this year’s Girls STEM Summit, held at UMass Lowell. The day started with a keynote by Shalaya Morissette, Chief, Minority Business and Workforce Division Office of Energy Justice and Equity at U.S. Department of Energy. Students then participated in five STEM activities focused on pre-health/pre-med, nutrition science, clean energy, biotech and ocean research & exploration. It was an exciting and fun day, filled with learning and networking!
Haverhill High School Fine Arts Academy
The HHS Fine Arts Academy presents The Best of Us! Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 4:30 – 6:30 PM, HC Media at Harbor Place, 2 Merrimack Street, Haverhill. This event will showcase and celebrate the HHS Fine Arts Academy Seniors!
Career Technical Education
The HHS CTE Information Technology and Computer Science & Web Development programs were excited to welcome back one of our alumni! John Mourikas, Director of Technology at Lawrence General Hospital, came to speak with the Freshmen classes. He shared his background and experience and provided some great advice to these students! Thanks, John, for your support of our programs!
Construction Begins at New A.B. Consentino Middle School
Career Technical Education
HHS Career Technical Education students in the Healthcare Occupations and Biomedical Science programs were visited by the UMass Lowell Mobile Health Unit! Students learned about programs in the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences as well as mental health support groups throughout the University. Topics included Public Health, Medical Lab Science, Nursing and other healthcare occupations as well as admission requirements and an overview of campus life. Dr. Brenda Geiger was so kind to also come into HHS to speak with our large class of HOP Freshmen. Students learned about Healthcare Science programs offered at UML as well as the different pathways to getting the career of their dreams. Special thanks to Anne Apigian and all UML staff and students who helped make this special event a success! For more information about CTE Work-Based Learning opportunities at HHS, contact Lisa Hunt at lhunt@haverhill-ps.org.
Kindergarten Information Night at Bradford Elementary
Our second Kindergarten Information Night was at Bradford Elementary. One of our favorite parts about these information nights is how our school community comes together to meet new students and answer parents’ questions about their children starting school! We have another Kindergarten Information Night scheduled on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Hunking School; we hope to see you there!
Cinderella’s Closet at Haverhill High School
We are calling all fashionistas! Thanks to the generous donations from the Haverhill Community, Cinderella’s Closet at Haverhill High School is now open! Come on in and look through the AMAZING racks of designer dresses, suits, shoes, and more! Your one-stop shopping for everything you need for Prom!
Consentino Drama Club presents Seussical, Jr.
Haverhill High School
Newly arrived Multilingual Learners in Mrs. Christi Cartwright-Lacerda’s Level 1 English Language Development class at Haverhill High School completed a project focusing on the environmental issue of disappearing honeybees. The students presented their findings from the perspectives of biologists, beekeepers, farmers, members of Congress, and the American people. In addition to their presentation on April 11, the students wrote letters to elected officials. They also created public service announcements about the causes and effects of the honeybee crisis and possible solutions.
Class of 2024
The Class of 2024 will be graduating soon! Make sure you save the date for these important events! These Seniors have worked hard to earn their diplomas! We hope you celebrate them with us!
Haverhill High School
Recently, Nancy Burke attended the Massachusetts Teachers Education Support Professional Conference. She was recognized as a past ESP of the Year in 2017 (also 2nd in the Nation)! Miss Nancy is an AMAZING ESP and still finds time to organize Cinderella’s Closet and The Backpack 68 Program at Haverhill High School! Congratulations, and Thank you, Miss Nancy!!
Art Class at Haverhill High School
Students at Haverhill High School in Mr. Travlos’s Art Class have been busy creating beautiful art pieces, including Seed Pot Vessel, Bowls, and Under the Sea! We are excited to see these items and more towards the end of the month at the various Art Shows in the District.
District Math
On Wednesday, students at Hunking, in Ms. Thibault’s kindergarten and Ms. Bair’s fourth-grade class, showed off their Math knowledge to visitors from another district. Kindergarten students made number bonds for open-ended story problems, while fourth graders refined angle measurement with protractors. Our visitors left with lots of smiles and new ideas.
Career Technical Education
HHS Career Technical Education Information Technology and Computer Science & Web Development Juniors participated in the Annual Mock Interview event. Students practiced their interviewing skills and received valuable feedback. This will help them be successful as they prepare for college and future internship/employment opportunities. Special thanks to our business partners – we could not do this day without them!
Jessica Cafarelli, HydraCor, SysOps Engineer, Integrations Lead
Jon McAndrew: HydraCor, Senior Software Engineer, Lead
Liam Kimball: HydraCor, Software Engineer
Steven Golner, Lawrence General Hospital, Mgr of Telecommunications
Zyon Bessette, Curriculum Associates, Creators of iReady
Charlene Richard, HPS Technology
April Vacation Academy
Last week, students had a great time at April Vacation Academies! A highlight in one class was reading The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich, which focuses on the connection between human beings and nature!
2024 is our 4th year offering Vacation Academies during school breaks with our Community Partners: YMCA, YWCA, and the Boys & Girls Club. These Academies feature academic lessons and recreational activities during vacation to keep students engaged in learning and provide working families with high-quality childcare at no cost. The Summer Learning Opportunities schedule is available on our website
Health & Wellness
NFI clinicians were welcomed into Health I classes at Haverhill High. They discussed how to access their services within the high school, and played an interactive game about the myths and truths about addiction. We are lucky to have this resource within our school and in the community!
Health & Wellness Department
After spending time on the new physical education standards in their respective buildings during curriculum time, middle school and elementary PE teachers got outside to collaborate and develop their skills with disc golf! They are excited to bring this activity to their classes!
Summer Learning Opportunities
Haverhill Public Schools is committed to helping children learn and grow during the summer months. Traditional summer programs attempt to minimize the learning loss and “summer slide” that comes with missing two months of instruction. Haverhill Public Schools continues to expand its summer offerings, supplementing our traditional academic programs and a variety of hands-on enrichment programs with a strong focus on social/emotional development.
Please see the variety of programs that we offer at no cost to families. Programs start and end on different dates/times and are subject to change. Please feel free to contact your student’s school with any questions. For more information, visit our website.
Tilton Elementary School
Tilton School held an assembly to honor Earth Day and share how our students can do their part to keep the Earth clean. Grades 3 and 4 did a presentation to help each other with strategies and tips for the upcoming Math MCAS. We are so proud of these students!
Backpack 68 Making Ends Meet at Haverhill High School
At Haverhill High School, we have a team of teachers, staff members, and students, with help from many community members and organizations, who prepare and fill backpacks weekly; backpacks are then handed out at the end of school on Friday afternoons to students in need. The Salvation Army’s “Backpack 68” program is a charitable initiative to support children in need, particularly those experiencing homelessness or living in poverty. Haverhill Public School offers free breakfasts and lunches to all students; however, due to poverty levels, many students lack access to meals at home, leaving them from Friday at lunch to Monday mornings, which is 68 hours without a meal. Students struggle to learn when they can only think about their empty stomachs and hunger. So many families work hard to make ends meet and maintain employment; Backpack 68 gives relief over the weekend when school breakfasts and lunches are unavailable.
Each Backpack contains a large Ziplock bag with shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, and bar soap. They also fill the Backpacks with pasta, sauce, mac and cheese, cereal, oatmeal, canned fruit, fruit juice, snacks, and sometimes fruit roll-ups or cookies. What is acquired is stuffed in the backpacks so students can go home and have food for the weekend. Backpacks are handed out discreetly, and all recipients remain anonymous.
Backpack 68 receives many contributions from community organizations such as Fantini Bakery, Pentucket Bank, Salvation Army, Cedars, Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Sacred Hearts Food Pantry, Hope and Comfort, and more. This is a labor of love from our community, teachers, and staff at Haverhill High, as well as students who help fill the backpacks. It takes a TEAM to make the magic happen, but on Friday afternoon, when the backpacks are picked up, many leave feeling good, knowing that students have food to eat over the weekend.
Tilton Elementary School
SHOUT OUT to Mrs. Lauritzen’s Class at Tilton Elementary! They were awarded an Attendance Breakfast for having the best attendance in March! Keep up the great work!
Haverhill High School Unified Track Team
The Unified Sports program was started at Haverhill High School in 2016. Since then, hundreds of student-athletes have benefited from this amazing program. We currently field Unified teams in basketball in the fall and track & field in the spring.
The Special Olympics has partnered with the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Association (MIAA) to promote social inclusion through sport. Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams. The Haverhill Unified Sports program has over 50 participants this year.
Haverhill student-athletes have had some great success in recent years. Last spring, Lourdes Davis-Gonzalez, Lindsey Rostosky, and Joshua Bedient all qualified for the MIAA State Finals. Davis-Gonzalez went on to finish runner-up in the mixed 100 meter dash. In 2021, the Unified basketball team went undefeated, winning all six regular season games and swept through the Merrimack Valley Conference Championship day.
On April 25, 2024, HHS Sapienza Memorial Track and Field was buzzing with thrilling displays of athleticism and determination! The HHS Unified Track Team took on Dracut High School! Athletes had the opportunity to meet and compete against fellow athletes and participated in 1 or more events, including 100, 400, relay, shot put, long jump, and javelin! The track meet was a big success; these athletes made us #HillieProud
The Unified track team will wrap up the regular season at home on May 6, when the Hillies host Methuen. They will then compete in the MIAA Sectional Tournament.
Tilton Elementary School
On Friday, April 26th, Mayor Barrett stopped by Tilton Elementary School to plant a Magnolia tree. A Cherry tree will also be planted in one of our playgrounds. Several Tilton students were on hand to help Mayor Barrett plant the tree.
Gateway Academy
Staff and students at Gateway Academy did their part for Earth Day by spending some time outside and picking up trash!
Attendance Matters – Spring Slump Challenge
To promote good attendance, HPS is having an Attendance Spring Challenge! This District-wide challenge is for any student in K-8. Students must come to school every day on time for May to win a prize awarded in June! Let’s finish the school year strong!
Portuguese_Spring Slump 2024
Spanish Spring Slump 2024
Haverhill High School Unified Boosters
This Saturday, May 4th, from 10 AM to 2 PM Haverhill High’s Unified Boosters will be holding a CAR WASH, at the Water St Fire Station.
These fundraising events, help benefit the Unified sports teams and provide a banquet at the end of the year.
If you can’t attend and would like to donate, the Venmo QR code is on the flyer or you can send a check to HHS UNIFIED BOOSTERS 4 Summer St., Room 210 Haverhill, MA 01830.
We hope to see you there!!!
HAVERHILL SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Haverhill School Committee Approved Meeting Schedule
Thursday, May 9, 2024
Thursday, May 23, 2024
Thursday, June 13, 2024
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month in the Theodore A. Pelosi, Jr. Council Chambers, 4 Summer Street in Haverhill. Citizens of Haverhill who wish to submit items for a meeting agenda, should email the agenda item to the School Committee Office, Attn: Beverly McGillicuddy, Secretary to the Haverhill School Committee beverly.mcgillicuddy@haverhill-ps.org with a copy to both the Superintendent of Schools and the Mayor no later than the seven (7) days prior to a Committee meeting is held.
For additional information please visit the School Committee Department on our website.
Mayor, Melinda E. Barrett, Chairperson
mayor@cityofhaverhill.com
Attorney Paul Magliocchetti, Vice Chairperson
pmagliocchetti@haverhill-ps.org
Ms. Yonnie Collins, Ward 6
yonnie.collins@haverhill-ps.org
Ms. Erica Diaz, Ward 1
erica.diaz@haverhill-ps.org
Ms. Cheryl Ferguson, Ward 3
cheryl.ferguson@haverhill-ps.org
Dr. Thomas Grannemann, Ward 7
thomas.grannemann@haverhill-ps.org
Mrs. Mikaela Lalumiere, Ward 4
mikaela.lalumiere@haverhill-ps.org
Attorney Richard Rosa, At-Large
richard.rosa@haverhill-ps.org
Ms. Maura Ryan-Ciardiello, At-Large
mryan-ciardiello@haverhill-ps.org
Dr. Jill Story, Ward 5
jill.story@haverhill-ps.org
Ms. Gail Sullivan, Ward 2
gail.sullivan@haverhill-ps.org
Mrs. Beverly McGillicuddy, Secretary
beverly.mcgillicuddy@haverhill-ps.org
