Welcome to the October edition of our newsletter! The school year has kicked off to a great start and we have all enjoyed reconnecting with our students. Many schools had welcome-back BBQs and community events to celebrate the new school year. Fall sports are in full swing, and our athletes are competing across the region. The District and the community have collaborated to bring awareness of school attendance’s importance. If you attend today, you achieve tomorrow! We also have some events we are looking forward to this October:

Gateway Academy is the recipient of a Freight Farm; this is a 40-foot hydroponic growing container that can grow plants and vegetables year-round. The Freight Farm is a collaboration between the YMCA, Haverhill Public Schools, and Beth Israel Lahey Health, which paid for the unit. The Freight Farm will provide innovative hands-on learning for our students while enhancing our STEM curriculum. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will occur on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Gateway Academy, 415 Primrose Street (formerly St. James School).

Haverhill High School AP Government class will host two forums: a City Council Forum on October 16, 2023, from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM and a School Committee Forum on October 26, 2023, from 11:00 AM -12:30 AM. These forums will have candidates running for City Council and School Committee present and answering student-generated questions. The forums will be held at the Haverhill High School Auditorium.

We are always looking for exceptional people to join our team! On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM, HPS will host a District-Wide Job Fair at the HHS Library. If you are looking for a new job, we would like to meet you! Check out our Important Dates section for the many events that will be happening this month. Did you know most of our schools have a weekly newsletter? Visit your schools website to find this as well as the school calendar! For a complete list of schools, visit the HPS website.

We hope October is filled with days creating great memories and the warmth of the season change!

 

Important Dates

October 3, 2023 
HHS Progress Reports Issued – Term 1

October 4, 2023 – 10:00 AM
Gateway Academy/YMCA Freight Farm Ribbon Cutting

October 4, 2023 
Stat Geek in Natick Performance for Grade 11

October 5, 2023 
Parent/Teacher Conferences – HHS

October 9, 2023
No School – Holiday

October 10, 2023 – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
JGW 7th Annual Corn Maze

October 12, 2023 – 4:00 PM
Walnut Square Bring Your Own Garden Tool

October 12, 2023 – 7:00 PM
School Committee Meeting

October 16, 2023 – 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
AP Govs City Council Forum

October 16, 2023 – 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
SEPAC – Basic Rights Workshop

October 18, 2023
Haverhill District Court Cultural Appreciation Day

October 18, 2023 – 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Silver Hill Trunk or Treat

October 18, 2023
Walnut Sq/Pen Lake/JGW Nature Walk

 

 

October 18, 2023 – 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
JGW Pumpkin Stroll

October 20, 2023
JGW 6th Annual Bowlathon

October 21, 2023
Homecoming Dance – HHS

October 24, 2023 – 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM
District-Wide Job Fair

October 25, 2023
Progress Reports Issued – PreK-8 – 1st Trimester

October 25, 2023 
Early Release – All Students

October 26, 2023 
Parent Teacher Conferences – Grades PreK-8

October 26, 2023 – 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
AP Govs School Committee Forum

October 26, 2023 
FallFest – HHS

October 27, 2023 – 6:00 PM
Homecoming Football Game

October 26, 2023 – 7:00 PM
School Committee Meeting

October 27, 2023
Walnut Square Pumpkin Day/Pumpkin Parade

First Day of School 2023/2024

The First Day of School for Haverhill Public Schools was a great success! Students were all smiles as they reconnected with their teachers and friends. We know they are going to have an AMAZING year!

MCJROTC Rememberance Ceremony

The Haverhill High School Marine Corps JROTC held a ceremony on the morning of September 11, 2023, to commemorate the 22nd Anniversary of 9/11.

Walnut Square Elementary

Walnut Square remembers September 11th. Mrs. Sanchez’s grade 2 students read Fireboat in memory of Patriot Day.

Transportation Department

Shout out to our Team in the Transportation Department! These folks have been answering hundreds of calls regarding bus/transportation issues this past month.  We are so grateful for their professionalism and positivity as they work together with the folks at NRT to fine-tune the bus schedules. We thank our families for their patience and understanding!

District-Wide Job Fair

We have a District-Wide Job Fair on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, from 2:30 – 5:00 PM at the Haverhill High School Library. Update your resume, be prepared for an on-site interview, and join our team! We can’t wait to meet you! For a complete list of openings and more information, visit our website.

MCJROTC

On August 29, 2023, our Marine Corp JROTC Cadets, Sgt. Genty, Captain Harrison, Captain DeFeria, and Sgt. Alcivar had the opportunity to perform Color Guard for the Boston Red Sox!

JOIN OUR TEAM

WE ARE HIRING! Special Education Teachers, Nurses, Health Assistants, Short and Long Term Substitutes, Security Specialists, and Custodians are some of the many positions we would like to fill. For more information and a complete list, visit our website:

Haverhill Public Schools is proudly celebrating National Attendance Awareness Month!

Addressing chronic absence is a key component of improving graduation rates, increasing academic achievement, and giving young people the best chance at success in their adult life. Every school will be celebrating our students who show up and do their best, help your child get the most out of their education by promoting good attendance at home.

#AttendTodayAchieveTomorrow

Ryan Named Girls’ Basketball Head Coach

Haverhill, MA – Doug Ryan has been named the Girls’ Basketball Varsity Head Coach at Haverhill High School.

Ryan brings over a decade of basketball coaching experience to the Hillie program. He has served as the boys’ varsity assistant coach at Methuen High School for the past seven years. He was a key part of the staff that helped lead the team to back-to-back conference titles in the last two years.

Ryan is familiar with the school district as he has served as a seventh grade teacher at Hunking Middle School in Haverhill since 2017.

Back to School BBQ's

Nettle Middle School

One way to eliminate the rainy day blues is to turn the gym into a recreation room! At Nettle this week, students had a blast inside! We are guessing it worked because of all the smiles!

Pentucket Lake Elementary

Pentucket Lake Elementary School had a great “Book Tasting” event this month. Students in Grades 2, 3, and 4 participated this week. Here is a peek at how students are exposed to selections of many available books to enjoy in the Pentucket Lake Library!

 

 

HHS Career Technical Education

The HHS Career Technical Education (CTE) programs held their Freshman Assembly in the HHS Library. Staff reviewed the programs, opportunities available to students through these programs (such as guest speakers, business/college tours, job shadow days, and internships), and student expectations (such as professionalism and respect for all). The students were so attentive!
We are looking forward to an exciting year ahead!

School Device Coverage

Haverhill Public Schools has chosen School Device Coverage (SDC) to insure the devices that will be given to your student as part of this year’s 1:1 device program. For only $20 per student, this insurance program will protect you and your student(s) in the event that your device is lost, stolen, or damaged accidentally over the course of the school year. This will only be available until December 1, 2023 for current students. Students new to the District will receive a special code at registration. For more information, visit our website.

Consentino Middle School

Our 5th and 6th grade artists have been busy creating self-portraits in the style of a minion with Mrs.Lenihan. The students brainstormed a list of 10 words describing themselves before they started their drawings. The art room is where students learn new skills, use new materials, and settle in with the routines. We can’t wait to see these finished Self Portraits!

Walnut Square Elementary

At Walnut Square, they had a Title 1 Event, Plant, Paint, and Cross-Pollinate, with a visit from Northern Essex Professor and local artist Jenn Houle! Walnut Square Superstars and their families participated in this awesome community art project! #shinebright#pollinators

Haverhill High School MCJROTC

On Friday, September 15, 2023, our MCJROTC commemorated POW/MIA Recognition Day, honoring those who were prisoners of war and those still missing in action.

River Ruckus 2023

HHS Chorus

River Ruckus was this past Saturday! Under John Salvi’s direction, the HHS Chorus opened the daylong festivities at River Ruckus 2023. Congratulations on a job well done!

 

 

 

HHS MCJROTC

Haverhill High’s Junior ROTC joins District Coach of Health & Wellness, Meg Arivella, at the Run for the Ruckus 5K to support the YMCA programs! Cadet CID claimed 3rd place overall and 1st in the male 14-19 yo category. Cadet Romano secured 10th overall and 2nd in the male 14-19 yo category. Cadet Gierbolini claimed 3rd in the male 14-19 yo category. In the female 14-19 yo category, Cadet Ramirez took 2nd while Cadet Diaz took 3rd! Job Well Done

Health & Wellness

Students in Mrs. Curry’s 8th grade Health Class at Hunking learned about decision-making skills last week!

Tilton Elementary School

At Tilton Elementary School, Students in Mrs. Church’s Grade 2 class performed the Skittle experiment, learning hypothesis, observation, and practicing listening skills and sentence writing.

Haverhill High School

Congratulations to Liam Jordan! Liam was awarded the National Merit Scholarship Program as a commended student for his test results on the PSAT/MSC. We are #HillieProud!

SEPAC - Basic Rights Workshop

Food Services Department

Our Food Services Department has been making some incredible dishes for lunches! This past month, some selections have been Seoul Tacos, Waldorf Salad, Advocado Sandwiches, and Dumplings to celebrate National Dumpling Day!

QUSTODIO

At Haverhill Public Schools, we’re committed to providing a learning experience that allows your child to grow and flourish with technology.
That’s why we’ve teamed up with a student safety and digital wellbeing platform that protects your child’s devices at school and home, ensuring they stay safe and secure. Qustodio is FREE for HPS families. To learn more, click the HERE for more information.

Haverhill Stadium Groundskeeper Wanted

Haverhill Stadium is the Home of Hillie Nation! It has hosted many greats, such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and the Boston Patriots. HPS is currently looking for a Groundskeeper to care for the stadium. Is this you? If you are excited to work at a historical venue that means a lot to the School District and City, take pride in your work, and overall want to have rewarding experiences and memories, then visit SchoolSpring for more information and to apply:

https://www.schoolspring.com/jobdetail?jobId=4412262

HEF 2nd Scratch Ticket Bingo Event

Health & Wellness – Caregiver Fall Series

The next Caregiver Fall Series will be on November 15, 2023 from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM, the topic will be Mental Health Literacy. If you missed our previous course on Vaping, you can visit our website and watch the presentation.

MassHealth Redeterminations

Starting April 1, 2023, MassHealth will begin the eligibility redetermination process, renewing all 2.3M members over the following 12 months. This will generally be the first-time members are at risk of losing their coverage since February 2020. In preparation for this effort, MassHealth has increased staffing significantly to handle a greater volume of calls and applications, improved our systems to automatically renew as many members’ coverage as possible, and is working in close collaboration with health plans, providers, and other stakeholders. Even with this preparation, we understand this may be difficult for members. We’re asking for your support as part of our outreach strategy. Visit their website or contact Tiffany Bell, HPS Family Engagement Nurse, @ tiffany.bell@haverhill-ps.org (APPT ONLY). For Spanish call 978-475-5521, for Portuguese email katia.morris@haverhill-ps.org. For more information or Translations, visit our website.

ZPASS Rider Identification Program

This 2023/2024 SY, the Transportation Department will initiate the ZPASS. The ZPASS is a rider identification system that allows the HPS Transportation Department to identify which students are on the bus and where/when they board and leave the bus. For more information and translations, visit our website.

Haverhill High School AP Gov's Student Led Forums

Discovery Club/Access 21

After-School Programs are starting soon, we are looking for Nurses! For job posting and to apply visit:

https://www.schoolspring.com/jobdetail?jobId=4428820

Our Schools

Bartlett School & Assessment Center,  Grades K-12.
978-469-8735

Bradford Elementary, Grades K-4
978-374-2443

Caleb Dustin Hunking, Grades K-8
978-374-5787

Consentino Middle School, Grades 5-8
978-374-5775

Gateway Academy, Grades 7-12
978-374-3473

Golden Hill, Grades K-4
978-374-5794

Greenleaf Academy, Grades 5-12
978-374-3487

Haverhill High School, Grades 9-12
978-374-5700

J.G. Whittier, Grades 5-8
978-374-5782

Moody PreSchool, Grades Pre-K – K
978-374-3459

Moody PreSchool Ext., Grades Pre-K
978-420-1901

Nettle Middle School, Grades 5-8
978-374-5792

Pentucket Lake Elementary, Grades K-5
978-374-2421

Silver Hill Elementary, Grades K-5
978-374-3448

Tilton Elementary, Grades K-3
978-374-3475

Walnut Square, Grades Pre-K-2
978-374-3471

Haverhill School Committee

Haverhill School Committee Approved Meeting Schedule

Thursday, October 12, 2023
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Thursday, December 14, 2023

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, James J. Fiorentini, Chairperson
mayor@cityofhaverhill.com

Ms. Maura Ryan-Ciardiello, Vice Chairperson
mryan-ciardiello@haverhill-ps.org

Ms. Toni Sapienza Donais
tdonais@haverhill-ps.org

Mr. Scott Wood, Jr.
swood@haverhill-ps.org

Attorney Paul Magliocchetti
pmagliocchetti@haverhill-ps.org

Ms. Gail Sullivan
gail.sullivan@haverhill-ps.org

Attorney Richard Rosa
richard.rosa@haverhill-ps.org