Hello J.G. Whittier Families, 

I hope that this email finds you all well and continuing to enjoy your summer as much as possible, while remaining safe! 

I am writing to you all today with a couple of quick updates. I have had the opportunity to start conducting some home visits this week which I feel have gone very well. I appreciate the 6 students and families that I have visited thus far allowing me to meet with them outside while I am wearing a mask and taking the necessary safety precautions. I have 15 scheduled visits over the next couple of weeks as well, but there is room to conduct more if you are interested. 

I would like to encourage as many of you that are willing to volunteer to have a home visit. This allows us the time to dedicate to you and your student to answer any questions that you might have, address concerns, and really begin to build that positive relationship and partnership between the school and home that is integral to the success of all students. I know that many of you are quite familiar with this process because I have done visits with you in the past. Please do not hesitate to reach out again. Just because I have done a visit with you before, does not mean that I cannot do it again. 

As previously mentioned, this summer we are taking necessary safety precautions and asking that if you are interested in a home visit that we please meet outside, and that I will be wearing a mask as well as any staff member that comes out with me. Our visits usually last between 20-30 minutes and we will do our best to schedule them at a time that is most convenient for you! 

Please do not hesitate to reach out by responding to this email if this is something that you are interested in. I know that you all probably have a million questions, and we want to be able to answer them all. 

In other news, this coming week is the final one for the Summer Remote Learning Academy. The final lessons will be given this coming week (week 5: 8/10-8/14). Please click the link below for further information:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1esmzEEpciIx_RzsWW143t34j46fVYya33VLxPc5eK_4/edit?usp=sharing

Please stay tuned also for an announcement and introduction to the new Assistant Principal here at J.G. Whittier. I will send information about that sometime early next week. 

Finally, please know that as more information becomes available in regard to our upcoming school year and everything that it entails, that I will be in touch with all of you to keep you informed. Regardless of what our 2020/2021 school year looks like, please understand that our number one priority remains the safety of all students and staff, and also making sure that your student receives the education that they deserve. 

I look forward to hopefully meeting with as many of you as possible over the next several weeks to answer questions and begin building or continuing to build upon our partnership. Until then, take care and remain safe. 

Tim Betty

Principal

Greetings J.G. Whittier Families,

As we prepare for our 2020-2021 school year and whatever that may look like, I am writing today to remind some of you and notify others that we have been conducting home visits with students and families over the past 5 summers, and we would love to continue this successful tradition with you and your student!

We have conducted over 200 home visits over the past 5 summers, and they are entirely voluntary. This is a great opportunity to have 1:1 time with me to answer any questions you or your student may have, address any potential concerns, gather any pertinent information that you may be interested in, and finally to just start a positive connection that includes open communication to ensure for a successful school year.

It is my goal, and our goal at J.G. Whittier to form a partnership with our student’s families in order to help ALL students be successful.  A connection through a home visit is a great way to start.

Our home visits will obviously need to look much different this summer due to COVID-19, but establishing appropriate safety measures will allow us to continue what we feel is a priority for our school in connecting with all of you and answering your questions and addressing your concerns.

We will be conducting our home visits throughout the month of August. Home visits this summer will not actually take place in your homes, but preferably in your yards or on your front or back porches. Any J.G. Whittier staff attending a home visit will be wearing a mask at all times and we will only be giving “virtual” handshakes and high fives.

The home visits will be scheduled at your convenience. We would ask that you try to schedule them during the regular business hours of the day, but if that does not work for your family, we are open to being flexible and accommodating a time that works for you. If you are interested in having a home visit with me and potentially other JGW staff or have more questions about home visits, please email me at (tbetty@haverhill-ps.org).

I look forward to conducting as many home visits as possible over the next month to help build a partnership with you, and prepare your students in the best way possible for the upcoming school year. I look forward to hearing from many of you.

Take care,

Tim Betty

Principal

J.G. Whittier Middle School

Below is the link for the Week 4 Summer Remote Learning Academy (August 3rd-7th): 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1d_0NSMYIez7bgstaAsW3htsijmZaccitMKuLmhKC6mE/edit?usp=sharing

Summer Remote Learning Academy Website:  https://sites.google.com/haverhill-ps.org/hps-summer-remote-learning/home

Here is an update on the Summer Remote Learning Academy. Week 3 begins on Monday, 7/27. Please click the links below to be connected with the website and also for the week 3 family letter with overview and lessons: 

HPS Summer Remote Learning Academy Website:  https://sites.google.com/haverhill-ps.org/hps-summer-remote-learning/home

Week 3 letter to families: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ta3rrbnSvowoygJDUudOupkiB8MHuRWRTI8h2Qh7LjY/edit?usp=sharing

JG Whittier would like to welcome all new incoming 5th grade students, and any other new students that will be joining us during the 2020-2021 school year! Please see below a quick welcome video as well as an extended version for those of you who are interested! We can’t wait to meet you all in the fall!

Short Version: https://haverhillps-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/tbetty_haverhill-ps_org/ESqBqEQ1ymdDidFynVApPasBAAgCQpY6TfVOySWlfQXH3Q?e=PkTu1V

Extended Version: https://youtu.be/uVsxER4MQQM

Here are links to our promotion ceremony, car procession, and Pictures from the night. Enjoy!!

Also, Grade 8 Students, be on the look out for Thursday, June 25th’s edition of the Lawrence Eagle Tribune for a special JGW 8th grade celebration collage!

Promotion Ceremony: https://youtu.be/8FIJccSeBZ8

Car Procession: https://youtu.be/t4gDMR3Oe88

Photo slide show: https://youtu.be/JC-kbRu6TGw

Photo album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zHnHPiTs3GeGnkuBA

We did it! Summer is here!!

On June 18th we held our first ever Livestream 8th grade promotion ceremony and car procession. I want to thank all of the JGW staff that helped make that possible. It was a successful and fun night where it was great to see all of the smiling faces of our 8th graders as they picked up their promotion certificates, yearbooks and awards. We had nearly 100% attendance which is Amazing! Good luck to all of you 8th graders as you venture on to high school!!

I would just like to wish each and every one of you a safe, happy, and fun summer! These past few months have been challenging, but I am extremely proud of the entire JGW community which includes Students, Families and Staff! We all persevered and kept a positive attitude and we got through it together. It was not always easy, but thank you to our students for persevering, our families for taking on a new and stressful role, and to our staff for their continued hard work and dedication! 

I’d finally like to give a very heartfelt thank you to our families out their for your support and words of encouragement over this past week as I officially move in to the principal role here at JGW. Your kind words and well wishes have been overwhelming! I very much look forward to our continued partnership in helping make J.G. Whittier the best possible school that it can be and ensuring that ALL of our students are successful!

Have an amazing summer everyone and don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I will be around, and will also keep you all posted with any new information about what to expect in the fall! Don’t forget to do your summer reading!!

For now, take care and be safe!

Please find these links below to our summer reading list and also for the summer Discovery club program:

Discovery Club: https://sites.google.com/a/haverhill-ps.org/discovery-club/summer-program

Application link: https://sites.google.com/a/haverhill-ps.org/discovery-club/summer-program/summer-application

Summer Reading: https://whittier.haverhill-ps.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2020/06/Summer-Reading-Big-Flyer-EN-1-3.pdf

https://whittier.haverhill-ps.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2020/06/Summer-Reading-Big-Flyer-S-1-2.pdf

https://whittier.haverhill-ps.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2020/06/Summer-reading-2020-Grades-45-final-copy-2.pdf

https://whittier.haverhill-ps.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2020/06/Summer-Reading-Grade-6-8-2020-final-copy.pub_-2.pdf

https://mvlc.overdrive.com/

Livestream Ceremony Tonight (6/18) at 5pm. Please click the link below:

We are only two days away from 8th grade promotion and I wanted to send out a reminder of the plans and procedure for Thursday evening:

Our 8th grade promotion is set for Thursday, June 18th. There will be a livestream broadcast on YouTube from 5pm-6pm (see further information below). The ceremony will be as close to the real thing as possible, with awards, certificates, a special slide show of our 8th graders, and of course a farewell speech by me! Unfortunately based on our circumstances, there is no direct involvement from the students during the ceremony portion of the proceedings. We ask that everyone just tune and watch to see if your student has received any of the 8th grade awards, watch the amazing slide show that has been put together, and hear your student’s name called for their promotion certificate!

The livestream will be followed by a car procession, “right of passage” through the front drive way of J.G. Whittier from 6:30-8:00pm.

Please pay close attention to these directions for the procession.

-Please DO NOT show up any earlier than 6:30pm because the driveway will be blocked off, there will be no staff outside (due to the ceremony), and it will cause traffic delays on Concord St. We appreciate your attention to this direction in helping make this event run smoothly. 

-The procession will be from 6:30-8:00pm so please do not feel that you have to be at the school right at 6:30pm. If we have 130 cars show up at one time, we will not be able to give each car as much attention. If it is spaced out over the 90 minutes, we will be able to give more attention to each car as they arrive. 

-Only 1 car per family will be permitted.

-We ask students/families to decorate a sign with the student’s name on it to display in your window to help us identify which 8th grade student is arriving. (Be creative with your signs)

-We ask that ALL cars approach JGW from the NORTH AVE side so that you are taking a right into the parking lot. There will be staff to direct you through the parking lot and into the front driveway.

-You will pull down to the gym where your 8th grade teachers will be waiting to distribute your student’s promotion certificate, yearbook, and any awards that they have received.

JGW Staff will be taking photos of our students/families in their cars as they are presented with their certificates.  We would like to capture this moment for you. They will then be printed and mailed out to you. Making memories is what it’s all about!

-Once you have received your promotion certificate/yearbook, etc. we ask that you proceed out onto Concord St. by taking a right toward Kenoza Ave. This will really help with traffic flow and we appreciate your cooperation with this.

Please do not stop or get out of your cars! Safety is still our number one priority!

8th GRADE FRIENDS & FAMILIES:

This year’s 8th grade promotion ceremony will be broadcast on YouTube to celebrate the promotion from middle school to high school. To view this broadcast, you can visit whittier.haverhill-ps.org at 5pm on Thursday, June 18th. The car procession that is planned to happen at 6:30pm will be pre-recorded/video taped and uploaded along with the promotion ceremony. Please be aware that if you are bringing an 8th grade student to the car procession, the event will be video taped and broadcast online.

Finally we recognize that our 8th grade students want their dance and want to celebrate with their friends. It is our intent to hold a celebration as soon as possible by hosting a cookout/dance for our 8th graders as soon as it is safe to do so. Please stay tuned for that.

We look forward to seeing all 132 8th graders on Thursday evening! Please don’t forget to tune in to the live stream starting at 5pm.