MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL & MAIN OFFICE NEWS

• School Pictures: For any students who had their pictures taken, pictures can be picked up at the school anytime between 8:30am-3:30pm. Please just call the office when you arrive.

• Wednesday, December 23^rd is a half day for students (dismissal @ 11:05am).

• Winter break is from December 24^th-January 3^rd.

• Report Cards will be available via the Parent/Student Portal on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 23^rd. Please note that physical copies of the report card will not be coming home with students or mailed home. Please follow these directions to gain access:
  • Go to HPS main page: https://www.haverhill-ps.org/
  • Click on Parent & Student Resources
  • Click on Parent & Student Portal Login
  • Click Log-in
  • Use your student’s username & password to login
  • Click on Student Portal (top of page)
  • Select Report Cards/Progress Reports
  • Click Download

• Please check out this month’s District Newsletter. JGW is featured on page 4! Here it is: https://whittier.haverhill-ps.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2020/12/HPS-District-Dec-Newsletter-2020-Eng-1-1.pdf

• ATTENDANCE NEWSLETTER:

• ATTENDANCE POLICY AND EXPECTATIONS: Here is a reminder of our attendance policy. In this new model of schooling where students are learning from both school and home, attendance and participation in all classes is one of our major concerns. Here are some things to know and we would greatly appreciate it if you reviewed all of these expectations and policies with your students:

• If you are absent for 10% of the school year, you are considered to be “chronically” absent. That means that if you have missed 4 or more days to this point.
• We have begun reaching out via mail with attendance letters for students that we are currently concerned are missing too much time.
• It is the expectation that all students are either present physically or signed on remotely at 8:30am each day.
• It is the requirement that students attend all of their classes for the duration of the class time. Leaving a meet/class early is equivalent to walking out of class without permission.
• In addition to sending home letters, we will also be setting up attendance meetings with students and families to address concerns and lend support, and in some cases we will be conducting home visits to do this as well.
• The first step toward school success is attendance. You cannot be successful in school if you are not showing up. Please reach out to us so that we can set up a plan to best support you and your student(s).
• Please note that while it is good practice to make your student’s homeroom teacher aware of any absences or appointments, it is most important that you are contacting the main office of the school each and any time that your student is going to be absent. Also, please make sure to forward all doctor’s notes and other absent notes to our main office. Thank you!
  • Please click the link here to be connected to an updated district attendance policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AWglC4E6i12t0XcDfnpZJtOtt-xb8V_RBq4djELxd5g/edit?usp=sharing

• Wi-Fi Issues: If you are having WiFi issues at home and your student cannot log onto a Google Meet at the moment, please email the teacher or call the school so an office staff member can pass the info onto the teacher. Teachers take attendance every period and when a student does not show up for class, they don’t necessarily know that the student is having a tech issue.

PTO UPDATES

Our next PTO meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 1/13 from 6:00-7:30pm via Zoom. We are always looking to welcome new members!

CLUB NEWS:

NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY (NJHS): Thank you to all that participated in the meadow farms fundraiser!  Our next meeting will be Wednesday January 20 @3pm. 

MODEL UN NEWS: Our last meeting before break will be Tuesday from 3:15-4:15pm. All members are expected to join the meet. Members should be finishing up their fourth paragraph (the country’s past and present policies related to the committee topic). Our HillieMUN conference is fast approaching! Wednesday, January 20th is the tenative date for the conference so we have a lot of work to get in by that time, but Ms. DeLong is confident that this group will be the most prepared school in the city!

JGW CHORUS CLUB: Chorus meets every Wednesday after school from 3:00pm to 3:45pm on Mr. Gariepy’s Google Classroom. If your child is interested in joining Chorus please email him at robert.gariepy@haverhill-ps.org so he can add them to the Google Classroom.

DISCOVERY CLUB: Discovery Club is open to both our hybrid and RLA students!!  The program runs M/T — Thurs/Fri. from 2:45-4:45.  

Below is the link to apply: 

Discovery Club Elementary and Middle School Application (English)

Aplicación Club Discovery para escuelas primarias y intermedias (Español)

Please email Mrs. Midolo @ tmidolo@haverhill-ps.org with any questions.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Please click on the link in order to be connected to some community resources which may prove helpful during this holiday season: https://www.haverhill-ps.org/haverhill-community-programs/

HYBRID MODEL

GRADE 5:

Mrs. Sanguedolce: In math we will continue to explore Topic 4 – Use Models and Strategies to Multiply Decimals. In social studies we will learn to write a DBQ, a 5-paragraph writing assignment. 

Ms. Delong: Science: We have been exploring Matter Cycles leading up to our Winter Break. This week’s science work that should have been turned in this week on Google Classroom is:

1. Unit 4 Graphic Organizer – Monday
2. Unit 4 Hook Activity Questions – Tuesday
3. Unit 4 STEMscopedia Reading Exit Ticket – Wednesday
4. Unit 4 Explore Lab Assignment – Friday

If any of these are listed as “missing” on your student’s Google Classroom then it needs to be completed this weekend for credit. We will be wrapping up this unit by Winter Break.

Science All-Stars: Jacob Cloutier (Yellow), Faris Alhawi (Red), Jason Locke (Orange)

Social Studies: Our fifth graders have been working on our first DBQ (Document Based Question) of the year. The topic is European Exploration. They have been identifying the pros and cons of exploration and logging this information on a graphic organizer. We will be turning these notes into a 5-paragraph essay! The kids seem to be really getting into this project and sharing their ideas about colonization.

Social Studies All-Star: Sylis Caruso (Yellow)

Mrs. LaCoste: Hello!  I’m hoping you all enjoyed your snowy day off!  In fifth grade ELA, we’re tying up some loose ends in reading.  On Friday, we’ll have completed our novel “How to Steal a Dog”.  We’ve studied plot throughout the book, focusing on parts of the plot as we’ve read the story.  Our last two parts of the plot map are the falling action and the conclusion.  Ask your student how the plot twisted to bring us to the conclusion.  After vacation we’ll begin non-fiction and study text features.  

In Orange Social Studies, we’re discussing the 13 colonies and their “road to war” to become independent from British rule.  Though most students know the basics about our history, we’ll dive into what major events led the colonies to rebel against the British and fight for independence.   I hope you all have a wonderful holiday.  Enjoy your time with your family.  

Ms. Lees: Ms. Kelly and Ms. Lees want to wish all the fifth-grade students and their families a wonderful holiday season and break. They have all worked hard, been resilient, and have been kind and supportive of each other during their first semester in Middle School. We are so proud of all of you. Let’s have a great short week before you are off on your well-deserved vacation.

GRADE 6:

This has been a hectic week of grades closing, Tomb Projects, Celebrations Shared Around the World Projects, Narrative Writing, Math Test, and wrapping up Thermal Energy… WOW!!

We are so proud of how hard our Grade 6 Students have worked and really challenged themselves to persevere through these challenging times. We are especially proud of the attendance of our students… WAY TO GO Grade Six!

We are so excited to spend next week appreciating all the work we have done and all we have accomplished to get us to the last days of 2020. This has been such a challenging year for our students and our hopes are that you will all focus on the moments you should be proud of, the times you have risen to the occasion, and the smiles you have shown through some of the toughest times we have ever faced.

We are proud to be your teachers and look forward to 2021 and new memories we will create together!

Only three more days… WE’VE GOT THIS!!!  Mrs. Hamel, Mrs. Sargent, Mr. Taylor and Mrs. Guisti

GRADE 7:

Mrs. Berthiaume: Bravo to the ELA classes for performing the play version of A Christmas Carol remotely!  They did a fabulous job!  In Social Studies, students are working on the DBQ (document-based question) assignment about ancient China.  Happy Holidays to all!

Mrs. Trombly: Mrs. Trombly’s classes are finishing the Christmas week with Topic three.  They have worked very hard. We will be starting Topic four expressions and equations right after the break.  Have a wonderful vacation everyone.  

Mr. Yanoff: ​Well, one trimester down, one new one beginning!  Make a decision to get off to a great start and develop those good habits that make people successful.  Yesterday is in the past, today is a new day! Red and Yellow, we now know what is expected and knowing you as I do, you will accept the challenge to control your destiny.  You worked hard to understand proportions, decimals, and percent. Keep up the good work, participate and reap the benefits.

Mrs. MacKinnon: We have made it to the last week of 2020!! Here is hoping for a better 2021! We have a short week this upcoming week.  

Math: We will begin topic 2.3 on unit rates and finding the proportions of them.  The kids will also be doing a half hour of I-ready by Wednesday. 

Science: We will be finishing up ecosystem dynamics.  We will conclude this section by watching the video supervolcano.  This will explain more about natural disasters.  

I hope you all have a nice restful holiday break! Hope everyone unplugs and gets outside to enjoy the snow. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Ms. DiGloria: For our shortened Week 15, students in Blue and Green ELA will be enjoying the movie version of A Christmas Carol after our hard work in analyzing the written form these past few weeks. In SS, students will be creating a fun little ad and persuasive paragraph for a Chinese invention using Canva, based off their DBQ from last week. Enjoy the holiday break and see you back (remotely) on January 4th!

Ms. Bilmazes: A new trimester has begun! Work hard to stay on top on your classwork and homework. Reach out for help, as we are always here! Students in the yellow group are almost done reading The Christmas Carol, while the Green group is working on DBQ’s about Chinese inventions.  Have a great weekend.

GRADE 8:

Mr. Lewis: English class is beginning to work on their persuasive essay. We have started this week, will work through the remaining days before vacation, and finish it when we return. Students have randomly picked a topic.

Civics has finished Chapter 2 and how the early colonies operated and how their relationship with England deteriorated over time. There will be a civics test before the holiday break.

Ms. Deblasis: Math: This week we will be finishing our lesson with operations in scientific notation.  This will complete our unit on real numbers. Topic 2 after the break is solving linear equations.

Science: This week we will be completing our unit on Earth’s Materials. There will be a quiz on plate tectonics and the rock cycle. Enjoy your holiday break!!

Mr. Blaustein: Green & Blue Civics: We are finishing the Chapter One Inquiry Journal and there should be time for the Chapter 1 test before vacation. Otherwise, it will be after the break.

 Students have until Saturday night to submit any work for term 1.

Green & Bule ELA: We are reading “The 11:59” as part of our fiction and nonfiction comparison. The test for this  will be after vacation.

Students have until Saturday night to submit work for term 1 regarding either Flowers for Algernon or The Baker Heater League assignments.

Ms. Sullivan: Math: This week we will be finishing our lesson with operations in scientific notation.  This will complete our unit on real numbers. Topic 2 after the break is solving linear equations.

Science: This week we will be completing our unit on Earth’s Materials. There will be a quiz on plate tectonics and the rock cycle. Enjoy your holiday break!!

Ms. Senior: By the time you read this, we will have had a big snowstorm and I hope everyone is safe and cozy, enjoying plenty of electricity.  In ELA, students are getting even more persuasive with their writing as they attempt to tackle a rebuttal to “Common Sense” the essay.  Other groups are learning about dramatic irony and various elements of fiction in their readings.  Math is scientifically notating along with an essence of algebra woven in, to help students prepare for upcoming new concepts.

SPECIALISTS:

Physical Education: (Mr. Demarais): Hello everyone.  For the time being I will be posting workouts and challenges to my classes.  I am currently teaching the cohort c specials in person.  Hopefully after Christmas break we will be getting back to the hybrid model!   Have a great vacation!     

Art (Ms. Boulger): Fine Art Red 5, 6, 7, 8 

Trimester 2 started and therefore Red grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 is enrolled in Fine Arts. We meet every Monday and Thursday online for meetings. Every other Wednesday they will be assigned a self-directed assignment. Attendance and participation is required in order to receive full credit.  

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at emily.boulger@haverhill-ps.org 

Artwork created by Zoe Tziavas   

Health (Mrs. Reynolds): Health – With the new semester, new groups at JGW are starting.  Classes will go over expectations in Health class and the topics being covered.  Basic COVID information will be discussed and questions answered for all grades.

7th grade RLA will be finishing up Vaping information

8th grade RLA will be finishing the unit on Drug Abuse.  

New Health Units for all will begin after the holiday break.

Technology (Ms. Boulger): Technology Yellow 7, 8 

I will be teaching Technology to Yellow grades 7, and 8 for Trimester 2. We meet every Tuesday and Friday online for meetings. Every other Wednesday they will be assigned a self-directed assignment. Attendance and participation is required in order to receive full credit.  

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at emily.boulger@haverhill-ps.org   

Music (Mr. Gariepy): NO UPDATE PROVIDED

REMOTE LEARNING ACADEMY

GRADE 5:

Ms. MacDonald: With our Christmas break right around the corner, we are wrapping up our first unit in science! Students have spent the last couple months learning about life science. We have covered energy transfer, matter and energy in plants, food webs, and matter cycles, which we finished last week. On Monday, students will have their first unit test. The kids took this test at the beginning of the year. They will take their test again after their brains have been filled with all sorts of new things and we will see how much they’ve learned! Their science Google classroom has a whole folder of study resources to help them prepare! Please make sure they are in class on time on Monday! 

In social studies, we have finished up Lesson 1 and Lesson 2 in Chapter 3. The kids have learned about the Jamestown Colony, settled by the English, and the differences between New Spain and New France. Students will have a quiz on Tuesday. 

**There will be another opportunity to pick up science kits for our next unit. Materials can be picked up at Tilton Upper school, along with their report cards, on Tuesday, December 22nd. If you are unable to pick up on Tuesday, there will also be opportunities to pick up materials the week we return. If you do pick up before the break, I do ask that you keep the materials in a safe place over the holiday break. As always, please email me with any questions! 

jamie.macdonald@haverhill-ps.org

Ms. Duquette: We are wrapping up some work that we have been doing on reading informational texts.  Students have all started fresh in a new google classroom for Trimester 2.  We have talked about keeping up with our assignments and have a plan to make sure we are not missing work.  It is important that students work hard to increase their student responsibility in order to maintain and strengthen skills.

We will be working on some fun activities next week as we prepare for our holiday vacation.  I hope you all have a happy, healthy, and safe holiday!

Ms. Spadaro: This week students reviewed division with 4-digit dividends and up to 2-digit divisors. The Division Assessment was postponed due to the snow day. It will now be on Monday, December 21st.  Students have the opportunity to complete an additional review for extra credit (5pts). Happy holidays! 

GRADE 6:

Ms. Consolazio: In social studies class, we are continuing working on document-based questions on Egypt. Students are learning how to read a primary source, answer questions, and write an essay.  The document was broken into parts to make it easier to answer the questions and write the essay. 

In science class, we will be finishing up thermal energy.  Have a wonderful winter break! 

Mrs. Simes: I would like to give a shoutout to the following students for attending google meets, completing their work on time, and for being “good citizens” during Semester 1: Jadiel A., Jadelyn B., Christopher J., Anderson R-D., Nyla S., Lemuel V-C., Valentina G., Liam G., Tatiana H. Jonathan L., Saniyah M, Cash M., Jonah N., Abi P., Mason P., Baylee P., Jayden Q., Angelina R., Yilliannis R.., Zenia R-S., Cayla S., Jeremy S-G., and Halley S., In math, students will complete their Topic 2 Assessment. on Monday, as our review day had been delayed because of the snowstorm.  After holiday break, we will begin Topic 3 – Numeric and Algebraic Expressions.  In science, students will complete their assessment on Unit 4.  I will hold after school help on Monday from 2:45 – 3:15 p.m..  As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at michele.simes@haverhill-ps.org.  Have a great holiday season!

Ms. Riley: I hope everyone enjoyed the snow day and continued to stay safe. In ELA next week, we will continue our readings and work on mood and feelings created by an illustrator. The students have been doing a great job!  Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday vacation. See you in 2021! 

GRADE 7:

Ms. Marciano: ELA: We are well into Act I of “A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley” and have just read Scrooge’s encounter with the Ghost of Christmas Past. Students will continue to focus on elements of drama, tone, and recalling details from the drama. As we complete “A Christmas Carol”, students will write a short essay about the lessons Scrooge learns from each ghost. This assignment will have students focus on citing text evidence.

Science: We have will be wrapping up Unit 4 this week and students will take the unit assessment on Wednesday, 12/23.

Mr. LeGrand: Math:  Last week, we completed our study and took the chapter test.  This week we are studying percents.  Students are learning to analyze percents of numbers and how to connect percent and proportion.  Social Studies:  Students are working on writing their DBQ essay. 

GRADE 8:

Mr. Harris: Term 1 is complete, and we are on to Term 2.  I feel like now is a good time to reset expectations and make sure that all of us, teacher, student, and parents/guardians are on the same page.

The biggest component to your student’s success is being in attendance.  Being at each class, on time and prepared makes a massive difference.  Remote learning is not always the easiest thing, but being in class consistently eases that burden.  When students miss classes, come 10-15 minutes late, or leave early, gaps are created which are difficult to overcome in this environment.  Making sure they are at meetings with a notebook and something to write with can make all the difference.

Next is participation.  Being active in the meeting, whether that is through speaking or typing in the chat, aids in your student’s learning.  Asking questions when confused not only helps your student better understand the material being presented, but also makes sure that he/she is invested in themselves.  It can be easy to become distracted in the remote environment for all of us, but participation helps to make sure that everyone stays engaged and as focused as possible.

Finally, make sure your student is completing assignments regularly.  Many students are not doing their homework, and then have that feeling of guilt and the daunting task of making up multiple assignments.  For many, this results in a lack of motivation and a feeling of dread.  By talking to your student each night about what was learned, and double checking to make sure they’ve completed their assignments (and not just turned in blank work), you are helping them stay up to date and eliminating a lot of the burden they may feel when falling behind.

Mr. Marinella: ELA- Start of a new term! This week we have been exploring some of the reasons why the holiday season is so special, sharing some of our own traditions and memories, and reading a classic Christmas story. The class has also begun doing independent readings, students are encouraged to find a book that interests them and read it for the first few minutes of class. 

Civics- Civics is learning all about the President and Vice President! We started by looking at what the President can, and can’t, do. Now we are exploring different presidents from our history, and how they impacted us. Each student research the first four presidents, and one of their choice. Ask your student about who they chose to research and what interesting things they discovered. 

Ms. Blanchette: Students in the Remote Learning Academy are engaged in learning grade level curriculum. Trimester 1 report cards will be going out this week. Please reach out if you need help accessing your child’s report card. IEP progress reports will be sent home via email, so keep a look out for that as well. Students should be checking “Ms. Blanchette’s Online Google Classroom” for updates, extra help sessions and schedules for small group google meets. Please reach out with any questions or concerns. I hope everyone has a relaxing and safe winter break! 

ART: Fine Art Orange 7,8, Purple 7,8

We meet every Friday at 12:15 for Art Class. Students are required to attend and participate. 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at emily.boulger@haverhill-ps.org 

SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF

Guidance (Mrs. Vlahos): I have started to meet with 7th grade classes to introduce high school options and goal setting.  Students have been engaged and asking great questions! 

Haverhill High School program applications are live and are on the HHS website. Link to HHS program info & applications: https://haverhillhillies.weebly.com/academics.html

Academics – Weebly The Hillie Connector is a new program at Haverhill High School this year! We are here to help you if you have any questions, need advice, or just need to talk. haverhillhillies.weebly.com

Students/Parents can download, print, complete, and send their completed portions directly to Haverhill High at the address on application. Please email teachers to request and provide the teacher recommendation form. Parents and applicants must sign and date the bottom of the Request for Report Cards & Attendance form and return it to me in guidance so I can send the requested application records to HHS. Application Deadline for all HHS Programs is: January 15, 2021

High School Information Events:

HHS will host two events for middle schools: 

1) Livestream information session followed by a Q & A to JGW Grade 8 students/classrooms

                       Tuesday December 22 at 10:30am 

2) Virtual Open House – Thursday January 7th at 6pm

                         There will be a virtual live open house where families can learn about the many 

                         opportunities and programs at HHS (link to follow – will be provided from HHS)

Continue to stay in touch with me.  Don’t hesitate to reach out – jvlahos@haverhill-ps.org

Student Adjustment Counselor (Mrs. Midolo): Next weeks topic will focus on “Under The Surface: Empathy and Compassion”. Please be sure to have your child check our google Classroom Page and Look for assignments and updates on Social Groups, which are held on Wednesdays. Please make sure that your child attends in order to receive the proper credit.  Have a great weekend.

Student Support Center (Mrs. Greenwood): It is that time of year. Report cards and Christmas! The SSC is very proud of all the efforts that you have made and will continue to help you get through this weird and crazy school year when we return.  Ms. Greenwood and Ms. Christine want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and urge you to get out of the house on your vacation and get some fresh air! 

Student Support Coordinator (Mr. Newell): I am available for help with chrome books, attendance concerns and everything in general. Please contact me at jonathan.newell@haverhill-ps.org

Middle School Support Program (Mrs. Leydon & Mr. Diffin): Very proud of everyone’s hard work this trimester! Thank you for participating in social groups this week. I hope to see everyone at their scheduled group time for our short week next week. We hope you all have a wonderful much deserved break starting Wednesday afternoon! 

Parent Liaison (Ms. Arias-Reyes): Estoy aquí para ayudarlos siempre. Sí necesitan a alguien que hable español para que los ayude a comunicarse con el personal y los profesores de sus hijos. No duden de contactarme directamente al 781-666-4085 o enviarme un correo electrónico a maria.ariasreyes@haverhill-ps.org y si llaman a la oficina pueden solicitar hablar con alguien que sepa español. Que tengan un feliz fin de semana. 

Reading Coach/Interventionist (Mrs. Guthrie): Take home materials for the 5th grade students are ready to be picked up who are in my intervention groups. I have reached out to the students and parents who are in my groups. I am looking forward to getting started! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. 

NEWS FROM OUR NURSES OFFICE (Nurse Cartwright):

This year state public health officials announced that the influenza immunization is required for all children attending school in grades Pre-K through 12 schools. The hope is that the new vaccine requirement will reduce flu-related illness and the overall impact of respiratory illness during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

All students, including those in the Remote Learning Academy, must receive a flu vaccine by December 31, 2020, for the 2020-201 flu season. The exemptions are for medical or religious reasons only.  (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/school-immunizations)

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If your child has received the influenza vaccine but paperwork has not been sent to the school, please request the appropriate documentation from your healthcare provider and send it in to Nurse Kelsey via email at kelsey.cartwright@haverhill-ps.org or via fax at 978-374-5782 . 

If your child has not yet received the flu vaccine this fall, then please schedule your appointment at this time with their pediatrician.  

The Haverhill Community Health Nurse has free flu shots available for Haverhill children. Please call or email Mary Connolly RN at 978-374-2390 x3915, or email mconnolly@cityofhaverhill.com to schedule your appointment today.  You also can reach out to your pediatrician, or go to your local pharmacy such as CVS or Walgreens. Please make sure to get paperwork from wherever the vaccine is given to be turned into the school.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.