MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL & MAIN OFFICE NEWS

RETURN TO SCHOOL: After a tumultuous week, the day is finally upon us where we will be welcoming back any 5^th and 6^th grade student 5 days per week who previously elected that option. We appreciate everyone’s patience and support through the difficulties that were experienced district wide this week. As we approach the student’s return, here are some very important things you should know:

-Grades 5 & 6 students only will return to full in-person learning starting next Monday, April 12^th. During this time, grades 7 & 8 will remain in their current model of hybrid or RLA (including remote Wednesday 4/14).

-Grades 7 & 8 students will return to full in-person learning starting right after April vacation, on Monday, April 26^th. At that time, there will no longer be a hybrid model and students will not be able to learn from home unless they have opted for the Remote Learning Academy.

-Due to more students returning to in-person learning, we have had to make some changes to our grade level teams that may impact what classroom/group that your student is in. If your student has been in the hybrid model and their group needs to change to accommodate appropriate class sizes for safety, you either have already or will be notified via telephone by the school by the end of this coming week. If we cannot reach you, we will follow up with an email.

-It has been our mission with all of these upcoming changes to keep as much continuity and consistency for all students and staff while maintaining and adhering to all of our safety protocols.

-I have attached a new welcome back video to this email which goes through what students can expect including but not limited to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBfvjK77qf4

            -Drop off procedure

            -Where grades will congregate before school and during recess

            -Grade level entrances/exits

            -Safety protocols (physical distancing, hand washing, mask wearing)

            -Lunch procedure

            -Dismissal procedure

-Students who ride buses will have bus passes and will be assigned specific seats on the bus both to and from school for safety reasons and possible contact tracing.

-Breakfast will be sent home with every student each afternoon. Breakfasts will also still be available outside in your students area each morning.

As always, if families have any questions you can reach out to the school at 978-374-5782 or I can always be reached by email at tbetty@haverhill-ps.org.

Thank you,

Tim Betty

• ATTENTION NEW JGW APPAREL STORE: Whittier is having an on-line school store!  It is open from Friday, April 2nd and will only be open for 2 weeks, closing on April 16th.  You can order t-shirts, shorts, hoodies, sweat pants and light fleece pull overs in gray or Whittier green with JGWs logo. Please click the link to check out and order the merchandise: https://jgwhittiermiddleschool.itemorder.com/

• JGW TALENT SHOW: CALLING ANY AND ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL TALENT!!! Do you have a talent that you really want to share with everyone? Would you like to win a PRIZE?! Then audition for JGW’s 3rd Annual Talent Show!! Follow this link: https://forms.gle/nuQWdzWjz2U4uCGbA and submit an audition video by Friday, April 16th in order to participate. EVERYONE from hybrid and from RLA are welcome, so come check it out!!! Please reach out to Mr. Gariepy with any questions.

• Report Cards are available via the Parent/Student Portal NOW. 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

• Teachers have emailed home an electronic form acknowledging that parents have reviewed their student’s report card. Could you please make sure to fill that form out and submit it by Friday, 4/23/2021 at the latest.

PTO UPDATES

Our next PTO meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 4/14 from 6:00-7:30pm via Zoom. We are always looking to welcome new members!

COMMUNITY RESOURCES