MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL & MAIN OFFICE NEWS

We are in the final stretch of the school year! Only 24 school days to go!! We are going to make it. Please see below for all of the important information going on in and around our school this coming week…

MCAS: We will be continuing with our MCAS testing this Tuesday.  On MCAS test days, please make sure your student has a good breakfast, brings a water bottle, and arrives at school on time (by 8:30 AM) with a FULLY CHARGED Chromebook.  Please note that all cell phones will be collected prior to testing and returned at the end of the school day.  If you do not want us to collect your student’s phone, please do not have them bring it to school on testing days.  There will be no exceptions to this policy.

A few special notes for RLA students:

1. You and your student(s) will receive an email the day before they are scheduled to take a test that includes their username and password for accessing the MCAS testing site. 
2. Students must not open any browser windows or tabs on their devices. They should only have Pearson Testnav and their Google meet open on their Chromebook. In some cases they may be instructed to have their email open as well.
3. Students will be expected to show their workspace before testing. Students cannot have anything in their workspace besides their Chromebook, scratch paper, and a pencil or pen.
4. NO CELL PHONES are permitted. 
5. Students must keep their camera on during testing. 
6. Students should not leave their testing area while they are testing, unless approved by their teacher. 
7. Students will not be able to use the chat feature in Google meet during testing, except to communicate with their teacher privately.
8. Please provide a quiet, distraction free space for your child to test.  At no time should students receive assistance of any kind from someone at home, this is considered cheating.  If your child has a technical issue that you cannot resolve, please contact the school.

• PROGRESS REPORTS: Your student’s progress report is available to view online through the student/parent portal. 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

School Start Time: Please be aware that the school day begins at 8:30am sharp. If you drop your students off to school please make sure that they are arriving by 8:25am to avoid being late. Feel free to begin dropping students off at any time after 8:05am. We appreciate your attention to this matter.

Attendance: A reminder to all families that if your student will be absent for the day, please make sure to call the main office (978-374-5782) to notify the school. Thank you.

Chromebooks: PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR STUDENT IS CHARGING THEIR CHROMEBOOKS EACH NIGHT. THANK YOU!!

Dress Code: As the weather is getting warmer, we would ask that all families please review the Haverhill Public Schools Dress Code Policy with their students in order to ensure that it is properly being followed. Thank you for your attention to this. Please find a copy of the HPS Dress Code Policy below:

RLA Survey: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ed2Nz6zsN5zXsifAHbPyo3ti__sFInPngzOV2XDdbtc/edit?usp=sharing 

PTO UPDATES

Our next PTO meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 6/9 from 6:00-7:30pm via Zoom. We are always looking to welcome new members!

JG Whittier PTO is now listed as a charity on AmazonSmile.  What does this mean?  You shop. Amazon gives. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service. Support your charitable organization by starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com. Please support JG Whittier PTO by using the following link when you shop,  https://smile.amazon.com/ch/90-0135139 or by selecting John Greenleaf Whittier PTO as your charity of choice.

AmazonSmile customers can now support John Greenleaf Whittier Middle School PTO in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations.

1. Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
2. Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into ‘Settings’
3. Tap ‘AmazonSmile’ and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process

If you do not have the latest version of the Amazon Shopping app, update your app. Click here for instructions.

To see the impact of your marketing, visit the AmazonSmile Metrics Dashboard for John Greenleaf Whittier Middle School PTO. Simply log in at org.amazon.com and click the “View metrics” button.

CLUB NEWS:

NEW GSA CLUB: We have started an online JGW GSA Club for all students at our school. The club will be student lead with two advisors, Ms. Boulger and Ms. St Pierre. The purpose of this club is to provide a safe supportive environment and network for people and friends in the LGBTQ+ community. Here is a link for more information on DESE guidelines and resources https://www.mass.gov/info-details/safe-schools-program-for-lgbtq-students

If you would like to join or for any questions contact emily.boulger@haverhill-ps.org

NJHS: Next Wednesday May 19th the national junior honor society will be serving free slush to all in person students during their lunch time as an appreciation for everyone’s hard work in selling popcorn. If any student would like a second one, they will be 2$. 

Thank you to all who applied for NJHS next year. Letters are going out this week. It was a very hard choice. We will be hosting our inductee ceremony Tuesday night May 25 at 6pm. All present and new members will be in person and parents and family members will be able to watch livestream. 

Any questions at all please email me at lmackinnon@haverhill-ps.org

Thank you 

Mrs. MacKinnon

JR VIP: Jr. VIP will be finishing the RESPECT video and look forward to presenting it to the school soon.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

HYBRID MODEL

GRADE 5:

Ms. Sanguedolce: We are still using the computers for our classes. All students need to come to school each day with fully charged computers. Earbuds or headphones would be very helpful too. Thank you for your support with this request.

In Math, we will continue working in Topic 12: Convert Measurements. This includes customary and metric units of measure 

In Social Studies, we will continue to read Chapter 7: A Growing Nation. This includes moving west in the 1800s.

Ms. Delong: Science – I am proud of our students for their hard work on the Grade 5 Science and Technology/Engineering MCAS test. Now we will be getting back to the Engineering Design project! We have collected a good amount of 2 liter soda bottles but if families have some please send them in! Looking forward to seeing our students’ creativity on full display as they problem solve an issue with dirty water.

Social Studies – We will be getting back into our curriculum and will be examining the Bill of Rights. What rights have the amendments given us? Why do we have the Bill of Rights? What do these rights mean for students? These are questions we will be answering in class.

Ms. LaCoste: First and foremost, thank you to all the fifth-grade students who worked hard on their MCAS tests this week.  Though there were a few glitches, when it came time to test, they worked hard and gave their best efforts.  I’m very proud of them.

Next week, in grade 5 ELA, we will be continuing our study of poetry.  We’ll explore and identify different types of poems and do our best to write as many as possible.  We will identify free verse poems, haiku, cinquain, and limericks.

In Orange Social Studies, we’ll continue with chapter 7 in our textbook and read about the development of the new government in the US after the Constitution was written.  The chapter also covers Westward Expansion, Pioneers, and the many changes the country experienced in its early days.  

Ms. Lees: The fifth grade students did an amazing job completing their MCAS days successfully. Next week will measurements in Math and types of poetry in ELA. Those students who have been given a LexiaCore5 log-in should be working at least 45 minutes a week in the program. Parents- iReady Math and Reading are terrific programs to use in free time to build skills. Remember that Ms. Lees is available before and after school for help – remember to ask!

GRADE 6:

Mrs. Hamel: We are taking a virtual field trip into Machu Picchu in Peru along the hiking trails of the stone roads built by the Incas.

Machu Picchu means “Old Peak” or “Old Mountain” in the Quechua language of the Inca. We are sightseeing over 140 buildings in the Central Square as well as trapsing through the100 flights of stone steps in the Terraces. As we examine this innovative civilization, we are noticing the ingenuity of their masonry skills and their ability to build an entire city within the Andes Mountains. 
We are enjoying watching the Alpacas keep the grass low while taking in the beautiful weather of Peru.

Ask your students about these breathtaking sites!!!

Ms. Sargent: Students will be taking ELA and Math MCAS next week. We will be going over test taking strategies and reviewing fractions and ratios.  There will not be be a math packet next week. 

Mr. Taylor: ELA-We continue our journey in mythology with PERCY JACKSON around our testing MCAS days. Don’t forget to charge your chromebook!

Ms. Consolazio: In science, we finished our scope on fossils and are moving on to evolutionary history and relationships. Students will learn evolutionary theory predicts that related organisms will share similarities that are derived from common ancestors. Please make sure Chromebooks are charged at night.   Chromebooks are utilized in class daily. 

Mrs. Guisti: Mrs. Guisti and Mrs. Cronin’s small group has continued reading Percy Jackson in small groups and discussing the novel as well as vocabulary within the novel.  Students have worked on math skills using unit rate and carrying over that knowledge to find equivalent rates.  Weekly math packets continue to be worked on to increase computation skills.  Reading skills continue to be worked on using iReady, Read Live, and Lexia.  Please remember that grade 6 MCAS is next week and students should be reminded to get a good night’s sleep and eat a hearty breakfast.  Thank you!

GRADE 7:

Mrs. Berthiaume: In ELA, students are enjoying our class novel, The Red Pony, by John Steinbeck.  In Social Studies, everyone did a fantastic job designing their Ancient Rome collages using Google Drawing!

Mrs. Trombly: Mrs. Trombly‘s classes are working on MCAS review and finishing up a topic 6 quick review. We will be reviewing proportions,  percents and equations for the next few weeks. 

Mr. Yanoff: ​ Grade 7 Yellow and Red teams are working on the circumference and volume of circles.  They will be working on both Geometry and MCAS prep as the teams ready themselves for June Testing.  Progress reports are ready for all to see.  Check Mr. Betty’s update here to find out how to see the grades.

Mrs. MacKinnon/Mrs. Lane: Math: The students have moved onto Topic 4-4 they are learning how to Expand Expressions Using the Distributive Property.  They are also learning how to expand expressions with a variable, more complex expressions, and they also reviewed Integer Operations. We will be doing some MCAS practice sheets next week to prepare for the MCAS.    Science:  The students have moved onto Magnetism. They are learning how like charges repel and opposites attract. Also how two objects that are closer together have more of a force than farther away. Finally, that a larger object has more force than a smaller object.  Please make sure they are completing their assignments.

Ms. DiGloria: Next week in Grade 7 Blue and Green Social Studies, we will be learning about Roman government and expansion into the empire. In ELA, we will be finishing up our MCAS practice and continuing our reading of The Hobbit. Students are encouraged to pass in late work if they are behind – there is still plenty of time to bring up low grades. 

Ms. Bilmazes: Progress reports have been issued, so let’s work productively to finish the year with success. Keep up with assignments, work diligently and ask for help.  All groups are continuing to work on MCAS practice, consisting of multiple choice and essays for ELA, and practice problems for math, in preparation for upcoming testing on June 2nd and 3rd. 

GRADE 8:

Mr. Lewis: In ELA, we finally finished The Pearl! Students completed a poster in which they tracked the major changes in Kino, the story’s protagonist. We are now onto our final story of the year, The Outsiders. We have done basic research on the 60s in preparation for beginning the book.

In Civics, students have also finished their DBQ which dealt with checks and balances. We have now started our chapter on the executive branch of government.

Ms. Deblasis: In Math, we will begin our unit on Analyzing and Solving Systems of Linear Equations.

In Science, we will be working on MCAS prep questions. 

ELA MCAS: Tuesday, May 25th

Math MCAS: Wednesday, May 26th

STEM MCAS: Thursday, May 27th

Please be sure your child has a good night’s sleep, a hearty breakfast, and be on time to school.

Please encourage your child to take their time and always try their best. 

Mr. Blaustein: ELA: We spent last week researching and presenting cultural icons of the 1960’s in preparation for reading “The Outsiders.” This week we have begun to read and discuss the novel as well as work with vocabulary.

We have been utilizing our Success block as an MCAS practice period. 8th grade MCAS is in 2 weeks beginning May 24.

Civics: Our focus this week has been the Bill of Rights Amendments 2-10. We also read and discussed Miranda v. Arizona examining when the right to an attorney attaches to criminal defendants. Next week we will start to study the Civil War Amendments. I expect to give the quiz on last weeks lessons, Tuesday.

Ms. Sullivan: In Math, we will begin our unit on Analyzing and Solving Systems of Linear Equations.

In Science, we will be working on MCAS prep questions. 

ELA MCAS: Tuesday, May 25th

Math MCAS: Wednesday, May 26th

STEM MCAS: Thursday, May 27th

Please be sure your child has a good night’s sleep, a hearty breakfast, and be on time to school.

Please encourage your child to take their time and always try their best. 

Mr. Harris: Math – we are finishing up Chapter 4 by looking at two-way frequency tables, and beginning chapter 5 which is on Systems of Equations.  Things are moving fast with MCAS just around the corner!

Science – we are working on the Conservation of Mass.  After that we will get into the laws of force and motion.

Mr. Marinella: ELA- Recently in ELA we have been reading “The Outsiders”, which is an incredible book about rival groups of high schools in rural Oklahoma. The book is narrated by the main character, Ponyboy, and explores important themes and messages such as family and friendship, identity, being a member of a group, and the lengths people will go to protect those they care about. We are taking this book chapter by chapter to pull out the important lessons that are being told. Each chapter has an assignment that goes with it, and the PDF of the full novel is available on my Google Classroom! We are also working on getting prepared for the upcoming MCAS using practice tests and discussions about what we may see come late May. 

Civics– After wrapping up our Civics Project and DBQs, Civics has moved on! We have been spending the last week learning about our Legislative Branch of government. We have been examining the different chambers of congress, who our representatives in D.C. are, and how laws are created. There will be a quiz on Monday 5/17 to review what we have learned. Make sure students are going back into past assignments and reading to prepare! 

Ms. Senior: ELA students constructed a drawing for “The Pearl” and others participated in a 60s scavenger hunt as they began reading “The Outsiders” book. Mathematics is knee-deep in Frequency Charts/Tables/Patterns, culminating in a quiz.

SPECIALISTS:

Physical Education: (Mr. Demarais): In PE we will continue to walk our mile to begin class. As the field drys out we will be playing various sports like soccer, ultimate frisbee, and capture the flag 

Health (Mrs. Reynolds):

grade 5 – Drug awareness education unit continues

grade 6 – First Aid Unit ends

grade 7 – Anger Management and Communication Unit ends

grade 8 – Mental Health Unit begins.  We will be discussing Anxiety and Depression

Students are welcome to make up missing work to earn up to a B on the assignment if it is late.

Music (Mr. Gariepy): Hello JGW Friends and Families!! This week for Music class, we are finishing the movie-musicals we’ve been watching and we’ll be starting to work on our final projects for them. In the older grades, students are creating a virtual book report on Google Slides. In the younger grades, the kids are comparing the movie they finished watching to the movie that we’re watching now (6th grade Mary Poppins compared to Bedknobs & Broomsticks and 5th grade comparing both versions of Aladdin) by creating a Venn Diagram and an illustration. In Tech class, we’ve been learning how to do computer coding by using a website called scratch.mit.edu.

REMOTE LEARNING ACADEMY

GRADE 5:

Ms. MacDonald: A huge thank you to 5th Grade RLA families for your support during MCAS last week. The kids were on time and followed expectations so incredibly well. Ms. Duquette, Ms. Spadaro, and I are incredibly proud of all of our kiddos!!! 

This week in science we will continue to work on the Engineering Design Process by testing filter materials and creating water filters! The kids should have their materials set to go. If they don’t, please email me! 

In social studies, we will be picking back up on our regular units after students completed their DBQ and MCAS testing. We will be learning about the beginnings of our government after the war! 

Ms. Duquette: My apologies for missing a few updates.  Students have been working on reading Tuck Everlasting.  They are doing a fantastic job with class discussions and seem to look forward to our reading.  We have also been working on our continuous spiraling review of parts of speech and grammar.  It is clear that students have developed solid understanding for most parts of speech and are able to identify them correctly in our daily work.  Moving forward, we will continue our reading of Tuck everlasting and will be working on some activities based on the book.  Students completed the ELA MCAS this week and they all worked hard.  I am proud of them!

Ms. Spadaro: Next week, students will continue their review and have the opportunity to participate in a virtual field trip.

GRADE 6:

Mrs. Simes: In math, students have learned about how to find the volume of rectangular prisms with fractional lengths, and we have begun to look at statistical questions and the importance of how to display, describe, and summarize data.  Also, students will complete their math MCAS on Wednesday, May 19th virtually, using their Chromebooks.  They have been on TestNav and are familiar with the testing tools and have completed practice tests.  In science, students continue to wonder, “How long does it take to become a fossil?”  They will complete their CER to this unit of study and will be completing a unit test on Friday, May 21.  After school help will be on Monday and Thursday from 2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.  As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at michele.simes@haverhill-ps.org.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Ms. Riley: ELA MCAS is next week! Please remind your child to take their time and use their test taking strategies. We will touch upon some poetry and then move into a novel to finish off the year. It is hard to believe it is almost over! 

In Social Studies next week, we will move into North Africa. I am still waiting for some DBQ’s. (Document Based Question) essays. This is counts towards your child’s grade. If it is not turned in, it will bring their grade down. Students had plenty of class time and assistance with this.  

GRADE 7:

Ms. Marciano: ELA: We are finishing our MCAS review of realistic fiction by working on reading comprehension questions and an open response. Our next MCAS review will be poetry. 

SCIENCE: We have finished Unit 11 and have just started Unit 12: Electric and Magnetic Forces. We are working on vocabulary and background knowledge. 

Mr. LeGrand: Math: Last week students learned to solve one-step inequality problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  We are moving on to writing and solving two-step inequality problems. In addition, we are spending part of our class time reviewing in preparation for our upcoming MCAS test.  Please encourage your student to come to class on time, participate and try their best.   

Social Studies:  We have been learning so much about Western European countries like Germany, France, Ireland and the Netherlands.  This week we will focus on topics such as; forming the European Union, ethnic and language groups, literature, music, and the arts. 

GRADE 8:

Mr. Harris: Math – we are finishing up Chapter 4 by looking at two-way frequency tables, and beginning chapter 5 which is on Systems of Equations.  Things are moving fast with MCAS just around the corner!

Science – we are working on the Conservation of Mass.  After that we will get into the laws of force and motion.

Mr. Marinella: ELA- Recently in ELA we have been reading “The Outsiders”, which is an incredible book about rival groups of high schools in rural Oklahoma. The book is narrated by the main character, Ponyboy, and explores important themes and messages such as family and friendship, identity, being a member of a group, and the lengths people will go to protect those they care about. We are taking this book chapter by chapter to pull out the important lessons that are being told. Each chapter has an assignment that goes with it, and the PDF of the full novel is available on my Google Classroom! We are also working on getting prepared for the upcoming MCAS using practice tests and discussions about what we may see come late May. 

Civics– After wrapping up our Civics Project and DBQs, Civics has moved on! We have been spending the last week learning about our Legislative Branch of government. We have been examining the different chambers of congress, who our representatives in D.C. are, and how laws are created. There will be a quiz on Monday 5/17 to review what we have learned. Make sure students are going back into past assignments and reading to prepare! 

Ms. Blanchette: Students in grade 6 will be taking the MCAS next week. All other grades will be continuing to learn grade level content. Please take a look at your child’s progress report that was sent out this past week and reach out if you have any questions. If you would like to meet regarding your child’s progress report grades and or progress in their classes, please reach out and we can schedule a time for a virtual meeting. Have a great week!

SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF

Guidance (Mrs. Vlahos):  I continue to be available to connect with and support all students and families throughout the school week via Google Meet, email and by phone.  If desired, please email me to connect and request a check in and I will coordinate a meeting with you.  I commend everyone for all the hard work you have put in thus far.  We are in the homestretch and will finish strong together!  I look forward to continued work with you in support of a healthy, safe, and successful rest of the school year.

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

Student Adjustment Counselor (Mrs. Midolo): This week’s focus: Behavioral Activation.  Behavioral activation in the school setting can take many forms, such as a quick mood-boosting activity.  It is important for our students to learn that engaging in regular activities involves social interaction that in turn provides a sense of accomplishment.  Behavioral activation means identifying activities and incorporating them into daily life with the goal of improving mood and quality of life.

Have a great weekend!

Middle School Support Program (Mrs. Leydon & Mr. Diffin): Good job to our 5th graders on completing the MCAS this past week! This coming week will be our 6th graders turn. Due to this, some of the MSSP group times have been affected, but everyone will be aware of all changes. Please reach out with any questions or concerns. 

Parent Liaison (Ms. Arias-Reyes): Quiero dejarles saber que continúo estando disponible para ayudar a las familias de JGW. Si tienen alguna pregunta o preocupación no duden en contactarme.  Mi número de teléfono es (781) 666-4085 y la dirección de correo electrónico es maria.ariasreyes@haverhill-ps.org.  Si me llaman y no respondo y la llamada va al buzón de voz, por favor llamen a la oficina principal al (978) 374- 5782. Pidan hablar con alguien que hable español o pueden decir que quieren hablar con María. Una de las secretarias me hará saber que están en la línea y será más efectivo, para que no pierda su llamada. ¡Gracias, que tengan un lindo fin de semana!

ELL (Ms. Pepicelli-Raposo): Hello from Mrs. Raposo’s EL classroom! Last week, our 5th graders were very successful with MCAS testing. This week, we will be focusing on our writing assessment. They should be practicing organizing their ideas and sentence writing.  Lastly, applications were sent through email for our Summer Language Institute. Please fill it out so your child can join in on the fun this Summer! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. We will be having a very productive week. 

Student Support Center (Mrs. Greenwood): The SSC is here to support your student every day. Students have been doing well adapting to all of the changes. Have a great weekend and see you all on Monday. Practice Kindness to someone who needs it most.

Reading Coach/Interventionist (Mrs. Guthrie): The Literacy Team has been administering MCAS in the 5th grade in the mornings. The afternoons have been spent taking small groups and working 1:1 with students. We are hoping that with the warm weather coming we may be able to take our book reviews and interventions outside in the fresh air. Have a wonderful weekend. 

NEWS FROM OUR NURSES OFFICE:

As we welcome back more students into the building we ask that you continue to exercise physical distancing as well as other COVID precautions. We have done a great job in school and should be proud of the hard work we have put in!  Pool testing continues to take place weekly at school, you can opt in at any time by signing a consent form. Please remember to keep your child home if they are exhibiting any COVID symptoms and as always, reach out to the nurse with any questions or concerns. Together we can do this!