Skip to main content

Whittier Middle School

JGW Update 8/30/26

Posted Date: 08/30/26 (04:41 PM)
View Original Post


Hello JGW Families,

I hope that you have had a great final weekend before the start of school. We are ready to go for Wednesday morning when students return to school! Here are a few things to think about for this week.


OPEN HOUSE

In response to suggestions from last year’s Grade 5 parents (this year’s Grade 6) we are trying something a little different with our Open House on Tuesday September 1st. We will start the night with a Grade 5-Only presentation. These new families often have the most questions and require more overview of our personnel and procedures. Once this presentation is over and students and families move on to their classroom visits, the presentation for Grades 6-8 will follow.

  • 4:45PM: Doors open for Grade 5 families

  • 5:00PM - 5:40PM: Grade 5 Presentation in the Cafetorium

    • 5:40PM - 6:30PM: Grade 5 Classroom Visits

  • 5:45PM - 6:05PM: Grade 6-8 Presentation in the Cafetorium

    • 6:05PM - 6:30PM: Grade 6-8 Classroom Visits


  • VERY IMPORTANT - Tuesday is also PRIMARY DAY in Haverhill. So, voters will be using our parking spaces in the front of the school to access the gymnasium which is where voting occurs. This all means that we will be a little more busy than on a usual Open House event. But, we are a community resource and will embrace the chance to host additional visitors in our school.


  • PARKING - Parking will be available in the main parking lot and, potentially, the gravel lot near the basketball court. Our staff will attempt to clear as many spaces as possible for families attending Open  House. We ask that families patiently look for a spot to park and be careful of pedestrians.


BUS ROUTES

Bus routes have been promoted on HPS social media accounts and posted on the HPS website at this link - https://www.haverhill-ps.org/school-bus-routes We will also have this information at Open House and throughout the first day of school on Wednesday to ensure that students know which is their bus. 


GETTING TO SCHOOL

  • If you are dropping your child off to school, please do so no earlier than 8:05AM, and please consult the drop off/ pick up map posted on our website at this link for directions - https://whittier.haverhill-ps.org/371263_2 

  • Students are encouraged to ride their bikes to school. They can lock up their bike at the bike rack near the school’s main entrance.

  • Electrically charged, battery-powered micromobility vehicles such as E-Bikes, electric scooters, electric unicycles etc. etc. are not allowed on school grounds before, during, and after school. Per the recently adopted Haverhill School Committee policy these vehicles will be confiscated and returned to parents if they appear on school grounds.


SCHOOL SCHEDULE

  • 8:05AM - 8:20AM - Breakfast is served in the cafeteria

  • 8:20AM - Students line up in the recess yards to prepare for entry

  • 8:30AM - School starts with homeroom

  • 2:45PM - Dismissal starts with students called to buses followed approximately 8-10 minutes later for walkers and pick ups.


TECHNOLOGY DEVICE WAIVER FEE

Please consider signing up for the device waiver fee program at this link: https://www.haverhill-ps.org/device-waiver-fee Chromebooks are expensive to replace when damaged, and this program will cover the cost of damage that may occur through student use, or misuse, of this technology.



Please take the time to review all of these materials, and I look forward to seeing you at Open House Tuesday night! Get ready for a great year!!!


Kevin Higginbottom, Principal

John Greenleaf Whittier Middle School