4TH ANNUAL BLOCK PARTY: Hunking’s 4th Annual Block Party is fast approaching!! We will be hosting this event on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH, from 5:00-7:00PM.
This is our opportunity to start the new school year off by bringing our whole Hunking community together for a fun night with a lot of great activities and food!
One major change that we have made to this year’s event is that families/students will not need to purchase tickets for the carnival activities. Our amazing PTO has generously donated all of the carnival games/activities, which include:
-Balloon Artist
-Airbrush Artist
-Face Painting
-Popcorn vendor
-Cotton candy vendor
We will also have several free lawn games for students and families to participate in.
The Block party will also give families the opportunity to purchase food from several local vendors who will be present, including:
-Lisa’s Hot Dog Stand
-La Pizza Di Forno
-Aroma Joe’s
-Mac Daddies
-Texas Roadhouse
-The Ice Cream Truck
The event will also have special appearances from the Haverhill Police Department & Haverhill Fire Department.
Some of our school’s clubs will be in attendance, including:
-The National Junior Honor Society
-Student Council
-Tri-M (Music Honor Society)
This is sure to be another amazing Hunking Community event, and we hope that everyone is able to attend!
Please note that we will also have a Title One information station, a 50/50 raffle, and a DJ.
As always, parking for our community events is very limited, so we ask that you please walk if able, carpool, or park in our surrounding neighborhood, and finally, we ask that all pets be left at home.
Theme of the Month: We celebrate and focus on a theme each month here at Hunking. Our first theme of the school year captures our number one rule: KINDNESS. Kindness is the quality of being generous, considerate, and compassionate toward others, often involving acts of help or service without expecting anything in return. Kindness can be practiced through actions like sharing, listening, or offering support. Practicing kindness can improve one’s own mood and well-being, strengthen relationships, and create a positive chain reaction here at Hunking and in the world in general! It is treating others the way that you want to be treated. Staff will be on the lookout throughout this first month for the students who best personify this theme.
At the end of the month, we celebrate by conducting brief grade-level assemblies to recognize those students who have best personified the theme of the month.
Food Services has changed the menus this year. When you go to https://www.fdmealplanner.com/, and type in “Hunking” for the school location, you will see a WEEKLY menu. You will see the main lunch and other options available for the day. You will still be able to filter according to food allergens. Any questions, please contact Food Services at anna.perracchio@haverhill-ps.org.
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS:
Haverhill SEPAC:
PTO NEWS:
- Thank You to those who attended our first meeting! We are well on our way to supporting field trips and can’t wait for our first fundraiser.
- Next meeting held at Hunking is October 2 at 5:30pm. Free babysitting is available by NJHS.
- Spirit Wear is on Sale! Order now and save 25%: https://1stplace.sale/40727
Sale Ends 9/23/2025 and Free shipping on orders over $75 - Coming up: Boosterthon Fun Run 10/27-11/6 our yearly goal is to raise $45,000 with your support we CAN accomplish this!
NEWS FROM GUIDANCE
For all parents and caregivers!
Massachusetts Partners for Youth has a wonderful resource for parents! Check out the Parenting Solutions Library!
https://peaceathomeparenting.com/mpy-solution-libraries/
Grades 5-8 will attend a High School and Career Fair here at Hunking on September 26th.
Parents of 8th Graders: Planning Ahead, High School Options
Private school application windows open VERY soon! If you are planning to attend a private school for 9th grade, be sure to look at their websites for important information about applying!!
HHS 8th grade tour will be October 24th during school hours! Look for permission slip closer to that date!
HHS Career Technical Education (CTE) will begin accepting applications on November 1st.
HHS Classical Academy is accepting applications soon. The deadline to apply is January 17th, 2026. Classical Academy Application
WVT application window opens on November 1st, and their open house is on November 2nd.
Technology resources:
DESE Learning Standards for Families: learning benchmarks for math and ELA per grade level.
Technology Webpage: How to Access Parent Portal (PDF), Google Classroom, Parent controls (Qustodio), and basic iPad and Chromebook usage tips.
Remind app: How to download and use Remind to communicate with teachers.
EDUCATIONAL HAPPENINGS:
Kindergarten: All classes had a great first full week of school! We have spent a lot of time learning routines, getting to know each other and having lots of fun. We are beginning to dive into our curriculum. In math, we started module 1. The first topic is all about classifying and counting objects. We will start module 0 in Wit and Wisdom and focus on the essential question “How does reading help us learn?”
4th grade: In our first Wit & Wisdom module, we’re exploring the heart through the essential question: “What does it mean to have a great heart, literally and figuratively?” Encourage your child to share their hand signals for both a literal and figurative heart! To enrich our learning experience, we’d love to invite a member of the Hunking community who works with the heart—such as a cardiologist, cardiac nurse, nutritionist, or athletic trainer—to come in and speak with our students. If you or someone you know is interested, please reach out to Mrs. Augusta at Arielle.Augusta@haverhill-ps.org
Grade 8: If you want to be in the know for end all grade 8 activities, please join this parent-run Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1A5XUt5eKq/?mibextid=wwXIfr. We are very appreciative for all the generous donations, thank you!
Please be up to date with your students classwork, homework, and out of school expectations.
Music with Mrs. Fairbrother: All classes are singing and I’m extremely proud of them!
Gr. 2: Students are singing “Willowbee” and adding instruments for accompaniment.
Gr. 4: Students are singing “El Juego Chirimbolo”, playing the game and will begin adding instruments as well.
Gr. 6: Students are reviewing notes on the guitar and will begin adding more notes and chords in the future.
Gr. 7: Students are beginning their keyboard basics. They are currently playing C Major scales.
Gr. 8: Students are learning about chords and adding 2 as accompaniment to their singing.
Music with Ms. Avalos: We’re off to a great start!! We are all working on singing with good tone and learning note values.
Gr. K: We are all getting to know each other and our favorite things! This week, Kindergarten students got to try their first instrument, the xylophone. We are also learning a new song “Ally Bally”
Gr. 1: Students are learning the notes “sol and mi”, as well as the “Boundary Song”.
Gr. 3: Students are singing “Polly Wolly Doodle” and learning note values.
Gr 5: Students started a new song called “Mama won’t allow” and are learning all our note values
Gr 7: Students are learning solfege syllables and how they can make a song. We are also starting reviewing note values and how to identify notes on the staff.
NEWS FROM OUR NURSES: If your child has any medications that are needed at school, such as Epipens and inhalers, please drop off the medication and forms in the health office. The Health Office needs an order from the student’s provider and parental consent for medication administration, and the medication should be in the original bottle/box with a pharmacy label. Please reach out to the Health office if you did not receive an allergy/asthma packet.
You should have received an Annual Health Update and Permission form. Please complete and send back to school as soon as possible, if not already done. Please list the medications you do not want your child to have in school (This is a change from last year’s form) and sign the bottom of the form. If your child will be participating in any sports this year, they will need a current physical in order to play. Our fax number is 978-274-1944 if you would like the doctor to fax it to our office.
Please remember to send your child in with a water bottle. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Health Office (978-420-1913).
ATHLETIC NEWS:
FIELD HOCKEY (8th Graders ONLY):
Soccer: 2025 Hunking Soccer Practice & Game Schedule
Congratulations to everyone who came out to tryouts. We have officially started our 2025 campaign! I’ve been thrilled with the enthusiasm and commitment of this group. Looking forward to another banner year!
All parents and families are welcome to join the Remind page for the latest updates regarding upcoming games or schedule changes.
Join my Hunking Soccer 2025 class on Remind! https://www.remind.com/join/hunkingso?utm_medium=android
Unified Bocce Ball: Are you interested in learning a new, low-impact level sport? Are you looking for opportunities to socialize with people? Are you open to getting some light exercise while having a lot of fun? If you answered yes to any of these questions and are in middle school, then we have just the thing for you! Become a member of Hunking’s Special Olympics Unified Bocce Ball Team! Open to all middle (5th to 8th grade) school students with and without disabilities. All abilities are welcome!
The team will practice on Monday and Wednesday afternoons throughout the month of October from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Hunking School gym. Sign-ups and permission slips are required. Both will be available on the tall tables outside of the cafeteria. Registration must be completed by Wednesday, September 24, 2025, with the first practice scheduled for Wednesday, October 1, 2025. Transportation following the Monday and Wednesday practices will not be provided.
For more information or questions, contact Mr. Langlais (Room 115) or Ms. Carella (Room 103D).
BASKETBALL: Any grade 6-8 student who plans on trying out for basketball this year WILL NOT be able to try out without an updated physical. Physicals are due no later than Monday, October 13th. They can be turned into Mrs. Mansour in room 301 or the nurse’s office.
CLUB NEWS:
Guitar Ensemble: The first guitar meeting of the year will be Friday, 9/19, right after school until 3:30 in Mrs. Fairbrother’s room. New members (grades 5-8) are welcome to join, and no guitar experience or instrument is required.
Band: all 5th grade students attended an instrument assembly earlier this week where they learned about the instruments offered and how the band program works. Signup forms went home with students following the assembly and are due back next Tuesday, 9/16. Please contact Mr. Leftin at Matthew.leftin@haverhill-ps.org with any questions.
Chorus: Chorus is off to a great start! Students got new songs this week that we are starting to learn. Some students chose to take their music home, please remind them that they need to bring music to school on Chorus days. We will continue with this schedule: Grades 5-8 Monday and Thursday, Grades 3-4 Tuesday and Friday.
Tri-M: Tri-M will be at the block party this Thursday with a bake sale! All current Tri-M members, we will have a brief meeting Monday morning in the music room at 8:15am.
Drama Club: Our first Drama Club meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 16th, from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. in the music room. Drama club is open to students in grades 5-8. We will review the winter show and audition requirements.
Student Council: See the monthly meeting schedule here.
If students in grades 4-8 are interested in running for Student Council for this school year, applications for eligibility can be found here or picked up in room 301. Completed forms are due to teachers by Wednesday, September 17th (no late applications will be accepted). Eligibility and next steps for campaigning will be communicated Friday, September 19th. Direct any questions to Mrs. Mansour or Mrs. Corkum.
NJHS: The NJHS calendar can be found here. Coming Sept. 24th is our first Bobcat Buddies activity.
GSA: GSA will begin in October
Lego Club: Lego Club will begin in November
ODDS & ENDS:
-Please make sure that your student(s) are coming to school daily with a fully charged Chromebook.
HPS has chosen School Device Coverage (SDC) to ensure the Chromebooks that students have been issued. The cost of coverage for the year is $20 and includes accidental damage, loss, fire, and theft. As of right now, families have the option to sign up during the month of September (we will let you know if it extends). After sign-up closes, only new students will be given a special code to sign up at registration. The HPS website (under technology) explains SDC and has instructions on how to sign up online.
-Please make sure that you are sending your student(s) with a water bottle. We have a limited supply of cups, and we do not have access to water fountains, only water bottle filling stations.
SCHOOL POLICIES: Please click on the link below to review Hunking policies, including cell phone and pick up & drop off procedures:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u0UOrpoO9vRnMMJuYpeJmaSGKcywt29SX94AQmSHFzQ/edit?usp=sharing