Hunking Bobcat Fun Run: BIG NEWS! Hunking Bobcat Fun Run kicks off soon! We’re attempting to raise $20,000 for grade level field trips, in-school speakers and activities, in-school events such as dances, Block Party, Thanksgiving Feast and Multicultural Night, staff appreciation, and other currently unfunded needs that strengthen our community and we need your help. Save the date and stay tuned for more details on how you can support our cause.
Register online at MyBooster.com – 10/10/2025
Fundraiser Kickoff in school – 10/27/2025
Event Day – 11/06/2025
IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT BUS PASSES: All students are required to utilize their bus pass (school-issued) to swipe on and off the bus each morning & afternoon.
Every Hunking student who rides a bus should be in possession of a bus pass. It is a Haverhill Public School District requirement that ALL students, regardless of their age or grade level, swipe on and off the bus to and from school.
The basis for this system prioritizes student safety. I am writing this morning to ask for your help in reinforcing with your children who ride the bus, that this is not an option, but a requirement.
If you have a child assigned to a bus that does not have a bus pass, please reach out to their teacher, and we will compile a list to ensure replacements are made.
Thank you very much for your cooperation and support with this endeavor.
PROGRESS REPORTS: Progress Reports for grades K-8 will be released on Tuesday, October 14th.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES: Hunking’s 1st Trimester Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held right here at Hunking on Thursday, October 23rd.
K-4 conferences will be held between 4:00pm-5:30pm
5-8 conferences will be held between 5:00pm-6:30pm
Specialists will be available for conferences between 4:30pm-6:00pm
Please stay tuned for more information from your student’s teacher(s) or team as we get closer to progress reports.
ALICE DRILLS/PROCEDURE:
As most of you are likely aware, starting mid-October of 2022, in conjunction with our community safety agencies, Haverhill Public Schools began conducting A.L.I.C.E. drills in each of our buildings. For more information about A.L.I.C.E., please read the Frequently Asked Questions below. Further information is available at: https://www.alicetraining.com/ and https://archive.haverhill-ps.org/security/k-6-alice-training-information/.
From the perspective of the students, these drills will seem like a simulation exercise of having a real threat in the building. Our school will conduct its first drill of the 2025/2026 school year sometime during the week of October 6th. Similar to fire drills, we are not able to share the exact date of each A.L.I.C.E. drill in advance; however, the school will inform families following each drill.
Please understand that the successful implementation of A.L.I.C.E. throughout our school community is essential for the safety and well-being of our students and staff. To better prepare for any of these events, our staff and students should be trained in what to expect and how to react. Our goal of A.L.I.C.E. best practices training is to replace fear and hopelessness during emergencies with preparation and readiness in the face of adverse circumstances.
Again, please be reassured that we are conducting these drills as part of our yearly A.L.I.C.E. training so that our students and staff can implement strategies learned to better prepare for and make informed decisions about a variety of emergency situations.
Sincerely,
Tim Betty
Principal, Hunking School
Theme of the Month: For the month of October, we will be celebrating the theme of Respect here at Hunking. Respect is to hold something or someone in high regard, showing honor, esteem, and admiration for their inherent value, worth, or qualities. It involves demonstrating care, consideration, and attentiveness to their feelings, needs, and boundaries, even if you disagree with them. True respect, particularly self-respect, fosters an environment of empathy and understanding, allowing for individual differences and a space to make mistakes without judgment. You show respect by listening actively and thoughtfully, acknowledging others’ viewpoints, respecting personal boundaries and property, and communicating with kindness and courtesy. Key actions include apologizing for mistakes, showing gratitude, being punctual and reliable, offering help, and standing up against disrespectful behavior toward others.
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:
CELEBRATING HISPANIC & LATINX HERITAGE MONTH:
From September 15th through October 15th, Massachusetts celebrates the contributions and history made by those of Hispanic & Latinx heritage. Be sure to check out some local events at the Haverhill Public Library (Friday Movies), Northern Essex Community College, and other Merrimack Valley cities and towns.
For more information about Hispanic Heritage Month’s origins, check out the Library of Congress’ website.
PTO NEWS: HunkingPTO28@gmail.com
- Find us on Facebook “C.D. Hunking School PTO”
https://www.facebook.com/groups/683794485075364/
- On Friday’s, chocolate bar will be for sale for $1 each during lunch. Chocolate bars are gluten free except the wafer option.
- Coming up:
- Big Dog at Bradford Common 10/24-10/27. Come and vote!
NEWS FROM GUIDANCE
Terri Carney, School Counselor, grades 5-8
For all parents and caregivers!
Massachusetts Partners for Youth has a wonderful resource! Check out the Parenting Solutions Library! https://peaceathomeparenting.com/mpy-solution-libraries/
Grades 6-8 Families! December 4th is family night at HHS from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Important Information for Parents of 7th and 8th graders
As part of the state’s pathway exploration policies, Haverhill Public Schools are required to share contact information of our 7th and 8th grade students to Whittier Vocational Technical High School and Essex North Shore Agriculture Admissions Office. They use this information to create mailing lists to update students and families on Open Houses, the application process, and any events that may be occurring that would be of interest to potential students. The information that would be shared: grade 7 and 8 students’ and parents/guardians’ first and last names, mailing addresses, the parents/guardians’ email addresses, and primary language.
English/Spanish/Portuguese CTE/HHS notification for middle school families 25-26
Parents/Guardians, please fill out this form OPT OUT, if you DO NOT want the information specified above to be shared with the vocational schools.
Parents of 8th Graders: Planning Ahead, High School Options:
HHS
- The 8th-grade tour will be on October 24th during school hours! Look for the 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
- The application window opens on November 1st
- Open house for 8th graders and families is on November 2nd from 1-4
- WVT tour for students is Dec 11th. Look for permission slips closer to the field trip.
- WVT has announced they will have a straight lottery system for admissions.
Essex North Shore
- Students from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are eligible to apply
- Application window opens November 1, 2025 and closes on January 10, 2026
- Essex Open House is November 22nd Registration Required, go to website
Other high school info:
- Private school application windows open early
- If you are planning to attend a private school for 9th grade, be sure to look at their websites for important information about applying and deadlines
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:
Grade 6: Huge shout-out to Ms Curry for taking two 6th-grade groups to the Boston vs Bullies field trip at the TRACK at New Balance. Students received a special invitation from the Boston Sports Museum for their participation and completion of the anti-bullying curriculum called “Boston vs Bullies”. The students were able to play basketball with Blades and Wally, the mascots for the Boston Bruins and Boston Red Sox, and have a Q&A session with track superstar Kate Mitchell. The students were energized, polite, and asked great questions.
The entire 6th grade will have a field trip next Thursday, October 9th, to the Topsfield Fair. We will have a meeting at the beginning of next week to set expectations and inform students about what is and is not allowed. Homeroom teachers will also communicate this information to parents via Remind.
Grade 8:
In ELA, students are in the midst of a close read of “The Tell Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe from Unit 1 of Studysync. During the WIN block, we are on the final chapters of The Outsiders. Walk to WIN begins on October 14th, when letters will be sent home explaining your student’s WIN placement.
Math students are wrapping up their topic on the Pythagorean Theorem and will be moving on to “Irrational Numbers” before taking their Module 1 Exam on October 9. They can find study materials in their Google Classroom.
Science has begun a geology unit focusing this week on plate tectonics, and in Civics, students are studying the road to the revolution!
Deck Hockey season has begun on the 3rd floor!
NEWS FROM OUR NURSES: We have started vision and hearing screening with our lower school students. Next week is 1st grade. Please ensure your child wears their glasses to school (if they need them). We will be sending home referrals for any child who has trouble seeing or hearing. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
If your child requires any medications at school, such as EpiPens or inhalers, please drop off the medication and necessary forms in the health office. The Health Office requires an order from the student’s provider and parental consent for medication administration. The medication must be in its original bottle/box with a pharmacy label. Please contact the Health Office if you did not receive an allergy/asthma packet.
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.
ATHLETIC NEWS:
Soccer: 2025 Hunking Soccer Practice & Game Schedule
Both teams picked up wins on Tuesday against Consentino. The boys won 3-1 with goals from Dom Barker, Timyus Chin, and Gavin Wakefield. The girls earned a 4-0 victory, with Kendall DiStefano scoring twice and Maggie Caron adding a goal. Both teams are back in action tomorrow!
Both teams won again on Thursday against Whittier. The girls secured another shutout, winning 5-0 with two goals each from Laila and Maggie, plus one from Kendall. The boys also earned a 2-1 victory, with both goals scored by Gavin. Next game is Tuesday at Golden Hill – come show your support on the road!
Week of October 6-10 – Practice & Game Schedule:
10/6 – Boys & Girls Practice (Split Field)
10/7 – Game vs Nettle @ Golden Hill Boys First
10/9 – Game vs Consentino @ Hunking Girls First
To get the most up-to-date information on schedule changes, click this link to joining the Hunking Soccer 2025 Remind classroom.
Cross Country:
Meets Date for this season:
10/8 Wednesday meet for Gr.4 & 5 vs. Haverhill District Schools
10/20 Monday meet for Gr. 6-8 vs. Haverhill District School
10/28 Tuesday meet for Gr. 6-8 vs Methuen &North Andover
All meets are held at Winnekenni Park in Haverhill. Start times are as close to 3:30pm as possible; historically, times have been pushed to almost 4, as we are at the mercy of traffic and limited buses for all middle schools in our district to arrive. Parking at Winnekenni can be challenging at times, so I would also recommend either parking on the main road or backing into a spot inside the park to make exiting easier.
Bussing is provided to and from (back to Hunking)
Please note: Considering traffic during the end time of meets, we encourage parents to pick up/carpool when possible from Winnekenni at the conclusion of the meet.
Unified Bocce Ball: The Unified Bocce Ball team will get the balls rolling on Monday and Wednesday each week throughout the month of October from 3:00pm – 4:00pm in the Hunking gym. Please plan to pick up your player following practice at the Hunking main entrance. All that is required for your child is a good pair of sneakers and a positive attitude!
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: We will NOT meet next week (October 10th) so we can all enjoy the long weekend. Our next rehearsal will be on Friday, October 17th, from 2:45-3:30. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Fairbrother.
Mentor/Mentee: All mentors have been selected and assigned to their mentees. These meetings will begin next week. Looking forward to another great year of special bonds forming between upper and lower school students!
Chorus: Lower School Chorus: We will be having a different rehearsal schedule the next two weeks: Tuesday’s 10/7 and 10/14, will be 3rd grade ONLY, and Friday’s 10/10 and 10/17, will be 4th grade ONLY. Please make sure, if possible, that your student has eaten breakfast before coming to Chorus. Reach out to Ms. Avalos with any questions.
Drama Club: Our first rehearsal for Elf Jr. will be on Tuesday, October 7th, from 2:45 to 4:45 in the music room. This is for all cast members and those interested in the Tech crew. The show dates are December 12, 13, and 14. Tickets will be available starting November 1st.
Student Council: See the monthly meeting schedule here.
Thank you to all the courageous Hunking students who ran for Student Council this year! Everyone’s video displayed the love and dedication you have for our community! I hope that if you didn’t get elected this year, you will continue to volunteer where you’re able and consider running again in the future.
Congratulations to the new members of our Student Council! Please be sure to check our Google Classroom for important updates and meeting information. See you next Friday for our October meeting (see schedule linked above).
NJHS: The NJHS calendar can be found here.
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