HUNKING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SURVEY: It is our hope that you are all aware that it has been a goal and priority of ours here at Hunking to build and foster partnerships with our entire community. The success of our students benefits most when families feel a sense of involvement and that their voices are heard.
In an attempt to see how Hunking has been doing with this goal, we would really appreciate if all families took the time (10-15 minutes) to complete this survey.
Our Site Council will analyze and use this data to make necessary improvements throughout this year and moving into next year and share them all with you.
Thank you in advance for your support with this.
**Please note that Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole translations will be sent early next week
PICTURE DAY: School picture day is scheduled for Tuesday, October 21st
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 teams…
Hunking Fun Run: Registration for our schoolwide Hunking Bobcat Fun Run is now open! Visit MyBooster.com and get your student signed up today to learn more.
Remember, 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.
So again, Registration is open online at MyBooster.com
Fundraiser Kickoff in school – 10/27/2025
Event Day – 11/06/2025
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:
PTO NEWS:
- Candy Sale!! Every Friday, chocolate bars will be for sale $1. All varieties are gluten-free except the wafer option. Available during each lunch time
- Coming Soon – Big Dog at Bradford Common 10/24-10/27
Come and vote!
- Ways to reach us: email: HunkingPTO28@gmail.com, and find us on Facebook “C.D. Hunking School PTO”
Halloween Dance
Friday October 24th
Grades 5&6 ——-Starts at 5pm Ends at 6:30 pm
Grades 7&8 ——-Starts at 7pm Ends at 8:30 pm
Tickets $5
*Buy at lunch October 20-24, at the door, or Purchase through our Cheddar Up https://2025-hunking-upper-school-halloween-dance.cheddarup.com/
Food and Snacks? Pizza, Water, Chips and Candy will be for sale during the dance!
NEWS FROM GUIDANCE
Terri Carney, School Counselor, grades 5-8
Family Night at HHS!
- Grades 6-8 Families! December 4th is family night at HHS from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Parents of 8th Graders: Planning Ahead, High School Options:
HHS
- The 8th-grade tour will be on October 24th during school hours! Please ask your student for the permission slip to complete and return to school no later than October 21st.
- 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
- There are 7 programs that Haverhill students may apply to
- 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
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/
EDUCATIONAL HAPPENINGS:
Kindergarten: Kindergarten students visited Sacred Hearts School on Friday for the district wide fire safety field trip. Students learned about fire safety, saw a fire truck up close, practiced how to stay low in smoke and even met sparky the fire dog! It was a great time and we learned valuable information. Everyone left a junior firefighter!
7th Grade:
SS: Students participated in a role-playing activity that asked them to step into the principal’s shoes. In this activity, there was an incident in the cafeteria, and the principal needed to collect witness statements to determine what happened. Students practiced recognizing bias and applied that same skill to primary sources.
ELA: Students are wrapping up their Characterization or Bust projects by comparing themselves to a character from Unit 1 of StudySync. Ask your student about the character traits they decided to choose for themselves! Next week we start our first Extended Writing Project (EWP)–narrative writing!
8th Grade:
Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up Thursday October 23rd. Please schedule a meeting through our SignUpGenius LINK
Penny Wars is BACK! It starts Friday October 17th and runs through next Friday October 24th. Bins will be out on the third floor at Parent-Teacher Conferences on 10/23. After the controversy of Mr. Schaefer’s final $2 not being acknowledged in the last round, this round is looking to be a BATTLE!
Prizes for this round:
- Fun Friday with hot cocoa and treat (after lunch) for winning homeroom
- iReady pass in Math/ELA for winning homeroom
- iReady pass in EITHER Math or ELA for second place homeroom
On Friday October 24th all 8th graders will be visiting Haverhill High School for a tour of facilities and classes offered to students next year. Buses leave at 9am, so please be sure students are on time to school that day.
In ELA classes, students have started Walking to WIN (What I Need). If you have not yet received the notice sent home by your student’s WIN teacher, please ask them about it. Also sent home was a Student Contract regarding the use of AI in written essays or classwork. This information is to be read and signed by both the student and a parent/guardian, then returned to school.
NEWS FROM OUR NURSES: We have started vision and hearing screening with our lower school students. Next week we will finish 2nd grade and start the 3rd grade screenings. 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 came away with big road wins on Tuesday! The boys won 2-1, with goals from Dom and Charlie. The girls rolled to a 5-0 victory, thanks to goals from Laila, Kendall, Claire, and two from Grace. Their final regular-season game is next Wednesday. Stay tuned for playoff updates!
Practice & Game Schedule: Week of 10/20 – 10/24
Monday 10/20 – Boys Practice 3-430
Tuesday 10/21 – Girls Practice 3-430
Wednesday 10/22 – Game vs. Nettle @ Hunking Girls First
Thursday & Friday OFF
To get the most up-to-date information on schedule changes, click this link to joining the Hunking Soccer 2025 Remind classroom.
Cross Country: Happy Friday Family! Just a friendly reminder that on Monday 10/20/25 for the kiddos next meet:
- We do not have a bus returning to Hunking but will still have transportation to Winnekenni
- Weather is looking questionable; our athletics coordinator will keep us up to date on if we will have to cancel. All updates will be communicated via our XC Remind Class
Remaining meets dates for this season:
(Distance 1.44 miles)
10/20 Monday meet for Gr. 6-8 vs. Haverhill District School
10/28 Tuesday meet for Gr. 6-8 vs Methuen &North Andover
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!
CLUB NEWS:
Guitar Ensemble: We will continue to meet on Friday afternoons from 2:45-3:30. We are making great progress on our performance pieces and look forward to seeing you at the “Gumdrops and Guitars” recital on Friday, December 19th from 3:30-4:30. Please reach out if you have any questions. Mrs. Fairbrother (kfairbrother@haverhill-ps.org)
Chorus: Chorus will be continuing rehearsals of: M/Th Upper School, Tuesday 3rd grade and Friday 4th grade for the month of October. We are busy preparing for our upcoming Winter events: The Christmas Stroll/Tree Lighting on December 5th, and our Winter Concert on December 18th at 6:30pm!
Tri-M: Hunking will be starting its first Official Tri-M chapter this year! Tri-M is an honor society for students in 6-8th grade who participate in music programs. If you are interested in joining Tri-M, our first meeting will be Wednesday Oct 29th from 2:45-3:30pm in Room 127. Please reach out to Ms. Avalos with any questions!
Drama Club: Rehearsals are well underway for Elf Jr. cast members. They must attend rehearsals according to the schedule posted in Google Classroom. Our next rehearsal is scheduled for Monday from 2:45 to 4:45. Cast members listed on pages 28-36 are required to attend rehearsal.
Student Council: Monthly Meeting and Events Schedule can be found here. We add to this schedule as new events or dates are finalized, so please check it often.
The Student Council will be touring the State House in Boston and meeting with Representative Andy Vargas on Wednesday October 29th. Permission slips are available outside of room 301 or to print here. Signed permission slip must be returned to an advisor by October 24th.
Council members are reminded to sign up to sell Halloween Dance tickets during lunch next week and to work during one of the dances on Friday October 24th. The Google Form for sign ups can be found on our Google Classroom.
NJHS: The NJHS calendar can be found here. This past Wednesday we played Gagaball, PlayDoh, and coloring with our Bobcat Buddies. Coming ahead is the bakesale at PTC, decorating the Big Dog 10/24.
Lego Club: Lego Club will begin in November
Model UN: We’re currently looking for a few enthusiastic 6th grade students who are interested in learning about current world issues, strengthening their public speaking and leadership skills, and taking on new challenges to join our Model UN team. Feel free to reach out to Mrs. Seed at kristin.seed@haverhill-ps.org for more information.
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.
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