Haggerty Holler: April 4, 2025

Posted on 04/04/2025

4th Grade Went to the Symphony!

The fourth grade was treated to a fine performance by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The players wore different colored t-shirts to demonstrate their specific instrument group, e.g. string players had blue shirts. The goal of attending the concert was to give the students an idea of the different instrumental sounds to better inform their choices of instrumental study in 5th grade. Thomas Wilkins spoke before each selection about how the members of the symphony orchestra have to work together to create their sound. The most amazing sound was the huge crash of the very first note of the concert! Everyone’s attention was drawn to the stage.

Families may enjoy listening to this YouTube clip from the 2013 World Series baseball game.

We would like to thank the Friends of Haggerty for making this trip possible by funding concert tickets and school bus transportation for our entire fourth grade!

Coach's Corner

Remember to Save the Date!!
Virtual Caregiver Math Workshop - April 29 | 7-8PM

You may have heard your child talking about Jiji the penguin or ST Math. This is a math learning and practice program that is available to Cambridge students K-5. ST Math will be doing an online family education program for the Haggerty Community on Tuesday, April 29 at 7PM. This will be an interactive opportunity to learn more about ST Math! You can join using this zoom link.

Literacy Corner

ELA News
From Suzanne Russell Literacy Coach & Brianna Mency Librarian

It’s coming, Haggerty Character Day is April 11th. Please talk with your child to see if they would like to participate in the annual Haggerty Character Costume Parade. Your child does not have to dress up, it is not required. Students are invited to dress as their favorite book characters but they can also participate by carrying their favorite book in the parade. There will be many reading activities throughout the day and an all school assembly to show our school wide love for books and reading. If you have any questions or would like to know more about Character Day, please contact Lissa, Suzanne or Brianna.

Architects Visit Kindergarten

As part of the Kindergarten Focus On K curriculum, our kindergarten students are studying a Construction Unit. “The Construction unit invites children to make connections in physical science, engineering, and technology through the building of structures, measurement and comparison, and experimentation with materials. It engages children in a design process that involves imagining and being inspired, asking questions, researching, planning, creating, and improving their models. This process supports the construction of physical structures as well as the building of ideas and creation of works of art.” (excerpt from Focus on K curriculum overview)

Additionally, architects from the field, including one of our Haggerty caregivers, shared presentations in our K classrooms. Students loved designing and building with shapes that create both strong and interesting buildings and homes.

Music Corner

Our April Musician of the Month is...
Black Violin

Black Violin is composed of Kev Marcus and Wil B, friends from Dillard High School of Performing Arts in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Wil B plays viola and Kev Marcus plays violin. Both are classically trained musicians who fuse classical and hip-hop music. Black Violin has been nominated twice for Grammy Awards.

Kev Marcus and Wil B are composers, performers, and philanthropists. They founded the Black Violin Foundation, which reaches over 100,000 students in Florida. They were on CBS This Morning, where you can learn more about their story. Be sure to listen to Black Violin for a new take on what violin and viola can do!

Listen to our Musician of the Month Spotify playlist here – or scan QR code!

PE Corner

Fourth Graders Finish Swimming Unit!
By Mr. Burgess

The fourth graders just recently completed the swimming program at CRLS War Memorial Pool. They all did a great job and progressed tremendously over the eight week program. I hope they all continue to swim this summer and use some of the swimming and lifesaving they have learned this year. A huge shout out goes out to the swim staff at the war memorial pool as well as Grace; Emily and Jess for coming and supporting our students.

Second Grade Goes Ice Skating!

On Tuesday, March 18th our second graders took a field trip to the Simoni Ice Rink. Students laced up ice skates and put on helmets, and either learned how to ice skate or honed their skills. They had a blast! Thanks to all of our second grade staff and to Coach Materazzo for this wonderful team building and learning opportunity!

Library Tech Corner
By Kevin McGonegal and Brianna Mency

In Library Tech, our fourth and fifth grade students are utilizing their newly-honed digital literacy skills to create an "Evil App!" Students are designing an imaginary mobile phone "app" that employs addictive design, financial manipulation, user tracking, advertising, and algorithms. These techniques are used in virtually all modern social media apps, and they aim to encourage users to engage with the app as much as possible while generating the maximum amount of advertising revenue! The "Evil App" is enabling students to recognize that all media is crafted by individuals who carry a specific point of view and purpose (to inform, persuade, or entertain). Our students are truly enjoying the app creation process while learning how to become active, critical consumers of media, and reflecting on their own media usage.

Friends of Haggerty

Thanks to everyone who supported our recent fundraiser at FlatBread Pizza! A portion of the proceeds from the restaurant on Tuesday, March 25th benefited our very own Friends of Haggerty! It’s appreciated and it all helps to benefit our students and community!

Haggerty Annual Talent Show!

Wednesday, April 16th | 6:30-7:30PM
Russell Youth Center

3rd, 4th and 5th graders can sign up here to sign up as performers or hosts!

Tryouts
Monday, April 7th | 2:15 - 3:45PM at Haggerty

Rehearsals
Thursday, April 10, Monday, April 14, and Tuesday, April 15th | 2:15-3:45PM at the Russell Youth Center

Resources

Food, Nutrition & Gardening

Norah’s Nutrition Nook:
– We’ve talked about the potassium richness of potatoes in the past (1 medium potato is almost 1000mg!), but another nutrient found in high quantities in potatoes is vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). With potatoes containing almost 25% of the RDI (Reference Daily Intake), pyridoxine plays a big role in our neurotransmitters' health and immune system.
– Like whole grains, whole potatoes are a form of complex carbohydrates. This means they are rich in fiber and do not digest quickly in our systems. Increasing consumption of complex carbohydrates has been shown to support a wide variety of health outcomes, including diabetes management, chronic disease prevention, and improved digestive health.
– Here are some great recipes to try out with potatoes!

Mind, Movement & More

April is National Stress Awareness Month. With the time we are living in, it can be hard to avoid external stressors. See the attachment for ways the American Heart Association recommends managing stress. Fun note - Research has shown walking to be a supportive measure in managing stress by lowering heart rate and blood pressure, as well as releasing our mood-boosting endorphins. Take a break during the work day today for a quick 5-10 minute walk!
Tuesdays 10-11:30AM, 4/8-6/10 - Join Center for Families Drop-In Spring Playgroup! Families with children 15 months-4 years old are welcome to join other families in fun activities. See below for details.

Upcoming Community Events
See full list of events & programs >>

Cambridge Community Seder (Heavy Nosh Included!)

Wednesday, April 9 | 5:30-7PM | CRLS Media Cafe, 459 Broadway St.

Register for the Cambridge Public School District’s Community Passover Seder! Jewish educators, students, and families invite the whole CPSD community to our second annual Community Passover Seder. A seder is a ritual meal that is part of the celebration of Passover, an important Jewish holiday in the spring. We welcome all members of the CPSD community who are interested in learning about this tradition to join us. Registration is required, and attendance is limited. View the flyer here.

Haitian Affinity Group Meeting

Wednesday, April 16 | 6:30-8PM | Zoom (Link will be sent on the day of the meeting.)

Building the relation between student, family and school. Topic: How to actively participate in your child’s school

To get the Zoom link, please register at the link here and for more information, please view the flyer here available in English and Haitian Creole.

Cambridge CityRun 5k

April 6 | Registration opens at 7:30AM, Race starts at 9AM | Fresh Pond Reservation

The 37th Annual FOCA Cambridge CityRun/Walk 5k is on Sunday, April 6th at 9AM. The CityRun/Walk raises money for Friends of Cambridge Athletics (FOCA) and the Andrea Harvey Memorial Fund (AHMF) . Please join us for a fun morning at Fresh Pond! Run/Walk the race! CPS students run for free and adults for $35. Sign up here or by using the QR code on the flyer here.

Her Story: Voices of Leadership & Inspiration - Women’s History Month Celebration & Story Slam

Wednesday, April 23 | 6-7:30PM (Light refreshments 5:30-6PM) | Sullivan Chamber, Cambridge City Hall

Come join Mayor E. Denise Simmons and share light refreshments and community as we hear from the journeys of Women Leaders. For more information, please view the flyer here .

26th Annual Cambridge Public Library Poetry Contest

For K-8 students who live or go to school in Cambridge

Submit your original poems by Wednesday, April 30!

See flyer for details .

Community Thrift Shop: Shop for Free
Saturday, April 5 | 11AM-2PM | Community Art Center Gym, 119 Windsor St.

See flyer here.

If “Stranger Danger” is Myth, then What?

April 28 | 6PM | Cambridge Public Library - 449 Broadway (Lecture Hall)

Building a safe a resilient Cambridge. Come learn from Meg Stone & CRLS youth leaders! See flyer for details & registration.

Girl Scout Try-It Event (Preschool - Kindergarten)

Monday, May 19 | 5:30-6:30PM | First Church, 11 Graden St., Cambridge, MA

Now’s the perfect time to start your Girl Scout joruney. Get rady to go on epic adventures, try new things, and have a blast! Discover a world of excitement with your Girl Scout friends by your side. Start your Girl Scout journey at a FREE Try-It Event for preschool and & kindergarten. Bring your grown-up(s) along! Please RSVP online here . For more information, please view the flyer here.

KidsBuild!

Saturday, April 12 & Sunday, April 13

Taking place each April, KidsBuild! offers young designers the opportunity to share their ideas as they explore the possibilities of architecture, planning, design, and construction. Entering its 33nd year of operation, and 12th year hosted at the BSA, KidsBuild! provides a space for designers of all ages to be a part of making and creating.

See flyer. Register here.

Snack of the Week