Haggerty Holler: February 14, 2025

Posted on 02/14/2025

100th Day of School!

On Tuesday, February 11, students in Kindergarten and First Grade celebrated the 100th day of school!! Students engaged in special activities to explore the number 100 and created collections of 100 objects. They found so many ways to represent the number 100!

If you have time over vacation, see if you can make your own collection of 100 objects. Cheerios, beans, crayons… What can you count?

4th Grade Visits the Harvard Natural History Museum

Our fourth grade classrooms took field trips to the Harvard Natural History Museum to explore their many displays. Thank you to all the chaperones and staff for making this educational trip possible!

Attendance Matters

Daily attendance plays a vital role in your child’s educational journey. Attending school regularly is required by Massachusetts law and a critical aspect of academic success and social, emotional, and personal development.

Evidence-based research clearly demonstrates that teacher effectiveness is the strongest school-related indicator of student success, however, chronic absenteeism reduces even the best teacher’s ability to positively impact student growth and achievement. Being chronically absent can have a significant impact on a student's ability to read at grade level, perform academically, and graduate on time.

What is chronic absenteeism?
In Massachusetts, chronically absent is defined as missing at least 10% of days enrolled (18 days absent if enrolled for 180) regardless of whether the absences are considered excused, unexcused, and/or for disciplinary reasons.

Chronic absenteeism is one target Cambridge Public Schools uses to measure the effectiveness of our District Plan’s four objectives and 12 strategic initiatives.

How can you report an absence?
Please call the main number 617-349-6555 x7 to report an absence. We record reasons for absence in Aspen, and it is helpful to send a doctor’s note when your child is sick for more than a couple days.

What if my child is tardy and I get the absence call?
Please call the main office so we can correct Aspen. On occasion when a child is tardy they have already been marked absent and it doesn’t get corrected. Please help us by letting us know.

If your child’s absences represent more than 10% of days enrolled, the District requires us to send you a letter to let you know that your child is considered chronically absent. We also reach out to you to see if we can understand the issues and help resolve the problem.

Library/Tech Corner by Kevin McGonegal and Brianna Mency

Our students are growing up in a digital world, and it's crucial they learn to navigate it safely and responsibly. Currently in our grades 4 and 5 Library/Technology classes with Mr. McGonegal and Ms. Mency, we are focusing on building their digital literacy skills, empowering them to become informed and ethical digital citizens.

What does this mean for your child? It's more than just knowing how to use a computer. Digital literacy encompasses critical thinking about online information, understanding online safety and privacy, and responsible digital communication. We'll be exploring topics like identifying reliable sources, recognizing misinformation, protecting personal information, and understanding the impact of their online actions.

You can support this learning at home! Talk to your child about their online activities. Ask them what they're learning and encourage them to share any concerns they have. Discuss the importance of being kind and respectful online, just as they are in person. Explore age-appropriate online resources together and set clear expectations for screen time and online behavior. We highly recommend the "Connect Safely" website for parents if you would like more information.

By working together, we can help our students develop the skills they need to thrive in the digital age. Stay tuned for more updates and resources throughout the year!

Music Corner from Ms. Susie

Grade 4 music classes will be meeting on a different schedule for the next 8 weeks of swimming. Students will still be able to play recorders for ribbons Tuesday afternoon and Thursdays when we have music classes.

Grades 3 and 4 will participate in our artist-in-residence program with Lamine Touré, Sabar drummer from Senegal. They will have 2 lessons after February vacation and will perform with Lamine for an assembly on March 5, 2025 in the gym, 10-10:45AM. Families and caregivers are invited to attend the assembly.

Coach’s Corner: From the Literacy Coach Suzanne Russell

Looking for more information about the new ELA curriculum?

Please check out this recent CKLA caregiver video. You will hear from Emily Bryan, our ELA department coordinator and several Cambridge educators. As always, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions and or you’d like to know more about the CKLA curriculum.

Eureka!
Our 4th graders are having a BLAST in the Eureka Unit. Eureka, is a reading and writing unit teaching students about the world of inventions! The learning is designed like a game show and students are the contestants in the show. Students earn points by designing inventions, studying about the life of well known inventors and showing collaboration skills in their group work. So far, everyone is earning points and having lots of fun competing.

Below: A student and Ms. Yeh describe the first challenge invention for each group.

These diagrams show students designs from invention #1. Stay tuned to hear how the show ends and to find out if each team earns all of the Eureka points.

Annual Used Book Sale

We will be selling gently used books for both adults and children. We typically have a large selection of children’s books, including board books, pictures books, and early readers.

Hardcovers $2
Paperbacks & board books $1

Proceeds support Friends of Haggerty

Spring cleaning? We will gladly accept your gently used books for our sale! Drop them off in the school lobby during regular school hours on Friday, March 7 & Monday, March 9.

Save the date for Haggerty’s first school-wide Math Game Morning!

Friday, February 28 | 7:45-8:30AM | In your child’s classroom

Visit your child's classroom. Learn math games with your child. You will get materials so that you can play these games at home! Open House Style - stay a few minutes or the whole time.

Come Watch Our 5th Graders! Latin/ Hip Hop Dance

Wednesday, February 26 | 6PM CRLS War Memorial Building (1640 Cambridge Street)

Join the CPS Physical Education department and Star Dance School for a Latin/ Hip Hop dance spectacular starring our CPS 5th graders!

Resources

Food, Nutrition, & Gardening
Starting off February strong is Harvest of the month - Winter Squash!

Norah’s Nutrition Nook:
- Squash as a food group tends to stretch to a lot of items, so let's first discuss what exactly does winter squash look like. Winter squash includes squashes that tend to be more ribbed, have irregular shapes, and vibrant colors, such as butternut, delicata, spaghetti, kabocha, hubbard, acorn, sweet dumpling, and sugar pumpkins.
- Squashes have a rich pigment in color, which is where we find our phytonutrients, including the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. Both carotenoids play a role in eye health, with research showing the reduced risk of developing conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. Both carotenoids have also been associated with improving skin health, such as reducing loss in elasticity and preventing discoloration. Research, however, has shown inconsistent outcomes when these carotenoids are used in a supplement form. For this reason, the best way to benefit from them can be directly from foods!
- Winter squashes are an excellent source of a fan favorite micronutrient here - potassium! 1 cup of cooked acorn squash, for example, contains about 500 mg of potassium. This nutrient is very favorable for normalizing blood pressure levels. It is important to note, however, for those with some kidney or heart conditions, you might want to actually limit potassium intake. If concerned about this, the best option would be to talk to your doctor or dietitian.
- Here are some great recipes to try out some different winter squashes!
  - Cacio e Pepe Acorn Squash
  - Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Butternut Squash

Upcoming Community Events

Register today for Cambridge Wrestling (Preschool - Grade 8)
Sundays starting February 15 | 2:45-4PM | CRLS War Memorial Recreation Center (DOOR 15)
Join us for a 6-week youth wrestling program. Each practice is 90 minutes and available to students from kindergarten to grade 8.
Register online here >>
View flyer >>

Need a new bike? Cambridge Bike Lottery
Cambridge, MA residents can get discount certificate for: pedal bike, e-bike, e-cargo bike, adaptive bike or electric handcycle. Flyer is available here in English, Arabic, Amharic, Bengali, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish. For more information regarding eligibility and application link, please visit the link here.

Try an E-Bike!
Wednesday, February 19 or Saturday, March 1 | CambridgeSide Parking Grag
Curious about e-bikes? Try out various brands and models, including e-cargo bikes! No registration neccessary. Hosted with bike shops participating in the Cambridge Bike Lottery program, Community Pedal power and CambridgeSide. For more information, please view the flyer here.

CRLS Caregivers of Color Listen & Learn Meeting: Caregivers as Partners in Education
Thursday, February 27 | 6:30PM | Zoom
CRLS Caregivers of Color come and connect with the interim Principal. Ask questions, share feedback and discuss you families experiences navigating the high school. Don't miss the chance to have your voice heard! For meeting information, please view the flyer here.

Cambridge Volunteer Fair
Friday, February 14 | 12-1:30PM | Remote on Zoom
Looking for a meaningful connection to your community, a way to explore new interests, or an outlet for your skills? Carve your own path through Cambridge Volunteers’ annual, remote Winter Volunteer Fair, where you select presentations and Q&A sessions from dozens of local agencies about volunteer and board member opportunities. Learn more and register here.

Cambridge Girls Softball League: Spring Season
WGames start in April
Join the team that is right for you! All are welcome - no experience required. Assessment day for new playesr will be Sunday, March 2. For more information and to register, visit CambridgeGirlsSoftball.com. View flyer here >>

ACE Summer Tennis and Writing Program Registration
Multiple Sessions | Foss Park in Somerville, Dugger Park in Medford, Lorentz Park in Cambridge
Play fun and creative games and learn proper tennis technique, lingo and rules. Write about your environment, opinions, each other, the action from the tennis courts, and any other fun thing that comes up. Scholarships are available upon request (no limit). Learn more here >>

DHSP Summer Camps & Programs Lottery now open!
Families can now apply to the city of Cambridge’s Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) Summer Lottery. Apply online from February 3 - March 3 through the Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) Summer Lotter. DHSP offers summer camps and programs to Cambridge children and youth in Kindergarten through 8th grade.

You can choose from sessions between June 30 – August 15 (closed July 4)
Affordable cost based on family size and income. Free for 13-year-olds!

Go to www.cambridgema.gov/SummerCamps for more information about the programs, the lottery process, and the application link. View the flyer here.

Empower Your Digital Journey: Free Help From Digital Navigators

Digital Navigators provide one-on-one support to help you access the Internet, set up devices, and use online services effectively. Our mission is to bridge the digital divide in our community.

You can receive a free laptop if: you live in Cambridge, are low-income, and looking for a job or career development classes. You can receive free internet hotspot if: all of the above AND you don’t have internet access at home. Learn more about the program here.

Ready to get started? Call us today and start your digital journey! When calling in, please be sure to state your name and city you live in.

Call 888.551.2167.
massdigitaljedi.org
[email protected]

Accessing Screening Reports in ParentSquare

Grade K - 2 families will receive mClass (English Language Arts) and Forefront (Math) screener reports and Grade 3-8 families will receive iReady screener reports through ParentSquare the week of February 10. An active ParentSquare account is needed to view reports sent through ParentSquare.

Need to register for ParentSquare? Check out our resources:
How to Get Started (አማርኛ | عربي | বাংলা | Kreyòl Ayisyen | Español)

How to Access Reports in ParentSquare (Mobile Application):

On the bottom section of the page, select Alerts.
Select the document you want to view and click View Document. Secure document notices are marked by a page with a lock icon.*

How to Access Reports in ParentSquare (Website):

From the Home page, select Alerts and Notices on the left, then select the Document tab.
Locate the document you want to view and click View Document to open the file.*

*Families must sign in again to verify their identity before viewing the document.

Cambridge Healthy Smiles

February is National Children's Dental Health Month

Superhero Tooth Coloring Page