Bionic Project
On Thursday,
December 19th, the Bionic Project came back to visit the Haggerty School. The Bionic Project first visited Haggerty last year, and we were excited to have them back!
From the Bionic Project website: The Bionic Project aims to create a more inclusive world for everyone, regardless of physical ability. We dismantle disability bias, build empathy, and foster connection through education, story and sport. The Bionic Project accomplishes this by introducing students to elite athletes with physical disabilities.
The Haggerty students were introduced to two elite soccer players, both of whom only had one leg. Through two assemblies, one for grades preschool - grade 2 and one for grades 3-5, they presented a greater understanding of disabilities
by learning the athletes personal stories. They also discussed how our world is set up for people without disabilities, as well as a bit about how to counteract this through Universal Design - which works from the perspective of what
would work for all people. For example, why not build with just ramps, which would work for both walkers and wheelchairs. Do we really need stairs? Grades 2 - 5 homerooms had a second chance to come back individually and experience
using only one leg on crutches to play soccer. The students were asked to think about how to be an ally to people with disabilities.
Lantern Making - Light up the night

On
Wednesday, December 18th, we had our annual lantern making family event. Right around the time of the Winter Solstice, we come together to create lanterns to bring some light to the dark days of December. The students are always so
creative in their designs, and this year the weather was mild so we got to test them outside without being too cold. Thanks to Friends of Haggerty for this fun annual event!
SAVE THE DATE for our SPAGHETTI DINNER!

Thursday, February 13 | 6-7:30PM | Haggerty School
Don't feel like cooking? Bring your family to the Haggerty School Spaghetti Dinner. $5 per person/$20 per family (spaghetti, meatballs, salad, and dessert).
Proceeds from this dinner go to help fund the 5th grade overnight field trip to Outdoor Classroom in Great Barrington, MA. It is open to the whole school community! There will be great raffle prizes that go on sale the week before the dinner. Win Principal for the Day! And many, many more great prizes! A list of raffle prizes will be sent home in backpack express.
MCAS
We know it's a little bit early to begin thinking about this, however, we wanted to put out the dates for both ELA and Math MCAS for grades 3-5 as soon as possible. We are aware that Doctor’s appointments and such come up during
the school year so hopefully knowing the dates ahead of time, will help toward planning, and there are no conflicts. Please see below:
MCAS Schedule 2025
MCAS ELA: March 24-April 18
MCAS Math: April 28-May 23
MCAS STE: April 28-May 23 (5th grades only)
Date |
Grade |
Test |
April 1 |
4th Grade |
ELA |
April 3 |
5th Grade |
ELA |
April 4 |
4th Grade |
ELA (Note change of date) |
April 8 |
5th Grade |
ELA |
April 9-10 |
3rd Grade |
ELA |
April 15-17 |
3rd - 5th Grade |
ELA Make-up |
May 6-7 |
3rd Grade |
Math |
May 8-9 |
5th Grade |
Math |
May 13-14 |
5th Grade |
Science |
May 15-16 |
4th Grade |
Math |
May 19-22 |
3rd - 5th Grade |
Make-up |
Volunteers in the Cafeteria still needed
Can you help us in the Cafeteria during lunch? Here’s the volunteer form to complete.
Fill out the School Cafeteria Volunteering Form here >>
Coach’s Corner
Save the Date! On Friday, February 28, 7:45-8:30AM, Haggerty will have a school-wide Math Game Morning. Come to your child’s classroom and learn some of the games they play to learn math.
You can play these games with them at home, too. Games are a great way to learn math facts and develop strategic thinking.
Music Corner
Our December Musician of the Month, Sheku Kanneh-Mason,
is a British cellist who comes from a large family of musicians. All 6 of his siblings play piano, cello, or violin, and they often play together. (Search YouTube for their performance on Britain’s Got Talent, or their family
recording of Carnival of the Animals.) Sheku started playing cello at age 6, graduated from London’s Royal Academy of Music, and was the first Black musician to win the BBC Young Musician Award (2016). He often plays with his
pianist sister Isata. Kanneh-Mason played the Elgar cello concerto at Boston’s Symphony Hall and Ms. Susie was in attendance!
Listen to our Musician of the Month Spotify playlist at spoti.fi/4dXVbRu.
Library Corner
Massachusetts Children's Book Award Nominee Books
Exciting news for our young readers! The Massachusetts Children's Book Award nominee books have started
to arrive and are now available for checkout for students in grades 4 and 5. This year's selection promises to captivate and inspire with a variety of compelling narratives and themes.
We have been discussing these books in the grade 4-5 Haggerty Reader book club, but they are available for all students in grades 4-5 to read. Encouraging students to explore these nominated books is a wonderful opportunity to broaden
their literary horizons and engage with stories that have been recognized for their quality and appeal. Whether students are looking for adventure, mystery, or heartwarming tales, there is sure to be something for everyone in this
collection.
Haggerty Readers Book Club
The Haggerty Readers Book Clubs are flourishing with remarkable enthusiasm. Each club has consistently drawn a strong turnout, with attendance
varying between 18 to 25 students at each meeting. The second-grade book club is finishing up the Hat Series by Jon Klassen, while the third-grade group is delving into social-emotional learning books like I'm Sorry You Got Mad
by Kyle Lukoff. At the same time, the fourth and fifth graders are actively reading and discussing the nominees for the MCBA.
The upcoming book club meetings are scheduled as follows:
- January 27 for Grade 3
- January 29 for Grades 2 and 4-5
- February 10 for Grade 3
- February 12 for Grades 2 and 4-5
Friends of Haggerty: Winter Appeal - Thank you!
WE DID IT! Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Friends of Haggerty Winter Appeal.
With your support we were able to raise over $3600. We look forward to using that money to support the Spring Activities at Haggerty like STEAM Night and Haggerty Day among many others.
If you did not get to contribute, don't worry you still can help. Donate books to the upcoming used book sale (see below), look out for our Flatbread Pizza fundraiser in March, or gather up those old clothes and drop them in the
blue bins.
Or if you are more eager to volunteer at one of our events or join Friends of Haggerty we would love to have your help. Contact Darl Packard, FOH Chairperson: [email protected] or
any of the FOH leaders if you are interested.
And of course the Paypal donation link is still available if you want to get a jump on contributing for this year:
Donate here >>
Thank you again for being the supportive community that you are!
Annual Used Book Sale Coming Back!
The Haggerty Annual Used Book Sale is coming back in 2025! Our last book sale was in 2019, so we realized not many of you remember it. We wanted to share a broad overview so we can get ready for it!
Haggerty Community Members (that's you!) donate their gently used children and adult books to our school, and it becomes a book give-away/sale. Every classroom will pick a time to visit the sale and each student in the building will
get to pick 2 books for free. If students or caregivers would like to buy more books, they can come on a sale day before or after school. Children's Books are $1 and Adult/Hardcover books are $2.
Where: Haggerty School Main Lobby
When:
- Drop off Gently Used Books | Friday, March 7 and Monday, March 9
- Sorting of Books | Friday, March 7, Monday, March 9 and Tuesday, March 10
- Student/Family Book Sale Days | Wednesday, March 12 - Friday, March 14
Who Donates Books: Haggerty Community members!
When is the Sale Open? Wednesday, March 12 - Friday, March 14 | 7:15AM - 2:30PM
How much are Books? Children's Books are $1 and Adult & Hardcover books are $2. Who Benefits? Our Haggerty Students/Staff and Friends of Haggerty!
What do we need from you now? Please look through your book collections, with your children, and see which books you are ready to give away. We'd love to take your gently used books! Please
save them for the sale! If you need to get them out of your home before March, please contact Lissa.
Also we will need a bunch of volunteers from March 7 - March 14th. Please save the date if volunteering is an option for you!
Stay tuned for more details!
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.
Resources
Food, Nutrition, & Gardening
- To start the month off strong, we have Harvest of the Month - Apples!
- Norah’s Nutrition Nook:
- Apples are rich in fiber, both soluble and insoluble! As we've seen in other plant-based foods, fiber can lead to multiple beneficial outcomes for our health, including 1) supporting gut microbiome, 2) increasing satiety,
3) lowering cholesterol, and 4) improving bowel regularity. One medium apple contains approximately 5 grams of fiber!
- Apples are also rich in quercetin, an antioxidant that not only supports immune function, but can also help reduce inflammation. Some studies show that eating apples can support lowering c-reactive proteins in the blood, which
is a marker of inflammation.
- See ways to have apples for breakfast and for a snack below!
Upcoming Community Events
Riverside Community Care: Caring for the Caregiver: Building Resilience for Life’s Challenges
Thursday, January 30 | 5-6:30 PM | Riverside Community Care / Virtual Option: Available via Zoom
We
are excited to invite you to an empowering and uplifting event, "Caring for the Caregiver: Building Resilience for Life's Challenges," presented by Julie McGrath, LICSW. Register today for the Zoom link here. For those attending in person, please RSVP to: [email protected].
Cambridge MLK Day of Service and Learning
Monday, January 20 | 2 - 5PM | Central Square Church (5 Magazine Street)
Join Many Helping Hands,
My Brother’s Keeper, and other community groups for the 15th annual MLK Day of Service and Learning! Volunteer in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy of service. Learn more and register here.
16th Annual Cambridge Soccer Clinic
July 14-17 | Full-Day and Half-Day programs available | Russell Field, Cambridge
Tomorrow’s Stars Soccer
Clinic focuses on youth development, providing personalized attention to enhance player fundamentals and build confidence. Our goal is to help players improve their skills, decision-making, and performance under pressure. For more
details and registration, please visit starsbb.com.
Science Club for Girls: Spring 2025
Science Club for Girls: We’re thrilled to announce that applications for Spring 2025 Science Clubs are now
open! Science Club for Girls offers free, hands-on STEM programs for girls and gender-expansive youth in grades K-8. Virtual participants will receive free supply kits before the program begins. Please note: Space is limited, so apply
early to secure your spot! Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration does not guarantee acceptance. We’ll notify you about availability as soon as possible.
Apply here >>
New School of Music: Sign Up Today!
From January 21 through February 8, NSM opens our doors to YOU! Join us and experience free group classes for all ages, from babies
to adults. Sign up for a class (or two!) and meet some of your music-loving neighbors. Please be sure to complete the sign-up form (so we can be ready with instruments and materials). We can’t wait to meet you and welcome you
to the NSM community.
Learn more & sign up here >>
Belmont World Film’s 22nd Annual Family Film Festival
January 18 - January 26 | Multiple times & locations
Belmont World Film’s 22nd Family Festival is a celebration of some of the world’s most imaginative films for and about children, brought to life on the big screen as a shared experience for children aged 3-12 and their
families. More than half the selections are adapted or re-imagined from literature, and almost all are North American premieres.
Learn more 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]
Cambridge Healthy Smiles
Snack of the Week
In Our District and Community

Visit Find It Cambridge for lots of great resources!
You can also call/text 617.686.2998 or email Andrew for help.
See a curated list of programs, events, and resources within our district & community! See list >>
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Upcoming Haggerty Events
No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Monday, January 20
Spaghetti Dinner, 5th Grade Fundraiser
Thursday, February 13
No School, February Break
Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21
Caregiver Math Games Friday, February 28 | 7:45 AM | Classroom School-wide
Haggerty Used Book Sale
March 12-14 | School Lobby
View full calendar >>
View district calendar >>
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