Haggerty Holler: March 21, 2025

Posted on 03/21/2025

Haggerty Used Book Fair

Thanks to everyone who donated books, volunteered, and bought books! The return of the Haggerty Used Book Fair was a huge success! Every student was able to pick out 3 free books! And we were able to sell some too. The variety and quantity of books was impressive. Thanks to Friends of Haggerty for helping to spear-head this event! And thanks to the entire community for supporting it!

Haggerty Talent Show (Open to Grades 3-5 Students)

Talent Show Tryouts
Monday, April 7 | 2:15 - 3:45PM | Haggerty School

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

Talent Show at Russell Youth Center
Wednesday, April 16 | 6:30 - 7:30PM | Russell Youth Center

Fundraiser for Haggerty

Tuesday, March 25 | 4-10PM | American Flatbread, 45 Day St., Davis Sq. Somerville

American Flatbread will donate money for every flatbread pizza that is sold - for eat in, takeout and delivery!! If you call to order (617.776.0552), please mention the fundraiser.

For pickup or delivery, please make sure to use the link here.

All proceeds will benefit Friends of Haggerty.

For more information, please view the flyer here.

Library Corner

Springtime is here! While you are spring cleaning, please keep an eye out for any books that may be hiding away. It's essential for everyone in our school community to have the opportunity to read and explore our diverse library collection. By returning books, you help guarantee that all students can delve into the library's offerings, discovering new reads or revisiting beloved classics.

If you have any questions about when your child visits the library or if they have any overdue books, please feel free to reach out to me via email at [email protected]. Thank you for helping me maintain a welcoming and resourceful library environment for everyone.

Literacy Coach by Suzanne Russell

Book Character Day is BACK!
It’s official - Book Character Day is April 11th. All Haggerty students and staff are invited to dress as their favorite book character for a fun-filled literacy day. Character Day includes a Character Parade; all staff and students will walk together in a whole school parade to share our love for reading and to show our creativity in creating costumes that look like our favorite characters. If you would like your child to participate but aren’t sure what to prepare, reach out to Lissa, Suzanne or Brianna. We have props and ideas to share with both students and staff. Details to come about the parade time and location.

STARLAB visits the Haggerty
On March 10, Students in grades 1, 3 and 5 visited STARLAB. STARLAB is a portable planetarium owned by our Science department. Inside the inflatable planetarium the night sky is projected. Stars and familiar constellations can be seen along with the milky way. Susan Agger, a teacher from the district Science team visited Haggerty for 45 minute presentations and Q & A sessions.

As part of the CKLA and Science curriculum, students are learning about our Solar System. In grade 1, students learn about the 8 planets and explore the causes of day and night. In grade 3, students learn more about the planets, now understanding that there are 4 inner and 4 outer planets. Also in grade 3, students learn about the sun as a star and as the earth’s source of heat and energy. In grade 5, as part of Science, students learn about the cause of the 4 seasons and the earth’s orbit around the sun. Our CKLA curriculum “spirals,” meaning that our students learn similar topics throughout their elementary years. By the time our students reach 5th grade they will be space experts. Be sure to ask your 1st, 3rd or 5th grader about their visit to the STAR LAB.

The students loved being inside the STARLAB planetarium. They asked interesting questions and many of the kids shared their own knowledge about stars and constellations.

MCAS dates for Grades 3-5

	3rd Grade	4th Grade	5th Grade
ELA	April 9 & 10	April 2 & 4	April 3 & 8
ELA Make-up	April 15 - 17	April 15 - 17	April 15 - 17
Math	May 6 & 7	May 15 & 16	May 8 & 9
Science	n/a	n/a	May 13 & 14
Math & Science Make-up	May 19 - 22	May 19 - 22	May 19 - 22

Math Corner by Nili Pearlmutter

Another math Save the Date: ST Math Online Family Education Program!
Tuesday, April 29 | 7-8PM | Online
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. In ST Math, students figure out how to solve puzzles and problems that build their math knowledge and skills.

ST Math will be doing an online family education program for the Haggerty Community on Tuesday, April 29, 7-8PM. More information coming soon!

Math Curriculum Information
Make sure you check out the “Family Support Hub” for our K-5 math curriculum! There is general information on the top. Scroll down and click on your child’s grade to learn more about the content of that grade level. There are information pages and videos for each unit. The information pages are available in many languages besides English: Albanian, Arabic, Chinese, Khmer, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Grade	Current Unit
Kindergarten	Unit 5: Composing and Decomposing Numbers to 10
First Grade	Unit 5: Adding Within 100
Second Grade	Unit 6: Geometry, Time and Money
Third Grade	Unit 5: Fractions as Numbers
Fourth Grade	Unit 6: Multiplying and Dividing Multi-digit Numbers
Fifth Grade	Unit 6: More Decimal and Fraction Operations

Music Corner

Our March Musician of the Month is The String Queens.

Based in Washington D.C., The String Queens are teachers by day, performers by night. Kendall Isadore, hailing from Houston, is the violinist of the group. Élise Sharp, cellist, is native to Washington D.C., and Dawn Johnson, violist, is from Miami, Florida.

From their website, thestringqueens.com, “notable appearances include a special performance dedicated to Vice President Kamala Harris at the “We Are One” Presidential Inauguration Concert in January 2021 and rendering a spotlight presentation of TSQ’s electrifying arrangement of Harry Styles’s hit song “Golden” for the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament “The Championships, Wimbledon” in June 2021.”

Listen to our Musician of the Month Spotify playlist at spoti.fi/4dXVbRu.

PE Corner

Latin/Hip Hop Dance Showcase! By PE Teacher John BurgessThe fifth graders at the Haggerty recently finished up their Latin/Hip Hop Dance unit where they all did a fantastic job. This was followed by a performance at the end of February in front of family and friends at C.R.L.S. with other fifth graders who had recently also completed the unit. The Haggerty students were great and deserve a lot of credit for the performance and doing an exceptional job throughout the unit.

Resources

Food, Nutrition, & Gardening

This week’s theme for National Nutrition Month is Explore the Connection Between Food and Culture! For many around the world, food plays a huge role in identity and culture. Some foods hold significance beyond nourishment, some have deep roots of heritage in regional beginnings of some cultures, and some evolve to be a blend of multiple cultures and household traditions. In Cambridge, our community includes several different cultural backgrounds. In honor of our community and NNM, here are some breakfasts our families of Cambridge might be enjoying:
- Fava bean stew (Ful Medamas) with fresh and pickled vegetables
- Shredded flatbread (Fit-Fit) with plain yogurt
- Rice porridge (congee) with chicken and mushrooms
- Cornmeal with spinach (Mais Moulin Ak Zepina)
- Open-faced sandwich with beans, cheese, tomatoes, and egg (Molletes)
- Cornmeal cake (Bolo de Fuba) with fresh fruit
- Potato curry (Aloo Dum)
- Whole wheat pancakes with berries and milk

Mind, Movement, & More

Cambridge Public Library Events
- Wellness for Older Adults: Zumba | March 21 | 9:15-10AM | Main Branch
  Note, registration is required for this in person event.
- Froca Fitness | March 25 | 6:30-7:30PM | Central Square Branch
  Registration is also required for this in person event.

Upcoming Community Events

CPS Home-based Early Education Program
Runs October - June
This free program provides a home visitor who can visit your home for one-hour every week to explore books, educational materials, and play-based learning with your child. Open to Cambridge families with children aged 18 months - 4 years The Home-Based Early Childhood Program is a partnership between Cambridge Public Schools and the ParentChild+ National Program. Our program runs from October to June. Enrollment is ongoing on a first come, first served basis. Parents are a child’s first & most important teachers! Questions? Contact [email protected]. Please inquire through the form here and view the flyer here for more information.

Need a new bike? Apply to the Cambridge Bike Lottery from now to March 30, 2025
The Cambridge Community Development Department (CDD) invites income-eligible Cambridge residents to apply for the Resident Bike Lottery Program from Monday, March 10, to Sunday, March 30, 2025.

Who Can Apply: Cambridge residents can apply for a voucher to buy a new bicycle from a participating bike shop.
Count Me In, How Does It Work: Applicants can choose to apply for a voucher for a pedal bike (up to $800), an electric bike (up to $2,000), or an electric cargo bike (up to $3,000).
Inclusion for All: Residents with a chronic disability can apply for a customized adaptive bicycle or electric wheelchair attachment (up to $3,000).
And You Get A Bike: This program is expected to provide 200-250 residents with new bikes.
Along with a bicycle voucher, residents will also receive a $150 voucher for bike accessories such as helmets, lights, locks, and fenders and a $100 voucher for maintenance. Please share this with family and friends who may be eligible to apply and consider offering application support if needed.

Click here for more information about this program and the link to apply. Flyer is available here in English, Arabic, Amharic, Bengali, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish. Questions about this program can be sent to [email protected].

Kids Court by the North Cambridge Family Opera
Wednesday, February 19 or Saturday, March 1 | CambridgeSide Parking Grag
Purchase tickets now for our reprise of our 2015 opera, Kids Court with music by Cambridge's own David Bass and libretto by renowned BBC comedy writer John Kane. Kids Court features a large intergenerational cast, delightful music, and clever lyrics (projected so you don't miss a word) that will entertain ALL ages. Available showings:

Saturday, March 29 | 3PM / 7PM
Sunday, March 30 | 1PM / 5PM
Saturday, April 5 | 3PM / 7PM
Sunday, April 6 | 1PM / 5PM

You can reserve a seat in advance by buying tickets ($7 for kids, $15 for adults). Or you may donate any amount at the door. For more information, see www.familyopera.org or view the flyer here.

Amazing Archaeology Fair at Harvard (Free)
Sunday, April 6 | 1 – 4PM | Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge
Venture on archaeological expeditions around the world in this annual event for all ages. Talk with archaeologists who study ancient Egyptians, Incas, prehistoric peoples, and others. Try ancient cuneiform writing and use an app that animates detailed wall art in Assyrian palaces. Discover cave art made by Neanderthals and other early humans, and learn how mummies’ names reveal secrets of Egyptian “tomb recycling.” Discover these and other surprises during this popular event. For more information on this event, please visit the Harvard Museum of Science & Culture website.

Pre-Planning for a Mental Health Crisis: The Road to Readiness Workshop
Monday, April 7 | 8 - 9:30PM | Virtual on Zoom
Have you thought about what you will do if your child needs to be screened for hospitalization due to unsafe behaviors or thoughts? What are your options and how will you plan in advance? Do you have a plan that is shared with friends, family, and/ or emergency first responders? Taking the time in a non-crisis situation can help make a difficult situation less stressful. This workshop is designed to give families a step-by-step guide with tools, resources and strategies in order to be well-prepared for a mental health crisis involving their children. Please register online here in advance for the link. For more information, please view the flyer here available in English and Spanish.

BSO Sensory-Friendly Concert: “Sounding Together: An Exploration of Courage, Caution, and Kindness”
Saturday, March 22 | 10AM (Doors Open at 9AM with Pre-Concert Activities 9-10AM) | Symphony Hall
This concert welcomes people of all ages with autism or sensory sensitivity and their families. Modifications include:

Reduced volume and lighting
Extra space for movement (reduced ticket sales)
Noise-reduction headphones available
Designated quiet room
On-site autism therapist support

Tickets are available for purchase online here.

Family Day at the Harvard Art Museums
Saturday, March 29 | 1- 4PM | Harvard Art Museums
Please join us for an afternoon of family-friendly activities open to all ages. Explore the museums with scavenger hunts and sketchbooks; use your eyes, mind, and imagination to engage deeply with works on view; make art together in our drop-in family workshops; and create cardboard sculptures in the Materials Lab makerspace inspired by Louise Nevelson’s Total Totality II. For more information on the event, including a schedule of drop-in events, please visit the Harvard Art Museums website.

MIT Camp Kesem
Session 1: August 12-17; Session 2: August 19-24 | Camp Watitoh, Becket, MA
FREE week-long summer camp for kids ages 6-18 whose parent(s) have been affected by cancer. Campers have fun while also connecting with others going through similar situations. In addition to the one-week summer program, Camp Kesem provides year-round support to all campers through reunions and other activities. Please register here and for more information, please view the flyer here.

Register for the Cambridge Youth Soccer Spring Season 2025
Saturday, March 29 | 1- 4PM | Harvard Art Museums
Space is still available for the spring season starting April 5. Financial aid available at any level - request form is part of the registration process. For more information regardings our programs and registration, please visit the Cambridge Youth Soccer website.

Program for 1st and 2nd Grade Girls Information Session
Wednesday, March 26 | 7PM | Virtual
Learn about our Saturday morning program for 1st and 2nd grade girls CYS representatives will be hosting the meeting for any parents who want to learn more about our fantastic program. For more information, please view the flyer here. Join the meeting here.

“In the Midst: The Grace of the Black Church” A Panel Discussion
Tuesday, March 25 | 6PM (Light refreshments 5:30-6PM) | Sullivan Chamber, Cambridge City Hall
The Black Church names myriad places, but it also names an idea and paradigm of endurance, renewal, liberation, and grassroots community organizing. At historic St. Augustine’s African Orthodox Church, we’ll learn from our panelists about the places and the ideas that define the ongoing grace of the Black churches in our midst. We hope you will join us for this fascinating and inclusive conversation! For more information, please visit the event page here.

Her Story: Voices of Leadership & Inspiration - Women’s History Month Celebration & Story Slam
Thursday, March 27 | 6-7:30PM | Zoom
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.

Young Artists Exhibition Preschool - Grade 8 Art Exhibit
Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Friday, April 1-28 | 10AM - 6PM | Multicultural Arts Center
The Multicultural Arts Center welcomes back the talented students of the Cambridge Public Schools in their Young Artists exhibition. For more information, please view the flyer here.

Preschool - Grade 8 Art Exhibit Opening Reception
Thursday, April 3 | 5 - 7PM | Multicultural Arts Center

Learn to Sew! A Workshop for Teens, Taught by Teens
Wednesday, April 2 | 3-5PM | The Hive, Main Library, 449 Broadway
Don’t think you have what it takes to use a sewing machine? Think again! In this FREE workshop, teens from the Cambridge Community Art Center will teach you how to properly thread a machine, sew a straight stitch, hem and unfinished edge, and secure your stitches. No experience necessary. Sign up for your 30-minute slot now! For more information, please visit the event page here or view the flyer here.

Teen Thrift: Shop for Free
Friday, April 4 | 4-7PM | Community Art Center Gym, 119 Windsor St
Shop for free at Teen Thrift. Enjoy free pizza, airbrush tutorials, sewing tutorials, and music. For more information, please view the flyer here.

[Port] Arts Fest
Saturday, May 17 (Rain Date: May 18) | 10AM - 6PM | 119 Windsor Street
Port Arts Festival is an annual community-wide event celebrating the vibrancy of the Port community and of the families and neighbors who live here. Join us for live music, dancing, mural painting, an art market, food trucks, games and activities for kids! Festivities will take place on Windsor St. between Harvard St. and School St. This event is free and open to the public! For more information, please visit the website here or view the flyer here.

Cambridge-Somerville Asian Festival
May 24 | 11AM - 3PM | Cambridge Street Upper School
For more information, please visit the website or view the flyer here.

Message from ICTS: Beware Scam Email

Families are advised to be cautious as scam emails are targeting K-12 families. In December, a major provider of Student Information Systems (SIS) experienced a data hack of their system, PowerSchool SIS. This system is NOT used by Cambridge Public Schools.

What you need to know::

Scammers are now emailing parents across the district to attempt to trick them into providing information about their child or sign-in information to access other identity information.
The Cambridge Public Schools Student Information System (Aspen) is secure and has not been breached.

Please do not respond to these emails and report them as spam. If you have any questions please email [email protected].

Snack of the Week