Pentucket Lake School September 13, 2026 Newsletter

Updated: September 13, 2026

The School Year is off to a Great Start!

Kindergarten students arrived last week! Everyone’s here and ready to learn!

Happy September, Pentucket Lake families! 

Welcome back to another wonderful school year at Pentucket Lake Elementary School! We hope your family enjoyed a smooth start to the school year, especially with the beautiful, sunny weather we’ve been treated to this week. Please take a few moments to read through this month's newsletter, as it contains important updates, upcoming events, and essential information to help keep you connected and up to date. 

Warmly,

Mr. Brennan

THIS MONTH’S

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Beginning Monday, September 14 - Arrival according to Procedures

Last week was the first three days of school for kindergarten. Those first couple of days are emotional for parents and students alike. Because of this, Mrs. Silva and I tended to look the other way when parents weren’t following the Student Drop Off Procedures. We understand it is tough to see our little ones grow up and go to school - Mrs. Silva and I each have three children of our own, so I know it all very well. But we now need to resume our normal Student Drop Off routine.

To ensure the safety of all our students, please remember to strictly follow our school’s Arrival and Dismissal procedures every day. Our videos are linked below. Please view them if you have any questions.

A couple of things to keep in mind: 

1. When dropping off your child in the school parking lot, you must join the single line of cars along the right-hand side of the parking lot. And for your child’s safety, please have them exit the car on the passenger side of the vehicle, so they aren’t stepping into moving traffic. 

2. For the safety of our children, please do not stop your car behind parked vehicles to let students out to run across our busy parking lot. Our parking lot is too busy and cars move too quickly. Please don’t put your child in unnecessary danger.

3. Do not stop behind parked cars and do not park in the parking spots to drop off your child. Those spaces are reserved for the teachers and staff who serve your children throughout the day. We have more and more staff coming to Pentucket Lake each day. Our parking lot is reserved for them.

4. These procedures are for our kindergarten parents, too. We have a lot of staff outside, assisting with students as they arrive. We will make sure your child is safe and gets to school.

PLEASE NOTE: If you prefer to avoid the morning car line, you are welcome to park along Westminster Avenue and walk your child safely down the sidewalk to the school building. Many families walk their children to school in the morning.

We appreciate your patience, cooperation, and commitment to keeping our parking lot safe and efficient for everyone!

Student Arrival and Dismissal Procedures - YouTube Videos

The safety of your child is important to us. We have procedures in place that are designed to protect your child from harm - especially during morning arrival. The parking lot at Pentucket Lake School is very busy in the morning and in the afternoon. There are cars and buses moving in every direction, making it dangerous for pedestrians - especially, for smaller children.

Please view the YouTube videos that we made that demonstrate our procedures for dropping your child off in the morning and picking your child up in the afternoon. 

YouTube Video - Morning Student Drop Off

YouTube Video - Drive Thru Parent Pick Up in the afternoon

Map of Pentucket Lake’s morning Student Drop Off Procedure

Map of Pentucket Lake’s Afternoon Student Pick Up Procedure

Good School Attendance

As a parent and a teacher, I have seen the look on children’s faces when they are lost, when they don’t understand a classroom lesson. The confusion and disappointment is disheartening. No parent likes to see that face. And no child likes that feeling.

It is especially sad when the lack of understanding is because a child has missed a lot of school. Yes, sometimes it is difficult to get a child to cooperate enough to go to school, but no one ever said parenting was easy! Coming to school each day is one of the easiest indicators to look at to know whether a child will succeed in school or struggle. And Pentucket Lake School is going to work diligently this school year to help families get their children to school regularly. 

“Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. This relationship between attendance and achievement may appear early in a child's school career.” National Center for Education Statistics

How to know what is Going on at Pentucket Lake - Parent Square app

Frequently throughout the school year, the Main Office and your child’s teacher will send important information about things going on at Pentucket Lake or in the classroom. Haverhill Public Schools uses an app called Parent Square as their primary communication tool. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to sign up. We have a lot of great things going on around PenLake. Being signed up for Parent Square is a great way to make sure you don’t miss out on anything.

Click here go to the Parent Square sign up webpage. 

Summer Reading - Time is almost up!

Quick! It is almost time to turn in your summer reading list! Read some books and create your list!

We will be collecting the Summer Reading lists through Friday, September 11 Friday, September 18. Your child can simply hand their book list to their teacher. 

We can’t wait to celebrate our summer readers!

Click here to view the Summer Reading webpage on the Haverhill Public Schools website.

Student Chromebooks Need to Come to School

Students from 1st grade through 4th grade have begun using their chromebooks. Students took them home over the summer, but so many students are having a difficult time remembering to bring it back to school. 

If your child has not brought their school-assigned chromebook computer to school yet, please make sure it gets placed in their backpack to return to school.

Chromebook Damage Waiver

Believe it or not, we have seen chromebook damage way worse than this! You might be surprised at the level of damage children have inflicted on their chromebook, requiring a replacement - and a bill. 

This damage waiver program is a wonderful offering from the district. Accidents happen - chromebooks get broken and need to be replaced. Please consider signing up for this waiver program. Take a look at the school district’s webpage for more information:

Device Waiver Fee - Information Page

Pentucket Lake School’s Site Council

Pentucket Lake’s School Site Council is a school-based committee made up of the principal, parents, teachers, and other community members, that collaboratively influences school policies to enhance student learning. The site council reviews the school budget, identifies student needs, and approves plans for parent involvement, aiming to create a collaborative vision for the school community.  

If you are interested in joining Pentucket Lake’s Site Council, our first meeting is an informational meeting in the library at Haverhill High School on October 21 from 6:00 - 7:15. Please email Mr. Brennan with any questions or to let him know you would like to take part - james.brennan@haverhill-ps.org

Green Flag means Indoor Recess in the Morning

I wanted to remind families that we post a green flag to the pillar in front of the school to show everyone that we have indoor recess that morning. When the flag is on the pillar, students should enter the building directly through the front doors. They should not go out back like they do during good weather.

Please remind your child to look for the green flag each morning.

It is also worth mentioning that we try and get the students outside as often as possible. Please dress your children appropriately for the weather. Unless it is raining or the air temperature is in the single digits, we get the students outside for fresh air and exercise. And please, put your child’s name on their belongings so misplaced items can be easily returned. Our lost and found is already full of so many items that families have spent good money on…

Important Dates to Remember

The start of school is a busy time. Please make sure to add these important dates to your calendar.

Monday, September 14 – First day of Discovery Club for signed up students!

Wednesday, September 30 – Early Release for Students: Students are dismissed beginning at approximately 11:35

Click here to view the calendar for the entire school year

Pentucket Lake School Information Sheet

Please click here to read up on some key information regarding our school, including morning arrival and dismissal and policies.

Pentucket Lake School

250 Concord Street

Haverhill, MA