PenLake Newsletter - October 14

Posted Date: 10/14/26 (04:57 PM)

Pentucket Lake School October 14, 2026 Newsletter

Updated: October 14, 2026

Crisp Days & Cozy Layers: Be Prepared for Fall

Cool Mornings and Cool Layers: Preparing Our Students for Fall

Hello, Pentucket Lake families!

The leaves are turning to bright colors and the morning air is crisp and cool these days around Pentucket Lake. With temperatures fluctuating throughout the day, chilly mornings often give way to warmer, sunny afternoons on the playground. To keep your children comfortable, happy, and ready to learn, please remember to send them to school in versatile layers, including a warm jacket or fleece for morning outdoor play. Taking a few moments each morning to check the local forecast will help ensure your children are perfectly dressed for the day’s changing weather.

THIS MONTH’S

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

School Picture Day - October 21

Picture Day is Wednesday, October 21 during school hours. It is important to have your child at school on time that day.

The order form is coming home in your child’s backpack over the next couple of days.

Click here to preview the picture order form.

This school year, Haverhill Public Schools is putting a major focus on bullying prevention with our "Hillies: Stand Up! Speak Up!" campaign. We asked students across the district to create logos depicting what standing up and speaking up against bullying means to them—and the response was incredible!

In fact, two of the district’s finalists were from Pentucket Lake - and one of them won for the elementary division! Please wish a giant congratulations to Hailey H (3rd grade) for being a district finalist and an even bigger congratulations to Cypheya G (2nd grade) for winning the logo contest in the elementary division!

Squishies - Please Leave Them at Home

The latest fad around Pentucket Lake is the Squishy. These little toys, as cute as they are, have become a significant distraction around PenLake classrooms. Not only are students playing with them instead of paying attention to their teacher, but these little toys are breaking, being lost or stolen, and even eaten - yes, a child chose to eat the inside of a stuffy she broke!

Toys should not be coming to school in the first place. Students don’t need to bring toys or even Pokemon cards to school. For the reasons above and more, we ask that toys do not come to school. We have plenty of things for students to do while at school - like learn!

Going forward, please check your child’s backpack to make sure toys - squishies, trading cards, action figures, cars, stuffed animals, etc - stay at home.

(If a child has on their IEP, 504 Plan, or behavior plan to access fidgets or the like, those children will absolutely continue to have access to the tools they need to be successful.)

Thank you for your continued support.

False Fire Alarms Recently

As some of you know, I have been working at Pentucket Lake Elementary School for more than 10 years now. And not once during that time did a child intentionally pull the fire alarm at Pentucket Lake Elementary. Unfortunately, this year, it has happened twice!

Both times, a child set off the alarm, forcing the building to evacuate and Haverhill Fire Department to respond. Needless to say, this is a situation that is disruptive and potentially dangerous. Quickly, I was able to discover who set off the alarm, but that was after the fact. We want to avoid these situations altogether.

Please talk to your child about the importance of leaving the fire alarm boxes alone - unless there is an emergency. We are concerned that pulling the alarm will become a game, like a tik-tok challenge or something. Thank you!

Trunk-or-Treat - Thursday, October 22

Fall has blown into Haverhill and that means it is time for Pentucket Lake’s Trunk-or-Treat Halloween Celebration! This is a wonderful opportunity for families of Pentucket Lake to show off their Halloween costumes while collecting treats from festive staff members. (Costumes are optional! But definitely bring a trick or treat bag!) This is a wonderful PenLake tradition that gets bigger and bigger every year! Hope you’ll be able to join us!

Click the images below to view the flyers

PenLake & Walnut Square Title I Nature Walk - October 26 at 4:30

Join us for a nature walk around the Lake Pentucket trail while enjoying the beautiful foliage. This is a great opportunity for Walnut Square Families and Pentucket Families to meet. After the hike, families will receive information and tips to experience nature as a family.

Please click or the flyer below for information and to sign up!

Blue Shirts Against Bullying - Mondays in October

This is an exciting district-wide event! Let’s turn PenLake BLUE on Mondays!

And Fridays in October, Show Your School Spirit!

This is an exciting way to build school spirit! Wear your Pentucket Lake gear or Green and White each Friday through the end of October! Lion cash will be handed out to participants!

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 = Good Outcomes!

Consistent daily attendance is critical to your child’s academic success. According to the U.S. Department of Education, missing just two days a month—only 10% of the school year—is considered chronic absenteeism.

Research shows that early chronic absence makes children significantly less likely to read proficiently by 3rd grade and directly leads to lower math and reading scores, causing students to fall up to 50% further behind their peers. Every day in class ensures your child stays on track with key instruction and learning.

Pentucket Lake is also a place where your child grows, connects, and has fun every day. Coming to school gives them fresh chances to try exciting activities, build strong, lasting friendships, and learn along with their peers. Being here daily helps children build confidence, feel included, and know that their teacher, principal, and entire school community is always cheering them on!

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.

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…