Education

Haverhill’s Nettle School Students Benefit From Annual School Backpack and Supplies Drive

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A successful backpack and supplies drive recently delivered for students attending Haverhill’s Dr. Paul C. Nettle School. Haverhill School Committee member Paul A. Magliocchetti said the annual drive, spearheaded by West Congregational Church, works to determine where to make the biggest impact when choosing schools each year. “We have a close working relationship work with the superintendent and find out where there is the highest need. It was Nettle this year,” he explained. Magliochetti thanked volunteers led by West Church Youth Group Leader Gerry Roldan and Pastor Todd Becker.

Education

Bradford Christian Academy Plans Open House Oct. 17 at New Upper School Location

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Bradford Christian Academy, which recently moved its Upper School to the campus of Northpoint Bible College and Seminary, plans an open house this month where it will showcase its expanded classes and high light programs.

The open house for the private Christian school takes place Thursday, Oct. 17, from 4-6 p.m., at Hasseltine Hall, 320 S. Main St. “We are thrilled to share this milestone with the Haverhill community,” said Head of School Victoria Kennedy. “Our new campus is designed to support a dynamic learning environment, and we look forward to welcoming guests to see how BCA is growing and contributing to the community.”

Refreshments will be provided and attendees are encouraged to bring any questions about BCA’s academic programs and student life. No reservation is required.

Education

Haverhill’s AHEPA Acropolis Chapter 39 Awards $14,250 in Scholarships

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American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association Acropolis Chapter 39 awarded 10 scholarships in September totaling $14,250. The AHEPA annual scholarships for 2024 were awarded to both local high school graduates and currently enrolled college level students from Greater Haverhill. Recipients are Amalia Panagiotakopoulos, Kora McCarthy, Brian C. Farmer, Sophia Rizos, Zach Vlachos, Zoe Vahouli Davis, Mikayla Tzortzis, Charlie Antonopoulos, Macy Antonopoulos and Chloe Pardales

AHEPA Acropolis Chapter 39, the local chapter of the National Order of AHEPA, has contributed a total of $85,450 since 2004. The chapter, its officers and members extended congratulations to the young people. In addition to scholarships, the chapter continues making donations to area charities throughout the year as well.

Education

State Awards Haverhill and Lawrence $1 Million Each to Maintain Pre-School Expansion

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Haverhill and Lawrence schools are receiving $1 million each from the state to maintain community-based preschool programs.

The cities are among 30 statewide that were named Thursday to share in $20.3 million in Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative grants. Officials said the grants are part of Gov. Maura T. Healey’s “Gateway to Pre-k” plan to make early education and child care more affordable and accessible. “Our administration delivered historic investments in early education and child care in our first two budgets, and I’m thrilled to see that funding at work. This funding is providing access to high-quality affordable preschool, lowering costs for families and helping parents stay in or return to the workforce,” said Healey. The Department of Early Education and Care administers the grants that help families enroll in a preschool classroom at no or low cost.

Education

Haverhill Farm Stump Fire Leads to Evacuation of Nearby Whittier Tech

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The still-smoldering stump pile at Kimball Farm in the eastern part of Haverhill led to the early dismissal Thursday of students and staff at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School. Whittier Tech Principal Chris Laganas released students around 11 a.m. after receiving complaints of odors. He notified staff and families by email. “I wanted to inform you that, out of an abundance of caution, we will be dismissing school early today due to a fire at Kimball Farm. We are in contact with the Haverhill Fire Department and they are hopeful that the fire will be contained soon.”

As WHAV first reported, the Haverhill Fire Department was dispatched around 9:40 p.m., Tuesday, to the farm at 791 East Broadway.

Education

Haverhill Schools Look to Replace Services as Beth Israel Lahey Health Plans to End Clinic

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Haverhill school administrators are scrambling to determine what services families may need as they learned Beth Israel Lahey Health Community Behavioral Health Center will soon close its outpatient clinic here. Director of Guidance Counseling and Student Support Services Jami Dion recently told the School Committee she learned of the closing after having a conversation with Lahey on Sept. 23. “This information is new and I’m sure that plans will evolve and change over the coming weeks and months and I can provide updates as I get them,” she said. Dion said she will have biweekly meetings with Lahey between September and “the next few months.”

Though the outpatient clinic is slated to close at the end of the month, she said, it will not impact all services the center provides.

Education

Haverhill Schools Celebrate National Literacy Month with $150K in Added State Aid to Boost Reading

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(Additional photograph below.)

Haverhill and state officials celebrated National Literacy Month Monday by highlighting $150,000 in state money received to adopt early literacy curriculum in Haverhill Public Schools and help Haverhill Promise deliver early literacy interventions and tutoring. Officials gathered in front of Golden Hill Elementary School to demonstrate how efforts as early as pre-school have been shown to reduce dropout rates later and deliver lifelong success. Golden Hill Principal Paula Rodriguez explained how students are using the school’s outdoor little library and other the resources made possible by the state earmark. “They can come, take a book and the kids use it quite often. Every day, we are constantly filling the books, so that’s been great.

Education

Haverhill Public Schools MCAS Scores Appear to Reflect Continued Chronic Absenteeism

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Haverhill educators last Thursday pored through Haverhill’s Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System—or MCAS—results which showed in many cases the city roughly tracking the state in downward scores. The learning loss that came about as a result of the pandemic and its shift towards remote schooling that began more than four years ago is still showing up in standardized test results, state officials said last week, as they released the latest batch of MCAS scores. “The road back from the pandemic is not short,” Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler said during a press briefing on the test results. The Department of Secondary and Elementary Education compares Haverhill to communities such as Worcester, Pittsfield, Leominster, Methuen and Fitchburg. For English Language Arts achievement among grades three through eight, among comparable districts Haverhill falls dead center at 26% of students meeting or exceeding expectations, according to data presented to the School Committee.