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Posted Date: 08/24/26 (03:12 PM)

Huckleberry Highlights

HHS Family Newsletter

August 24, 2026

Huckleberry Hill School banner with the text 'The Power of One' and a husky mascot wearing a red cape.

From The Principal

A Note From Mrs. King

Welcome back to another wonderful school year at Huckleberry Hill School! I hope your summer was filled with rest, joy, and time spent with the people and things you love. We are so excited to welcome our students back and begin another year of learning, growing, and making memories together.

This year, our HHS theme is Power of One. We believe that one person can make a difference. One kind word. One brave choice. One helping hand. One new idea. One person who believes in a child. Every day, each of us has the power to make a positive impact on someone else’s day, learning, or life. Throughout the year, we will celebrate the many ways our students and staff use their own unique power to make Huckleberry Hill a stronger, kinder, and more joyful place.

We have been busy all summer preparing for the year ahead, and we are ready to welcome our students back with open arms! A huge thank you goes to our incredible custodial team, who have worked tirelessly to make sure our school is clean, organized, and ready for our students. I am also incredibly grateful to Ms. Henehan, who has partnered with me throughout the summer to make sure every detail is in place for a smooth and successful start to the school year.

As we begin Year 3 together, I am filled with excitement and gratitude for the Huckleberry Hill community. I can't wait to see the Power of One in action as our students discover their strengths, take chances, care for one another, and recognize the difference they can make every single day.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to the school at 781-334-5835 or by email at kingl@lynnfield.k12.ma.us with any questions or concerns. The staff and I are so excited to partner with you for an incredible school year!

Here's to a year of discovering the Power of One!

Best,

Lauren King

Important Information

Information and Dates

Below is some important information and dates to help you plan for your return to school:

The first day for students in grades 1-4 will be Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
Kindergarten Orientation will be Thursday September 3, 2026. (9:30-11:00 a.m. or 12:00-1:30 p.m.)
The first day of school for Kindergarten students is Friday September 4, 2026.
Early Release for all (k-4) on September 4, 2026 at 11:30 a.m.
Huckleberry Hill School Hours are 8:20 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Drop Off can begin after 8:05 a.m. and dismissal begins at 2:30 p.m. Prompt arrival and attendance is of the utmost importance for a positive and successful learning experience. Please ensure your child’s prompt arrival to school each day.
The Elementary Open House will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2026 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.. More information is linked below.
HHS’s electronic newsletter, Huckleberry Highlights, will be emailed home the second Tuesday of the month. This newsletter will be sent out monthly to families and is chock-full of important information.
All students have a choice of having a school lunch free of charge or bringing lunch from home again this year. If bringing from home, lunch boxes/bags should be clearly marked with your child’s name and teacher’s name. It is also recommended that you provide your child with a nutritious morning snack, which will be eaten in the classroom.
Bus Routes: Bus Routes will be posted to the LPS website and in the newspaper as soon as they become available.
CORI - each adult over 18 who plans to volunteer at Huckleberry Hill School will need to complete a valid CORI through Lynnfield Public Schools. This can be completed at HHS Open House, through Central Office, or during school hours at HHS Main Office.

School Supply List 2026-2027

Dismissal

HHS Student Dismissal Form

In order to help us stay organized and keep all our heroes safe, we are using our HHS Student Dismissal Form.

Please complete this form to let me know your child's dismissal plans for the first week of school and their typical dismissal routine for the 2026-2027 school year. (This form was mailed home to you in our beginning of school mailing, can be printed from home, or is available for pick up at the main office.)
Please have your child bring this form on the first day of school.
Registration for LEDS and REDS must be done via Lynnfield Community Schools.
(Completing this form does not register your child for these programs.)
During the school year, dismissal changes should be emailed at the beginning of the day to your classroom teacher and Heide Carbone in the HHS office (carboneh@lynnfield.k12.ma.us).

HHS Student Dismissal Form

Arrival and Dismissal

Procedures and Safety

We want to thank you for your partnership in helping us keep arrival and dismissal safe, smooth, and efficient. Please take a few minutes to review the important reminders below:

Arrival/Dismissal Times

Arrival takes place from 8:05–8:20 AM.
Students arriving after 8:20 must check in at the main office and will be marked tardy.
Dismissal is at 2:30 PM.
Early release dismissal for HHS is 11:30 PM.
Being on time is essential—it sets a positive tone for the day and supports learning.

Arrival & Dismissal Procedures

🚗 By Car

Enter/exit via Knoll Road, following traffic to the right.
Please avoid parking on Knoll Road for everyone’s safety.
The bus loop is for buses only unless directed otherwise by staff.
Remain in your vehicle at all times—children should exit on the passenger side (staff will assist if needed).
Do not pass other vehicles. Please wait until the car in front of you has exited safely.
Place a sign with your child’s last name in your windshield for staff to see.
Parking in the school lot is reserved for staff only. If you are walking your child to their line, please park on Trickett Road at the bottom of the back path.
Please refrain from using cell phones while in the parking lot.

🚶 Walkers

Students may enter campus from Trickett Road (back path) or Knoll Road (sidewalk/front doors).
Adult supervision ends at the school. Staff do not walk down Knoll Road or the back path. Families of younger students are encouraged to meet their child at the school doors if needed.
At dismissal, a staff member will remain at the back path door until 2:40 PM. If a student’s caregiver is not at the bottom of the path, the student will return to the school office to call home.

🚲 Bike Riders

Enter/exit at the front entrance.
Helmets are required.
Riders must dismount and walk bikes on sidewalks and between the school and crosswalk.
If riding without an adult, please help your child plan safe timing, as there is no supervision before school opens and the Crossing Guard arrives only at the first bell.
At dismissal, adult supervision ends at the school. Staff do not walk down Knoll Road. Families of younger students are encouraged to meet their child at the school doors if needed.

🚌 Bus Riders

Students are expected to demonstrate HERO behaviors: honesty, empathy, resilience, and ownership.
This includes sitting in their seats, using quiet voices, keeping hands to themselves, and following the handbook expectations.
Please see School Committee Policy JICC for Student Conduct on Buses

Dismissal Changes

Any dismissal changes must be communicated to both the classroom teacher and the front office by email or phone.
Telling your child only is not enough—we must have direct notification to ensure safety. If we do not have confirmation, we will call home to verify.

Thank you for helping us keep Huckleberry Hill safe and organized during these busy times of day. With your cooperation, arrival and dismissal will run smoothly for all our HERO students.

Aerial view of a school building at 5 Knoll Rd, showing traffic flow with red and yellow arrows.

Absences, Tardies, and Dismissals

Procedures for Absences, Tardies, and Dismissals

Absences

If your child is going to be absent from school, please notify the office. This can be done by calling our main office number at 781-334-5835; follow the prompts to reach the absence line. Alternatively, you can send an email addressed to our Clerk Ms. Carbone at carboneh@lynnfield.k12.ma.us and our Secretary Ms. Henehan at henehanm@lynnfield.k12.ma.us and your child's teacher. Please include the following information:

your child's name
your child's teacher
date(s) of absence
reason for absence

Tardies

If your child is going to be late to school due to an appointment or other circumstance, follow the same procedure for absences. Please state the reason for the tardiness.

Dismissals

If your child is going to be picked up early from school due to an appointment or other circumstance, follow the same procedure for absences. Please state the reason for the dismissal.

Changes in Dismissal Plans

If there is a change to your child's typical dismissal routine, please email that information to Ms. Carbone and your child's teacher. It is essential for us to know the plan to ensure students get to their destination safely, and we appreciate as much advance notice as you can provide. Should dismissal plans change once your child is at already at school, please contact the front office at 781-334-5830 before 2:00 p.m. Please refrain from changing your child's dismissal routines after 2:00 p.m. Teachers do not always have time to check their email throughout the day, so we ask that all changes come through the main office. We will then notify the teacher. We appreciate your strict adherence to this timeline.

HHS Open House

Open House September 10, 2026

Huckleberry Hill Staff

2026-2027

At Huckleberry Hill, we are incredibly fortunate to have some of the very best teachers and staff around! Individually and collectively, they bring passion, dedication, thoughtfulness, expertise, and, above all, kindness to our school community each and every day. Below is our updated staff list for the 2026–2027 school year.

HHS Staff

PowerSchool

PowerSchool For Families

Are all of your forms updated in PowerSchool?

It is essential that you ensure your information has been updated accordingly, no matter how many years you have had students in our schools.

Please log into the PowerSchool App or https://lynsd.powerschool.com/public/home.html to update the following forms:

Health Information Form–everyone should check this form to make sure that all information is accurate and updated with the latest information for your student.
Permissions and Agreements Form–everyone in the district must complete this form yearly. There are several changes to this form for the 25-26 school year, including the new school-specific student handbooks, medical permissions for your student, and 1:1 Device Guidelines.
Student Contacts–please make sure you have at least 2 additional emergency contacts who are not parent/guardians listed for your student.
Student Proof of Residency–please update this form if necessary

Please contact Heather Koleszar koleszarh@lynnfield.k12.ma.us if you need any assistance with your parent/guardian PowerSchool login credentials.

You can click on the button below to set up your PowerSchool Parent account (if you haven't done so already), and see the list of forms that must be completed.

PowerSchool for Families

Together We Shine

Celebrating the Power of One—one person, one choice, one positive impact at a time.

This year, Together We Shine will celebrate the Power of One and the incredible impact each of us can have on those around us. Each month, we will highlight a new theme that reminds us how one act of kindness, one voice, one choice, or one helping hand can create a positive ripple throughout our schools and community. Together, we’ll celebrate the small moments that show us that one person truly can make a difference.

Diversity and Representation in Resources

Celebrating Diversity & Representation in Our Learning

At Lynnfield Public Schools, we are committed to ensuring that our classroom resources reflect the diversity of the world around us and support meaningful learning experiences for every student. Guided by our strategic plan, we strive to promote academic excellence for all; create thriving, inclusive, and empowering schools; foster future-ready learning and innovation; and strengthen partnerships with families and the community. These priorities shape our commitment to providing learning experiences that are culturally responsive, age-appropriate, and reflective of a variety of perspectives, helping prepare our students to be lifelong learners and engaged citizens in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.

Conversations about family background, culture, identity, and differences often happen naturally in classrooms, and sometimes they’re sparked by the books and materials we use. To support this work, our teachers take part in ongoing professional development so they can select meaningful resources and guide students in thoughtful, sensitive discussions.

At Huckleberry Hill, it’s so important that every child and family feels truly seen and valued. The resources we use allow students to see themselves reflected in their learning while also giving them a window into the diverse world around them. When done well, these experiences act as “sliding doors,” inviting students into new worlds and perspectives where they feel comfortable and welcome—even when those worlds are different from their own.

Consistent with Massachusetts regulations, 603 CMR 26.05(1), the Lynnfield Public Schools, through its curricula and materials, encourages respect for the human and civil rights of all individuals, regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin or sexual orientation. In accordance with district guidelines and school committee policies, families may request information from the building principal on available accommodations related to curriculum content.

We recognize that families may approach certain topics in different ways, and we respect those differences. If there is a sensitive topic you would like us to be mindful of, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to support all families.