Boyden Weekly Update

August 25, 2023

Dear Boyden Families,

We had a great first two days of school! It was great to see so many smiling faces of students who were excited to be at Boyden School. The students and teachers devoted a lot of time to getting to know each other and establishing a safe and welcoming classroom environment. It is going to be a great school year! I hope you enjoy the long weekend and we look forward to seeing everyone and welcoming our kindergarten students next Tuesday, September 5th.

Brendan

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When Does School Start?

All students in grades 1-5 will begin Wednesday, August 30th

All kindergarten students will begin Tuesday, September 5th

Boyden's day begins promptly at 8:55 AM (doors open at 8:45 AM) and ends at 3:25 PM. Being on time for school is essential as it sets the stage for a successful day, academically and social- emotionally.

Students arriving after 8:55 will be marked tardy and need to be signed in at the front office by an adult.

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Bus Routes 2023-2024

Please CLICK HERE for the bus routes. Please note Boyden's bus routes begin on Page 18.

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Riding Bikes to School

Students in grades 4 and 5 (see School Committee Policy below) are able to ride their bikes to school with parental permission. If your child is in grade 4 or 5 and plans to ride their bicycle to and from school, please CLICK HERE to fill out the attached permission slip for the office to have on file. This needs to be updated yearly.

"Pupils in grades 4 & 5 may ride bicycles to school with the exception of students at Elm Street School. It is not permitted there due to safety concerns on Route 27. Pupils in lower grades are not allowed to do so at any time. No child is permitted to ride bicycles during snow or other inclement weather. All bikes must be placed in the rack with a lock and chain. The school system is not responsible for lost or stolen bicycles. Bicycle riding on the playground area is not permitted. State law requires that students wear helmets for safety. All bicycle riders must conform to the automobile highway regulations as established by the Commonwealth. A list of these rules and regulations may be obtained at the Walpole Police Station. No skateboards, rollerblades, or scooters are allowed."

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Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

Arrival/Dismissal procedures will be very similar to last year. Please click HERE for all details regarding bus, walking, and car procedures. Staff will be outside every day to assist students in all areas.

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Free School Meals for Students

We are pleased to share that Massachusetts will continue to fund free school meals for all students, regardless of household income.

What does this mean?

All Walpole Public School children will receive free school meals, breakfast, and lunch, while at school. CLICK HERE for the menu

Important: We still encourage all families to submit a school meal application if they believe they are income-eligible to receive free meals. While your child will receive a free meal regardless of their free or reduced-price meal status, the meal application can qualify your family for additional benefits beyond free school meals such as busing and more.

You can access our online meal benefit application here: https://wwwmyschoolapps.com/Application

This online application is available in multiple languages via a drop-down menu "Language" on the toolbar

If you have any questions please contact Maria Hall at mhall@walpole.k12.ma.us

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PAC News

Mark your calendars! The first PAC Meeting will be on Wednesday, September 13th at 7:00 PM in the Boyden Cafeteria. Hope to see you there!

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Extended Day (Before and After School Care)

Registration for the 2022-2023 Walpole Schools Extended Day Program is now open! The Extended Day Program provides care during the hours both before and after school at each of our 4 elementary schools. Our program allows families to drop off at school as early as 7:00 a.m. and pick up as late as 6:00 p.m. Families are able to select a schedule to match their needs.

For more information, and to register for the Extended Day Program, please follow the link below.

Walpole Extended Day Home Page

Please do not hesitate to reach out to Devin Clifford (dclifford@walpole.k12.ma.us or 508-660-7361) directly with any Extended Day questions.

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50th Annual Walpole Road Race

Don’t miss this historic event! Sign-up now for the 5K, 10K, or highly-popular Youth Mile. All proceeds support the 200+ athletes in the Walpole High School Cross Country and Track & Field programs. Each race participant will receive a finisher’s medal. Can’t join us live? No problem. We have virtual editions for both the 5K and 10K races. For additional information and to register online, please visit www.walpoleroadrace.org.

I'll be out running the 10K and hope to see some Elm families on the course racing or cheering on the sidelines!