Fisher Family Update
September 26, 2025
Dear Fisher Families,
This week, we gathered students for grade level meetings to share and review our Fisher School SWIM core values. Every day, we ask our students to Show respect, Work collaboratively, demonstrate Integrity, and Make good decisions and these meetings were a wonderful opportunity to revisit what those values look like across the school day. The meetings, facilitated by our school counselors, Ms. Erin MacQuarrie and Ms. Carly Mahoney, concluded with fun team building activities that brought students together and strengthened our sense of community.
It was fantastic to have all students at each grade level together to reflect on what makes Fisher School such a positive and welcoming place to learn and grow. We encourage you to ask your child about the assembly and talk about how things are going in the classroom, on the playground, and in the cafeteria. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s teacher, one of our school counselors, or me.
Have a great weekend,
Brian
Scientists in Mrs. McDonald’s class explore the function of the cornea and retina
In Science, Ms. Drs' class learns where you go if you floated down a river!
Rainy day fun = cup tower challenge at indoor recess!
This letter is to inform you of the upcoming state mandated screenings that will be happening soon at Fisher Elementary School. While most children see their pediatricians annually, this program frequently identifies problems that arise between doctors’ visits.
State regulations require vision and hearing screenings for all students enrolled in public schools. Screenings are done at selected intervals throughout the school years. At Fisher Elementary all grades will have vision screening and grades K-3 will have hearing screening.
In addition, we will continue to collect BMI’s for grades 1 and 4. A Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a measure that is used to show a person’s “weight for height for age.” It is calculated using an individual’s height and weight. Just like a blood pressure reading or an eye screening test, a BMI can be a useful tool in identifying possible health risks.
Massachusetts schools have taken heights and weights of students each year since the 1950’s. According to the state’s new BMI screening regulation which passed in April 2009, schools must now collect the heights and weights of students in grades 1, 4, 7 and 10. Each child’s height and weight will then be used to calculate their BMI. The results will be kept in your child’s school health record. Unlike recent years, these results will not be sent home but will continue to be reported as aggregate data to the state. No personal information will be included.
If you would like to opt out of the screening(s), please let me know and provide a copy of your child's most recent physical with their vision, hearing and/or height and weight recorded within the last calendar year.
Lindsey Moyes, M. Ed, BSN, RN
LMoyes@walpole.k12.ma.us
Fisher Elementary School
65 Gould Street, Walpole 02081
Health office phone: (508) 660-7234 Option 2
Health office fax: (866) 898-5919
Recently, our school has begun the use of TalkingPoints for two-way communications between teachers and families. Families can send and receive messages either by text or via the TalkingPoints app.
Please note that our system connects one phone number per household for TalkingPoints (generally the first phone number on record in Aspen). If you would like more than one household member to receive TalkingPoints messages, please follow the instructions found below:
https://www.walpole.k12.ma.us/documents/other-documents/technology/troubleshooting-tips/848735
If you have trouble with TalkingPoints, please send an email to helpdesk@walpole.k12.ma.us
Bus Behavior Expectations
Since the beginning of this school year, the teachers and staff have had several conversations with our students regarding expected behavior while waiting for and when riding the bus.
We have watched recent video footage of our buses and many of our students are not adhering to the bus conduct and safety rules we have discussed with them.
Below is what we shared with students K-5:
Be a Good Listener- Listen to bus drivers’ directions
Use a Quiet Voice- Level 3 (classroom voice)
Sit Safely and Stay in your Seat- Your bottom is on the seat and feet on the floor at all times. Only stand up when you are getting off the bus. Sit in your assigned grade level section - Kindergarten students are in the front, first graders are behind them, etc. and fifth graders are seated in the back
Additional bus conduct and safety rules can be found in the WPS Elementary Handbook and Code of Conduct
The handbook also includes disciplinary action that could be taken if students continue to not meet expectations.
Violations of these procedures could result in the following actions
A. FIRST VIOLATION: Upon receipt of a Bus Conduct Report, the Principal will issue a warning and inform Central Office and the driver, as well as the parents of the child.
B. SECOND VIOLATION: A second violation will result in a suspension of bus privileges for a minimum of five (5) school days.
C. THIRD VIOLATION: A third violation may result in a suspension of bus privileges for the remainder of the school year.
D. The Walpole School Department, through the Superintendent of Schools or his designee, retains the right to suspend the bus privileges of any student for behavior or misconduct that endangers the safety of its students, the driver, or the bus at any time. Parents, bus driver and Central Office will be notified of all suspensions in writing by the Principal. Further disciplinary action may be taken by School Administrators depending on the severity of the
offense.
Please discuss these rules and procedures with your student and contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Click the button below to view a quick video to watch with your student, further illustrating expected behavior on the bus - Thank You Karen Wolff (Digital Learning Coach) for this production!
We appreciate your support!
Dear Fisher Parents and Guardians,
The School Store is opening next month! Our first date will be October 1st.
What is the School Store?
For students in grades 3,4 and 5 organized and run by PAC volunteers
Open on Wednesdays during lunch. Students can only come up to shop after they have finished their lunch.
Students can purchase pens, pencils, erasers and other novelty items
Items are priced from .25¢ - $2.00. Spending limit of $2.00 per visit.
Grades 3,4 and 5 are split into two groups and shop once per month. Groups and the starting schedule are below.
Group 1: Boyajian, Hughes, Barend, Fomenko, Brogan, O'Neill
Group 2: Penfield, Winer, McDonald, Sullivan, Terranova, Wesinger
There are still spots available in some After School Enrichment classes! Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for five weeks, from 3:05-4:20pm, beginning October 7. The cost is $45 or $55 per class (see description). You can find the full list of offerings and more details here.
The Sign-Up Genius can be found here.
For questions or confidential scholarship information, contact Kate Anderson directly at: kanderson@walpole.k12.ma.us.
We’re excited to announce that Docent lessons will resume in October for the 2025–2026 school year! This program trains volunteers to give guided presentations and educate your child’s class on art appreciation and art history. No experience is necessary - we will teach you what you need to know, and hand you all the materials. Classroom visits take about an hour, and often include games or crafts.
This year, we will continue to collaborate closely with teachers to share what students are learning in the classroom, highlight the art activities they complete, and celebrate their creativity.
You can find the full Docent schedule for all grades (1–5) here: DOCENT Schedule 2025-26
Our program wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our amazing volunteers. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or even a cousin who would like to learn about art and share it with students, we’d love to welcome you to the Docent team. Reach out to us at fisherdocent@gmail.com.
Picture Day for Fisher Elementary School is scheduled for Monday, October 27th. For further information or to place an online order click here.
Use Fisher School code 0238VGA
SPORTS CLASS
Coach Mike (formerly of Kids In Sports) has 10 years of experience teaching children the
fundamentals of sports in an organized, safe, fun and supportive environment. Coach
Mike’s after school program will teach children different sports each week: baseball,
basketball, football, floor hockey, volleyball & soccer. Through fun activities, sports drills
and competitive games, the kids will improve on their skills and learn good
sportsmanship. The class will be held in the school gym immediately after school.
Thursdays
Nov 6, Nov 13, Nov 20, Dec 4, Dec 11 & Dec 18
3:00pm - 4:00pm
Grades K, 1 & 2
$175.00
How to register:
Enroll for the after school programs online at:
https://campscui.active.com/orgs/CoachMikesMobileSports?season=3699946
SPACE IS VERY LIMITED
Questions?
Contact Coach Mike at coachmikemobilesports@gmail.com or call (508) 660-7111
Student Walker Permission Form
Families with students that walk home have the option to pick up their student at Door #18 or allow them to walk home. Please sign this form if you give permission for your child to walk home unaccompanied by an adult.
Reminder: Per School Handbook: Only 5th grade students are allowed to ride bikes to and from school.
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures - Please read: Changes for the 2025-2026 school year
Walkers will be dismissed from door #18 at 3:00pm. Parents are expected to meet their students outside of Door 18. Students are not allowed to cross driveways unattended. This is a change from last year. Due to safety concerns, parents are not allowed to park in the Fisher School parking lots to retrieve their children.
Click HERE to view our arrival and dismissal procedures
Walpole Public School App
For this coming school year, we are asking families to download the WPS app. We will be reserving SMS text messaging for urgent messages only. When sending non-urgent messages to families, we will be using the Live Feed as the delivery tool (through the WPS App). You will receive a detailed email from our tech department with further information and instructions.
Urgent alerts are considered to be "must read right now" messages, such as school closings, late buses, absence notifications, and emergencies. Non urgent alerts are considered to be reminders for spirit days, special events after school, etc.
Walpole Public Schools 2025-2026 school year calendar
Please click here for all district calendar/times information
The school day will begin at 8:30am
Dismissal will be at 3:00pm
Early Release Days - dismissal will be 11:55am
Main Office Information
Absences: If your student is going to be absent or tardy, please call the absence line and let us know in advance. You may call this line at anytime and leave a message. The telephone number is 508-660-7234 and then press 1
Early Dismissals: Please send a hand written note with your student in the morning or fill out this form with at least 2 hours advance notice.
Afterschool dismissal changes: If your student is changing their typical way of leaving Fisher at 3:00pm, please send a note into school with the plan that morning.
We understand that there are unavoidable last minute changes, however, please be mindful that we must call the classroom and upset time on leaning with each change.
Please feel free to email the front office: fisher-secretaries@walpole.k12.ma.us