WPS Superintendent Updates
Congratulations are in Order
WMS RECOGNIZED AS SPECIAL OLYMPICS UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOL
Walpole Middle School, recognized as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School®, has received national banner recognition for its efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities. This distinguished status was achieved by meeting 10 national standards of excellence in inclusion, advocacy, and respect, developed by a national panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community. WMS is one of only 19 schools in Massachusetts and 202 schools nationwide to earn this recognition for the 2023-24 school year. Congratulations and thank you to the dedicated staff who made this opportunity possible for our students!
COMMENDED STUDENTS: 2025 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Walpole High School Principal Imbusch announced that Bhakti Belle, Brendan Conover, Austin Feener, Alora Guarino, Kyle Kelleher, Roger Mann, and Sandhya Moorthi have been named Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, has been presented by the principal to these scholastically talented seniors.
“Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”
Walk with the Supers
Our next Walk with the Supers is scheduled for Friday, October 18th (8:30-9:45 am) at WHS Track. This walk is designed to promote community engagement and wellness. Come for a portion or stay the entire time to walk and talk with Dr. Gough and Dr. Hahn. This is open to all community members.
MCAS
The district received student MCAS performance reports, which will be mailed out to families this month. If you have questions regarding your child’s report, please contact your child’s teacher or the building administrator. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Hahn will give a districtwide summary presentation at a future School Committee meeting.
Scholarship Applications
Please be advised that the Fales, Leach, Rogers, and Kunde Scholarship application will be available from October 1 through October 31. The application is on the district website and also available in the Superintendent's Office.
Awards are for undergraduates attending four-year accredited colleges. The primary criteria for awarding scholarships shall be scholastic ability, need, and character of the applicant. To be eligible for these scholarships, the student must be a graduate of Walpole High School.
Interface
Walpole has partnered with William James College INTERFACE Referral Service for community access to the Mental Health Referral Helpline. This is a free, confidential mental health outpatient referral service for children, adults, and families. Callers are matched with licensed mental health providers from INTERFACE’s extensive database. Information can be found on our webpage and also Town’s webpage.
Linewize
We are excited to continue our partnership with a leading education technology company, Linewize by Family Zone, to provide our school communities with the highest quality of online safety and digital wellness education. The global team of experts at Linewize works together to empower families to navigate the online world with greater ease and confidence. This partnership provides our district with tools, resources, and expert advice on all the latest online safety issues you and your family may encounter. As members of our school community, you have direct access to our custom-designed Online Safety Hub, where you can access a wide array of research-backed tools and educational materials to help you implement online safety measures at home.
Walpole High School Renovation Project
The Walpole High School Renovation Project website features latest updates including floorplans, the project timeline, and a detailed FAQ section. If you have any questions after reviewing the FAQ, scroll to the bottom of the page to submit your inquiry.
Free and Reduced Meal Applications
While school meals are free for all students this year, it is very important for families to still complete the Household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2024-2025 school year. Completing this form may entitle your child to other benefits such as waived or reduced fees for bus transportation, college applications, SATS, or other community programs. The application can be found here. Questions can be directed to Maria Hall, Food Services Director at mhall@walpole.k12.ma.us or calling 774-315-5640.
Additionally, families may consider applying for SNAP, the federal nutrition program that provides eligible residents with monthly financial assistance to purchase groceries. More SNAP information can be found here or by calling Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333.