WMS Summer Newsletter

Dear WMS Families,

This year has already been a really exciting one. The new building has so much to offer, and one of the things we’re really looking forward to is getting our after-school activities up and running. We’re all eager to take full advantage of the incredible spaces—whether it’s for clubs, sports, or other programs. Over the next few weeks, it’s going to be great to see all these activities come together. With the new facilities, we have more room and resources to explore our interests, try new things, and hang out with friends after school. More information will be coming out in the WMS newsletter next week.

Have a great weekend!

Best,

Carrie

https://www.ixl.com/resources/IXL-parent-handout

We are excited to be using IXL at Walpole Middle School this year in ELA and Math! The data will be instrumental in providing students with support and enrichment on targeted skills to meet their individual needs. Students will be using this platform during ELA, Math, and X block. They will be expected to spend some time at home completing skill practice too. Students will access IXL through Clever on their school devices. If they plan to use another device, they should ask their ELA or Math teacher for their username and password. Please email Jill Masterson or Jodi O'Rourke with any questions.

Homework Club is a quiet work environment proctored by a staff member in the WMS Media from 2:30-3:45 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It’s a great place for students to come after school and get work done in a structured environment.

How do students sign up?

They don’t have to! Students show up immediately after school and sign in.

Do students always have to go?

No! Students can just come as needed.

How do students get home?

If they are a bus student, they can take the late bus home. If they get a ride, their ride can come at 3:45 or sooner. If they are a walker, they can walk home at 3:45, or sooner if that is ok with your family.

Bocce as a Special Olympics sport provides athletes and partners the opportunity to have social contact, develop physically, gain self-confidence and work together with peers.

The fundamental difference between Special Olympics competitions and those of other sports organizations is that athletes of all ability levels are encouraged to participate, and every athlete is recognized for his/her performance. Competitions are structured so that athletes compete with other athletes of similar abilities in a fun environment.

Our program at Walpole Middle School encourages students of ALL abilities to join our program, compete to the best of their abilities, meet new people, support each other, unite our new school community and have FUN!

Students can Sign up with Ms. Crawford in Room 233.

We are excited to announce that Walpole Middle School will be starting a Ski & Snowboard Club this winter! Beginning in January, the club will run for six weeks on Fridays and is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn or improve their skiing and snowboarding skills at Wachusett Mountain. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!

Picture day is Monday, October 7th.

Order inforamtion will be coming home early next week.

This Math site for parents is designed specifically for parents and families. It offers a breakdown of the topics in each of the 8 units covered throughout the course of the year. Most of the topics have a video link built in that will offer support for students and/or parents/families when working on math at home. There is a section for each grade level course, as well as math connections. In addition, there is a section that breaks down the prerequisite skills that play the biggest role for each grade level. We hope this serves as a valuable resource for parents and families throughout the year.

Parents are asked to send a note to the office if their child is going to be dismissed during the school day for an appointment. If a student does not have a note to bring to school, parents should complete this Google Form in order to alert the office of their upcoming departure. In addition, we ask that you complete this form at least two hours prior to dismissal, so our staff can be prepared. If you are dismissing multiple students at the same time, please complete the form once for each student. Thank you for your help with this.

We are excited for families to have the opportunity not only to tour our new state-of-the-art facilities but also to meet our incredible staff and hear about all the amazing curriculum and exciting happenings at our school. We are especially eager to share how our new, cutting-edge environment is enhancing student learning and engagement every day. Due to parking constraints as we finalize the second phase of construction on the parking lot, we have adjusted our Back-to-School Night schedule to better accommodate everyone. The 6th Grade Back-to-School Night will now take place on Monday, October 28, and we will hold a combined 7th and 8th Grade Back-to-School Night on Tuesday, October 29 , both from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Please note that these events are for parents and guardians only. More details about the format will be shared as the dates approach. Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we look forward to welcoming you soon.

Please park in our dedicated visitor spaces when dropping off your student or picking them up during non-standard arrival and dismissal times. These spaces can be found to the left of our building, by entering via Washington Street and continuing straight past staff parking. Once you have parked, you may use the sidewalk to access the front door of our building.

As we continue to settle into the new school year, I want to remind everyone of the importance of ensuring that your child charges their Chromebook each night. It is essential that students come to school each day with a fully charged Chromebook, ready for their classes and activities. Please note that the Chromebook will go back and forth with students each day, but the charger should remain at home. This routine will help ensure that the device is always ready for use at school and reduce the risk of chargers being misplaced or forgotten. Thank you for your support in helping our students be prepared and successful.

Please complete this form for your 6th grade or any newly enrolled child(ren) in Grades 6 through 12. One form for each child.

Even the most careful students sometimes have accidents with their Chromebooks. That's why Walpole Public Schools offers optional Chromebook insurance for students in Grades 6-12. Without insurance, repairs for accidental damage will be charged for the cost of parts. These costs can add up! Typical costs (subject to change without notice) may be:

• Screen repair/replacement: $45

• Damaged AC Adapter (charger): $35

• Keyboard replacement: $50

• Full replacement cost of Chromebook: $240

• Other types of repairs, or more complex or additional damage found during repair may incur higher repair costs

Did you know that the Walpole Middle School has a new account on Instagram? You can find us at walpolemiddleschool. Be sure to follow our account to see announcements, information, and scenes from WMS.

October

7 - WMS Picture Day

8 -PAC Meeting 7:00 WMS Media Center

11 - Early Release - WMS dismissal at 11:30am

14 - NO SCHOOL - Columbus Day

The Walpole Public Schools Music Department is pleased to announce the fall session for our Private Lesson Program for students in grades 4 - 12. If your child is interested in taking private instrument or voice lessons, here is your chance. Lessons are offered in flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, tuba, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, guitar and voice. All lessons are taught by accomplished performers on their respective instruments. Some lessons are currently being taught virtually.

Session 1 will run September 23 to January 31. Registration is open until Monday, September 16th.

For more information and to register, visit:

https://sites.google.com/walpole.k12.ma.us/wpsmusic/private-lesson-program/overview

For questions, email:

Tim Fleming (K-12 Music Coordinator) at tfleming@walpole.k12.ma.us

We are just a few short weeks away from Walpole's 300th Anniversary Parade! The Parade will kick off on October 5th at 11am from the Norfolk County Agricultural High School and proceed up Main Street to the Town Common and then turn and proceed up Common Street to Walpole High School which will allow for 2 miles of viewing. Downtown we will have food trucks around the common. Join us as we watch bands and performance groups from around the region celebrate our hometown.

The 300th Committee is also looking for additional floats from Community Groups, as well as antique autos which would like to participate in the parade. Check out Walpole300.com for more information.

Please be sure to visit the Virtual Backpack for upcoming events such as:

Principal

Website: https://www.walpole.k12.ma.us/o/wms
Location: 625 Washington Street, Walpole, MA 02081
Phone: (508) 660-7226