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Victoria B., Walpole High School representative to the School Committee provided the following report:

• With Term 1 ending on October 31st, many classes are wrapping up units and preparing for end-of-term assessments.

• Fall sports are nearing the end of their seasons. Football will host its last home game, and Senior Night is this Friday. Boys Soccer celebrated a big Senior Night win on Tuesday, Girls Field Hockey continues a strong season with another recent win, and Girls Soccer earned a hard-fought tie in their latest match.

• Student Activities & Service: Student Council is preparing for its largest fundraiser of the year, the annual yard cleanup event on November 8th and 9th. The Community Service Club is running a food drive through November 21st and recently held a very successful campus cleanup day. The Morgan’s Message chapter at WHS wrapped up its final fall dedication games, continuing to promote mental health awareness through athletics.

• Clubs & Academics: The Photography Club’s theme this month is “Sidewalks.” The Math Team will compete in its first meet on November 6th at Sharon High School. The French Club is hosting a French Trivia event on October 28th, and WHS has launched a new Book Club for students to read and discuss books together.

1. SSCE Director - Naomi Austin, Director of Student, Staff & Community Engagement for Walpole Public Schools, presented to the School Committee Meeting. She focused on student voice and empowerment; classroom collaboration, staff professional growth, community/family connections and sustaining momentum. Mrs. Austin's complete presentation can be viewed here at the time marker 3:45.

2. METCO Director - Atisha Winslow, METCO Director for Walpole Public Schools, attended the School Committee Meeting. She discussed the positive changes to the METCO program including the ehancements of special events, high school mentors, and the addition of the late bus. Ms. Winslow's full presentation can be viewed here at the time marker 16:55.

3. Extended Day Director - Daniel Santangelo, Director of the Extended Day Program for Walpole Public Schools, presented Extended Day Program highlights. He discussed enrollment, camps, afterschool enrichment, and staff professional developement. He noted the uptick in enrollment and the need for additional staff. Mr. Santangelo's full presentation can be seen here at the time marker 29:45.

• Several WPS staff members — including our technology team, digital learning coaches, STEM teachers, Tom Reeve, and Dr. Hahn — attended the MASSCue Conference at Gillette Stadium, New England’s leading education technology event. Special thanks to Karen Wolff, who presented a workshop at the conference.

• Dr. Gough attended last week's Multilingual Learner Family Meet and Greet Dinner, held at Walpole Middle School. She thanked Jill Kimball, ELE Director, WPS staff, and all of the families who were able to attend.

• Monday, October 20th marked our Town Meeting. Funding for Capital items were approved. These investments are crucial for maintaining and enhancing the learning environment for our students. We are grateful to the community for their ongoing support.

• Our Leadership Team continues to focus on instructional leadership through classroom visits centered on student-centered practices. Focus areas include student voice and choice, intentional instructional strategies, and authentic engagement. Dr. Hahn has also been conducting walkthroughs with principals to support our first-year teachers.

• The Superintendent’s Cabinet held its first meeting this week with great energy and engagement. The group reviewed the Cabinet’s purpose, reflected on last year’s work, and identified priorities for the year. The team will meet again in two weeks to continue this important collaboration.

• Under the leadership of Tom Reeve, Director of Digital Learning and Technology, WPS is launching an AI Steering Team as part of a broader effort to thoughtfully explore the opportunities and challenges of AI in education. The team will include teachers, administrators, parents, students, and staff, and will meet monthly via Google Meet. Interested parents and guardians can find the sign-up link in tomorrow’s principals’ e-notes.

• Thursday, October 31st is the last day for Fales, Leach, Rogers, and Kunde Scholarship applications. The application can be found on the District Website or at the Superintendent's Office. Awards shall be distributed to undergraduates at four-year accredited colleges. To be eligible for these scholarships, the student must be a graduate of Walpole High School.

• Please be reminded that there is no school for students on Tuesday, November 11th (Veterans Day).

• Daylight savings begins November 2nd.

High School Project: Dr. Gough reported that the High School Project is on time and on budget. Also stating that the greenhouse glass has been installed. Dr. Gough also mentioned that the fieldwork at the Varsity Baseball Field located at the Middle School will begin this week and will be complete by the end of next week. All community members are encouraged to visit the WHS project webpage by clicking here.