Dear Families,

February is Black History Month. One of the things that we'll be doing to honor Black History is asking students to share which black figures from history and today are inspiring to them. I'll be asking them to share who it is and why. Some of those stories will be posted on the BMS News. Teachers will also be doing some activities in their classes. At our school, we try to recognize the diverse population that we have and celebrate how that diversity makes us stronger.

During Black History Month, the library is showcasing fiction titles from Black authors, as well as a nonfiction display which includes biographies and books on African American history. Our School Librarian, Mrs. O'Malley has also curated a collection of Black History Month selections which include book lists, websites, articles, museum links, and events in the Boston area. (See below.)

Here are some additional links if you'd like to learn more about it:

Black History Month

National Museum of African American History & Culture

National Geographic Kids

History.com

During Black History Month the library is showcasing fiction titles and graphic novels from Black authors as well as a nonfiction display which includes biographies and books on African American history. Mrs. O'Malley has also curated a Black History Month Pathfinder of Resources which include book lists, websites, articles, museum links, and events in the Boston area.

February 2, 2024

Dear Families:

Every year, each public school and school district in Massachusetts receives a report card. Just as your child’s report card shows how they are doing in different subjects, the school’s report card is designed to show families how our school is doing in different areas. A link to our school’s report card is available at https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/2023/03070305.

The report card includes multiple measures of a school’s performance – more than just MCAS scores. It represents a new way of looking at school performance, by providing information on student achievement, teacher qualifications, student learning opportunities, and more.

Report cards are designed to be useful tools for everyone connected to our school. Families can use the information to have meaningful conversations with us about what the school is doing well and where there is room for improvement. Community and education leaders can use the information to better understand how to support students and our school.

You will notice on our report card that we are improving our percentages of students Exceeding Expectations in all testing areas when compared to last year’s MCAS assessments. But there is still work to do to move our students out of the Partially Meeting or Not Meeting Expectations categories. To improve student performance in our school, we are creating a consistent writing rubric in English Language Arts & Social Studies to be used across content areas. Some additional goals are to increase students’ sentence complexity, improve use of figurative & descriptive language, and create a Student Writing Folder so that students can demonstrate ownership of their work, reflect on their writing, and celebrate their successes. In Mathematics, we are using assessment data to identify students who need intervention to improve skills in areas such as number sense, Algebraic concepts, and proportional relationships. In Science, we are examining and realigning our curriculum to create a better flow from sixth through eighth grade. We encourage you to become involved in helping us improve our school. We see parents as critical partners in the success of our students and school, and we are grateful for your continued support.

Finally, if your child attends a school that receives federal Title I funds, you also have the right to request the following information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers:

· Whether your child’s teacher is licensed in the grade levels and subject areas they teach,

· Whether your child’s teacher is teaching under an emergency license or waiver,

· The college degree and major of your child’s teacher, and

· Whether your child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

If you have questions about our school’s report card, would like to become involved in school improvement activities, or would like to request information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teacher, please contact your building principal or district administration. To see our district’s report card or to search for other schools’ report cards, visit https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/

Sincerely,

Edward Connor, Bird Middle School Principal

William Hahn, Assistant Superintendent

Here are some of the latest photos that illustrate the progress of the new middle school. For additional photos and information about the project, you can follow the link below.

Walpole Middle School Building Project

Private School Application Process

On occasion, staff members are asked to complete recommendation forms for students applying to private school(s). We recognize the importance of such requests, but ask that parents and students consider the following when making their request:

• Many of the applications are completed through an online application system. If this is the case for your child, the system will send an email request for recommendations from the counselor and teachers; however, we strongly encourage you to have your child speak to the school counselor and teacher(s) directly, as well, in order to personally request the completion of the forms.

• If your child is in 6th or 8th grade, please send the School Report forms to Katie Gingras (kgingras@walpole.k12.ma.us)

• If your child is currently in 7th grade, please send the School Report forms to Leah Cayer (lcayer@walpole.k12.ma.us).

• Give teachers and School Counselors at least a two week notice when requesting recommendations.

• You must still sign the ‘Transcript Release Form’ and have your child bring it to the School Counselor in order for transcripts to be released and forms to be completed.

• If the school that your child is applying to only accepts applications by mail, please have your child bring the Transcript Release Form to school along with $2.00 to cover the cost of postage.

Vocational School Application Process

If your child is applying to either Tri-County or Norfolk Agricultural High School, their applications will be sent directly to the school counselor to be completed. For more information about Norfolk Aggie please visit http://www.norfolkaggie.org/.

Priority deadline for applications to Tri-County was December 31, 2023. Tri-County will accept applications after that, but they cannot guarantee applicants will be considered in their first round of decisions. Interviews will be at Bird Middle School on February 14, 2024. For more information about Tri-County please visit https://www.tri-county.us/.

Please remember that parents, not students, must give medications directly to the nurse.

If your child requires the administration of medication during the school day or the use of specific medical devices, including Epipens, please make arrangements to drop them off directly to Nurse Ludwig. She can be reached at sludwig@walpole.k12.ma.us or by phone at (508) 660-7226.

Some items have found their homes but please keep checking our pictures and remind your student to check the Lost & Found tables for anything they may have lost or misplaced. We have two tables each side of the cafeteria and one table outside the gym.

• Friday 2/9 Early Release Day - Students dismissed at 11:30 am

• Unified Basketball will be starting the last week of February and continue through the month of March...then we will go into the NEW Unified Cornhole Season! This season will begin in April and run through May. Stay tuned for more details on both! If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ms. Crawford @ ccrawford@walpole.k12.ma.us

We have recently seen an uptick in student tardies, with many cars still in our driveway at 7:45. As we start Quarter 3, we would like to remind everyone that students are to be in their homeroom seats by 7:45 every morning. If a student is tardy three times in a quarter, they will earn a detention in the office. We invite you to join us in reminding students of the importance of being present for the start of the day, and how that time can be spent getting prepared and organized for the day’s classes. If you feel that your student would benefit from a meeting with Mr. O’Leary in order to learn about strategies and techniques for getting to school on time, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Please remember to send in a note with your student if they need to be dismissed early from BMS. Students can give the note to their HR teacher or drop it off in the Main Office when they arrive. By doing so, students will then be placed on our "Daily Bulletin", and will be excused from class by their teacher at the proper dismissal time. This will reduce the amount of interruptions caused by calling into the classroom to send down students.

We realize that there are many occasions when your child may need to be dismissed. We prefer if you can please try and dismiss between classes, if possible. The optimal dismissal times for that are: 8:50, 9:45, 10:19, 11:14, 12:37, 1:32.

If you have informed us in advance of a dismissal, please telephone the front office when you arrive so we can call your student down and know that you are waiting outside. We do not want to send any student outside if their ride isn't waiting for them. We ask that if you are dismissing your child and no note or email has been sent ahead of time, please come into the front office and sign them out.

If you have any questions, please contact bmsoffice@walpole.k12.ma.us

When dropping off or picking up students during dismissal and arrival time, please make sure to only do so at the bottom of the driveway. I ask this out of a concern for the safety of students since they would have to cross what can be a very busy driveway at those times. Your cooperation is appreciated.

What is homework club?

Homework Club is a quiet work environment proctored by a staff member in the Media from 2:30-3:40 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s a great place for students to come after school, get work done, and maybe even not have any homework to do when they get home!

How do students sign up?

They don’t have to! Students show up immediately after school and sign in on any Tuesday or Thursday sessions they care to attend.

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 3:40 or sooner. If they are a walker, they can walk home at 3:40, or sooner if that is ok with your family.

Who is it for? How much does it cost?

It’s for every BMS student, and it is free thanks to a donation by our PAC.

Last year, Walpole Public Schools began using a new mass communications system for attendance. This system allows for improved messaging between schools and families for automated notifications of school absences as well as for more time-sensitive alerts like unscheduled school closings.

If your child is absent and we have not received a phone call or message from you regarding that absence, then an automated attendance call will activate in order to alert you about the absence.

If you find that the system contacts incorrect phone numbers or email addresses, please contact the school’s main office with updated information.

This year Mrs. O'Malley is splitting time between Bird Middle School and Johnson Middle School. Below are the days and times students can see Mrs. O'Malley to check out a book, ask for a book recommendation, or receive extra help with research.

Days 1,2,3 - Mrs. O'Malley is at BMS

Days 5,6,7 - Mrs. O'Malley is at JMS

Day 4 - Mrs. O'Malley alternates the two schools.

• Before school Days 1,2,3: Check out a book, read, do homework, study. 7:20 - 7:45 am

• X block Days 1&3: Visit the library to check out a book.

• Working lunch Days 1 & 2: Bring your lunch & read a book, do homework, or study

Remember eBooks & audiobooks are always accessible through SORA on the Chromebook.

As a reminder, all student meals (breakfast and lunch) are free of charge this school year. Find out what's being served by checking out the Middle School Menu.

Private Lessons through the WPS Music Department

The Walpole Public Schools Music Department is pleased to announce the spring 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 2 will run February 5 to June 14. Registration is open Friday, January 12th through Monday, January 29th.

For more information, visit:

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

To register, visit:

https://students.arbitersports.com/walpole-public-schools/private-music-lessons-2023-2024-session-ii

For questions, email:

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

The wait is over! Blingo Bingo SignUp Genius is LIVE! Grab your friends for a fun night out and maybe come home with an amazing prize!

SIGNUPS

Please note that there are sign ups for individual spots as well as for tables of 10. Only sign up for a table of 10 if you are paying for the full table in one payment.

Individual spots are $50 each and a table of 10 is $500 (one individual is responsible for paying and then listing the people at their table in the comment section or via email to pcrgray@yahoo.com). Those sitting at a said table are not responsible for reserving a seat via signup genius.

PAYMENTS

Payments are needed within 2 days of your sign up. Venmo at @BMS-PAC (comment "Bingo" for your payment)

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050E4EA9AC22A20-47275687-walpole

If you have any questions or general concerns, please contact Principal Connor at econnor@walpole.k12.ma.us or Assistant Principal O'Leary at joleary@walpole.k12.ma.us.

Email: bmsoffice@walpole.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.walpole.k12.ma.us/o/bms
Location: 625 Washington St, Walpole, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 660-7226