Boyden Weekly Update

Dear Boyden Families,

It was great to see all the students back after April vacation. It is hard to believe today was May 1st and we only have 33 days of school left.

Gaga Ball is back at Boyden! Thanks to the Boyden PAC and the many families who contributed to the Fun Run Fundraiser this past Fall we were able to purchase a new Gaga Ball pit with a rubber flooring mat. It has been a huge hit at recess. Check out the picture below.

Have a nice weekend!

Brendan

Field Day Information

Field Day volunteer sign-ups will go live on Sunday, May 3 at 7:30 PM.

Sign-ups will be completed through FutureFund, so please make sure you are registered ahead of time. If you have not yet registered, please use this link to create your account and complete your registration: https://boyden.futurefund.com

The direct link for Field Day volunteer sign-ups is: https://boyden.futurefund.com/go/63640-field-day-2026

Field Day is a school event. The PAC organizes volunteers and provides funding. All rules and decisions regarding Field Day are determined by the school, not the PAC. We know many families are excited to be part of this special day, and everyone works hard to make the process as fair as possible while also prioritizing student safety and supervision.

Please read all Field Day volunteer information carefully before signing up. By signing up, families are acknowledging and agreeing to the expectations listed in the volunteer form.

A few important reminders:

Field Day will take place on June 12, with a rain date of June 15.
Volunteers must indicate whether they are available for the rain date.
Only one adult per family may sign up.
Volunteer spots may not be transferred to another individual.
Once spots are full, a waitlist will go into effect.
A completed CORI through Walpole Public Schools is required by May 22. It is each volunteer’s responsibility to confirm their CORI status. If your CORI is not complete by May 22, your volunteer spot will be given to the next person on the waitlist.
Harassment or threatening messages directed toward PAC will not be tolerated and may result in the loss of your volunteer spot.

Please also note that volunteers are expected to follow all directions provided by school staff and administration during Field Day.

Any questions or concerns should be directed to Mr. Dearborn and the PAC co-chairs.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we work together to make Field Day a fun and safe experience for our students.

Battle of the Books 2026: A Page-Turning Success!

Our Battle of the Books season came to a thrilling conclusion on Friday, April 17th. It was an incredible day dedicated to celebrating a love for reading and the power of teamwork. We are so proud of our students. This season, our readers tackled an astounding 837 books! The competition was closer than ever; our teams were so well-prepared that we had to go into tie-breaker rounds for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades.

Congratulations to Our 2026 Winners!

Please join us in cheering for this year’s champions:

Grade 3: The Gold Gators

Natalie, Frankie, Colby, Joao, Felipe, and Anthony

Grade 4: Jellyfish Jeniuses

Violet, Daniel, James, Austin, and Sophia

Grade 5: The Silver Sharks

Brandon, Emma, Olivia, and Akshad

A Special Thank You

This program wouldn’t be possible without the amazing support of our community. A huge thank you to the Boyden staff and Boyden families for guiding our students.

We also want to extend our deepest gratitude to our generous sponsors, Walpole Cooperative and Dedham Savings, for supporting our young readers throughout the season.

Keep on reading, Boyden!

Gold Gators

Jellyfish Jeniuses

The Silver Sharks

Special Author Visit

On Wednesday, author and Boyden parent Kari Denitzio, accompanied by Tyler Forgeron, visited Boyden to read her first published book, Tyler Can, to our K–2 students.. Tyler Can! is about Tyler Forgeron, a young man with autism from Walpole, MA, who started collecting cans during the COVID-19 pandemic to stay busy, which grew into a charitable initiative that has raised over $60,000 for various causes. The book, illustrated by Georgiana Grigoras, tells the true story of how his simple act of kindness inspired his community and highlights the power of unique gifts and community support.

The Boyden PAC generously donated a copy of the book to each classroom and the Boyden Library.

If interested in purchasing the book here is the LINK. All proceeds are donated to charity.

Math News

Spring is here, which brings warmer temperatures (we hope!), but it also means we are entering into a very busy time of year! Sports, recitals, family events, special days can all create a very hectic schedule of car trips, siblings at each other’s practices and events with the odd 10 minutes here,15 minutes there to fill. Taking out a good book to read is always a possibility, but there are also some great quick math games that need very little in the way of materials that can help fill the time, engage the sibling that is “along for the ride,” and build number sense all at the same time!

The best math games include both strategy and some luck so that anyone has a chance to win regardless of their academic level. Games that allow students to explore operations, test their ideas, see patterns and think like a mathematician will boost number sense, fact fluency and math disposition because they are fun! Here is an article with directions for five engaging math-rich games that families can play anytime in less than ten minutes.

Prep a one gallon ziploc bag to keep in your car or sports bag with these items to pull out at any time:

at least one six-sided die (if you have 2 or 3 even better!)
a deck of cards (most games remove Jacks, Kings-Aces are 1, and Queens serve as 0)

Cards and dice are interchangeable for most games, sometimes cards are easier as children can move them around and manipulate them in different positions for place value

Pencils and paper, or dry erase board/marker (if you have it; paper works just as well)

Visit our Family Math Website for more fun activities and games that will reduce screen time, engage your child and boost math skills & disposition!

Keeping Kids Safe & Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Adults

Thursday, May 7, 2026 │6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Registration required – Log in begins at 6:00 pm

Registration: https://usao.webex.com/weblink/register/r3e7ec6dd39529e1d1509dc763f5668f8

Questions or difficulty registering?

Please contact Karen Legace at USAMA.PSCOutreach@usdoj.gov

This presentation is for adults who wish to learn how to keep kids safe online.

Content is inappropriate for young children.

Please be aware of who can see your screen and hear your audio!

Early Release Day on June 16, 2026

Due to significant and unusual traffic congestion experienced across town during a recent World Cup event, which impacted school dismissal and transportation, June 16 has been designated as an early release day for all students. There will be no extended day on the afternoon of June 16. In coordination with the Police Department, all schools will dismiss at their regular early dismissal times. This adjustment reflects the unique scale of this international event and is not representative of typical stadium-related activities. The Police Department will increase patrols and monitor areas where students may gather, and principals will communicate with families to help discourage congregating in already congested areas throughout town.

Bus Registration 2026-2027

If you are planning on your child riding the bus next year, please CLICK HERE for information and to download the application. Sign up by June 18th!

2026 Terrific Tray of the Year

Walpole Public Schools is proud to be in the running for the 2026 Terrific Tray of the Year, and we need your support! Our January-winning tray features a seasonally inspired Roasted Vegetable & Parmesan Crisp
Kale Salad, paired with local apple slices in celebration of Harvest of the Month. This fresh and flavorful meal highlights ingredients from regional partners, including:

Joe Czajkowski Farm (Hadley, MA) – Brussels sprouts and carrots
Brookdale Fruit Farm (Hollis, NH) – Apples
The Good Crust (Maine) – Focaccia made with locally sourced grains

This recognition celebrates our commitment to serving nutritious, locally sourced meals to students across Walpole. Please take a moment to vote and help us earn the title!
Please vote before Friday, May 8, 2026. VOTE HERE

Thank you for supporting Walpole Public Schools and our school nutrition program!