Fisher Family Update

Dear Fisher Families,

The time of year is approaching when we begin to consider the classroom placements for next school year. Our goal is to build balanced, heterogeneous classes where children’s academic and social needs are met individually, and as a group collectively. We have found that when children are grouped appropriately, all students and teachers have the best opportunity for success.

Placement is a school responsibility which we take very seriously. Parents frequently acknowledge how well our teachers know their children. In addition to the classroom teacher’s knowledge, there may be information that you feel would be helpful for us to know. Please note that written input is optional and you do not need to fill out the form in order to have your child’s needs considered. If you choose to send us parent input, we ask that you fill out the parent placement form that was emailed to you today. If you didn't receive this email please contact the office or me. We ask that you complete the form no later than Wednesday May 10th. We view placement as an extremely important task, and afford it significant time and reflection.

Please do not request a specific teacher or state a teacher’s name. There is one exception about making specific teacher requests. If one of your children has had a specific teacher, and you do not wish a sibling to have a similar experience, you may send that information directly to me in an email. It is important to note that we create balanced classes first, and assign teachers last. If you request not to have a teacher for the reason stated above, we may have to remove your child from a class and place him/her in another class.

The process we use at Fisher School is both thoughtful and thorough. Classroom teachers, along with other professional staff collaborate to build the class lists. As principal, I approve the final placement decisions. The staff and I appreciate your cooperation and support as we begin this process.

Enjoy the long weekend,

Brian

Check out Fisher School’s new podcast! You can search “Fisher School” on Spotify or you can use this link. Thanks for listening and don’t forget to subscribe!

April

7 NO SCHOOL

17-24 NO SCHOOL - April Break

26 Fisher PAC Meeting 7pm

28 Fisher School Dance 6-8pm

May

1 Town Meeting 7pm

2 MCAS - Gr. 5 Math Session 1

3 MCAS - Gr. 5 Math Session 2

3 District Art Show 6-8pm at the Walpole Library

4 MCAS - Gr. 4 Math Session 1

5 MCAS - Gr. 4 Math Session 2

9 MCAS - Gr. 3 Math Session 1

10 MCAS - Gr. 3 Math Session 2

11 MCAS - Gr. 5 Science and Technology Session 1

12 Early Release - Dismissal at 12:25pm

12 Fisher Carnival

16 MCAS - Gr. 5 Science Session 2

17 Kindergarten Orientation 7pm

24 Fisher PAC 7pm

29 No School - Memorial Day

June

9 Field Day

14 Last day of school - early dismissal

During the week of April 10, 2023, Walpole Public Schools will begin a transition to a new mass communications system. This new system will allow 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.

One of the first steps of the transition will be a welcome message via phone, SMS text, and email, shared with the phone numbers and email addresses that families provided as “Contact 1” and “Contact 2.” Later in the week, automated attendance calls will begin using the new system as well.

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

Fisher Fun after School Spring Enrichments will begin the week of May 1st and continue to the week of May 29th (No classes on Memorial Day). We had an overwhelming response for our Winter Enrichment so space is very limited, (first come first serve).

The sessions will run for 5 weeks, the cost is $35 per child/per class and some classes might have an extra fee. If your child is signed up please let them know the day of and that you will pick them at 4.45pm sharp at the front of the school.

Every week send in a nut free snack and water bottle (drink) with your child.

If a child usually goes to extended day, they will go down first and check in with extended day and someone will bring them up to their enrichment and they will be sent down afterwards.

Sign ups will begin online on Monday April 10th at 8pm and close when all spots are filled or on Wednesday April 12th at 8pm. Once your child is registered online please send a check made out to the Town Of Walpole.

Any questions please let me know at njdey@walpole.k12.ma.us.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4FA8AC29A3F85-spring1

Please click on the virtual backpack for the newest and latest information about sign ups, fundraisers and upcoming events in and around our community.

In SWIM (Guidance) lessons this month, students in all grade levels will be taking the time to reflect

on and acknowledge their own individual differences and how those differences help create our

wonderful Fisher Community. Students will have the chance to consider how their own unique

experiences and traits have shaped them, as well as how their classmates have been shaped by

their unique experiences and traits. The goal of these lessons is to remind students that the

things that make us unique are beautiful and deserve to be celebrated. One activity all students

will participate in is decorating a flower that represents them and their unique qualities. We

hope to create a garden of “Personal Petals” to display around the school building to be shared

throughout the Fisher community.

We hope that throughout these lessons and activities students will learn something new

about themselves, their classmates, and their community. These lessons will help students

celebrate the differences and similarities that they see all around them. Taking the time to

understand how our unique qualities impact ourselves allows us to make and use connections

that build strong and lasting relationships!

Please do not hesitate to reach out to a counselor at any time!

Thank you,

Fisher School Counselors

Visit our website for more information and resources:

https://sites.google.com/walpole.k12.ma.us/counselorscorner-callaghan/home

We are pleased to announce that the WPS Summer Learning Program will run again at

Johnson Middle School. The Summer Learning Program supports all students entering

grades 1-9 from Walpole Public Schools. The Summer Program provides each student

with the opportunity to engage in a fun summer learning environment that prioritizes

academic skills through enrichment opportunities, project based learning, and

collaboration with staff and peers. Our program reviews essential content from the prior

year and helps students prepare for the upcoming school year. We have shared the dates of

the Summer Learning Program below for your planning purposes. Further information,

including a formal enrollment form, will be sent in the next few weeks. As always, if there

are any questions please do not hesitate to contact us by using the email provided below.

Thank you,

Jill Masterson and Elizabeth Ryan

WPS Summer Learning Program Coordinators

summerlearning@walpole.k12.ma.us

Dates:

Week 1 - Tuesday, June 27 - Friday, June 30

Week 2 - Wednesday, July 5 - Friday, July 7 (no session on Tuesday due to holiday)

Week 3 - Tuesday, July 11-Friday, July 14

Time:

Our program runs daily from 8:30 - 11:30. Extended day opportunities may be available.

Second graders with their new Red Sox caps which were earned for fundraising efforts

First grade students learn all about Cascarones - confetti eggs and crack them over each other's heads for good luck.

It's egg drop time!

Please check the Lost and Found! All Items will be donated during the week of April vacation.

My name is Dyuthi Prashanth, a freshman at Walpole High School, and I graduated from Fisher in 2019. I am conducting a drive for clothing, books, and household items. This is a volunteer project aimed at benefiting Savers and EKAM USA, a non-profit organization dedicated to community service on a global scale. As a youth ambassador for EKAM, I could lead projects and make a positive impact in our community.

Together with children from various towns and EKAM USA, we are organizing a FunDrive for Savers and a plantation project by the highway in rural India. Last year's response was phenomenal, and with the support of the residents of Pulte and our town, I was able to collect 516 pounds of clothing. The youth ambassadors of Ekam from 25 different towns in MA/RI also collected an impressive 16,120 pounds of clothing! Thanks to this drive, Epilepsy Foundation was able to send a child with epilepsy to a specialized camp at no cost to their family, and Ekam received a $2,418 check to support charitable activities.There will be a collection box at the school. I will come by every week to pick up any of the contributions. I also can be reached through my school email: prashanthd26@wpsma.org.

The Walpole Cultural Council is pleased to announce the return of Walpole Writes, a town-wide writing contest open to all residents of Walpole (as well as non-resident students of Walpole schools). Writers of all ages (elementary school through adult) may submit entries in the categories of short story and poem. First, second, and third-place winners will be publicly announced in each age group and category. We are planning to create a publication of the entries. The contest is open through April 26 and winners will be announced in May. To submit an entry, please complete this form, uploading your entry by April 26. Winners will be recognized at a celebration at Walpole Public Library on Thursday, June 22.

Walpole Cultural Council Seeks New Members

If you are a Walpole resident who values the arts, consider volunteering to participate in the Walpole Cultural Council! The Council has two vacant seats.

Each year, the Walpole Cultural Council reviews grant requests and allocates funds to community based arts, science and humanities projects. The Cultural Council also plans and manages a town-wide writing contest, Walpole Writes, now in its third year.

The Walpole Cultural Council meets one evening per month. To apply to be part of the Walpole Cultural Council, please complete this form: https://www.walpole-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif1381/f/uploads/application_to_committee_0.pdf.Forms can be emailed to Aoife Kelly at akelly@walpole-ma.gov.

Join the Walpole Cultural Council Email List

Spring has Sprung (as have spring allergies!)

• If your child has started with symptoms of seasonal allergies now is the time to start them on an antihistamine. Please check in with your pediatrician about the best antihistamine for your child to help alleviate their symptoms.

• This article from Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP) is a great source of information on seasonal allergies and the effects they can have on your child.

• If your child has an EpiPen prescribed, they will need to have an unexpired one in the health office in order to attend a field trip. Please make sure your orders are up to date.

• Please remember if your child is ill with a fever (greater than 100F) they need to remain at home for 24 hours without the use of an antipyretic (Tylenol, Motrin, fever reducing medication) per WPS Policy.

• If your child has a viral stomach illness with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, please keep them home for an additional 24 hours after symptoms have subsided.

• Please make sure you have notified the health office if your child is recovering from an injury that requires any accommodations or restrictions with a doctor's note.

• If your child has been diagnosed with an infection requiring antibiotic treatment such as Strep Throat, Conjunctivitis, Impetigo, etc. they must be treated with the antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school.

• In addition, for Conjunctivitis, your child's eyes must be free of drainage. For Impetigo, lesions may not be oozing

• Here is a link to the WPS Health Services website. On this site you can find links to forms (i.e. medication administration, over the counter medication consent forms), medication policies, and information regarding illnesses, concussions and injuries.

• Here is the Fisher health office wish list.

Please send a note in the morning with your student, it is the best way to inform all who need to know. Teachers are unable to check their emails during instruction time and the office needs to interrupt important learning time with messages. We do understand emergencies arise, however, whenever possible, please send a note.

The four elementary schools rotate start and end times every three years. The 2022-2023 School Year represents year one of the next rotation. For the next 3 years, Boyden and Fisher School will start at 8:55 a.m. and end at 3:25 p.m.

Doors open at 8:45am and the doors will be locked at 8:53. If your child arrives after 8:53 they will be marked as tardy. Instruction/learning begins promptly at 8:55am

We are excited to have our students back at Fisher School! Please see below some guidelines for attendance. Any questions can be emailed to fisher-secretaries@walpole.k12.ma.us

If your student will be absent or tardy for any reason, call 508 660 7234 and press 1 and leave a message as to the reason before school begins at 8:55 am. Our automated absence calls go out at 9:30. If we do not have a reason noted for the absence you will receive an automated phone call and email. This is for your student’s safety, to ensure that all are accounted for.

The front doors will be closed at 8:53 as students are expected to be sitting in their seats at 8:55. If your student is arriving tardy, please ring the front doorbell and you will enter the building to sign your student in. A student must be accompanied by a parent/guardian when arriving. There is a sign in sheet with a column to indicate the reason for the tardy arrival.

Please note: We mark all students having school lunch in Aspen with a “L”. This does not mean the student was marked Late. We use T for tardy.

If you are dismissing your student early or changing the way they go home, send a written note on the day of dismissal that includes your student’s first and last name. The teacher will note the dismissal and plan accordingly, and the note goes to the office so we can enter it into our Aspen system. An email sent during the day may be missed by your student’s teacher.

Please avoid calling with an early dismissal change or a change in the way your student goes home. When this happens we need to call the classroom to let the teacher know and this disrupts learning time.

We cannot change the way a student goes home based on them telling the office or their teacher. We need to hear from a parent/guardian via note or phone call to make that change. If they are scheduled for Extended Day and we do not hear otherwise, we will send them to Extended Day.

Arrival/Dismissal procedures will be the same as they were last year. Please click HERE for all details regarding car drop off and pick up. Staff will be outside everyday to assist you student. Please do not exit your vehicle.

If your student is a "walker" at dismissal time.....

• Please do not park in the Fisher parking lot - You could park on Cobb terrace and walk down but the parking lot is not a safe option at dismissal time
• You may walk down to door 18 (by the Fisher Garden) to pick up your student

Please be aware that we are required to see you in the office with your CORI form. We need to ascertain that whoever we are checking is in fact the correct person. We will take a copy of your license while you are here. Also, please try to avoid arrival and dismissal times if possible when you are coming in.

If you are interested or think that you will be later this year, please complete the "Volunteer Contract" and the CORI form below. The contract has some general "agreements'' that we need all volunteers to abide by and we appreciate your cooperation. We know the students really enjoy seeing their adults involved in the school and we hope you sign up to join us.

We are pleased to share that Massachusetts will continue to fund free school meals for all students, regardless of household income, under a one-year expansion of a free federal school lunch program. The state’s budgetary commitment will ensure 400,000 students statewide, who would not otherwise qualify for free school meals, continue to have access to free school lunch and breakfast for the next year.

What does this mean?

All Walpole Public School children will receive free school meals while at school.

Important: We still encourage all families to submit a school meal application if they believe they are income eligible to receive free meals. While your child will receive a free meal regardless of their free or reduced-price meal status, the meal application can qualify your family for additional benefits beyond free school meals.

You can access our on-line meal benefit application here: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application

This on-line application is available in multiple languages via a drop-down menu "Language" on the toolbar.

HERE is the school calendar for 2022-2023, including start dates, holidays and early dismissal days. This is continually updated over the course of the year if we have snow days.Please note that there are different start dates for Kindergarten students