WHS eNotes

Dear students, staff, and parents/guardians:

Recently, we have had instances of students leaving the building without following the required dismissal procedures. To ensure that all students are accounted for and that we maintain a safe school environment, we reviewed these expectations with students during yesterday’s announcements:

Important Reminder Regarding Student Dismissals

All students who leave school during the school day, including students who are 18 years of age or older and dismiss themselves, must follow these procedures:

1. Check out: Report to either the Student Support Office or the Main Office to verify your dismissal before leaving the building.

2. Use the main entrance: You must exit and re-enter the building through the main entrance only.

3. Check back in: Upon returning to school, report to either the Student Support Office or the Main Office to check back in before returning to class.

These procedures apply to all students, regardless of age. Failure to follow these expectations will result in detention.

Student safety is our responsibility, and we take that responsibility seriously. Under the legal principle of in loco parentis (“in the place of a parent”), schools assume responsibility for supervising and safeguarding students while they are in our care. Knowing who is in the building and accurately recording when students leave and return are essential to fulfilling that responsibility.

Thank you for your support in reinforcing these expectations with our students. Please see the following note from Ms. Payne for additional information regarding attendance.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,

Stephen Imbusch

Principal

Dear WHS Families,

My name is Alison Payne, and I am the Student Outreach Coordinator here at Walpole High School. Many of you have probably already interacted with me in some way, but in case we haven’t had the chance to meet, I wanted to introduce myself and share a few important attendance reminders!

Dismissals

If your student needs to be dismissed from school for any reason, please send in a written note or email WHSAttendance@walpole.k12.ma.us ideally at least an hour before their scheduled dismissal time. Students cannot leave the building until we have received written permission.

If your student returns to school after being dismissed (including D-18’s and leaving during study hall and lunch periods), they must check back in with me in the Attendance Office so we can update Aspen to reflect their return to the building.

Tardies

If your student arrives at school late, they must check in with me in the Attendance Office or use the computer outside the Main Office. This ensures that Aspen is updated to reflect that they are in the building and helps prevent them from being incorrectly marked absent for the day.

Absences

If you know your student will be absent, feel free to email WHSAttendance@walpole.k12.ma.us to let us know. When we receive notification ahead of time, we can update Aspen accordingly and help avoid unnecessary automated attendance calls. We also monitor consecutive absences and regularly check in with families when we have not heard anything.

A Few Additional Reminders

• Please include the Attendance Office! If you are emailing your student’s teachers or coaches about an absence, tardy, or dismissal, please also include WHSAttendance@walpole.k12.ma.us so we are all in the loop and can keep our attendance records up to date

• Submitting documentation: We want to ensure that all attendance records are accurate. If your student’s absence, tardy, or dismissal qualifies to be excused, please remember to submit a doctor’s note or other appropriate documentation as soon as possible. Notes can be dropped off at my office in Room 1242 or emailed to WHSAttendance@walpole.k12.ma.us.

These procedures are in place to help ensure the safety of all students, keep track of their whereabouts throughout the school day, and support their academic success.

Thank you for your help and cooperation!

Alison Payne

Student Outreach Coordinator

The new Fitness Center is open to all students after school to workout. If you would like to get a workout in, just go down after school, sign in and use the space. We have teachers there supervising who can also help if you are beginning. We ask that you keep the space clean and help put back all the weights you use. We have brand new equipment and a nice new space that we want all students to have access to.

The Picture Retake Day is Monday, November 2nd. Below is the code for ordering photos through the Lifetouch website.

The Walpole SEPAC serves as a support network for parents and caregivers and aims to provide essential resources, information, and educational opportunities on special education topics. The SEPAC will collaborate with the district to ensure that Walpole students receive appropriate education and support services.

The Community Service Club is holding a Food Drive to support the Walpole Food Pantry. The drive will take place between October 12th and November 13th. Most needed items are: rice, pasta, canned foods, canned vegetables, cups, paper products, and hygiene items. Please drop off any items to our donation box located in the front lobby. Thank you!

UNICEF and the Red Cross Club are preparing for their annual Halloween fundraiser “Monsters on a Mission.” “Monsters on a Mission” is a trick-or-treat trail for families to walk through and learn about some of the missions that both organizations work to accomplish. It takes place during "Pumpkins in the Park" at Bird Park in Walpole on Saturday, October 24th from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Students interested in volunteering can reach out to UNICEF co-presidents Lily Foley or Claire Constante.

The following colleges will be visiting during Intervention Block on Wed., October 28th in the music auditorium. All student's are welcome to attend!

University of Rhode Island

Dean College

Worcester State University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rhode Island College

Voting for the Massachusetts Teen Choice Book Award (MTCBA) officially opens October 1st!

MTCBA is the only book award in Massachusetts decided entirely by teens in grades 7–12. You’ve read the nominees, argued over the characters, and found your favorites—now it’s time to make your vote count!

How to Participate:

1. Explore the Nominees: Check out the nominated titles in the high school library or browse the full list online.

2. Cast Your Vote: Voting opens October 1st! Cast your ballot directly at https://www.mateenchoicebook.org/home or stop by the library to fill out a paper ballot.

3. Spread the Word: Tag your favorite reads and reviews on social media using #MTCBA!

Which book will take home the top prize this year? You decide!

Seniors- You should have filled out the google forms for your Cap and Gown size and to confirm how you want your name printed on your Diploma.

Click HERE to access the "Class of 2027" Website

If you have yet to pay your class dues or are new to Walpole High School, please do so by submitting a $160 check (Town of Walpole) or cash ($160) to the main office before the November 1st deadline. Mrs. Bacon emailed both students and parents that have a balance on 10/11/26. Please check your email.

The Photography Club will meet Thursday, October 29th after school. The theme is "Fall Treats". We all love Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin lattes from Starbucks, and of course the best apple cider donuts. Take a picture of your favorite fall treat and show us what you love to eat or drink that is festive this time of year. Make it a food magazine worthy photo. All students are welcome to join the club. No photography experience necessary. You can contact Mrs. D'Agostino for information: jdagostino@walpole.k12.ma.us Check out our instagram to see the photos our students are taking each week: @walpole_photographyclub

Thanks for all the senior portraits submissions.

Our next deadline for the senior pages is a baby picture. Show us how far your senior has come by sharing a baby picture (ages 1-5). The deadline for baby pictures is October 23rd.

The image should be jpg, jpeg, or png files and should be titled lastname_firstname.

Please submit pictures to the Yearbook Classroom - Baby Pictures Dropbox.

Email Ms. Gould with any questions

The Athletic Department welcomes you to the 2026-2027 Athletic year. As always, we are excited about the upcoming year.

Registration for winter sports opened on Monday, October 12th on FamilyID.

The Athletic Department is offering a student pass for $80 to be able to get into any regular season home game we have and also the first round of the home state tournament games we charge admission to. This pass will last all school year and is an easy way to get into our games. The link is: https://gofan.co/event/6884117?schoolId=MA14763

The Athletic website is located on the High School homepage. On this page, you will find forms, registration instructions, online payments, Twitter information, coaches' contact information, and an athletic calendar with the daily game schedules.

Registration is online at FamilyID.com. This is now called Arbiter. You can create a login when you visit the site.

The user fees are as follows:

$300.00 first sport

$300.00 second sport

$200.00 third sport

$325.00 Football

$400.00 Swim, Gymnastics

$450.00 Ice Hockey

$1,200.00 maximum cap per family

Checks are accepted and should be payable to TOWN OF WALPOLE. Please put on the Memo line of each check the following information:

1. Athlete's full name

2. Year of Graduation

3. Sport

All fees are due prior to distribution of uniforms. Once the fee has been paid, there will be no refunds. Additionally, all student obligations must be met prior to the start of tryouts. An email was sent to students and guardians in July. Please ensure that all items have been returned, or paid for, prior to the start of tryouts.

There is an Athletic Handbook found on the site as well. Please read it. I look forward to meeting you all, and seeing you at the games in the upcoming year cheering on the Walpole Timberwolves.

David St. Martin

Athletic Director

Walpole Timberwolves apparel check out the link below.

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/massachusetts/walpole/walpole-high-school

For a list of upcoming events please click on the following link: https://sites.google.com/a/walpole.k12.ma.us/athletics/

Email: dstmartin@walpole.k12.ma.us

Phone: 508-660-7257
Twitter: @WalpolehighADSM

Email: simbusch@walpole.k12.ma.us
Website: http://walpolewhs.ss5.sharpschool.com/
Location: 275 Common Street, Walpole, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 660-7257
Twitter: @WalpoleHS