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• Walpole High students attended the Junior-Senior prom on Friday, May 26th.
• Seniors graduated last weekend.
• Friday is the start of final exams at the high school.
• Underclassmen awards were held Monday.
• Spring sports are doing well and coming to a close. The baseball team is in the playoffs and won a playoff game on Monday. Girls lacrosse also won on Monday night and will play Natick in the next round.
• Last week, Best Buddies held a field day.
• The Red Cross Club is running a Totes of Hope Drive. Please bring in unused personal care materials to donate to local veterans.
• The Walpole High School Humane Society will be collecting donations for local animal shelters.
• The Photography Club held its last meeting today.

School Committee Reorganization: The School Committee voted to appoint Kari Russ Denitzio as Chairperson and Nancy Gallivan as Vice-Chairperson, for the 2023-2024 school year.

Tappe Architect Update: Mr. Christopher Blessen of Tappé Architects provided an update to the Committee regarding proposed Walpole High School renovation options. He indicated the vision for the renovation includes expansion and renovation, updated science curriculum/space, enhanced student services, better performing arts space, more room for PE/Athletics and flexible multi-purpose space. He reviewed concepts, potential costs and a preliminary schedule of construction. Mr. Blessen's full report can be viewed here at time marker 7:48.

Bullying Data Reporting/Update: Dr. Hahn provided the annual bullying report update. Walpole Public Schools remains committed to social emotional learning practices and professional development and support. Safe and supportive schools are extremely important as indicated in the Strategic Plan demonstrating our commitment to preventing bullying. We continue to maintain and update the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan to ensure that the plan reporting methods are communicated to all staff, students, families, and relevant stakeholders. All new staff participate in an extensive full day bullying/cyberbullying training from the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC) and Walpole Public Schools also ensures that all of our staff take part in refresher training. Details of our protocols can be found here.

Capital Update: Dr. Gough provided the School Committee with a list of preliminary capital requests for 2023-2024.

Superintendent's 2023-2024 Contract: At the School Committee Meeting held on May 25, 2023, the Committee summarized their evaluation of Dr. Gough. The Committee indicated that Dr. Gough is invested in our school system and is doing an amazing job. The Committee voted to approve Dr. Gough's 2023-2024 contract.

Dr. Gough reported:

• We are now approaching the end of the school year. The last day for our preschool students is June 13th and the last day for students K-11 is June 14th. We ask families to please check for any updates from their child’s principals regarding the last days of school.
• On Sunday, June 4 the Walpole community celebrated our 149th commencement ceremony to honor Walpole High School’s graduating senior class of 2023. We were fortunate to hold it outside so that all of our family and community members were able to attend. Thank you to all of the staff and volunteers who made this such a special occasion. We appreciate all of our graduates’ hard work and contributions, and we wish them well as they embark on a journey filled with new opportunities.
• Dr. Gough recognized the district's 2022-2023 retirees. She thanked them for enriching the lives of our students and wished them a very happy retirement.
• Rima Bernotas: Gr. 2, Fisher
• Deborah Duffy: ESP, Elm
• Kevin Gilbride: Social Studies, JMS
• Jacqueline Groden: Food Technician, JMS
• Joanne Hirschfeld: Art, Fisher
• April Kelley: Gr. 5, Elm
• Susan O’Toole: Gr. 3, OPR
• Denise Piscitelli: Social Worker, JMS
• Debra Prudhomme: Gr. 2, Boyden
• Joanne Robbins: Art, Elm
• Christina Rockwood: Gr. 3, Fisher
• Susan Stewart-Racicot: Media Specialist, JMS
• Mary Theodore: ESP, WHS

Middle School Building Project: Mr. Breen provided an update to the middle school building project. The building is taking shape and shows a vision of what the finished building will look like. A project timeline and three-week look ahead schedule can be located on the middle school webpage. The community is encouraged to visit the webpage and reach out to the Middle School Project team with any questions or comments via email at middleschoolproject@walpole.k12.ma.us.