News From The Nest: Issue #35

Hello Elm Street School Families and Friends!

What an incredible week we've had at the Nest!

We started the week welcoming back our seniors who are graduating this year as they walked the outdoor loop in their caps and gowns for the whole school clap out and then were treated to a breakfast reception in our cafeteria where they visited with their former teachers. Monday also kicked off our Penny War fundraiser for Dana Farber Cancer Institute with each day getting more competitive than the one before. There was a lot of coin counting and strategizing amongst the students. We absolutely blew the roof off our fundraising goal (read more in the newsletter) and Grade 2 eventually came out victorious earning an extra recess for the whole grade.

A HUGE THANK YOU to our Elm Street School PAC who is graciously funding visits for all grade levels from the Discovery Museum. This week grade 5 explored chemistry, Kindergarten explored bubbles, and Grade 3 explored magnets. Next week grade 2 will explore physical changes of matter, grade 1 will explore sound, and grades 4 will explore lights and lasers.

In this edition of our weekly newsletter you will find more information about:

• upcoming dates and celebrations for May
• Essentialist Newsletter: STEM
• counseling newsletter for May/June
• School Start/End Times and School Calendar Update
• Spring Concerts at Elm Information
• Penny War for Dana Farber Update
• Guidance Counselor Interview Team
• Student Support and Attendance Newsletter
• Keeping Kids Safe Online: A Project Childhood Presentation for Parents
• 2025 - 2026 School Year Calendar
• Walpole Annual Labor Day Road Race

Coming up this next short week we have our Spring Concert series kicking off with separate concerts on Thursday for grades 3, 4, and 5 and our annual Wellness Day on Friday. Enjoy the long weekend and we will see everyone back at the Nest on Tuesday!

Jen

At the beginning of each month I will share a calendar of some upcoming Elm events as well as upcoming cultural celebrations and heritage months with hyperlinks to more information if you are interested in learning more. Below is information for the month of May.

If there are cultural celebrations that are important to you and your family that you would like to share with the adult Elm community, please email me so I can be sure to include them in upcoming newsletters. If you have any questions about anything you see on our calendar, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly.

• Asian American, Native Hawai'ian, and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month
• Mental Health Awareness Month
• 5/1: Grade 4 Math MCAS Session 1, Kindergarten Field Trip, 6:45p School Committee Meeting
• 5/2: Grade 4 Math MCAS Session 2
• 5/5: Cinco de Mayo, 7:30p Town Meeting
• 5/5-9: Educator Appreciation Week
• 5/6: Grade 5 Math MCAS Session 1
• 5/7: Grade 5 Math MCAS Session 2, 6:00p District Wide Art Show
• 5/8: Spring Photo Day
• 5/12: Vesak
• 5/14: Grade 5 STE MCAS Session 1, 6:30p Incoming Kindergarten Family Meeting
• 5/15: Grade 5 STE MCAS Session 2, 6:45p School Committee Meeting
• 5/16: Early Release Day, Elm Spirit Day (Mismatch Day)
• 5/20-21: Incoming Kindergarten Screening Days
• 5/20: 3:15p Elm School Council Meeting
• 5/23: Grade 5 Field Trip
• 5/26: Memorial Day SCHOOL CLOSED
• 5/27: Grade 3 Field Trip
• 5/28: 7:00p Elm PAC meeting
• 5/29: Spring Concerts (Grade 3- 1:15p, Grade 4- 1:50p, Grade 5- 2:25p)

Next year Elm Street School will switch to being a "late school". Every 3 years the elementary schools in Walpole rotate late and early school hours. For the 2025 - 2026 school year we will have an official start time of 9:00a and an end time of 3:30p.

• Doors will open at 8:50a for arrival
• We will begin dismissal at 3:20p in the afternoon
• Early Release Dismissal will be at 12:25p

For a full list of start and end times for all Walpole Public Schools please click here.

The full school calendar will be available after the May 1st School Committee meeting.

Spring Concerts Are Coming!

We’re excited to invite families to our End-of-Year Spring Concerts, happening May 29th and June 3rd!

This year, we’re introducing a new concert schedule. Instead of the usual three days of concerts, concerts will happen across two school days (May 29th and June 3rd), and we are shifting to an afternoon schedule.

This change is designed to minimize the impact on families' busy schedules and make it easier for families with children in multiple grades to attend all of their kids' performances. With this new format, we hope you have more flexibility to enjoy each concert!

Concert Dates & Times:

• Thursday, May 29th - Grades 3, 4, and 5

• 1:15pm: 3rd Grade
• 1:30pm: 4th Grade
• 2:25pm: 5th Grade

• Tuesday, June 3rd – Grades K, 1 and 2

• 1:15pm: 2nd Grade

• 1:50pm: 1st Grade

• 2:25pm: Kindergarten

Over the last few weeks students in Grades K-5 have been reviewing songs and activities learned this year in preparation for their upcoming grade-level concerts. Performances will feature the culmination of their work demonstrating skills and concepts learned throughout the academic school year. Students are enthusiastically looking forward to sharing a “snapshot” of their musical experiences using song, instruments, improvisation, and movement. It has been a complete joy for me to hear and see them be so inspired to showcase their musical talents! I'm so proud of their accomplishments and I know you will be too. I hope you can join me in applauding our young musicians.

Due to traffic concerns, guests will not be allowed to enter the building until 5 minutes before the start of their child’s concert.

Thank you for supporting our amazing young musicians—we can’t wait to see you there!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at

jveneto@walpole.k12.ma.us

Jessica Veneto

Music Teacher

Our Penny War for Dana Farber Cancer Institute raised over $2,100.00! This is about 4x our initial goal of $500. Thank you to all the families who helped students find coins to donate and participate in this Student Council sponsored fundraiser.
Our Grade 5 Student Council representatives will write a donation letter this week and we will mail off our donation from the Elm Street School.

As you may already know, Mrs. Simpson, our beloved guidance counselor, is leaving Elm as her family is relocating to Vermont. We know that this loss will be felt deeply in the community and we are excited for Mrs. Simpson and her family for this next chapter in their lives.

We have already begun the process for hiring for this crucial position in our school community with a posting and application screening.

Interviews for the counselor position will take place on June 4th and 5th from 3:30p - 6:30p each day. Since this role has so much contact with our families I would love to have a family representative on our interview team. If you are interested in joining the team and can commit to both interview days for the full time, please reach out to me directly by Friday, May 30th (jbuller@walpole.k12.ma.us)

The United States Attorney’s Office will be hosting a virtual internet safety presentation for all adults who wish to keep children safe online. Assistant United States Attorney Luke Goldworm and Victim Witness Specialist Lauryn Mackey will be joined by Special Agent Andrew Kelleher from Homeland Security Investigations Child Exploitation and Digital Forensics Unit to present a Webex Webinar:

Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents

Wednesday, June 4th from 6:30 – 7:30 pm.

A Q & A session will follow the presentation. The presentation will bring awareness to how predators are sexually exploiting children online and how to keep them safe.

Advanced registration is required. You may register for the webinar at the link below:

https://usao.webex.com/weblink/register/r4617269953953d7a4aaa839f6c3e110b

Fore more information visit this link.

Registration is now open for the 52nd Annual Walpole Labor Day Road Race!

Don’t miss this wonderful Walpole tradition. Sign-up now for the 5K, 10K, or Youth Mile. All proceeds support the 200+ athletes in the Walpole High School Cross Country / Track & Field Program. Each race participant will receive a finisher’s medal. If you register before August 15th, you’ll also receive a free race t-shirt! Can’t join us live? No problem. We have virtual editions for both the 5K and 10K races. For additional information and to register online, please visit www.walpoleroadrace.org.

See you on Race Day - Monday, September 1st!

Email: jbuller@walpole.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.walpole.k12.ma.us/o/ess
Location: 415 Elm Street, Walpole, MA, USA
Phone: 508.660.7374

Instagram: ElmStSchool