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Congratulations to Walpole High School for once again receiving National Banner recognition from Special Olympics North America! WHS has successfully achieved national standards of excellence in the areas of inclusion, advocacy and respect. The athletes, partners, students, coaches, volunteers, teachers, staff and administration at WHS have all played key roles in creating a social climate where everyone feels included and respected for who they are.

Victoria B., Walpole High School representative to the School Committee provided the following report:

• Freshmen are starting to settle in nicely and many of them have joined various clubs and sports.
• Class of 2027 Student Council (STUCO) representatives were announced yesterday and their first meeting is next week.
• Back to School Night was a success, as many of our families became more familiar with school grounds and staff.
• At the end of this month, classes are in full swing.
• Many students attended yesterday's college fair in the gym and were offered information and resources.
• Fall sports are also off to a great start. Girls Volleyball and Field Hockey are undefeated. The Football home opener was a great night, and Walpole beat one of their longtime rivals Wellesley. They play at Needham High school tomorrow night.
• Many clubs are planning their first fundraisers and events of the year,
• Community Service Club is involved in a schoolyard cleanup. They are also working with Senior Citizens to help them prepare for winter months by cleaning their yards.
• UNICEF is hosting a Trunk or Treat fundraiser at WHS on Saturday, October 21 from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
• Student Council is planning a cornhole tournament to benefit the Jimmy Fund on October 6th at 11:45 a.m. to be held at the WHS tennis courts.
• Lastly, Student Council "PJ's for Patients" day is tomorrow (September 29th). A $1 donation is paid by participating students with all proceeds benefitting Childhood Cancer Awareness month.

1. Special Education Opening of School Report - Dr. John Queally, Director of Student Services, provided a Special Education update. Dr. Queally reviewed in-district programs, professional development and demographics for the Walpole Special Education department. To view the full report, please click here (time marker 13:45).

2. Technology Opening of School Report - Tom Reeve, Director of Digital Learning, provided a technology update. He outlined the new app (Apptegy) utilized by WPS for communications. He also highlighted the new look of the district webpages as well as future needs and projects. Mr. Reeve's full report can be view here at time marker 27:10.

3. School Nutrition Update - Maria Hall, Director of School Nutrition, provided an update to the School Committee. She reported that this year Massachusetts became the 8th state to make free school meals for all permanent, which means that breakfast and lunch will continue to be served at no cost to all students for years to come. Mrs. Hall's full report can be viewed here at time marker 42:50.

4. Appoint Representative to Walpole Media TV Committee - The School Committee voted to re-appoint Mr. Brian Denitzio to serve on the Walpole Media TV Committee.

• Dr. Gough commented about her interaction with families and staff at the Open Houses. Last week, she attended Open Houses at Boyden, BMS, and JMS. This week, she visited Elm and OPR. Fisher's Open House will be held next Thursday, October 5th.
• Please be advised that the Fales, Leach, Rogers, and Kunde Scholarship application will be available on October 1 through October 31. The application will be found on the District Website or at the Superintendent's Office. Awards shall be to undergraduates at four-year accredited colleges. They will be eligible for scholarships each of their four years. The primary criteria for awarding scholarships shall be scholastic ability, need and character of the applicant. To be eligible for these scholarships, the student must be a graduate of Walpole High School.
• Dr. Gough shared the School Improvement Plans with School Committee. All plans are one document and are aligned to the District Strategic Plan. Since this five year Strategic Plan is coming to an end, there will be a new Strategic Plan developed in the late winter. Planning for Success is a model developed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Plan for Success serves as a road map for ongoing improvement over a determined time period (3 to 5 years). More information will be forthcoming as we get closer to the planning process.

• The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently announced that they awarded grants to 31 high schools to plan new Innovation Career Pathways programs. This $25,000 grant will enable WHS to use these funds to develop and map out curriculum, pursue partnerships with local businesses and higher education institutions, and explore internship possibilities or project opportunities.

• We are thrilled to share the news that Walpole High School has been recognized as a 'School of Recognition' by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Out of a total of 1,830 schools in Massachusetts, Walpole High School was among only 66 schools (and only 18 high schools) that received this recognition. Our students have demonstrated high achievement or strong growth under the state's accountability system, which takes into account MCAS scores and other measures including chronic absenteeism and graduation rates. This achievement is a direct result of the hard work of our students, teachers, and staff. We are grateful for the support of our families and the entire Walpole community.

  
  

Middle School Building Project: Dr. Gough provided an update to the middle school projected. She indicated furniture and equipment meetings are being held as well as bi-weekly transition meetings to prepare for the opening of the new middle school next fall. 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.

High School Project: Kristen Syrek provided an update to the high school renovation project. She reported a meeting was held last week to review the schedule and design development of the project. Development of a webpage is also being discussed in order to share updates.