Boyden Weekly Update
September 19, 2025
Morning Car Drop Off
Thank you for everyone's patience as we establish our morning drop-off routines. We have these routines in place to expedite the arrival process but more importantly to keep students safe.
Please remember:
- When you enter the parking lot please ensure your child is ready to exit the car.
- If you are the first car, please pull all the way up to the white donation bin.
- If you are not the first car, pull up to the car in front of you. Once your car is stopped and in front of the school please let your child out. Not all students can exit the car in front of the front door.
- Please do not get out of the car. Students should exit the car on the passenger side of the vehicle.
- If the car in front of you is taking a little longer please DO NOT pull around them. We need to work together to keep everyone safe.
What is Chronic Absenteeism?
What is Chronic Absenteeism?
A student is considered Chronically Absent when they miss 10% of the school year. In Massachusetts, this means a student who misses 18 or more days, regardless of an excused or unexcused reason, is classified as chronically absent. Just two missed days each month can lead to this status.
Why is school attendance so important?
Students who are in school consistently are more successful learners. Per the National Center for Education Statistics: A missed school day is a lost opportunity for students to learn and interact with their classmates. Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. This relationship between attendance and achievement may appear early in a child's school career. Greater absenteeism during the school year can lead to lower achievement in reading, math, and general knowledge. Poor attendance has serious implications for later outcomes as well. High school dropouts have been found to have exhibited a history of negative behaviors, including high levels of absenteeism throughout their childhood, at higher rates than high school graduates.
If your child starts to accumulate absences, we will work with families to figure out the best way to help improve your child's attendance at school.
School Store
School Store is back on Friday, October 3rd for students in Grades 1-5. Students will attend the School Store located in the front lobby during their recess. A school store Inventory list will go home with students during the week of the school store.
Boyden School Council
We are in need of one parent to join the School Council. Meetings are typically On Wednesdays from 3:15 - 4:15 approximately five times during the year. If you are interested or have questions, please contact me.
The Boyden School Council is an advisory group that plays an important role in many aspects of the school. It is required by law that all schools have a School Council. According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE), the main areas of responsibility for School Councils are as follows:
“The law outlines four major areas of responsibility for councils. School councils are to assist principals in:
Adopting educational goals for the school that are consistent with local educational policies and statewide student performance standards
Identifying the educational needs of students attending the school
Reviewing the annual school building budget
Formulating a school improvement plan”
For more information on School Councils, visit the DESE link below:
http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/advisory/schoolcouncils/default.html
Book Checkout Begins!
Hooray! Book checkout begins next week (9/22-9/25) in the Boyden Media Center.
This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to explore new topics and authors, and find books they're excited to read and share with you. Your child will visit the media center during their designated media/STEM class and participate in book checkout.
Kindergarten and 1st-grade students may check out one book.
2nd through 5th-grade students may check out up to two books (or as many as needed)
We've already spent time in the library discussing how to care for our books. Please help your child by designating a safe spot in your home for their library books. Once they finish they should return them, so they are ready to check out a different title. Here is the checkout schedule for 2025. Books are due before the next book checkout. Please email me at kmoses@walpole.k12.ma. with any questions. Thank you for your support in making this a great year of reading for our students.
What are the Students Learning in PE?
K: Kindergartens have successfully completed their first month of PE classes! Students have started to learn basic locomotor skills that go along with a variety of games we play daily. Each student has also had a chance to learn and work on spatial awareness games throughout the month of September.
1st: First graders also had an opportunity to revisit spatial awareness and locomotor skills that
we learned from last year. Students had opportunities to learn through challenges and games
throughout the month.
2nd: Second grade students started the year off with fitness stations. As we quickly transitioned
over to soccer skills and activities to close out the month. Students are also learning the
importance of sportsmanship.
3rd: Third grade also started the month off with fitness activities that worked on endurance and
stamina. All third grade classes then transition to our soccer unit to work on skills like dribbling,
passing and goalie work.
4th: Fourth grade also started their year with fitness goals and stations. Classes then made the
switch over to our soccer curriculum to work on skills needed to play the game.. Students did an
amazing job working together and learning the value of sportsmanship.
5th: Fifth grade started the month with exercises that focused on endurance and strength.
Students then focus on the game of soccer to work on previous game skills. Then fifth grade
made the switch to soccer to work on situational drills and small game play!
School Pictures
The Fall School Picture Day will be on Wednesday, October 1st. Please keep an eye on your child(ren)'s home folder next week as we will be sending home additional information on how to order.
This year we are contracting with Inter-State Studio for our pictures. You can order pictures by visiting:
- https://inter-state.com
- Ude code: 0121HVA
Math News
Welcome to the Math Corner of the Weekly S’more! Each month, we use this space to share helpful tips, resources, activities, and insights related to elementary math across the district. We’re our district’s elementary math coaches - Sheila Rinaldi-Boyden/OPR (srinaldi@walpole.k12.ma.us) and Jennifer Torigian Elm/Fisher (jtorigian@walpole.k12.ma.us) - working to support students, teachers, and families in building a love of math. If you ever have a topic or question you’d like us to explore, feel free to reach out to us via email and we will do our best to include it in a future Math Corner of the S’more!
Every September, we like to share our Math Family Website, a resource for families that supports all components of our elementary mathematics curriculum here in Walpole. For Parents and Caregivers, you will find resources on:
For students, we offer quick access to:
Our school year is off to a strong start! Students are already solving puzzles with JiJi in ST Math, finding new patterns in their Number Corner Calendar Grids, mastering their facts with Math Fact Lab, playing new Work Place Games, and diving into their Bridges investigation lessons. We are excited for a great year of mathematical learning, growth and excitement!
News from the Nurse
Check out more information from Mrs. Syed our school nurse
If you would like the school nurse to administer over the counter medication to your child during the school day, please fill out this form and return it to school.
Boyden PAC News
There are a variety of PAC sponsored events that take place throughout the year. For these events to be successful, we need many volunteers. Please sign up to volunteer using the link below
Docent
The Docent program is looking for parent volunteers to teach Boyden students all about art. Coverage is needed in particular for Ms. Folan's third grade classroom and Mrs. O'Sullivan's 5th grade classroom. Contact Jackie Delaney at boydendocent@gmail.com if interested. Docent presentations begin in first grade but you can join at any time. No prior knowledge of art needed!
Next Meeting: Wednesday, October 8th at 7:00PM
Important Dates
October 1st - Picture Day
October 3rd - School Store (Grades1-5)
October 8th - School Council Meeting (3:15-4:15 PM)
Boyden PAC Meeting (7:00 PM)
October 10th - Early Release (11:55 Dismissal)
October 13th - No School
About Us
Email: bdearborn@walpole.k12.ma.us
Website: http://walpolebs.ss5.sharpschool.com/
Location: 1852 Washington Street, South Walpole, MA, USA
Phone: 508-660-7216
Instagram: @BoydenBuzz