Boyden Weekly Update

Dear Boyden Families,

We are noticing an increase in students bringing toys and personal items from home into school. While we understand that these items can be special and meaningful to children, they are often becoming a distraction during the school day and, in some cases, are getting lost or misplaced.

To help maintain a focused learning environment and prevent any disappointment, we kindly ask that toys and personal items be kept at home unless specifically requested by a teacher for a special activity or event.

We appreciate your support in reinforcing this expectation with your child. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

Have a nice weekend!

Brendan

Calendar Change: Early Release Day on June 16, 2026

Due to significant and unusual traffic congestion experienced across town during a recent World Cup event, which impacted school dismissal and transportation, June 16 has been designated as an early release day for all students. There will be no extended day on the afternoon of June 16. In coordination with the Police Department, all schools will dismiss at their regular early dismissal times. This adjustment reflects the unique scale of this international event and is not representative of typical stadium-related activities. The Police Department will increase patrols and monitor areas where students may gather, and principals will communicate with families to help discourage congregating in already congested areas throughout town.

Lost and Found

Our Lost and Found is overflowing with jackets, sweatshirts, etc. If your child is missing something, please encourage them to check the lost and found. Unfortunately, we are unable to store these items indefinitely. Any unclaimed belongings will be donated over April vacation.

Spring News from the Media Center

Spring is in the air at the Boyden Media Center! From curious "Insect Detectives" to budding computer programmers, our students are hard at work blending research skills with creative technology.

Here is a look at what each grade level is exploring:

Kindergarten: Animal Adventurers

Our youngest researchers are diving into Pebble Go, a database designed for early learners. Students are practicing how to navigate topic buttons and write down interesting facts about their favorite animal. Try it at home: Pebble Go is available on the Boyden Student Resource page—ask your child to show you how they search!

Grades 1 and 3: Future Professionals

In preparation for our May Career Fair (with help from Ms. Lemler and Mrs. Audet), students are exploring the world of work:

Grade 1: Using Pebble Go to research different jobs. Soon, they will apply their knowledge by "applying" for a position!
Grade 3: Using the PBS Career Lab and other digital tools to gather data for their final Book Creator projects.

Grade 2: Insect Detectives

Grade 2 is busy investigating the tiny world of bugs through various hands-on centers:

Research: Finding fascinating facts on Pebble Go.
Coding: Programming Bee-bots to travel through the life cycle of a butterfly.
Classification: Learning to sort "insects" from "non-insects."
Ask your student: Can they perform the Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes: Insect Edition

Grades 4 and 5: Creative Coders

Our upper elementary students have officially moved from Scratch Jr. to Scratch, a more advanced block-coding program.

The Project: Animate a Name

The Goal: Students choose a word (a nickname, sports team, or favorite city) and code each letter to move, change color, or make noise using seven specific coding skills. It’s a wonderful opportunity to code and show their creativity.

Battle of the Books is Almost Here!

We are officially one week away from our highly anticipated Battle Day on Friday, April 17th.

Students have read an incredible 660 books so far! Congrats on all their hard work!

Last week, we gathered in the cafeteria for a "practice battle" to show the students exactly how the big day will flow. On Battle Day, teams will face off in a trivia-style competition covering all 13 books on this year’s list. Students will work together to identify the correct title and author for every question. We encourage students to show their team spirit! Feel free to dress up in team colors to add to the excitement.

We will be providing a snack for all participants. If the provided snack doesn't work for your student, please feel free to send them in with a different snack from home.

The feedback from the students has been wonderful—they are really enjoying these books! When selecting this year's list, we intentionally chose many titles that are the first in a series. If your child has found a new favorite world or character, encourage them to keep going with the sequels! It’s a fantastic way to keep that reading momentum sliding right into the next season (and summer!)

We can’t wait to see our readers in action next Friday!

Bus Registration 2026-2027

If you are planning on your child riding the bus next year, please CLICK HERE for information and to download the application. Sign up by June 18th!

2026 Terrific Tray of the Year

Walpole Public Schools is proud to be in the running for the 2026 Terrific Tray of the Year, and we need your support! Our January-winning tray features a seasonally inspired Roasted Vegetable & Parmesan Crisp
Kale Salad, paired with local apple slices in celebration of Harvest of the Month. This fresh and flavorful meal highlights ingredients from regional partners, including:

Joe Czajkowski Farm (Hadley, MA) – Brussels sprouts and carrots
Brookdale Fruit Farm (Hollis, NH) – Apples
The Good Crust (Maine) – Focaccia made with locally sourced grains

This recognition celebrates our commitment to serving nutritious, locally sourced meals to students across Walpole. Please take a moment to vote and help us earn the title!
Please vote before Friday, May 8, 2026. VOTE HERE

Thank you for supporting Walpole Public Schools and our school nutrition program!

Counselor's Corner

Check out April's Counselor's Corner from Mrs. Audet and Ms. Lemmler

CLICK HERE

Calling Writers of All Ages

The Walpole Cultural Council is pleased to announce the return of Walpole Writes, a town-wide writing contest open to all residents of Walpole (as well as non-resident students of Walpole schools).

First, second, and third-place winners will be selected and publicly announced in 5 age groups and 2 categories.The age groups are: elementary school (grades K-2), elementary school (grades 3-5), middle school, high school, and adult. The categories are short story and poem. Writers may choose to write about any topic.

The contest is open through May 1 and winners will be announced in May. To submit an entry, writers must complete an entry form with their entry uploaded by May 1.The entry form can be found here https://bit.ly/4uQjz0e .

Winners will be recognized at a celebration at the Walpole Public Library mid-June. Additional event details will be shared at a later date. The Walpole Cultural Council will create a publication of winning entries