Fisher Family Update
September 19, 2025
This past week of STEM we celebrated Dot Day with another team building challenge. Groups of students rose to the challenge of designing and building a structure using just index cards, dot stickers, and scissors. Here are some of their creations. Make sure to keep an eye out for even more amazing things that are happening during STEM throughout the school year
Miss Romano’s class made their mark for Dot Day! With just one little dot, we created artwork that celebrates creativity and imagination!
Grade 3 and 4 Looping classrooms (Ms. Hughes and Mrs. Barend) worked together to plot volcanoes around the world in their science lesson
Mrs. Richer’s class visited the garden!
Ms. Lilian sharing her heritage and family
Buddy time in Mrs. Farrell/Mrs. Eaton's room
Bus Behavior Expectations
Since the beginning of this school year, the teachers and staff have had several conversations with our students regarding expected behavior while waiting for and when riding the bus.
We have watched recent video footage of our buses and many of our students are not adhering to the bus conduct and safety rules we have discussed with them.
Below is what we shared with students K-5:
Be a Good Listener- Listen to bus drivers’ directions
Use a Quiet Voice- Level 3 (classroom voice)
Sit Safely and Stay in your Seat- Your bottom is on the seat and feet on the floor at all times. Only stand up when you are getting off the bus. Sit in your assigned grade level section - Kindergarten students are in the front, first graders are behind them, etc. and fifth graders are seated in the back
Additional bus conduct and safety rules can be found in the WPS Elementary Handbook and Code of Conduct
The handbook also includes disciplinary action that could be taken if students continue to not meet expectations.
Violations of these procedures could result in the following actions
A. FIRST VIOLATION: Upon receipt of a Bus Conduct Report, the Principal will issue a warning and inform Central Office and the driver, as well as the parents of the child.
B. SECOND VIOLATION: A second violation will result in a suspension of bus privileges for a minimum of five (5) school days.
C. THIRD VIOLATION: A third violation may result in a suspension of bus privileges for the remainder of the school year.
D. The Walpole School Department, through the Superintendent of Schools or his designee, retains the right to suspend the bus privileges of any student for behavior or misconduct that endangers the safety of its students, the driver, or the bus at any time. Parents, bus driver and Central Office will be notified of all suspensions in writing by the Principal. Further disciplinary action may be taken by School Administrators depending on the severity of the
offense.
Please discuss these rules and procedures with your student and contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Click the button below to view a quick video to watch with your student, further illustrating expected behavior on the bus - Thank You Karen Wolff (Digital Learning Coach) for this production!
We appreciate your support!
After School Enrichment is Back!
We're excited to offer some new programs for the fall session- like Learn to Knit, and Skills Games! Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for five weeks, from 3:05-4:20pm. The cost is $45 or $55 per class (see description). You can find the full list of offerings and more details here.
Sign-ups will begin on Monday, September 22 at 7:00pm and will not be accepted prior to that time.
The Sign-Up Genius can be found here.
For questions or confidential scholarship information, contact Kate Anderson directly at: kanderson@walpole.k12.ma.us.
Attention all 5th Graders!
We are excited to share that Unified Sports is beginning at Fisher School this year!
What is Unified Sports? Unified Sports brings students of all abilities together through shared activities. The goal is to promote inclusion, acceptance, and respect while having fun playing games and sports. Students participate in fun, non-competitive games and activities designed to encourage cooperation, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone involved.
This program will give our District Learning Program (DLP) students opportunities to build friendships, develop teamwork skills, and enjoy playtime in a supportive environment.
Unified Sports is part of a larger initiative that continues at both the middle and high school levels here in Walpole. By starting at the elementary level, we are giving our students an early opportunity to experience the joy and connection that comes with being part of an inclusive team.
What is a Unified Sports Buddy?A Unified Sports Buddy is a student who volunteers to participate alongside DLP students. Buddies support their teammates, demonstrate teamwork and sportsmanship, and actively join in games and activities. The goal is for all students to have fun, build friendships, and feel fully included.
Schedule at Fisher School:
Unified Sports will take place every Day 1 during 5th grade recess.
Students who wish to participate as Unified Sports Buddies will be able to sign up, and participants will be rotated monthly to ensure everyone has a chance to join.
We are thrilled to bring this program to Fisher School and look forward to seeing our students learn, grow, and have fun together.
Thank you for your continued support of our programs and students.
**Unified Sports will be run by:
Jenn Hornsleth (Physical Education Teacher) and Mary Vey (Special Education Team Chair)
We’re excited to announce that Docent lessons will resume in October for the 2025–2026 school year! This program trains volunteers to give guided presentations and educate your child’s class on art appreciation and art history. No experience is necessary - we will teach you what you need to know, and hand you all the materials. Classroom visits take about an hour, and often include games or crafts.
This year, we will continue to collaborate closely with teachers to share what students are learning in the classroom, highlight the art activities they complete, and celebrate their creativity.
You can find the full Docent schedule for all grades (1–5) here: DOCENT Schedule 2025-26
Our program wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our amazing volunteers. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or even a cousin who would like to learn about art and share it with students, we’d love to welcome you to the Docent team. Reach out to us at fisherdocent@gmail.com.
Picture Day for Fisher Elementary School is scheduled for Monday, October 27th. For further information or to place an online order click here.
Use Fisher School code 0238VGA
SPORTS CLASS
Coach Mike (formerly of Kids In Sports) has 10 years of experience teaching children the
fundamentals of sports in an organized, safe, fun and supportive environment. Coach
Mike’s after school program will teach children different sports each week: baseball,
basketball, football, floor hockey, volleyball & soccer. Through fun activities, sports drills
and competitive games, the kids will improve on their skills and learn good
sportsmanship. The class will be held in the school gym immediately after school.
Thursdays
Nov 6, Nov 13, Nov 20, Dec 4, Dec 11 & Dec 18
3:00pm - 4:00pm
Grades K, 1 & 2
$175.00
How to register:
Enroll for the after school programs online at:
https://campscui.active.com/orgs/CoachMikesMobileSports?season=3699946
SPACE IS VERY LIMITED
Questions?
Contact Coach Mike at coachmikemobilesports@gmail.com or call (508) 660-7111
The Walpole Public Schools Music Department is pleased to announce the fall session for our Private Lesson Program for students in grades 4 - 12. If your child is interested in taking private instrument or voice lessons, here is your chance. Lessons are offered in flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, tuba, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, guitar and voice. All lessons are taught by accomplished performers on their respective instruments. Some lessons are currently being taught virtually.
Session 1 will run September 22 to January 30. Registration is open until Wednesday, September 17th.
For more information and to register, visit:
https://sites.google.com/walpole.k12.ma.us/wpsmusic/private-lesson-program/overview
For questions, email:
Tim Fleming (K-12 Music Coordinator) at tfleming@walpole.k12.ma.us
What an exciting year we had last year for our Rally Against Cancer! Our Fisher’s Finest team raised an unprecedented $93, 089.71 to support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund.
In the 20 years we have participated in the Rally Against Cancer, Fisher School has raised more than $200,000 total, something we can all be extremely proud of. I was honored to have our inspirational family, the Lodges, join me on the field at Fenway Park and help present the “check” to the Jimmy Fund. Thank you to everyone who supported our team last year to make all of that possible!
This year, we will starting off our fundraising with our Green Monster Wall of Honor. Rather than waiting until January to do this, we figured it made sense to have it for the entire school year. If you have visited Fisher School, and walked down the hallway to the auditorium, you have probably seen last year’s wall. On the wall are baseballs, each one representing a friend or loved one who has been affected by cancer. Some have survived, some are still in the fight, and, sadly, some have passed on. We honor, celebrate, and remember them all with our wall. A donation form will be sent home soon, and you may complete it with the name(s) you wish to have included on the wall. Return the form and your donation (any amount) to school and the next time you visit, you will see your baseball on our Green Monster Wall. Photos are welcome, too!
Also available are Fisher School Excuse Note Pads. These were created by my daughter (proud Mom here!) and donated to us to help raise funds for Fisher’s FInest. They are only $5 each, all of which goes to our Rally. If you want to order one, please click here: Student Excuse Notepad Order and complete the form. As soon as I receive your payment, I’ll send the notepad(s) home with your student.
We will be holding our My Grandma’s Coffee Cake fundraiser in late November/early December this year, allowing for holiday gift-giving and eating! Watch for more on that soon! Also, our Change for a Cure will begin in January. More information to come on that soon, too!
As always, thank you all for your amazing continued support of Fisher's Finest!
Carolyn McDonough - Rally Captain for Fisher’s Finest cmcdonough@walpole.k12.ma.us
Student Walker Permission Form
Families with students that walk home have the option to pick up their student at Door #18 or allow them to walk home. Please sign this form if you give permission for your child to walk home unaccompanied by an adult.
Reminder: Per School Handbook: Only 5th grade students are allowed to ride bikes to and from school.
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures - Please read: Changes for the 2025-2026 school year
Walkers will be dismissed from door #18 at 3:00pm. Parents are expected to meet their students outside of Door 18. Students are not allowed to cross driveways unattended. This is a change from last year. Due to safety concerns, parents are not allowed to park in the Fisher School parking lots to retrieve their children.
Click HERE to view our arrival and dismissal procedures
Walpole Public School App
For this coming school year, we are asking families to download the WPS app. We will be reserving SMS text messaging for urgent messages only. When sending non-urgent messages to families, we will be using the Live Feed as the delivery tool (through the WPS App). You will receive a detailed email from our tech department with further information and instructions.
Urgent alerts are considered to be "must read right now" messages, such as school closings, late buses, absence notifications, and emergencies. Non urgent alerts are considered to be reminders for spirit days, special events after school, etc.
Walpole Public Schools 2025-2026 school year calendar
Please click here for all district calendar/times information
The school day will begin at 8:30am
Dismissal will be at 3:00pm
Early Release Days - dismissal will be 11:55am
Main Office Information
Absences: If your student is going to be absent or tardy, please call the absence line and let us know in advance. You may call this line at anytime and leave a message. The telephone number is 508-660-7234 and then press 1
Early Dismissals: Please send a hand written note with your student in the morning or fill out this form with at least 2 hours advance notice.
Afterschool dismissal changes: If your student is changing their typical way of leaving Fisher at 3:00pm, please send a note into school with the plan that morning.
We understand that there are unavoidable last minute changes, however, please be mindful that we must call the classroom and upset time on leaning with each change.
Please feel free to email the front office: fisher-secretaries@walpole.k12.ma.us