Dear Families,

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Whether you celebrated Holi earlier this week, are currently celebrating Ramadan, are going to celebrate Easter soon, or are looking forward to Passover, we wish everyone a happy and festive spring holiday season. It's our hope that you get to enjoy these celebrations will your family and friends.

Enjoy the upcoming three day weekend.

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will occur across our region. While this is a rare and exciting phenomenon, we want to share some important safety information with you because the solar event will occur at or around our regular school dismissal time. Since looking directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing is unsafe, we encourage parents to review NASA’s safety guidelines with your children.

How to Safely View the Total Solar Eclipse (English)

How to Safely View the Total Solar Eclipse (Languages other than English)

MCAS test days have been scheduled for BMS

We have scheduled our MCAS testing for this school year. See the dates below. Please do your best to make sure that your child is in school on these days. We will have them make up the tests for any days that they are absent. We'll update you with further information in the coming weeks.

MCAS dates at BMS:

• ELA: April 9 & 10 (all grades)
• Science: May 14 & 15 (grade 8 only)
• Math: May 21 & 22 (all grades)
• Social Studies Field Test: May 29 & 30 (grade 8 only)

Hi Families! We are collecting baby/young pictures for the 8th graders to put in the yearbook! If you could upload a picture to this google form it will ensure that your child will have their picture posted in their yearbook. If for some reason you have difficulties with uploading the picture, please reach out to Meaghan Valley mvalley@walpole.k12.ma.us and we can figure out a way to do it. Thanks so much!

8th Grade Baby Picture Submission 23-24

All students have received a copy of the attached step by step instructions and course selection worksheet, which will help you work with them at home. Additionally copies can be accessed on the grade level Google classroom. Students must select their electives and a minimum of 3 alternate classes in X2 by March 26, 2024.

Here is a reminder of the timeline for this process:

March 26th: Deadline for grade 8 students to select elective courses in X2.

March 27th - April 8th: Counselors will review course selections to make sure students have done this process correctly and continue to work with students who need to make corrections. Once this process is complete, the WHS counseling department will send home an email for parents to verify the electives selected by their children.

April 22nd: Course Verification and waiver email sent to parents to e-sign and request waivers, if applicable.

April 26th: Waiver deadline.

You can visit the interactive program of studies site to get an understanding of the difference between class levels (CP2, CP1, and Honors) as well as to help your child review the different electives available to them as freshmen.

As we plan for the upcoming school year, we understand that some families may be considering different education options other than Walpole high School. Please complete this form only if your child is planning on attending a school other than Walpole High School.

Please contact Katie Gingras (kgingras@walpole.k12.ma.us) with any questions.

The Health Office will begin conducting the annual postural screenings on April 23rd. The purpose of this screening is to find early signs of possible spinal problems in children in grades 6 through 8. It is not a diagnostic service but a program to identify young people who should have further medical evaluation.

If your child has any unusual findings, you will be notified and asked to take your child to a physician as a precaution. The majority of students exhibit no findings. If nothing unusual is found, you will not be notified unless you ask to be notified of your child's results.

Screenings will take place during your child's PE class and will be performed in the Health Office. Girls should bring or wear a swimsuit top or tank top on the day that they will be screened. This will allow for a more accurate observation of the back.

If you do not wish to have your child participate in this mandated screening and have not opted them out already, please notify Mrs. Ludwig in writing. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Ludwig.

Please remember that parents, not students, must give medications directly to the nurse.

If your child requires the administration of medication during the school day or the use of specific medical devices, including Epipens, please make arrangements to drop them off directly to Nurse Ludwig. She can be reached at sludwig@walpole.k12.ma.us or by phone at (508) 660-7226.

• Fri. 3/29 - No School. (Day of Low Attendance)

• Wed. 4/3 - End of Term 3

• Tue. 4/9 - ELA MCAS all grades

• Wed. 4/10 - ELA MCAS all grades

• Fri. 4/12 - Term 3 Report Cards published in X2 Aspen

• 4/15-19 - No School April Recess

Upcoming Unified Basketball Games:

Jamboree: April 2nd in West Bridgewater

• Unified Basketball began the last week of February and continues through the month of March...then we will go into the NEW Unified Cornhole Season! This season will begin in April and run through May. Stay tuned for more details on both! If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ms. Crawford @ ccrawford@walpole.k12.ma.us

We have recently seen an uptick in student tardies, with many cars still in our driveway at 7:45. As we start Quarter 3, we would like to remind everyone that students are to be in their homeroom seats by 7:45 every morning. If a student is tardy three times in a quarter, they will earn a detention in the office. We invite you to join us in reminding students of the importance of being present for the start of the day, and how that time can be spent getting prepared and organized for the day’s classes. If you feel that your student would benefit from a meeting with Mr. O’Leary in order to learn about strategies and techniques for getting to school on time, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Please remember to send in a note with your student if they need to be dismissed early from BMS. Students can give the note to their HR teacher or drop it off in the Main Office when they arrive. By doing so, students will then be placed on our "Daily Bulletin", and will be excused from class by their teacher at the proper dismissal time. This will reduce the amount of interruptions caused by calling into the classroom to send down students.

We realize that there are many occasions when your child may need to be dismissed. We prefer if you can please try and dismiss between classes, if possible. The optimal dismissal times for that are: 8:50, 9:45, 10:19, 11:14, 12:37, 1:32.

If you have informed us in advance of a dismissal, please telephone the front office when you arrive so we can call your student down and know that you are waiting outside. We do not want to send any student outside if their ride isn't waiting for them. We ask that if you are dismissing your child and no note or email has been sent ahead of time, please come into the front office and sign them out.

If you have any questions, please contact bmsoffice@walpole.k12.ma.us

Please drive carefully when on campus. A couple of our teachers have had close calls as they are trying to park in the morning. We would appreciate if cars stop and let teachers park without pulling around them or behind them as they are maneuvering into a spot. Please wait until they are situated in their space before trying to leave via the driveway.

When dropping off or picking up students during dismissal and arrival time, please make sure to only do so at the bottom of the driveway. I ask this out of a concern for the safety of students since they would have to cross what can be a very busy driveway at those times. Your cooperation is appreciated.

What is homework club?

Homework Club is a quiet work environment proctored by a staff member in the Media from 2:30-3:40 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s a great place for students to come after school, get work done, and maybe even not have any homework to do when they get home!

How do students sign up?

They don’t have to! Students show up immediately after school and sign in on any Tuesday or Thursday sessions they care to attend.

Do students always have to go?

No! Students can just come as needed.

How do students get home?

If they are a bus student, they can take the late bus home. If they get a ride, their ride can come at 3:40 or sooner. If they are a walker, they can walk home at 3:40, or sooner if that is ok with your family.

Who is it for? How much does it cost?

It’s for every BMS student, and it is free thanks to a donation by our PAC.

Last year, Walpole Public Schools began using a new mass communications system for attendance. This system allows for improved messaging between schools and families for automated notifications of school absences as well as for more time-sensitive alerts like unscheduled school closings.

If your child is absent and we have not received a phone call or message from you regarding that absence, then an automated attendance call will activate in order to alert you about the absence.

If you find that the system contacts incorrect phone numbers or email addresses, please contact the school’s main office with updated information.

This year Mrs. O'Malley is splitting time between Bird Middle School and Johnson Middle School. Below are the days and times students can see Mrs. O'Malley to check out a book, ask for a book recommendation, or receive extra help with research.

Days 1,2,3 - Mrs. O'Malley is at BMS

Days 5,6,7 - Mrs. O'Malley is at JMS

Day 4 - Mrs. O'Malley alternates the two schools.

• Before school Days 1,2,3: Check out a book, read, do homework, study. 7:20 - 7:45 am

• X block Days 1&3: Visit the library to check out a book.

• Working lunch Days 1 & 2: Bring your lunch & read a book, do homework, or study

Remember eBooks & audiobooks are always accessible through SORA on the Chromebook.

As a reminder, all student meals (breakfast and lunch) are free of charge this school year. Find out what's being served by checking out the Middle School Menu.

Walpole Writes: A Town Wide Writing Contest

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 any topic to write about.

The contest is open through April 26 and winners will be announced in May. To submit an entry, writers must complete an entry form with their entry uploaded by April 26. The entry form can be found here: https://bit.ly/WalpoleWrites24

Winners will be recognized at a celebration at the Walpole Public Library on Thursday, June 20. The Walpole Cultural Council will create a publication of winning entries. Walpole Writes is sponsored by Dedham Savings Bank and Sharon Credit Union.

BAA Relay Challenge: Assistant Principal Cashman and Middle School Track and Field Coach Antonietta O'Toole will be bringing a middle school group of runners to Boston to represent Walpole Schools in the BAA Relay Challenge on Sunday, April 14. This event is part of the BAA schedule for Boston Marathon Weekend. Athletes will participate in different relays (by age, gender, All-Star) at City Hall Plaza in Boston. Each relay leg is about 400 meters. Check-in for the event begins at 8:15AM, and the event goes until 10:30AM. It is important to know that this date is the first Sunday of April vacation. To sign up, email Mr. Cashman (ccashman@walpole.k12.ma.us) as soon as possible with the following information: your name, age (as of (4/14/24), and your grade. In 2022 and 2023, we finished 3rd Place in the All-Star Relay Race—our highest finish in the 23 years of Walpole competing at this event (See attached pictures). This event may fill up, so I encourage you to sign up quickly if you are interested.

2024 Application Process -

Attention all current 8th Graders who have an interest in the STEM field:

Walpole High School is currently accepting applications for admittance into STEM Academy Class of 2028. All information along with the online application can be found by visiting the high school’s website link below:

https://www.walpole.k12.ma.us/o/whs/page/whs-stem-academy

The deadline to apply is May 17, 2024. If you have a passion for Science, Technology Engineering and Math, this is the place for you. Please reach out to your current technology teacher and/or Mr. Braccini at jbraccini@walpole.k12.ma.us with any questions.

Two programs from the Walpole Recreation Department

If you have any questions or general concerns, please contact Principal Connor at econnor@walpole.k12.ma.us or Assistant Principal O'Leary at joleary@walpole.k12.ma.us.

Email: bmsoffice@walpole.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.walpole.k12.ma.us/o/bms
Location: 625 Washington St, Walpole, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 660-7226