Dear Families,

On Monday, October 16, I sent an email with the instructions on how to sign up for this year's Parent-Teacher Conferences. If you still want to sign up, you can follow the link below. Spaces are limited so sign up soon.

Parent-Teacher Conference Sign Up

We look forward to seeing and meeting with any parents/guardians who can attend the conferences!

Sincerely,

Ed Connor

Oct. 26 - Parent Teacher Conferences: In Person 6:00 -8:00 p.m.

Oct. 27 - Early Release Day: Students are dismissed at 11:30 am

Oct. 27 - Costumes for a Cause: see description below

Oct. 27 - Early Release Day: Parent Teacher Conferences: Virtual 12:15 - 2:45 p.m.

Oct. 31 - School Council 3:00 p.m.

Nov. 1 - Parent Teacher Conferences: In Person 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

In support of the local food pantry, BMS will be hosting a Costumes for a Cause day on Friday, October 27. Students will be allowed to wear costumes to school in exchange for a donation of $1 or a canned good. (Larger donations welcomed!)

Dress Code for Costumes for a Cause Day at BMS

Costumes may include hats and wigs, but with the exception of normal face coverings, no masks will be allowed. Face paint and colored hair spray are acceptable, but must be applied at home.

In addition, the following costumes will not be permitted:

• Outfits that are bloody or gory

• Outfits that promote the use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco

• Outfits that may be offensive to specific races, religions, or genders

• Outfits that are sexually suggestive

• Clown costumes

• or other costumes at the discretion of the School Administration

Lastly, possession of a real or fake weapon, or anything that could be construed as a weapon, is strictly prohibited. Possession of such an item in school may result in disciplinary action.

Each week we will feature a new member of our community. This week we'd like to spotlight Ms. Murphy:

Hi my name is Denita Murphy and I am returning to Walpole (I once worked at JMS) as the new 7th & 8th grade science teacher at BMS. I have held a number of positions in education here in the US and overseas. I love making sure that students feel comfortable in my class and often use humor to help them get through the challenges of middle school life and learning. I am looking forward to seeing their growth and progress over the course of the school year.

Outside of school I enjoy riding my bike, walking, traveling, and time with the people who are important to me.

Denita Murphy, M.Ed.

Just a friendly reminder that 7th Grade Physicals are due at this time. Please submit them to the Health Office if you have not done so already.

The Health Office would like to inform you that we will begin the State Mandated Screenings at BMS this November beginning with the 7th grade height and weight on November 2nd and 6th. The following lists the required screenings by grade level:

6th: Grade: Vision, Hearing, Scoliosis

7th: Grade: Height, Weight, Scoliosis, SBIRT

8th: Scoliosis

We understand that your child might be seen by their physician regularly and may have already been screened for some of these. If this is the case, and you would like to opt your student out of these screenings, we ask that you submit a copy of your child's most recent physical to the Health Office if you have not already done so. Additionally, please respond to this email if you would like to opt your child out. Please state your child's name, grade and what screenings you are opting them out of. As a parent or guardian, you have the right to opt your child out of any or all of these screenings.

Please contact the Health Office with any concerns or questions.

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.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

ADHD Awareness Month

LGBTQ+ History Month

National Book Month

Socktober

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.

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is the biggest festival in the Hindu calendar and is also known as the "Festival of Lights". It is celebrated every year in October or November. Diwali lasts five days, with the main celebrations being held on the third day of the festival. This year Diwali will begin on November 12th.

The Walpole Middle School Cross Country program is designed for athletes to get a preview of High School Cross Country. They will learn about the sport of running and experience competition against other middle school runners. Join coach Antonietta O'Toole on Tuesdays and Thursdays for this seven-week Cross Country Program. This program will focus on strength, flexibility, endurance, technique and speed. Click here to sign up.

BMS and Incoming BMS parents .......... we just wanted to reach out and let you know that there is a way to contribute to the school, we are looking to raise more funds by direct donations, so we can prepare for the 2023-2024 school year!

PAC continues to support BMS activities, including: 6th, 7th and 8th grade field trips, homework club, 8th grade year end dance, staff appreciation, student appreciation, field day, recess equipment and school supplies for students in classrooms. We are continuing to work with BMS to bring in more events to the school this year and next for the teachers and kids, but funding is needed! Please consider donating this year through Venmo or sending in a check with your child to give to the office , payable to BMS PAC. Lets try to beat last years direct donation total of $3900! We have raised $955 so far! The PAC appreciates all that contributed so far this year.

Please be aware that we open our doors to students at 7:25, and we expect each student to be in their homeroom seat by 7:45. Homeroom is an important time for students to get settled and receive important information about goings on during the school day. Any student who arrives to homeroom after 7:45 will be marked tardy. Once a student has accrued three tardies in a term, they will be required to serve an after school detention. If you have any questions, or would like some guidance on how to help your student arrive to school on time, please contact Mr. O'Leary for help.

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

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.

Students spend some time outside during lunch for 10 - 12 minutes every day, with the exception of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and extreme temperatures. Please be sure to send your student in with appropriate outdoor clothing so we can all enjoy their time outside after eating lunch.

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.

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