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Vanya S. gave the following update:

• Term 1 has officially ended, and report cards are now available.
• Seniors in the Class of 2026 are invited to apply for the Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy, with testing scheduled for December. This award recognizes proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in two or more languages
• The WHS Drama Club delivered an outstanding performance of Little Shop of Horrors last weekend, showcasing months of dedication from the cast and crew.
• The Speech and Debate Team had a strong showing at Natick High School, with five students advancing to the finals, including two first-time competitors.
• UNICEF and Red Cross hosted their second annual “Monsters for a Mission” fundraiser at Bird Park, where more than 30 student volunteers engaged families through educational activities and games.
• The Community Service Club is running a food drive to support the Walpole Food Pantry. Donations are being accepted through November 21st.
• The fall sports season is wrapping up, highlighted by the Cross Country teams’ final races at the Divisionals on Northfield Mountain, where the boys placed second and the girls placed fourth. Congratulations to the State Champion Field Hockey Team.
• As Thanksgiving approaches, WHS is preparing for Timberwolf Wednesday on November 26th, with students submitting activity ideas and planning is underway for the school-wide pep rally.

1. MCAS Presentation: Assistant Superintendent Dr. Bill Hahn presented 2025 MCAS and Advanced Placement review. Dr. Hahn’s presentation can be accessed here at time marker 5:42.

2. Extended Day New Rate Proposal: Mr. Friscia reviewed the proposed rates for the Extended Day program. The School Committee voted to approve the proposed rates for the 2026-2027 school year.

Dr. Gough reported:

• It has been an exciting end to the fall athletic season. Dr. Gough shared that she had the opportunity to attend several of the final games and playoff matchups, and noted how energizing it was to see the teams compete. Vanya’s update also reflected the wide range of activities happening at the high school. Over the next couple of meetings, when former senior are home from college, the district will formally recognize the girls’ lacrosse team and the baseball team, as well as the field hockey team for their recent state championship. Good luck to the cheerleading team as they compete in the State Championship this Saturday at Worcester State University.
• Along with Dr. Gough, School Committee member Nancy Gallivan had the opportunity to attend the MASC/MASS conference. This event is one of the largest annual gatherings of education leaders in Massachusetts. The conference consisted of multiple workshop sessions and in-depth discussions on critical education issues. It also afforded them the opportunity to collaborate and network with other Superintendents and School Committee members across the state. They also had the chance to see School Committee member Kari Denitizo representing the Massachusetts School Counselors Association in her role as Program Review Coordinator.
• Regarding scholarships, all School Committee members should have received an email from Jennifer Breen regarding Fales, Leach, Rogers, and Kunde Scholarship applications. A meeting is scheduled for December 9th at 6:00pm to review these applications.
• Dr. Gough also highlighted current opportunities within the WHS Work Study and Innovation Career Pathway Programs, which are actively seeking business partners to host student interns. The programs welcome participation from all professions, including trades, health care, engineering firms, and accounting practices. Interested partners are encouraged to complete the interest form or contact James Connolly at jconnolly@walpole.k12.ma.us. Additional information is available on the Work Study and Innovation Career Pathways websites.
  
• With winter approaching, Dr. Gough reminded everyone about our snow day procedures. The Superintendent of Schools is responsible for the final decision to cancel school based on weather-related factors and information received from the Department of Public Works. In the event of a cancellation or delayed opening, we will communicate through various channels, such as recorded phone messages, local news channels, social media (Walpole Public Schools app), and the WPS website. Please note that DESE will not allow district-wide remote learning days to replace snow days, and therefore any snow days will be made up in June.
• Dr. Gough also shared a reminder about Paint, Create, Collaborate, a service initiative from the Walpole High School National Art Honor Society (NAHS). The group is seeking requests for projects where student artists can contribute their time and talent to support the community. Community members are encouraged to submit project ideas through this form.
• Finally, Dr. Gough noted that Thanksgiving break begins next week, with an early release day on November 26th and no school on November 27th and 28th. Dr. Gough wished everyone a well-deserved break and an opportunity to relax and enjoy time with family.

High School Project: Dr. Gough reported the field house and the green house are on schedule. The inside of the field house has dry wall, sound proofing and some equipment installed. The sitework is in progress with grading and sidewalks being installed. Updates to the project can be seen on the WHS project webpage here.