Dear Families,

Parenting is hard work. I sometimes wish that there was a handbook given to me when my children were born. I'm sure that it would have come in handy in a number of situations.

Our world is a complex place to live and there are so many things going on that it can make your head spin. Most things in our daily routine can be easier to manage based on our experience, expectations, and values. Then there are some subjects that are difficult and we need to seek out the advice of others to see our way through. One of those subjects is the discussion about current world events that involve conflict and war. Because this has been a very recent topic in the news, we offer these resources to help you navigate conversations with your children:

How to talk to children about conflict and war: Eight tips to support and comfort your children.

How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime, and War: Common Sense Media tips and conversation starters to help you talk to kids of different ages about the toughest topics.

Tips for Parents and Educators: Talking to Children about Violence (Infographic from National Association of School Psychologists)

We hope that you find these resources helpful and worthy to add to your parenting handbook. If further conversation is needed, our counselors are always available.

Sincerely,

Ed Connor

BMS has some new mile time record holders!!!!!!

Our 6th grade record has been broken by Brooke M. With a time of 5:32. She beat her brother's record that has stood for 3 years!

Our new 8th grade and School-wide record has also been broken by Owen A. With a time of 5:25. We had the most sub 6 minute miles we have ever had. A huge congrats to all students for surpassing that achievement as well! They are listed below:

6th grade sub 6 minutes:

Dylan D.

AJ F.

Brooke M.

7th grade sub 6 minutes:

Fred C.

Aleksey G.

8th grade sub 6 minutes:

Owen A.

Aidan D.

Fiona D.

Colin F.

Jack H.

Colin M.

Shane M.

Zach R.

Private School Application Process

On occasion, staff members are asked to complete recommendation forms for students applying to private school(s). We recognize the importance of such requests, but ask that parents and students consider the following when making their request:

• Many of the applications are completed through an online application system. If this is the case for your child, the system will send an email request for recommendations from the counselor and teachers; however, we strongly encourage you to have your child speak to the school counselor and teacher(s) directly, as well, in order to personally request the completion of the forms.

• If your child is in 6th or 8th grade, please send the School Report forms to Katie Gingras (kgingras@walpole.k12.ma.us)

• If your child is currently in 7th grade, please send the School Report forms to Leah Cayer (lcayer@walpole.k12.ma.us).

• Give teachers and School Counselors at least a two week notice when requesting recommendations.

• You must still sign the ‘Transcript Release Form’ and have your child bring it to the School Counselor in order for transcripts to be released and forms to be completed.

• If the school that your child is applying to only accepts applications by mail, please have your child bring the Transcript Release Form to school along with $2.00 to cover the cost of postage.

Vocational School Application Process

If your child is applying to either Tri-County or Norfolk Agricultural High School, their applications will be sent directly to the school counselor to be completed. For more information about Tri-County please visit https://www.tri-county.us/. For more information about Norfolk Aggie please visit http://www.norfolkaggie.org/.

November is Native American Heritage Month. To learn more, Mrs. O'Malley has curated a list of books, websites, and articles which can be found at this link: Native American Heritage Month Resources

Epilepsy Awareness Month

Diabetes Awareness Month

National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

Movember

• 11/22 Turkey Run
• 11/22 Early Release at 11:30 am
• 11/28 School Council meeting at 3:00 pm

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: 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.

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.

Walpole High School Drama will be presenting its fall musical, Annie, on Friday and Saturday, November 17th and 18th at 7:00 PM, and Sunday, November 19th at 2:00 PM in the Walpole High School auditorium. Tickets are $12 online and $15 at the door. To purchase tickets and read a synopsis of the show, visit https://our.show/whsdrama/annie-2023. We hope to see you there!

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.

We have accumulated lots of items since the start of school and would like to help them find their way home! Please ask your student to visit the table in the cafeteria and have a look to claim what may be theirs. Some lunchboxes and water bottles have been there a long time. Before everything is sent for recycling please see if anything looks familiar, we would like to return everything to it's rightful owner.

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