WHS eNotes

Dear students, staff, and parents/guardians:

As we head into April vacation, I want to take a moment to wish each of you a restful and enjoyable break. Whether you're traveling, spending time with loved ones, or simply relaxing at home, I hope the week brings you joy, fun, and a chance to recharge.

Thank you all for your hard work, dedication, and spirit throughout the school year so far. I look forward to seeing everyone back, refreshed and ready to finish the year strong!

Enjoy the break and stay safe!

Sincerely,

Stephen Imbusch

Principal

This is to inform you about a mandatory health screening for Grade 10 students that will be taking place soon. The screening program is known as SBIRT – Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment. This screening meets the requirements of MGL Ch 71 Section 96. Our goal is to let students know that we are available to reinforce healthy decisions and to assist them in obtaining support if needed for substance use related problems.

The SBIRT program screening process will be completed on April 30 th and May 1st. The screenings will be conducted by the school counseling and nursing staff in private one-on-one sessions. We will use the CRAFFT screening tool, the most commonly used substance use screening tool for adolescents in Massachusetts.

As with any school screening, you have the right to opt your child out of this screening. Please complete this form you wish to opt your student out of this screening by Friday, April 25th. In addition, screening is voluntary and students may also elect to opt out of this screening.

The Walpole High School Junior-Senior Prom will be held on Friday, May 2nd at Gillette Stadium, Route 1 Foxboro from 6 pm - 10:00 pm. Attendance is mandatory until 9:30 pm.

Students may enter through the West Gate Doors beginning at 6 pm. Please see the attached map for parking. Lighted electronic boards and directional signs will direct you to our event.

If you have any further questions please contact Ms. Allison at: sallison@walpole.k12.ma.us.

As May 2nd is not an early release day, students must be present for four periods that day to be eligible to go to prom. This includes any Study periods.

The Walpole Public Schools will be exhibiting a District Art Show, Grades K-12, for the entire month of May at the Walpole Public Library.

There will be an opening reception on Wednesday, May 7th from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm.

All are welcome. Please stop by to admire the work and meet the artists and teachers!

“We Got the Beat: A Night of Dance Music”

WHS Annual Pops Night

Friday, May 23rd @ 6:30PM

WHS Gymnasium

This is a fundraiser to benefit the Michael Falker Scholarship Fund.

Michael Falker was a long-time music teacher in Walpole and was known for his belief that all students should have access to quality musical experiences. The Scholarship Fund is a means to continue his legacy in Walpole schools.

There will be desserts provided and beverages for sale. In addition, there will be raffles for a variety of items. Doors will open at 6:30pm for guests to peruse the raffle items and purchase beverages. Music will begin at 7:00PM.

Tickets prices: $7 presale $10 at the door

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://tinyurl.com/WHSPopsNight

Spring Edition of the Walpole METCO Newsletter

Walpole High School 23rd Annual Film Festival is Thursday May 1st.

Tickets are on sale now.

Seats are $10 each and there is only one showing this year!

Link to ticket sales

Dear Parents and Guardians -

Happy Spring! The much-anticipated staff appreciation luncheon is coming soon! We need your support to ensure this year’s event is a wonderful celebration for all teachers and staff of Walpole High School.

It’s easy to donate!

As the WHS PAC does not run traditional fundraisers, we rely on the generosity of the WHS community to fund the activities we organize for the staff. We began this year with a Rita’s Lemonade kickoff, brought Country Kitchen treats in October, and restocked the staff room with lots of goodies and drinks in February. Please help us continue with these signs of appreciation. To make a family donation: Venmo @Whs-Donations (include “PAC - staff appreciation” in the note) or by check (payable to WHS PAC) dropped at the office.

Plans in progress

For this year’s celebration we will purchase delicious lunch options and special treats from a local restaurant. With enough donations, as an additional token of appreciation, we will be able to give every staff member a gift card. Please help us reach that goal. Watch for more information soon, along with a request for volunteers to help with setup and clean up.

Thank you for your support and for helping to show the staff how much they are appreciated!

Sincerely,

Kathy Falvey, Meghan Alson, Mary Patey, Nancy Niles

WHS PAC Committee

Dear WHS Parents and Guardians -

You’re invited to learn tips and tricks for helping your student navigate their post-high school options. Please attend the May 6th PAC meeting at 7:00pm in the Media Center. All are welcome and encouraged to bring your questions.Note that the meeting date has changed due to a scheduling conflict.

Guidance Director Jen Dolan and a parent panel will share their experiences with the college planning process. We’ll also hear about the successful expansion of the WHS Work Study program that offers students an internship opportunity for their second semester senior year.

This is the last PAC meeting of the year and will be a great source of important information. Please join us for this engaging discussion.

Please RSVP to confirm you can make it. We look forward to seeing you!

Sincerely,

Kathy Falvey, Meghan Alson, Mary Patey, Nancy Niles

WHS PAC Committee

Attention Seniors! There are several scholarships available to WHS Class of 2025 given in memory of community members or organizations in town. Please check your email for additional information- if you would like to be considered the application is in your SCOIR drive and is due 4/27. See your school counselor with questions.

Walpole Teachers Association

Chief Carmichael Jr. Scholarship

Tom Olen Memorial Fund Scholarship (see flyer below)

KPW Youth Hockey Scholarship- Application in School Counseling Office

Syrian Lebanese Women's Club of Greater of Boston- Application in School Counseling Office

Walpole Teachers Association- Google form on Scholarship List

Walpole Youth Football & Cheer Scholarship- Application in School Counseling Office

The Garden Club Federation of Mass.- Available for students majoring in Horticulture, Landscape Design, Biology, Conservation

NCF/Best Buy Health Scholars Program- Available for Nursing or STEM-related healthcare fields

NAAAP Future Leaders Scholarship- Available for students of Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society Scholarship for female graduating seniors who plan to pursue a career in teaching- Application in School Counseling Office

Juniors are invited to attend a field trip to Bridgewater State University to attend a college fair on May 29th. Students will be transported to campus by bus for a college fair, admissions presentation and lunch in the dining hall. There is no cost to this trip, however, if students choose to eat in the dining hall, the cost will be approximately $10. Please return the attached permission slip by May 15th to the Counseling office.

Over 100 participating colleges and universities are listed here: NEACAC College Fair

The WHS School Counseling Department will be bringing students on a field trip to attend an info session and tour the campus of Massasoit Community College on May 20th from 9:30-12:30. Community College in Massachusetts is currently free for Massachusetts residents and is a great way to get an affordable associates degree or save money when transferring to a 4 year school after two years.

Please sign up here: Massasoit Field Trip sign-up if you are interested.

As you may know, 13 of our robotics students are in Houston for the World Championships and so far they are doing great. They have had 2 fantastic matches on their field. There are 8 fields (all named for scientists). They are in Hopper. The goal is to make it to Einstein! If you'd like to follow their competition the twitch channel is and schedule is below:

https://www.twitch.tv/firstinspires_hopper

Times may vary slightly:

Their qualification schedule is:

Thursday
- Match 8 about 10:06 am EST
- Match 25 about 11:22 am EST
- Match 37 about 2:34 pm EST
- Match 49 about 4:10 pm EST
- Match 61 about 5:46 pm EST
Friday
- Match 71 about 9:04 am EST
- Match 87 about 11:12 am EST
- Match 95 about 1:47 pm EST
- Match 112 about 4:03 pm EST
- Match 122 about 5:23 pm EST

Full Match List: https://frc-events.firstinspires.org/2025/HOPPER/qualifications
On-going Rankings: https://frc-events.firstinspires.org/2025/HOPPER/rankings

Playoffs are Saturday,

Thank you,

Mrs. Lamar, the school librarian, would like to introduce you to the heart of the Massachusetts' Teen Choice Book Award! Now, listen closely, because this is special: this is the only book award in our entire Bay State where you, students in grades 7 through 12, get to decide the best new books of the year!

Think of it – your voices, your choices!

A dedicated committee of public librarians, school library media specialists, and educators have carefully selected a fantastic list of nominees just for you. You can start diving into these amazing books over the summer, and then, come September, you'll have the power to cast your vote for your absolute favorite! So, get ready to read, discuss, and make your voices heard! I can't wait to see which books you choose!

Best Buddies will have a special meeting on Tuesday, April 29th from 2:10-3:00 pm in the cafeteria. Representatives from Best Buddies of MA/RI will be there to do a "Walk Kickoff Party" to celebrate our chapter for being the top fundraising team in the Central Mass Friendship Walk on May 17th!

Competing against thousands of high school students on approximately 200 other teams from all over New England, Walpole High School’s Robotics Team —Timberwolves FRC 1153— earned themselves a place at the World Championship in Houston, TX. After ranking 2nd in their division, 1153 took on the role of an alliance captain in playoffs and ended the competition with a silver finalist award. In addition, their consistency and high performance earned them the prestigious Autonomous Award, marking the 3rd technical award that the team has won this season, the first two being Excellence in Engineering and Industrial Design.

In addition, both Zena Girhotra. and Dyuthi Prashanth were chosen to advance to the Houston Championship for the prestigious Dean’s List Award, named for FIRST founder Dean Kamen. As a result of the many successes of the season, the team’s decision to forgo the World Championships was reversed, and the team will be competing with their robot this season. However, this decision also comes with a whopping $21,000 added to team expenses on an already tight budget. If you can help in any way, a donation link can be found on their website: www.walpolerobotics.org or through their Facebook fundraising link. You may also donate through Venmo at @walpole-robotics-foundation.

Facebook Donation Link: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1301072060974175/1095170592643695/

NEXT MEETING

Tuesday, April 29th

7:00 - 8:00p

Walpole Public Library- Pinnacle Room

The Caregiver Connection Series is a newly organized group created by SEPAC members, offering an informal space for parents to connect, build a sense of community, and support each other. Parents of children with special needs are encouraged to participate in an open discussion to share experiences, seek advice, and explore practical strategies for self-care.

All event information is listed in the link below. We look forward to seeing you at the games.

Walpole Timberwolves apparel check out the link below.

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/massachusetts/walpole/walpole-high-school

For a list of upcoming events please click on the following link: https://sites.google.com/a/walpole.k12.ma.us/athletics/

Email: rdowd@walpole.k12.ma.us
Phone: 508-660-7257
Twitter: @WalpoleAD

Email: simbusch@walpole.k12.ma.us
Website: http://walpolewhs.ss5.sharpschool.com/
Location: 275 Common Street, Walpole, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 660-7257
Twitter: @WalpoleHS