Hello Elm Street School Families and Friends,

Our Nest has been full of learning, growth, and connection this week and we are preparing for the final week before the Winter Break filled with special events and activities. As a reminder, please be sure you are notifying the main office of any absences (planned or unplanned). These notifications help us ensure accurate attendance each morning and support us in a smooth start to each day.

I want to share my gratitude for our entire Elm community, The Junior Women's Club of Walpole (JWCW), the Blessed Sacrament parish, the Langley Foundation, the Walpole Police Department, and the Walpole Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) program for the generosity shown this winter season. Through donations and gifts we were able to provide holiday gifts and winter gear to 30 Elm students and siblings!

At Elm we are keenly aware that this time of year may not be joyful for all our students, families, and community members. Our educators are working hard to support all students with whatever feelings they bring to school each day from joy to nervousness to sorrow and all the emotions and spaces in between. If you anticipate your child(ren) needing a little extra support this time of year please don't hesitate to reach out to your child(ren)'s classroom teacher, support team, and/or our counselors.

In this week's News from the Nest you will find additional information about:

• Upcoming Dates/Events: December
• Upcoming Elm Street School Spirit Days
• Walpole SEPAC Meeting
• December Counseling Newsletter
• Essentialist Weekly Newsletter: Physical Education
• Daniel Feeney Preschool Application
• Winter Maker's Market
• Math Update
• Elm 180 Fundraiser
• PAC News
• Walpole 300th Birthday Kick Off Laser Show

This week is our fourth and final week of our Spirt Days leading up to the Winter Break. This Wednesday (12/20) we invite everyone to dress up in a way that shares a special holiday, celebration, or tradition that you have in your family either this time of year or another time of year. Traditional clothing and other expressions of favorite celebrations are welcome. Please leave any masks, inflatables, and slippers at home.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at our Winter Maker's Market on Monday and checking out all the amazing crafts from our creative community!

Jen

• 12/3: Elm Crafts Local: Towne Crafters
• 12/6: Elm Street School December Assembly
• 12/6 3:15p: Elm Street School Council Meeting
• 12/7 - 15: Hanukkah
• 12/7 7:00p: PAC Meeting
• 12/8: Early Release Day
• 12/16 - 24: Las Posadas
• 12/18 6:30 - 8:00p Elm Winter Maker's Market
• 12/21: Winter Solstice
• 12/25: Christmas Day
• 12/25 - 1/1 Winter Break: School Closed (School Resumes on 1/2)
• 12/26 - 1/1 Kwanzaa

To foster connection and celebrate these 4 weeks leading up to the winter break we will be having 4 Spirit Days on Wednesdays. Below is each Wednesday's Theme:

Wednesday November 29th: Pajama Day - dress in your coziest PJs (please leave slippers and stuffed animals at home)

Wednesday December 6th: New England Sports - dress to represent your favorite New England sports team (all sports and group activities welcome!)

Wednesday December 13th: Bright and Sparkly - we want to chase away the long dark days with as much bright colors, sparkles, and sequins as possible!

Wednesday December 20th: Celebration - dress up to show us a favorite holiday, tradition, and/or celebration you have with your family this time of year

The Walpole SEPAC invites you to join us for DESE - Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) SEPAC Orientation to the Tiered Focus Monitoring Process

This is a VIRTUAL ONLY event (see link below) will be followed by an open discussion with the Walpole SEPAC

When?

Monday, December 18th at 6:00 PM

Where to log in?

Join us on zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89411331336

Questions?

Email us at walpolesepac@gmail.com

We are here to help!

The Daniel Feeney Preschool peer applications for the 2024-2025 school year is available on our website from December 1-22. Once the application window closes on 12/22 a lottery system will be employed to select peers.

Please click on the link below and navigate to "Application" for all information. Please read all information carefully and if you have any questions please contact Julie Martin, Director: jmartin@walpole.k12.ma.us

https://www.walpole.k12.ma.us/o/dfpc

This year we are introducing a new event- The Winter Maker's Market. On December 18th from 6:30 - 8:00p we will transform the Cafetorium to a market for students to sell and buy handmade crafts. All students are invited and encouraged to sign up for a "booth" to sell their own homemade crafts and everyone is welcome to attend to purchase crafts. We will even have a station to wrap your purchases if you intend to give them as gifts for any of the winter holidays.

We welcome all art, stickers, soaps, candles, perler bead creations, wire and beaded jewelry, pillows, friendship bracelets, and whatever craft you would like to produce and sell. Set your own prices, work individually or with a friend, and most of all HAVE FUN!

See below for more information and the link to sign up!

With Winter Break a week away, we thought it would be the perfect time to share some fun math games that can be played at home. Math games have many positive benefits that go beyond just math skills and concepts. It is wonderful that they help children reinforce and practice math skills, but they also can help reduce the fear of making mistakes, help foster communication and social emotional skills, build a love of math, and develop strategic thinking skills. “Children learn to solve problems together, think strategically about what moves to make, and how to be successful in playing the game. Throughout a math game, children make a lot of strategic decisions as they problem solve and plan their next move.” - 10 Benefits of Using Math Games with Students.

Our Family Math Site is full of games and activities that your children can do with a grown up, a friend, a sibling, or any willing participant! Many only need a deck of cards or a set of dice. Most board games involve some type of math and definitely involve critical thinking skills around problem solving and decision making. Play is an important part of learning at all levels, in the words of Mr. Rogers, “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning.But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”

Walpole –Walpole’s 300th Anniversary Celebration will kick off with a bang on December 16th with a laser and pyrotechnics show on Stone Field presented by Pyrotecnico. The free display of lights and sounds is a unique opportunity for the whole family to come together and view something truly spectacular. There will be two shows, one at 6pm and another at 8:30pm with ample time in between to stroll downtown and partake in one of Walpole’s many dining options.

For more information about the Lasar Show and other 300th Anniversary events, to browse merchandise for purchase, and to learn more about Walpole’s history, visit Walpole300.com

Email: jbuller@walpole.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.walpole.k12.ma.us/o/ess
Location: 415 Elm Street, Walpole, MA, USA
Phone: 508.660.7374