Happy New Year Feeney Families,

Students happily returned in 2024 and were quickly back to their school routines. They were VERY excited to see their friends (lots of hugs and "I missed you!"). We look forward to our winter theme in the month of January and it looks like the weather will help us in this endeavor. Please read below for our latest updates including snow/weather policies and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best regards,

Julie Martin

We are no longer accepting applications for the 2024-2025 school year.

Families will be notified in late January as to their child's placement at DFP for the 2024-2025 school year. At this time, programming for the fall will be as currently constructed. Should there be program changes, families will be notified as soon as possible.

Please drive slowly when entering and exiting school grounds. Adults and children are continuously in the parking lots, sidewalks, and other areas. Use caution and please keep this in mind. This includes being hands-free if using a device. Thank you in advance for keeping everyone safe.

With snow in the forecast, please take note of the following:

Should there be a weather related cancellation, you will receive an automated phone call from the Superintendent as well as a notification on the Walpole app.

If there is a weather related delay, there is no morning preschool (students attending 8:45-11:15 or noon).

**"Snow Play Days" - Your child's teacher will notify you of "snow play days." These are days the kids can play outside in the snow on our playground. However, students MUST have the following in order to play in the snow: winter boots, snow pants, coat, hat, mittens. Students who do not have these items will be able to play on the hardtop surfaces only. Again, please refer to your teacher's emails about when these days will take place (weather dependent of course).

PLEASE LABEL ALL ITEMS!

During the week of January 29th, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Walpole Public Schools. The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s ELE program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners, what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping.

In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English language education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and they will contribute to the monitoring report.

Parents and other individuals may call Andy McDonie, Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson, at (781) 338- 3541 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the Walpole Public Schools with a report with information about areas in which the Walpole Public Schools meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the Walpole Public Schools requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The report will be available to the public at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86805248716

Meeting ID: 868 0524 8716

We will have vision screenings on the following dates: January 9, 11, and 16th. Please read the letter below for more information.

Save the date! Our second annual DFP carnival is set for Sunday, March 10 from 1-3. Our PAC is actively planning this event and we need your help! Please consider attending our next PAC meeting for more information.

Our first PAC meeting of the year will be on Thursday, January 18 at 6 pm. A Google Meet link will be shared next week, please join us!

Per the WPS food policy, outside food cannot be shared in the classroom. This is for health and safety reasons (i.e. food allergies). Therefore if there is a birthday, holiday, etc. please do not send food in to be shared - but thank you for the sentiment!

January

12 - No School, Professional Development for Educators

15 - No School in observance of MLK Day

18 - PAC meeting at 6. THIS IS A CHANGE OF DATE

26 - Report Cards and Progress Reports available on Aspen

Julie Martin, Director: jmartin@walpole.k12.ma.us

Liz Martinez and Tina DiCicco, School Nurse: 508-660-7374 ext. 5620

Annmarie Khokha, School Business Office, responsible for tuition payments: akhokha@walpole.k12.ma.us

Christina Lazzara, Secretary at Elm/DFP: clazzara@walpole.k12.ma.us