WMS Newsletter

We are asking all families to please follow our established arrival/dismissal procedures. Parents/guardians should not park in the staff parking area at the top of the lot and have students cross through traffic to reach their vehicles, and vehicles should not pull out of the pickup line or make U-turns to exit more quickly.

We have shared these expectations numerous times, and these practices are becoming a significant safety concern. Having students cross through moving traffic or vehicles pull around others actually creates additional congestion and makes dismissal take longer.

Please remain in the designated pickup line and follow the established traffic pattern. Your cooperation is essential in helping us keep students safe and dismissal running as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

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One of our continued priorities at WMS is creating classrooms where students are actively engaged in their learning, have opportunities to collaborate with others, and feel comfortable sharing their thinking and ideas.

As part of this work, several of our teachers and administrators are participating in a professional learning cohort through One8 Foundation focused on student-centered instruction and increasing student discourse. Next week, students will be invited to complete a brief 5–10 minute survey about their experiences in the classroom, including working in groups, participating in discussions, understanding what helps them be successful, and making connections between what they are learning and the world beyond school. The survey also includes a few basic demographic questions.

Students may choose not to participate if they prefer. Their feedback will be incredibly helpful as we continue to reflect on our practices and create engaging learning experiences for all students at WMS.

Parent-teacher conferences are a great way to address academic concerns and support your child’s learning. We value a strong partnership between home and school and welcome your involvement as much as possible. However, please know that a conference is not required if your child is making steady progress. We look forward to collaborating with you to ensure your child’s success.

It may help you to know a few specifics:

• Each teacher is available for drop-in visits. Teacher locations will be available when you arrive. There are no appointments.

• Report cards will be released on November 12, prior to conferences. Please review your child's report card in advance so you can come to the conference with any specific questions or areas you would like to discuss.

• Please bring a list of your child’s teachers with you.

• Teachers have been asked to be cognizant of the 5 minute time limit. In order to assist with this, parents/guardians are encouraged to respectfully knock after waiting 5 minutes.

Parent Teacher Conference Dates:

11/12 - 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

11/13 - 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

11/16 - 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

At WMS, our primary focus is creating a safe, focused, and respectful community for all students. Recently, we have noticed an increase in school disruptions stemming from students using TikTok, especially among our sixth graders.

While social media apps can seem harmless on the surface, they frequently present specific challenges for middle schoolers, including creating conflict, encouraging participation in dangerous viral trends, and sometimes even contributing to poor sleeping habits.

According to TikTok’s official Guardian’s Guide and Terms of Service, users must be at least 13 years old to create a standard account on the platform. This means that a large number of our students, especially in our younger grades, are not permitted to hold a standard account, and if they do have one they likely got it through dishonest means.

We strongly rely on our partnership with families to keep our learning community focused and safe. If you have provided your child with a smartphone, we encourage you to take an active role in managing their devices by checking them frequently, removing or disabling harmful applications, and using built-in parent controls. Thank you for working alongside us to protect our students' focus, safety, and well-being both in and out of the classroom.

Please remember that all after-school activities end at 3:40 p.m. and students should be picked up promptly. The WMS building closes for the day at 4:00 p.m.

If your child will be absent, tardy or dismissed during the school day for an appointment or other reason, please complete the Dismissal Google Form prior to the absence or least two hours prior to the dismissal time. This allows our office staff to prepare and ensure a smooth dismissal process.

We greatly appreciate your support in following these procedures to minimize disruptions to classroom learning. By notifying us in advance, we can avoid calling into classrooms and interrupting lessons as much as possible.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

While it may seem early, it is a great time for our 8th grade students to begin thinking about what they would like their high school experience to look like.

In order to start this process, we have the following upcoming presentations at school for our 8th grade students:

📅 Walpole High School Visit: October 29th

📅 Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School Visit: November 3rd

📅 Norfolk Agricultural High School Visit: November 9th

More information about the high school selection and application process will be shared with families as we move through the school year. For now, we encourage students to stay curious, ask questions, and begin exploring the possibilities that high school has to offer!

Private School Applicants

If your child is applying to private school, please note the following:

1. Many of the applications are completed through an online application system called Ravenna. You will be able to send the recommendation request to your child’s teacher and counselor through Ravenna; however, we strongly encourage you to have your child speak to their school counselor and teacher(s), as well, to let us know about their applications and to personally request the completion of the forms.

2. Please note, a parent/guardian must also sign the ‘Transcript Release Form,’ and have your child bring that to their School Counselor in order for transcripts to be uploaded and for applications to be completed.

3. Staff members will need at least a two week notice when requesting recommendations.

On November 25, we will hold the 3rd Annual Walpole Middle School Turkey Trot during school on the Early Release Day. At that event, the Walpole XC and Track & Field Boosters will provide t-shirts for the top teams and runners from the different races.

This year, we will be hosting a t-shirt design contest. If you are interested in designing the t-shirt logo, see the attached flyer for details and make sure to send your design submission to Mr. Cashman (ccashman@walpole.k12.ma.us) by October 30th. The winning t-shirt design will get bragging rights—as well as a free t-shirt.

On Friday, October 30 WMS Students will have the opportunity to dress up in a costume in exchange for a $1 donation or a donation item for the Walpole Food Pantry.

Participation is completely optional and not mandatory!

Items being collected include:

• paper towels
• toilet paper
• coffee or tea
• condiments
• canned beans
• canned fruits
• jelly
• granola bars
• cereal
• pancake mix
• syrup

Please note that this is completely optional and if students do not want to dress up, they can still participate by donating $1 or an item for the food pantry. Homeroom teachers will collect the money and collection boxes for the food items will be in the neighborhoods.

Costumes may include hats and wigs, but no masks will be allowed. Face paint and colored hair spray are acceptable, but must be applied at home.

In addition, the following costumes will not be permitted:

• Outfits that are bloody or gory

• Outfits that promote the use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco

• Outfits that may be offensive to specific races, religions, or genders

• Outfits that are sexually suggestive

• Clown costumes

Lastly, possession of a real or fake weapon, or anything that could be construed as a weapon, is strictly prohibited. Possession of such an item in school may result in disciplinary action.

As the holiday season quickly approaches, we at Walpole Middle School recognize that families within our community may be experiencing financial hardship this holiday season. In the spirit of the season, we would like to come together to help others have a memorable holiday.

We encourage families in need of gift giving assistance to reach out to our school counselors at the provided email address below. All family information is held in strict confidence. The deadline for requests is Friday November 6th.

Contact Information: wmscounselors@walpole.k12.ma.us

Get ready for another WMS Spelling Bee!

Please see important dates below:

• Study Materials available from ELA teachers, Mrs. Svendsen or on Grade Based Google Classrooms starting on 10/21/26.
• Sign ups to be a part of the Grade Based Bees will be available on Grade Based Google Classrooms (Google Form) from November 23-November 25
• Grade Based Spelling Bees will be held the week of December 14-December 18
• Finalists from the Grade Based Spelling Bees will be announced and provided information to prepare for the School Spelling Bee prior to the winter break.

The School Spelling Bee will be held on Friday, January 8, 2027

Any questions about the Spelling Bee please email Mrs. Svendsen:

csvendsen@walpole.k12.ma.us

Stay tuned for more details and get excited!

Our late bus is running! If you have a student who has a bus pass for taking the bus to and from school, you have the option of having them take the late bus home on days where they stay after school.

Please note: This year will be different than last year.

One bus will come to Walpole Middle School at 3:45. Students will then take that bus to the high school, where drivers will answer any questions and help them transfer to the appropriate bus for where they are headed: North, South, East, or West. If you have any questions about the late bus, please contact Mr. O’Leary at joleary@walpole.k12.ma.us.

School Year Calendar 26-27

October

29 - WHS to visit Grade 8 Assembly

November

3 - Tri County to visit Grade 8 Assembly

6 - Term 1 Ends

9 - Norfolk Aggie to visit Grade 8 Assembly

11 - Veterans Day, No School

12 - WMS Parent Teacher Conferences; 5-7 PM

13- Picture Re-Take Day

13 - Early Release Day

13 - WMS Parent Teacher Conferences; 12:30-2:30 PM

16 - Grade 8 Green Team to Edward M. Kennedy Institute

16 - WMS Parent Teacher Conferences; 5-7 PM

17 - WMS School Council Meeting; 2:45 PM

17 - WMS PAC Meeting; 7:00 PM

18 - Grade 8 Blue Team to Edward M. Kennedy Institute

19 - Grade 8 Orange Team to Edward M. Kennedy Institute

25 - Early Release Day, 11:25; Thanksgiving Break

26-27 - Thanksgiving Break, No School

December

8 - Grade 6 Band, Orchestra and Chorus Concert; 7-8 PM

10 - WMS Drama, "The Girl with the Golden Locks"; 7-9 PM

11 - WMS Drama, "The Girl with the Golden Locks"; 7-9 PM

15 - Band Concert, Grades 7 and 8; 7-8 PM

16 - Orchestra Concert, Grades 7 and 8; 7-8 PM

17 - Chorus Concert, Grades 7 and 8; 7-8 PM

23-January 1, No School Winter Break

January

4 - Classes Resume

This Humanities site for parents serves as an informational hub for curriculum topics in ELA, Social Studies and Reading.

Please be sure to read the IXL tab in the website.

The WMS Math Website is a resource for parents designed to help you stay informed about the Math concepts students are learning at the Walpole Middle School. Click Here to access the link.

Here is the link to the Related Arts Team Bulletin. You can find updates for Music, Fitness and Health, Art, Technology, Is it Math and Reading organized by Grade and Subject.

Find the month's school menu here.

The Walpole SEPAC serves as a support network for parents and caregivers and aims to provide essential resources, information, and educational opportunities on special education topics. The SEPAC will collaborate with the district to ensure that Walpole students receive appropriate education and support services.

Join us for our first meeting of the school year

Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Walpole Town Hall, Finance Committee Room

Discussion Topics:

1. Upcoming meeting topics for the school year

2. Learn how to get involved with the SEPAC

3. Q&A with Dr. Queally, Director of Student Services, about the Walpole Special Education

Looking for a fun activity for your kids on Veterans Day? Come play in the 2026 Walpole Youth Street Hockey Tournament hosted by the Walpole High School Boys Hockey Boosters!

The tournament is open to boys and girls in grades 3–8, and no hockey experience is necessary — all skill levels are welcome. WHS Boys Hockey players will help coach and referee the games, and pizza and drinks will be provided.

Teams are made up of 5–7 players, and registration is $25 per player. All proceeds benefit the Walpole Boys Hockey Boosters and support the Walpole High School Boys Hockey program.

Veterans Day — Wednesday, November 11

Walpole High School Tennis Courts

Registration deadline: Wednesday, October 28

Please see the attached flyer for details and registration information.

Please be sure to visit the Virtual Backpack for upcoming events such as:

Principal

Website: https://www.walpole.k12.ma.us/o/wms
Location: 625 Washington Street, Walpole, MA 02081
Phone: (508) 660-7226