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Many Walpole students have been accepted into various honor music ensembles. These students had successful auditions and earned the opportunity to participate in festivals including the SEMMEA Senior and Junior Districts Festivals, MMEA All State Festival, and SEMSBA Senior and Junior Festivals. Festivals consist of a day of intensive rehearsals on the first day, followed by a second day with dress rehearsals and a culminating concert. The School Committee and Administration is proud of their dedication, hard work and commitment to excellence!

Also recognized were Walpole High School students who won various Scholastic Art Awards. The Scholastic Art Awards are the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. This is a remarkable achievement for our students whose work was recognized by a panel of creative professionals as the most outstanding work submitted among their peers. Walpole takes great pride in their accomplishments!

Congratulations to Walpole Middle School special education teacher Christine Crawford was selected by the New England League of Middle Schools (NELMS) to receive the Master in the Middle Award. Ms. Crawford met the criteria for this award including:

• Passionate about middle level education

• Currently teaching middle level students

• Serves as an educational leader

• Advocates for the middle level community

• Provides formal/informal mentoring to colleagues

• Models effective middle level instructional practices, such as:

• Incorporating activity-based learning

• Developing a sense of student ownership in their learning

• Integrating higher order thinking

• Fostering curriculum connections

• Using a variety of assessment tools

• Building relationships with students and families

Ms. Crawford was recognized at School Committee for this well deserved honor.

Congratulations to the WHS Girls Softball Team on winning the Spring 2024 State Championship! In your first-ever title game, you showcased incredible skill and determination, securing victory with an outstanding tournament run. Your hard work, teamwork, and passion have made history for WHS. Enjoy this well-earned achievement—you've made your school and community proud!

James P., Walpole High School representative to the School Committee provided the following report:

• Term 3 progress reports were issued on March 4th, with the term closing on April 2nd. Course selection is underway, and the Work Study program and Seal of Biliteracy applications are open. The Class of 2026 has an opportunity to explore accounting at Bryant University. More information regarding program applications can be found on the WHS E-Notes and website.
• Many juniors took the SAT on March 8th, and students are encouraged to take the SAT/ACT in the spring and fall (Sign up at Colllegeboard.com or act.org). The Counseling Department is hosting college planning sessions for juniors, and seniors should be applying for scholarships using the WHS Scholarship list.

• STEM Academy is working on new projects, the Community Service Club is fundraising for mental health awareness, and the Robotics Team is competing at URI and WPI. The Speech & Debate Team placed 4th in a recent tournament, and the WHS Dance Company will perform on March 21st & 22nd.
• Winter sports have concluded, with girls’ basketball reaching the Elite 8. Congratulations to all teams! Spring sports begin March 17th, with registration closing on March 14th.

1. Art Curriculum Update - Sandy Allison, Art Department Chair at Walpole High School, delivered a Art Curriculum update. The full report can be viewed here at time marker 13:25.

2. Muisc Curriculum Update - Timothy Feming K-12 Music Coordinator, provided a Music Curriculum update, Mr. Fleming's full report can be viewed here at time marker 30:45.

3. Out of State Field Trip - The School Committee voted to approve the following out-of-state field trip:

• Walpole Middle School 8th grade students to Canobie Lake Park, Salem, NH; June 12, 2025

4. Start and End Times for School Year 25-26 - School Committee reviewed the proposed start and end times for the school year 2025 -2026. They will take the proposal under advisement for further review.

• Two weeks ago, Walpole High School was one of 29 districts awarded $75,000 to enhance its career pathway programs, providing students with coursework and hands-on experiences in high-demand STEM industries.
• Information regarding MCAS was provided. MCAS testing is an essential assessment that measures student progress, informs school accountability, and impacts our district’s DESE rating. Participation is required by federal and state law, and results can qualify students for state awards like the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship and the State Seal of Biliteracy. The data collected helps educators refine instructional strategies and allocate resources to better support student learning. Families can support students by encouraging a positive mindset, ensuring they get adequate rest and nutrition, and reinforcing the importance of doing their best. Together, we can help our students approach the MCAS with confidence and achieve success.
• An overview was provided of the upcoming events scheduled for March and early April. To stay informed about these events, please refer to the school and district calendars.
• Please be reminded the Walpole High School is currently accepting applications for the STEM Academy Class of 2029 (current grade 8 students). The deadline to apply is May 16th. All information, including the online application, can be found by visiting WHS STEM Academy. Students should contact their current technology teacher or Mr. Braccini at jbraccini@walpole.k12.ma.us with any questions.
• The Extended Day Program is offering an April Vacation Camp for the upcoming school break on Tuesday, April 22 - Thursday, April 24. The Camp will take place at Boyden Elementary School and is open to all Walpole students in grades K - 5.
• To register, please complete the online registration form by Monday, April 3rd

1. Walpole High School Competency Determination - School Committee voted to approve the WHS Competency Determination.

2. Budget Update - Mr. Friscia provided an update regarding the Walpole Public Schools FY26 budget outlook. Efforts to address funding gaps are ongoing, with potential state-level relief still uncertain. He reminded the Committee that the Spring Town Meeting is scheduled for May 5th to vote on town budgets.

3. Middle School Building Project - Field work is expected to begin in late March and be completed in July. Building photos and videos can be seen on the middle school webpage. The community is encouraged to visit the webpage and reach out to the Middle School Project team with any questions or comments via email at middleschoolproject@walpole.k12.ma.us.

4. High School Project - This week crews continued with footings and foundation walls for the new fieldhouse along with completing the re-routing of the sewer line. Information about the project can be found WHS Renovation Project webpage