WPS Superintendent Updates

A Message from Dr. Gough

March 15, 2024

Dear WPS Community,

We are now in full swing of March madness!

WHS boy's hockey, girl's hockey, and girl’s basketball teams competed in playoff tournaments, and we thank the fans for their enthusiastic support. As we transition to the start of our WHS Spring sports and the fast approaching end of the year events, there’s still so much still ahead, including musical and drama performances, and athletic, robotic, and academic competitions. These events serve as platforms to celebrate the diverse talents of our students. We invite the community to participate and share in these moments of achievement and creativity.

With the conclusion of March, we mark the completion of more than two-thirds of the 2023-2024 school year. Please refer to school and district calendars for the latest updates, including MCAS testing. This will give you the most current information on activities. Please be reminded that March 22nd is an early release day.

Middle School June Early Release Days

To streamline the transition of the consolidated middle school, two additional early release days, exclusively for middle school students, have been scheduled for June 7th and June 11th. This allocation of time will allow staff to efficiently transfer all materials from both Bird and Johnson to the new Walpole Middle School by the June 14th deadline. It's important to note that these early release days apply solely to middle school students.

WHS Marketing Students

Earlier this month, WHS Marketing students traveled to Gillette Stadium and pitched a variety of ideas to the NE Patriots' Marketing Department. Students prepared and presented multiple slideshows with ideas, suggestions, and solutions on topics as to how to rebrand the team and how to make Patriot Place more desirable to high school students. As a result of this experience, students were able to apply their classroom knowledge to the real world and gain valuable feedback.

April Vacation Camp

The Extended Day Program is excited to offer an April Vacation Camp for the upcoming school break on April 16- April 18. 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.

Massachusetts 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.

Several WPS students were awarded Gold, Silver, or Honorable Mention awards in this year's 2023-2024 Massachusetts Scholastic Art Awards. Gold Key artwork is currently being reviewed at the national level, and national medalists will be selected at the end of the month. To view their artwork, click HERE.

Walpole Robotics Team

Celebrating their 21st anniversary, Walpole Robotics qualified for the New England Championship in Springfield, MA which will be held April 6 - April 8th. The team ranks 14th out of 185 Teams. Click HERE for more information. Additionally, WHS Robotics qualified for the FIRST World Championships which will be held April 19 - 22nd in Texas.

MLPAC Meeting: March 29

WPS invites families to attend MLPAC to discuss the educational success of students who are currently or were formerly in the English Learner Education (ELE) program. The meeting also provides an opportunity to network with other families as we continue to build collaborative partnerships. The next meeting of MLPAC will be on March 29th, from 6 to 7 PM in the WHS media center.

WHS Pops Night: Friday, May 24th @ 6:30 PM

Tickets are now on sale for the WHS Pops Night on Friday, May 24th at 6:30 PM. This year’s theme is Enchanted Melodies: Disney at the Pops. Tickets and table reservations can be purchased HERE. The evening will feature our Jazz Band, TimberTones, Orchestra, Concert Chorus, and Concert Band. This fundraiser benefits the Michael Falker Scholarship Fund. Mr. 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.

WPS Continues Stonehill College Teacher Residency Program

Walpole Public Schools continues its strong partnership with Stonehill College to provide opportunities for Education Support Professionals (ESPs) to pursue a master's degree in 1 or 2 years while employed by WPS. Stonehill College also offers various graduate programs for teachers and licensure programs for future educators. Participants engage in all aspects of the classroom and school community while learning from a mentor teacher, supporting students, and participating in curriculum development and implementation. Due to our partnership, all employees of Walpole Public Schools qualify for a discounted rate. We currently have several ESPs enrolled in this Residency Program and are planning another informational session for staff at the end of this month.

Art in Bloom: WHS Artists Featured in Exhibit

Student artwork from Walpole and Norwood High Schools will be on display at the annual Art in Bloom exhibit on Saturday, April 6th, 10 - 5 pm, and Sunday, April 7th, 2 - 5 pm, at the Morrill Memorial Library, 33 Walpole Street, Norwood. Also on display will be floral interpretive arrangements from the Norwood Evening Garden Club. This free event is open to the public.

Middle School Building Project

The Middle School Project website has been updated with the latest developments of our new middle school! The community is encouraged to contact the Middle School Project team with any questions or comments via email at middleschoolproject@walpole.k12.ma.us. The current construction look-ahead schedule is also posted on this site.