WPS Superintendent Updates

A Message from Dr. Gough
April 10, 2026
Dear Walpole Public School Community,
Happy April! As we move into the spring season, we are entering the final stretch of the school year with just ten weeks remaining. While the weather can be a bit unpredictable this time of year, our commitment to academics, extracurricular activities, and end-of-year events remains strong. Be sure to check your school’s calendar for the many upcoming events. Please note that school vacation will take place from Monday, April 20, through Friday, April 24. Best of luck to our runners and all of our school and community members participating in the Boston Marathon!
Bridget A. Gough, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Calendar Change: Early Release Day on June 16, 2026
Due to significant and unusual traffic congestion experienced across town during a recent World Cup event, which impacted school dismissal and transportation, June 16 has been designated as an early release day for all students. There will be no extended day on the afternoon of June 16. In coordination with the Police Department, all schools will dismiss at their regular early dismissal times. This adjustment reflects the unique scale of this international event and is not representative of typical stadium-related activities. The Police Department will increase patrols and monitor areas where students may gather, and principals will communicate with families to help discourage congregating in already congested areas throughout town.
Don’t Miss the Bus—Register Today
Bus registration for the 2026-2027 school year is open. ALL parents and caregivers who want their students to ride the bus must complete the registration. Families can register online at www.myschoolbucks.com. Registrations received after July 1 will be assessed a $100 late fee. Submitting your registration before July 1 is essential to allow sufficient time for route planning. Routes will be posted on the district website a week prior to the start of the school year.
If you prefer not to register online, please complete the registration form and mail it to Walpole Public Schools, 135 School Street, Walpole, MA, 02081. Attention: Transportation Office. You can also bring the form to the Business Office. Please make checks payable to the Town of Walpole.
Stirring Up Success: Cultivation Kitchen
We are excited to share the return of our Cultivation Kitchen program, a popular initiative from our School Nutrition Department that continues to generate strong enthusiasm across our community. Due to high interest, we expanded to a second session this year, serving 30 families. This three-week program brings together elementary students and their families to explore nutrition and healthy eating through hands-on cooking, with each session including a nutrition lesson and a shared recipe experience. It has been wonderful to see families engaged, learning, and enjoying time together while building skills they can use at home. We appreciate our School Nutrition Department, which continues to promote student wellness and family engagement.
Celebrating Teaching Excellence
Walpole Public Schools participated in TEC (The Education Cooperative) Celebrates Teaching, a regional event recognizing the outstanding work taking place across member districts. The event highlighted the heart, skill, and dedication that educators bring to work each day, with honorees selected based on how their contributions reflect one of five key celebratory themes and their meaningful impact on students and school communities. Congratulations to Susan Murphy (Walpole Middle School) and Lori Winer (Fisher Elementary School), who were recognized as this year’s honorees representing Walpole Public Schools.
Tray-mendous Taste—Help Us Bring Home the Win!
Walpole Public Schools is proud to be in the running for the 2026 Terrific Tray of the Year, and we need your support. Our January-winning tray features a seasonally inspired roasted vegetable and parmesan crisp kale salad, paired with local apple slices in celebration of Harvest of the Month. This meal highlights ingredients from regional partners, including Joe Czajkowski Farm in Hadley, Massachusetts (Brussels sprouts and carrots), Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, New Hampshire (apples), and The Good Crust in Maine (focaccia made with locally sourced grains).
This recognition celebrates our nutrition program’s commitment to providing students with nutritious, high-quality meals made with locally sourced ingredients. Please take a moment to cast your vote and help us earn the title. Voting is open through Friday, May 8, 2026. VOTE HERE
Thank you for supporting Walpole Public Schools and our school nutrition program.
WHS Pops Night: Friday, May 15, 6:30 PM
Game On: The Music of Our Pastimes! The Walpole High School Music Department invites you to our annual Pops Night on Friday, May 15 at 6:30 PM in the WHS Gymnasium. Join us for an entertaining evening of music inspired by leisure activities, featuring performances by the Jazz Band, Orchestra, Concert Chorus, Percussion Ensemble, and Concert Band. This special event is a fundraiser to benefit the Michael Falker Scholarship Fund, honoring a beloved, longtime music teacher who believed all students should have access to high-quality musical experiences. Guests can enjoy beverages and desserts for sale, as well as raffles for a variety of items. Doors open at 6:30 PM for browsing and refreshments, with music beginning at 7:00 PM. You can find more information and purchase tickets HERE.
Walpole Writes - Deadline May 1, 2026
Calling Writers of All Ages!
The Walpole Cultural Council is pleased to announce another year of Walpole Writes, a town-wide writing contest open to all residents and non-resident students of Walpole schools. First, second, and third place winners will be selected in each category by age group.
The contest is open through May 1, and winners will be announced in May. To enter, complete the entry form and upload your submission by May 1. Winners will be notified by email and announced publicly in May.
Extended Day Summer Program
Extended Day will be running its Summer Program for incoming students in grades 1 - 6, and registration is now open. The camp will run for 4 weeks at Fisher Elementary School.
Families may register for individual weeks or select all four weeks at a discounted rate. Morning and afternoon Extended Day options will also be available for families enrolled in the camp.
Click HERE to access Summer Camp information. Click HERE to register for the 2026 Summer Camp. You may also reach out to Dan Santangelo (dsantangelo@walpole.k12.ma.us) or Evan Storlazzi (estorlazzi@walpole.k12.ma.us) with any questions.
We anticipate registration filling quickly and will do our best to enroll as many waitlisted students as possible.
Congratulations are in Order
To Lauren McAtteer for her historic wrestling season. As the first female wrestler in Walpole High history, Lauren won Walpole’s first state wrestling championship since 2007, earning the girls’ state title at 120 lbs and being named the tournament’s Outstanding Female Wrestler. Lauren also placed 3rd at All-States, 5th at New Englands, and will represent Massachusetts at Nationals.
To our Walpole Middle School students and staff for an outstanding production of Newsies, showcasing exceptional talent and dedication.
To the WMS Tenacity Challenge Team for an impressive showing at Bedford High School, earning Third Place Overall and achieving First and Second place honors in General Math.
To our WMS Debate Team for a strong inaugural performance at Needham High School, where 8th grader Alexander Butragueno Boyd earned an outstanding 3rd place finish in the Lincoln-Douglas division.
To our WHS Speech and Debate Team for an outstanding showing at the state level, highlighted by Hemant Selvamurugan's state championship finish in Big Questions Debate and a repeat first-place recognition in Speaker Point. The team also earned strong placements in Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate, with students advancing to both quarterfinal and octofinal rounds.
To our WHS Robotics teams for their continued success in competition, qualifying for the New England District Championship following additional recognition at the Greater Boston District event. In recent competitions, our Timberwolves earned the Sustainability Award, which honors teams that develop sustainable practices focused on a “triple bottom line” (People, Prosperity, and Planet) to create a positive, lasting impact. Our Pup Cups 1119 also won the Imagery Award at URI for their 3D-printed “Neapupaton” (Neapolitan) triple ball shooter and their overall design creativity.
Help Us Get Ready—Please Register for Kindergarten
We still have families on the census who have not yet enrolled in Kindergarten. These numbers are essential for planning the 2026-2027 school year.
To pre-register a kindergarten age-qualified* child, a parent or legal guardian must complete the online registration form (scroll down to kindergarten pre-registration).
If you are unable to drop off documents at your neighborhood school during the day, the Superintendents’ Office (135 School Street, Room 204) is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, Tuesday 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM and Friday 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM.
*Kindergarten age-qualified children are those who turn five (5) years old before September 1 of the school year for which they are pre-registering.
To find out more about registration, click here.
Reminder 8th Graders: WHS STEM Academy Applications
Walpole High School Project Information
For detailed information about the project, including FAQs and interior floorplans (some featuring QR codes for 3D interior modeling), please visit our project website.
Construction and Renovation Phases & Dates are as follows:
Phase 1A – Parking: Dec 2024
Phase 1B – Field House and Sitework: Dec 2024 – Dec 2025
Phase 2 – Science Wing: June 2025 – Aug 2025
Phase 3 – Music & Multi-purpose space, Greenhouse: Jan 2026 – June 2026
Phase 4 – Student Services and Sitework: June 2026 – Aug 2026
Project Completion: August 2026
We are excited to see these enhancements take shape and appreciate your patience and support throughout the process.
Virtual Backpack
As a reminder, the Walpole Public Schools website has a link called the Virtual Backpack which is a great place to look for postings about community events and programs. Please visit the link above often to see what is currently happening in our community.