WHS eNotes

December 15, 2023

Message from Mr. Imbusch

Dear students, staff, and parents/guardians:

With Christmas falling on a Monday this year, we are in school for one more full week before our next break. We must finish this week strong. Keep your head in the game; persevere to the end; work hard knowing that there is a break right around the corner. Walter Elliot once said, “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.”

My wish for you all this holiday season is that you pay close attention to family and friends. In this ever-increasing digital age, quality time spent together (without electronics) is becoming more and more scarce. Our attention is slowly being stolen from us, and we need to be very deliberate in claiming it back! Here is an interesting article that appeared in the NY Times last month:

“Fight the Powerful Forces Stealing Our Attention” by Graham Burnett, Alyssa Loh, and Peter Schmidt in The New York Times, November 27, 2023

Have a wonderful weekend!

Stephen Imbusch

Principal

zoom_out_map

Application now Open!

The Walpole Scholarship Foundation Application cycle is now open! Any Walpole resident applying to or currently attending a post-high school institution that offers an advanced course of study may apply for a scholarship. This includes four-year bachelor's degree programs, associate degree programs, and technical certificate programs.

Academic merit, financial need, extracurricular activities (including community service and work experience) and personal qualities are all considerations in awarding scholarships. The selection of the winners is overseen by the WSF Board of Trustees but is determined by an independent group of community members representing all sections of Walpole.

The application deadline is February 1, 2024 at noon. To apply please visit www.walpolescholarshipfoundation.org/apply

zoom_out_map

Walpole’s 300th Birthday Celebration Will

Kick-Off with Laser Show December 16th

Two Showings on Stone Field

Walpole –Walpole’s 300th Anniversary Celebration will kick off with a bang on December 16th with a laser and pyrotechnics show on Stone Field presented by Pyrotecnico. The free display of lights and sounds is a unique opportunity for the whole family to come together and view something truly spectacular. There will be two shows, one at 6pm and another at 8:30pm with ample time in between to stroll downtown and partake in one of Walpole’s many dining options.

For more information about the Laser Show and other 300th Anniversary events, to browse merchandise for purchase, and to learn more about Walpole’s history, visit Walpole300.com

The Walpole SEPAC

To join the DESE event list below, Click Here.

zoom_out_map

News from the World Language Department November 2023

The World Language Department is offering students the opportunity to earn the Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school

or district in recognition of students who have attained proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in two or more languages by high school graduation.

The Seal is awarded at two proficiency levels and can be used to communicate with academic institutions, employers, and the community that students are able to study, work, and engage with others in two or more languages. Students who meet the criteria for the Seal of Biliteracy will receive an insignia provided by the Department of Education to be affixed to their high school transcript. An application is available for seniors with testing dates in January. Dates for juniors will be upcoming in the spring. Interested students can talk to their World Language teacher or see Ms. Kay (room 1321 inside the language lab) to receive an application.

zoom_out_map

Coat Drive

NHS is holding a coat drive and we are looking for adult and children-size warm winter coats. We aim to collect 75 warm winter coats to provide to individuals and families in need. Coats are cleaned by Anton’s Cleaners and made available to a network of over 90 distribution partners made up of local nonprofits, social service agencies, and schools to ensure the coats are given to those who really need them free of charge. If there are any unused coats that could be donated we would really appreciate it! There is a collection box in the main lobby.

zoom_out_map

WHS Work Study Program

The Work Study Program is seeking donations of new or gently used hand tools relevant to various trades: carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, automotive, and more. Donations can be dropped-off in the main office at Walpole High School or a donation pick up can be arranged. Every tool donated is a step towards securing a brighter future for our students.

For more information, or to arrange a donation pick up contact James Connolly at jconnolly@walpole.k12.ma.us

zoom_out_map

Message from School Counseling

Mark your calendar: Ann Walsh from the Walpole Scholarship Foundation will be at WHS Wednesday, Dec. 20th during the intervention block to speak with Seniors about the WSF application process.

The following scholarships are now available:

AFL-CIO Scholarship- due by 12/22/2023

massaflcio.org/scholarhips

Big Y Foods, Inc. Scholarship- due by 2/1/2024

bigy.com/community/scholarships

Walpole Historical Society Scholarship- available for students pursuing studies in history, library science, archaeology, historical anthropology and any field pertaining to conservation, restoration or preservation of historical materials.

Application can be found in the School Counseling Office

Yearbook Announcements

Recognition Ads:

If you would like to congratulate your senior with a recognition ad in the back of the Yearbook, purchase a recognition ad at this link:

https://www.jostens.com/apps/jcom/router.mvc?affiliateId=1065365

Recognition ads are due by January 31st.

Senior Pages:

The senior page proofs have been sent out via email to the senior class. If there are any errors: misspellings, wrong pictures, incorrect information, email Ms. Gould with the edits before December 20th. This process is for editing, not adding. The final senior pages will be sent to the printer before Winter Break.

Since the Class Dues pay for the Yearbook, if you want a Yearbook, you MUST submit your Class Dues before January 31st.

Class Dues

For an explanation about class dues and how to pay, click Class Dues

WHS PM Club

The PM club had a nice time visiting Snowport, Boston's holiday open air marketplace in the Seaport district ,last Friday with the Spanish and French Clubs. Our next planning meeting will be after school on Friday, December 22nd at 2:05 in Sra. Bacon's classroom (1319).

zoom_out_map

WHS Speech and Debate Team

The WHS Speech and Debate Team have competed in three tournaments recently:

Congratulations to novice debaters--Anna Pileggi, Rachel Teahan, and Ramu Muthukarrupan--who competed for the very first time and learned a lot at the Little Lex tournament on 11/18! Debate president Sarah Mukkuzhi made her debut as a judge as well.

Four Walpole debaters competed in the inaugural St. Nick Showdown at Arlington High School on 12/1. Congratulations to Sara Axelrod who won fifth place in Big Questions debate. It was her (and Walpole’s) first time in the event! Congratulations also go out to Tanay Singh who was awarded 2nd best speaker in Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate.

Congratulations to the team for competing on 12/9 at Lincoln-Sudbury’s Warrior Showdown.

Congrats to finalists:

Shayna Jain- 3rd in Informative Speaking and 4th in Radio

Bhakti Belle- 2nd in Dramatic Performance and competed also in Radio

Favor Nyende- 2nd in Radio and competed also in Prose Reading

Blanka Lazri- 2nd in Big Questions Debate

Swara Sonchhatra- 5th in Radio and top novice Ramu Muthukaruppan- 5th in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Kayla Ahern- 6th in Play Reading

zoom_out_map

WHS UNICEF Club

Thank you to all who helped make cards for hospitalized children. They are in the mail and the children should be receiving your warm wishes soon.

The next meeting of the WHS UNICEF Club will be Thursday, January 4th in room 2308 afterschool. All are welcome!

Interested in joining a club that helps provide impoverished children and families with necessities like proper nutrition and education? We meet on the 1st Thursday of every month in room 2308. You can join the WHS UNICEF Club Google Classroom page using the code: 6n53b2n

zoom_out_map

WHS Photography Club

Photography Club will meet Thursday December 21, 2023 after school. This is the last meeting of the 2023 year. The theme this week is Cookies! There are so many delicious cookies being baked this time of year so before you indulge in the cookies, take a picture of them.

The Photography Club is also running its annual contest for all Walpole High School students. The theme is shadows. You can take a picture with your phone or camera and submit the photo(s) to Mrs. Fontaine (pfontaine@walpole.k12.ma.us) so it can get judged. The winner will receive a $25 gift card to Dunkin Donuts. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, December 19th. This is open to any student in Walpole High School.

As always follow our instagram to check out our club's pictures: photography_whs123 Contact Mrs. D'Agostino or Alexandra Richardson if you'd like more information on Photography Club.