Fisher Family Update
February 27, 2026
Next week marks the beginning of our annual ST Math, March Mathness School Competitions. This school-wide competition, inspired by NCAA’s March Madness, has classes competing to solve ST Math puzzles and reach their weekly goals. There’s a new twist to the competition this year. Instead of focusing on which class has the highest puzzle average, classes will earn points based on the percentage of students who reach their weekly goal. This new focus not only keeps all classes in the competition throughout the whole month, but it also encourages classes to work as a team to make sure all students hit their goal to help the class earn points. Classes will earn spots on the prize wheel each week based on their points earned.
You may be wondering—why do we focus on ST Math puzzle progress and why now? It’s more than just solving puzzles. ST Math builds essential problem-solving skills, perseverance, and most importantly, Number Sense—a critical foundation for mathematical thinking. Since ST Math has no written directions, students must analyze patterns, think critically, and apply what they’ve learned to help JiJi cross the screen. The challenges get progressively harder, encouraging students to build connections and deepen their understanding. Besides the fact that the timing lines up with the NCAA March Madness competition, this time of year is a crucial time for students to make progress through their ST Math journey. The ST Math puzzles in each grade level provide students with both previews and reviews of math content taught in our core Bridges Curriculum. Research shows that when students reach at least 60% of their grade level journey they can increase their state test scores by up to 10 percentile points regardless of their subgroup. A recent impact study done by Brown University on the One8-funded ST Math schools reports:
Emerging findings suggest that students in One8-funded ST Math schools have greater math learning gains than academically and demographically similar peers in other schools. These impacts are similar across student groups.
Impacts on test scores appear to be concentrated in classrooms where students make more progress in the program, with no diminishing returns to usage.
Student learning gains are highest in grades in a school where the average student completes more than 80% of puzzles. In these grades, ST Math is associated with a 0.06 standard deviation improvement in MCAS math test scores, or a little more than a month of learning.
The puzzle progress goal for the end of March is 60%, and we’re aiming for every student to complete at least 80% of their grade level’s ST Math journey by June. This tournament helps so many students take positive steps toward that goal, and we love seeing their enthusiasm for math grow. Thank you for your support—we can’t wait to celebrate all their hard work!
Every year, each public school and school district in Massachusetts receives a report card. Just as your child’s report card shows how they are doing in different subjects, the school’s report card is designed to show families how our school is doing in different areas. A link to our school’s report card is available at https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/2025/03070015.
The report card includes multiple measures of a school’s performance – more than just MCAS scores. It represents a new way of looking at school performance, by providing information on student achievement, teacher qualifications, student learning opportunities, and more.
Report cards are designed to be useful tools for everyone connected to our school. Families can use the information to have meaningful conversations with us about what the school is doing well and where there is room for improvement. Community and education leaders can use the information to better understand how to support students and our school.
You will notice on our report card that Fisher students have continued to improve their attendance, with students attending school an average of nearly 96% of instructional days. To further strengthen student achievement, we will continue partnering with families to reduce the number of students who miss more than 10% of the school year.
Academically, Fisher students consistently meet or exceed our goals in English Language Arts and Mathematics and perform better than 91% of elementary and middle schools statewide. To sustain and build upon these outcomes, our teachers continue to provide and enhance their differentiated instruction and tiered supports to ensure the diverse academic needs of all learners are met.
We greatly value our partnership with families and see you as a critical contributor to the success of our students and school, and we are grateful for your continued support. If you have questions about our school’s report card or would like to become involved in school improvement activities, please contact your building principal or district administration. To see our district’s report card or to search for other schools’ report cards, visit https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/
Sincerely,
Brian Bemiss
Fisher School Principal
William Hahn
Assistant Superintendent
Art Sonia Volunteers
Looking for volunteers interested in helping upload artwork to Art Sonia! Art Sonia is a digital portfolio for your student’s artwork. Parents/guardians can view their child’s art and purchase keepsakes like mugs, magnets or shirts decorated with their child’s art. To sign up to volunteer, please add your name to the Google Sheet linked below, we will draw volunteers out of a hat. All you need to volunteer is a phone with a good camera. Thank you!
Google Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U6PnI2NwzS3kN2dN_U2uowR0fPNtH45W78F9xMbA7sw/edit?usp=sharing
The picture above are images of the Kindergarten artists featured in Town Hall!
Fun snow play with Ms. Hughes and Ms. Kelley’s/Ms. Brogan’s classes.
The Walpole Extended Day Program is excited to host our 2026 April Vacation Camp at Boyden Elementary School for all Walpole students in grades K-5! Camp will run from Tuesday, April 21st - Thursday, April 23rd. Camp hours are from 8:00am-4:00pm each day. Families who are registered for the camp option may also register for AM Extended Day (7:00am-8:00am) and PM Extended Day (4:00pm-5:00pm).
Registration opens on Thursday, March 5th. For more information, please visit the February and April Vacation Camps page on our website.
2026 Summer Camp:
The Walpole Extended Day Program is excited to host our 2026 Summer Camp at Fisher Elementary School for all incoming first-sixth grade Walpole students! This year, the camp will run for four weeks:
Week One: Monday, June 22nd - Friday, June 26th
Week Two: Monday, June 29th - Thursday, July 2nd (Closed on Friday, July 3rd)
Week Three: Monday, July 6th - Friday, July 10th
Week Four: Monday, July 13th - Friday, July 17th
Camp hours are from 8:30am-3:30pm each day. Families who are registered for the camp option may also register for AM Extended Day (7:30am-8:30am) and PM Extended Day (3:30pm-4:30pm).
Registration is open and we expect spots to fill up quickly! For more information, please visit the Summer Camp page on our website.
If you have any additional questions regarding registration for these programs, please reach out to Dan Santangelo (dsantangelo@walpole.k12.ma.us) and Evan Storlazzi (estorlazzi@walpole.k12.ma.us).
Coach Mike (formerly of Kids In Sports) has 10 years of experience teaching children the fundamentals of sports in an organized, safe, fun and supportive environment. Coach Mike’s after school program will teach children different sports (baseball, basketball, football, floor hockey & soccer.) Through fun activities, sports drills and competitive games, the kids will improve on their skills and learn good sportsmanship. The class will be held in the school gym immediately after school.
Wednesdays
Mar 18, Mar 25, Apr 1, Apr 8, Apr 15 & Apr 29
3:00pm - 4:00pm
Grades K, 1 & 2
$175.00
How to register:
Enroll for the after school programs online at:
https://campscui.active.com/orgs/CoachMikesMobileSports?season=3783740
SPACE IS LIMITED
Questions?
Contact Coach Mike at coachmikemobilesports@gmail.com or call (508) 660-7111
2026 Glow Dance!
Save the date for the 2026 Glow Dance - a fun evening for the kids scheduled on Friday 3/27. Additional details including the sign up is available here: https://forms.gle/Vh6jAyAa3Q3PWMUf8. Space is limited and advance registration is required. Please also consider volunteering to help us make this event a success - sign up here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16FQw923tD2Mi_JB6O3wypUfBGS4GZHHr2BlqODS0gek/edit?usp=sharing
Send some shamrock swag to your kids and their friends!
Swag Bags are $10 and all proceeds go to Fisher’s 5th grade class
Delivery will take place March 11- March 16 between 5-8 PM.
Sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBg3lRs3Qhyy8ku0LXkdZh6Mf4VdqLnzqIiJe0Rfs1CRwMEA/viewform
As we head into the closing weeks of our final Rally Against Cancer for the Jimmy Fund, it continues to amaze us what an incredible contribution Fisher’s Finest has made to the Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, as well as the difference we have made in the lives of so many children (and adults) battling cancer. Our students and families are simply incredible. From students who bring in the quarter they found between the couch cushions to the families who have contributed hundreds of dollars over the years, each and every one has played a huge part in helping treat and, hopefully someday, find a cure for cancer.
Our Coffee Cake Fundraiser, in conjunction with My Grandma’s Coffee Cake of Hyde Park, was a huge success, raising over $1300. Thanks to all of the families who placed orders and shared the fundraiser with family and co-workers. I know the coffee cakes we ordered in our house are long gone! I hope you enjoyed yours! Change for a Cure continues through March 27th. Currently, Mrs. Winer’s class is in the lead, but that can change very quickly!!!! We have raised over $2500 so far!!
If you wish to donate to our Green Monster Wall of Honor, you may fill out the form that was sent home and return it to school to my attention, with your donation. If you have misplaced your form, or used it and would like to add another baseball, please email cmcdonough@walpole.k12.ma.us and one will be sent home with your student. Again, no amount is too small. Every penny makes a huge difference to those working at and receiving treatment at Dana-Farber. You may request as many baseballs as you would like. Our goal is to fill that Green Monster and remember, honor, and celebrate our loved ones. Photos up to 4x6” of loved ones are welcome, too!
There are a limited number of Fisher School Excuse Note Pads left. These were created by my daughter (proud Mom here!) and donated to us to help raise funds for Fisher’s FInest. They are only $5 each, all of which goes to our Rally. If you want to order one, please click here: Student Excuse Notepad Order and complete the form. As soon as I receive your payment, I’ll send the notepad(s) home with your student. There is no Fisher School information on the notepads, so they work for any school! Remember, when this Rally is over, there will be no further chance to get them!
You can also join our team and/or donate directly to Fisher’s Finest by visiting here: http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/fishersfinest2026
Thank you for your continued support - and let’s make 2026, our grand finale, the best year yet!
Carolyn McDonough - Rally Captain for Fisher’s Finest cmcdonough@walpole.k12.ma.us