Dear Families,

It seems that Spring is just around the corner. Seeing the sun and feeling it warm up is a great feeling. As I look ahead to next week, it seems that the temperature will also climb to the point where I can leave my winter coat at home! I think that I'll keep my gloves on for a little while longer though. (I hate it when my hands get cold.)

Notably, we're also a little more than half-way through Term 3. This quarter ends on April 3rd. Please take the time to review X2 Aspen to see if your child has anything still outstanding to do. As always, see the Curriculum Updates below to find out what learning is on the horizon.

There's a lot of interesting and important information in the rest of today's newsletter and I hope you enjoy reading it. Have a great weekend!

Ed Connor

As we celebrate Women's History Month, International Women's Day is today. It's a day to celebrate and recognize the achievements of women all around the world. Women have made many strides and accomplishments in the fields of medicine, politics, economics, and more. I think one of the biggest goals of the day is to highlight the need for gender equality in all areas. Some of the history and notable women visionaries can be found by following this link: International Women's Day

This month Muslims in Walpole and around the globe will begin observing the holy month of Ramadan, a period of deep spiritual reflection and fasting that takes place every year. Ramadan is much more than just abstaining from food and drink. It is a month that exemplifies the Islamic values of gratitude, strengthening bonds of kinship spirituality, and maximizing acts of charity. It also commemorates the Quran first being revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, a sacred moment honored with abstinence between sunrise and sunset. Follow this link to learn more about Ramadan.

Bird Middle School is pleased to announce that tickets for our 42nd and final Spring Musical will go on sale Monday (3/4) at noon. The performances are Wednesday March 20th at 1pm, Thursday March 21st at 1pm, and Friday March 22nd at 7pm. While we will carry this tradition on to the new building this is the last musical to take place in our famed cafetorium. If you would like to send a message to the cast and crew please fill out this form. The link to buy tickets is: https://our.show/bms

MCAS test days have been scheduled for BMS

We have scheduled our MCAS testing for this school year. See the dates below. Please do your best to make sure that your child is in school on these days. We will have them make up the tests for any days that they are absent. We'll update you with further information in the coming weeks.

MCAS dates at BMS:

• ELA: April 9 & 10 (all grades)
• Science: May 14 & 15 (grade 8 only)
• Math: May 21 & 22 (all grades)
• Social Studies Field Test: May 29 & 30 (grade 8 only)

Hi Families! We are collecting baby/young pictures for the 8th graders to put in the yearbook! If you could upload a picture to this google form it will ensure that your child will have their picture posted in their yearbook. If for some reason you have difficulties with uploading the picture, please reach out to Meaghan Valley mvalley@walpole.k12.ma.us and we can figure out a way to do it. Thanks so much!

8th Grade Baby Picture Submission 23-24

Greetings!

My name is Atisha Winslow and I am the METCO Director for Walpole Public Schools. I am excited to offer the LIT ( Love, Inclusion and Trust) program, a series of workshops and discussions for middle and high school students that aim to highlight identity development, student leadership, build self-confidence, and provide advocacy skills. Because this is being offered to both Boston and resident students, our goal is to provide them with a safe space to build relationships amongst their peers as we continue to strengthen the Walpole School Community.

The LIT program for young scholars is presented by Jamele Adams. Scholars of middle and high school levels will engage in workshops and discussions that build self-esteem and community pride. This program will be held at the designated middle school from 2:35-3:30 pm and at the high school from 2:10-3:00 pm on the days listed below.

There will be a sign up sheet in the main office of each school as well as a google form will be sent out for students to sign up. Or BMS students can click here: LIT BMS sign up form

Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Dates of the program:

March 11th - Bird MS

March 12th - Johnson MS

March 18th - Walpole High School

April 22nd - Johnson MS

April 23rd - Bird MS

April 30th - Walpole HS

May 17th - Joint Walpole Middle and High School

Atisha Winslow

Walpole METCO Program Director K-12

Office: (508) 660-7257 ext 5234

Cell: (857) 340-1566

Grade 8 High School Transition Timeline

We hope you will be able to attend Grade 8 Curriculum Night at Walpole High School on March 7th. The interactive website for the middle school to high school transition can also be a helpful resource. We wanted to keep you posted on the timeline for 8th-grade students in the transition process.

March 6th: In school presentation by the high school counseling department for all grade 8 students. Students will hear about the overall high school experience and learn about the academic and elective courses. Students will receive a paper version of the Program of Studies during this presentation.

March 7th - 8th grade Curriculum Night, 7 pm at WHS for parents. See flyer below.

By March 14th: Grade 8 teachers make student placement recommendations for academic courses. If your child lacks the teacher recommendation and the prerequisites for a desired course, you will need to complete the “course request waiver” which will be in X2 with the verification email that is sent on April 22nd. Students may only waive into a maximum of 2 classes and must be within 10 points of the required average in order to waive into that class.

March 15th: Counselors meet with students in classes to briefly review the high school curriculum again, to demonstrate how to choose their electives in X2, to guide students with elective choices and help answer questions students have at this time. Instructions will also be emailed to parents to help with this process at home. Prior to the deadline, counselors will continue to meet with students in small groups and individually to help with the course selection process, as needed.

March 26th: Deadline for grade 8 students to select elective courses in X2.

March 27th - April 8th: Counselors will review course selections to make sure students have done this process correctly and work with students who need to make corrections. Once this process is complete, the WHS counseling department will send home an email for parents to verify the electives selected by their children.

April 22nd: Course Verification and waiver email sent to parents to e-sign and request waivers, if applicable.

April 26th: Waiver deadline.

You can visit the interactive program of studies site to get an understanding of the difference between class levels (CP2, CP1, and Honors) as well as to help your child review the different electives available to them as freshmen.

As we plan for the upcoming school year, we understand that some families may be considering different education options other than Walpole high School. Please complete this form only if your child is planning on attending a school other than Walpole High School.

As we begin the transition process, we welcome any questions regarding course selection. Please also note that the high school department chairs or school counseling department can answer questions pertaining to the in-depth content of the courses.

Please remember that parents, not students, must give medications directly to the nurse.

If your child requires the administration of medication during the school day or the use of specific medical devices, including Epipens, please make arrangements to drop them off directly to Nurse Ludwig. She can be reached at sludwig@walpole.k12.ma.us or by phone at (508) 660-7226.

Women's History Month

During Women's History Month the library is showcasing nonfiction titles about women. Mrs. O'Malley has also curated a Women's History Month Pathfinder of Resources which include book lists, websites, articles, museum links, and events in the Boston area.

Please check our Lost and Found pictures as we update every week. Direct your students to the two tables in the cafeteria and the table outside the gym for all items they may have mislaid. We also have more valuable items in the Front Office, jewelry, glasses, earbuds, keys. Please ask your student to check all locations if they're missing something.

Upcoming Unified Basketball Games:

Home Game: March 12 at 3:00 in the BMS gym

Away Game: March 20 at Galvin Middle School in Canton for a 3:15 start

Galvin Middle School

55 Pecunit Street Canton, MA

Jamboree: still to be determined- week of 3/25/24

• Unified Basketball began the last week of February and continues through the month of March...then we will go into the NEW Unified Cornhole Season! This season will begin in April and run through May. Stay tuned for more details on both! If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ms. Crawford @ ccrawford@walpole.k12.ma.us

We have recently seen an uptick in student tardies, with many cars still in our driveway at 7:45. As we start Quarter 3, we would like to remind everyone that students are to be in their homeroom seats by 7:45 every morning. If a student is tardy three times in a quarter, they will earn a detention in the office. We invite you to join us in reminding students of the importance of being present for the start of the day, and how that time can be spent getting prepared and organized for the day’s classes. If you feel that your student would benefit from a meeting with Mr. O’Leary in order to learn about strategies and techniques for getting to school on time, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Please remember to send in a note with your student if they need to be dismissed early from BMS. Students can give the note to their HR teacher or drop it off in the Main Office when they arrive. By doing so, students will then be placed on our "Daily Bulletin", and will be excused from class by their teacher at the proper dismissal time. This will reduce the amount of interruptions caused by calling into the classroom to send down students.

We realize that there are many occasions when your child may need to be dismissed. We prefer if you can please try and dismiss between classes, if possible. The optimal dismissal times for that are: 8:50, 9:45, 10:19, 11:14, 12:37, 1:32.

If you have informed us in advance of a dismissal, please telephone the front office when you arrive so we can call your student down and know that you are waiting outside. We do not want to send any student outside if their ride isn't waiting for them. We ask that if you are dismissing your child and no note or email has been sent ahead of time, please come into the front office and sign them out.

If you have any questions, please contact bmsoffice@walpole.k12.ma.us

When dropping off or picking up students during dismissal and arrival time, please make sure to only do so at the bottom of the driveway. I ask this out of a concern for the safety of students since they would have to cross what can be a very busy driveway at those times. Your cooperation is appreciated.

What is homework club?

Homework Club is a quiet work environment proctored by a staff member in the Media from 2:30-3:40 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s a great place for students to come after school, get work done, and maybe even not have any homework to do when they get home!

How do students sign up?

They don’t have to! Students show up immediately after school and sign in on any Tuesday or Thursday sessions they care to attend.

Do students always have to go?

No! Students can just come as needed.

How do students get home?

If they are a bus student, they can take the late bus home. If they get a ride, their ride can come at 3:40 or sooner. If they are a walker, they can walk home at 3:40, or sooner if that is ok with your family.

Who is it for? How much does it cost?

It’s for every BMS student, and it is free thanks to a donation by our PAC.

Last year, Walpole Public Schools began using a new mass communications system for attendance. This system allows for improved messaging between schools and families for automated notifications of school absences as well as for more time-sensitive alerts like unscheduled school closings.

If your child is absent and we have not received a phone call or message from you regarding that absence, then an automated attendance call will activate in order to alert you about the absence.

If you find that the system contacts incorrect phone numbers or email addresses, please contact the school’s main office with updated information.

This year Mrs. O'Malley is splitting time between Bird Middle School and Johnson Middle School. Below are the days and times students can see Mrs. O'Malley to check out a book, ask for a book recommendation, or receive extra help with research.

Days 1,2,3 - Mrs. O'Malley is at BMS

Days 5,6,7 - Mrs. O'Malley is at JMS

Day 4 - Mrs. O'Malley alternates the two schools.

• Before school Days 1,2,3: Check out a book, read, do homework, study. 7:20 - 7:45 am

• X block Days 1&3: Visit the library to check out a book.

• Working lunch Days 1 & 2: Bring your lunch & read a book, do homework, or study

Remember eBooks & audiobooks are always accessible through SORA on the Chromebook.

As a reminder, all student meals (breakfast and lunch) are free of charge this school year. Find out what's being served by checking out the Middle School Menu.

2024 Application Process -

Attention all current 8th Graders who have an interest in the STEM field:

Walpole High School is currently accepting applications for admittance into STEM Academy Class of 2028. All information along with the online application can be found by visiting the high school’s website link below:

https://www.walpole.k12.ma.us/o/whs/page/whs-stem-academy

The deadline to apply is May 17, 2024. If you have a passion for Science, Technology Engineering and Math, this is the place for you. Please reach out to your current technology teacher and/or Mr. Braccini at jbraccini@walpole.k12.ma.us with any questions.

The wait is over! Blingo Bingo SignUp Genius is LIVE! Grab your friends for a fun night out and maybe come home with an amazing prize!

SIGNUPS

Please note that there are sign ups for individual spots as well as for tables of 10. Only sign up for a table of 10 if you are paying for the full table in one payment.

Individual spots are $50 each and a table of 10 is $500 (one individual is responsible for paying and then listing the people at their table in the comment section or via email to pcrgray@yahoo.com). Those sitting at said table are not responsible for reserving a seat via signup genius.

PAYMENTS

Payments are needed within 2 days of your sign up. Venmo at @BMS-PAC (comment "Bingo" for your payment)

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050E4EA9AC22A20-47275687-walpole

If you have any questions or general concerns, please contact Principal Connor at econnor@walpole.k12.ma.us or Assistant Principal O'Leary at joleary@walpole.k12.ma.us.

Email: bmsoffice@walpole.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.walpole.k12.ma.us/o/bms
Location: 625 Washington St, Walpole, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 660-7226