News From The Nest: Issue #20

Hello Elm Street School Families and Friends!

Despite the frigid temperatures outside, things have been heating up in the Nest all week! Students are super excited for our Glow Run coming up on Monday and had a great week with Anna Banana and Ross the Boss on their Castle Quest during lunch blocks. In STEM it was Lego Float parade week where student groups got to show off all their hard work in design thinking and problem solving. There were some really creative pieces of work zipping down the model streets of Walpole all week! We also celebrated the halfway point of the school year this week on Day 90 and reflected on what we have accomplished and what we want to work on in the second half of the year. Lastly, we finally were able to get back outside on Friday for outdoor recess and enjoy some snow play.

In this edition of our weekly newsletter you will find information about:

• upcoming dates and celebrations for January
• counseling newsletter for January
• Essentialist Newsletter: Physical Education
• Cold Weather Gear Reminder
• Glow Run at Elm
• January Spirit Day
• February Vacation Camp
• February Coffee and Conversation
• Private Lessons through WPS Music
• Student Support and Attendance January Newsletter
• Walpole Scholarship Foundation Trivia Night

We've had a bit of an uptick in illnesses this past week. We can help keep the spread of illness low by monitoring for symptoms such as fevers, sore throats, headaches, and nausea; practicing and maintaining good hand hygiene by washing hands with warm water and soap frequently; and keeping students home to rest and recover if they aren't well enough to be in school.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and we will see all of our Eagles back at the Nest on Monday for our Glow Run and perhaps a Slime Celebration if we hit our fundraising target!

Jen

At the beginning of each month I will share a calendar of some upcoming Elm events as well as upcoming cultural celebrations and heritage months with hyperlinks to more information if you are interested in learning more. Below is information for the month of January.

If there are cultural celebrations that are important to you and your family that you would like to share with the adult Elm community, please email me so I can be sure to include them in upcoming newsletters. If you have any questions about anything you see on our calendar, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly.

1/1 New Year’s Day

1/2 School Reopens from Winter Break

1/6 Three Kings Day

1/9 6:45p School Committee Meeting

1/10 Battle of the Books Competition

1/14 3:15p Elm School Council Meeting

1/16 7:00p Elm PAC Meeting

1/17 Early Release Day- PD

1/20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (School Closed), Inauguration Day

1/21 6:00p Public Budget Hearing

1/22 Day 90 HALFWAY DAY

1/23 6:45p School Committee Meeting

1/27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Elm Glow Run, Report Cards released to families

1/29 Lunar New Year

1/31 8:30a K-5 Assembly (students and staff only), Favorite Sports/Hobbies Spirit Day

Please help your children remember to bring cold weather gear to school. Boots, snow pants, a hat, and gloves/mittens are needed if children want to play in the snow. If they do not bring this gear they will be able to enjoy recess outdoors on the blacktop. Since we go out in the colder temperatures (unless the weather is extreme) it is important that all students have at least a warm coat, hat, and gloves/mittens.

We are at 91% participation and our goal was 85%! In celebration of meeting our participation goal we will have an all school Pajama Day on Tuesday January 28th!

We are excited to celebrate all our fundraising success with our Glow Run on Monday, January 27th. All students will participate in the Glow Run during their specials block with their class and grade level. We will kick off our Glow Run day with an all school assembly where Mrs. Buller may or may not get slimed... let's see how we do with our last push for donations!!!!

Thank you for all your support in this successful fundraiser. We are excited to partner with PAC to enrich the curriculum and experiences for all Elm students with these funds!

On Friday January 31st, we will have our January Spirit Day and invite everyone to dress up to show their favorite hobby or sport. Wear a favorite jersey, your riding boots, dress like a chess board, don your favorite cooking apron- whatever it is, we want to see you representing the thing(s) you love to do outside of the Nest!

And don't forget: Every Wednesday- Walpole Wednesdays: we invite all students every Wednesday to show off their Walpole pride by wearing blue and orange, Walpole gear, Elm gear, Walpole sports jerseys, or other clothing that represents Walpole.

February Vacation Camp 2025

The Walpole Schools Extended Day Program is excited to host a February Vacation Camp for all Walpole Students in Grades K - 5. Registration closes on February 12th.

Families can create an account/register at this link: https://register.capturepoint.com/reg/login.cfm?cuBNAf%2FV0p4trnasCJNBkrfRqxVbA8M1ugTdgJwcwr%2BLxIFL2ZCtvf%2Fw

WHEN

● Tuesday, February 18 - Thursday, February 20.

● Drop off will take place from 8:00am-9:00am. Pick up will take place from 3:00-4:00pm.

● An Extended Day option will be available each day from 4:00-5:00pm.

**Once a student is dismissed from the program they may not return the same day.**

WHERE

● Boyden Elementary School (1852 Washington St, South Walpole, MA 02071)

● Drop off and Pick up will take place at the front door of the school.

FEES

● 1 Day Camp Option - $100

● 2 Day Camp Option - $200

● 3 Day Camp Option - $280

● 1 Day Extended Day Option - $25

● 2 Day Extended Day Option - $50

● 3 Day Extended Day Option - $75

● Younger siblings will receive a 10% discount.

● Families may only register for the Extended Day option on days that they are registered for the February Vacation Camp.

● Families will be invoiced via CommunityPass.

● Payment is due prior to the start of camp. A $25 late fee will be applied to late payments.

PROGRAMMING

● Supervision is provided by Extended Day Site Coordinators and Assistants from all four elementary schools.

● Students will be grouped based on age/grade and rotate through a variety of sports, arts, and stem activities over the course of the 3 days.

WEATHER

● We will make every effort to be open regardless of weather. If inclement weather or emergency situations require a change of hours or closing, parents will be notified soon as possible.

● Children should bring clothing suitable for outside play.

FOOD

● Extended Day provides all students with a morning and afternoon snack.

● Parents need to provide both breakfast and lunch.

MEDICAL

● Please be aware that any students requiring an epi-pen, inhaler, seizure and other medications must bring their own on the first day of camp. All epi-pens, inhalers, seizu and other medications will be kept with an on site nurse. All epi-pens, inhalers, seizure and other medications will be sent home with students on the last day of camp. If your student will need medication administered during camp hours, you will be asked to complete a consent form, which must be delivered with the prescribed medication on the first day of camp

Want More Information?

Reach out to Dan Santangelo,

Director of Extended Day at:

dsantangelo@walpole.k12.ma.us or Evan

Storlazzi, Assistant Director at:

estorlazzi@walpole.k12.ma.us

Our next Coffee and Conversation will take place on Friday, February 7th in the Elm cafeteria. Our agenda includes a brief update about what's been happening around the Nest followed by our guest presenter Shannon Findley, the WPS English and Language Arts Curriculum Coordinator for Kindergarten to Grade 5. Mrs. Findley will share an overview of literacy learning at Elm including how we have been adopting and adapting to our new curriculum this year.

Coffee and connection begins at 8:15a and our program will start at 8:30a.

The Walpole Public Schools Music Department is pleased to announce the spring session for our Private Lesson Program for students in grades 4 - 12. If your child is interested in taking private instrument or voice lessons, here is your chance. Lessons are offered in flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, tuba, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, guitar and voice. All lessons are taught by accomplished performers on their respective instruments. Some lessons are currently being taught virtually.

Session 2 will run February 3 to June 13. Registration is open Friday, January 10th through Monday, January 27th.

For more information, visit:

https://sites.google.com/walpole.k12.ma.us/wpsmusic/private-lesson-program/overview

To register, visit:

https://forms.gle/YGBjnmVE1V57US2m9

For questions, email:

Tim Fleming (K-12 Music Coordinator) at tfleming@walpole.k12.ma.us

Email: jbuller@walpole.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.walpole.k12.ma.us/o/ess
Location: 415 Elm Street, Walpole, MA, USA
Phone: 508.660.7374

Instagram: ElmStSchool