Dear Families,

Welcome to one of the busiest months of the year! We have concerts. We'll have another Spirit Week. There's an Early Release Day. There will be family parties, work parties, and friend & neighbor parties. It may be the "most wonderful time of the year" but it can be hectic too. In the midst of it all, homework, quizzes, tests, projects, etc. will continue at BMS during the three weeks leading up to vacation. We do our best to keep your children focused and engaged on their schoolwork during this time and we ask for your assistance in that area as well.

As always, we appreciate being partners in your child's education!

Ed Connor

Today the BMS PAC surprised us with the gift of wrapping paper, cellophane tape, and decorative bows! These items were placed in the Teacher Lounge for the staff to bring home and use for their holiday gift wrapping. Our PAC knows that getting out to buy these things is just another thing to add to the long "To Do" list for teachers. So now many of the teachers have one less thing to worry about during this holiday season.

We also received a wonderful delivery of cookies and cupcakes! They were beautiful as well as being delicious. The staff at BMS would like to thank the PAC and its members for their continuing kindness and support. You are the best!

High Honor Roll - 08

Jack B.

Damien B.

Audrey B.

Elise C.

Claire C.

Morgan C.

Zoe D.

Fiona D.

Colin F.

Mia L.

Mackenzie M.

Timothy O'L.

Rishit P.

Juliette S.

Gavin S.

Max W.

Noah W.

Honor Roll and Commendable - 08

Sarah B.

Veronica B.

Aaliyah C.

Dillon C.

Angela C.

Jack C.

Erin C.

Ashley C. V.

Cora D.

Molly D.

Charlotte D.

Mallory D.

Silas D.

Daniel F.

Jaden G. R.

Lena G.

Victoria H.

Ashley H.

Sadie H.

Evangeline I.

Divya L.

Gabriella L.

Lincoln M.

Colin M.

Nicole M.

Jeferson M. R.

Ella McA.

Nathan M.

Ethan M.

Nylanie M.

Samantha M.

Chloe O'C.

Ana Clara O.

Cameron O.

Maura P.

Blake P.

Zoie P.

Zachary R.

Susannah S.

McKenna S.

Sabrina S.

Nathan S.

Abigail S.

Robert St. L.

Jeffrey T.

Tyler T.

Julia V.

Conrad Y.

High Honor Roll - 07

Kayleigh A.

Owen A.

Avery B.

Terrell B.

Dean B.

Violet B.

Amelia C.

Sophia C.

William D.

Sarah E.

Ian E.

Norah F.

Jacob G.

Travis H.

Tyler H.

Chace H.

Thomas J.

Atharva K.

Sophie K.

Iliana L.

Vivian L.

Patrick McC.

Evelyn M.

Gray M.

Hannah M.

William M.

Charles P.

Ella P.

Liam P.

Timothy R.

Ryan R.

Jonathan S.

Katherine S.

Aisling S.

Liam W.

Honor Roll 7

Alessia A.

Martina A.

Edward B.

Kayla B.

Deanna B.

Max B.

Maria B.

Lindsay B.

Devin C.

Frederico C.

Brendan C.

Brianna C.

Norah C.

William C.

Lyla D.

Shay F.

Emma F.

Henry F.

Colin F.

Carlough F.

Allison F.

Charlotte G.

Lily G.

Aleksey G.

Daliylah H.

Ethan H.

Paige H.

Jack H.

Jack H.

Ainsley K.

Youssef K.

Norah L.

Gavin L.

Sophia MacL.

Carlos M. A.

Jacob M.

Isaiah M.

Padraig McA.

Anna McC.

Audrey McK.

Mary McK.

Laher M.

Ava M.

Hunter M.

Milena N.

Connor O.

Jaylani P.

Leah P.

Maeve R.

Jameson S.

Olivia T.

Ryan T.

Madison W.

Emily W.

High Honor Roll - 06

Alexander B. B.

Elena C.

Genevieve D.

Giada DiC.

Andrew D.

Nathan G.

Matthew H.

Knox K.

Grady K.

Ethan L.

Joanna L.

Griffin M.

Kyle McC.

Mayla Mc.

Kellen M.

William O.

Amalia S.

Rhys T.

Caroline Y.

Honor Roll and Commendable - 06

Tazkia A.

Krista A.

Sarah A.

Nicholas A.

George B.

Jalyssa B.-J.

Brynn B.

Reiss B.

Vincent B.

Natalie B.

Kaylee B.

Sofia C.

Jaylyn C.

Noah C.

Jackson C.

Emily C.

Dylan D.

Juliet D.

Jennah D.

Natalia D.

Conor D.

Brendan D.

Andrew D.

Leah D.

Artem D.

Samuel F.

Harrison F.

Anthony F.

Fiona F.

Emma F.

Ryan G.

James H.

Bella H.

Megan H.

Zoe H.

Henry H.

Myles H.

Brynn H.

Sevaeh J.

Gabriel K.

Samantha K.

Mark K.

Ella K.

Cael M.

Jiyashna M.

Avery M.

Brooke M.

James McC.

Jason McC.

Justin M.

Luke N.

Chidiogo O.

Stephen O'N.

Taylor O.

Janella P.

Paxton P.

Salvatore P.

Anna Q.

Sadie R.

Shalya R.

Ryan R.

Charlotte R.

Margaret R.

Jangelys R.

Evelyn R.

Ava S.

Margaret S.

Jarai S.

Jamari S.

Mairenne S.

Ryan S.

Leah S.

Mia St. L.

Tanner S.

Danica T.

Madison T.

Mackenzie T.

Zoey T.

Thomas Eduardo V.

Gianna V.

Abigail W.

Chase W.

Travis W.

Abraham W.

Audrey W.

Hayden W.

Private School Application Process

On occasion, staff members are asked to complete recommendation forms for students applying to private school(s). We recognize the importance of such requests, but ask that parents and students consider the following when making their request:

• Many of the applications are completed through an online application system. If this is the case for your child, the system will send an email request for recommendations from the counselor and teachers; however, we strongly encourage you to have your child speak to the school counselor and teacher(s) directly, as well, in order to personally request the completion of the forms.

• If your child is in 6th or 8th grade, please send the School Report forms to Katie Gingras (kgingras@walpole.k12.ma.us)

• If your child is currently in 7th grade, please send the School Report forms to Leah Cayer (lcayer@walpole.k12.ma.us).

• Give teachers and School Counselors at least a two week notice when requesting recommendations.

• You must still sign the ‘Transcript Release Form’ and have your child bring it to the School Counselor in order for transcripts to be released and forms to be completed.

• If the school that your child is applying to only accepts applications by mail, please have your child bring the Transcript Release Form to school along with $2.00 to cover the cost of postage.

Vocational School Application Process

If your child is applying to either Tri-County or Norfolk Agricultural High School, their applications will be sent directly to the school counselor to be completed. For more information about Tri-County please visit https://www.tri-county.us/. For more information about Norfolk Aggie please visit http://www.norfolkaggie.org/.

We have accumulated lots of items since the start of school and would like to help them find their way home! Please ask your student to visit the tables in the cafeteria and outside the gym and have a look to claim what may be theirs. Some lunchboxes and water bottles have been there a long time. Before everything is sent for recycling please see if anything looks familiar, we would like to return everything to it's rightful owner. (Update: some items have been claimed - we need to help everything find a home!)

12/4 Faculty Meeting

12/8 Early Release 11:30AM

12/13 7th & 8th Grade Strings Concert @ WHS 7:00pm

12/14 7th & 8th Grade Chorus @ BMS 5:30pm

12/14 7th & 8th Grade Band & Jazz Band @ BMS 7:00pm

12/19 6th Grade Music Concert @ BMS 7:00pm

12/25 - 1/1 Winter Vacation

1/2/24 Students return to school

Just a friendly reminder that 7th Grade Physicals are due at this time. Please submit them to the Health Office if you have not done so already.

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.

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.

Walpole’s 300th Birthday Celebration Will

Kick-Off with a Laser Show December 16th

Two Showings at Stone Field

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

BMS & Incoming BMS parents…………we just wanted to reach out and let you know there is a way to contribute to the school, we are looking to raise more funds by direct donations, so we can prepare for the 2023-24 school year!

PAC continues to support BMS activities, including: 6th, 7th and 8th grade field trips, homework club, 8th grade year end dance, staff appreciation, student appreciation, field day, recess equipment and school supplies for students in classrooms.

We are continuing to work with BMS to bring in more events to the school this year and next for the teachers and kids, but funding is needed! Please consider donating this year through Venmo or sending in a check with your child to give to the office , payable to BMS PAC. Lets try to beat last years direct donation total of $3900! We have raised $2600 so far! ONLY $1300 to make it to what we raised last year. The PAC appreciates all that contributed so far this year.

Please be aware that we open our doors to students at 7:25, and we expect each student to be in their homeroom seat by 7:45. Homeroom is an important time for students to get settled and receive important information about goings on during the school day. Any student who arrives to homeroom after 7:45 will be marked tardy. Once a student has accrued three tardies in a term, they will be required to serve an after school detention. If you have any questions, or would like some guidance on how to help your student arrive to school on time, please contact Mr. O'Leary for help.

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

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.

Students spend some time outside during lunch for 10 - 12 minutes every day, with the exception of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and extreme temperatures. Please be sure to send your student in with appropriate outdoor clothing so we can all enjoy their time outside after eating lunch.

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.

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