Hello Elm Street School Families and Friends,

We had a wonderful first week back from the Thanksgiving break helping support students resettle into our school routines and expectations and launching into a 4 week stretch of uninterrupted learning. We also know how tricky these next few weeks leading up to the winter break can be and are working on maintaining consistency and stability in school while also embedding opportunities for celebration and connection.

In this week's News from the Nest you will find additional information about:

• Upcoming Dates/Events: December
• December Assembly Information
• Upcoming Elm Street School Spirit Days
• December Counseling Newsletter
• Essentialist Weekly Newsletter: STEM
• School Council Schedule and Members
• Dedham Savings Bank Holiday Card Contest
• Winter Maker's Market
• Elm 180 Fundraiser
• PAC News
• Walpole 300th Birthday Kick Off Laser Show

We are looking forward to our next spirit day on Wednesday (New England Sports) and another full week of learning, growth, and connection this week.

Jen

• 12/3: Elm Crafts Local: Towne Crafters
• 12/6: Elm Street School December Assembly
• 12/6 3:15p: Elm Street School Council Meeting
• 12/7 - 15: Hanukkah
• 12/7 7:00p: PAC Meeting
• 12/8: Early Release Day
• 12/16 - 24: Las Posadas
• 12/18 6:30 - 8:00p Elm Winter Maker's Market
• 12/21: Winter Solstice
• 12/25: Christmas Day
• 12/25 - 1/1 Winter Break: School Closed (School Resumes on 1/2)
• 12/26 - 1/1 Kwanzaa

Following our successful assembly at the beginning of the month where we established our group plan routines and expectations, shared ways in which students at Elm were following our SOAR expectations, and previewed the SEL theme of gratitude for the month of November, we will gather again on December 6th for another assembly.

The December Assembly will follow a similar plan as the last assembly.

• Greeting
• Share (slideshow of students engaging with activities around Native American Heritage Month, Diwali, and our November SEL theme of gratitude)
• Announcements and Celebrations
• December Themes: Conflict Resolution and Celebrating Winter Holidays

As a reminder, our assemblies are for students and staff only.

To foster connection and celebrate these 4 weeks leading up to the winter break we will be having 4 Spirit Days on Wednesdays. Below is each Wednesday's Theme:

Wednesday November 29th: Pajama Day - dress in your coziest PJs (please leave slippers and stuffed animals at home)

Wednesday December 6th: New England Sports - dress to represent your favorite New England sports team (all sports and group activities welcome!)

Wednesday December 13th: Bright and Sparkly - we want to chase away the long dark days with as much bright colors, sparkles, and sequins as possible!

Wednesday December 20th: Celebration - dress up to show us a favorite holiday, tradition, and/or celebration you have with your family this time of year

I want to thank everyone for their interest and commitment to our Elm School Council. Below you will find our membership for this school year along with our meeting dates. Meetings will take place in the Elm Street School Media Center and be available online through a link posted in our newsletter closer to each meeting date.

All meetings are open to the public per Open Meeting Law and I encourage everyone to attend and participate as family engagement is one of the keys to the health of any school community. Closer to each date I will post an agenda and link to the meeting in our weekly Smore newsletter.

Elm Street School Council Members
Jen Buller, Principal

Michelle Perron, Grade 4

Shannon Graziano, Partnership MSN

Tini Cantrell, Grade 5

Christopher Burke, Elm Family

Erin Collins, Elm Family

Saranya Ashwin, Elm Family

Elm Street School Council Meeting Dates

Wednesday December 6th 3:15p

Wednesday February 7th 3:15p

Wednesday April 10th 3:15p

Wednesday June 5th 3:15p

For more than 25 years the Walpole Elementary Schools has partnered with Dedham Savings Bank and participated in their Holiday Card Contest. If students would like to participate in the contest, we are asking that this take place at home and possibly at indoor recess (if applicable). Students will need to drop their completed cards off at the front office.

Here are the details:

• All cards should be on 8.5 by 11 white paper
• On the back of the card, please put the student's name, school, and grade.
• The cards need to be returned to school by Thursday, December 7th

Below are the generous prizes for each grade(district-wide) donated by the Dedham Savings Bank:

• 1st Prize $100
• 2nd Prize $50
• 3rd Prize $25

This year we are introducing a new event- The Winter Maker's Market. On December 18th from 6:30 - 8:00p we will transform the Cafetorium to a market for students to sell and buy handmade crafts. All students are invited and encouraged to sign up for a "booth" to sell their own homemade crafts and everyone is welcome to attend to purchase crafts. We will even have a station to wrap your purchases if you intend to give them as gifts for any of the winter holidays.

We welcome all art, stickers, soaps, candles, perler bead creations, wire and beaded jewelry, pillows, friendship bracelets, and whatever craft you would like to produce and sell. Set your own prices, work individually or with a friend, and most of all HAVE FUN!

See below for more information and the link to sign up!

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

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