Dear Families,

Today we held a fundraiser to benefit the Walpole Community Food Pantry. Students and staff contributed donations that we will submit to the food pantry. The kids had a blast and we raised a nice amount of money and non-perishable foods to benefit families in need. I hope that the students and staff know have a feeling of accomplishment as we work to help make our community a better place to live. Look below to see some of the pictures from today in order to get a sense of some of the creative costumes that people wore!

We'll follow up today's activity with a Spirit Week next week.

• Monday: Color Day gr. 6 - Purple gr. 7 - Orange gr. 8 - Black
• Tuesday: HR Door Decorating Day
• Wednesday: Pumpkin Decorating
• Thursday: PJ Day
• Friday: Flannel Friday

Have a great weekend!

Ed Connor

Dear Families,

We had Parent-Teacher Conferences last night and today. If you still want to sign up for the final conference day on November 1st from 4:00 - 6:00, you can follow the link below. That will be our last day of conferences this year and will be held In-Person. Spaces are limited so sign up soon.

Parent-Teacher Conference Sign Up

We look forward to seeing and meeting with any parents/guardians who can attend!

Sincerely,

Ed Connor

Oct. 30 - Nov. 3 SPIRIT WEEK!

• Monday: Color Day gr. 6 - Purple gr. 7 - Orange gr. 8 - Black
• Tuesday: HR Door Decorating Day
• Wednesday: Pumpkin Decorating
• Thursday: PJ Day
• Friday: Flannel Friday

Oct. 31 - School Council 3:00 p.m.

Nov. 1 - Gr. 8 Assembly with Jennifer DeLeon (see below)

Nov. 1 - Parent Teacher Conferences: In Person 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

On Wednesday, November 1, the grade 8 students will be treated to an author visit by Jennifer DeLeon. Jennifer wrote the novel DON'T ASK ME WHERE I'M FROM which some of our grade 8 students are reading for their Term 1 ELA Book Club Book. Jennifer will speak about the power of storytelling and the topic of identity. Jennifer is a native of Massachusetts. She will present to the grade 8 students at BMS from 12:30-1:30 in the auditorium. Grade 8 students and their teachers will be called to the auditorium with their Period 4 teacher and sit as a class.

Each week we will feature a new member of our community. This week we'd like to spotlight Mrs. Cahalane:

Hi! My name is Anne Marie Cahalane. I am the new Secretary in the Main Office. I've worked at Fontbonne Academy and Catholic Memorial High School before to coming to Walpole. I'm looking forward to getting to know the staff and students. And, I hope that they'll soon get used to my accent. I've lived most of my life in Ireland but was born in Boston.

Outside of school, I enjoy walking, traveling, knitting, and reading. I also enjoy discovering the wonders of the continent of the United States with my lovely extended family.

Anne Marie Cahalane

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.

The Health Office would like to inform you that we will begin the State Mandated Screenings at BMS this November beginning with the 7th grade height and weight on November 2nd and 6th. The following lists the required screenings by grade level:

6th: Grade: Vision, Hearing, Scoliosis

7th: Grade: Height, Weight, Scoliosis, SBIRT

8th: Scoliosis

We understand that your child might be seen by their physician regularly and may have already been screened for some of these. If this is the case, and you would like to opt your student out of these screenings, we ask that you submit a copy of your child's most recent physical to the Health Office if you have not already done so. Additionally, please respond to this email if you would like to opt your child out. Please state your child's name, grade and what screenings you are opting them out of. As a parent or guardian, you have the right to opt your child out of any or all of these screenings.

Please contact the Health Office with any concerns or questions.

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.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

ADHD Awareness Month

LGBTQ+ History Month

National Book Month

Socktober

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.

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is the biggest festival in the Hindu calendar and is also known as the "Festival of Lights". It is celebrated every year in October or November. Diwali lasts five days, with the main celebrations being held on the third day of the festival. This year Diwali will begin on November 12th.

The Walpole Middle School Cross Country program is designed for athletes to get a preview of High School Cross Country. They will learn about the sport of running and experience competition against other middle school runners. Join coach Antonietta O'Toole on Tuesdays and Thursdays for this seven-week Cross Country Program. This program will focus on strength, flexibility, endurance, technique and speed. Click here to sign up.

BMS and Incoming BMS parents .......... we just wanted to reach out and let you know that 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 2023-2024 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 $955 so far! 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