🌱

Victoria B., Walpole High School representative to the School Committee provided the following report:

• Term 4 just passed the midway point. Students are starting to prepare for their final exams and are becoming more and more excited as we come closer to June 13th.
• The class of 2024 had their last day of school yesterday as well as Senior Walk through their elementary school. They also visited their middle school and then returned to Walpole High to say their final goodbyes.
• Sophomores had their final math MCAS, and during these last two weeks, AP exams were held.
• Ms. Hugueley and Ms. Cleary are running a trip to Chile and Argentina in February 2025 during school break. An informational meeting was held last night in the cafeteria for those who were interested.
• Spring Sports are winding down to the last few games of their regular season, and many are moving on to different state tournaments and finals.
• Teams are also having their Senior nights to thank their upcoming graduates for the years of hard work and dedication.
• Many clubs are beginning to wrap up their final events and elect officers for the 2024-2025 school year.
• Student Council (StuCo) is finishing up senior plans and the Freshman Formal and prepping for graduation.
• The year is beginning to wrap up nicely as summer approaches!

1. Elementary DLC Update - The School Committee was provided with an Elementary Digital Learning Coach (DLC) curriculum update. Mr. Tom Reeve, Director of Digital Learning, along with Nancy Carroll (Boyden), Kim Farley (Elm), Karen Wolff (Fisher) and Jami Milnamow (OPR) were present. The full presentation can be viewed here at time marker 6:03.

Dr. Gough reported the following:

• Please be reminded that Summer Learning Program enrollment forms are due next Wednesday, May 29th.
• It was a pleasure to attend the WHS National Honor Society and recognize our Senior members and Junior inductees. WHS Pop’s Night is tomorrow. Senior Walk was held yesterday, in which our pending graduates visited their former elementary schools and were recognized by the elementary students and staff. The next two weeks will be busy with several concerts and end of year events. Please be reminded that WHS graduation is on Sunday, June 2nd at 1:00 p.m. (WHS field).
• Information was provided about middle school transition (see below).

• Dr. Gough provided an update regarding the phases of Planning for Success (District Strategic Planning) progress. The Plan for Success serves as a road map for ongoing improvement over a determined time period, 3 to 5 years. Phases included envisioning the future, synthesizing common themes, data and root cause analysis, and writing strategic objectives, initiative, and intended outcomes.

• Finally, Dr. Gough provided a reminder about Memorial Day:

  This weekend will provide us with an opportunity to get together with family and friends. As many of us look to this weekend as the unofficial kick off to the summer, it is also a time to pause and honor military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I am proud to be part of a military family. My grandfather, Marine Corps Sgt. Major, fought in WWI, WWII, and the Korean war, my uncle, Navy Veteran, fought in Vietnam, and my father was a Navy Corpsman. Fortunately, they all made it home after the completion of their service. I continue to visit those family members at Arlington National Cemetery and Bourne National Cemetery and to pay my respects to those who never made it home. On Monday, May 27th, please take the time to salute our fallen and honor our heroes.

1. Middle School Building Project -

• Reminder: Middle School early release days on Friday, June 7th and Tuesday, June 11th.
• The rising grades 6, 7, 8 families all received letters from Principal Ruggiero regarding the opening of the middle school.
• June 3rd from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.: WMS Information Night for incoming 6th grade parents/guardians (location: Johnson Middle School). The emphasis of this evening will be to review middle school programming and preview the design of the new building.

• June 4th at 9:00 a.m.: principal’s coffee at JMS for incoming grade 7 and 8 families to preview the design of the new building and answer any additional questions.
• June 4th: grade 5 field day, bringing together grade 5 elementary students from all four elementary schools.
• June 7th: Last blast gathering for staff who worked at BMS (Please RSVP or email lgoldman@walpole.k12.ma.us or smurphy@walpole.k12.ma.us for further information).
• A nostalgic farewell to our beloved Bird Middle School is being held on Friday, June 14th from 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Members of the Walpole community and former students are all welcome. It will be one last opportunity to stroll through the hallways and classrooms and reminisce and celebrate the memories made within the school (see flyer below).
• Mr. Breen affirmed that the project is progressing according to schedule and within budget. Recent building photos and videos can be seen on the middle school webpage. The community is encouraged to visit the webpage and reach out to the Middle School Project team with any questions or comments via email at middleschoolproject@walpole.k12.ma.us.

2. High School Project - Mrs. Syrek indicated last week a productive meeting was held regarding the project. Next week a workshop is scheduled to continue building discussions.

Lisa Pacillo requested the School Committee consider showing support for the Thrive Act and submit a resolution to state legislators. Ms. Pacillo indicated the Thrive Act has three main tenants including (1) allowing districts to certify that students have met coursework requirements in order to receive a diploma, (2) eliminating state takeover of schools based on MCAS and (3) it proposed to establish a commission to create a new system of assessing schools.