Boyden Weekly Update

March 14, 2025

Dear Boyden Families,

Please see the information below

Have a nice weekend!

Brendan

METCO and Friends Event

The Walpole Public Schools have been a proud METCO district for many years. The METCO program provides students from Boston with a strong academic foundation rich in cultural, educational, ethnic, socioeconomic, and racial diversity and fosters the opportunity for children from Boston and Walpole to develop a deeper understanding of each other in an integrated public school setting. We value these relationships among the students and feel it goes well beyond the classroom and school setting.

To further these relationships Walpole METCO is excited to host our annual bowling event at Kings (600 Legacy Place, Dedham, MA 02026)! Join us for an afternoon of fun on Friday, March 28, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. We are inviting elementary students and their families from Boyden Elementary School and Fisher Elementary School to participate. Spots are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once all spots are filled, the sign-up form will close.

This free event includes:

Bowling & shoes
Pizza, wings, and refreshments

Important Notes:

This is not a drop-off event—a parent or guardian must accompany their student.
Parents/guardians are not required to bowl but must remain at the event..

CLICK HERE to sign up

Rock Your Socks

Boyden Student Council is sponsoring "Rock Your Socks" day on Friday, March 21st in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day. Students and staff are encouraged to wear fun socks to school that day. They can be brightly colored socks, long socks, printed socks, two different socks, etc.

GET READY TO ROCK YOUR SOCKS!

Boyden School Report Card from DESE

Every year, each public school and school district in Massachusetts receives a report card. Just as your child’s report card shows how they are doing in different subjects, the school’s report card is designed to show families how our school is doing in different areas. A link to our school’s report card is available at https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/2024/03070010

The report card includes multiple measures of a school’s performance – more than just MCAS scores. It represents a new way of looking at school performance, by providing information on student achievement, teacher qualifications, student learning opportunities, and more.

Report cards are designed to be useful tools for everyone connected to our school. Families can use the information to have meaningful conversations with us about what the school is doing well and where there is room for improvement. Community and education leaders can use the information to better understand how to support students and our school.

You will notice on our report card that students are meeting or exceeding expectations at a higher percentage in English Language Arts, Math and STE than students across the state. To improve student performance in our school, we have implemented an intervention block in each grade to best meet the varying needs of our students in both English Language Arts and Math. In addition, we are focusing on student attendance to reduce chronic absenteeism this school year.

We encourage you to become involved in helping us improve our school. We see parents as critical partners in the success of our students and school, and we are grateful for your continued support.

Finally, if your child attends a school that receives federal Title I funds, you also have the right to request the following information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers:

Whether your child’s teacher is licensed in the grade levels and subject areas they teach,
Whether your child’s teacher is teaching under an emergency license or waiver,
The college degree and major of your child’s teacher, and
Whether your child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

If you have questions about our school’s report card, would like to become involved in school improvement activities, or would like to request information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teacher, please contact your building principal or district administration. To see our district’s report card or to search for other schools’ report cards, visit https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/

Literacy Resources

Book Recommendations

At Home Support

Support w/ High Frequency Words- shares information about what HFW words are, the way the brain learns to read them, and a routine families can try at home to support their child’s reading automaticity of these words!

Tapping and Blending- this video of me teaching a virtual Kindergarten Fundations lesson will show families how to support their child in tapping and blending to decode words

Early Literacy: Gamified - here are some websites families can check out if they are looking for a digital option

What are the students leaning in PE?

K: Kindergarteners in the month of February, worked on gross and fine motor skill activities and games. Students learned some basic gymnastics skills such as; animal walks, holds & scales and balances.

1st: First graders also worked on gross and fine motor skill activities and games. Students

revisited gymnastics to build on the walks, balances, and movements they learned from a year

ago.

2nd: Second grade classes started the month of February working on the key components of

throwing. We also played a variety of throwing games to go over those components throughout

the month.

3rd: Third grade started their first lessons on the sport of handball. Students had an opportunity

to learn how the game is played. Third grade students will continue to grow in the sport of

handball over the next few years!

4th: Fourth graders once again started their handball unit. Students revisited game rules, skills

during their lessons. It was fun seeing how well students work together both on defense and

offense during this fast paced game!

5th: Fifth graders also worked on handball through the month of February. It is amazing how far

fifth grade has developed over the last three years playing this amazing game! We will continue

with nets games over the course of March!

Sportsperson of the Month

The "Sportsperson of the Month" goes to a student at each grade level going above and beyond in Physical Education Class. This includes(but is not limited to) following the rules of the game, being safe, respectful of other students, taking care of the equipment, and playing fair.

PE Sportsperson for February:

K-Vivian Withrow

1st- Siena Oteri

2nd-Stephen Falcone

3rd-Daniel Twomey

4th-Brian Hassler

5th-Kyle Findley

Boyden Running Club

As the Spring arrives it is time for the Boyden Running Club. Below is all the information and click on the link to register

Register Here

Docents Volunteers Needed

Docents are volunteers (parents/guardians, family members) who go into their students' classroom to teach about different art and artists. No prior knowledge is needed; the docent program provides training. New volunteers are welcome in all grades, but especially needed in Mrs. Grenham, Ms. Moylan, Ms. Folan, and Mrs. Ivatts classes.

Email boydendocent@gmail.com if interested.

Extended Day Summer Program

Extended Day is excited to announce that Extended Day will be running a Pilot Summer Program this upcoming summer and registration is now live. We are anticipating registration to fill quickly and will do our best to enroll as many waitlisted students as possible.

This year, the camp will run for 4 weeks at Fisher Elementary and offer an Extended Day PM option for families. Registration will be open for incoming first through sixth graders. Registration will be available for individual weeks and families will have the option to register for all 4 weeks at a discounted rate.

Please see the attached PDF regarding Summer Camp Information and Registration Information for the Summer of 2025 and reach out to Dan Santangelo (dsantangelo@walpole.k12.ma.us) or Evan Storlazzi (estorlazzi@walpole.k12.ma.us) with any questions.

CLICK HERE for all the information

PAC NEWS

Next PAC Meeting is Wednesday, April 9th at 7:00 PM in the Boyden Media Center

Boyden/Walpole Apparel

The Run House, located at 15 West St, Walpole, MA, is proud to be the official retailer for Boyden Elementary School, with 20% of all profits going back to the Boyden Elementary School PAC. Chcek out all the great gear!