WPS Superintendent Updates
A Fond Farewell & A Warm Welcome: Transition in the Superintendent’s Office
Mary Mortali, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools, will retire on February 14th. As an integral member of the district, she has made countless contributions and provided unwavering support to students, staff, and administrators. We are deeply grateful for her commitment and wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.
I am pleased to announce that Jennifer Breen, currently the secretary at Elm Street School, will be transitioning into this role. With over 20 years of experience in our district, Ms. Breen brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Superintendent’s Office. We are fortunate to have someone with her skills and institutional understanding stepping into this position.
The transition process is already underway to ensure a seamless handoff and a smooth start after the February break. Please join me in congratulating Ms. Mortali on her retirement and welcoming Ms. Breen to the Superintendent’s Office!
Celebrating Our School Counselors: Guiding, Supporting, Inspiring
As we celebrate National School Counselor Week (February 3-7), we want to express our sincere gratitude for the incredible work our counselors do each day to support our students. Their dedication, compassion, and expertise make a lasting impact on the lives of our students, helping them navigate challenges and empowering them to achieve their full potential. Thank you!
Report Cards
Elementary and middle school report cards are now viewable in the Aspen Family Portal. High school term 2 report cards were issued on January 30th. For future reference, we recommend downloading the report card as a PDF to print a copy. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s principal or teacher.
Congratulations are in Order: Project 351
Congratulations to Gabrielle Bosse who has been chosen to serve as the Project 351 Ambassador for Walpole! Each January, a group of eighth-grade ambassadors representing the 351 cities and towns of Massachusetts begins a transformative year of service and leadership. Ambassadors become one community, one team, one force for extraordinary good. Launch Day is a celebratory day of inspiration and impact as Ambassadors unite to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., inspiring students to come together, take action, and lead.
Presidential Award for Excellence
Mr. Dave Kujawski, Walpole Middle School science teacher, has been awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Administered by the National Science Foundation, the PAEMST is the nation’s highest honor for educators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. As part of this recognition, he will travel to Washington, DC for a future award ceremony. Congratulations to Mr. Kujawski on this prestigious achievement and for his dedication to excellence in teaching!
WHS Drama Takes the Stage and Competes at Drama Festival
WHS Drama will perform Power Line on February 27th and 28th. Tickets go on sale February 14th here or can be purchased at the door. WHS Drama will also bring this play to the annual Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild’s High School Drama Festival on March 1st at Norwood High School. Break a leg!
Kindergarten Registration: Don’t Wait, Enroll Today!
We still have families on the census who have not yet enrolled in Kindergarten. These numbers are essential for planning the 2025-2026 school year.
To pre-register a kindergarten age-qualified* child, a parent or legal guardian must complete the online registration form (scroll down to kindergarten pre-registration).
If you are unable to drop off documents at your neighborhood school during the day, the Superintendents’ Office (135 School Street, Room 204) is open Monday and Wednesday 7:03 AM - 4:30 PM, Tuesday 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM and Friday 7:03 AM - 2:30 PM.
*Kindergarten age-qualified children are those who turn five (5) years old before September 1 of the school year for which they are pre-registering.
To find out more about registration, click here.
Walpole High School Project Information
As you may have noticed, our construction project at the high school is now underway. This long-planned initiative focuses on key priorities to improve our facilities and enhance the student experience, including:
Upgrading the science and STEM facilities
Expanding resources for our underserved music, physical education, and athletic programs
Creating a flexible multi-purpose space and enhancing student services
Improving the exterior site, including parking, traffic flow, and pedestrian safety
For detailed information about the project, including FAQs and interior floorplans (some featuring QR codes for 3D interior modeling), please visit our project website.
Construction and Renovation Phases & Dates are as follows:
Phase 1A – Parking: Dec 2024
Phase 1B – Field House, Greenhouse, Sitework: Dec 2024 – Dec 2025
Phase 2 – Science Wing: June 2025 – Aug 2025
Phase 3 – Music & Multi-purpose space (In the existing gym): Jan 2026 – June 2026
Phase 4 – Student Services and Sitework: June 2026 – Aug 2026
Project Completion: August 2026
We are excited to see these enhancements take shape and appreciate your patience and support throughout the process.
Snow Days
The Superintendent of Schools is ultimately responsible for the final decision to cancel school based on various weather-related factors and information received from the Department of Public Works. In the event of school cancellation or delayed opening, a recorded phone message will be sent to each family's phone contact, broadcasted through Channel 4, 5, 7, and Fox 25, Twitter, posted on the Walpole Public Schools app and district website, and an email will be sent to all families. As a reminder, DESE does not allow any district-wide remote learning days to replace a snow day, and therefore, any snow days will be made up in June.
Job Openings
The following are job openings available at WPS:
- Extended Day Site Coordinator
- Extended Day Assistants
- Girls Varsity Tennis Coach
- Summer Camp Counselors
If you or someone you know is currently looking for a position, we encourage you to contact our Human Resources Coordinator, Laurie Sylvia @ lsylvia@walpole.k12.ma.us or visit https://sites.google.com/walpole.k12.ma.us/wpshumanresources/employment-opportunities.
Virtual Backpack
As a reminder, the Walpole Public Schools website has a link called the Virtual Backpack which is a great place to look for postings about community events and programs. Please visit the link above often to see what is currently happening in our community.
Free and Reduced Meal Applications
While school meals are free for all students this year, it is very important for families to still complete the Household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2024-2025 school year. Completing this form may entitle your child to other benefits such as waived or reduced fees for bus transportation, college applications, SATS, or other community programs. The application can be found here. Questions can be directed to Maria Hall, Food Services Director at mhall@walpole.k12.ma.us or calling 774-315-5640.
Additionally, families may consider applying for SNAP, the federal nutrition program that provides eligible residents with monthly financial assistance to purchase groceries. More SNAP information can be found here or by calling Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333.