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Special Olympics Massachusetts has announced that Walpole Middle School, a school with Special Olympics Unified Champion School® programming, is receiving national banner recognition for its efforts to provide inclusive sports and activities for students with and without intellectual disabilities. Walpole Middle School is receiving this distinguished status as a result of meeting 10 national standards of excellence in the areas of inclusion, advocacy, and respect. These standards were developed by a national panel of leaders from Special Olympics and the education community. WMS is among only 19 schools in Massachusetts and among 202 schools nationwide to achieve this status for the 2023-24 school year. Students and staff who made this possible were recognized.

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

• Term 1 is approaching the midway point and progress reports will be released next week.
• Tomorrow, students in 10th and 11th grade will take the PSATS.
• Class of 2025 and 2026 are continuing to plan their post graduation plans. Colleges continue to visit during Wednesday interventions. On October 2nd, 12 colleges visited WHS including Clemson University, UNH, and UMaine.
• EF Tours trips are becoming increasingly popular at WHS. Trips this year include Argentina and Chile, Rwanda, and Sicily. During these trips. student will learn about the culture and historical significance of the country and participate in various activities and service projects.
• Fall sports are coming to an end. Overall all of our teams have a great record for the season! Winter sports registration is open and closes on November 27th.
• WHS clubs are active, with Student Council planning their cornhole tournament and fall yard clean-up. Best Buddies held their first meeting on October 7th, and the Community Service Club is recruiting volunteers for the Morgan’s Message field hockey game. The Robotics Club will join the Mass STEM Teacher Fair on October 19th to promote STEM education.
  

1. Out of State Field Trip Request - The School Committee unanimously voted to approve a self-funded field trip for Walpole Middle School Grade 8 French classes to Quebec City, Canada from February 6, 2025 through February 8, 2025.

2. Planning for Success: WPS District Plan - Dr. Gough, Dr. Hahn, and Mr. Frisica, along with WHS students Sarah Mukkuzhi and Dillon O’Connell, presented the WPS District Plan. They discussed the strategic objectives, initiatives, and outcomes outlined in the plan. Sarah and Dillon were involved in its development and offered their insights on both the final plan and the process.

3. Vote on Town Meeting Articles - Fall Town Meeting Article 3 requests a FY ’25 adjustment for items including Medicaid reimbursements, McKinney Vento funds and student parking receipts. As part of the annual budget process every year, the School Department estimates the reimbursement of Medicaid, McKinney Vento and parking fee amounts based on the current year’s expenses and reduces their appropriated budget request for the following fiscal year by the that amount. Article 9 requests the Town appropriate available funds to implement a Capital Improvement Program to improve or modify capital equipment and physical infrastructure including municipal buildings, facilities, parking lots, fields and other properties. Article 12 is to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow and/or transfer from available funds a sum or sums of money to pay costs of architectural design and constructing, equipping and furnishing of additions and renovations to Walpole High School. The full Town Meeting Warrant can be accessed here. The School Committee voted to approve these Articles.

4. Grants Update - Mr. Friscia provided a FY ’25 grants update and included types, amounts and descriptions of all grants.

• October 1 enrollments were distributed. The total WPS enrollment is 3,635. Enrollment numbers will be updated as students register.

• The WHS Student Superintendent Cabinet has been formed. The first meeting is on October 23rd. Dr. Gough is excited to collaborate with these students as they voice their ideas, work to improve our schools and district, and develop their leadership capacity.

• Student MCAS performance reports were released and just delivered to the district. The reports will be mailed out this month.
• The Fales, Leach, Rogers, and Kunde Scholarship applications are due October 31st. The application can be found on the District Website or at the Superintendent's Office. Awards shall be distributed to undergraduates at four-year accredited colleges. To be eligible for these scholarships, the student must be a graduate of Walpole High School.
• National Principals Month: October is National Principals month. This is a time for us to celebrate and honor our principals for their leadership and their dedication to their students and school communities they serve.
• Reminder: Town Meeting is Monday, October 21st.
• Please be reminded that tomorrow, October 11th is an early release day tomorrow. There is no school on Monday, the 14th. School and district offices will be closed.

Middle School Building Project: Mr. Breen provided an update to the Middle School project. A reminder that the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, October 30th at 4:30 p.m. Tours of the building will be provided after the ceremony.

High School Project: Mr. Buckley provided an update to the high school project. All community members are encouraged to visit the WHS project webpage by clicking here.