Boyden Weekly Update

September 13, 2024

Dear Boyden Families,

This week was our first full week at Boyden and it was a successful one. The students have all adjusted nicely to their new classrooms and are back into the swing of our schoolwide routines. It has been great to see students reconnect with one another while also getting to know their new classmates.

Please remember that next Friday, September 20th is an Early Release. The students will be dismissed at 12:25 and lunch will not be served.

Enjoy the weekend!

Brendan

Boyden is going GOLD!

In recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we are asking all students and staff to wear gold/yellow on Friday, September 27, 2024. This day will allow us to support the fight against all childhood cancer and most importantly honor our friend Emmanuel Urrea (age 7) who lost his courageous battle with cancer this past summer.

In addition to wearing gold/yellow on September 27th, our School Store will open its door for the first time this year with all the proceeds donated to the Urrea Family.

Kindergarten students usually do not participate in the school store, but we are making an exception due to this very important day.

South Walpole Garden Of Hope

Over the last 20 years, Mrs. Galvin has planted mums at the Garden of Hope in South Walpole to honor the heroes of September 11, 2001. This year Mrs. Folan and her class/families carried on the tradition in Mrs. Galvin's retirement. In addition, the Walpole Public Works honored Mrs. Galvin by constructing a bench dedicated to her and her efforts over the years to brighten the community. It was an amazing morning and thank you to the Walpole Public Works for their continued support over the years.

Boyden Curriculum Night/Open House

We are looking forward to welcoming parents and guardians to Boyden's Open House on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. Teachers will be sharing curriculum expectations along with information specific to the classroom. Parents and guardians will also have time to ask general questions. Any questions specific to a child should be reserved for a more confidential setting.

Also, during these times our specialists and other service providers will be available for parents/guardians to meet and hear about the work they do with students. The Open Houses at all of the Walpole Elementary Schools are for Parents and Guardians only. Students, other family members, and guests should not attend.

Schedule:

6:00 PM - 6:30 PM Families with Last Name Beginning with M--Z*

6:45 PM - 7:15 PM Families with Last Name Beginning with A-L*

*If you have more than one child, please email the teacher for an exception to the assigned times.*

Washington Street Closure

Please be advised that Washington Street, between Common and South Street will be closed beginning on Wednesday, September 18th. The town anticiaptes this will last at least two weeks. For families dropping off and picking up by car please plan accordingly. Also, we anticiapte the buses to be delayed as well. Thank you in advance for your flexiblity due to this unexpected road closure.

What's Happening in Media/STEM?

Welcome back! It was very exciting to have students return to the media center. Our media/STEM lessons are off to a great start! During the first weeks, students have been focusing on learning essential routines and getting to know one another. We have been practicing teamwork and collaboration. We’ve also discussed the importance of using our imaginations as we play, design, build, and read in the media center.

We’ve enjoyed books like Becoming Vanessa, How Alma Got Her Name, Be a Maker, That Fruit is Mine, and Collaboration Station. Fourth and fifth graders practiced teamwork as they strategized and completed a maze challenge. Third graders brainstormed the characteristics of a good teammate and then used those adjectives to build card towers. Second graders enjoyed Collaboration Station, practicing teamwork and thinking outside the box. First graders discussed what it means to be a maker and spent time creating pictures and building. Lastly, Kindergarten students enjoyed visiting the media center for the first time. They spent time getting to know each other through songs and stories and explored some building materials.

Book checkout will begin next week. Stay tuned for more information.

Volunteer Opportunity - Media Center Helpers Needed!

Do you love books and have a knack for organization? Mrs. Moses is looking for a few volunteers to assist in our media center from 8:45-9:45 AM on weekdays. This is a great way to support our students and help keep our media center running smoothly.

Please contact Mrs. Moses if you are interested at kmoses@walpole.k12.ma.us

Math Update

The 2024-25 school year is off to a great start around math! We’ve had an amazing launch to ST Math with all students in grades 1-5 starting their journey and we know our kindergarten friends will join very soon! Students have been excited to get back to Number Corner to try and figure out the patterns and structure of their first Calendar Grid of the year. Now that students are coming into a new grade with two years of the Bridges Curriculum, teachers are noticing they are making more connections, they have increased number sense and are ready to tackle the rigor of the next grade.

We are excited to share that the district has purchased subscriptions to Math Fact Lab for this school year for grades 1-5. Some teachers piloted the program last year and we are excited to see the positive impact it will have on fact fluency for our students. Math Fact Lab is a program that builds fact knowledge, not just on rote memorization, but by providing the students with visual tools to develop their conceptual understanding while increasing their fluency. It is endorsed by Jo Boaler (renowned educator in the mathematical field) who, when reviewing the site, stated, “A really great use of visuals and important mathematical strategies.” Teachers will begin the program when developmentally appropriate for their classes. We do ask that while the platform is available for students to log into at home, please do not have your students utilize it at home until they have begun in their classroom. It is an adaptive program that adjusts practice to a student’s level, so the original placement assessment needs to be done at school. Thank you for your understanding.

We also wanted to take this opportunity to remind our returning families and share with our new families the link for our Family Math Website which is full of great resources and information to help build your child’s math disposition, conceptual knowledge and basic skills through at home activities. There are so many activities students can do at home to build their math skills from reading books to playing board and card games to even going on a grocery shopping trip and talking about all the different ways they see and use numbers at the store. We are looking forward to a great year!

Counselor's Corner

Check out September Counselor's Corner from our two counselors, Mrs. Audet and Ms. Lemmler.

Private Lessons - WPS Music Department

The Walpole Public Schools Music Department is pleased to announce the fall session for our Private Lesson Program for students in grades 4 - 12. If your child is interested in taking private instrument or voice lessons, here is your chance. Lessons are offered in flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, tuba, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, guitar and voice. All lessons are taught by accomplished performers on their respective instruments. Some lessons are currently being taught virtually.

Session 1 will run September 23 to January 31.

Registration is open until Monday, September 16th.

For more information and to register, visit:

https://sites.google.com/walpole.k12.ma.us/wpsmusic/private-lesson-program/overview

For questions, email:

Tim Fleming (K-12 Music Coordinator) at tfleming@walpole.k12.ma.us

Student Support and Absenteeism

Please see click on the the link below to read a message from the Ed Connor, Dean of Student Support and Absenteeism

CLICK HERE

PAC News

NEW PAC WEBSITE!!

PAC is excited to roll out our new website for friendship directory, direct donations, to sign up and volunteer for events along with other cool features! A one stop shop!!!! Make sure to register and add your children!! Click the link below!

https://boyden.futurefund.com/

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