BMS Newsletter

Dear Families,

It's incredible to think that there are only 2.5 more school days left in this school year. Your children have grown in so many ways in the last ten months. Their intellectual, social, and emotional capabilities are certainly stronger now than when we started in late August. It's a testament to the BMS staff and to your, their families, for the progress that they've made. We don't expect students to be perfect or fully actualized in one year. Our goal is to help the students improve each day that they're in school. Some improvements are bigger than others but that doesn't minimize their efforts and hard work. We are proud of them for the successes that they've had. Thank you for being partners in your child's education this year. To those families that are leaving us after next Wednesday, we'll fondly remember you. To those families that will be back in the fall, we'll see you soon!

Take care,

Ed Connor

For all the information regarding Grade 8 End of Year events, please see this separate BMS 8th Grade Celebrations 2023 newsletter.

The Walpole Cultural Council held a town-wide writing contest that was open to all residents of Walpole (as well as non-resident students of Walpole schools). Writers of all ages (elementary school through adult) submitted entries in the categories of short story and poem. Our very own student, Liam Walsh, is one of the first place winners!!

The Council is planning to create a publication of the entries. Winners will be recognized at a celebration at Walpole Public Library on Thursday, June 22.

Congratulations, Liam!!

June 13th: Grade 8 Promotion Ceremony 9:00 am (families are invited to attend)

June 13th: Grade 8 Dinner / Dance 6:30 - 9:30 pm

June 14th: Last Day of School Early Release at 11:30 am

All students will receive Summer Math information next week in class and on their grade level Google Classroom page. All students going into 7th, 8th, and 9th grades will be using an online program to complete the Summer Math this year.

For current 6th & 7th graders: Click here to access information regarding the Middle School Summer Reading Program.

For current 8th graders: Click here to access information regarding the Walpole High School Summer Reading Program. Walpole High School students are expected to read one book from the Summer Reading List. They will meet in the fall in book groups to discuss their summer reading book. Students should use this form to enter their selected book.

The library is showcasing authors and books that reflect the lives and experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community. Click here for a Destiny Discover Collection of resources and books of interest.

Click here for a Destiny Discover Collection of resources which include ways to participate in Juneteenth events in Walpole & Boston as well as the history behind this federal holiday.

During the week of April 10, 2023, Walpole Public Schools began a new mass communications system. This new system will allow for improved messaging between schools and families for automated notifications of school absences as well as for more time-sensitive alerts like unscheduled school closings.

One of the first steps of the transition will be a welcome message via phone, SMS text, and email, shared with the phone numbers and email addresses that families provided as “Contact 1” and “Contact 2.” Later in the week, automated attendance calls will begin using the new system as well.

If you find that the new system contacts incorrect phone numbers or email addresses, please contact the school’s main office with updated information.

The 2023 Walpole Farmers Market opens Saturday, June 10.
Market runs every Saturday thru October 21, from 9am-1pm, at Spring Brook Park on East Street/Route 27, downtown Walpole. Plenty of free parking in the public parking lot.

We once again have our 3 area farmers with fresh produce and products. We are thrilled to have our Walpole Elementary School Gardens joining us again. And the Norfolk Aggie Abundance Gardens will also be coming some weeks. In addition, many of our regular vendors will be there as well as some new ones. We will have baked goods, crafters, artisans, lots of specialty items, our Walpole community table with info on all things around and about town, and entertainment including music, games, and crafting.

We are family friendly, and well behaved leashed dogs are welcome. We run rain or shine, unless there is thunder and lightning. Contact us for more information at farmersmarketwalpolema@gmail.com.

Registration is now open! Don’t miss this historic event! Sign-up now for the 5K, 10K, or highly-popular Youth Mile. All proceeds support the 200+ athletes in the Walpole High School Cross Country and Track & Field programs. Each race participant will receive a finisher’s medal. If you register before August 15th, you’ll also receive a free race t-shirt! Can’t join us live? No problem. We have virtual editions for both the 5K and 10K races. For additional information and to register online, please visit www.WalpoleRoadRace.org.

Thank you for your support. See you on RACE DAY!

Please note the following contact information for Walpole’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Co-Chairs are Sue Pace and Deborah Mulroy.

The SEPAC can be reached by email at walpolesepac@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/walpolespedpac.

Notices of future events can be found in these e-notes as they are scheduled.

Please consider donating to the PAC, any amount is greatly appreciated. The more donated, the less we will have to fundraise! Our budget goal this year is to raise $9,780.

These funds will go to homework club, field trips for all grades, 8th grade year end celebration, spring musical and staff appreciation, if we raise more we want to do more for students and hopefully do a nice treat and fun assembly for them as well. You can venmo or send in a check payable to BMS PAC. We greatly appreciate it, BMS PAC.

Please be aware that we open our doors to students at 7:25, and we expect each student to be in their homeroom seat by 7:45. Homeroom is an important time for students to get settled and receive important information about goings on during the school day. Any student who arrives to homeroom after 7:45 will be marked tardy. Once a student has accrued three tardies in a term, they will be required to serve an after school detention. If you have any questions, or would like some guidance on how to help your student arrive to school on time, please contact Mr. O'Leary for help.

Please remember to send in a note with your student if they need to be dismissed early from BMS. By doing so, students will then be on our "Daily Bulletin", and will be excused from class at the proper dismissal time. This will reduce the amount of interruptions caused by calling into the classroom to call down students.

There are many times when your child will need to be dismissed. Please try to dismiss between classes, if possible. Dismissal times are: 8:50, 9:45, 10:19, 11:14, 12:37, 1:32.

If you have any questions, please contact bmsoffice@walpole.k12.ma.us

We continue to go outside during lunch for 10 - 12 minutes every day, with the exception of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and extreme temperatures. Please be sure to send your student in with appropriate outdoor clothing so we can all enjoy their time outside after eating lunch.

What is homework club?

Homework Club is a quiet work environment monitored by a staff member in the Media from 2:30-3:40 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. It’s a great place for students to come after school, get work done, and maybe even not have any homework to do when they get home!

How do students sign up?

They don’t have to! Students show up immediately after school and sign in on any Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday sessions they care to attend.

Do students always have to go?

No! Students can just come as needed.

How do students get home?

If they are a bus student, they can take the late bus home. If they get a ride, their ride can come at 3:40 or sooner. If they are a walker, they can walk home at 3:40, or sooner if that is ok with your family.

Who is it for? How much does it cost?

It’s for every BMS student, and it is free thanks to a donation by our PAC (want to join our PAC, or at least support the tremendous work they do? Please see above).

As a reminder, all student meals (breakfast and lunch) are free of charge this school year. Find out what's being served by checking out the Middle School Menu.

If you have any questions or general concerns, please contact Principal Connor at econnor@walpole.k12.ma.us or Assistant Principal O'Leary at joleary@walpole.k12.ma.us.

Email: bmsoffice@walpole.k12.ma.us
Website: http://walpolebms.ss5.sharpschool.com/
Location: 625 Washington St, Walpole, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 660-7226