WHS eNotes

Dear students, staff, and parents/guardians:

This Monday, April 8, 2024, a partial or annular solar eclipse will occur across our region. While this is a rare and exciting phenomenon, we want to share some important safety information with you since the event will occur right after our school dismissal time. Since looking directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing is unsafe, we encourage you to review NASA’s safety guidelines before the event happens on Monday afternoon.

For any of our students, staff, or family members who want to Safely View the Total Solar Eclipse, we will have ISO-Certified Eclipse Glasses available at the high school for a nominal fee of $2.00 each. These will be on sale during the lunch block in the main lobby on Monday.

Finally, we are very excited to announce that Walpole High School was notified yesterday, April 4th that we have officially been awarded designation for Innovation Pathways starting in the 2024-2025 school year. Please continue reading below for more information.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,

Stephen Imbusch

Principal

Walpole High School was notified on April 4th that we have officially been awarded designation for Innovation Pathways starting in the 2024-2025 school year. Innovation Pathways is an effort by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to support industry, education, and workforce systems to collaborate to build systematic solutions to provide career opportunities in high-demand fields.

Students will have access to the same high-quality academic programming that Walpole High School is known for, in addition to increasing opportunities for all students to access high-quality career and work-related experiences during high school.

The first Innovation Pathway that we have identified is Information Technology. This pathway will allow students to explore the different ways that information is created and disseminated. From Television, Journalism, and Film to Art, Marketing, and Advertising, students in the Pathway program(s) will have a focused course of study. Additionally, they will participate in an internship or capstone project in their Senior year of high school. Students will be supported in learning the career skills necessary for long-term success whether they enter the workforce directly, or pursue higher education before doing so.

Please click the link above to find out more about what we are doing at Walpole High School, and to reach out to your school counselor or Mrs. Dolan, Mrs. Tobey, or Mr. Connolly for more information about onboarding for the 2024-2025 school year.

What is the new Innovation Pathways program?

Find out on April 24th!

Mark your calendar for the Wednesday after school vacation week!

Assistant Principal Lee Tobey and Director of Guidance Jen Dolan will provide an introduction to Innovation Pathways, a State-funded program designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as information technology, engineering, healthcare, life sciences and advanced manufacturing.

We hope to see you there!

Please RSVP with the link provided.

Wed., April 24th, 7:00pm WHS Media Center

Student artwork from Walpole and Norwood High Schools will be displayed, along with floral interpretations of the artworks from the Norwood Evening Garden Club, at the 18th annual Art in Bloom exhibit. It will be held at the Morrill Memorial Library, 33 Walpole Street, Norwood MA on Saturday, April 6th 10 am - 5 pm and Sunday, April 7th 1 -5 pm. The public is invited and admission is free!

The National Art Honor Society will be taking applications for new members for the 2024-2025 school year!

If you or someone who you know is passionate about the visual arts and wants to make it a larger part of their life both in and out of school, NAHS is the place for you! Reach out to any of the art teachers or come by room 1146 at 2:10 on Tuesday, 4/9 for an informational meeting and to find out how you can apply!

The Student Council and Red Cross Club Blood Drive is on Wednesday, April 10th. More information about donating is available here! If you are a student (or staff member) who is eligible to donate, consider saving lives!

The Walpole High School Film Festival is holding its annual fundraising drive on Saturday April 13th from 9-2. Bring your old used appliances, electronics and TVs and computers! Open the attachment here for more information...

Scheduling classes for 2024/2025

Beginning on Friday, March 15th students will be meeting with counselors in Seminar to review important information about graduation requirements and the course selection process. At this time students will be entering their course requests. Students should review this site for the WHS Program of Studies and course information. Juniors and Sophomores will meet during B Block in the cafeteria. Freshman will meet during their scheduled B Block study hall/PE class. More information was sent to the Freshman regarding their scheduled seminar time.

Beginning March 27th counselors will be meeting 1:1 with students to finalize requests and ensure students did not miss required coursework, etc. Again, please review the attached Program of Studies and Elective Sheets. Verification information will be sent home April 22nd.

The following scholarships are now available:

Thomas Quinn Memorial Scholarship- application in the school counseling office, due by 4/27/24

Chief Carmichael Jr. Scholarship- application in the school counseling office, due by 4/11/24

King Philip Youth Hockey Scholarship- application in the school counseling office, due by 5/5/24

WHS Community Scholarship

There are several scholarships available to WHS Class of 2024 given in memory of community members or organizations in town. Seniors please check your email for additional information- if you would like to be considered the application is in your SCOIR drive and is due 4/28.

Looking for something to do this summer? There are many Pre-College Summer Programs available to high school students. Please visit the Summer Programs site for a list of opportunities. Please note that this is continually being updated.

The Walpole High School Junior - Senior Prom will be on Friday, May 17, 2024 at Gillette Stadium Route 1 Foxboro from 6 pm - 10:00 pm. Mandatory attendance until 9:30 pm.

Students must fill out the Prom Info Form prior to purchasing tickets. Students may purchase tickets directly from this form if you, and your guest, if applicable, are from WHS and you are using Venmo. The ticket price is $95.00 each. Tickets will also be on sale in the cafeteria if paying by cash or check on April 1st - 12th. Checks need to be made out to: Town of Walpole.

If students are bringing a guest to the prom who DOES NOT go to Walpole High School, you must fill out a "GUEST PERMISSION SLIP FORM". The guest permission slips are in the Prom Info Form, at the main office, or available in the cafe during ticket sales. The guest permission slip must be filled out completely with two required signatures and returned, along with a photocopy of the guest’s photo identification showing date of birth, to your assistant principal for administrative approval and their signature or your guest will not be admitted to the prom.

Also, we will be accepting prom tables during lunch ticket sales!

Please get a table form during lunch from the prom ticket sellers. Fill out and return it to the ticket selling table.

You may write up to ten names on the table form. If you wish to sit next to another friend's table, please write that person's name at the bottom of your table request form stating you wish to sit next to them.

Table requests will be due by Friday, April 12th.

If you have any questions about prom, please contact Ms. Allison at: sallison@walpole.k12.ma.us

Please consider donating any type of new and gently used shoes to help those in impoverished countries and the environment by keeping them out of land fills. There is a drop-box in the high school lobby where you can place the shoes. For more information on Soles4Souls, please check out their website here: http://soles4souls.org/ . Thank you!

Congratulations to our debaters for competing in the virtual debate state tournament this weekend!

Congrats to: Champions Sara Axelrod and Blanka Lazri competed in Big Questions Debate and placed 1st Octofinalist Ramu Muthukaruppan competed in Novice LD and placed in the top 8. Debate President Sarah Mukkuzhi, who lead the team this year, competed in Varsity LD.

We cannot wait to hear about Sarah Mukkuzhi’s experience when she competes at NSDA Nationals in June! She is a consecutive NSDA qualifier!

The Humane Society will be collecting donations for local shelters. We will be collecting towels, paper towels, unopened dog/cat food, gently used collars and leashes, gently used toys, dog beds, sanitizing wipes and other pet supplies. There will be a box in the front lobby for donations. All monetary donations are making a difference at local shelters, like the sponsoring of a puppy cage through the Great Dog Rescue of New England.

Walpole Timberwolves apparel check out the link below.

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/massachusetts/walpole/walpole-high-school

For a list of upcoming events please click on the following link: https://sites.google.com/a/walpole.k12.ma.us/athletics/

Email: rdowd@walpole.k12.ma.us
Phone: 508-660-7257
Twitter: @WalpoleAD

Email: simbusch@walpole.k12.ma.us
Website: http://walpolewhs.ss5.sharpschool.com/
Location: 275 Common Street, Walpole, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 660-7257
Twitter: @WalpoleHS