News from the Nest

Hello Elm Street School Families and Friends,

We had a very full and fantastic first week back from the April break. Here at the Nest we have been busy celebrating JiJi's birthday by contributing the the 2 million ST Math puzzle challenge across Massachusetts, engaging with the Walpole Council on Aging for our Intergenerational Earth Day celebration, having a special visit from our friends at Dental Associates of Walpole, coding in STEM classes, and honoring our second grade authors and their fantasy writing during their publishing party.

These next 7 weeks until the end of the school year are packed full of special events and celebrations, so please keep an extra careful eye on your email and calendar.

In this week's News from the Nest you will find additional information about:

• Upcoming Dates/Events: May
• Essentialist Newsletter: STEM
• Spring Picture Day
• K-5 Literacy Curriculum Feedback
• Elm Street School Talent Show Save the Date
• Incoming Kindergarten Events
• Spring Concert Save the Date
• Elm Street School Gear Sale
• Battle of the Books Relaunch Team Update
• WPS Summer Learning Program Enrollment Form
• MCAS Dates
• International Dance Day
• Hollywood Night
• Friday Family Fun Sponsored by JWCW
• Elm Street School Night at Fenway
• Elm 180 Fundraiser

I hope to see everyone at Hollywood Night tomorrow where our eagles will be sure to sparkle and shine on the dance floor!

Jen

• Asian American, Native Hawai'ian, and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month

• Mental Health Awareness Month

• 5/1: Grade 5 Math MCAS Session 2, 6:00p District Art Show at Walpole Public Library

• 5/2: Grade 4 Math MCAS Session 1

• 5/3: Grade 4 Math MCAS Session 2

• 5/5: Cinco de Mayo, Yom Hashoah

• 5/6-10: Educator Appreciation Week

• 5/6: Spring Photo Day, 7:30p Spring Town Meeting

• 5/7: Grade 3 Math MCAS Session 1

• 5/8: Grade 3 Math MCAS Session 2

• 5/9: Grade 5 STE MCAS Session 1, 6:45p School Committee Meeting

• 5/10: Grade 5 STE MCAS Session 2

• 5/12: Mother's Day

• 5/15: 6:30p Incoming Kindergarten Family and Caregiver Orientation

• 5/16: 9:00a K and 1 Spring Concert, 7:00p PAC Meeting

• 5/17 Early Release Day

• 5/21-22: Incoming Kindergarten Screening Days

• 5/23: Vesak, 9:00a Grades 2 and 3 Spring Concert, 6:45p School Committee Meeting

• 5/24 Wellness Day at Elm

• 5/27: Memorial Day

• 5/30: 9:00a Grades 4 and 5 Spring Concert

• 5/31: Elm Street School Night at Fenway Park

Our Spring Photo Day is scheduled for Monday May 6th. All students will have their photo taken and information will be shared on how to purchase photos if interested.

As part of our curriculum review process, Walpole Public Schools is actively evaluating our current and prospective K-5 Literacy Curriculum programs. Part of this process is gathering feedback from parents and caregivers about our current K-5 Literacy curriculum and instruction. Please take a few moments to complete this form to provide us with your insight as part of our curriculum review process. The form will close on May 10th.

Our Elm Student Council is organizing a K-5 Talent Show. The plan is for the show to be on Monday June 10th from 6:00 - 7:00p in the Elm Cafetorium. Look for more information on how to sign up in the coming weeks. If you are interested in volunteering to help on the night of the Talent Show, please reach out to Jen Buller directly.

We are really looking forward to welcoming all our new kindergarteners and their families to our Nest here at Elm during Incoming Kindergarten events. The day that our new kindergarteners and their families visit our school is one of the most joyful days of the school year! We hope that our special sneak peek into Kindergarten, in concert with our Kindergarten Family Meeting and Kindergarten Screening, will help make the transition to kindergarten as smooth as possible for you and your child(ren).

• Incoming Kindergarten Family Meeting (adult caregivers only): Wednesday May 15th 6:30p Elm Street School Cafetorium

• A link to a virtual meeting will be shared with kindergarten families the Monday before the meeting for anyone unable to attend in person

• Kindergarten Screening (adult caregivers and incoming kindergarteners): by appointment on May 21st and May 22nd

• Please sign up for one 30 minute time slot per child here

• Arrive and check in at the main office 5-10 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time

• Please fill out this intake form prior to your scheduled appointment

• At the screening appointment students will meet with a member of our kindergarten team to complete a short developmental screening assessment that will look at their motor, language and social development, self-help and concept skills. Adult caregivers will have the opportunity to meet with myself or our school adjustment counselor Sarah Iandoli to review the intake form and share any additional information or questions you may have.

• Incoming Kindergarten Peek and Practice Day at Elm Street School (adult caregivers and incoming kindergarteners): June 3rd 1:45 - 2:30p

• plan to arrive at the main entrance around 1:30p and leave plenty of time to find parking and walk to the main entrance by the flagpole

• Students will be divided into 4 groups and head to a kindergarten classroom to experience and practice kindergarten activities together

• Adult caregivers will meet in the Cafetorium for a meeting with our Parent Advisory Council (PAC)

• Students will get walked out and meet their adult caregivers on the playground at the end of the event

• In order to attend the Peek and Practice day you MUST complete a kindergarten screening appointment (see above)

Be sure to mark your calendars for our Spring Grade Level Concerts!

In the spring, students in grades K-5 will have an opportunity to share what they have been learning throughout the year with their families! Performances will feature the culmination of their work demonstrating skills and concepts learned throughout the academic school year.

The concerts will be held during the school day, on the following dates:

Thursday, May 16th

Grade K - 9:00 am

Grade 1 - 9:40 am

Thursday, May 23rd

Grade 2 - 9:00 am

Grade 3 - 9:40 am

Thursday, May 30th

Grade 4 - 9:00 am

Grade 5 - 9:40 am

Our Student Council has partnered with the Run House here in Walpole to sell Elm Street School and Walpole gear. 10% of sales from our online shop will be donated to the Walpole Council on Aging. Visit our online shop here: https://therunhouse.com/collections/elm-street-school

Our Battle of the Books Relaunch Team met for the first time on Tuesday morning. We had 6 staff members and 3 family members in attendance. At the meeting we talked through the history of Battle of the Books at Elm and the challenges with the current model. At our next meeting team members will work on identifying solutions and ideas as our next steps.

The WPS Summer Learning Program enrollment form is now open to families. The form in the link below is to enroll your current K-5 student(s) in the program. Please note: you will need to complete a separate form for each child you are enrolling. Be sure to pay attention when entering your student’s grade level and school. All enrollment forms must be completed by Tuesday, May 29th. Due to high demand and limited staffing, some grades and sessions may be limited on a first come first serve basis. As always, if there are any questions please do not hesitate to contact us by using the email provided below.

2024 WPS Summer Learning Program Enrollment Form

Please note these dates for our upcoming Spring MCAS

April 30 and May 1: Grade 5 Math Sessions 1 and 2

May 2 and 3: Grade 4 Math Sessions 1 and 2

May 7 and 8: Grade 3 Math Sessions 1 and 2

May 9 and 10: Grade 5 STE Sessions 1 and 2

Email: jbuller@walpole.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.walpole.k12.ma.us/o/ess
Location: 415 Elm Street, Walpole, MA, USA
Phone: 508.660.7374