News from the Nest

Hello Elm Street School Families and Friends,

We had another busy short week here at the Nest filled with learning, connection, and joy. Our Grade 5 student council representatives started meeting this week and have SO many ideas on how to elevate student voice in our community and bring some fun and engaging ideas and events to fruition.

Tomorrow (Friday January 12th) school is closed so that our educators can engage in professional development with colleagues across the district in our EdCamp. The theme this year is Elevating Student Voice. Some of the sessions our team will be attending include Introduction to Artificial Intelligence for Teachers, Empowering Educators to Elevate Student Voice, Going Beyond the Surface (Getting to Know Your Students), Different Ways of Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners, The Brain Learning and SEL Practices: Creating Safe Spaces to Thrive, Talking Black In America, Cultivating Joy: An Equity Framework for Culturally Responsive Lessons-How to make your lesson plan culturally responsive, Disrupting the Use of Hateful Language, and so many more! It is sure to be a day full of learning for our team here and we are excited to bring back ideas and practices to share with each other and implement for our students.

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

• Upcoming Dates/Events: January
• Cold Weather Gear Reminder
• MLPAC Meeting
• Elm PAC Valentine's Day Fundraiser
• January Counseling Newsletter
• After School Enrichment Registration: Opens Monday 1/15
• Essentialist Weekly Newsletter: Art
• ELE Tiered Focus Monitoring Press Release
• Private Lessons Through WPS Music Department
• Extended Day February Break Camp Registration
• Elm 180 Fundraiser

On Monday school is closed in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The MLK holiday is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service- a day on rather than a day off. We encourage all of our Eagles and families to think about ways they can be of service to our community this coming Monday. If you are looking for ideas and more information on the Day of Service please visit the AmeriCorps website.

I hope you all have a safe and reflective extra long weekend and we will see everyone back in school on Tuesday, January 16th!

Jen

• 1/1 New Year’s Day
  
• 1/2 School Reopens from Winter Break
  
• 1/5 8:45a/2:00p January Assembly
• 1/11 6:45p School Committee Meeting
  
• 1/12 EdCamp (School Closed)
  
• 1/15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (School Closed)
• 1/16 5:00p Budget Public Hearing
• 1/18 7:00p Elm PAC Meeting
• 1/25 6:00p School Committee Meeting
  
• 1/27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day

A quick reminder to please help your child(ren) remember their cold weather gear each day for school. Even if it feels warm enough to run out to the bus/car in the morning without a jacket please remember that we go out for recess for 30 minutes each day as long as the real feel temperature is above 20 degrees Fahrenheit. That means even if it just below freezing we are heading outside for some fresh air and outdoor play.

Cold weather gear that will help your child(ren) stay warm during recess includes a warm winter jacket, gloves/mittens, winter hat. As the winter season wears on, if we get some snow accumulation, dressing in layers including snow pants and boots will keep your child(ren) safe and dry for snow play.

If you are in need of warm winter gear for your child(ren), please reach out to myself, Jessica Simpson, and/or Sarah Iandoli. (jbuller@walpole.k12.ma.us, jsimpson@walpole.k12.ma.us, siandoli@walpole.k12.ma.us)

Walpole Public Schools invites parents and guardians of multilingual learners to attend MLPAC to discuss opportunities for the educational success of students who are currently or were formerly in an English Language Education (ELE) program. It is also a time to network with other parents and guardians as we continue to build collaborative partnerships.

MEETING INFORMATION

DATE: Wednesday, January 17, 2024

PLACE: Walpole High School Media Center

TIME: 6:00 - 7:00 P.M.

AGENDA

• Announcements

• Speaker: Mr. Tom Reeve, Director of Digital Learning & Technology

• Learn about available district technology to collaborate with your student’s school

• Bring your technology questions!

• Discussion: How to run a PAC

• Questions / Suggestions

Please contact the Multilingual Learner Family Engagement Center at mlfec@walpole.k12.ma.us or at (508) 660-7257 ext. 5033 for further information or to request an interpreter or child care for the event.

Registration will open on Monday, January 15th at 5:00 pm

Class Descriptions Link

Registration Link

Please write checks to Town of Walpole

Reminders:

1. When picking your child(ren) up from enrichment you will need to park in a parking spot

and walk to the main entrance to meet your child(ren). We will not be using the loops.

2. Students should dress appropriately for activities and bring a snack.

3. Please email a note to jbreen@walpole.k12.ma.us to give permission for your child(ren)

to stay after for enrichment class and the dates your child(ren) will be staying after school.

This note will be shared with your child(ren)'s teacher(s). If something comes up and your

child(ren) is(are) unable to attend one of the classes, please write a note that day to send your

child(ren) home and not attend after school enrichment.

4. Please send in your payment right away! Payment is due by Friday, January

26th. Please write your child(ren)'s name(s) and the class(es) on the memo line of the check.

5. If after school activities are canceled by the town due to weather, enrichment is

canceled and a date will be added to the end of the cycle.

Important Information

When: Classes are once a week for six weeks from 3:05-4:05. (Unless otherwise

noted) Please refer to the dates listed with the class description. Weeks may not be

consecutive because of holidays or vacations.

Cost: Please see the description of each class regarding the cost. Checks should be

made out to Town of Walpole and should have your child(ren)'s name(s) and enrichment class(es)

listed in the memo line. It is often helpful to send separate checks for each child in the

event a class does not run and we need to refund your money. If financial help is

needed please contact the principal, Mrs. Buller directly.

During the week of January 29th, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Walpole Public Schools. The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s ELE program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners, what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping.

In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English language education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and they will contribute to the monitoring report.

Parents and other individuals may call Andy McDonie, Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson, at (781) 338- 3541 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the Walpole Public Schools with a report with information about areas in which the Walpole Public Schools meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the Walpole Public Schools requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The report will be available to the public at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/.

The Walpole Public Schools Music Department is pleased to announce the spring 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 2 will run February 5 to June 14. Registration is open Friday, January 12th through Monday, January 29th.

For more information, visit:

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

To register, visit:

https://students.arbitersports.com/walpole-public-schools/private-music-lessons-2023-2024-session-ii

For questions, email:

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

Extended Day February Break Camp Information

Where: Boyden Elementary School
When: February 20-22, 2024 (Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursday)
Cost: $80/day (10% discount for educators or siblings)
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/TujRsqvz3vsMHzw39

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