Boyden Curriculum Night/Open House
We are looking forward to welcoming parents and guardians to Boyden's Open House on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. 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 A-L*
6:45 PM - 7:15 PM Families with Last Name Beginning with M-Z*
*If you have more than one child, please email the teacher for an exception to the assigned times.*
Literacy Screener for Grades K-3
Our teachers have many ways to check your child’s reading development and growth, including an early literacy universal screening assessment. Early literacy universal screening assessments are brief tests that provide information about your child’s early reading skills. Screening makes it possible to see if a student is at risk of developing reading difficulties, including risk of dyslexia. Screening does not diagnose dyslexia or other disabilities, but it does help us understand which students may need additional support to be successful readers. We are required to assess students in grades K-3 at least twice per year consistent with Massachusetts regulation 603 CMR 28.03(1)(f).
Our district uses the screening assessment called iReady. This screening assessment is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Your child will be assessed two or three times during the school year, depending on grade level. Grades 1-3 will be given the computer adaptive assessment in the Fall. Kindergarten will be given the computer adaptive assessment in the Winter. Assessments given in the Winter and Spring will also include offline literacy task assessments for grades K-3.
The tentative schedule for this school year is shown below.
Screening Assessment Months (Subject to Change)
Kindergarten
- January
- May
Grades 1 - Grade 3
- September
- January
- May
Following the screening assessment, a team at our school will review all students’ results. If your child scores significantly below benchmarks, we will contact you to discuss how we can support your child.
Screening is another step that helps students at our school become proficient readers, and we are grateful for the continued support and partnership with the [School Name] families. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Math Update
It has been great to see the excitement as students enter our second year in the Bridges Math Curriculum. They are enjoying the activities in Number Corner, the daily routine that builds number sense and flexible thinking around numbers and concepts. We have also had a fantastic launch of ST Math. The goal this year is for all students to reach 80% of their journey by mid-May, and many of them are already on their way. Students are anxiously awaiting JiJi’s first visit to celebrate what a great start to the year they have had.
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. In future notes, different parts of our website will be highlighted to share more specific examples of things you can do at home. We are looking forward to a great year of mathematical learning and building math confidence in all of our students!
News from the Digital Learning Coach
Students at Boyden are already using devices within their classrooms for academic purposes. Mrs. Carroll, the Digital Learning Coach, has been visiting classrooms with lessons about Digital Health and Well Being. These lessons will continue for students throughout the year. The first lessons are about Caring for Devices and Being a Digital Leader.
Do you have 5 minutes to take this online safety quiz? Along with the quiz there are helpful hints from ‘online safety experts’ that provide the reader with some great information in several areas including sleep, screen time, gaming and social media use. These hints will guide you and your family towards a positive experience online.
Take the Online Safety Quiz - From the WPS Online Safety Hub
Private Lessons through the 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. Most lessons are currently being taught virtually.
Session 1 will run from September 25 to January 26. Registration is open until Monday, September 18th.
For more information, visit:
https://sites.google.com/walpole.k12.ma.us/wpsmusic/private-lesson-program/overview
To register, visit:
https://www.familyid.com/walpole-public-schools/private-music-lessons-2023-2024-session-i
For questions, email:
Tim Fleming (K-12 Music Coordinator) at tfleming@walpole.k12.ma.us
Important Dates
September 20th - Boyden Open House
September 21st - PAC Meeting (7:00 PM)
September 22nd - Early Release (12:25 Dismissal)
October 6th - Early Release (12:25 Dismissal)
October 9th - No School
October 11th - Boyden School Council (3:30 PM) Boyden PAC Meeting (7:00 PM)
October 25th - Parent/Teacher Conferences (6:00 - 8:00 PM)
October 27th - Early Release (12:25 Dismissal) (Parent/Teacher Conferences 1:00 - 3:00 PM)
November 2nd - Parent/Teacher Conferences (6:00 - 8:00 PM)
Click Here for the Walpole Public Schools School Year Calendar
