Grade 6 studies took a fun, hands-on approach to learning about how sound and light travel in waves. By moving slinkies in various ways, these young scientists took note of the length and speed of waves at different amplitudes.

Students in Grade 6 Math Connections worked hard over the past few weeks on their Personal Budget Projects. Students had to choose a career, pick an apartment, and learn to calculate expenses such as groceries, a cell phone plan, and a car payment. The goal was to keep a balanced budget and have a surplus at the end of the month. Most students agree that being an adult is expensive!

The Walpole Health Department is excited to offer the Pfizer-Biotech COVID-19 vaccine to Walpole Public School students (ages 12+) again! These clinics will be offered to High School and Middle School students who need their 1st or 2nd dose of the primary series or to those who are eligible for their booster vaccine (at least 5 months after the 2nd shot in the primary series). Click here to access the Vaccine Info Sheet for the Pfizer-Biotech COVID-19 vaccine. Pre-registration is required which includes the consent for your child to receive the vaccine.

The registration links for each corresponding clinic is below:

Walpole High School: Tuesday January 25, 2022 from 8:30am – 10:00am

https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/walpole?calendar=95c1729b-d7c1-4fb3-90cd-66231120d1ef

Bird Middle School: Tuesday January 25, 2022 from 10:30am – 12:00pm

https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/walpole?calendar=97c0e673-72ea-4f3b-906d-21194b052b9d

Johnson Middle School: Tuesday January 25, 2022 from 12:30pm – 2:00pm

https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/walpole?calendar=7b3b5355-1c2c-4f5c-a8d9-bdfa0ded43f9

Thank you to everyone who donated to the JMS Student Council coat drive! We have reached our goal of 120 coats. We are excited to announce that 7th grade collected the most coats, with a total of 52! The 7th grade will be receiving a grade-wide prize for their contributions. It's fantastic that we were able to help so many people who are feeling so cold during this winter! Thanks, JMS Student Council.

The Walpole Public Schools Music Department is pleased to announce the spring session of our private lesson program for students in Grades 4-12. If your child is interested in taking private lessons for instrument or voice, this is your chance. Lessons are offered for flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, tuba, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, guitar, and voice. To learn more, visit: WPS Private Music Lesson Info. All lessons are taught by accomplished performers on their respective instruments and are currently being taught virtually. Session 2 will run from February 7 through June 17. Sign up using this Lesson Registration form. The deadline for registration is February 4.

Did you know that WHS offers four years of learning Mandarin at the high school level, along with language & culture class to explore this mystical and fascinating Eastern culture. You can learn more about the offerings by visiting the Chinese Program website.

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.

Your support of our efforts to bring Willow to JMS and help defray the costs associated with her training would be greatly appreciated. You can visit our fundraising page by clicking on the Willow Fund button below. You can also follow Willow’s adventures on Instagram. Thanks for your support.

The PAC is a group of parents and community partners dedicated to enhancing the educational experience for all JMS students through planning events, raising funds, and supporting school programs. The next meeting of the JMS PAC is scheduled for 2/8/22. If you would be interested in helping in any way, please contact Principal Morgenweck at smorgenweck@walpole.k12.ma.us.

The JMS School Council is an advisory group made up of parents, teachers, administrators, and community partners who meet monthly to examine the programs and services being offered at the JMS, identify opportunities for school improvement, and establish goals to make Johnson an even better place to learn and grow. The next meeting of the School Council is scheduled for Tuesday, 2/8/22 at 3 PM via Google Meet. We are currently seeking parent representatives. If you are interested in participating, please contact Principal Morgenweck at smorgenweck@walpole.k12.ma.us.

The Massachusetts Department of Secondary and Elementary Education (DESE) and Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MADPH) have updated their guidance in conjunction with the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding isolation durations for those who have tested positive for COVID-19. The key details are:

• Stay home and isolate for 5 days (reduced from 10 days)

• The first day of symptoms or the day you test positive (whichever is earlier) is “Day 0”

• Students may return to school on Day 6 as long as:

• They continue to wear a mask whenever around others for 5 more days

• They are asymptomatic and fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication

The most recently updated WPS COVID Guidelines can be found here. If your child is experiencing any of the COVID symptoms listed below, you MUST KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL:

• Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• New loss of taste or smell

• Muscle aches or body aches

• Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)

• Sore throat when in combination with other symptoms

• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms

• Headache when in combination with other symptoms

• Fatigue when in combination with other symptoms

• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms

Please notify the school nurse at landerson@walpole.k12.ma.us if your child tests positive.

With this increased focus on the Omicron variant, it is important to remember that our schools are safe places for our students and staff. Our continued mitigation efforts provide our students and staff with additional safeguards. Our Fall 2021 Reopening Plan has additional information. Our district continues to be committed to the safety of our students and staff, as well as full in-person learning.

Please note that the district's Test and Stay program is only available to students who have been identified as close contacts to a positive case within the school. The program is not a testing service for children who have been identified as close contacts to a family member or individuals from outside activities. If you believe your child should be tested due to an out-of-school exposure, you should test them at home, at your primary care provider’s office, urgent care, or any other PCR testing site. (Find more info and locations HERE ).

The district's Test and Stay is a testing and mitigation program intended to help keep students and staff in schools. Please click HERE to access the WPS Test and Stay Program Protocols. In order for students and staff to participate in this program consent must be obtained through an online portal. Providing consent allows for testing of your child if they become symptomatic while at school; as well as allowing them to participate in the Test and Stay program. If you wish to have your child participate in the COVID 19 testing program at school please fill out the form online at: https://www.cic-health.com/consent/ma?district=null