Walpole principals, students report smooth start to 2025-26 school year

Walpole School Committee members heard reports on Sept. 11 from students and principals that the 2025-26 school year opened smoothly across the district, with new curriculum rollouts, building improvements and expanded student supports.

At Walpole High School, a student reporter said the first full week of classes had begun well. "The first week of full school has already started, off to a great start, and classes have already taken a deep dive into their course load," sophomore Vanya Singh told the committee. Singh also highlighted athletics, club activity and a new student home-pass for the 2025-26 season.

Middle school Principal Carrie Dale introduced the eighth-grade leaders and said the school welcomed 888 students this year — about 40 more than the previous year — and that staff worked over the summer to prepare students for the new building. "The eighth grade leaders are really influential in creating a positive school culture ... they will have many opportunities to work with our younger students for different SEL programming throughout the year," Dale said. Student leaders described peer orientation activities, a new flex-time block for interventions and team-level family communications scheduled twice a month.

Elementary principals reported a district total of 1,727 elementary students across four buildings: Boyden (395), Elm (446), Fisher (454) and Old Post Road (432). The elementary update listed 33 new staff and summer facility work including Fisher's lower-gym soundproofing and cafeteria flooring, Elm's roof work and modular classroom additions at Boyden for the VIP program.

Daniel Feeney Preschool staff reported 63 enrolled preschool students and said interactive whiteboards were added to three classrooms to support individualized learning. The preschool team said it will review social-emotional curricula this year and continue Pyramid Model implementation with an external coach.

Administrators and student leaders pointed to practical supports launched at the start of the year: more tier-2 interventions built into schedules, expanded MTSS options, and increased communication to families through team newsletters and planned back-to-school nights. Dates noted in committee discussion included Walpole High back-to-school night (Sept. 18, 6:30 p.m.), middle school sixth-grade family night (Sept. 29) and seventh/eighth-grade nights (Sept. 30).

The superintendent and principals thanked custodial and facilities staff for summer preparations and noted ongoing construction at the high school and middle school sites. Committee members praised student volunteers and the orientation efforts that helped incoming students adjust.