OPR Weekly Update
November 22, 2023

Dear OPR Families,
On behalf of all of us at OPR, we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving! We are grateful for our community and thankful for your partnership.
Happy Thanksgiving!
David N. Barner, Principal
Email: dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
Instagram: OLDPOSTROADSCHOOL_WALPOLE
Twitter: @oprschool
Dates to Remember
NOVEMBER
28 School Council Meeting in the STEM Lab at 3:05
DECEMBER
1 Neponset Valley Watershed Presentation for Grade 5 Students (2 Classes)
8 Student Council Spirit Day: Silly Hair, Hat and/or Sock Day!
8 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49.
8 PAC sponsored Stay on the Half Day
15 Neponset Valley Watershed Presentation for Grade 5 Students (2 Classes)
20 PAC sponsored Grade 5 High Touch High Tech Matter Matters STEM Program
21 PAC sponsored School Assembly for Students: Amazing Hero Art
OPR SCHOOL HOURS
Arrival: 8:15-8:25 AM
Tardy Bell is at 8:25 AM. (Students must be signed in at the office by an adult if tardy.)
Early Release Dismissal: 11:55 (Dismissal begins at 11:49)
Dismissal: 2:55 PM (Dismissal begins at 2:49)
If your child is going to be absent or tardy, please call the OPR office before school (508-660-7219) and press 1 for the absence line. The automated attendance verification system is in use. Those students marked absent and who have not called in will receive an automated phone call.
Dedham Savings Bank Holiday Card Contest
For more than 25 years the Walpole Elementary Schools has partnered with Dedham Savings Bank and participated in their Holiday Card Contest. If students would like to participate in the contest, we are asking that this take place at home and possibly at indoor recess (if applicable).
Here are the details:
All cards should be on 8.5 by 11 white paper which will be provided at school.
On the back of the card, please put the student's name, school, and grade.
The cards need to be returned to school by Thursday, December 7th
Below are the generous prizes for each grade(district-wide) donated by the Dedham Savings Bank:
1st Prize $100
2nd Prize $50
3rd Prize $25
Pumpernickel Puppets Preforms for Kindergarten and Grade 1
The Brain Show! sponsored by the PAC
Grade 1 Shares Their Story Writing Together
Ms. Vetrino's Kindergarten Works with Mrs. Milnamow, DLC
News from the Nurse
As we are approaching “the really germy” months, we ask for your assistance to reduce the spread of illnesses. Please also develop a sick day plan for when your child is home sick OR when they will go home from school sick.
Please have emergency contacts in place if you are unavailable to pick up your child from school. Students should be picked up within one hour after a phone call from the nurse.
Call your pediatrician with any questions or concerns regarding your child’s health and illness.
Please demonstrate and encourage proper handwashing technique. It takes a village!
Please demonstrate how to cough into your elbow to prevent the spray of germs.
Demonstrate how to properly blow their nose and dispose of tissues (and sanitizing their hands after!)
If your child needs a temporary medication during the school day, please consider a schedule outside of the school day. Do not send medication with your child to school, unless you confirmed this plan with Mrs Kowalsky or the covering school nurse. If your child needs medication administered, please ask the doctor for medication orders for school and sign the parental consent. A family member/adult can also schedule a time to come into school and administer the medication without doctor’s orders (and the nurse). The student CANNOT administer their own medication in the classroom for their own safety.
WPS Illness Protocol
Children who are ill with a temperature over 100, or who have diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, undiagnosed rashes, uncontrolled coughing, impetigo, or conjunctivitis should remain at home.
If your child is ill with a fever they must be "Fever Free" for 24 hours WITHOUT the use of TYLENOL, MOTRIN, or any other fever reducing medication before they can return to school.
If your child has a viral stomach illness with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, please keep them home for an additional 24 hours after symptoms have subsided.
If your child has been diagnosed with an infection requiring antibiotic treatment such as Strep Throat, Conjunctivitis, Impetigo, etc. they must be treated with the antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school. In addition, for Conjunctivitis, your child's eyes must be free of drainage. For Impetigo, lesions may not be oozing.
Bonnie Kowalsky, M.ed. BSN RN
OPR School Nurse
99 Old Post Road
East Walpole, MA 02032
phone: 508-660-7219 ext 5804
fax: 866.809.6567
Here is a link to the WPS Health Services website. On this site you can find links to forms (i.e. medication administration, over the counter medication consent forms), medication policies, and information regarding illnesses, concussions and injuries.
PAC NEWS
Please join us for the OPR PAC Meeting on Wednesday, January 10th at 7:00 PM in the OPR STEM LAB or virtually. Link to be shared closer to the meeting date.
Who loves OPR? We do! Sign up here to volunteer to coordinate one of our great events or fundraisers this year. PAC Coordinator Sign up:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/9040e49a4aa2ba2fb6-oprpac1
Click Snack Cart Photo to Donate!
mabel's labels
https://mabelslabels.com/en_US/fundraising/support/
Starting to lose those water bottles? Put a label on it! Please navigate to Support a Fundraiser and select Old Post Road Parent Advisory Committee.
Box Tops
Download the App for BoxTops for Education and scan receipt within 14 days of purchase. Assign Credit by selecting the Star and entering the Teacher’s Last name before you hit submit.
PAC Socal Media / Contact Info.
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OPR.PAC
please add: Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/oprpacwalpole
Email with questions: oprpacwalpole@gmail.com
Breakfast and Lunch is FREE for All Students.
OPR Textile Bin Donations
Massachusetts no longer allows clothing to be disposed of in the trash. Clothing must be donated or recycled. RECYCLE your clothing and textiles in the OPR Collection Bin and OPR receives money.
The collections resulted in the following:
2022 Calendar Year Total - $907.50
January 2023 - $102.00
February 2023 - $83.25
March 2023 - $95.50
April 2023 - $93.00
May 2023 - $88.20
June 2023 - $126.90
July 2023 - $100.20
August 2023 - $92.40
September 2023 - $118.80
October 2023 - $90.60
What's Happening Around Walpole?
Multilingual Learner PAC (MLPAC) Meeting
Please contact the Multilingual Learner Family Engagement Center at mlfec@walpole.k12.ma.us or at (508) 660-7257 ext. 5033 for further information.
Click Picture for Registration
WPS Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)
About Us
OPR Mission Statement
The Old Post Road School community educates all students to excel and become productive citizens.
OPR Vision
OPR students will be motivated to learn in a supportive and safe environment. The faculty will foster self-confidence in the students and encourage them to make positive choices. Students will learn to accept responsibility for their behavior and will mature into responsible citizens and lifelong learners. All students will appreciate that they are part of a diverse, global society.
Instagram: OLDPOSTROADSCHOOL_WALPOLE
Twitter: @oprschool
Email: dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
99 Old Post Road
East Walpole, MA 02032
508-660-7219