OPR Weekly Update
November 22, 2024
Dear OPR Families,
For more than 25 years, the Walpole elementary schools have 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 inch 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 12th
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
The OPR Giving Fund is still collecting cash and gift card donations to help OPR families during the winter holidays and throughout the year. Please send in your donations or Venmo: @OPRSunshine Your support is greatly appreciated.
Click here to watch this week's OPR Video News.
Have a great weekend!
David N. Barner, Principal
dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
Contact OPR Office (Secretaries and Nurse): oproffice@walpole.k12.ma.us
November
26 PAC sponsored Cultural Arts Program for Grade 1: EcoTarium - Animal Adaptations
27 Walpole High School Drama Club presents Once Upon a Mattress to Grades 4 and 5
27 Student Council Spirit Day - Pajama Day! Wear proper footwear please.
27 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49.
28 No School - Happy Thanksgiving!
29 No School
December
2 After School Enrichment Classes Begin
4 School Council Meeting, STEM Lab at 3:05-4:05 PM
12 PAC Sponsored Grade 5 Program: High Touch High Tech Matter Matters
13 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49.
13 PAC Sponsored Stay on the Half Day
13 Student Council Spirit Day: Wild Hair, Socks, Mismatched, Inside Out, Backwards Day
17 PAC Sponsored Grade 2 Program: Discovery Museum Physical Changes of Matter
19 OPR Holiday Sing-a-long! Families with last name A-K at 5:45 PM; L-Z at 6:30 in the Cafeteria
20 PAC Sponsored Whole School Assembly: Crocodile River Music
23 No School - Vacation Begins. School Resumes on Thursday, January 2nd.
STEM with Mrs. Morris
Throughout November we have continued working with the many different robots we are fortunate to have in our OPR STEM classroom.
Kindergarten and first grade took the next step in their coding and began exploring a robot called Kubo. Kubo, a lot like the Bee-Bot, uses directional coding but instead of students inputting a code into the robot with buttons they have to use tiles with microchips that the robot rides over and reads. Next, first graders were also taught how to upload an algorithm to the Kubo so that the tiles would not be necessary.
Second grade students started the month by coding their Bee-Bots to do a synchronized dance. It was fun seeing the robots show off their dance moves. They then began working with the Dash robot and earning their Dash driver’s license. To get a Dash driver’s license students work through levels on the Blockly app where they learn the many different things a Dash robot can do. They will be continuing this through the month of December.
Third, fourth, and fifth graders began building their lego floats for our Balloons Over OPR parade with the Dash robots. Third graders had to pick a storybook character to build. Fourth graders chose animals. Fifth graders were asked to think of a teacher who has been important to them during their time at OPR and to build a float that reminds them of that teacher. I am excited to see how these floats come out in December when they finish!
Of course with Thanksgiving next week we had to find time to read "How to Catch a Turkey" and engineer some turkey traps with our tools. It has been a great month and I can't wait to see the great work these students do in December.
Digital Learning with Mrs. Milnamow
What an incredible digital month we have had! So many classrooms participated in so many different projects, it is hard to keep track!
Book Creator is a favorite for many students, and this program was used in grade two for students to show what they know about solids, liquids, and gasses after a science unit. Second grade is working on another project to share their turkey disguises and incredible narratives from the point of view of the turkey. They typed these paragraphs and then recorded themselves reading with fluency and expression!
Fourth graders have also been using Book Creator to finalize their travel guides to Canada and Mexico! First grade students are also learning the basics of this engaging platform to customize backgrounds, add text, and add images.
We had a ton of fun using AI generated images in grade five. Students wrote fantasy narratives using excellent imagery and descriptive language. We used elements of their writing to create AI prompts to generate images with AI that illustrated their stories. We added and removed parts of the images and really made them match the writing perfectly. Check out some samples on this week’s OPR Video News!
Multiple classes at multiple grade levels have some projects in the works about what they are grateful for and these will be shared out next week. These video compilations will be showcased in Canva.
We had several heated discussions in the weekly Would You Rather podcast so be sure to follow our OPR Podcast Station. Students in a grade three classroom choose between two options, support their choice, and use their reasons to persuade their classmates and teachers to join their side!
Have an enjoyable holiday with your family. Stay tuned for more digital updates!
Lifetouch School Photographer Discounts
As a token of appreciation, Lifetouch is offering discounts on school photography!
- 50% off a purchase of $50+ with code USNOV50
- 40% off a purchase of $40+ with code USNOV40
- 30% off a purchase of $30+ with code USNOV30
Valid through 12/1/24
To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an online account. Don't forget to order your FREE Digital SmileSafe card! More about the Smilesafe program here.
OPR ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
WPS ELEMENTARY STUDENT & PARENT HANDBOOK/CODE OF CONDUCT
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.
Teacher Snack Cart Donations
Click to shop from our Amazon list. Questions: Melanie.D.Taylor@gmail.com
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
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
2023 Calendar Year Total - $1210.60
January 2024 - $85.80
February 2024 - $104.10
March 2024 - $71.70
April 2024 - $83.70
May 2024 - $114.90
June 2024 - $100.50
July 2024 - $100.20
August 2024 - $115.80
September 2024 - $59.10
October 2024 - $113.40
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.
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
