OPR Weekly Update
September 8, 2023
Dear OPR Families,
Earlier this week, we welcomed our kindergarten students to school. All students have acclimated to the school environment and are focused on learning, friends, fun and everything that makes OPR special. It was nice to see so many families in attendance at the PAC Ice Cream Social on Thursday. Thank you to our PAC for coordinating the event. The first PAC meeting is on Wednesday evening. Please join us in person or virtually. The details are below.
Have a great weekend!
David N. Barner, Principal
Email: dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
Instagram: OLDPOSTROADSCHOOL_WALPOLE
Twitter: @oprschool
Dates to Remember
SEPTEMBER
13 OPR After School Enrichment Class Registration Opens at 9:00 AM
13 PAC Meeting in the Cafeteria at 7:00 PM (Wednesday Evening)
The PAC will hold a 6:30-7:00 PM meeting for kindergarten parents. This is an opportunity for kindergarten parents to meet each other and learn about PAC activities before attending the 7:00 general meeting.
15 New England Patriots Spirit Day! Wear Patriots clothing or colors to celebrate the season. This is being held after the season opener due to student picture day on the 8th.
22 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49 AM.
25 OPR After School Enrichment Classes Begin this Week
27 OPR Open House for Parents and Guardians; Families with last name beginning with A-L at 6-6:30 and last names M-Z from 6:45-7:15.
OCTOBER
6 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49
9 No School; Columbus Day
11 OPR School Council Meeting, STEM Lab/Media Center at 3:05 PM
11 PAC Meeting, STEM Lab/Media Center at 7:00 PM. All are welcome!
11 School Council Meeting in the OPR STEM Lab at 3:05 PM
25 Parent-Teacher Conferences, 6:00-8:00 PM by Appointment
27 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49
27 Parent-Teacher Conferences, 1:00-3:00 PM by Appointment
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.
Reading with Mrs. Driscoll & Mrs. Segal
It’s been a warm and exciting beginning of the school year. Teachers are already busy reading many wonderful back to school books, which generate fun engaging conversations. Our school bookroom is packed with great books spanning a variety of interests, topics, grade levels, and genres. This is a great resource as teachers help students select interesting and relatable books to foster a love of reading. The groundwork is being set for a successful year of building excellent reading and writing skills. Take a look below at some of the wonderful read aloud books for kicking off the school year. Your students may be familiar with some of them.
Mrs. Segal and Mrs. Driscoll
Literacy Specialists
Art with Ms. Kroll
Welcome back to another wonderful year of Visual Arts at OPR! We kicked off the school year with establishing routines and discussing what it means to be a ready artist. Students have been excited and engaged in the art lessons we have been working on using a variety of art mediums.
Grade K:Students have been designing and decorating their new portfolios which will store their artwork for the whole school year. There were many coloring tools to choose from including markers, crayons, and colored pencils.
Grade 1:Students have been experimenting with color and texture using tempera paint and many tools such as brushes, rollers, and stamps to create painted papers. These papers will be used in future collage projects.
Grade 2:Students have been exploring line, color, and pattern with their Coffee Filter Tie-Dye art projects. Each student created a design with markers and then added water using a spray bottle. It was so fun to watch how excited students got when the colors would blend and mix on their own!
Grade 3:Students began the year with a wonderfully expressive and colorful art lesson called Oil Pastel Tie-Dye. Each student was amazed at how an old eraser could transform a simple oil pastel pattern drawing into a tie-dye masterpiece. Many students made more than one artwork because they were so engaged in the lesson.
Grade 4:Students have been practicing for our upcoming self portrait masterpieces by creating “Summer Selfie” drawings. These drawings feature each student doing something they did over the summer. We used pencils and colored pencils for this scaffolding activity.
Grade 5:Students have been working diligently on their Illuminated Initial masterpieces which feature the first letter of their names along with intricately detailed lines, shapes, and patterns. Each artist was encouraged to personalize their artworks by picking a theme that resonates with them.
News from the Nurse
I am excited to see all the happy faces at OPR! Hope you all had a wonderful summer. Here is a quick update from the Health Office!
If your child requires medication during school hours, please submit school medication ORDERS signed by the provider (can be electronically signed), along with the medication in the original prescription package. Please sign a parental consent form, which can be found on the WPS Health Services webpage.
Please consider packing extra clothes in your child’s backpack for accidents. I would strongly advise especially if your student is in kindergarten or first grade.
The Health Office will gladly accept new underwear donations of all sizes and gender. Thank you so much!
Please look at the WPS Illness Policy: Click Here
For the most recent Covid Guidelines: Click Here
Remember to call your child's pediatrician for medical guidance and for excusal letters for absences-thank you!
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.
Bonnie Kowalsky, M.ed. BSN RN
OPR School Nurse
Email: bkowalsky@walpole.k12.ma.us
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.
Bay State Textiles Recycling - New Law in Massachusetts
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.
Thank you for donating your textiles in the Bay State Collection Bin in the OPR parking lot. 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
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
