OPR Weekly Update

Dear OPR Families,

I am thrilled to share that our first two days of school have been a tremendous success! Our classroom communities from 1st through 5th grade are coming together, and the enthusiasm among our students is truly infectious. It's wonderful to see how quickly your children are adapting to their new routines and forming positive relationships with their teachers and classmates.

As we embark on this exciting academic year, we are all eagerly anticipating the great achievements that lie ahead. Our dedicated staff is committed to nurturing each child's potential, and the excitement in our school is palpable. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to working together to ensure that this year is filled with growth, learning, and joy for every student.

We're looking forward to welcoming our kindergarten classes on Tuesday. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Have a great long weekend!

David N. Barner, Principal
dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us

Monday is Labor Day - No School

Tuesday Kindergarten begins and Election Day in the gym

Thursday is the PAC Ice Cream Social!

Friday is student picture day for all OPR students.

August

30 NO SCHOOL - Labor Day Weekend

September

2 NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

3 First Day of School for Kindergarten

5 PAC Ice Cream Social on the Back Playground for All Families from 5-6:00 PM

6 Student Picture Day

11 PAC Meeting in the OPR STEM Lab 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.

13 New England Patriots Spirit Day! Wear Patriots clothing or colors to celebrate the start of the regular season/first home game.

17 OPR After School Enrichment Program Registration opens at 9:00 AM

20 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49.

26 OPR Curriculum Night/Open House for Parents and Guardians; 6-6:30 PM Last Names beginning with A-L; 6:45-7:15 PM Last Names beginning with M-Z. This is an evening for parents and guardians (no students) to meet the teachers to learn more about the curriculum and expectations.

30 OPR After School Enrichment Program begins this week!

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.

When entering the driveway from Old Post Road, a left turn is illegal if you are coming from the direction of Rt.27. A sign is posted and the Walpole Police have asked for drivers to be reminded.

• Before entering the OPR driveway, cars may form a line going down Old Post Road.

• The Walpole police department has asked that cars do not wait on Emerson Road or on Massasoit.

• Cars are not allowed, per posted sign, to take a left into the OPR driveway from Old Post Road.

If you are parking or walking on Emerson Road or other streets nearby at arrival and dismissal, please do not block driveways or go on our neighbors’ private property.

When dropping off and picking up, always pull as far forward as far as you can and do not pass a bus when the STOP sign is out and the lights are flashing.

When dropping off and picking up, please do not exit your car. Staff will be outside each morning to assist students if necessary, so there is no need for adults to exit the car.

If your child is unable to get out of the car at arrival without your assistance, park in a legal parking spot, assist your child, and walk your child to the sidewalk at the entrance. You may also want to dedicate time to teach your child how to buckle/unbuckle him/herself.

If your child is unable to get in the car at dismissal without your assistance, notify the office that you will park in a legal parking spot, and meet your child on the sidewalk outside the exit door. You may also want to dedicate time to teach your child how to buckle/unbuckle him/herself.

8:15-8:25 AM

Grade 3, 4, 5 Student Drop Off and younger siblings.

Gr. 3, 4, 5 students enter through the GYM door.

For younger siblings of grade 3, 4, 5, students continue around the loop to allow your child to enter through the FRONT door.

Grade K, 1, 2 Student Drop Off. Students enter through the FRONT door.

Similar to the morning, students should be entering the car from the school side and cars should stay in the traffic pattern and not pass other cars. Please remember to send in a note if your afternoon dismissal changes for any reason.

Dismissal begins at 2:49 PM (11:49 on Early Release Days)

Please proceed as far down the sidewalk as possible.

• Students in grades 3, 4, 5 will be picked up outside the GYM door.

• Students in K, 1, 2 will be picked up along the sidewalk by the main office/kindergarten.

• Students in Grades 3, 4, 5 who have a sibling in K, 1, 2 will pick up their sibling at their classroom and be picked up in the K, 1, 2 pick up area.

• Parents should post a sign with the student's last name in the passenger window. We will have a staff member who will read your name, and radio it to the office to call your child for dismissal. Please make your sign large and clear.

• If you are picking up at the gym (gr. 3, 4, 5), drive the “big” loop of the parking lot so you will be near the gym door.

• If you are picking up at the front sidewalk (gr. K, 1, 2 and siblings), stay to the left and follow the small loop. You do not need to go near the gym end of the parking lot.

• Staff members will be directing traffic. Please stay behind the buses. Do not pass buses or vans with the “STOP” sign out. The buses will be loaded quickly.

Bus students will be unloaded from the bus at 8:15 AM or upon later arrival. Most bus students will enter through the FRONT DOOR. (BUS 13 and 14 will enter through the GYM door. Kindergarten students will be escorted from the bus to their classrooms.)

Students are seated on the bus in grade level order with kindergarten in the front and grade five in the rear. Older students who would like to sit with their younger sibling will move forward to the lower grade. Sitting in the rear of the bus is a privilege for older students. Seat assignments are subject to change and are at the discretion of the driver and/or school staff.

Bus students will board the bus beginning at 2:55 (11:55 on Early Release Days).

All K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 students should arrive at 8:15-8:25 and enter through the FRONT or GYM doors whichever is closer.

Parents requesting “back door walker” dismissal out the gym rear door should put the request in writing to the principal.

Walkers will be walked in small groups to the end of the sidewalk at the front of the school by a staff member beginning at 2:49. Parents should stand on the Old Post Road sidewalk to meet students. The staff member will make sure the students are matched with their adult. Until the staff know you, they may ask who adults are. Safety is our priority. We will have crossing guards at the OPR driveway.

Students in grades 4 & 5 may ride bicycles unsupervised to school. Students in K-3 must have parent/guardian supervision.

No child is permitted to ride bicycles during snow or other inclement weather. All bikes must be placed in the rack with a lock and chain. The school system is not responsible for lost or stolen bicycles. Bicycle riding on the playground area is not permitted. State law requires that students wear helmets for safety.

All bicycle riders must conform to the automobile highway regulations as established by the Commonwealth. A list of these rules and regulations may be obtained at the Walpole Police Station. No skateboards, roller blades, or scooters are allowed.

If your child is interested, have him/her pick up a Bicycle License Application at the office to be submitted for approval.

Interested in celebrating the start of the school year by purchasing school supplies? Click here to see the OPR Supply Lists by grade level. If you need assistance, please contact the Principal, School Counselors, or School Nurse for confidential support.

https://sites.google.com/walpole.k12.ma.us/opr-supply-list/home

Walpole Extended Day will be processing registrations for the 2024/25 school year through Community Pass. Families that wish to register for Extended Day programs must first make a Community Pass account using the following link: https://register.communitypass.net/WalpolePublicSchools

Please reach out to Dan Santangelo (dsantangelo@walpole.k12.ma.us) or Evan Storlazzi (estorlazzi@walpole.k12.ma.us) with any questions.

OPR PAC Ice Cream Social

Thursday, September 5th

5:00-6:00 PM

Held on the OPR Back Playground

Bring the whole family for free ice cream, fun, and a chance to meet other OPR families!

September PAC Meeting

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

PAC Meeting in the OPR STEM Lab 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.

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

November 2023 - $113.70

December 2023 - $81.30

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

The Walpole Public Schools Music Department is pleased to announce the fall session for our Private Lesson Program for students in grades 4 - 12. If your child is interested in taking private instrument or voice lessons, here is your chance. Lessons are offered in flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, tuba, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, guitar and voice. All lessons are taught by accomplished performers on their respective instruments. Some lessons are currently being taught virtually.

Session 1 will run September 23 to January 31. Registration is open until Monday, September 16th.

For more information and to register, visit:

https://sites.google.com/walpole.k12.ma.us/wpsmusic/private-lesson-program/overview

For questions, email:

Tim Fleming (K-12 Music Coordinator) at tfleming@walpole.k12.ma.us

9/24

9/25

Please contact the Multilingual Learner Family Engagement Center at mlfec@walpole.k12.ma.us or at (508) 660-7257 ext. 5033 for further information or to request an interpreter or child care for the event.

Please note the following contact information for Walpole’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Co-Chairs are Sue Pace and Deborah Mulroy. The SEPAC can be reached by email at walpolesepac@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/walpolespedpac. Notices of future events can be found in this Weekly Update as they are scheduled.

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

OPR Website

Email: dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
99 Old Post Road

East Walpole, MA 02032

508-660-7219