OPR WEEKLY UPDATE
October 23, 2026
Dear OPR Families,
Next month marks the start of Parent-Teacher Conferences, which are scheduled by appointment. These meetings are an important opportunity to collaborate in supporting each child’s success, and we truly value the partnership between home and school. Please sign up below.
The Student Council Flag Contest collection ended this afternoon. The 4th and 5th grade Student Council members will narrow down the entries and we will conduct a school vote next week. All students and staff will vote to choose the OPR Flag for this school year.
Here's the link to this week's OPR Video News: 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
Highlights for the Week Ahead
Wednesday is the Gr. 4 Field Trip to the Patriots Hall of Fame for an Engineering Program.
Wednesday is ALICE pesentation for kindergarteners.
Thursday evening is the PAC Cookie Decorating at 6 PM.
Friday at 9:15 is the Halloween Parade. Details below.
October
28 Gr. 4 Field Trip to Patriots Hall of Fame
28 ALICE presentation for kindergarten students
29 PAC Cookie Decorating in the Cafeteria at 6:00 PM
30 OPR Halloween Parade at 9:15 AM
November
1 PAC Restaurant Night at Jake N' Joes
2 OPR Giving Fund Collection Begins
3 Election Day in the Gym
5 PAC Meeting in the STEM Lab at 7:00 PM
10 Picture Retake Day
11 No School - Veterans Day
12 Parent-Teacher Conferences, 5:00-7:00 PM, by appointment. Scholastic Book Fair Open in the Cafeteria.
13 Early Release at 12:25 PM. Dismissal begins at 12:19.
13 Student Council Spirit Day: Color Day! (Gr. 1-5 are encouraged to wear last year's Field Day t-shirt)
Kindergarten - White
1st Grade - Red
2nd Grade - Blue
3rd Grade - Green
4th Grade - Yellow
5th Grade - Orange
13 Parent-Teacher Conferences, 1-3:40 PM, by appointment. Scholastic Book Fair Open in the Cafeteria.
17 Parent-Teacher Conferences, 5:00-7:00 PM, by appointment. Scholastic Book Fair Open in the Cafeteria.
21 PAC Parents Night Out from 7:00-11:00 PM
25 Early Release at 12:25 PM. Dismissal begins at 12:19.
25 Student Council Spirit Day: Mismatch Day (inside out, backward, mismatched clothes, crazy socks, hair, etc.)
26 Happy Thanksgiving! No School
27 No School
December
7 School Council Meeting in the STEM Lab at 3:35
10 OPR Holiday Sing Along! Families last name A-K 5:30-6:15 PM; L-Z 6:15-7:00 PM in the Cafeteria
11 Early Release at 12:25 PM. Dismissal begins at 12:19.
11 Student Council Spirit Day: Pajama Day! (Wear appropriate footwear please.)
22 Full Day of School before December Break
Parent-Teacher Conferences - Sign Up Now!
Parent-Teacher Conferences are in November. In order to best meet the needs of all of our families and allow for a little more flexibility with our conference scheduling, we are using Google Appointments for all teachers for the upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences. Conferences will take place on Thursday, November 12th between 5:00 - 7:00pm, on the Early Release Day on Friday, November 13th between 12:30 - 3:40pm, and Tuesday, November 17th between 5:00 - 7:00pm. All conferences are in person.
Below is the spreadsheet that contains the links to each teacher's appointment calendar. Families should use those links to sign up for a conference with any of the teachers listed. Grade 4 and 5 families will make an appointment with the homeroom teacher. If you are having trouble with the links or finding a time that works, please reach out to the teacher.
On Friday, October 30th, we will continue the long-standing tradition of the OPR Halloween Parade. The parade begins at 9:15 AM. Families may watch the parade from the front of the school. Spectators should assemble on the grass area island across from the front door. The parade will walk in the driveway and circle the island. If it happens to be raining, we have an indoor parade route that will allow families to watch from inside.
Remember:
Students can wear their costumes to school. Students should change out of costumes after the parade.
It is recommended that any makeup is minimal, as students will need to wear it all day.
Scary masks are not allowed.
No weapons (real or toy) are ever allowed in school. This includes parts of costumes - Ninja swords, firefighter’s ax, cowboy gun, bow and arrow, etc.
Alternate activities will be provided for those not participating.
Music with Ms. Yee
Grade K
Singing: Students continue to echo sing and use body signs to warm up and find their singing voices. Students enjoyed learning a new echo song from Mexico called “Bate, Bate”. Some class favorite songs have been, “Let us Chase the Squirrel”, “Walk and Stop” and “Witch Witch”.
Movement: Students learned a seasonal song called, “Leaves are Falling Down”. They improvised and created their own leaf dances. The movements reinforced the melodic contour of the song. They will add scarves to the song next week.
Instruments: Students continue to keep a beat using a variety of rhymes. Some favorites are “Mumbo Jumbo”, “Engine 9”, and “2,4,6,8”!
Grade 1
Singing & Movement: Some favorite class songs have been “Bernie Bee”, “Mi Cuerpo” and “Los Pollitos”. A highlight this month was learning a popular dance from Mexico called “La Raspa”. The quick paced dance reinforced A/B form.
Literacy: Students are beginning to differentiate between beat and rhythm. They were introduced to music reading using iconic notation in an activity called “Time for Pie”. It’s great to see them making connections between syllables and rhythm (quarter & eighth notes).
Instruments: Students were thrilled to be introduced to playing xylophones and temple blocks. They are doing well keeping a beat to a variety of known songs from grade K.
Grade 2
Singing and Movement: Students had a great time learning a traditional dance from Columbia called, “Caimarusa”. The activity allowed students to improvise using a variety of locomotor movements and they enjoyed learning a new dance move called “casting off”.
Literacy: Students learned a new rhyme called “Ms. White”. They wrote the rhythm of the song using quarter and eighth notes.
Instruments: Students enjoyed playing a variety of percussion instruments while accompanying a song called “Autumn is Here”.
Grade 3
Singing & Movement: Students enjoyed learning a new vocal warm up called “Mashing M & M’s”. “Double, Double”, "Sailor went to Sea" and “School is Open” are lively partner games that were well received by all! The games allowed students to improvise and reinforce rhythmic patterns.
Instruments & Literacy: The recorders are in! Students are learning how to hold the instrument and are playing short BAG patterns. They will receive books in a few lessons.
Grades 4
Movement and Form: Students learned a popular dance from the Jalisco region of Mexico called “Los Machetes”. The exciting music reinforced form.
Instruments & Literacy: Students were introduced to the note “low E” on the recorder. They learned a song called “Happy E”. They will improve their playing skills using xylophones and tubano drums in the lessons to come.
Grade 5 Literacy & Instruments: Students started a mini unit focusing on rhythm and percussion instruments. They used drum pads, tubanos and xylophones to read and play standard notation. Notation included quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes and rests and new syncopated patterns. Some favorite games reinforcing this unit were “Pass the Rhythm”, “Question/Answer”, “Hip Hop Rhythms”, and “Drum Circle”. Students will be introduced to a composition project called “Rap My Name” in the next few lessons.
SEL (Social Emotional Learning) with Mrs. Convey & Mrs. Murray
This month, our OPR learners are embracing the fall season through engaging, interactive SEL lessons focused on self-management and self-control! Through hands-on activities, mindful movement, and collaborative problem-solving, students will practice recognizing their emotions, slowing down before reacting, and making thoughtful choices. We look forward to helping our learners strengthen these important skills while having fun and growing together this fall!
Kindergarten:
Our kindergarten learners have been busy exploring feelings this month! Students practiced identifying basic feelings through facial expressions and had fun acting out different emotions during Emotion Charades. They also got creative by decorating their very own jack-o’-lanterns!
To bring mindfulness into the fall season, we took part in a “Spooky Mindful Walk,” where students were encouraged to slow down and engage their five senses by noticing what they could see, hear, smell, feel, and even taste.
We also enjoyed reading The Color Monster by Anna Llenas, a wonderful story that helps young learners recognize, understand, and sort through their emotions.
We are so proud of our kindergarteners as they continue building their emotional awareness and mindfulness skills, one little feeling at a time!
Grade 1:
Students are enjoying a fall-themed lesson reviewing the Zones of Regulation. They’re sorting leaves with feeling words on them and connecting each feeling to a body clue, like a racing heart or tight fists.
Grade 2:
This month, our 2nd grade learners are exploring the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors while building essential self-management skills. Students are learning that while we cannot always control the situations we face or the feelings we experience, we can practice choosing how we respond!
We will begin with a mindful fall movement activity, where students will pretend to be leaves gently blowing in the wind. Through movement and mindfulness, students will explore how slowing down, taking a breath, and pausing before reacting can help us make thoughtful choices rather than acting on impulse.
Next, students will become Self-Management Detectives! Working together, they will investigate different scenarios to identify what a character might be thinking and feeling, how those feelings might influence their behavior, and what strategies could help them respond in a positive and productive way. This collaborative activity encourages perspective-taking, problem-solving, and emotional awareness.
To wrap up our lesson, students will create their own “Calm-Down Leaves!” Inside their fall-inspired leaves, students will write or draw three strategies they can use when their feelings become overwhelming, such as taking deep breaths, using positive self-talk, or asking a trusted adult for help.
Through these engaging, hands-on experiences, our 2nd graders will continue developing the skills to recognize their emotions, regulate their responses, and make thoughtful choices both inside and outside the classroom.
Grade 3:
Students are reviewing the Zones of Regulation through an interactive activity. We’re having great conversations about the body clues that go with different feelings and identifying coping strategies that help us regulate our bodies.
Grade 4:
Our 4th grade SEL lessons took a creative, mindful turn this month! As part of our self-management theme, students explored the importance of slowing down their thoughts and becoming more aware of the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Inspired by art-based therapeutic techniques and cognitive behavioral strategies, this lesson encouraged students to recognize how taking a moment to pause, reflect, and shift their perspective can positively influence their emotions and choices.
Students participated in a mindful art activity that combined creativity with intentional awareness. They ventured outdoors to collect three leaves of different sizes and then carefully traced them onto paper, paying close attention to the smallest details, shapes, and patterns. Using their leaves, students created beautiful fall collages while practicing mindfulness, patience, and focus.
Through this hands-on experience, students learned that slowing down doesn't mean stopping our thoughts; it means giving ourselves the time and space to understand them. By practicing mindfulness and becoming more aware of their thoughts and feelings, students can strengthen their self-management skills and make thoughtful choices that support positive outcomes both inside and outside the classroom!
Grade 5:
Students are exploring the characteristics that help a friendship grow and the ones that can spoil it. They’ve been so engaged and have shared such thoughtful scenarios that we’ll continue the conversation in our next SEL lesson!
News from the Nurse
A Quick Reminder from the Health Office
All students dismissed from the health office for illness or injury are expected to be picked up promptly, within 45 minutes of notification.
If your work or schedule prevents you from stepping away on short notice, please make sure you have at least two reliable, local emergency contacts listed for your student. Please verify that these contacts are available during school hours, have transportation, and know they are authorized for pick-up.
WPS Illness Policy
For the health and safety of your child and others, please keep your child at home if they exhibit any of the following symptoms:
Temperature over 100°F
Diarrhea, nausea, and/or vomiting
Undiagnosed rashes
Uncontrolled coughing
Important Guidelines:
If your child has a fever, they must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication (such as Tylenol or Motrin) before returning to school.
If your child has a viral stomach illness (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), please keep them home for an additional 24 hours after symptoms have subsided.
If your child has been diagnosed with an infection that requires antibiotics (e.g., Strep Throat, Conjunctivitis, Impetigo), they must be treated with the antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school.
For Conjunctivitis, the eyes must be free of drainage.
For Impetigo, lesions must not be oozing.
If your child is administered Benadryl for any reason during the school day, they must be picked up and monitored at home.
Head Lice Precautions
This is the time of the year that we tend to see lice cases rise. For cases in the Old Post Road School community we follow guidance and protocols put forth by the CDC, National Association of School Nurses, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Walpole Public Schools. You can read that guidance here.
In order to help you identify and treat cases of lice at home please take a look at this resource. Through regular checks, proactive measures such as tying back longer hair, and thorough treatments at home we can reduce the incidences of cases within the community.
Bonnie Kowalsky, M.Ed, BSN, RN
Old Post Road School Nurse
99 Old Post Road
East Walpole, MA 02032
phone: 508-660-7219 ext 5804
fax: 866.809.6567
Join Us for the OPR PAC Meeting:
Thursday, November 5th
OPR STEM Lab
7:00-8:00 PM PAC Meeting
Attend in Person or Connect Virtually by Google Meet - https://meet.google.com/icv-isnv-yqb
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:
2024 Calendar Year Total - $1182.30
2025 Calendar Year Total - $1788.90
January 2026 - $205.50
February 2026 - $132.60
March 2026 - $103.50
April 2026 - $190.80
May 2026 - $181.20
June 2026 - $185.10
July 2026 - $186.60
August 2026 - $180.60
September 2026 - $213.00
Walpole Public Schols 2026-2027 Calendar
OPR ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
WPS ELEMENTARY STUDENT & PARENT HANDBOOK/CODE OF CONDUCT
Walpole Elementary School Homework Guidelines
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.
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
Email: dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
99 Old Post Road
East Walpole, MA 02032
508-660-7219
Arrival: 8:50-9:00 AM
Tardy Bell is at 9:00 AM. (Students must be signed in at the office by an adult if tardy.)
Early Release Dismissal: 12:25 (Dismissal begins at 12:19)
Dismissal: 3:30 PM (Dismissal begins at 3:24 PM)
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.
