OPR Weekly Update
September 12, 2025
Dear OPR Families,
Today marked the first broadcast of OPR Video News this year! Each week, a team of our fifth-grade students collaborates with our Digital Learning Coach, Mrs. Milnamow, to create a schoolwide video in place of morning announcements. Every Friday, classrooms across OPR tune in to watch, and it’s a wonderful way for students to share news, celebrate highlights, and build school spirit. Watch the OPR Video News: OPR Video News
Our OPR Before and After School Enrichment Program registration opens this Tuesday at 9:00 AM. These classes are always very popular and tend to fill quickly. The full list of offerings can be found here: Program Descriptions The registration link will be emailed on Monday.
Attendance plays a big role in student success, and families sometimes wonder how many absences may be too many—see below for more about attendance monitoring and chronic absenteeism.
Lastly, you should have received a yellow-colored Student Profile form in your child’s backpack today. Please complete both sides and return it to school at your earliest convenience. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the office at oproffice@walpole.k12.ma.us.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support in helping make OPR such a vibrant and connected learning community!
We're looking forward to seeing all parents and guardians at the OPR Curriculum Night on Thursday. Details are below.
Have a nice weekend!
David N. Barner, Principal
dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
Contact OPR Office (Secretaries and Nurse): oproffice@walpole.k12.ma.us
OPR Curriculum Night - Thursday, September 18th
We are looking forward to welcoming parents and guardians to Old Post Road School's Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 18th. Teachers will be sharing curriculum expectations along with information specific to the classroom. Parents and guardians will also have time to ask general questions. Any questions specific to a child should be reserved for a more confidential setting.
In addition to seeing your child's classroom teacher, please stop by to see our specialists in their spaces to learn more about their curriculum. Our specialists include the Art Teacher, Music Teacher, PE Teacher, STEM/Media Teacher, School Counselors, Literacy Specialists, Multilingual Language Teacher, Digital Learning Coach, Math Specialist, and Special Education Teachers such as MSNs and Speech/Language.
The Curriculum Nights at all of the Walpole Elementary Schools are for Parents and Guardians only. Students, other family members, and guests should not attend. Thank you for your understanding.
Schedule:
6:00-6:30 Families with Last Name Beginning with A-L*
6:45-7:15 Families with Last Name Beginning with M-Z*
*If you have more than one child, email the teacher for an exception to the assigned times.
Highlights for the Week Ahead
Thursday night is OPR Curriculum Night for Parents and Guardians.
Friday is an early release. Dismissal is at 12:25 (begins at 12:19).
September
16 OPR Before and After School Enrichment Program Registration Opens at 9:00 AM
18 OPR Curriculum Night 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.
19 Early Release at 12:25 PM. Dismissal begins at 12:19.
24 OPR Before and After School Enrichment Program Registration Closes at 4:00 PM
29 OPR Before and After School Enrichment Program Begins this Week
October
1 OPR School Council Meeting in the STEM Lab at 3:30
2 PAC Meeting in the STEM Lab at 7:00 PM
8 International Walk to School Day
10 Early Release at 12:25 PM. Dismissal begins at 12:19.
13 No School - Columbus Day
22 Gr. 3 Field Docent Trip to DeCordova Museum
24 Student Picture Retake Day
29 Gr. 5 Team Building Trip to Tree Top Adventures
31 OPR Halloween Parade at 9:15
November
5 PAC Meeting in the STEM Lab at 7:00-8:00 PM
11 No School - Veterans Day
13 Parent-Teacher Conferences by Appointment, 5:00-7:00 PM
14 Parent-Teacher Conferences by Appointment, 1:00-3:30 PM
14 Early Release at 12:25 PM. Dismissal begins at 12:19.
18 Parent-Teacher Conferences by Appointment, 5:00-7:00 PM
26 Early Release at 12:25 PM. Dismissal begins at 12:19.
27 No School - Happy Thanksgiving!
28 No School
What is Chronic Absenteeism?
What is Chronic Absenteeism?
A student is considered Chronically Absent when they miss 10% of the school year. In Massachusetts, this means a student who misses 18 or more days, regardless of an excused or unexcused reason, is classified as chronically absent. Just two missed days each month can lead to this status.
Why is school attendance so important?
Students who are in school consistently are more successful learners. Per the National Center for Education Statistics: A missed school day is a lost opportunity for students to learn and interact with their classmates. Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. This relationship between attendance and achievement may appear early in a child's school career. Greater absenteeism during the school year can lead to lower achievement in reading, math, and general knowledge. Poor attendance has serious implications for later outcomes as well. High school dropouts have been found to have exhibited a history of negative behaviors, including high levels of absenteeism throughout their childhood, at higher rates than high school graduates.
If your child starts to accumulate absences, we will work with families to figure out the best way to help improve your child's attendance at school.
PE with Mrs. Green
The school year is off to a great start! All of the students are ambitious and ready to move. We’ve established a routine and a reminder to wear comfortable clothing and sneakers on the day they have PE.
Kindergarten: We have set routines and expectations, played knee-tag, practiced personal space and locomotor skills as well as played a fun tag game called “Animal Catchers” and “Pac-man”. Next we will continue to create to practice the skills we have learned and play “Shark & Sailors” tag games and begin soccer skills.
Grades 1 & 2: We set routines and expectations, played knee-tag, practiced personal space and locomotor skills as well as played fun tag games called “Animal Catchers”, “Pac-man” and “Shark & Sailors”.
Students practiced Ga-Ga Ball and Four Square on the back playground to learn the rules for recess. Next, we will practice soccer skills and get into small sided games.
Grades 3-5 : Students have been reminded of the importance of pacing themselves when running during warm-ups as well as practicing good push-up form as we will be performing our fitness testing in October. We’ve played “Pac-man” and “Capture the Flag”.
Students practiced Ga-Ga Ball and Four Square on the back playground to learn the rules for recess. Next, we will practice soccer skills and get into small sided games as well as 5 v 5. This will lead us into Team-Handball and Speed-ball for our next games.
Math with Mrs. Rinaldi
Welcome to the Math Corner of the Weekly S’more! Each month, we use this space to share helpful tips, resources, activities, and insights related to elementary math across the district. We’re our district’s elementary math coaches - Sheila Rinaldi-Boyden/OPR (srinaldi@walpole.k12.ma.us) and Jennifer Torigian Elm/Fisher (jtorigian@walpole.k12.ma.us) - working to support students, teachers, and families in building a love of math. If you ever have a topic or question you’d like us to explore, feel free to reach out to us via email and we will do our best to include it in a future Math Corner of the S’more!
Every September, we like to share our Math Family Website, a resource for families that supports all components of our elementary mathematics curriculum here in Walpole. For Parents and Caregivers, you will find resources on:
For students, we offer quick access to:
Our school year is off to a strong start! Students are already solving puzzles with JiJi in ST Math, finding new patterns in their Number Corner Calendar Grids, mastering their facts with Math Fact Lab, playing new Work Place Games, and diving into their Bridges investigation lessons. We are excited for a great year of mathematical learning, growth and excitement!
OPR PAC MEETING
Thursday, October 2nd
7:00 PM PAC Meeting
Held in the STEM Lab or connect virtually. PAC Meeting Link:
Teacher Snack Cart Donations
Click to shop from our Amazon list.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1O64LBIJZZJSU?ref_=wl_share
Questions: Melanie.D.Taylor@gmail.com
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. https://mabelslabels.com/en_US/fundraising/support/
Box Tops for Education
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.
Follow the OPR PAC on Social Media
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:
2024 Calendar Year Total - $1182.30
January 2025 - $210
February 2025 - $108.60
March 2025 - $128.40
April 2025 - $88.20
May 2025 - $192.00
June 2025 - $111.60
July 2025 - $174.60
August 2025 - $196.80
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.
Private Lessons through the WPS Music Department
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 22 to January 30. Registration is open until Wednesday, September 17th.
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
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.
