OPR Weekly Update
January 19, 2024
Dear OPR Families,
It's been an excellent four days of learning this week and next week will be our first five day week in January with students in school. Every classroom has been busy with engaged students focused on a variety of learning experiences. The effort by students and their teachers continues to impress. Students could be seen recording podcasts, filming videos, researching with partners, and getting excited about math. Every day is an excellent learning day. With Monday being our midpoint, 90th day of school, much progress has been made and there is much more to come during the next 90 days.
Be sure to watch the OPR Video News this week. (Link below) All classes learned about Guatemala when they watched the video on Friday morning.
Click here to watch today's OPR Video News.
Have a great weekend!
David N. Barner, Principal
Email: dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
Instagram: OLDPOSTROADSCHOOL_WALPOLE
Twitter: @oprschool
OPR Website
JANUARY
22 Term 1 Grading Ends
23 OPR Winter After School Enrichment Program Registration Opens at 9:00 AM
25 PAC sponsored STEM Night for Grade 2 Students and Parents in the Cafeteria from 6-7:30 PM. This experience is free for families. See Sign Up Below.
FEBRUARY
1 PAC sponsored STEM Night for Grade 3 Students and Parents in the Cafeteria from 6-7:30 PM. This experience is free for families. Sign Up Below.
5 OPR Kindness Week
5 OPR Winter After School Program begins this Week
7 PAC Meeting, STEM Lab at 7:00 PM
9 Early Release: Dismissal is at 11:55 (beginning at 11:49)
9 PAC sponsored Stay on the Half Day
9 Term One Reports Cards Viewable in the Aspen Family Portal
9 Student Council Spirit Day: OPR/Walpole Day Again! (Wear Walpole or OPR clothing or colors to show your spirit.)
12 OPR Kindness Week!
16 Student Council Spirit Day: Color Day! Each grade wears the col,or assigned to them: Kindergarten - Red, Grade 1 - Blue, Grade 2 - Green, Grade 3 - Orange, Grade 4 - Yellow, Grade 5 - Purple
19-23 No School - February Vacation
29 PAC sponsored STEM Night for Grade 4 and Grade 5 Students and Parents in the Cafeteria from 6-7:30 PM. This experience is free for families. Sign Up Coming Soon.
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.
Extended Day February Break Camp Information
Where: Boyden Elementary School
When: February 20-22, 2024 (Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursday)
Cost: $80/day (10% discount for educators or siblings)
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/TujRsqvz3vsMHzw39
OPR After School Enrichment Registration - Tuesday at 9:00 AM!
The OPR Winter After School Enrichment Program Registration opens on Tuesday, January 23rd at 9:00 AM. It fills up quickly!
Here's a link to the Winter Session programs: OPR AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENTS
Physical Education with Mrs. Green
Grades K-5:
Students are off to a great start this new year! All classes came back and discussed creating goals for the new year. We discussed how lots of people make resolutions to exercise more often and eat healthier. We followed this with a Food Wall game that helps to learn the five food groups and a New Year’s workout that increased students' heart rates while practicing running, push-ups, jumping jacks and squats.
Currently, all students are working on volleyball skills and practicing 1 v 1 and up to 3 v 3. Students are practicing newcomb style, which is a throw and catch version. They are also practicing underhand serve, overhand serve, bumping and volleying. Younger students are focussing more on throwing and catching over the net.
Next, students will be working on Pickleball, Jump Rope, Basketball and Pillo-Polo (a softer form of floor hockey). We will be handing out forms shortly to raise money during our jump rope unit for the American Heart Association and learn about healthy hearts and brains.
Math with Mrs. Rinaldi, Math Specialist
With cold weather upon us, it might mean a little more time for indoor activities and of course one great indoor activity is reading. But wait, this is the math section, not the reading section! Well, there are so many wonderful children’s books that highlight math concepts and promote critical mathematical thinking, that we wanted to share some book lists that highlight math and how to make the most of your reading time together. DREME (Development & Research in Early Mathematics Education) has identified a list of 40 books that promote a love of math. It is important when looking for books that include math to use the same indicators you would for any good story. Vivid illustrations, an interesting story line and fun characters will keep your child engaged and excited to read. A few tips when reading with your child:
Keep it a bonding moment, don’t make it a lesson!
Point out math words or concepts through repeating what is happening or asking questions.
Engage your child in conversation about the book with questions like:
How did you know that?
What clues helped you figure that out?
Bring out your inner actor/actress when reading-have fun with it!
If your child loves the book, read and reread.
Another list of great books that promote math can be found at We Are Teachers, and our Family Math Website has other resources, games and activities that will engage your children when they come in from playing out in the cold!
News from the Nurse
If your student can not participate fully in physical activity (P.E. class is a required part of the curriculum) during the school day, please submit a Doctor’s letter to the Health Office with their physical activity restrictions. As we understand that your student may not feel 100% on some days, we need to ensure your child is safe at school and under medical care. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
As always, please contact your pediatrician with any medical concerns.
Request an absence excusal letter from your provider when your child has been under their care. We understand that absences related to medical needs are unavoidable and with these medical letters, their absences will be excused.
Please have your Emergency Contacts up to date in case your child becomes ill at school! Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!
Bonnie Kowalsky, M.ed. BSN RN
OPR School Nurse
99 Old Post Road
East Walpole, MA 02032
phone: 508-660-7219 ext 5804
fax: 866.809.6567
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.
PAC NEWS
Please join us for the OPR PAC Meeting on Wednesday, February 7th at 7:00 PM in the OPR STEM LAB or virtually via ZOOM: https://zoom.us/j/96242172132
The PAC meeting agenda is attached.
Who loves OPR? We do! Sign up here to volunteer to coordinate one of our great events or fundraisers this year. PAC Coordinator Sign up:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/9040e49a4aa2ba2fb6-oprpac1
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
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
Arbor Day Poster Contest!
The Town Forest Committee along with Walpole Cultural Council is excited to enhance students' experience of connecting Art and Science. The DCR theme this year is "Healthy Trees, Healthy Towns" this statewide contest is open to all third, fourth and fifth graders. Please see attached for guidelines/ rules of this contest.
Per DCR rules only one entry can be chosen per grade level from each elementary school. Please submit any OPR student entries to Ms. Kroll, OPR Art Teacher, by February 27th. The link to this contest can be found here.
Private Lessons through the WPS Music Department
The Walpole Public Schools Music Department is pleased to announce the spring 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 2 will run February 5 to June 14. Registration is open Friday, January 12th through Monday, January 29th.
For more information, visit:
https://sites.google.com/walpole.k12.ma.us/wpsmusic/private-lesson-program/overview
To register, visit:
https://students.arbitersports.com/walpole-public-schools/private-music-lessons-2023-2024-session-ii
For questions, email:
Tim Fleming (K-12 Music Coordinator) at tfleming@walpole.k12.ma.us
Multilingual Learner PAC (MLPAC) Meeting
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.
WPS Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) MEETING
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.
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
