OPR WEEKLY UPDATE
September 11, 2026
Dear OPR Families,
It was wonderful to see so many OPR families at the PAC-sponsored Ice Cream Social! Events like this provide a great opportunity to reconnect, meet new families, and celebrate the strong sense of community that makes OPR such a special place. Thank you to the OPR PAC and all of the volunteers who gave their time to make the evening possible. Throughout the year, the PAC sponsors many events, programs, and activities that enrich our students’ experiences and bring our school community together.
As we settle into the school year, students are learning classroom routines, building relationships, and engaging in meaningful learning. Thank you to our families for helping children arrive each day ready to participate and do their best.
Regular attendance plays an important role in student success. When students are at school consistently, they are better able to keep up with instruction, develop strong connections, and fully participate in their classroom community. Families sometimes wonder how many absences may be too many. Please see the information below to learn more about attendance monitoring and chronic absenteeism.
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
Tuesday is Student Picture Day!
Wednesday is the Grade 5 Team Building Trip to TreeTop Adventures.
Friday is an Early Release. Dismissal is at 12:25 (beginning at 12:19).
Friday is the Student Council Spirit Day - New England Patriots Day! Wear your Patriots clothes or colors to celebrate the first home game.
September
15 Student Picture Day
16 Gr. 5 visits TreeTop Adventures
18 Early Release at 12:25 PM. Dismissal begins at 12:19.
18 New England Patriots Spirit Day! Wear Patriots clothing or colors to celebrate the first home game of the season.
23 OPR Before and After School Enrichment Program Registration Opens at 9:00 AM
24 PAC Meeting in the OPR STEM Lab at 7:00 PM
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.
28 OPR Before and After School Enrichment Program Registration Closes at 4:00 AM
30 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.
October
5 OPR Before and After School Enrichment Program begins this week.
6 OPR School Council Meeting in the STEM Lab at 3:30
7 International Walk to School Day! Walk, Bike or Roll to school to participate.
9 Early Release at 12:25 PM. Dismissal begins at 12:19.
12 No School - Columbus Day
15 PAC Meeting in the STEM Lab at 7:00 PM
Student Picture Day - Tuesday, September 15th
Picture Day for all students is on Tuesday, September 15th.
Order forms should have gone home with students. For any family interested in confidential assistance for a hardship situation, please contact the school counselors, nurse, or principal.
OPR Curriculum Night - September 30th
We are looking forward to welcoming parents and guardians to Old Post Road School's Curriculum Night on Wednesday, September 30th. 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, Math Specialist, Multilingual Language Teacher, Instructional Coach, 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.
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.
Art with Ms. Kroll
Welcome back to another wonderful year of Visual Arts at OPR! We began the school year with establishing routines and discussing what expected behavior looks like in the art room. 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. Each artist got to use thick and thin markers for their special art folders.
Grade 1: First grade artists have been studying the Element of Art: Form and reviewed the difference between shapes and forms. Each student used paper strips in all different colors to create their own paper sculptures. Students used techniques such as twisting, folding, and curling to transform the paper from a flat surface to exciting 3D forms.
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 an 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.
Grade 4: Fourth grade artists finally received their much awaited sketchbooks and eagerly designed the covers to make them personalized. Our first major masterpiece of the school year will be a combination of printmaking and watercolor featuring still lifes of flowers. Students will learn art specific vocabulary connected to printmaking.
Grade 5: Students have been working on their Illuminated Initial masterpieces which feature the first letter of fifth grade artists’ names along with intricately detailed lines, shapes, and patterns. Each student will be encouraged to personalize their artworks by picking a theme that resonates with them.
Reading with Mrs. Driscoll & Mrs. Segal
News from the Nurse
Hello from the Health Office! Please take note of the following information.
Illness Policy: When to Stay Home
Fever over 100°F
Vomiting, diarrhea, or nausea
Undiagnosed rashes or lesions
Uncontrolled coughing
Returning to School Guidelines:
Must be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine (like Tylenol or Motrin).
Stay home for 24 hours after stomach illness symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, nausea) end.
Take antibiotics for at least 24 hours before returning for infections like Strep Throat, Conjunctivitis, or Impetigo.
Ensure eyes are free of drainage (Conjunctivitis) and lesions are not oozing (Impetigo).
If given Benadryl at school for an allergic reaction, students must be picked up and monitored at home.
Injuries and Medical Procedures:
Please notify the Health Office if your child has an injury or medical procedure outside of school.
Be sure to provide:
Any physical activity restrictions.
A doctor's note detailing restrictions and duration if missing PE for more than 5 days.
Special Request from the Health Office
Our Health Office is running low on spare clothing for student accidents and spills!
We welcome donations of gently used tops, bottoms, and sweatshirts (sizes 6 -14), as well as new socks and underwear. Check out our OPR Health Office Wish List to contribute.
Donations can be dropped off at the main office. Thank you for your support!
Thank you for helping keep our school community healthy and safe! Feel free to reach out to the Health Office anytime with questions.
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
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
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.
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.
Session 1 will run September 21 to January 29. Registration is open until Wednesday, 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
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.
