OPR Weekly Update
December 8, 2023
Dear OPR Families,
WIth only two full weeks of school left in December, OPR students stay commited to making every moment count. Students are focused on their schoolwork, while also enjoying time with friends at school and celebrating successes. It's going to be a strong end to 2023 in our learning community.
Please see below for upcoming events, curriculum news in reading and art, and more. Be sure to: Click here to watch today's OPR Video News.
Enjoy the weekend!
David N. Barner, Principal
Email: dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
Instagram: OLDPOSTROADSCHOOL_WALPOLE
Twitter: @oprschool
OPR Website
Dates to Remember
DECEMBER
8 Student Council Spirit Day: Silly Hair, Hat and/or Sock Day!
8 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49.
8 PAC sponsored Stay on the Half Day
15 Neponset Valley Watershed Presentation for Grade 5 Students (2 Classes)
20 PAC sponsored Grade 5 High Touch High Tech Matter Matters STEM Program
21 PAC sponsored School Assembly for Students: Amazing Hero Art
22 Full Day of School before Vacation
JANUARY
2 School Resumes
8 PAC sponsored Discovery Museum Forces and Motion Program for Kindergarten
10 PAC Meeting, STEM Lab at 7:00 PM
11 Student Council Spirit Day: OPR/Walpole Day! Wear your OPR or Walpole clothing or colors!
12 No School for Students - Professional Development for WPS Staff
15 No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
22 Term 1 Grading Ends
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.
OPR SCHOOL HOURS
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.
Art with Ms. Kroll
Grade K: Kindergarten artists have finally finished their incredible Line Monsters which can be also found on Artsonia. Students are now learning about the Element of Art: Shape and how there are two categories of shapes which are geometric and organic. Each artist will create a Shape Animal collage masterpiece using construction paper, scissors, and glue. Before students begin their masterpieces they will practice drawing geometric shapes which will make up their animals.
Grade 1: Students are working on their Organic Shape Collage masterpieces which feature the Element of Art: Shape. First grade artists reviewed how there are geometric and organic shapes and looked at the differences between the two categories. The featured artist for this project is Henri Matisse. Students looked at collages by Matisse and discussed what they noticed or saw in each artwork. Each artist was asked to create an organic shape collage using construction paper, scissors, and glue. As an added challenge, students were encouraged to create “inside” and “outside” shapes which use positive and negative space.
Grade 2: Students are working on their Shape Castle masterpieces which feature the Element of Art: Shape. Second grade artists reviewed how there are geometric and organic shapes and looked at the differences between the two categories. The featured artist for this project is Paul Klee. Students looked at paintings by Klee and discussed what they noticed or saw in each artwork. Each artist was asked to create an imaginative shape castle exterior using primarily geometric shapes. Students will use pencil, Sharpie, and colored pencils for this project.
Grade 3: Students have begun learning about the Element of Art: Line and reviewed the various kinds of lines that can be used in artmaking. The featured artist for this project Wayne Thiebaud. Students looked at paintings by Thiebaud and shared any observations or connections they had to the work. Each artist will create an Ultimate Dessert with Line masterpiece using pencil, Sharpie, and colored pencils. Students were encouraged to think about ways they can make their desserts more extreme and over the top with lots of decoration.
Grade 4: Students are learning about the Element of Art: Value with a specific focus on using the grayscale with only white, black, and gray. They learned how there are four parts of value which are highlight, midtone, shadow, and cast shadow. Artists also received an introduction on how to use charcoal pencils, kneaded erasers, and blending stumps. These materials will be used to create observational drawing masterpieces that feature still lifes of pumpkins.
Grade 5: Students are learning about the Element of Art: Value with a specific focus on using the grayscale with only white, black, and gray. They reviewed how there are four parts of value which are highlight, midtone, shadow, and cast shadow. The featured artist for this project is Barbara Chase-Riboud. Students looked at Chase-Riboud’s still life charcoal drawings and noticed how she used value to create high contrast imagery. Artists will create a Shattered Value Shoe Still Life masterpiece using ebony pencils. Each student will draw their own shoe from observation.
Reading with Mrs. Driscoll & Mrs. Segal
Students across many grade levels continue to work with nonfiction text. As students progress they learn strategies to help them best understand nonfiction. Learning to identify text structures and how an author chose to organize information helps students frame their thinking to the information presented. Students are also learning how to respond and think deeply about nonfiction both orally and in written responses. They are supporting their reasoning and discussions with evidence from the text.
Our winter Snowbowl Book Tournament is underway. Teachers at each grade level nominated 2 books to be part of the Snowbowl. Each week classes vote on winners to make it to the next round. Be sure to ask your children what books they are listening to in class and which ones are their favorites. We can’t wait to see which book will make it to the winner’s spot at the top of our snowman.
Don’t forget that the Walpole Public Library is a great place to explore and find great books for free! https://www.walpolelibrary.org/
News from the Nurse
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
T1D is a lifelong autoimmune disease that attacks healthy cells in the body needed to regulate blood sugar. It affects people of all ages, but is most often diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults.
Unlike other types of diabetes, it cannot be prevented, and risk is not impacted by lifestyle or dietary changes
The highest risk factor for developing T1D is family history, which increases risk by up to 15 times, however it is noteworthy that 80% of people who are newly diagnosed have no family history.
Individuals with T1D are insulin-dependent for life.
Why Get Screened?
There are three stages of type 1 diabetes (T1D), but today, most people are not diagnosed until they experience symptoms in the final stage.
You can get ahead of T1D by screening for risk before symptoms arise, insulin is required, and potential complications occur. Screening can give you the knowledge you need to help:
The importance of screening is reinforced by the rising incidence of T1D.
In the U.S., there are approximately 1.84 million people with T1D, with an expected increase to 2.1 million people by 2040. The disease is growing in younger populations – by 2050, 600,000 people under the age of 20 are expected to have T1D.
To learn more about T1D screening and access resources, visit Getting Ahead of Type 1 Diabetes and Early Diabetes Screening & Detection - JDRF Resources
Now Hiring Substitute School Nurses
We are urgently looking for RNs for the following shifts:
Field Trips
Office Coverages
Van Rides
If you are interested, please click here or contact Linda Anderson District Nurse Leader at landerson@walpole.k12.ma.us
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, January 10th at 7:00 PM in the OPR STEM LAB or virtually. Link to be shared closer to the meeting date.
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
Daniel Feeney Preschool Applications for 2024-2025 School Year:
The Daniel Feeney Preschool peer applications for the 2024-2025 school year is available on our website from December 1-22. Once the application window closes on 12/22 a lottery system will be employed to select peers.
Please click on the link below and navigate to "Application" for all information. Please read all information carefully and if you have any questions please contact Julie Martin, Director: jmartin@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.
WPS Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)
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
