OPR Weekly Update
November 3, 2023
Dear OPR Families,
It was nice to see so many parents over the last two weeks at OPR attending Parent Teacher Conferences, watching the Halloween Parade, and/or volunteering in your child's classroom. Your participation and presence are greatly appreciated. Enjoy some pictures from the week in this Weekly Update. Check out this parade video that Mrs. Milnamow, Digital Learning Coach, put together.
With the high interest in the OPR After School Program - Fall Session, we are adding another session! Registration will open on November 14th at 9:00 AM and close on November 21st. The classes will begin during the week of November 27th and run for 6 weeks. Complete program offerings will be shared soon.
Please see below for more school and community information.
Watch today's OPR Video News: OPR Video News Link
Reminder: There is no school on Friday, Nov. 10 as we celebrate Veterans Day.
Have a great weekend!
David N. Barner, Principal
Email: dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
Instagram: OLDPOSTROADSCHOOL_WALPOLE
Twitter: @oprschool
Dates to Remember
NOVEMBER
8 PAC Meeting, STEM Lab/Media Center at 7:00 PM. All are welcome!
10 No School - Veteran's Day Observed
22 Kindergarten Friendsgiving from 10:30-11:30
22 Grade 1 Celebrating Our Uniqueness event from 9:00-10:30
22 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49
23 No School - Happy Thanksgiving!
24 No School
28 School Council Meeting in the STEM Lab at 3:05
DECEMBER
1 Neponset Valley Watershed Presentation for Grade 5 Students (2 Classes)
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
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 begun learning about the Elements of Art starting with Line. They studied different kinds of lines such as wavy, zig-zag, and spiral lines. Each student practiced tracing and drawing a variety of lines with pencils and markers. Now the focus is our Line Monster masterpiece artworks. Students added different kinds of lines in a variety of colors using oil pastels to their “Monster” paper templates. After students completed their line work they added watercolor paint to the backgrounds. The final steps to this project will be to add paper collage faces and accessories.
Grade 1: Students have been studying the Element of Art: Line and are working on their vibrant Line Pumpkin masterpieces using Sharpies and oil pastels. The featured artists for this project are Jackson Pollock and Bridget Riley. Students participated in thoughtful and inquisitive discussions about the artists’ paintings. Classes are working on adding oil pastels in warm colors to their pumpkin templates. Artists were asked to blend at least two colors in each section.
Grade 2: Students have continued their work with the Element of Art: Line by creating their Leaf Line Design masterpieces. First, students were asked to draw a variety of lines on their leaf templates using many different colors with twistable crayons. Then, they added watercolor to the background of each section. Students really enjoyed watching how the crayon wax resist interacted with the watercolor paint.
Grade 3: Students have started a new mixed media art project featuring stylized pumpkins with abstract backgrounds. They will use a variety of drawing tools as well as tempera paint to create these masterpieces. The inspiration for this project comes from contemporary Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama. Students were blown away by her incredible artwork and loved the biographical read aloud, From Here to Infinity, by Sarah Suzuki.
Grade 4: Students have continued working on their Surrealist Self Portrait masterpieces. Each student used a mirror to draw themselves along with the method of face mapping. They used a pencil to lightly sketch out meaningful and symbolic backgrounds much like our featured artist, Frida Kahlo. We are now adding color with watercolor pencil using a variety of practiced techniques.
Grade 5: Students have continued studying the art movement of Surrealism and are now working on their Surrealist Landscapes. Artists transferred their original sketches onto large charcoal paper with a pencil and are using oil pastels to add the color work. Everyone was asked to use at least one of the blending techniques we learned about in class such as stippling, smudging, and scrumbling.
READING with Mrs. Driscoll & Mrs. Segal
News from the Nurse
Snack time: Please ask your child if they are feeling hungry in school. Some of our classes have their snack in the afternoon. Students In those classes often eat the snack you send in as part of their lunch. Please consider adding an extra snack for your child especially on days when they may be participating in after school activities. Please choose healthy snacks for your child to consume at school and refrain from sending in sugary snacks, such as candy or soda. Thank you for your assistance!.
Health Screenings: Health screenings are continuing through the end of the month.
Medications: Just a reminder that Massachusetts law requires that all medications which need to be given during the school day must have a doctor’s order, written parent/guardian permission, and MUST be brought to the school nurse by an adult. If you have any concerns regarding the medication drop off process, please contact me. If your child needs a short term medication such as an antibiotic that is given three times a day it can be given at breakfast, after school, and at bedtime. If your child is in the extended day program please contact me about giving the medication at the end of the school day prior to extended day.
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.
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.
Bay State Textiles Recycling
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.
Thank you for donating your textiles in the Bay State Collection Bin in the OPR parking lot. 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
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
