OPR Weekly Update
January 15, 2026
Dear OPR Families,
Tomorrow, Friday, January 16th is a Professional Development Day for Walpole Public Schools staff and there is no school for students. Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and there is no school.
The Walpole elementary schools/Dedham Savings Bank Holiday Card contest winners were announced and presented with their certificate and cash prize today. OPR had many winners across all grades. Congratulations to all who participated. The OPR winners are:
Kindergarten
2nd Place: Max White
3rd Place: Mila Viola
First Grade
1st Place: Mackenzie McDonough
3rd Place: Nina Prohodski
Second Grade
3rd Place: Jaxon Gately
Third Grade
2nd Place: Riley Benner
3rd Place: Payton Denehy
Fourth Grade
1st Place: Ryan Moran
Fifth Grade
1st Place: Brooke Pyrcz
2nd Place: Fiona Crippen
Have a great long weekend! Go Patriots!
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
Monday is a holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There is no school.
On Wednesday the OPR Before/After School Enrichment Program Registration opens at 9:00 AM. Class list will be emailed on Tuesday.
Coming Soon! Report Cards - January 30th
On Friday, January 30th, families will have access to their child's Elementary Standard Based Report Cards and Special Education Progress Report (if applicable) in the Aspen Family Portal.
The Term I report card communicates student progress toward meeting end-of-the-year learning standards. The slight, but important, change made several years ago to the descriptors of the Academic Performance Levels is the phrase “at this time”. The purpose of including this phrase is to share with families where their students are academically, at this time of the year.
Teachers assess student performance against these learning standards, which are specific and observable grade-level skills. Our report cards reflect the learning standards as outlined in the current Massachusetts State Frameworks. Teachers assess by measuring individual student performance against the identified concrete learning standards, rather than in relation to the performance of other students.
Please check out the Report Cards Parent/Guardian Guide by CLICKING HERE
Ready, Set, Kindergarten! WPS Pre-Registration is Open
WPS 2026-2027 kindergarten pre-registration is open through January 30, 2026. To pre-register a kindergarten age-qualified* child, a parent or legal guardian must complete the online registration form (scroll down to kindergarten pre-registration).
If you are unable to drop off documents at your neighborhood school during the day, the Superintendents’ Office (135 School Street, Room 204) is open on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Tuesday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM, and Friday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM.
*Kindergarten age-qualified children are those who turn five (5) years old before September 1st of the school year for which they are pre-registering.
If your child is currently enrolled or receiving special education services through Daniel Feeney Preschool Center, you do not need to submit the online registration form, birth certificate, or proof of residency. However, you will need to provide the elementary school with a copy of your child’s latest physical.
To find out more about registration, click here.
Art with Ms. Kroll
Grade K:
Kindergarten artists are working on winter-themed masterpieces that feature snow covered trees in the woods. These artworks will be created using the techniques of collage and painting. We have been watching read aloud videos such as Snowy Day and Snow to accompany our lesson and act as a source of inspiration.
Grade 1:
Students are creating a series of winter-themed masterpieces that feature a variety of mediums such as colored pencils and tempera paint. We have been watching read aloud videos such as Blizzard and Just Snow Already! to accompany our lessons and act as a source of inspiration.
Grade 2:
Students have been practicing snowflake making with scissors and white paper. Each second grade artist will choose their favorite snowflake to be part of a tissue paper collage in cool colors. This project is inspired by Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley who was the first person to successfully photograph snowflakes using photomicrography.
Grade 3:
Students are finishing their study of the Element of Art: Line and our featured artist, Wayne Thiebaud. Each artist has been working on 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 have started drawing templates for their Snow Globe cityscapes with pencil and Sharpie. Fourth graders were able to design a realistic or imaginary city in the past, present, or future for the masterpieces. Each artist will start to add watercolor to their skies using the “wet on wet” technique and then will use the “wet on dry” technique for their buildings and smaller details.
Grade 5:
Fifth grade artists have been working on stylized winter landscapes inspired by our featured artist, Jen Aranyi. Each student created details for their foreground, middle, and background using pencil and Sharpie. The final step will be to add watercolor to the sky and water features using wet on wet or wet on dry painting techniques.
Reading with Mrs. Driscoll & Mrs. Segal
Book Mark Contest
This year, OPR will be taking part in the Massachusetts School Library Association bookmark contest. Students in grades one through five have the option of creating a bookmark that matches the theme "Something for everyone at the library". The bookmarks are due to Mrs. Morris by February 6th. If students need a new paper or more information they can see Mrs. Morris. More information can be found at https://msla.wildapricot.org/Bookmark-Contest
2026 MCAS Testing Schedule
Below is the schedule for MCAS that will take place in the Spring of this school year. Please mark these dates in your calendar and help ensure that your child(ren) are present for each testing session for their grade level.
Grade 3
ELA Session 1: Tuesday March 31
ELA Session 2: Wednesday April 1
Math Session 1: Tuesday April 28
Math Session 2: Wednesday April 29
Grade 4
ELA Session 1: Thursday April 2
ELA Session 2: Tuesday April 7
Math Session 1: Thursday April 30
Math Session 2: Friday May 1
Grade 5
ELA Session 1: Wednesday April 8
ELA Session 2: Thursday April 9
Math Session 1: Tuesday May 5
Math Session 2: Wednesday May 6
STE Session 1: Wednesday May 13
STE Session 2: Thursday May 14
OPR PAC MEETING
Thursday, February 5th
7:00 PM
Held in the STEM Lab or connect virtually via link: https://meet.google.com/rpe-bctr-nyv
Hi OPR Parents and Guardians,
We are grateful for all of your support at the PAC events, fundraisers and meetings. We appreciate the effort, energy and time you put into volunteering. Thanks to your generosity, Parents Night Out (PNO) was a tremendous success again this year! Enjoy celebrating this upcoming holiday season with your loved ones! There is more fun to come! See events listed below.
With Gratitude,
The OPR PAC Board 2025-2026
Providence Bruins Game - Sunday, January 18th at 3PM
Restaurant Night at Crisp - Wednesday, January 28th
STEM Night (Grades 2 & 3) - Thursday, January 29th at 6PM
PAC Meeting - Thursday, February 5th at 7PM
SOHD Fundraiser - Friday, February 6th (Volunteers Needed!)
STEM Night (Grades 4 & 5) - Thursday, February 12th at 6PM
Pizza and Play Bingo - Friday, February 27th
PAC Meeting - Wednesday, March 4th
Broderick Gymnastics Fundraiser - Friday, March 13th
Spring Dance - Friday, March 20th
Restaurant Night at Chateau - Thursday, March 26th
LG Martial Arts Fundraiser- Friday, March 27th
PAC Meeting - Thursday, April 9th
Restaurant Night at Jalapenos - Wednesday, April 15th
PAC Meeting - Thursday, May 7th
SOHD Fundraiser - Friday, May 15th (Volunteers Needed!)
Fun Run and Spring Festival - Saturday, May 16th
Field Day - Friday, June 5th (tentatively)
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
September 2025 - $134.10
October 2025 - $192.30
November 2025 - $151.50
December 2025 - $100.80
2025 Calendar Year Total - $1788.90
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 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 2 to June 12. Registration is open Friday, January 9th through Monday, January 26th.
For more information, visit:
Lesson Program Information Page
To register, visit:
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.
