OPR Weekly Update
September 29, 2023
Dear OPR Families,
It was nice to see so many parents and guardians at the OPR Open House on Wednesday evening. As the year progresses, feel free to reach out to your child's teacher or any of the OPR teachers if you want to talk about your child's learning. We appreciate the open and frequent communication as we work together to enable every student to achieve success.
Thank you for supporting OPR through the PAC Mums Sale that sold out on Wednesday. Our thoughtful PAC followed up Open House by coordinating a staff breakfast on Thursday morning that was greatly appreciated by all.
Some highlights for the coming week are the Grade 5 Team Building Event at Hale Reservation on Monday, Walk to School Day on Wednesday morning, and the Early Release with our PAC sponsored Stay on the Half Day on Friday.
Have a great weekend!
David N. Barner, Principal
Email: dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
Instagram: OLDPOSTROADSCHOOL_WALPOLE
Twitter: @oprschool
Dates to Remember
OCTOBER
2 Grade 5 Team Building Event at Hale Reservation
4 International Walk Bike and Roll to School Day! Celebrate by walking, biking, or rolling to school with your family!
6 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49
9 No School - Columbus Day
11 PAC Meeting, STEM Lab/Media Center at 7:00 PM. All are welcome!
11 School Council Meeting in the OPR STEM Lab at 3:05 PM
18 Grade 3 Field Trip to deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
23-27 PAC Sponsored Scholastic Book Fair Week!
25 Parent-Teacher Conferences, 6:00-8:00 PM by Appointment
27 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49
27 Parent-Teacher Conferences, 1:00-3:00 PM by Appointment
31 OPR Annual Halloween Parade! 8:45 AM Families are welcome to watch the parade out front, weather permitting.
NOVEMBER
2 Parent-Teacher Conferences, 6:00-8:00 PM by Appointment
3 Student Picture Retake Day
8 PAC Meeting, STEM Lab/Media Center at 7:00 PM. All are welcome!
10 No School - Veteran's Day Observed
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.
STEM with Mrs. Morris
It has been a great first month in STEM/Media at OPR! Welcoming students back to our now fully completed renovated space has been very exciting. These first few weeks we have spent a lot of time reviewing our STEM expectations and our library procedures to prepare for another awesome year. Check out some of the activities we have done so far!
In Kindergarten students have been learning about what STEM is. We have discussed that STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. We have started the year by learning how to properly use our STEM engineering tools such as legos, planks, brain flakes, and magnatiles. We have also spent time practicing sharing these materials with our classmates and how to keep our STEM space clean and organized. Kindergarteners also have all now participated in their first book checkout of the year and have loved finding books that they get to borrow and take home.
In first grade and second grade we reviewed the importance of caring for our chromebooks. We also took part in different building activities to reintroduce the students to the tools we will be working with this year. We even got to use the iPads to celebrate International Dot Day and created 3D Dots!
In the third, fourth, and fifth grades we also reviewed chromebook care expectations. We did several team building challenges with a variety of classmates to practice cooperation and communication skills. Students’ first challenge made them stack cups with a team, but they weren’t allowed to touch the cups with their hands. They had to use a rubber band tool that was created for the purpose of working together. Students also competed in different Dot Day Challenges. Third graders had to build a bridge strong enough to hold a box of weights. Fourth and fifth graders did the Dot Day Tower Challenge again this year. There was a tie for the tallest tower between two 5th grade groups in Mr. Gough’s class. Their towers were 20.5 inches.
Coming up in October all students will begin coding again with different robots and technology and we will also continue to do engineering challenges. I look forward to the next month of fun in STEM!
Digital Learning with Mrs. Milnamow
Greetings OPR Community! My name is Jami Milnamow and I am the new DLC here at OPR. This is my first year in Walpole, following 21 years in Brockton as a teacher and then as an instructional coach in the area of STEM. I am so thrilled to be here working with these incredible students and educators.
As the school year has rolled out, I have been working in classrooms to teach and review the expectations for chromebook care and use here at OPR. Our main goal is for students to respect and care for their devices so they work properly and we can use them to make learning even more fun! Our Digital Citizenship lessons will continue throughout the year to guide students to participate in the digital world in a safe and responsible manner.
Coupled with this lesson has been discussions around balancing media in our lives. Appropriate to their grade level, students have explored what healthy media balance looks and feels like to them. In grades 4 and 5, students have made goals for improving media balance in their lives and making time for physical activity, time with friends, music and art, athletics, and building meaningful connections with friends and family.
Additionally, I have worked with teachers around the building on programs such as Book Creator, Canva, and Flip to enhance their lessons with meaningful technology. Students have created digital posters and slideshows about themselves, their favorite books, and what makes them special. We have also used Canva for students to demonstrate their understanding of math, science, and social studies content in this creative, customizable, digital platform.
Plans are already in the works for upcoming projects throughout the school. I look forward to showcasing our projects and lessons as the year continues.
News from the Nurse
Please consider packing extra clothes in your child’s backpack for accidents. I would strongly advise especially if your student is in kindergarten or first grade.
The Health Office will gladly accept new underwear donations of all sizes and gender. We are in need of gently used clothes for all sizes ( size 5 - youth large) Thank you so much!
If your child requires medication during school hours, please submit school medication ORDERS signed by the provider (can be electronically signed), along with the medication in the original prescription package. Please sign a parental consent form, which can be found on the WPS Health Services webpage.
For the most recent Covid Guidelines: Click Here
Remember to call your child's pediatrician for medical guidance and for excusal letters for absences. Please submit them to the main office or via email. Thank you!
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 - New Law in Massachusetts
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
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
