OPR Weekly Update
September 15, 2023
Dear OPR Families,
With the start of the new school year, we review arrival and dismissal procedures, especially for carpoolers. Please follow the procedures below to ease traffic congestion:
- Before entering the OPR driveway, cars may form a line going down Old Post Road.
- The Walpole police department has asked that cars do not wait on Emerson Road.
- Cars are not allowed, per posted sign, to take a left into the OPR driveway from Old Post Road.
- The procedure will also be shared with the crossing guard on duty.
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
Our first five-day week is now complete and it was apparent every day that students have acclimated to their classrooms and are focused on learning. On Tuesday and Wednesday, I'll be meeting with each grade level of students to talk about school wide expectations, our positive based incentive program and the importance of learning.
Next Friday is our first early release. Dismissal is at 11:55, but we begin with carpoolers and walkers at 11:49.
Have a great weekend!
David N. Barner, Principal
Email: dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
Instagram: OLDPOSTROADSCHOOL_WALPOLE
Twitter: @oprschool
Dates to Remember
SEPTEMBER
15 New England Patriots Spirit Day! Wear Patriots clothing or colors to celebrate the season. This is being held after the season opener due to student picture day on the 8th.
22 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49 AM.
25 OPR After School Enrichment Classes Begin this Week
27 OPR Open House for Parents and Guardians; Families with last name beginning with A-L at 6-6:30 and last names M-Z from 6:45-7:15.
OCTOBER
6 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49
9 No School - Columbus Day
11 OPR School Council Meeting, STEM Lab/Media Center at 3:05 PM
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
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.
We are looking forward to welcoming parents and guardians to Old Post Road School's Open House on Wednesday, September 27th, 2023. 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, English Language Teacher, Digital Learning Coach, and Special Education Teachers such as MSNs and Speech/Language.
The Open Houses 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.
PE with Mrs. Green
Students have been practicing locomotor warm-ups, squad groups and reminded of good sportsmanship. Students are reminded to wear sneakers rather than Crocs, sandals, dress shoes or boots. Comfortable clothing is encouraged for movement as well. We have been in the gymnasium and outside depending on the weather.
Kindergarten: Students practiced moving safely in general and personal space. They practiced finding colors and shapes in the room and how to line up. They practiced a game called “Knee-Tag”, followed by the crowd favorite, tag game of “Animal Catchers”.
Students will repeat lessons before moving on to something new for practice and classroom management. Flying Saucer tag was introduced as well. Soccer skills will be introduced next with kicking, trapping and passing and dribbling.
Grades 1 & 2: Students practiced “Knee-Tag”, “Pac-Man” and the tag game of “Animal Catchers”. Students have been heading outside when we can to practice “Ga-Ga Ball” to help them understand the rules of the game at recess time. Next, we practiced hula-hooping, followed by a game of “Flying Saucer Tag” with the hula hoops. Overhand throwing is being practiced with a defender in the middle. Next we look forward to practicing soccer skills that use kicking, trapping, passing and dribbling to 1 vs 1 & 2 vs. 2, small sided games.
Grades 3, 4 & 5: Students played a small game in their squad groups called “Marvin & Larry” where their team protects their player (Larry) as a team without letting the tagger (Marvin) know who Larry is. Next, students played a crowd favorite game of “Capture the Flag”. Next practice was throwing and catching in squad groups and adding a defender and then two defenders, until two games of keep-away were practiced with a 5 v 5. We are beginning practicing soccer in small groups and will get into 5 v 5 games. Speed-ball and Handball will be played next, followed by our Fitness unit. This includes fitness testing, such as the Pacer test (running), pull-ups, push-ups and sit-ups.
Math with Mrs. Rinaldi
It has been great to see the excitement as students enter our second year in the Bridges Math Curriculum. They are enjoying the activities in Number Corner, the daily routine that builds number sense and flexible thinking around numbers and concepts. We have also had a fantastic launch to ST Math. The goal this year is for all students to reach 80% of their journey by mid May, and many of them are already on their way. Students are anxiously awaiting JiJi’s first visit to celebrate what a great start to the year they have had.
We also wanted to take this opportunity to remind our returning families and share with our new families the link for our Family Math Website which is full of great resources and information to help build your child’s math disposition, conceptual knowledge and basic skills through at home activities. There are so many activities students can do at home to build their math skills from reading books to playing board and card games to even going on a grocery shopping trip and talking about all the different ways they see and use numbers at the store. In future notes, different parts of our website will be highlighted to share more specific examples of things you can do at home. We are looking forward to a great year of mathematical learning and building math confidence in all of our students!
News from the Nurse
I am excited to see all the happy faces at OPR! Here is a quick update from the Health Office!
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.
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. Thank you so much!
Please look at the WPS Illness Policy: Click Here
For the most recent Covid Guidelines: Click Here
Remember to call your child's pediatrician for medical guidance and for excusal letters for absences-thank you!
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.
Bonnie Kowalsky, M.ed. BSN RN
OPR School Nurse
Email: bkowalsky@walpole.k12.ma.us
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
