OPR Weekly Update
May 17, 2024
Dear OPR Families,
This week consisted of special STEM and cultural arts programs, field trips, Incoming Kindergarten Parent Orientation, Grade 4 VIP Day and more. The upcoming week brings Spring Concerts for all grade levels and many classroom events. On Wednesday, we will welcome the former OPR students who are graduating from Walpole High School as the Class of 2024. The graduates will arrive in the morning for a celebratory walk followed by pictures and visits with teachers and students. It is a day filled with pride and inspiration.
Please watch this week's OPR Video News: Click here to watch the OPR Video News.
Have a great weekend!
David N. Barner, Principal
dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
MAY
18 PAC Parents Night Out
21 Kindergarten Concert followed by Kindergarten Curriculum Walk, 9:00 - Families are invited!
21 Grade 1 Concert at 9:45 - Families are invited!
22 Senior Walk: Walpole High Seniors who were OPR Students visit OPR! 8:45
23 Grade 2 Field Trip to Southwick's Zoo
23 Incoming Kindergarten Student Screening by Appointment
23 Grade 4 Concert at 9:00 - Families are invited!
23 Grade 5 Concert at 9:45 - Families are invited!
24 Grade 2 Concert at 9:00 - Families are invited!
24 Grade 3 Concert at 9:45 - Families are invited!
27 No School - Memorial Day
29 Grade 5 Math Day in Bird Park
JUNE
1 Hot Hoppers travel to Keene, NH
3 Grade 5 Field Trip to Museum of Fine Arts
4 Grade 5 All School Field Day
6 Grade 5 Students Tour Incoming Kindergarten Families
7 PAC Meeting, STEM Lab and Virtual at 7:00 PM
7 OPR Field Day (Rain Date 6/10)
13 Grade 5 Clap Out at 8:45 - Families are invited!
13 Day 180 - Last Day of School - Early Release at 11:55 (Starting at 11:49)
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.
The WPS Summer Learning Program enrollment form is now open to families. The form in the link below is to enroll your current K-5 student(s) in the program. Please note: you will need to complete a separate form for each child you are enrolling. Be sure to pay attention when entering your student’s grade level and school. All enrollment forms must be completed by Tuesday, May 29th. Due to high demand and limited staffing, some grades and sessions may be limited on a first come first serve basis. As always, if there are any questions please do not hesitate to contact us by using the email provided below.
2024 WPS Summer Learning Program Enrollment Form
Enrollment Forms in other languages are below.
Thank you,
Jill Masterson,WPS Summer Learning Program Coordinator
summerlearning@walpole.k12.ma.us
2024 WPS Summer Learning Program Enrollment Form (Arabic)
2024 WPS Summer Learning Program Enrollment Form (Mandarin)
2024 WPS Summer Learning Program Enrollment Form (Creole-Haitian)
2024 WPS Summer Learning Program Enrollment Form (Nepali)
2024 WPS Summer Learning Program Enrollment Form (Portuguese)
2024 WPS Summer Learning Program Enrollment Form (Russian)
2024 WPS Summer Learning Program Enrollment Form (Chinese)
2024 WPS Summer Learning Program Enrollment Form (Spanish)
2024 WPS Summer Learning Program Enrollment Form (Ukrainian)
Art with Ms. Kroll
Grade K: Kindergarten artists are learning about the Element of Art: Texture and discovered how there are two categories of texture which are real/actual and implied. Students looked at the work of contemporary artist, Jim Dine, and discussed how he uses implied texture in his infamous heart paintings. Each artist used Dine’s paintings as inspiration for their own oil pastel masterpieces which feature implied texture hearts.
Grade 1: Students have been learning about Still Life art and how it features everyday objects that are man-made or natural. First grade artists looked at the Sunflower still life paintings of Van Gogh and learned a bit about his life as an artist. Students are creating their own floral still life artworks using oil pastels, watercolor and model magic.
Grade 2: Students are working with the Element of Art: Texture and reviewed how there are two categories of texture which are real/actual and implied. Second grade artists looked at yarn paintings from the Huichol tribe in Mexico and learned about their cultural importance as well as how they are used in storytelling. Students are making their own yarn paintings with cardboard, glue, and various colors of yarn that feature a symbol or image that is important to them.
Grade 3: Third grade artists are studying the Element of Art: Texture and reviewed how there are two categories of texture which are real/actual and implied. Students looked at pottery from the Hopi tribe and learned how it is traditionally made by the women of the tribe. Each artist drew a sketch of a ceramic vessel with lots of patterns to create implied texture. These sketches will be used as visual references for students’ masterpieces which they will use scratch art for.
Grade 4: Fourth graders are studying the Element of Art: Line and reviewed how there are a variety of lines that can be used in artmaking. They looked at contemporary artists, Mahi Abdul and Olivia Kemp, who create intricately detailed ink drawings featuring imaginative creatures and worlds. Students were asked to draw and design Zentangle-style artworks featuring their names. They used Sharpies and colored pencils to create their masterpieces.
Grade 5: Students have been working with the Element of Art: Line and reviewed how there are a variety of lines that can be used in artmaking. They looked at contemporary artists, Mahi Abdul and Olivia Kemp, who create intricately detailed ink drawings featuring imaginative creatures and worlds. Students were asked to draw and design Zentangle-style artworks featuring their hands. They used Sharpies and pencils to create their masterpieces.
Reading with Mrs. Driscoll and Mrs. Segal
As the summer is approaching, it is that time of year to think about maintaining the reading and writing skills that have been gained throughout the school year. One way to promote this is to find ways to read for enjoyment. There is nothing like getting hooked on a great book series. As you begin making your plans for the summer, check out these great series below!
Great series for grades K-2
Great series for grades 2-5
Don’t forget that the Walpole Public Library is a great place to explore and find great books for free! https://www.walpolelibrary.org/
Check out these other great resources.
Storyline Online! https://storylineonline.net/ Each book is read by a famous person and includes extra activities to help support verbal, written and comprehension skills.
Starfall
Lalilo
https://lalilo.com/?language=en
Teach Your Monster to Read
https://www.teachyourmonster.org/
Free Rice
https://play.freerice.com/categories/english-vocabulary
Freckle
News from the Nurse
One of the most common spring health issues is SEASONAL ALLERGIES.
Children can have allergies just as severely as an adult and can develop them at ANY TIME.
Up to 40 percent of children in the United States suffer from seasonal allergies, according to Parents.com.
Look out for common symptoms which include repetitive sneezing, heavy breathing, runny nose, and itchy eyes, ears and throat.
Fever is not associated with allergies, so if your child is running a high temperature, she is likely sick versus experiencing a seasonal allergy.
Please talk with your child’s pediatrician for the best allergy treatment.
Enjoy the great outdoors, but don't forget about the threat of ticks.
While it is a good idea to take preventive measures against ticks year-round, be extra cautious in warmer months (April-September) when ticks are most active.
Ticks can carry several diseases, including Lyme disease.
Wearing tick-repellent clothing, tucking long pants into socks, having long sleeves, using insect repellent, and staying to the center of paths, is the best way for people to prevent tick bites when they venture outdoors.
An estimated three quarters of all Lyme disease cases are acquired from ticks picked up during activities around the home. Children aged 2 to 13 are particularly at risk.
For detailed information about tick prevention and control, see Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Avoiding Ticks.
The Health Office would greatly appreciate donations of gently used clothing, sizes 8-10, 11-12 both genders, as our supplies are running low. If your child may need a change of clothes during the school day, please pack some in their backpack in case of emergencies! Thank you so much!
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.
Mrs. Kowalsky
99 Old Post Road
East Walpole, MA 02032
phone: 508-660-7219 ext 5804
fax: 866.809.6567
PAC NEWS
Please join us for the OPR PAC Meeting on Wednesday, June 5th at 7:00 PM in the OPR STEM LAB or virtually via ZOOM: Link to be shared closer to the meeting date.
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
December 2023 - $81.30
2023 Calendar Year Total - $1210.60
January 2024 - $85.80
February 2024 - $104.10
March 2024 - $71.70
April 2024 - $83.70
Walpole Road Race
Registration is now open for the 51st Annual Walpole Labor Day Road Race! Don’t miss this wonderful Walpole tradition. Sign-up now for the 5K, 10K, or Youth Mile. All proceeds support the 200+ athletes in the Walpole High School Cross Country / Track & Field Program. Each race participant will receive a finisher’s medal. If you register before August 15th, you’ll also receive a free race t-shirt! Can’t join us live? No problem. We have virtual editions for both the 5K and 10K races. For additional information and to register online, please visit www.walpoleroadrace.org. See you on Race Day - Monday, September 2nd!
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 or to request an interpreter or child care for the event.
WPS Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) MEETING
Please note the following contact information for Walpole’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Co-Chairs are Sue Pace and Deborah Mulroy. The SEPAC can be reached by email at walpolesepac@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/walpolespedpac. Notices of future events can be found in this Weekly Update as they are scheduled.
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
