OPR Weekly Update
March 21, 2025
Dear OPR Families,
Happy spring! Each Friday morning, the OPR Video News is played in each classroom. The link is shared each week in this OPR Weekly Update for you to stay updated on happenings in school. Our fifth graders work with our Digital Learning Coach, Mrs. Milnamow, to create the broadcast. Enjoy the video!
OPR Video News: THIS WEEK
Have a wonderful weekend!
David N. Barner, Principal
dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
Contact OPR Office (Secretaries and Nurse): oproffice@walpole.k12.ma.us
March
26 Grade 1 Field Trip to Moose Hill (rescheduled from last week)
28 Student Council Spirit Day: Dress Like a Teacher Day!
28 Early Release at 11:55 (beginning at 11:49)
28 PAC sponsored Spring Dance: K, 1, 2 - 5:30-7:15 and Gr. 3, 4, 5 - 7:45-9:30
April
1 OPR After School Enrichment Registration opens at 9:00 AM.
1 Grade 3 ELA MCAS
2 Grade 3 ELA MCAS
3 Grade 4 ELA MCAS
3 PAC Sponsored High Touch High Tech Smarty Plant classroom presentations
4 Grade 4 ELA MCAS
8 OPR After School Enrichment Registration Ends
8 PAC Sponsored Pumpernickel Puppets vists grades K and 1.
8 Grade 5 ELA MCAS
9 Grade 5 ELA MCAS
10 PAC Meeting, STEM Lab, 7:00 PM
14 OPR After School Enrichment Classes begin this week.
18 No School - Day of Low Attendance
21-25 No School
29 Grade 3 Math MCAS
30 Grade 3 Math MCAS
Extended Day Summer Program
We are excited to announce that Extended Day will be running a Summer Program this upcoming summer and registration is now live. We are anticipating registration to fill quickly and will do our best to enroll as many waitlisted students as possible.
This year, the camp will run for 4 weeks at Fisher Elementary and offer an Extended Day PM option for families. Registration will be open for incoming first-sixth graders. Registration will be available for individual weeks and families will have the option to register for all 4 weeks at a discounted rate.
Please see the attached PDF regarding Summer Camp Information and Registration Information for the Summer of 2025 and reach out to Dan Santangelo (dsantangelo@walpole.k12.ma.us) or Evan Storlazzi (estorlazzi@walpole.k12.ma.us) with any questions."
WPS February Attendance Newsletter
From the WPS Office of Student Support & Attendance:
Please see the February Newsletter: February Newsletter: What percentage of students have 5 or fewer absences after 100 days?
Edward Connor
Dean of Student Support & Attendance
Walpole Public Schools
508-660-7257 ext. 5020
News from the Nurse
Nurses Wanted! The Walpole Public Schools nursing team is expanding! We're hiring substitute nurses and field trip nurses. Field trip nursing is a fantastic opportunity to actively participate in your child's educational experience. Contact Linda Anderson, Walpole Nurse Leader, at landerson@walpole.k12 or (508) 660-7257, ext. 5219 to learn more.
Are you cleaning out your children’s clothes closet? We are asking for donations of pants, legging, shorts, sweats-all sizes, both genders! Thank you so much!! Our students appreciate your kindness!
Please consider packing an outfit in your child’s backpack if they are prone to accidents, spills or falls!
Physical Education with Mrs. Green
K-5:
We began our annual Heart Hero Challenge, previously known as Jump Rope for Heart.
Discussed the importance of exercise on the heart and brain and the importance of eating a variety of colorful foods. Watched a video on the challenge and handed out donation envelopes.
Jump rope activities varied based on skill levels:
Helicopter
Wave
Short jump rope tricks
Long jump rope
Double Dutch
Chinese Jump rope
Jump Bands (Form of Tinikling)
Basketball skills
Dribbling
Passing
Shooting
Defending
G-3 - G-5, 3 v 3, One minute, Speed Basketball
Next, we will continue to work on Basketball skills and drills and hopefully head outdoors for some fitness activities. The Pacer re-test will happen before April break. Our exciting Gymnastics unit will be when we return from break. Students should wear no shoes or socks during this unit. If you have sticky socks at home, you may bring them. I will have some available in my office if needed.
Math with Mrs. Rinaldi
March Mathness is in Full Swing!
If your student has been buzzing about March Mathness, it’s because our exciting, math-filled tournament is in full swing! This school-wide competition, inspired by NCAA’s March Madness, has classes competing to solve the most ST Math puzzles and advance in the bracket. But here’s the best part—every class stays in the game! Wild Card opportunities and Honorable Mentions keep all students engaged, celebrating their hard work and progress throughout the tournament.
You may be wondering—why do we focus on ST Math puzzle progress? It’s more than just solving puzzles. ST Math builds essential problem-solving skills, perseverance, and most importantly, Number Sense—a critical foundation for mathematical thinking. Since ST Math has no written directions, students must analyze patterns, think critically, and apply what they’ve learned to help JiJi cross the screen. The challenges get progressively harder, encouraging students to build connections and deepen their understanding.
What is Number Sense?
Number Sense is a person’s ability to:
Compose and decompose numbers
Compute mentally using a variety of strategies
Make reasonable estimates
Recognize patterns and relationships in numbers
Solve problems efficiently
From learning to count to tackling complex math problems, strong Number Sense helps students approach math with confidence. In addition to ST Math, students build these skills daily through Number Corner and classroom activities.
Want to support Number Sense at home? Check out these links:
Developing Number Sense at Home – Activities for car rides, meal prep, or while waiting at a restaurant
How to Build Number Sense: Simple and affordable ideas for the busy parent (video)(at the end of the video, she mentions the Starfall app which our students have access to through their school web page.)
What is Number Sense?
As we near the finish line of March Mathness, the energy in our classrooms is electric! The puzzle progress goal for March is 62%, and we’re aiming for every student to complete at least 80% of their grade level’s ST Math journey by June. This tournament is helping so many students take positive steps toward that goal, and we love seeing their enthusiasm for math grow. Thank you for your support—we can’t wait to celebrate all their hard work!
OPR ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
WPS ELEMENTARY STUDENT & PARENT HANDBOOK/CODE OF CONDUCT
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.
Teacher Snack Cart Donations
Click to shop from our Amazon list. Questions: Melanie.D.Taylor@gmail.com
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:
January 2024 - $85.80
February 2024 - $104.10
March 2024 - $71.70
April 2024 - $83.70
May 2024 - $114.90
June 2024 - $100.50
July 2024 - $100.20
August 2024 - $115.80
September 2024 - $59.10
October 2024 - $113.40
November 2024 - $141.00
December 2024 - $92.10
2022 Calendar Year Total - $907.50
2023 Calendar Year Total - $1210.60
2024 Calendar Year Total - $1182.30
January 2025 - $210
February 2025 - $108.60
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.
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
