OPR Weekly Update
October 3, 2025
Dear OPR Families,
Wednesday is International Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day! The Massachusetts Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School sponsors this day each year. OPR families are encouraged to participate by walking or biking to school together on Wednesday morning.
The Student Council will be holding its first meeting next week! This year’s council is made up of 16 student representatives, two from each of the fourth and fifth grade classes, who will bring their classmates’ ideas to the table. Together, they will help plan exciting school spirit days, choose causes for our school to support, organize the talent show, and much more. The Student Council gives students an important opportunity to share their voices and make a difference in shaping our school community.
Watch this week's OPR Video News: OPR Video News
Have an excellent weekend!
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
Wednesday is Walk to School Day! Walk, bike or roll to school to celebrate!
Friday is an Early Release Day. Dismissal is at 12:25 (beginning at 12:19).
October
8 International Walk to School Day
10 Early Release at 12:25 PM. Dismissal begins at 12:19.
10 PAC Sponsored Stay on the Half Day
13 No School - Columbus Day
22 Gr. 3 Field Docent Trip to DeCordova Museum
24 Student Picture Retake Day
29 Gr. 5 Team Building Trip to Tree Top Adventures
31 OPR Halloween Parade at 9:15 - Detailed information will be in next week's OPR Weekly Update.
November
5 PAC Meeting in the STEM Lab at 7:00-8:00 PM
11 No School - Veterans Day
13 Parent-Teacher Conferences by Appointment, 5:00-7:00 PM
14 Parent-Teacher Conferences by Appointment, 1:00-3:30 PM
14 Early Release at 12:25 PM. Dismissal begins at 12:19.
18 Parent-Teacher Conferences by Appointment, 5:00-7:00 PM
26 Early Release at 12:25 PM. Dismissal begins at 12:19.
27 No School - Happy Thanksgiving!
28 No School
December
11 Holiday Sing Along for all families from 6:00-6:45 PM
12 Early Release at 12:25 PM. Dismissal begins at 12:19.
12 PAC Stay on the Half Day
23 Early Release at 12:25 PM. Dismissal begins at 12:19.
24 No School - December Break - School Reopens on Monday, January 5th.
OPR School Council
The OPR School Council met earlier this week. The council consists of parents, school staff and a community member. The members of the council this year are: School Staff - Mrs. Barrett, Mrs. Morris, Mr. Barner; Parents - Mr. Kluza, Mrs. Moran, Mrs. Williams. Our Community Representative position is not yet filled. If you know of an interested Walpole resident who is not an OPR parent, please let me know. The law outlines four major areas of responsibility for councils:
Adopting educational goals for the school that are consistent with local educational policies and statewide student performance standards
Identifying the educational needs of students attending the school
Reviewing the annual school building budget
Formulating a school improvement plan
Feel free to contact any of the members of the council or attend an OPR School Council meeting at any time.
MCAS Parent Reports Coming Soon
Art with Ms. Kroll
Grade K: Students have been using non-traditional art tools to create their Monet-inspired Japanese garden paintings - their fingers! Kindergarten artists were instructed to use cool colors for their lily ponds and warm colors for their autumn trees. Each student was able to capture the beautiful texture of the water and trees by using their fingerprints.
Grade 1: First grade artists are finishing up their beautiful abstract dot paintings on cardboard rounds using black acrylic paint for lines and shapes, and tempera paint for color work. These masterpieces were inspired by our featured book, The Dot. Students were very excited to mix and create new colors using the primary and secondary colors along with white paint.
Grade 2:
Students have begun working with the Element of Art: Line and reviewed the many kinds of lines that exist in artmaking. We looked at two paintings by Jackson Pollock and Bridget Riley and discussed how each artwork uses lines in different ways. Now we are working on a scaffolding art activity called “Stained Glass Line Art” to practice for upcoming masterpieces.
Grade 3: Students have been working on a unique and re-imagined self portrait project titled “Tee-Self.” We first reviewed what a traditional self-portrait is and looked at some examples by Lois Mailou Jones and Pablo Picasso. Third grade artists created a t-shirt, tank top, or sweatshirt template which was then divided into sections. Each section displays something special about the artist.
Grade 4: Fourth grade artists have begun their study of the Element of Art: Value with a specific focus on using the grayscale in only white, black, and gray. They learned how there are four parts of value which are highlight, midtone, shadow, and cast shadow. Artists also received an introduction on how to use charcoal pencils, kneaded erasers, and blending stumps. These materials will be used to create observational drawing masterpieces that feature still lifes of pumpkins.
Grade 5: Students have started studying Surrealism and looked at paintings from featured artists, Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte. Fifth grade artists engaged in thoughtful conversations about what they noticed in each artwork and delved deeper into the possible meaning behind the symbolic imagery. The masterpieces will consist of Surrealist-style landscapes that depict imaginative and dreamlike worlds. Each artist will practice blending with oil pastels and use specific pastel techniques such as stippling, smudging, and scrumbling as this will be the selected art medium for the project.
Reading with Mrs. Driscoll & Mrs. Segal
OPR PAC MEETING
Wednesday, November 5th
7:00 PM
Held in the STEM Lab or connect virtually via link: https://meet.google.com/sem-fbzs-fvv
Sign Up for Stay on the Half Day
Sign Up to Volunteer
Teacher Snack Cart Donations
Click to shop from our Amazon list.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1O64LBIJZZJSU?ref_=wl_share
Questions: Melanie.D.Taylor@gmail.com
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. https://mabelslabels.com/en_US/fundraising/support/
Box Tops for Education
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.
Follow the OPR PAC on Social Media
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:
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
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.
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.
