OPR Weekly Update

Dear OPR Families,

It's been an excellent week of learning at OPR. During today's early release, teachers participated in professional development to enhance their implementation of our new Into Reading English/Language Arts program. Throughout the year, teachers and staff take part in training opportunities and collaborative events to develop, refine, and validate their practice across all subject areas to meet the needs of our students. You'll be learning more about the curriculum and classroom practices at Thursday evening's Curriculum Night/Open House. I hope you'll be able to attend.

Here's the link to this week's OPR Video News.

OPR After School Enrichment classes are filling up quickly. Click here for the complete information and list of classes.

Have a great weekend!

David N. Barner, Principal
dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us

Thursday is OPR Curriculum Night/Open House! Complete details below. Mums will be selling fast out front for $10 each.

September

26 OPR Curriculum Night/Open House for Parents and Guardians; 6-6:30 PM Last Names beginning with A-L; 6:45-7:15 PM Last Names beginning with M-Z. This is an evening for parents and guardians (no students) to meet the teachers to learn more about the curriculum and expectations.

30 OPR After School Enrichment Program begins this week!

October

2 OPR School Council Meeting in the STEM Lab at 3:05

9 International Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day! Celebrate by having the whole family walk/bike to school.

10 PAC Meeting in the STEM Lab at 7:00 PM

10 Grade 4 Field Trip to Patriots STEM Program

11 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49.

11 PAC Stay on the Half Day!

14 No School - Columbus Day

17 Grade 3 Field Trip to DeCordova Museum

31 OPR Halloween Parade at 8:45 AM. Families welcome!

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 Curriculum Night / Open House on Thursday, September 26th. 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, Multilingual Language Teacher, Digital Learning Coach, Math Specialist, and Special Education Teachers such as MSNs and Speech/Language.

The Curriculum Night / Open House 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.

It’s been wonderful to welcome students back to the music room this year! I’ve enjoyed getting a chance to build relationships with students while establishing classroom expectations and routines. I look forward to providing a variety of musical experiences for your child this school year. Please see recent grade level learning activities below.

Grades K-2

• Singing and Movement: Students in Kindergarten have been learning about different music voices-whisper, speak and sing. They learned a song called, “Apple Tree” and were able to identify what voice they were using. Grade K and 1 also learned a new name game called, “Rickity Rackity”. Grade 2 students learned game songs called, “Cut the Cake” and “Up the Ladder”. Students enjoyed the games that went along with these songs.

• Instruments: Students in Grade K added rhythm sticks to a variety of musical selections while keeping the steady beat. Students in Grade 1 learned how to play xylophones and kept a steady beat to known songs. Grade 2 students learned how to play the xylophone using a new alternating stick pattern.

Grades 3-5

• Singing & Instruments: Students in Grades 3 and 4 added a xylophone accompaniment to a welcome song from Africa called, “Funga Alafia”. Students in Grade 5 learned a song from Africa called, “Obwisana”. They added a three part accompaniment using tubanos, xylophones and metallophones. They had a great time learning these African songs and playing instruments!

• Movement: Students were very engaged while playing an expressive movement activity called “Musical Dice”. This activity provided students an opportunity to improvise using locomotor movement with or without a partner.

• Literacy: Students enjoyed playing the “Counting Challenge 1-8” game. This fast paced activity helped students build rhythm and audiation skills.

In the weeks to come, students will learn a variety of music from Spanish speaking countries in honor of “National Hispanic Heritage Month”. They will also use “Book Creator” to illustrate lyrics to their favorite song.

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

May 2024 - $114.90

June 2024 - $100.50

July 2024 - $100.20

August 2024 - $115.80

We are just a few short weeks away from Walpole's 300th Anniversary Parade! The Parade will kick off on October 5th at 11am from the Norfolk County Agricultural High School and proceed up Main Street to the Town Common and then turn and proceed up Common Street to Walpole High School which will allow for 2 miles of viewing. Downtown we will have food trucks around the common. Join us as we watch bands and performance groups from around the region celebrate our hometown.

The 300th Committee is also looking for additional floats from Community Groups, as well as antique autos which would like to participate in the parade. Check out Walpole300.com for more information.

9/24

9/25

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.

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

OPR Website

Email: dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
99 Old Post Road

East Walpole, MA 02032

508-660-7219