OPR Weekly Update

Dear OPR Families,

Coming up next week is Field Day! It's one of our most popular and memorable days of the year. Below is information about attending as a volunteer or a spectator. I hope you'll be able to join us for some of this fun day.

Watch this week's OPR Video News by clicking here.

Have a great weekend!

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

Contact OPR Office (Secretaries and Nurse): oproffice@walpole.k12.ma.us

Monday is the Gr. 5 field trip to the Museum of Fine Arts and the WMS Gr. 5 parent Move Up Night.

Tuesday is Gr. 1 Camping Day and the WMS Counselors visit the Gr. 5 students.

Wednesday is Gr. 1 Teddy Bear Time, Gr. 4 State Fair, and Gr. 5 visit to WMS.

Thursday is Gr. 4 State Fair and Incoming Kindergarten Tours.

Friday is Field Day!

June

2 Grade 5 Docent Field Trip to the Museum of Fine Arts

4 Grade 4 State Fair (Two Classes)

4 Grade 5 Move Up Day visit to Walpole Middle School

4 PAC meeting in the STEM Lab at 7:00 PM

5 Grade 4 State Fair (Two Classes)

6 OPR Field Day! (Rain date 6/9)

7 Hot Hoppers compete in Keene, NH

10 Grade 5 District Field Day

13 Grade 5 Clap Out Celebration on the back playground at 8:45 (weather permitting) - Families are welcome!

13 Report Cards viewable in the Aspen Family Portal

13 Last Day of School - Early Release at 11:55 (Starting at 11:49)

Field Day is on Friday, June 6th (rain date June 9th). Please see below for the Field Day volunteer links and schedule. We welcome families to volunteer or come and watch Field Day.

Upon arrival, check in at the Welcome Table outside the front door. For everyone's safety, all volunteers and spectators must check in and wear a sticker while attending Field Day.

Thanks to our generous PAC, all students in grades K-5 and staff will receive Field Day t-shirts. Each grade is assigned a color. Students are welcome and encouraged to add to their colorful outfits with the rest of their field day attire. The colors are:

Kindergarten - Red

Grade 1 - Royal Blue

Grade 2 - Green

Grade 3 - Yellow

Grade 4 - Orange

Grade 5 - Light Blue

All students should have a refillable water bottle for Field Day and sunscreen should be conisdered.

Kindergarten, First Grade and Second Grade Field Day Events are from 8:45-11:20

Third Grade, Fourth Grade, and Fifth Grade Field Day Events are from 12:00-2:38

Field Day is in front of the school and on the back playground.

PAC Coordinated Events Volunteers:

Click Here

Description of PAC Coordinated Events:

Student Support & Attendance May Newsletter: Only 14 Days of School Remain!

--

Edward Connor
Dean of Student Support & Attendance
Walpole Public Schools

econnor@walpole.k12.ma.us

508-660-7257 ext. 5020

The four elementary schools rotate start and end times every three years. The 2025-2026 School Year represents year one of the next rotation. The OPR start time will be 35 minutes later. Boyden and Fisher School will start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m. Elm Street and Old Post Road School will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. Student arrival time is 8:50-9:00. Students are tardy after 9:00. We want to provide this information to families early so you can plan accordingly.

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."

Congratulations to our young musicians for their outstanding performances at the end of the year grade level concerts!

Students enjoyed exploring a variety of musical traditions from Asia and the Pacific Islands this week. Read about some of their favorite learning activities below.

Grade K and 1: Students read a picture book titled “The Chinese Violin” by Madeleine Thien. The story was accompanied by an erhu, a traditional two stringed instrument. They enjoyed watching a musician play the erhu while performing the classic folk song “Jasmine Flower”. Next week they’ll learn a traditional dragon dance from Indonesia.

Grade 2 and 3: Students learned a Maori folk song from New Zealand titled “Epo I Tai”. Second graders added body percussion patterns to accompany the song while third graders created rhythmic patterns using sticks, incorporating both playing and tossing movements. Next week they learn about a genre of Indian film music called Bollywood.

Grade 4 and 5: Students were introduced to Tinikling, a traditional dance from the Philippines. They were actively engaged in moving between two bamboo poles, while following rhythmic patterns. Movements involved sliding, hopping and intricate footwork. Next week they will learn a fun partner game from Japan.

OPR PAC MEETING

Wednesday, June 4th @ 7:00pm in the OPR STEM Lab

Connect by Google Meet:​​https://meet.google.com/xvt-nhrm-qzz

The OPR PAC (Parent Advisory Committee) is a very active and important part of our school community. The PAC's specific purpose is to enhance the school community and learning environment through volunteer and fundraising efforts; and connect, engage and inform parents.

The OPR PAC does incredible work with many volunteers and active supporters to add to the OPR community. The Officers of the PAC serve one-year terms from July 1st to June 30th. The PAC is currently looking for interested candidates for the following positions:

• President - Develops agendas, presides over all meetings, oversees financial affairs, responsible for general PAC management, ensure that all decisions of the quorum shall be implemented, and serve as the main liaison with the Principal of OPR.
• Vice President - Assist the President in developing agendas for all meetings, overseeing financial affairs, and general management of the PAC.
• Secretary/Clerk - Responsible for record keeping and correspondence, record and distribute the minutes of all proceedings, provide notice of all meetings, maintain the archive of minutes and by-laws and distribute mail.
• Treasurer - Overall responsibility for the funds, disburse approved funds; make monthly financial reports to the members, report bi-monthly on the execution of the annual budget, complete and file taxes and annual report.

If you are considering a position, please know that the current Board seeks to facilitate a smooth and supported transition and will be available moving forward. If you are interested or have any questions, contact the PAC through email or Mr. Barner by phone or email.

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

March 2025 - $128.40

April 2025 - $88.20

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.

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

ASPEN FAMILY PORTAL

OPR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENU

OPR ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

WPS ELEMENTARY STUDENT & PARENT HANDBOOK/CODE OF CONDUCT

WPS 2024-2025 CALENDAR

WPS EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM

WPS ONLINE SAFETY HUB

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.

INTERFACE REFERRAL SERVICE

Office of Student Support & Attendance: November Newsletter

• Summer S.T.E.M. Academy; K-3 (July 7-25 & July 29 - August 15); Grades 4-8 (July 7-25 & July 28-August 15). See flyer for more info.

The United States Attorney’s Office will be hosting a virtual internet safety presentation for all adults who wish to keep children safe online. Assistant United States Attorney Luke Goldworm and Victim Witness Specialist Lauryn Mackey will be joined by Special Agent Andrew Kelleher from Homeland Security Investigations Child Exploitation and Digital Forensics Unit to present a Webex Webinar:

Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents

Wednesday, June 4th from 6:30 – 7:30 pm.

A Q & A session will follow the presentation. The presentation will bring awareness to how predators are sexually exploiting children online and how to keep them safe.

Advanced registration is required. You may register for the webinar at the link below:

https://usao.webex.com/weblink/register/r4617269953953d7a4aaa839f6c3e110b

See the attachment for details or click here.

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 1st!