OPR Weekly Update
November 1, 2024
Dear OPR Families,
Happy November! It was nice to have so many families attend the annual Halloween Parade this week. We're looking forward to100% family participation at our upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences. The complete information and sign-up links are below. The PAC sponsored Scholastic Book Fair will be held on the stage and will be open to purchase books during Parent-Teacher Conferences.
November is when we coordinate the collections to support OPR families who benefit from support during Thanksgiving, the winter holidays and throughout the year. Please see below for the Giving Fund and Thanksgiving food donations. Your involvement is greatly appreciated.
Click here to watch this week's 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
November
5 No School - Election Day - Professional Development Day for Teachers and Staff
7 PAC Meeting in the STEM Lab at 7:00 PM
11 No School - Veterans Day
12 Scholastic Book Fair Week on the Stage. Open during Conferences!
12 Parent-Teacher Conferences by Appointment, 5-7:00 PM
14 Parent-Teacher Conferences by Appointment, 5-7:00 PM
15 Student Council Spirit Day - Sports Day! Wear your favorite sports team or your own sports team attire or colors to celebrate!
15 Parent-Teacher Conferences by Appointment, 1-3:00 PM
15 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49.
16 PAC Sponsored Parents Night Out!
27 Student Council Spirit Day - Pajama Day! Wear proper footwear please.
27 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49.
28 No School - Happy Thanksgiving!
29 No School
December
4 School Council Meeting, STEM Lab at 3:05-4:05 PM
13 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49.
13 PAC Sponsored Stay on the Half Day
13 Student Council Spirit Day: Wild Hair, Socks, Mismatched, Inside Out, Backwards Day
23 No School - Vacation Begins. School Resumes on Thursday, January 2nd.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held in just a few weeks. These meetings are invaluable opportunities for parents and teachers to connect and discuss your child’s progress in school. These conferences are a chance for you to engage directly with your child’s teacher, learn about your child's academic achievements, and address any questions or concerns you may have. Together, we can celebrate your child’s successes and collaborate on ways to support their continued growth.
The Parent-Teacher Conference scheduler is now open. It will remain open for your convenience until Friday, November 8th at 5:00 PM. Please be sure to sign up as soon as possible as each day only has limited slots available.
If you are a parent with more than one child at OPR, please allow for at least 10 minutes between your conferences. We have found that back-to-back conferences do not allow for travel from classroom to classroom or transition between teachers.
Click on the day below that you would like to attend and sign up with each teacher for an in-person conference. All classroom teachers and specialists are listed. Virtual and phone conferences may be scheduled by emailing the teacher directly.
If you have questions or need help scheduling a conference please call the main office for assistance.
5:00-7:00 PM on Tuesday, November 12, 2024
5:00-7:00 PM on Thursday, November 14, 2024
Art with Ms. Kroll
Grade K:
Kindergarten artists have begun learning about the Elements of Art starting with Line. They studied different kinds of lines such as wavy, zig-zag, and spiral lines. Each student practiced tracing and drawing a variety of lines with pencils and markers. Now the focus is our Line Monster masterpiece artworks. Students added different kinds of lines in a variety of colors using oil pastels to their “Monster” paper templates. After students completed their line work they added watercolor paint to the backgrounds. The final steps to this project will be to add paper collage faces and accessories.
Grade 1:
Students have been studying the Element of Art: Line and are working on their vibrant Line Pumpkin masterpieces using Sharpies and oil pastels. The featured artists for this project are Jackson Pollock and Bridget Riley. Students participated in thoughtful and inquisitive discussions about the artists’ paintings. Classes are working on adding oil pastels in fall-themed colors to their pumpkin templates. Artists will blend at least two colors in each section. Once completed, first grade artists will add lines to every section with black oil pastels.
Grade 2:
Students are finishing up their study of the Element of Art: Line by creating Leaf Line Design masterpieces. Each second grade artist was asked to draw a variety of lines on their leaf templates using twistable crayons. They are now adding watercolor to the background of each section. Students are having fun observing how the crayon wax resist interacts with the watercolor paint.
Grade 3:
Students are finishing up a mixed media art project that features stylized pumpkins with abstract backgrounds. They used a variety of drawing tools as well as tempera paint to create these masterpieces. The inspiration for this project comes from contemporary Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama. Students were blown away by her incredible artwork and loved the biographical read aloud, From Here to Infinity, by Sarah Suzuki.
Grade 4:
Students are learning about 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 are learning about the Element of Art: Value with a specific focus on using the grayscale with only white, black, and gray. They reviewed how there are four parts of value which are highlight, midtone, shadow, and cast shadow. The featured artist for this project is Barbara Chase-Riboud. Students looked at Chase-Riboud’s still life charcoal drawings and observed how she used value to create high contrast imagery. Artists are creating still life masterpieces by drawing one of their shoes from direct observation using ebony pencils.
Reading with Mrs. Driscoll & Mrs. Segal
News from the Nurse
The Flu has arrived. Please review these precautionary actions with your children:
to regularly cover your cough and sneezes
wash your hands often
avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
How can I protect my child from the flu?
The first and best way to protect against flu is to get a yearly flu vaccine for yourself and your child.
Are flu vaccines safe?
Flu vaccines have an excellent safety record.
Millions of people have safely received flu vaccines for decades.
Flu shots and nasal spray flu vaccines are both options for vaccination.
What are the benefits of getting a flu vaccine?
A flu vaccine can keep you and your child from getting sick. When vaccine viruses and circulating viruses are matched, flu vaccination has been shown to reduce risk of getting sick with flu by about 40 to 60%.
Flu vaccines can keep your child from being hospitalized for flu in the pediatric intensive care unit. One recent study showed that flu vaccines reduced children’s risk of flu-related pediatric intensive care unit admission by 74%. Flu vaccines can be life saving in children.
Flu vaccination also may make your illness milder if you do get sick.
Getting yourself and your child vaccinated also can protect others who may be more vulnerable to serious flu illness, like babies and young children, older people, and people with certain long-term health problems.
AAP Recommendations for the Flu Vaccine
For more information about the Flu: Flu guide for Parents
Thank you for the generous donations from the Amazon Wish List! We are so appreciative!!!
The Health Office has a limited amount of clothes to borrow for emergencies. We will gladly accept gently used clothes donations. Please see our Amazon Wish list as well. Thank you so much!!! OPR Health Office Wish List
In order to minimize the spread of infectious disease and to provide for a safe environment, the WPS Health Care Policy has been created to assist you. Please review this document as the nurses are required to adhere to these guidelines to help support the health of the entire school community. WPS Illness Protocol
Kindly,
Bonnie Kowalsky, RN
508-660-7219 ext 5804
fax: 866.809.6567
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.
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
Teacher Snack Cart Donations
Click to shop from our Amazon list. Questions: Melanie.D.Taylor@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
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
September 2024 - $59.10
October 2024 - $113.40
What's in the Walpole Community Backpack?
Ongoing Walpole Youth Basketball Sponsorship packages (see www.wyba.org/sponsorship)
11/2 Diwali - Diya Lighting Ceremony - 5 - 8:30 PM - United Church of Walpole
11/1
11/8 JWCW' Red, White and Brew Event (proceeds to benefit Walpole Veterans and MA Military Support Foundation)
11/12 Fused Glass Class at Walpole Public Library; 3:30-5:00 p.m.; Ages 12+ must be accompanied by adult. Limit of 15, must register on-line.
11/15 Teen/Tween Anime; 12:30-3 p.m., Limited snacks - bring some along!
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
