OPR Weekly Update
January 31, 2025
Dear OPR Families,
As of Friday, January 31st, families have access to their child's Elementary Standard Based Report Cards and Special Education Progress Report (if applicable) in the Aspen Family Portal.
The Term I report card communicates student progress toward meeting end-of-the-year learning standards. The slight, but important, change made several years ago to the descriptors of the Academic Performance Levels is the phrase “at this time”. The purpose of including this phrase is to share with families where their students are academically, at this time of the year.
Teachers assess student performance against these learning standards, which are specific and observable grade-level skills. Our report cards reflect the learning standards as outlined in the current Massachusetts State Frameworks. Teachers assess by measuring individual student performance against the identified concrete learning standards, rather than in relation to the performance of other students.
Please check out the Parent/Guardian Guide by CLICKING HERE
Click here to watch the OPR Video News from this week.
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
Tuesday and Thursday afternoon are Talent Show audition days. Questions (or music files) about the OPR Talent Show can be emailed to oproffice@walpole.k12.ma.us
Wednesday after school is the Grade 5 Tubing Trip!
Friday is an early release with dismissal at 11:55 (beginning at 11:49). It's also Tie Dye (or multicolor) Day and the PAC Stay on the Half Day!
February
4 OPR Student Council Talent Show Auditions, 3-4:00 in the OPR Cafeteria
5 Grade 5 Tubing Trip After School
6 OPR Student Council Talent Show Auditions, 3-4:00 in the OPR Cafeteria
7 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49.
7 Student Council Spirit Day: Tie Dye Day (or Multicolor) - Wear tie dye or multicolor clothes!
7 PAC Sponsored Stay on the Half Day
10 OPR After School Winter Enrichment Program Begins This Week
10 OPR Kindness Week!
12 PAC Meeting, STEM Lab, 7:00 PM (Meeting is on Wednesday Night.)
17-21 Vacation Week
27 PAC Sponsored Grade 4 and 5 STEM Night! Free Science Night! 6-7:30 PM in the Cafeteria
March
4 OPR Student Council Talent Show Dress Rehearsal, 3-4:30 at OPR Cafeteria
6 OPR Student Council Talent Show! at the Walpole Middle School Auditorium starting at 6:00 PM. Free for the whole family!
11 Parent-Teacher Conferences by Appointment, 5-7:00 PM
13 Parent-Teacher Conferences by Appointment, 5-7:00 PM
14 Parent-Teacher Conferences by Appointment, 1-3:00 PM
14 Early Release at 11:55 (beginning at 11:49)
14 Student Council Spirit Day: Hawaiian Day!
14 PAC sponsored Grade 3 Author Visit: David Biedrzycki
17 PAC sponsored Harney Irish Step School Performance
18 PAC sponsored Grade 2 Author/Cartoonist Visit: Skip SanGiacomo
28 Student Council Spirit Day: Dress Like a Teacher Day!
28 Early Release at 11:55 (beginning at 11:49)
28 PAC Stay on the Half Day
28 PAC sponsored Spring Dance: K, 1, 2 - 5:30-7:15 and Gr. 3, 4, 5 - 7:45-9:30
Extended Day February Vacation Camp
The Extended Day Program is offering a February Vacation Camp for the upcoming school break, February 18 - February 20. The Camp is open to all Walpole Schools students in grades K—5 and will be held at Boyden School. More information can be found HERE. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Santangelo, Director of Extended Day, at dsantangelo@walpole.k12.ma.us.
Families can create an account/register at this link: Vacation Camp
WPS Attendance Newsletter
From the WPS Office of Student Support & Attendance:
Here is the January newsletter that highlights the current Chronic Absenteeism rate in Walpole. Spoiler alert: Families and schools are doing a great job! Chronic Absent totals are down!
Click here to see our numbers: https://secure.smore.com/n/kgqr0
This newsletter is also posted on the WPS website.
Edward Connor
Dean of Student Support & Attendance
Walpole Public Schools
508-660-7257 ext. 5020
News from the Nurse
We've recently seen an increase in students with Flu A and with strep throat symptoms. Please monitor your child for the following:
Flu A/B: A fever of 100°F and higher, sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, chills, headache, diarrhea and/or vomiting. Many kids may not want to eat and may act irritable when feeling these symptoms.
Strep Throat: Sore throat, fever (sometimes presents without a fever), difficulty swallowing, red and swollen tonsils, nausea/abdominal pain and sometimes headache or rash.
Click here for More Info about Sore Throats
If your child exhibits these symptoms, please keep them home and contact your child’s pediatrician. Remind children about proper handwashing and hygiene practices.
Your student needs to be fever free and vomiting free for at least 24 hours, without the help of any fever-reducing medication, before they can return to school.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school healthy!
Bonnie Kowalsky, RN
508-660-7219 ext 5804
fax: 866.809.6567
STEM with Mrs. Morris
STEM is still collecting clean recyclable materials for a special project and would love your help! If you have any empty cereal boxes, snack boxes, or similar cardboard packaging, please send them in with your child. Please ensure that the items are clean and free from food residue so they are ready for use. This will help us create a fun and eco-friendly learning experience for the students!
Thank you for your support!
We spent time in STEM this week learning about the Lunar New Year and doing activities to celebrate. Kindergarten and first grade students started coding online with block coding. This will get them ready for the upcoming weeks when they do Scratch Jr. The second and third grade students created Scratch Jr. projects that represented something they learned about Lunar New Year. A lot of them created projects based off of the animal from the year they were born. Fourth and fifth grade students coded the Ozobot robots. Fourth graders had to find the correct code to successfully get their Ozobot to the end of different paths. Fifth grade students played a game where they tried to collect as many red envelopes with their Ozobot as possible in thirty seconds. Each red envelope was worth a different amount. After thirty seconds, the students had to add up their totals to see who won.
Digital Learning with Mrs. Milnamow
Have you seen the incredible digital products students are making lately? We have been having a blast in quite a few classrooms creating characters, settings, and whole stories using AI generated images. Adobe Express is a new favorite for so many of us. Ask your child to show you how to create images by writing specific prompts! Writing prompts helps students to develop precise, specific language to lead to the results they are looking for.
All of our Kindergarten students have all begun using Lalilo! This is an online program that helps students practice and progress with their early reading skills. Students are loving it and getting an opportunity to independently engage with their devices and practice at their own pace.
Have you tuned in to our OPR Podcast station? Check the OPR Website and listen to Would You Rather Wednesday debates and some awesome book talks!
We also spent quite a bit of time in grade 5 reviewing expectations for using school Chromebooks. Students signed contracts promising they will care for their devices and use them appropriately. This will set them up for success in middle school when they will be more independent in their learning.
Keep being responsible, safe users of technology, OPR!
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
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
