OPR Weekly Update
January 10, 2025
Dear OPR Families,
We had a great first full week of 2025! Students are back into their routines and continue to impress us all with their efforts, positive attitudes and perseverance. As you are well aware, it was very cold this week which resulted in having indoor recesses. All elementary schools in Walpole stay inside for recess when the “feels like” temperature is less than 20 degrees. It was nice to see the students playing games together, building structures, drawing, laughing and chatting. It's always great to see students collaborating and socializing with each other, working hard, and learning every day.
Click here to watch the OPR Video News from this week.
Have a great weekend!
David N. Barner, Principal
dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
Contact OPR Office (Secretaries and Nurse): oproffice@walpole.k12.ma.us
January
13 Walpole Fire Department Fire Safety Presentation for Kindergarten, Gr. 1 and Gr. 2 Students
16 PAC Sponsored Grade 4 Program: High Touch High Tech: Funomena
17 Early Release at 11:55 AM. Dismissal begins at 11:49.
17 Student Council Spirit Day: Career Day! Dress like what you want to do when you grow up!
20 No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
22 OPR After School Winter Enrichment Registration Opens at 9:00 AM.
23 PAC Sponsored Grade 3 STEM Night! Free Science Night! 6-7:30 PM in the Cafeteria
24 Grade 5 Neponset Valley Watershed Presentation
29 OPR After School Winter Enrichment Registration Closes at 4 PM.
30 PAC Sponsored Grade 2 STEM Night! Free Science Night! 6-7:30 PM in the Cafeteria
31 Grade 5 Neponset Valley Watershed Presentation (Part 2)
February
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
12 PAC Meeting, STEM Lab, 7:00 PM (Meeting is on Wednesday Night.)
17-21 Vacation Week
WPS Attendance Newsletter
Student Support & Attendance December Newsletter
Click Here:
"Is my child absent because they're trying to avoid going to school?"
Reading with Mrs. Driscoll & Mrs. Segal
Art with Ms. Kroll
Grade K: Kindergarten artists are working on winter-themed masterpieces that feature snow covered trees in the woods. These artworks will be created using the techniques of collage and painting. We have been watching read aloud videos such as Snowy Day and Snow to accompany our lesson and act as a source of inspiration.
Grade 1: Students are creating a series of winter-themed masterpieces that feature a variety of mediums such as colored pencils and tempera paint. We have been watching read aloud videos such as Blizzard and Just Snow Already! to accompany our lessons and act as a source of inspiration.
Grade 2: Students have been practicing snowflake making with scissors and white paper. Each second grade artist will choose their favorite snowflake to be part of a tissue paper collage in cool colors. This project is inspired by Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley who was the first person to successfully photograph snowflakes using photomicrography.
Grade 3: Students have begun studying the Element of Art: Value and reviewed what a tint, tone, and shade is. Each artist will practice making value scales in tints and shades using tempera paint. Our final project will be a winter scene with a halo-effect moonlit sky. Students will have the option to create mountains or snowy hills for their foregrounds and middle grounds.
Grade 4: Students have continued working on their Surrealist Self Portrait masterpieces. Artists were introduced to the new medium of watercolor pencils and learned multiple techniques on how to apply color to the paper. Fourth graders will learn how to blend different colors to achieve realistic skin and hair tones.
Grade 5: Students are finishing up their Surrealist Landscape masterpieces with oil pastel. Artists have been using a variety of blending techniques in their work such as stippling, smudging, and scrumbling. Fifth graders were encouraged to apply multiple layers of pastel to create more depth in their work.
News from the Nurse
We've recently seen an increase in students with the stomach bug and with strep throat symptoms. Please monitor your child for the following:
- Stomach Bug: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and sometimes low-grade fever.
- Strep Throat: Sore throat, fever (sometimes presents without a fever), difficulty swallowing, red and swollen tonsils, nausea/abdominal pain and sometimes headache or rash.
If your child exhibits these symptoms, please keep them home and contact your child’s pediatrician. Remind children about proper handwashing and hygiene practices. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school healthy!
The health office is happily accepting boys gently used pants/bottoms of all sizes (size Medium/8-10 in particular!) Thank you for your consideration!
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.
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
Private Lessons through the WPS Music Department
The Walpole Public Schools Music Department is pleased to announce the spring session for our Private Lesson Program for students in grades 4 - 12. If your child is interested in taking private instrument or voice lessons, here is your chance. Lessons are offered in flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, tuba, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, guitar and voice. All lessons are taught by accomplished performers on their respective instruments. Some lessons are currently being taught virtually.
Session 2 will run February 3 to June 13. Registration is open Friday, January 10th through Monday, January 27th.
For more information, visit:
https://sites.google.com/walpole.k12.ma.us/wpsmusic/private-lesson-program/overview
To register, visit:
https://forms.gle/YGBjnmVE1V57US2m9
For questions, email:
Tim Fleming (K-12 Music Coordinator) at tfleming@walpole.k12.ma.us
