OPR Weekly Update
January 23, 2026
Dear OPR Families,
Each year, the OPR PAC sponsors a free hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) evening for students accompanied by an adult. The student and adult sit and participate together to complete the experiments. The grade 2 and grade 3 evening is next week on Thursday at 6:00 PM in the cafeteria. Please sign up using this link: Grade 2 and 3 STEM Night Sign Up!
The grade 4 and grade 5 event is on Thursday, Feb. 12 and the link to sign up will be available soon.
The registration for the next session of the OPR Before and After School Enrichment Program is now open and another class was just added (Hand Knitting). Classes fill quickly. See the complete information and registration link here: OPR Before and After School Enrichment Program Questions may be directed to Mrs. Tranquillino: mtranquillino@walpole.k12.ma.us
Watch the most recent broadcast of the OPR Video News: OPR Video News
Have a great weekend! Go Patriots!
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
Thursday is the Grade 2 and 3 STEM Night in the Cafeteria. This PAC-sponsored event is free. Please join us!
Coming Soon! Report Cards - January 30th
On Friday, January 30th, families will 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 Report Cards Parent/Guardian Guide by CLICKING HERE
Ready, Set, Kindergarten! WPS Pre-Registration is Open
WPS 2026-2027 kindergarten pre-registration is open through January 30, 2026. To pre-register a kindergarten age-qualified* child, a parent or legal guardian must complete the online registration form (scroll down to kindergarten pre-registration).
If you are unable to drop off documents at your neighborhood school during the day, the Superintendents’ Office (135 School Street, Room 204) is open on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Tuesday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM, and Friday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM.
*Kindergarten age-qualified children are those who turn five (5) years old before September 1st of the school year for which they are pre-registering.
If your child is currently enrolled or receiving special education services through Daniel Feeney Preschool Center, you do not need to submit the online registration form, birth certificate, or proof of residency. However, you will need to provide the elementary school with a copy of your child’s latest physical.
To find out more about registration, click here.
PE with Mrs. Green
As we return from the holiday break, students have been revisiting the importance of goal setting, making healthy food choices, and staying active. To kick off the New Year, students participated in a Fitness Challenge that included running a lap, completing 6–10 push-ups, 20 squats, and 26 jumping jacks in a continuous 10-minute workout. Our nutrition walls continue to support learning by helping students identify and understand the five food groups and the importance of including them in daily meals.
Students in Grades K–2 have been having fun and building teamwork skills through parachute activities.
Students in Grades 3–5 have been warming up with the PACER run and developing strength through weight-lifting activities, including safely adding weight during deadlift practice.
Math with Mrs. Rinaldi
We have entered the time of year that research has shown is the most impactful for student learning. The weeks between January and February break, along with the month of March have fewer interruptions and more focused learning. Students are past the midway point of the year and are working to reach their end of year standards. It is the time to build stamina and perseverance.
What does it mean to have Math stamina? Math stamina is the ability to stay engaged with a math problem even when it is difficult or the solution doesn’t come quickly. For younger students it could be taking the time to draw a picture or create a number bond to help them with a story problem; for our older students it could mean trying a different approach when things get challenging or checking their work by doing a problem in two different ways to prove their accuracy and understanding. Students willing to take that extra step are not only building their conceptual understanding, but also their confidence for future problems.
When students rush to finish, avoid effort, shut down after making a mistake or give up midway through challenging problems it may not be frustration or avoidance, it could be a sign of mental fatigue. There are steps students, parents and teachers can take to build stamina and help students persevere when they feel stuck.
Break problems down into smaller, more manageable steps
Use tools, visuals or manipulatives to make things more concrete
Writing out steps on a whiteboard or in a notebook
Dice, number lines, base ten blocks, number racks, coins are all examples of manipulatives that might help.
Math Learning Center provides free digital manipulatives for student use
Remind students that mistakes are part of the process and help build understanding, better awareness, and show misconceptions for reteaching.
Try to make connections to real life situations and give them an opportunity to talk about the problem out loud. When students can see the purpose of the math and connect it to something familiar to them, it helps them stick with it.
Having a growth mindset is directly related to stamina growth and perseverance. You can check out our Family Website Page around Growth Mindset if you are looking for more ideas on how to help your child in this area. In our fast-paced world where AI is making it easier to answer things quickly, we must remember that students still need to build stamina, engage in perseverance and build a growth mindset.
Book Mark Contest
This year, OPR will be taking part in the Massachusetts School Library Association bookmark contest. Students in grades one through five have the option of creating a bookmark that matches the theme "Something for everyone at the library". The bookmarks are due to Mrs. Morris by February 6th. If students need a new paper or more information they can see Mrs. Morris. More information can be found at https://msla.wildapricot.org/Bookmark-Contest
2026 MCAS Testing Schedule
Below is the schedule for MCAS that will take place in the Spring of this school year. Please mark these dates in your calendar and help ensure that your child(ren) are present for each testing session for their grade level.
Grade 3
ELA Session 1: Tuesday March 31
ELA Session 2: Wednesday April 1
Math Session 1: Tuesday April 28
Math Session 2: Wednesday April 29
Grade 4
ELA Session 1: Thursday April 2
ELA Session 2: Tuesday April 7
Math Session 1: Thursday April 30
Math Session 2: Friday May 1
Grade 5
ELA Session 1: Wednesday April 8
ELA Session 2: Thursday April 9
Math Session 1: Tuesday May 5
Math Session 2: Wednesday May 6
STE Session 1: Wednesday May 13
STE Session 2: Thursday May 14
OPR PAC MEETING
Thursday, February 5th
7:00 PM
Held in the STEM Lab or connect virtually via link: https://meet.google.com/rpe-bctr-nyv
Upcoming Events:
Restaurant Night at Crisp - Wednesday, January 28th
STEM Night (Grades 2 & 3) - Thursday, January 29th at 6PM
PAC Meeting - Thursday, February 5th at 7PM
SOHD Fundraiser - Friday, February 6th (Volunteers Needed!)
STEM Night (Grades 4 & 5) - Thursday, February 12th at 6PM
Pizza and Play Bingo - Friday, February 27th
PAC Meeting - Wednesday, March 4th
Broderick Gymnastics Fundraiser - Friday, March 13th
Spring Dance - Friday, March 20th
Restaurant Night at Chateau - Thursday, March 26th
LG Martial Arts Fundraiser- Friday, March 27th
PAC Meeting - Thursday, April 9th
Restaurant Night at Jalapenos - Wednesday, April 15th
PAC Meeting - Thursday, May 7th
SOHD Fundraiser - Friday, May 15th (Volunteers Needed!)
Fun Run and Spring Festival - Saturday, May 16th
Field Day - Friday, June 5th (tentatively)
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:
2024 Calendar Year Total - $1182.30
January 2025 - $210
February 2025 - $108.60
March 2025 - $128.40
April 2025 - $88.20
May 2025 - $192.00
June 2025 - $111.60
July 2025 - $174.60
August 2025 - $196.80
September 2025 - $134.10
October 2025 - $192.30
November 2025 - $151.50
December 2025 - $100.80
2025 Calendar Year Total - $1788.90
Walpole Public Schols 2026-2027 Calendar
OPR ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
WPS ELEMENTARY STUDENT & PARENT HANDBOOK/CODE OF CONDUCT
Walpole Elementary School Homework Guidelines
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.
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 2 to June 12. Registration is open Friday, January 9th through Monday, January 26th.
For more information, visit:
Lesson Program Information Page
To register, visit:
For questions, email:
Tim Fleming (K-12 Music Coordinator) at tfleming@walpole.k12.ma.us
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
Email: dbarner@walpole.k12.ma.us
99 Old Post Road
East Walpole, MA 02032
508-660-7219
Arrival: 8:50-9:00 AM
Tardy Bell is at 9:00 AM. (Students must be signed in at the office by an adult if tardy.)
Early Release Dismissal: 12:25 (Dismissal begins at 12:19)
Dismissal: 3:30 PM (Dismissal begins at 3:24 PM)
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.
