Orchard Park Academy

Important Dates

Thursday October 15th-Wednesday October 21st: "Falling for Reading" Book Fair

Monday October 19th: Early Release day

Monday October 19th: WPS District Showcase at WHS: 5-7pm

Monday October 19th: MS Boys basketball tryouts 5-6:30 at Ranum

Tuesday October 20th: Picture Day

Wednesday October 21st: Coffee with the Principal 8:30am

Wednesday October 21st: PSAT for level 8

Wednesday October 21st: Skate City Night 6-8pm

Thursday October 22nd: Candy Contest Candy due today

Thursday October 22nd: Band Concert 5:30pm

Monday October 26th: No School: Non-student contact day

Monday October 26th: Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30-7:30pm

Thursday October 29th: Trick or Treat Street 3:45-4:45

Friday October 30th: Student of the Month Breakfast

Mr. Neal Wolcott: Instructional Coach

My name is Neal Wolcott, and I have proudly served Westminster Public Schools for more than 25 years. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of roles, each of which has strengthened my passion for supporting students, teachers, and schools.

This year, I am excited to serve as a District Instructional Coach and look forward to partnering with the staff at OPA as we work together to meet the needs of every student and promote meaningful learning experiences.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, singing in a choir, and playing the piano.

Mr. Paul-Lawrence Whalen: Art teacher

Hello, I am Mr. Whalen. I love teaching at OPA, it is my 8th year. I did my undergrad at the University of Kansas and received my Masters in Education from the University of Colorado Denver. In my spare time I enjoy snow skiing, Jet Skiing, painting, reading,watching sports and spending time with my son (1 years old) and my daughter (4 years old.).

📚From the desk of Mrs. Frates🍎

🐾 OPA Friday Family Message: Growing Together, Achieving More!

Dear OPA Families,

What an incredible week at Orchard Park Academy! I want to begin by extending a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our families who attended Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday! Your participation, conversations, and commitment to your child's education helped make our conferences a tremendous success. When families and teachers work together, amazing things happen for kids!

📚 Raising the Bar and Watching Our Pumas SOAR!

As I walk through our classrooms, I continue to be incredibly impressed by what I am seeing! Our students are embracing our new HMH Literacy curriculum with determination, curiosity, and excitement. They are also working hard in enVision Math, tackling challenging concepts, developing problem-solving skills, and showing us what they are capable of accomplishing.

I am equally proud of our amazing teachers! Every day, I see them working tirelessly to deliver high-quality instruction, engage students in meaningful learning, and raise expectations for every child. Learning something new isn't always easy, but our teachers and students are showing that perseverance, practice, and a positive attitude lead to growth!

❤️ It Takes a Village — And YOU Are Part of Ours!

At OPA, our PersonBrain philosophy reminds us that children flourish when they feel safe, significant, respected, and connected. Your encouragement at home, conversations about school, help with homework, and belief in your child's abilities make a tremendous difference.

Please continue celebrating the small victories, encouraging your child when learning feels challenging, and reminding them that they may not know how to do something YET, but with practice and perseverance, they WILL grow!

Thank you for trusting us, supporting our teachers, and being such an important part of your child's educational journey.

We are raising the bar, growing stronger, and proving that when school and home work together, there is no limit to what our Pumas can accomplish! ❤️🐾

Have a wonderful weekend, OPA families!

With Puma Pride,
Mindy Frates
Principal, Orchard Park Academy