Otselic Valley Central School District

|| Gaining Real-World Experience in Our Cafeteria! Senior Melody Cross-Barnes (on the right) is getting hands-on work experience by helping out in the Otselic Valley cafeteria! Under the guidance of our Food Service Director, Barbie Hillman, Melody is learning valuable skills while contributing to our school community. Work-based learning opportunities like this help students build confidence, gain practical experience, and explore future career paths. Great job, Melody!

|| March Madness Fun at OV! Grades 3-5 wrapped up March with an afternoon full of exciting games, teamwork, and lots of laughter! Students kicked off the fun with a life-sized game of Hungry, Hungry Hippo, then took on the crawl challenge to half court after watching their teachers demonstrate. The energy kept going with freeze dance, a balloon popping relay, and the blindfold toss! What a fantastic way to send off March!

|| A Magical Theatre Experience for Our Youngest Students! Our PreK-2 students had an unforgettable time watching The REV Theatre Co. present The Fisherman and His Wife -- a heartwarming tale about gratitude, contentment, and the dangers of unchecked wishes! The students were completely engaged as they followed the story of a kind fisherman, a magical talking flounder, and Isabel, whose endless wishes led to some surprising lessons. The cast was phenomenal -- bringing the story to life with energy, humor, and lots of audience participation! At the end of the play, students had the special opportunity to ask the actors questions, and they even learned that they could write letters to the cast with any more questions they had, and receive a response! A huge thank you to The REV Theatre Co. for bringing this incredible production to our school and to our young learners for being such an enthusiastic audience!

|| Welcome to the Kindergarten Dinosaur Museum! Our Kindergarten artists had an exciting adventure in art class with Ms. Lawrence! || They learned all about museums, read "Horse Museum" by Dr. Seuss, and then became gallery artists themselves! Using clay, paint, and collage, the students created their own artwork for a Dinosaur Museum. After setting up their exhibit, they practiced how to behave in a museum before visiting the museum to see their creations. While exploring the museum, students talked about their artwork with partners, picked their favorite pieces, and shared what they loved about them. It was a fantastic hands-on way to learn about art, museums, and creative expression!

|| A Heartfelt Thank You to Mrs. Kurtz! This morning, our elementary students came together to show their appreciation for Mrs. Kurtz, who has done an incredible job filling in as Elementary Principal. || To express their gratitude, students: -- Recited a special poem for Mrs. Kurtz -- Presented her with a book of beautiful masterpieces they created -- Sang a heartfelt Thank You song || Mrs. Kurtz was truly touched by the thoughtful gestures and shared that she’ll be back to visit! Thank you, Mrs. Kurtz, for your dedication, kindness, and leadership—you’ve made a lasting impact on OV! As we say thank you, we’re also excited to welcome back Mrs. Richards as our Elementary Principal next week!

|| Sixth Grade Chefs in Action! Our sixth-grade cooking class outdid themselves recently, whipping up a delicious dish -- spaghetti squash with homemade tomato sauce! Not only did they learn valuable cooking skills, but they also got to enjoy a healthy and tasty meal they made from scratch! Great job, young chefs!

|| March Star Awards – Celebrating Our Students! We’re proud to recognize our March Star Award recipients for grades 6-12! Each month, we celebrate students who exemplify important character traits, and March's theme was Leadership. || Congratulations to: - Fenner Kershaw - Caleb Loomis - Wyatt Eaton - Josie Guernsey - Emma Rooker - Eli Shoemaker - Bruce Shoemaker - Eleanor Swayze Epolito - Izzy Neal || Thank you for demonstrating what it means to be a leader at Otselic Valley! Keep up the great work!

|| SCIENCE NIGHT IS TONIGHT! The wait is over -- Science Night is finally here! Join us for an evening full of hands-on experiments, interactive activities, and scientific discovery. || When: Friday, March 21st, 2025 || Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM || Where: The Public Library We’re thrilled to welcome Jay Hubisz and his students from Syracuse University’s Physics Department as they bring science to life with exciting demonstrations! --Don’t miss out on this fun and educational night for all ages—see you soon!

|| Puppets, Stories, and Smiles! Our Pre-K students had an amazing time making their very own puppets in art class! -- But the fun didn’t stop there -- our 6th graders joined in by reading stories to the Pre-K students and their new puppet friends! -- The little ones even took some time to read to their own puppets, making for a magical and interactive storytelling experience. It was a wonderful way to bring creativity and literacy together -- with lots of smiles along the way! || A huge thank you to our 6th graders for being such wonderful reading buddies and role models!

|| Gertrude Hawk Chocolate Pickup! -- Your chocolate orders are ready for pickup! Come by the Concession Stand on Thursday, March 20th, from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM for easy pickup. Simply pull up and come to the concession window—we’ll have your chocolate ready for you! || Thank you for supporting this fundraiser, and enjoy your sweet treats!

|| How to Order Your 2024-25 Yearbook & Place an Ad! -- Yearbook Sales Deadline: May 1st -- Time is running out to order your Otselic Valley Yearbook and hold onto this year’s best moments forever! || HOW TO ORDER: https://yearbookordercenter.com/jobSearch/displayHome and use Code 5405 (click on "Order a Yearbook") || Give a Shoutout or Promote a Business with an Ad! -- We’re inviting families, supporters, and local businesses to place an ad in this year’s yearbook! Whether you want to celebrate a student or showcase your business, this is a great way to be part of something special. -- Ad Sales Deadline: April 10th -- Let’s fill these pages with love & support! || HOW TO PURCHASE AN AD: https://yearbookordercenter.com/jobSearch/displayHome and use Code 5405 (click on "Start Your Ad") || Any questions? Reach out to Mrs. Charles at ccharles@ovcs.org. -- Thank you for supporting our school and students!

|| Otselic Valley Girls’ Basketball All-Stars! Congratulations to our OV Vikings who were recognized as CCL All-Stars for the 2024-25 season! Your hard work and dedication on the court have made us proud! || Honorable Mentions -- Mackenzie Reandeau -- Gracie Rooker || Great job, Vikings!

|| Transportation Requests for Parochial Schools A reminder to families: requests for transportation to parochial schools for the 2025-2026 school year must be submitted by April 1st. These requests will then be reviewed by the Board of Education for approval. If you have any questions, please call 315-653-7218, ext. 4042 or email: gburpee@ovcs.org.

|| Otselic Valley Boys' Basketball All-Stars! Congratulations to our OV Vikings who were recognized as CCL All-Stars for the 2024-25 season! Your hard work and dedication on the court have made us proud! || Second Team: -Lukas Scheiferstein || Honorable Mentions: - Owen Davis - Caleb Loomis ||Great job, Vikings!

|| Healthy Kids Program Update! We are working hard to get everything ready for the Healthy Kids program and are excited to serve as many children and families as possible. While we're not quite ready to open yet, we are putting all of our efforts into getting everything set up and ready to go. We'll keep you updated and let you know as soon as we have a confirmed start date. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

|| Interested in Serving on the Board of Education? Nominating petitions for the Otselic Valley Board of Education will be available starting April 1st from the District Clerk’s office. || Requirements: -Collect at least 25 signatures -Submit a brief biography -Return completed petitions by 5:00 PM on April 21st (No late submissions accepted) For more details, visit our Board of Education page: https://www.ovcs.org/page/board-of-education Questions? Call 315-653-7218, ext. 4042 or email gburpee@ovcs.org.

|| Exploring Future Opportunities with New Vision Programs! Recently, our students had the opportunity to learn about the exciting career pathways available through the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES New Vision Programs, including Allied Health, Law and Government, and Education Professions. Ms. Hunter, the Law and Government instructor, visited during 7th period to share valuable insights about these programs and how they provide hands-on, real-world experiences for students interested in specialized career fields. The New Vision Programs are competitive, one-year programs for high school seniors and require an application process. They offer an immersive learning experience in professional settings, preparing students for future careers. A special thank you to our juniors—Skyler, Makenzie, Emma, and Adrian—for participating and taking the first step toward exploring their futures!

Stay Connected with Our Communication Guidelines! We want to make it easy for parents and community members to get the information you need! Our Communication Guidelines outline the best way to reach out about specific matters, ensuring your questions are answered efficiently. To initiate contact, call 315-653-7218 to be connected with the appropriate staff member. For the latest news, updates, and resources, download our school app and visit our website! Stay informed and never miss an important update. Download the app by scanning the QR code or by visiting your app store. Visit our website: https://www.ovcs.org.

|| State Testing is Coming Up! Attention OV families! State testing for ELA, Math, and Science (5th & 8th grades) is just around the corner for students in grades 3-8. Our students and teachers have been working hard to prepare, and we appreciate your support in helping them succeed! Here are some simple ways you can help your child be ready: -Ensure they get a good night's sleep. -Provide a healthy breakfast & snacks. -Arrive at school on time. -Encourage them to do their best! Testing can be stressful, but with positivity and preparation, we can make it a great experience for all students! Thank you for your support!

|| REMINDER: Spring Sports Sign-Ups Are Open! It’s time to sign up for spring sports! If you haven’t done so yet, please sign up as soon as possible so we can get accurate numbers for teams and planning. Click here to register: https://www.ovcs.org/page/athletics #springsports #OVAthletics #SignUpToday #OVCSD