The Student Government has designated next week (October 25-29) as HOMECOMING. There are several activities planned throughout the week, including Spirit Days. Prizes will be available for several of the days so dig in those closets for some cool ideas and join in the fun!

When a kick off event is launched, organizers hope for things: Did the content get through? Are students inspired and changed? Is something special happening at Otselic Valley? And more specifically, can Arts in Education programming support social-emotional learning in meaningful ways? After last week's swirl of ideas, art, and heart, the answer is yes, yes, yes, and yes. The Arts in Education team carefully crafted a schedule that gave Vikings a variety of experiences during the kick-off for Arts in Education and Character Education at O V. Recording artist Jared Campbell was in concert and conversation with students of all ages. Book champion and school librarian John Schu turned time with Pre-K - 8th grade students into a high-energy festival of book surprise and appreciation. Poet and novelist Rachel Guido DeVries empowered older students to become thoughtful poets themselves. Painting with partners, painting with unexpected materials (shave cream!), dancing, and puppetry were all on schedule. And everywhere in the building, creativity was rising.

[EDITED: AFTER THE BELL IS NOW EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN JANUARY DUE TO COVID-19.] After the Bell, an after school series of fun, optional classes at Otselic Valley, has a new start date: Session 1 will begin on October 26, 2021.  (If in three weeks we are still experiencing high numbers of absent students, we will likely postpone again until January.) Also note that Session 1 of After the Bell is expected to meet 6 times this fall (see the article for dates). SOME CLASSES STILL HAVE OPENINGS, and others have wait lists. You can sign up by emailing Mrs. Richards at [email protected].

Due to the recent increase in positive COVID-19 cases in the building and the number of students currently quarantined or absent from school due to illness, Otselic Valley will have a virtual day of instruction on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1. The school building and offices will be closed to ensure deep cleaning in all classrooms, offices, and general spaces can occur. ALSO: NO after school activities or games on 9/20 and 10/1, NO BOCES for O V students on 10/1, NO lunch or breakfast on 10/1 (neither at school or delivered). Teachers are reviewing remote learning instructions for Friday with students, and devices are being sent home with students today (Thursday, 9/30). The After the Bell Session 1 start date has also been changed to 10/26. 

The district learned this afternoon that a student tested positive for COVID-19.  The student was last in the building September 27th and was in contact with students and staff.  Students and staff that were contact traced have been contacted by the school to be quarantined. At this time, the County Department of Health is aware of the student, and the district will continue to cooperate and coordinate with the County Department of Health. Please note that the federal and state privacy laws restrict us from disclosing or confirming any personally identifiable information. We cannot identify anyone who has tested positive or release any additional information. The district has been thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting all portions of our school building that are in use by students and staff on a daily basis in accordance with guidance from the New York State Department of Health and the CDC.

Families, please review the UPDATED digital flier with instructions and key information about COVID-19 and Otselic Valley. Highlights: Medicating symptoms; diagnosing COVID-19; testing or vaccination requirements applicable ONLY to students participating in high-risk, indoor sports only, not the whole school; contact info and fax number for Stacie Morse, RN if you have questions. (Click "Read more," place your cursor anywhere on the new page, then scroll up to see sections of the digital flier in their entirety.)