Photos will be taken in the MPR first thing in the morning.
7:45 a.m. — BOCES students
8:00 a.m. — Senior class photo
After those two, classes will be called down to the MPR one at a time.
Boys and girls modified soccer photos will also be taken that morning — athletes, be ready.
Order forms and payment are due that day. Please send them in with your student — we can't process orders after photos are finished.
Our own Mrs. Catalina "Katy" Charles has been named School Librarian of the Year by the New York Library Association. This is a statewide honor, and one that recognizes something genuinely unusual about how our library works.
The Otselic Valley Public Library sits inside our school building. Mrs. Charles serves as library manager alongside library clerk Amy Guernsey, and the doors are open to students and the wider community alike: books, computers and internet access, technology help, programs for every age, and local history and genealogy resources.
"I have always believed that a library is so much more than a room filled with books," Mrs. Charles said in her acceptance remarks. "It is a place where students can discover who they are, explore new ideas, create, take risks, ask questions, and know that they belong. I'm especially proud that our library has grown beyond the walls of the school to serve our entire community."
Since district voters approved the public library in May 2023, Otselic Valley families have had access to nearly 500,000 volumes through the Four County Library System, plus ebooks and audiobooks on Libby.
Mrs. Charles will be celebrated at NYLA's Inaugural Reception during the Annual Conference in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Nov. 6.
Please join us as we congratulate Mrs. Charles!
#OVPRIDE
|| OV’s Isabella Neal named SFCU Student Ambassador
Otselic Valley Junior Isabella Neal has stepped into a new role this year as a student ambassador for Sidney Federal Credit Union, helping introduce the credit union to the OV community and connecting classmates with financial resources.
"I thought it would be fun to get involved with an outside thing that could help our community," she said. "Getting involved with SFCU allows us to get more involved with banking.”
She said SFCU attended OV CSD’s Open House, and plans to get more involved with the district to help with financial planning and education.
The partnership arrives as New York State begins phasing in new personal finance instruction for students in grades K–12 this school year.
When asked about the future of the SFCU partnership, Neal said she hopes the program keeps growing, and that it eventually reaches the district's youngest students. Neal plans to continue as ambassador next year, and will help select the student who takes over the role after she graduates.
CHENTAC, the Chenango Threat Advisory Committee, will be hosting two local presentations for parents, guardians, and community members. The presentations will be facilitated by the FBI and New York State Police and will focus on the hidden digital dangers facing youth today, including the potential risks and threats associated with their online activity.
The presentations will be held on October 6 at the Norwich High School Auditorium and October 15 at the Bainbridge-Guilford High School Auditorium. We encourage parents, guardians, and community members to attend and learn more about how we can help keep our students safe in an increasingly digital world.
Otselic Valley Central School is now looking to hire Winter and Spring Coaches. If you’re passionate about education, athletics, and students, we’d love to hear from you!
We currently have openings for:
- Girls Varsity Basketball
- Boys Varsity Baseball
- Girls Varsity Softball
- Boys Modified Baseball
- Girls Modified Softball
All interested can contact the District Office at 315-653-7218 or email Mrs. Burpee at GBurpee@ovcs.org
🎉 And We Are OFF! 🎉
OV had a great first 2 days of school! Our Vikings are officially back in the building, and we couldn’t be more excited for another great year!
Here’s to a fantastic school year filled with learning, growth, new experiences, and plenty of #OVPride!
Welcome back, Vikings!
#OVPRIDE
|| Open House
Thank you for attending our open house celebration on Tuesday. We appreciate all of the vendors, staff, and students who helped make the event a success!
#OVPRIDE
OV Board of Education Member Opening
-Otselic Valley Central School has an opening for a Board of Education Member. Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest to the district office for consideration by the Board of Education. Per NY Education Law, this will be a partial one-year term that will run through our next annual election (May 18, 2027).
Eligibility Requirements (per NY Ed Law):
-Must be able to read and write.
-Must be a qualified voter of the district; that is, a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age or older.
-Must be and have been a resident (but need not be a taxpayer) of the district for a continuous and uninterrupted period of at least one year.
-May not have been removed from any school district office within the preceding year.
-May not reside with another member of the same school board as a member of the same family.
-May not be a current employee of the school district.
-May not simultaneously hold another incompatible public office.
Training
-Once chosen, the new member will be required by New York State law to fulfill mandatory training within their first year of service. This includes fiscal oversight and school board governance training.
All interested can contact the District Clerk at 315-653-7218 or email Mrs. Burpee at GBurpee@ovcs.org
Deadline
-Wednesday, September 16, 2026, by 12:00 p.m.
The 1st Friday of each month the Community Cupboard will be hosting a Mobile Food Pantry at the First Baptist Church.
The event is open to everyone and begins at 4:00pm and goes until all the resources are given away.
|| Shining Stars
Kimmy Miron-Blanco (number 11), Isabella Sayles (number 16), and Addison Palmer (number 6) helped the Sherburne-Earlville Varsity Girls Soccer team to a runner-up finish in their season-opening tournament!
A special congratulations to Kimmy, who was named to the All-Tournament Team after contributing a goal and an assist throughout the tournament.
We are proud of all three of our students for representing themselves and our district while competing with their SE teammates. Great job, girls!
|| Shining Stars
Tommy Kenyon, Wyatt Fuller, and Oliver Marshall helped the Sherburne-Earlville Varsity Boys Soccer team to a runner-up finish in their season-opening tournament!
A special congratulations to Tommy, who was named to the All-Tournament Team after contributing multiple scoring opportunities throughout the tournament.
We are proud of all three of our students for representing themselves and our district while competing with their SE teammates. Great job!
We kicked off the year with our Opening Day Welcome Back assembly. Superintendent Brian Collier thanked everyone for making this day possible, reviewed our Strategic Plan and Focus Areas for the year, discussed planning for the upcoming Capital Project, and reminded us that at the heart of everything we do is building relationships with our students and families.
We also celebrated the dedication of our staff:
• 5 Years of Service: Frieda Koornstra, Cassie Manchester, Caleb Prutch, Lisa Raymond, Scott Allen, and Melinda Ramsey
• 10 Years of Service: Joe Gross and Jess Doroshenko
• 30 Years of Service: Christine Kalin
• 35 Years of Service: Gail Burpee
Longest Serving Members
• Faculty - Lori Youngs 33 Years of Service
• Staff - Gail Burpee 35 Years of Service
And we gave a warm OV welcome to our new hires: Noah Somers (Instrumental Music), Jack Chesebro (Vocal Music), Jenny Valente (Director of Special Education), Zach Meseck (Public Information Specialist), Blane Rothwell (Bus Driver), and Esperanza Ponce (Bus Aide).
It was wonderful to be together again, honoring our staff, welcoming new faces, and preparing for another great year at OV! Here’s to a great 2026-27 school year!
Families are invited to attend the WildLife Festival at the New York Energy Zone on Saturday, September 12 from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM.
This free event features hands-on activities for kids, including arts and crafts, live entertainment, food trucks, and bounce houses throughout the day.
The event will be held at the John S. Dyson New York Energy Zone in Utica, as well as the Utica Zoo.
|| Reminder: Registration for modified sports is still open!
Registration is still available for boys modified soccer and girls modified soccer. Any 7th, 8th, or 9th grade students interested in participating in soccer this upcoming school year are encouraged to sign up. We would love to have you join the team! Modified soccer registration closes on the first day of school.
First practice will be held on 9/10 at 3pm
Register here: https://students.arbitersports.com/organizations/otselic-valley-central-school-district-athletics-7-12
A big shout-out to our incredible custodial staff for all of their hard work this summer in preparing our building for the upcoming school year!
From deep cleaning classrooms and hallways to shining the floors and making the entire building look like new, their dedication and attention to detail have made a huge difference.
Thank you for all that you do to help ensure OV is ready to welcome our students and staff back for another great school year!
Join us Tuesday, September 8th from 3:30pm - 6:30pm for our annual Open House!
• Meet your child’s teachers
• Tour the building & find lockers
• Get class schedules and tech info
• 6th Grade Orientation at 5:30pm in the MPR
• Enjoy food from Kandie’s Kitchen, and more!
We can’t wait to welcome you back and kick off a great school year!
Thursday, September 3rd, 2026
• 10:00 AM – Policy Committee Meeting, Conference Room
Thursday, September 17th, 2026
• 5:00 PM – Policy Committee Meeting, Conference Room
• 6:00 PM – Board of Education Meeting, Mirrored Cafeteria
On Saturday, Sept. 19, from 8 a.m. to noon, at both the Norwich and Endwell offices, Progressive Dental will once again open its doors to the community during Progressive Dental's 31st Doctors With a Heart Day.
Services provided include x-rays, cleanings, exams, fluoride treatments, fillings, extractions, and minor appliance or prosthetic adjustments. Everything is completely free of charge & you do not need to be a patient of record.
The event is first come, first served, and all ages are welcome.
