Otselic Valley Central School District

}} A Sweet Thank You! We want to give a big shoutout to Ms. Cantrell, Mr. Wentworth, and their amazing students for baking Teddy Roosevelt’s favorite cookies -- Fat Rascals -- and creating wonderful brochures about Roosevelt for our recent community budget forums. Attendees loved the treats and were so impressed by the students’ creativity and hard work! Thank you for bringing history to life and showing such great community spirit.

|| We’re so proud of Otselic Valley’s own Mr. Joseph Gross, who was featured by WSKG Public Media as one of 14 outstanding educators during Teacher Appreciation Week! Thank you, Mr. Gross, for the joy, creativity, and care you bring to your classroom every day -- you make a difference for our students and school community! (Originally shared from WSKG Public Media)

|| Throwback Thursday -- 1977 Edition! We had a request to find photos from 1977, and we delivered! Enjoy this Throwback Thursday look at the 1977 Girls’ Softball Team and the Varsity Baseball Team from the Otselic Valley "Reflections" Yearbook. Girls’ Softball: Row 1: Caroline Martin, Margaret Knickerbocker Row 2: Kim Wentworth, Martha Fox Row 3: Cindy Rounds, Lori Murray Row 4: Lori Brown, Kay Wentworth, Ann Hagen Varsity Baseball: Row 1: Jeff Wood, Jeff Rivenburgh, Mark Tefft Row 2: Mike Burt, Wayne Law, Tom Smith, David Coye Row 3: Coach Loomis, Jim Thorpe, Alan Kenyon, Doug Dutton, Herbert Neal, Richard Martin, Chris Boetcker

|| Food Partnership Helps Fill Our Cupboards at OV! Last week, our Liberty Partnerships Program teacher, Linda Gorton, made a trip to the Neighborhood Center in Vestal, NY, a nonprofit food recovery program serving 16 schools in Broome County. Thanks to her efforts, she brought back a carload of food for Otselic Valley students! The center partners with local businesses like Walmart, Target, Freihofer, Entenmann’s, and Starbucks to provide bread, snacks, frozen food, canned goods, hygiene items, and more. We’re proud to be the only school in Chenango County currently working with this amazing program! Ms. Gorton shared that this partnership could open the door to providing food and supplies right here in school for our students. We’re excited about the possibilities and grateful for her dedication to supporting our students beyond the classroom.

|| Movie Night Fundraiser this Friday -- Grades 2-5! The Class of 2030 and 2031 are hosting a Movie Night on Friday, May 9th from 3-5 PM in the library! Students will get to watch The Lion King or The Sandlot and enjoy pizza and snacks. || $5 entry includes: • A slice of pizza • A pack of chips • A drink Additional snacks, candy, and drinks will be available for $1 each. Please note: parents can send in permission slips and money up until Friday morning! || Parents: Please plan to pick up students at the library entrance.

|| Happy National School Nurse Day! Today we celebrate Mrs. Stacie Morse for her dedication, care, and the vital role she plays in supporting the health and well-being of our students and staff every day. As Otselic Valley’s school nurse, Mrs. Morse provides first aid and health assessments, coordinates care plans for students with health conditions, educates our school community on public health, administers medications, maintains health records, supports student athletes, and partners with families -- all while staying informed through professional organizations and the NYS Department of Health. An Otselic Valley graduate herself, Mrs. Morse is truly committed to serving our students, families, and staff. We are so grateful for all you do!

|| Celebrating Our Amazing OV Staff! In honor of Teacher Appreciation Day today, our PTO treated Otselic Valley staff to a delicious catered lunch today -- thank you to Kandi's Kitchen LLC for the incredible food! || We’re so grateful for everything our teachers and staff do each day to support and inspire our students.

|| Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! Today, we pause to honor the teachers who go above and beyond every day for our students, families, and school community. || Thank you for your dedication, your patience, your creativity, and your heart. Otselic Valley is stronger because of you! We’re grateful for all the ways you inspire, support, and make a difference -- today and every day!

Mrs. Thorp’s 4th grade class is bringing the rainforest to life -- right inside their classroom! Students are learning about rainforest ecosystems and adding something new to their classroom each day, based on what they’ve discovered. Their project will culminate in an open house on June 20th, where students will proudly serve as tour guides. Stay tuned for more photos and updates as their rainforest comes to life!

|| Join Us for a Community Budget Presentation! Otselic Valley Superintendent Brian Collier and Business Official Chad Walls will be hosting two Community Budget Presentations to provide an overview of the proposed 2025-26 school budget. This is a great opportunity to ask questions, share your input, and learn more ahead of the official Budget Hearing in May. || Event Details: • Tuesday, May 6th at 6:00 PM – South Otselic Firehouse • Wednesday, May 7th at 6:00 PM – Georgetown Town Hall Light refreshments will be provided. || Don’t forget: The Annual Budget Vote & Board Member Election will take place on Tuesday, May 20th, 2025 from 12-9 PM at the Otselic Valley Central School. Your voice matters, and we hope to see you there!

|| It’s Teacher Appreciation Week! This week we’re celebrating the incredible teachers who work tirelessly to support, inspire, and guide our students. Thank you, Otselic Valley educators, for everything you do, both in the classroom and beyond.

|| Check Out Our 2nd Graders’ Amazing Animal Habitat Dioramas! Our second graders have been learning all about animal habitats, and they’ve put their knowledge (and creativity!) to work by building incredible shoebox dioramas! Students researched their habitats at school and then brought their ideas to life at home with help from their families. The final projects are now proudly on display in the classroom! || We’re so proud of their hard work and imagination.

|| Shoutout to Our School Lunch Heroes! Today we’re celebrating the amazing cafeteria staff at Otselic Valley! From serving up hot meals to brightening our students' days, they are true heroes behind the scenes. Thank you for all you do to keep OV fed, smiling, and ready to learn! If you see one of our lunch heroes today, be sure to give them a big THANK YOU!

|| Throwback Thursday at Otselic Valley! Today we're taking a look back at the 1998 New Horizons yearbook, featuring the Honor Society and Junior Honor Society members. The yearbook’s theme says it best: "Hold on to the Future. Keep the Past in Mind." We're proud to celebrate the achievements of our past students, and to honor the tradition of excellence that continues at OV today!

|| It’s National School Principals’ Day! Shoutout to our amazing principals at Otselic Valley! • Thank you, Mrs. Richards and Mrs. Barber-Breese, for all you do to support our students, staff, and families every day. From leading with heart to showing up for every big and small moment, we appreciate you more than you know!

Reminder for OV Families! There will be no morning program this Friday, May 2nd. We’ll see you next week on May 9th

| Last Chance to Nominate for the OVCS Wall of Fame! There’s still time to recognize an outstanding individual for the 2025 Wall of Fame! Whether it’s an inspiring graduate, a dedicated former employee, or a community leader who has made a difference, we want to hear from you. || Nomination Deadline: May 1, 2025 || Download your nomination form here: https://rb.gy/wtj6z9 Completed forms can be mailed to: Wall of Fame Committee, Otselic Valley Central School PO Box 161, South Otselic, NY 13155 Let’s honor those who have helped shape Otselic Valley with their dedication, leadership, and service. Don’t miss the chance to celebrate their legacy!

|| Throwback Thursday - Kindergarten Style! We’re taking it back to 1960 with this snapshot from the "Centralian" Yearbook featuring the Kindergarten class and their teacher, Mrs. Knickerbocker. It’s always a joy to look back and see where our stories began.

|| Happy Administrative Professionals Day! April 23, 2025 Today we celebrate the incredible administrative professionals who help keep Otselic Valley running smoothly every single day. From answering calls and supporting staff to organizing behind-the-scenes details that make everything possible ... your hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed. Thank you for all that you do to support our students, families, staff, and community. We are so grateful for you!

Aesop’s Fables Came to Life at Otselic Valley! Our students were treated to a fantastic performance by The REV Theatre Co., who brought eight classic fables and parables to the stage, with a modern twist! From The Tortoise and the Hare to The Lion and the Mouse, students learned timeless life lessons through rhyme and storytelling. The performance wrapped up with a fun Q&A session, and our curious learners still had a few questions left for the cast ... so we’re writing them a letter! We can’t wait to hear back. Huge thanks to The REV for sharing this creative experience with our students -- they had a blast!