Otselic Valley Central School District

|| Pre-K Puts Empathy Into Action! On Monday, our Pre-K students gathered in the Mirrored Cafeteria to share all of the incredible social-emotional learning they’ve been working on in class. They kicked off the afternoon with a performance of their songs, including the Empathy Song -- and demonstrated calming techniques like deep breathing that they’ve been practicing. After the performance, they rolled up their sleeves to create their very own sensory bottles! Students chose from a colorful mix of pom-poms, glitter, beads, and more! They then combined their materials with glue, water, and a few drops of food coloring to create something calming, creative, and completely their own. It was a joyful and meaningful afternoon filled with songs, mindfulness, and hands-on learning. We’re so proud of our Pre-K students for the kindness and care they show every day!

|| Exploring Culture Through Cooking! Fourth grade students in our Spanish class recently stepped into the kitchen to make arepas de queso colombianas (Colombian cheese arepas). These hands-on lessons help students connect with the world in fun and meaningful ways. The kids loved the experience, and many of them are excited to try making arepas at home. If your student wants to recreate the recipe, P.A.N. pre-cooked cornmeal, a key ingredient, is available at Walmart! We’re proud of our young chefs for being open to new experiences and cultures!

COMMUNITY SUPPORT for OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT! Join the South Otselic Fire Department for their Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Sunday, April 13th from 8am to 12pm at the Otselic Valley School Cafeteria! || Enjoy pancakes, home fries, sausage & biscuits, coffee, juice, and more -- all while supporting our local fire and EMS volunteers. || Free-will donation at the door. Let’s show our appreciation for the incredible people who serve our community every day. We hope to see you there!

|| Free Bike Giveaway for Madison County Residents! Do you or someone you know need a bike for transportation, exercise, or just for fun? Community Bikes is offering FREE bikes to eligible Madison County residents! Bike Distribution Days: - Sunday, May 4 – Hamilton, NY - Saturday, May 17 – Oneida, NY | | Eligibility: Madison County resident Eligible for Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, SSD, or other cash assistance Have other demonstrated needs or special circumstances || Pre-registration is required, and recipients must be present to receive a bike! Apply online: https://www.communitybikes.org/receive-a-bike Print-out application: https://shorturl.at/yZ0Ug Learn more: https://www.communitybikes.org/ Help us spread the word so more people can get the wheels they need!

|| OVCS Family Resource: Helping Your Child Transition from Preschool Special Education to Kindergarten Is your child moving from Preschool Special Education to Kindergarten? The Southeast Family and Community Engagement Center (FACE) is offering a FREE virtual workshop to support families during this important milestone. In this session, you’ll learn: - How the transition process works - The differences between CPSE and CSE services - How to be an active member of your child’s transition team - The purpose of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) Choose a virtual session that works best for you: - April 16th • 12–2 PM Register: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/q8sxwgs - April 23rd • 6–8 PM Register: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/686mbp4

|| Reminder for Families! There will be no morning programs on April 11, 18, 25, and May 2. We’ll see you again on May 9th!

|| Seventh Grade Gets Cooking! Our seventh graders took a break from the usual routine to whip up magic pizza dough using Greek yogurt and self-rising flour! From rolling out the dough to adding toppings, they created some delicious (and unique!) masterpieces.

|| A Special Message from First Grade to Third Grade! In support of our amazing third graders who will be taking their very first state test next week, our thoughtful first graders put together a short video to cheer you on! You've worked hard, you're ready, and there's no doubt -- you’re going to rock this test! Watch the video here: https://rb.gy/0ebgd3

|| 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!