This week, our PreK-5 students took part in the OV Holiday Gift Shop, where they visited tables of donated items and chose gifts for the important people in their lives.
A big thank-you to our NHS and NJHS students, who volunteered their time to help younger students select and wrap their gifts. We also want to recognize our OV staff, who helped guide students through the experience and supported the event from start to finish.
All items at the bazaar were free, made possible through generous donations from staff, community members, and older students. We’re grateful for the kindness that helps keep this tradition going.
Thank you to everyone who contributed and helped make the holiday season a little brighter for our OV students!










Join us on December 20th from 12-4 PM at Apple Creek Golf Course for a fun-filled fundraiser supporting our Girls Varsity Basketball team!
Enjoy $15 wings, raffles, and a bake sale sponsored by the OV Booster Club.
All proceeds go directly to the team.
Thank you for supporting our athletes!

Thursday, December 18th, 2025
• 6:00 PM – Transportation/Facilities Committee Meeting, Conference Room
• 7:00 PM – Board of Education Meeting, Mirrored Cafeteria

Last week, our OV seniors spent time with our PreK students helping them write their letters to Santa and coloring together. It was a fun and enjoyable activity that brought the groups together, and our youngest Vikings loved having “big kids” to work with.
Thank you to our seniors for spending time with our PreK students and helping make the experience memorable!











The 2025-26 SKI NY “Kids Ski Free” Passport Program is now open for families interested in skiing this winter. The program allows 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders to ski free (with a paid adult ticket) at participating ski areas across New York State, up to two times per mountain.
A few key details:
• Valid seven days a week, with some holiday blackout dates
• A $45 processing fee applies per application
• Passports are digital and can be shown on your phone or printed
• Adult lift ticket purchase is required (rentals and lessons not included)
For full program information, participating ski areas, blackout dates, and the application link, visit:
https://www.iskiny.com/.../ski-ny-ski-ride-passport-program
Last week, our young Vikings enjoyed a Cozy Christmas Reading event in the classroom. Families were invited to stop in, pick a book, and read together while celebrating the season.
Hot cocoa, cookies, and plenty of festive cheer made the afternoon a warm and relaxed way to share stories and spend time together.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this a special reading time for our students!










This morning’s program began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a patriotic song, followed by students sharing the weather, lunch menu, and our Kids with Character focus on empathy. Students also added some smiles to the morning with jokes and fun facts.
We celebrated two birthdays today: Happy birthday, Everett and Noelle!
Our OV’s Got Talent segment featured two great performances:
• Maggie and Aurora sang “Thank God," and
• Second graders read from their newly published class book, "Believe in Yourself and Follow Your Dreams," with each student sharing their own page.
It was a great way to start our Friday!










We’re excited to share this year’s Countdown to Winterfest Spirit Days! Student Government has created separate spirit-day themes for Middle School and High School. Students are welcome to choose from either list or mix and match throughout the week.
The Countdown begins Tuesday -- get ready to show your OV spirit!


In Spanish class, students are teaming up to build festive gingerbread houses, and then describe their creations in Spanish. After decorating with candy and icing, students will use descriptive vocabulary to share what they made.
A fun and tasty way to practice language skills. Thank you to Ms. Cantrell for planning this sweet learning activity!
Seniors who want this year's OV yearbook with their name plate on the cover must place their order by January 31st.
• Order online using the link: https://rebrand.ly/no1b1hm
• Use school code 5405 when prompted

Here’s what’s happening at the library! From community programs and children’s activities to crafts and games, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Plan a visit to the Otselic Valley Public Library this December -- open Monday-Friday, 3-7 pm -- and join the fun!

Due to weather conditions, Otselic Valley Central School District will operate on a two-hour delay today, Thursday, December 11th.
• No AM BOCES
• No Breakfast
Please review the revised schedule, and travel safely and allow extra time when traveling.
Otselic Valley alumni are invited to take the court for a fun basketball matchup!
• January 10th
• 6:00 PM Start Time (Warm-ups at 5:30 PM)
• Otselic Valley Gym
Admission:
• Adults: $2
• Students: $1
• Children 5 and under: FREE
Team Colors:
• Odd graduating years -- wear BLACK
• Even graduating years -- wear YELLOW/GOLD
Want to participate?
Sign up on the Otselic Valley Sports Boosters Facebook page!
Come cheer on our alumni and enjoy a night of basketball fun.

The auditorium was packed as OV families gathered for a festive evening of music and holiday cheer! Students in grades PreK–3 each performed a song on stage, and then invited their families to join them for a second round of singing together!
The songs performed were:
• PreK - Little Elves
• Kindergarten - Oh, Christmas Tree
• 1st Grade - Up On the Housetop
• 2nd Grade - Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
• 3rd Grade - Winter Wonderland
It was a wonderful evening celebrating music, fun and family.
A special thank-you to Mr. Scott, for directing the performance, and to all staff who helped our young Vikings with the songs and motions.










Otselic Valley Central School will dismiss at 12:00 PM today, December 10th, due to weather conditions.
There will be no PM BOCES, and all after-school activities are cancelled.
Please use caution when traveling.

|| Student Government Forum & Quarterly Meeting
Last week, representatives from our Student Government shared updates on their work so far this year. President Kenzie Reandeau reviewed the current Incentive Program and explained the new procedure for late assignments. Student representative Josie Guernsey spoke about recent Board of Education conversations, including transportation for shared sports.
Students also heard updates from the Winterfest Committee, who shared plans for Spirit Days, Class Challenge, and a variety of Winterfest Games later this month.
Superintendent Brian Collier spoke with students about the ongoing leadership transition and announced that Mr. Wentworth will become the Dean of Student Management in January. He also thanked Interim MS/HS Principal Deb Kurtz for her dedication and support during the transition.
Thank you to our student leaders for representing their peers and helping shape the OV community!










Third graders brought the classic story of A Christmas Carol to life for the 4th grade, performing as Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come.
They did a great job with their Reader’s Theater performance and are excited to see the full production come to life in person at The Cider Mill Stage in Endicott.










Our school and community are coming together to support a local family who recently experienced a house fire and have lost all of their belongings.
For those wishing to contribute, the following items would be especially helpful at this time:
New underwear and socks:
• Men’s Sizes: M and XL
• Women’s Sizes: M and L
• Girl’s Sizes: 7
• Toddler Boy: socks and diapers (size 5)
New clothing and shoes:
• Men’s Sizes: M and XL, Pants: 40/30, 30/30, Shoes: 8, 8 1/2, 12
• Women’s Sizes: M/L/XL, pants size 10 and 14, shoes size 7, 8
• Girls Sizes: 6-7, shoe size 12
• Toddler Boy Sizes: 24 months clothing
• Laundry detergent
• Basic toiletries and hygiene items
• Monetary donations are also welcome
Donations can be dropped off at the school’s main office. We ask that items be donated by this Friday (December 12th) so they can be delivered to the family.
A GoFundMe page has also been created for those who would like to donate online: https://gofund.me/f98ad043f
If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact:
• Jordan Hicks, School Social Worker: 315-653-7218 Ext. 5118, jklein@ovcs.org
• Stacie Morse, School Nurse: 315-653-7218 Ext. 4006, smorse@ovcs.org
Any support, whether a donation or simply sharing the information, is appreciated. Thank you for helping one of our families during a difficult time. We are grateful for the generosity and strength of our community.
This morning’s program began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a patriotic song. Students then shared the weather, lunch menu, and our Kids with Character reminder about gratitude, along with jokes and fun facts to start the day with smiles.
We then celebrated Birthdays:
Happy birthday to Charlie, Orrin, Dinella, Lilly, and Jakobie!
Recognizing Gratitude
To finish, we recognized our OV Stars who have shown gratitude in the classroom. Thank you for demonstrating kindness and appreciation in our school!
Our Morning Program is always a fun and meaningful way to start our Friday together at OV!










