Echoes from the Valley

Echoes from the Valley

MISSION STATEMENT: Educate and inspire every student to achieve excellence.

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Volume 49, Issue 2 November 2019www.ovcs.org

A Message from our Superintendent

HOMECOM ING

Mindful and intentional planning initiatives by the Board of Education and stakeholder groups throughout the Otselic Valley school commu-nity are positioning our District for short- and long-term success. You can directly participate in two ways.

• BY VOTING: A $1.6M referendum with no new tax impact will be placed before the community on Thursday, November 21, 2019 (voting from noon to 9:00 p.m.). This represents Phase 1 of a needs-based capital project which includes the installation of a 300 kilowatt generator at the South Otselic campus, the removal of underground diesel tanks in Georgetown and South Otselic and an unleaded tank in South Otselic, and the addi-tion of above-ground diesel and unleaded tanks including security fencing and surveillance.

• BY USING THOUGHTEXCHANGE: In an effort to provide a voice for everyone in the commu-nity, the District is using ThoughtExchange. This crowdsourcing link accessible through phones, tablets, and computers allows people to share ideas as they respond to questions posed by the

District. Broad participation extends the District’s ability to collaborate with all stakeholder groups through input and feedback. All are encouraged to share thoughts about the question posed, and also rate others’ thoughts. Because this is entirely anonymous, participants from throughout the community are empowered to both speak and listen to others. Honest opinions are encouraged, and you can write as much or as little as you want to.

When using the ThoughtExchange links found on our social media and the district website, you are first invited to share your opinion, then by clicking through the prompts you can rate responses already offered by others. Remember that a rating of “5” means you really agree with the statement, and a “1” means you do not agree. As others rate comments, those with higher ratings will indicate that these are important discussion topics others agree with. By hearing from more people, the District will get a better idea about what’s important to our school community.

Your voice matters, and you are always invited to have a seat at the table. Thank you for voting and sharing your thoughts.

2 OTSELIC VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL

ECHOES FROM THE VALLEY 3

Fall HighlightsThe first months of this school year have been full of activity and opportunity for students and the community.

Take a Look• The annual Homecoming Parade through the center of town was an all-grades celebration of Viking

Pride.• The Elementary Drama Club performed a fully staged musical, “The Princess and the Pea” to big

audiences.• The Otselic Valley Drama Club performed two performances of “In Our Own Backyard,” a serious

drama addressing bullying and violence.• Semester-long seminars for juniors and seniors help them work on college and career preparedness,

and seniors have the option to participate in job shadows: regional businesses of interest hosted stu-dents interested in their work.

• The annual Career Day again brought professionals to OV, both in person and via Skype to a partici-pant from overseas, to share about career choices.

• Poet in Residence Rachel Guido deVries worked with multiple classes to better understand and write their own poetry. The 6th grade set up a Poetry Cafe as a setting for their poetry readings, including Spanish translations.

• The Otselic Valley FFA chapter traveled to the 92nd National Convention and Expo in Indianapolis where chapter president Paige Warren carried the New York State flag in their opening ceremonies.

• History buffs in Mr. Wentworth’s 20th Century Conflict class worked with and researched loaned trench art from WWI originally belonging to Charles Grover Allison, great-great-grandfather of South Otselic resident Darryl Fox.

• Student government organized the inaugural Trunk or Treat Halloween event at school, which we expect will return next year.

• The Raising a Reader backpack program again loans good books to Kindergarten families for at-home reading time, with a new batch going home weekly.

• Seniors and Kindergarten students meet every week as reading buddies.• The Otselic Valley Library is now open to the community every Tuesday school is open from 3:00-7:00 p.m.

Anyone can get a library card, check out books, use our computers, participate in special events, and enjoy the library’s great resources. Our festive opening included a welcome to community members who are now using the library for the first time.

Halloween 2019

20th Century Conflict Class

In Our Own Backyard

The Princess and the Pea

Otselic Valley LibraryFall Highlights

Pep Rally

Raising a Reader

Career Day

Otselic Valley Library

Reading with a SeniorPep Rally

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Senior SeminarThe Students in Senior Seminar have been busy

with college and career plans. Many students have completed the job shadowing or interviewing require-ment of this class. Students are researching the company and have really enjoyed the experience and some have decided to look at a different career option.

Below are the placements for this group of seniors• Nursing—Chenango Memorial Hospital, Norwich • Auto Tech—Monro Auto Center, Norwich,

Matthew Ford Dealership, Norwich • Culinary—Wild Owl, Norwich, • EMT (Paramedic)—Georgetown and South Otselic

Emergency Squads• Social Work (Pre-School Teacher)—Interview

Ms. Perry/Shadow Ms. Guyer• Autobody—Tri County Collision, Greene• Civil Engineer—Principle Design, Norwich• Horse Farrier/Trainer—Ride with Don Lite (far-

rier), visit Nicky Kurtz (trainer)• Corrections Officer—Chenango County Jail,

Norwich • Vet Tech, Compassionate Care, Norwich • Maternity Nurse—Cortland Hospital• Wildlife Biologist (Rehabilitation)—NYSDEC,

Cortland• Nursing— Cort land Hospita l Med Surge/

Maternity unit• Horses—Visit SUNY Morrisville shadow Horse

Management Instruction Patty Prudy-Henderson• International Wire Company—Sherburne

Student Government and Yearbook News

Congratulations to the new Student Government Executive Team! President Pa ige Wa r r e n , Vic e President Sarah Smith, Secretary Alexus White, and Co-Treasurers Tori Foster and Justin Button.

The Yearbook Store is open! Please go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and use code 5405. Paper order forms are available with this newsletter. The full color book is $54 (including tax). Extra books will not be available in June. Picture Retake Day is November 13 starting at 8:00 a.m.

ECHOES FROM THE VALLEY 7

K-12 Color Yearbooks may be reserved through Mrs. Osowski from October until December 1, 2019 for $54 (this includes 8% sales tax).

A non-refundable deposit of $20 is due for each book reserved.

Yearbooks may be ordered online at yearbookordercenter.com until April 1, 2020. Books ordered online must be paid in full at the time of order.

The balance must be paid before the books are received. All reservations will be conducted through Mrs. Osowski or online.

To order books please complete the form below, detach, and mail to:Mrs. Osowski, Yearbook Advisor

Otselic Valley Central SchoolP.O. Box 161

South Otselic, New York 13155

We are ordering only the number of books reserved so place your reservation today!

Yearbook Order FormPlease Print Clearly

Name of student receiving/picking up book ____________________________________________

Homeroom Teacher (elem. only): _____________________________________________________

SENIORS ONLY: Name Plate $8 (due with deposit) Names will be typed first name, last name

________________________________________________________________________________

Number of books ordered: _______________ Amount enclosed $ ______________________(Please make checks payable to OVCS Yearbook. Do not send cash through the mail.)

Address for receipt: _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Reserve Your YearbookToday!

Yearbooks are in FULL COLOR!

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YOTSELIC VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOLGeorgetown, New York 13072South Otselic, New York 13155Board MembersPaul O’Connor, PresidentDiane Smith, Vice PresidentGorgia GonzalezElizabeth RobinsonBrian WoodGail Evans Burpee, District Clerk

CURRENT RESIDENT OR

ECRWSSBOXHOLDER

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. POSTAGEP A I D

Norwich, New York 13815

Permit No. 18

“The Otselic Valley Central School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disabilities, marital or veteran status.”

Contact person: Robert Berson, Superintendent of Schools, P.O. Box 161, 125 County Road 13A, South Otselic, NY 13155 (315) 653-7218.

On October 22, Mrs. Morse and Ms. Moisan took interested juniors and seniors to SUNY Delhi for an information session, campus tour and lunch in one of their dining halls. With a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio, SUNY Delhi is a great choice because class sizes are similar to OV. SUNY Delhi awards associates, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees in a variety of programs. Delhi’s academic programs are known for

hands-on experience, extensive internships and on-the-job experiences. This approach leads to more than 95 percent of Delhi students finding jobs or continuing their education within a year of graduating.

Mrs. Morse and Ms. Moisan plan to take more stu-dents in the spring to local colleges to get them out and to start thinking about their future plans!

Visit to SUNY Delhi