The Viking Voice May / June 2025

Leadership Message

- from the Superintendent

As part of our entry planning process and the development of our new strategic plan, one area that remains a top priority is communication. We understand how important it is to keep our community well-informed and connected, and we are committed to exploring new, relevant, and accessible ways to share information and celebrate the positive things happening in our district. In that spirit, we are proud to introduce a new district-wide newsletter, The Viking Voice, which will be distributed at regular intervals throughout the year. This newsletter is designed to serve as a bridge between our schools and the broader community—providing updates on recent accomplishments, announcements of upcoming events, spotlights on student and staff achievements, and highlights of initiatives that support our shared vision for education.

Whether you are a parent, student, faculty or staff member, alumni, or community partner, our goal is for you to feel informed, engaged, and proud of the work taking place at Otselic Valley. Each and every day, we are striving to move forward in a positive and supportive way that benefits all of our stakeholders. We recognize that communication is a process, and we expect this newsletter to evolve over time to better reflect the needs and interests of our community. Still, we believe this is an important first step in strengthening the connection between the district and its stakeholders. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey. We look forward to continuing to grow, improve, and celebrate alongside you.

Principal Message (6-12)

– from Elizabeth Barber-Breese

The end of the school year is approaching fast, and there is so much going on! Seniors are checking off their to-do lists as they look toward graduation. 8th graders are closing the door on middle school. In the next few weeks, the 5th graders will buddy up with the 6th graders to get the inside scoop on what middle school has in store for them.

As we look forward, we have to stay the course for the remainder of the year. There are Regents and final exams to prepare for, final papers to write, and homework assignments to complete. There are opportunities to celebrate one another at sports banquets, spring concerts, and the 6-12 awards ceremony, just to name a few. It is such a busy time of year that it is difficult to capture everything in this small space, so be sure to keep track of our website and Facebook page for more information.

As we close out this school year, it is a perfect time to take a minute and reflect on how much growth and learning take place in a single year. Let’s finish strong OV!

News Recap from the Middle/High School

Student Activities: Clubs

OV Cares / Community Connection