- Need this newsletter in Spanish? Open this webpage and copy the link at the top of the webpage, and then open Google Translate and paste in the link. Select "Spanish" and click the translated link.
- ¿Necesita este boletín en español? Abra esta página web y copie el enlace desde la parte superior de su navegador. Luego, vaya a Google Translate, pegue el enlace, seleccione "español" y haga clic en el enlace traducido.
Leadership Message
- from the Superintendent
As we enter the second half of the school year, I want to take a moment to thank our students, staff, and families for their continued support and commitment to Otselic Valley. This time of year offers a great opportunity to reflect on the hard work that has already taken place and to look ahead with excitement at what’s still to come. I would like to extend a sincere thank-you to Mrs. Kurtz for her dedicated service and leadership of our middle and high school students during a period of administrative transition. Her commitment to our students, staff, and community has and always will be greatly appreciated. Moving forward, Mrs. Richards will oversee the entire building as Principal, while Mr. Wentworth serves as Dean of Students, focusing specifically on the middle and high school portion of the building. We appreciate their teamwork and leadership as we move through the remainder of the year. As the winter sports season comes to a close, I want to commend all of our student-athletes for their effort and dedication throughout the season. A special congratulations goes out to Lukas Schieferstein for reaching an incredible milestone by scoring his 1,000th career point, and to the boys’ basketball team for winning the Fabius-Pompey Holiday Shootout—a tremendous accomplishment that reflects their hard work and teamwork. We are also incredibly proud of Skyler Graham, who represented Otselic Valley at the Chenango County School Boards Legislative Breakfast as part of the student forum. Skyler did an outstanding job sharing her experience at OV and advocating for our school community. Across the district, our students continue to demonstrate strong work ethic and perseverance in the classroom. Their efforts are evident in recent benchmarking results and the academic growth they have achieved thus far. We are excited to see their continued progress and success as we move through the remainder of the school year. All in all, we look forward with great anticipation to what the second half of the year will bring for our students and staff across our entire school community. We are excited for the accomplishments, events, performances, and highlights that lie ahead—building on the many successes we have already celebrated during the first half of the year.
- Brian Collier
Principal Message
Elementary Update
Otselic Valley Elementary has been buzzing with energy and creativity throughout the winter months! Students recently enjoyed a K-5 Fun Night that brought together approximately 75 students for an evening of games, crafts, sports, and treats. Activities included a bounce house, face painting, Valentine’s Day crafts, video games from Nex Playground, and plenty of pizza and snacks. Staff and students also found fun ways to celebrate important milestones this month. The 90th day of school was marked with a “Halfway There - Living on a Prayer” theme, with staff dressing in their best 90s attire and enjoying themed snacks. Students celebrated the 100th day of school alongside Valentine’s Day festivities, with many dressing as 100-year-olds and participating in hands-on 100-themed activities. Following Winter Break, K–2 staff dressed as Cruella de Vil and the 101 Dalmatians to mark the 101st day of school. In the classroom, fourth and fifth grade students have been engaged in research projects focused on penguins and Native American culture, including topics such as food and housing. Fifth graders have also taken on leadership roles through participation in Safety Patrol. Looking ahead, elementary staff have begun exploring reading initiatives for the upcoming school year. Ideas currently under discussion include school-wide reading challenges, book-rich classroom environments, mystery readers, elementary book clubs, author visits, family literacy nights, and expanded summer reading opportunities.
- from Shelly Richards (Pre-K through 12 Principal)
News Recap from the Elementary School
Principal Message
Middle School/High School Update
Students in the OV Middle and High School have remained actively engaged in both academic and extracurricular opportunities this winter. Nearly 90 students recently earned an ice cream incentive, representing a strong percentage of participation across the student body. Beginning this week, after-school academic support is available for students in need of additional help. Math and Science support will be offered on Tuesdays, Regents review sessions on Wednesdays, and Math and ELA support on Thursdays from 3:10-4:10 p.m. Students utilizing the late 5:15 bus will need to ensure they have a supervised location following the session. Eighth and tenth grade students recently visited the Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs at DCMO BOCES to explore potential future pathways. Eighth grade students also completed a mock trial unit, taking on real-world career roles such as lawyers, paralegals, police officers, medical examiners, and psychologists while learning about the court system. Students then applied their knowledge during a follow-up project connected to their reading of Anne Frank, comparing her experiences to those discovered through independent research and presenting their findings through both written and visual formats. FFA students have been busy attending several events, including the Syracuse Farm Show and a Macaroni and Cheese Challenge held prior to the February break. In addition, interested students continue to participate in monthly visits to Colgate University with Mrs. O. As we look ahead, scheduling conversations are underway to prepare for student course selections and academic needs for the upcoming school year.
- from Shelly Richards (Pre-K through 12 Principal)
News Recap from the Middle/High School
Upcoming Events and Reminders
February 28 and March 1, 2026: Carter Rood Memorial Futsal Tournament
March 13, 2026: No School, Staff Development Day
March 16, 2026: No School, Offices Open
March 18, 2026: PSAT 10
March 19, 2026: Board of Education Meeting
April 2, 2026: Spring Fest
April 3, 2026: No School - Good Friday, Offices Closed
April 6-10, 2026: Spring Recess
Otselic Valley Central School District • P.O. Box 161, 125 County Road 13A • South Otselic, NY 13155
Phone: (315) 653-7218 • Fax: (315) 653-7500