The Otisville 3-5 Snowflake Dance was held this past Friday, Jan. 30, and was a wonderful evening out for all who attended! Take a look; who do you recognize? Thank you again to the Otisville Elementary PTO for hosting such a fun evening and to everyone who played a role in its success!
Can you create art using pine cones? YES! You absolutely can!
Just ask Carmela Sill’s ES kindergarteners, who were the recipients of a generous gift of pine cones and art supplies. Her little students have created some gorgeous, one-of-a-kind pieces! Take a peek!
Pine cones are natural, textured and easy to handle, which makes them perfect for creative play and artwork! They’re sensory friendly because of all the shapes and textures to explore and allow for fine motor skill practice, too! PLUS, there’s no right or wrong way to use them!
Just ask Carmela Sill’s ES kindergarteners, who were the recipients of a generous gift of pine cones and art supplies. Her little students have created some gorgeous, one-of-a-kind pieces! Take a peek!
Pine cones are natural, textured and easy to handle, which makes them perfect for creative play and artwork! They’re sensory friendly because of all the shapes and textures to explore and allow for fine motor skill practice, too! PLUS, there’s no right or wrong way to use them!
At the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Dual Meet Championship, held Jan. 31, our Varsity Wrestling team delivered a performance defined by grit, relentless determination and an unbreakable will to compete. Though they won’t advance to the next level of state competition after a heartbreaking semi-final 31–30 loss to Section VIII’s Massapequa in a final bout that went to triple overtime, their effort and resolve spoke louder than any final score ever could.
This team entered the tournament prepared and fearless. In Round 1, they dominated Section III’s Carthage with a decisive 50–17 victory. After a BYE round, they showed their dominance again in Round 2 with an emphatic 57–16 win over Section V’s Fairport. Each wrestler competed with toughness, pride and unity — never backing down, never giving less than everything he had.
As they always do, these 2026 Section IX Dual Meet Wrestling Champions represented Minisink Valley with honor, heart and distinction. Their work ethic, commitment to one another, and refusal to quit define what true champions look like. They are winners in every sense of the word!
Please join us in congratulating our incredible wrestlers, coaches, and everyone associated with the wrestling program on a truly spectacular season. This group has set the standard—and make no mistake, they will be back next year!
This team entered the tournament prepared and fearless. In Round 1, they dominated Section III’s Carthage with a decisive 50–17 victory. After a BYE round, they showed their dominance again in Round 2 with an emphatic 57–16 win over Section V’s Fairport. Each wrestler competed with toughness, pride and unity — never backing down, never giving less than everything he had.
As they always do, these 2026 Section IX Dual Meet Wrestling Champions represented Minisink Valley with honor, heart and distinction. Their work ethic, commitment to one another, and refusal to quit define what true champions look like. They are winners in every sense of the word!
Please join us in congratulating our incredible wrestlers, coaches, and everyone associated with the wrestling program on a truly spectacular season. This group has set the standard—and make no mistake, they will be back next year!
Mary Kelly’s ES second-graders worked together to create a bar graph documenting the class’s collective prediction of whether Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow on Groundhog Day today, Feb. 2!
They know a bar graph is a picture that uses solid bars to show and compare information, or data. It helps students to see which group has “the most” or “the least.” Taller or longer bars mean a bigger number, while shorter bars mean a smaller number.
In a 16-5 result, students felt Punxsutawney Phil would not see his shadow. For Groundhog Day lore believers, that means an early spring!
After the results were tallied, students chatted about the results, with some hoping for warmer weather to come soon while others didn’t. They also realized that warmer weather would mean there would be no more snow days!
It was a fun, seasonal activity tying in math! But Mrs. Kelly added an ELA and art/fine motor skills component to their work, asking them to write about their predictions, and then create their own gorgeous groundhogs!
Other “famous” groundhogs who are annually sought after for their prognostication expertise include: Ohio’s Buckeye Chuck, New York’s Staten Island Chuck, Quebec’s Fred la Marmotte and Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam!
Bryon Imbarrato’s Otisville third-graders have been working very hard crafting essays about what the future of space travel will look like, all part of their ELA and science studies about space.
Students used “POWER” and “TIDE” as part of their writing process and organization in addition to using their knowledge about the three parts of an essay in their work. (POWER and TIDE are simple acronyms used to help students remember how to organize and improve their writing)
Students created two drafts, did revisions and edits and then created a final hard copy. As an added learning experience, they were tasked with creating a slideshow to present to the class, which gave them experiences in creating presentations along with a chance to building on their growing public speaking skills. WELL-DONE to all!
•The POWER acronym stands for: P – Plan, O – Organize, W – Write, E – Edit and R – Revise.
•The TIDE acronym stands for T – Topic sentence, I – Important details and E – Ending sentence.
•The three parts of an essay are: the Introduction, the body and the conclusion.
Students used “POWER” and “TIDE” as part of their writing process and organization in addition to using their knowledge about the three parts of an essay in their work. (POWER and TIDE are simple acronyms used to help students remember how to organize and improve their writing)
Students created two drafts, did revisions and edits and then created a final hard copy. As an added learning experience, they were tasked with creating a slideshow to present to the class, which gave them experiences in creating presentations along with a chance to building on their growing public speaking skills. WELL-DONE to all!
•The POWER acronym stands for: P – Plan, O – Organize, W – Write, E – Edit and R – Revise.
•The TIDE acronym stands for T – Topic sentence, I – Important details and E – Ending sentence.
•The three parts of an essay are: the Introduction, the body and the conclusion.
Did you know that yesterday, Jan. 29, was National Puzzle Day?
Marjori Bobish’s ES transitional kindergarteners did, and they took some time to work through three different stations to complete three different types of puzzles!
There was more than puzzle fun involved, as you’d expect. Their work had a cognitive development component to it, as students had the opportunity to work on problem solving skills --- what strategies could they try until they found the pieces fit --- as well being attentive to remembering where the pieces fit.
There was the obvious fine motor skills work of using their fingers to pick up and place pieces as well visual-spatial skills of understanding how the puzzle shapes related to each other. Additionally, these little students had the chance to practice their growing patience and perseverance skills when they kept trying to see how the pieces would fit together.
Finished puzzles gave everyone a sense of accomplishment and created an opportunity to talk about their successes.
Marjori Bobish’s ES transitional kindergarteners did, and they took some time to work through three different stations to complete three different types of puzzles!
There was more than puzzle fun involved, as you’d expect. Their work had a cognitive development component to it, as students had the opportunity to work on problem solving skills --- what strategies could they try until they found the pieces fit --- as well being attentive to remembering where the pieces fit.
There was the obvious fine motor skills work of using their fingers to pick up and place pieces as well visual-spatial skills of understanding how the puzzle shapes related to each other. Additionally, these little students had the chance to practice their growing patience and perseverance skills when they kept trying to see how the pieces would fit together.
Finished puzzles gave everyone a sense of accomplishment and created an opportunity to talk about their successes.
Ilana Kaufman’s ES kindergarteners are using a variety of materials to create vibrant and one-of-a-kind buildings, guided by their imaginations and the inspiration of artist Mary Blair. We bet many of you are looking at these wonderful creations and thinking: “Where have I seen something similar?”
Artist Mary Blair was an American artist and designer, famous for her vibrant, modernist style that influenced Walt Disney's classic films like Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, and iconic attractions like Disney’s “It’s a Small World” slow boat ride at all its parks worldwide. She is thought of as shaping Disney's post-war aesthetic with bold colors, whimsical characters and imaginative compositions.
Artist Mary Blair was an American artist and designer, famous for her vibrant, modernist style that influenced Walt Disney's classic films like Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, and iconic attractions like Disney’s “It’s a Small World” slow boat ride at all its parks worldwide. She is thought of as shaping Disney's post-war aesthetic with bold colors, whimsical characters and imaginative compositions.
Cliff Loretto’s ES second-grade music students are working on reading and performing simple rhythmic patterns in duple meter, with an emphasis on visually decoding notation and transferring that understanding to performance.
Students are engaging with familiar and unfamiliar song material as part of Unit 1 of the Conversational Solfege curriculum, which emphasizes sound-before-symbol learning, audiation and the gradual development of rhythmic literacy.
As part of this, students were practicing a clapping ostinato used to accompany the playground song “Money Honey.” Prior to this, students listened to Mr. Loretto model the song, reinforcing internalized pitch and steady beat before formal singing was introduced. This preparatory work supports rhythmic accuracy, ensemble skills, and musical independence as students prepare to learn and perform the song themselves later this month.
•Duple meter is a way music is organized using groups of two beats: Weak and strong. When young students learn about this, they’re learning to feel the beat, count aloud, emphasizing “beat 1,” and create and repeat simple patterns.
• Teaching decoding notation to second graders helps them to understand, perform, and create music independently, just as learning letters helps them read and write.
•A clapping ostinato is a short rhythm pattern that is clapped repeatedly while other music is happening.
Students are engaging with familiar and unfamiliar song material as part of Unit 1 of the Conversational Solfege curriculum, which emphasizes sound-before-symbol learning, audiation and the gradual development of rhythmic literacy.
As part of this, students were practicing a clapping ostinato used to accompany the playground song “Money Honey.” Prior to this, students listened to Mr. Loretto model the song, reinforcing internalized pitch and steady beat before formal singing was introduced. This preparatory work supports rhythmic accuracy, ensemble skills, and musical independence as students prepare to learn and perform the song themselves later this month.
•Duple meter is a way music is organized using groups of two beats: Weak and strong. When young students learn about this, they’re learning to feel the beat, count aloud, emphasizing “beat 1,” and create and repeat simple patterns.
• Teaching decoding notation to second graders helps them to understand, perform, and create music independently, just as learning letters helps them read and write.
•A clapping ostinato is a short rhythm pattern that is clapped repeatedly while other music is happening.
SENIOR NIGHT!
Congratulations and best wishes to Varsity wrestling seniors Keira Filip, Jaida Macaluso and Avery Wingen, who were honored during the team's recent Senior Night!
THANK YOU for dedication, hard work and many contributions to the team's success!
Congratulations and best wishes to Varsity wrestling seniors Keira Filip, Jaida Macaluso and Avery Wingen, who were honored during the team's recent Senior Night!
THANK YOU for dedication, hard work and many contributions to the team's success!
It’s Kindness Week at the Intermediate School! Jen Kemmerer’s and David Mellan’s fourth-graders are creating some very thoughtful and color posters reminding everyone why kindness is important!
THE CRITTERS ARE HERE!
Joan Giardina’s IS third-grade art students finished up their watercolor “wet-on-wet” winterscape paintings with the inclusion of adorable forest critters to complete their work! Aren’t they just too cute?
Joan Giardina’s IS third-grade art students finished up their watercolor “wet-on-wet” winterscape paintings with the inclusion of adorable forest critters to complete their work! Aren’t they just too cute?
FINALLY! SNOW!
We bet there's a lot of new snowmen adorning the yards of many of our students! Jenn DiSimone's ES first-graders are quite experienced with making snowmen, as they recently practiced a variation of building their own snowman in class (and it was a great opportunity to further refine fine motor skills!)
PLUS, as a clever ELA component to their work, students were asked to "name" their snowman and complete a Q&A sheet as if they were interviewing that snowman. Too adorable!
Adriana Eichwald’s Otisville fourth-graders regularly engage in partner reading, an essential practice that supports deeper comprehension, academic language development, and independent learning as students progress through grade levels.
As texts become more complex, students benefit from structured collaboration because comprehension, discussion, and critical-thinking are important academic tools in upper grades!
As texts become more complex, students benefit from structured collaboration because comprehension, discussion, and critical-thinking are important academic tools in upper grades!
The recent snowfall offers the perfect opportunity to catch a snowman, doesn’t it?
Erin Andersen’s Otisville kindergarten library students learned some tips about how to do just that when she read Adam Wallace’s “How to Catch a Snowman” to them. The book tells the story of the "Catch Club Kids," who build a snowman for a contest, but it magically comes to life and runs away, leading to a winter-themed chase with clever traps to catch it!
REMINDER: Reading to young students supports their learning, language development, and love of reading at a critical stage in their growth! Plus, they get a good story—which makes learning fun and memorable! A great story can spark laughter, imagination, and a lifelong love of books all at once!
Erin Andersen’s Otisville kindergarten library students learned some tips about how to do just that when she read Adam Wallace’s “How to Catch a Snowman” to them. The book tells the story of the "Catch Club Kids," who build a snowman for a contest, but it magically comes to life and runs away, leading to a winter-themed chase with clever traps to catch it!
REMINDER: Reading to young students supports their learning, language development, and love of reading at a critical stage in their growth! Plus, they get a good story—which makes learning fun and memorable! A great story can spark laughter, imagination, and a lifelong love of books all at once!
DO NOT COOK ON FEB. 1!
Who doesn't love a good Burrito Bowl?
Support the High School's Step Dance Team and dine at Chipotle in Middletown! Details are below!
Who doesn't love a good Burrito Bowl?
Support the High School's Step Dance Team and dine at Chipotle in Middletown! Details are below!
PICKLEMINTON? YES!!!
Take a peek at Stephanie Giufre’s Otisville second through fifth-grade students and how good they are at playing this unique combination of pickleball and badminton!
"PickleMinton" gives players the strung racquet feel of badminton and tennis, the ease of play and low impact of pickleball, and the excitement of table tennis!
Students learn paddle and volleying skills with a net sport and had some intense one-on-one games in round robin style with the winner being crowned “King or Queen of the Mountain!”
Some classes even had guest players School Resource Officer Jamie Johnson and Security Guard Brendan Hoolan showing off their skills!
Take a peek at Stephanie Giufre’s Otisville second through fifth-grade students and how good they are at playing this unique combination of pickleball and badminton!
"PickleMinton" gives players the strung racquet feel of badminton and tennis, the ease of play and low impact of pickleball, and the excitement of table tennis!
Students learn paddle and volleying skills with a net sport and had some intense one-on-one games in round robin style with the winner being crowned “King or Queen of the Mountain!”
Some classes even had guest players School Resource Officer Jamie Johnson and Security Guard Brendan Hoolan showing off their skills!
PLAY BALL! Support the PTO and have a great time at a New York Yankees game at this fun PTO fundraiser!
New York Yankees vs. Miami Marlins!
--- Saturday, April 4
--- 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium
--- Tickets: $45 each for Terrace Level seating
--- Online ticket sales close March 1
--- Tickets will be delivered digitally to the email address provided.
--- Transportation is NOT provided.
Purchase tickets here: https://minisink-pto-yankee-game.square.site/
Rachel Forde’s and Julia Ferguson’s Otisville third-graders spent some time earlier this week talking about the life and legacy of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. which included reading Doreen Rappaport's “Martin’s Big Words” and creating their own graphic organizers!
A graphic organizer is a simple visual tool that helps students organize their thoughts and information so learning is easier to understand and remember. Teachers use graphic organizers to help kids plan writing, understand reading, and sort ideas.
A graphic organizer is a simple visual tool that helps students organize their thoughts and information so learning is easier to understand and remember. Teachers use graphic organizers to help kids plan writing, understand reading, and sort ideas.
Congratulations to the five members of the Varsity Football Team who were recently named to 2025 All-Star teams by the New York State Sportswriters Association (NYSSWA)
• 1st Team: Senior Max Wickrath, DB
“Max is a versatile, explosive athlete known for his speed, toughness, and instincts,” said Head Coach Kevin Gallagher. “As a slot receiver, he’s a reliable target with breakaway speed and elusiveness in space. On defense, he’s a hard- hitting safety with a nose for the ball and excellent play recognition. Add in his electric kick return ability, and Max is a true three-phase game-changer.”
Max finished the season with eight interceptions from the safety position and two of those were returned for touchdowns. He finished with 44 tackles on the year, 24 solo and 20 assisted. Max was a kick returner who averaged close to 30 yards per return, while also scoring 1 touchdown. On offense he had 27 catches for 410 yards and 3 touchdowns as a receiver. As a rusher Max ran for 218 yards and an additional three rushing touchdowns.
• 2nd Team: Senior Zach Filip, RB
“Zach is the kind of athlete every team wants in their locker room—gritty, dependable, and relentlessly driven” said Coach Gallagher. “Known for his tireless work ethic and consistent performance, he leads not with words, but through action. Zach embodies resilience and accountability on and off the field.”
Zach rushed 209 times for 1,503 yards and 24 touchdowns. Zach averaged an impressive 7.19 yards per carry and 136.6 yards a game. His 24 rushing touchdowns is a school record for most in a single season.
• 2nd team: Senior Jayden Pressley, OL
A versatile and relentless two-way lineman, Jayden excels at both offensive tackle and on the defensive line, Jayden brings a strong understanding of the game to every position played,” said Coach Gallagher. “Known for his leadership on and off the field, Jayden sets the standard in the locker room and the classroom, maintaining high academic standing while balancing a demanding athletic schedule. Coaches and teammates praise Jayden for a tireless work ethic,
physical toughness, and an unshakable commitment to team success.”
Jayden was an anchor on both the offensive and defensive line. He led an offensive unit that rushed for nearly 3,000 yards. He did not allow a sack this season on over 100 passing attempts. Jayden also set a single season record of 15 sacks in a season, while now being the school’s all-time leader with 18 total He added an additional 63 total tackles and an interception.
• 5th Team: Senior Robert LaBarbera, QB
“A standout in the Class of 2026, Robert is a dynamic quarterback known for his leadership, athleticism, and relentless drive to succeed,” Coach Gallagher said. “As a natural athlete with excellent field vision and quick decision-making, he commands the huddle with confidence well beyond his years. He excels in the classroom, maintaining strong academic performance while balancing the demands of varsity athletics. Whether leading a comeback on Friday night or setting the tone in team meetings, he consistently sets the standard through his work ethic, discipline, and unshakable focus on growth.”
Robert finished the season with 1,086 passing yards and 11 touchdown passes, while also adding 1,135 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.
• Honorable Mention: Junior Mike Moran, K
“Mike this season was 3 for 4 on field goals, with a long of 28 yards,” said Coach Gallagher. “Forty-eight of 53 on extra points, and accumulated a total 57 team points this season. Mike worked hard in the offseason to gain experience and make sure his team could count on him. His hard work paid off, as he was the difference in the Section IX championship game, with a field goal that gave us a 24-21 victory.”
• 1st Team: Senior Max Wickrath, DB
“Max is a versatile, explosive athlete known for his speed, toughness, and instincts,” said Head Coach Kevin Gallagher. “As a slot receiver, he’s a reliable target with breakaway speed and elusiveness in space. On defense, he’s a hard- hitting safety with a nose for the ball and excellent play recognition. Add in his electric kick return ability, and Max is a true three-phase game-changer.”
Max finished the season with eight interceptions from the safety position and two of those were returned for touchdowns. He finished with 44 tackles on the year, 24 solo and 20 assisted. Max was a kick returner who averaged close to 30 yards per return, while also scoring 1 touchdown. On offense he had 27 catches for 410 yards and 3 touchdowns as a receiver. As a rusher Max ran for 218 yards and an additional three rushing touchdowns.
• 2nd Team: Senior Zach Filip, RB
“Zach is the kind of athlete every team wants in their locker room—gritty, dependable, and relentlessly driven” said Coach Gallagher. “Known for his tireless work ethic and consistent performance, he leads not with words, but through action. Zach embodies resilience and accountability on and off the field.”
Zach rushed 209 times for 1,503 yards and 24 touchdowns. Zach averaged an impressive 7.19 yards per carry and 136.6 yards a game. His 24 rushing touchdowns is a school record for most in a single season.
• 2nd team: Senior Jayden Pressley, OL
A versatile and relentless two-way lineman, Jayden excels at both offensive tackle and on the defensive line, Jayden brings a strong understanding of the game to every position played,” said Coach Gallagher. “Known for his leadership on and off the field, Jayden sets the standard in the locker room and the classroom, maintaining high academic standing while balancing a demanding athletic schedule. Coaches and teammates praise Jayden for a tireless work ethic,
physical toughness, and an unshakable commitment to team success.”
Jayden was an anchor on both the offensive and defensive line. He led an offensive unit that rushed for nearly 3,000 yards. He did not allow a sack this season on over 100 passing attempts. Jayden also set a single season record of 15 sacks in a season, while now being the school’s all-time leader with 18 total He added an additional 63 total tackles and an interception.
• 5th Team: Senior Robert LaBarbera, QB
“A standout in the Class of 2026, Robert is a dynamic quarterback known for his leadership, athleticism, and relentless drive to succeed,” Coach Gallagher said. “As a natural athlete with excellent field vision and quick decision-making, he commands the huddle with confidence well beyond his years. He excels in the classroom, maintaining strong academic performance while balancing the demands of varsity athletics. Whether leading a comeback on Friday night or setting the tone in team meetings, he consistently sets the standard through his work ethic, discipline, and unshakable focus on growth.”
Robert finished the season with 1,086 passing yards and 11 touchdown passes, while also adding 1,135 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.
• Honorable Mention: Junior Mike Moran, K
“Mike this season was 3 for 4 on field goals, with a long of 28 yards,” said Coach Gallagher. “Forty-eight of 53 on extra points, and accumulated a total 57 team points this season. Mike worked hard in the offseason to gain experience and make sure his team could count on him. His hard work paid off, as he was the difference in the Section IX championship game, with a field goal that gave us a 24-21 victory.”
Jessica Kahn’s Otisville kindergarteners, like all district kindergarteners, have been focusing on the question, "How can you tell which group has more?" during their math lessons. They’ve learning different ways to compare two groups of objects, such as letters, bugs or hearts, to figure out which group has more.
The idea “How can you tell which group has more?” is important in kindergarten because it builds the foundation for how children understand numbers, quantities, and math reasoning.
To begin, students used their names to explore the concepts of length and quantity. Each letter was written on the same-sized paper, and the letters were connected to create a “name train.” By comparing these name trains, students observed that longer trains contain more letters, while shorter trains have fewer letters.
For the worksheet, students compared two groups by counting and recording the numbers. They were asked, "Which group has more?" In a complete sentence, a student stated which group had more, and the class circled the corresponding group. As a whole group, students practiced speaking in complete sentences, sharing which group had more and which had fewer.
Comparing groups helps kindergarteners see that numbers represent real amounts, not just words or symbols. Knowing which group has more, fewer, or the same strengthens their sense of quantity. It also helps these little students to think logically, not just count, and practice newly acquired math vocabulary. The idea of know what group has “more” and “less” is essential before children can grasp addition, subtraction and inequalities. PLUS: There important connections to daily kindergarten life, such as: Who has more snacks? Are there enough crayons?
The idea “How can you tell which group has more?” is important in kindergarten because it builds the foundation for how children understand numbers, quantities, and math reasoning.
To begin, students used their names to explore the concepts of length and quantity. Each letter was written on the same-sized paper, and the letters were connected to create a “name train.” By comparing these name trains, students observed that longer trains contain more letters, while shorter trains have fewer letters.
For the worksheet, students compared two groups by counting and recording the numbers. They were asked, "Which group has more?" In a complete sentence, a student stated which group had more, and the class circled the corresponding group. As a whole group, students practiced speaking in complete sentences, sharing which group had more and which had fewer.
Comparing groups helps kindergarteners see that numbers represent real amounts, not just words or symbols. Knowing which group has more, fewer, or the same strengthens their sense of quantity. It also helps these little students to think logically, not just count, and practice newly acquired math vocabulary. The idea of know what group has “more” and “less” is essential before children can grasp addition, subtraction and inequalities. PLUS: There important connections to daily kindergarten life, such as: Who has more snacks? Are there enough crayons?
