Minisink Valley Central School District -

Mia McLean’s ES first and second-grade library students have been having a blast with “flashlight reading” during their recent library classes. Flashlight reading is engaging for young students because it turns reading into a cozy, magical and multisensory adventure! The lowered lights create a focused, intimate atmosphere, while the flashlight adds an interactive element that boosts motivation and another way of sparking a love for stories!

An OUT OF THIS WORLD CLASS TRIP!
Melissa Manganello's and Nicole Martinez's/Victoria Uhrig's Otisville first-graders had a wonderful, recent class trip to the John R. Kirk Planetarium at SUNY New Paltz!

Their visit connected what they’re learning in the classroom about the universe and objects that can be found in it Students also saw a movie about some of the different moons in the universe!

The John R. Kirk Planetarium, located in the Coykendall Science Building, is a well-regarded astronomy facility. It’s especially known for its educational focus and intimate, immersive shows. The indoor domed theater is designed for sky simulations and astronomy presentations.

Shows often include: Guided tours of constellations and planets, simulations of events like eclipses or meteor showers with creative programs blending astronomy, music, and storytelling!

POP CULTURE–INSPIRED ART!
Ilana Kaufman’s ES first-grader art students have been busy bringing their imaginations to life! Each student created a bright, colorful drawing of their favorite Squishmallow—or designed a totally unique one they wish existed. Who knows… maybe their idea will be the next must-have Squishmallow!

We’re guessing most homes have at least one of these cuddly characters around. Squishmallows are beloved for their ultra-soft, marshmallow-like feel, simple adorable designs, and perfectly huggable shape. They can be pillows, toys, comfort buddies and even collectible treasures.

Since launching in 2017, Squishmallows have become wildly popular — especially during the 2020 pandemic, when people of all ages turned to them for a little extra comfort and stress relief. Each character even has its own fun “bio,” and with rare ones to find, collecting them has become a delightful “thrill of the hunt!”

Take a look at our students’ creative Squishmallow-inspired masterpieces—you might just spot the next fan favorite!

We are beyond proud of our Middle School Odyssey of the Mind team! Their journey to the New York State Odyssey of the Mind Competition this past Saturday at the New York State Fairgrounds is a massive accomplishment—one that only a select group of teams ever achieve! Making it to states in Odyssey of the Mind is no small feat; it represents months of dedication, bold thinking and next-level creativity.

And they didn’t just show up—they delivered! With grit, determination, and incredible imagination, our team rose to the challenge of designing original solutions to the question posed to them! They earned an impressive 8th place finish in their division for Problem 1/“Off the Rails.” That’s huge!

Please join us in congratulating Ashton Gibbs, Christian Hines, Jemma Marsala, Quinn Murphy, Victoria Papp, and Alicia Suen for their hard work, infectious enthusiasm, and imaginative spirit. They represented Minisink Valley with pride, honor, and distinction—and inspired us all along the way!

A BREAKFAST FIT FOR STATE COMPETITORS!
They’re fueled, fired up and ready to shine!

This morning, our Middle School Odyssey of the Mind team kicked off their journey to Syracuse with a special bagel and donut breakfast, hosted by Principal Michael Larsen. With full stomachs and even fuller spirits, they’re officially on their way to the New York State Odyssey of the Mind competition at the New York State Fairgrounds!

For those who may not know, Odyssey of the Mind is all about creativity, teamwork, and out-of-the-box problem solving. Teams spend months designing original solutions to long-term challenges — often building elaborate props, engineering clever devices and performing skits that blend humor, storytelling and innovation. And here’s the twist: part of the competition includes a “spontaneous” challenge, where students must think on their feet and solve a problem in real time. No pressure, right? But, we know they got this!!!

It’s been many years since a team from our district has advanced to the state level, making this achievement even more exciting. These students have already proven their imagination, dedication and resilience — and now they’re ready to take the “state stage” and represent us all!

Break a leg, team! We’re cheering you on every step of the way and can’t wait to see the magic you bring to the competition!

Yesterday, March 19, the gallant knights of the High School’s chapter of the National Honor Society successfully undertook a quest of tremendous proportion: To host the most grand banquet for our most honored and noble community seniors!!

Our distinguished seniors – over 180 --- wise and wonderful as any council of elders in Camelot, were treated like royalty for a banquet featuring voluminous amounts of pasta!

With the precision of a well-experienced royal court, NHS members spent days preparing—summoning centerpieces into existence, crafting desserts of deliciousness and ensuring the feast was worthy of legend! And lo, it was! Our seniors arrived not as mere guests, but as the true royalty of the realm—greeted with warmth and laughter!

The hall rang with cheerful conversation and merriment, as students and seniors shared in a celebration that readied them for the High School Drama Club’s triumphant performance of Spamalot! With flair, fanfare and just the right amount of chaos, they brought the tale to life—complete with bold knights, questionable bravery, shrubbery and enthusiasm that could only be described as “Sir Lancelot-level.”

A resounding thank you to the NHS members for their tireless efforts, to the Drama Club for their spectacular show, and to our wonderful seniors, whose presence made the entire quest worthwhile. Truly, this was not just an event—it was a legendary gathering of community, kindness and comedy!

It was an afternoon filled with laughter, connection, and a perfectly measured dose of Spamalot absurdity. Have a look at our merry band of guests—and remember: Tickets to Monty Python’s Spamalot are still available (and highly recommended for those seeking further nonsense!).

See more photos on the district's Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD/posts/pfbid0HQ5nHRHo9NkFWJgbomU5Up3Rm4HNBNRTcNypFHpsx8XHyPZiz8SSVfpHSSJk5fQal?__cft__[0]=AZZZoX3azef4qSaboIoNmTrtxD4ErlGQnJbpnIXtuSEbOEjIYuBx7dgwoW7FrpwRhyupTvY8G3Q19pX_IWoUeKGoit3BwlZ0R7tGDSxtyhSQGPPQQrcA8Akk0CZtkfU0V7DhyTivSFK8BoNr0t29P5xDH3hHAH2ABnlDAXEFVm0tU5Y6o_pdrmMZlcSqXJJUgR8&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

BADMINTON MARCH BIRDIE MADNESS!
Move over brackets and buzzer-beaters—it was time for Birdie Madness to take center court!

Yesterday, March 18, the High School Physical Education Department served up its annual Badminton Tournament, and the energy was nothing short of championship-level excitement!

From lightning-fast volleys to clutch last-second saves, students battled it out like true March Madness contenders—only this time, the “ball” was a blur of shuttlecock feathers! Did you know that the badminton shuttlecock is actually the fastest object in racket sports?

The gym was alive with cheers, friendly rivalries, awesome outfits and bracket-busting surprises. Just like this month’s NCAA tournament, every match counted—and every swing had the crowd rooting for their favorites!
It was a fabulous day of fitness, fun, and fierce (but friendly!) competition. Whether pairs were considered a top seed or a Cinderella story, everyone brought their A-game!

WINNERS: Co-Ed Division:
1st: Jaida Macaluso / Stetson Terpak
2nd: Hannah Wieboldt / Landon Ordway
3rd: Kate O'Neill / Zach Filip
4th: Hannah Ringus / Sophia Escobar

WINNERS: Boys Division:
1st: James Arias / Ethan Rodriguez
2nd: RJ Sosler / Roman Gangi
3rd: Joseph Uhrig / Will Burretto
4th: Rogan Lynch / Luciano Palacios

Special thanks to Technology Teacher Christopher Tuthill and his students for making the championship badminton plaques and Senior Gavin McGinnis for singing the National Anthem prior to the tournament's start!

See more photos on the district's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD/posts/pfbid02MYTC4ZeHY4MysP4TqavvZZsTWuCon6TZp5sbUoBLixpbwtGWYZiYUF2V51aeNp9zl?__cft__[0]=AZanG623JYq2hmFhPXVhlpXWM0BimDT4mdtjjQC7Z7k4vrIKjGLFpF62cfcA5Yh7gf8pilZertdteRUD2LQhihvKkP8vDlnhyfUuKk-eQga6Lp2NKmbQKs7LWdEWkLRjv9kSPFrs6DoVTZl_uRRqHjRw2dVZH5ne-IMcG1TxsS7Y3khuwUUTvaczPp9uU4vHpjc&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R


•A badminton shuttlecock has 16 feathers—precision matters!
•Smashes in badminton can travel faster than a tennis serve.
•It’s one of the most popular sports in the world, especially in Asia and Europe.

SYRACUSE BOUND!
YOU GOT THIS, MIDDLE SCHOOL ODYSSEY OF THE MIND TEAM!
The Middle School’s Odyssey of the Mind team has completed the final touches on the refinements for its performance at the New York State Odyssey of the Mind Tournament at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse this Saturday, March 21! The team leaves tomorrow, March 20!
Team members are Ashton Gibbs, Christian Hines, Jemma Marsala, Quinn Murphy, Victoria Papp and Alicia Suen with Coach Madison Wyman.
The team will present Problem 1/“Off the Rails.”
• For this problem, the team becomes conductors and engineers as they continue to design, build and operate a train vehicle.
• As the train travels the course it will have a new car attached at each stop.
• Along the route, it will encounter challenges that make the train travel in different ways.
• After all of its cargo is picked up, the items will be unloaded and assembled into a work of art.
• The performance will also include the use of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, a humorous conductor character and a villain character that tries to prevent the train from getting to its destination.

Many of our teachers sprinkled a little extra magic into lessons for St. Patrick’s Day yesterday! That included Cynthia Muccari’s Otisville second and third-graders, who had a “lucky” day graphing colorful Lucky Charms and imagining all the fun they’d have with a pot of gold!

Math graphing with Lucky Charms cereal is a super fun, hands-on way for students to practice data collection, counting, sorting, and visual representation—all while celebrating St. Patrick’s Day! It’s bright, cheerful, and packed with festive marshmallow shapes—hearts, stars, horseshoes, clovers, blue moons, and rainbows—that celebrate luck and Irish folklore. The cereal is great for hands-on learning, whether students are counting, sorting, graphing, or creating sweet little crafts!

The FACS kitchen at the Middle School is filled with the warm, inviting aroma of freshly baked bread today, March 17, as Victoria Ingrassia’s students celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by making traditional Irish Soda Bread—a festive and delicious choice!

Using simple, classic ingredients like flour, baking soda, salt, butter and raisins students learned the basics of mixing, kneading, and shaping their dough watching a hands-on tutorial. Afterward, they headed to their stations to begin baking, carefully forming their loaves so they can come to life in the oven.

Soon, students will be enjoying their golden-brown creations, sliced and served with butter—a perfect way to celebrate the holiday!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY --- Top of the morning to you!
These clever and creative leprechaun traps were set out yesterday by McKayla Murphy’s IS third-graders in their classroom! While no leprechauns were caught, these mischievous characters left some very fun treats behind to let students know they were onsite when they arrived to class this morning!

Leprechaun traps are creative, kid-made, decorative crafts set on St. Patrick’s Eve designed to "catch" a leprechaun. Usually made from household items like shoe boxes or jars, they're baited with gold coins, shamrocks, and glitter, often leading to a fun St. Patrick's Day tradition where the trap is found "sprung" with a small treat left behind.

Elementary school kids love making leprechaun traps because it merges imaginative play with hands-on STEM engineering, tapping into the magic and mischief of St. Patrick’s Day. The activity allows children to use creativity to design clever traps from household items, fostering critical thinking, while anticipating the fun reward of potential leprechaun “gold” or treats!

Approximately 31 million people in the U.S. claim Irish heritage! That's almost six times the population of Ireland!

SUNY New Paltz student art teacher Julia Wilson has been working with Otisville Art Teacher Kara Welsh and her second-grade art students in a project called "Food Imposters," inspired by the TV shows "Is It Cake?" and "Kids Baking Championship" where the food is disguised as something else. They’ve been making realistic plates of food out of paper, folding, crinkling and rolling the paper in the collages to make it realistic, like the textures of food.

Julia, who will graduate in May, is one of many student teachers working with district students this spring. All student teachers are getting wonderful experience working with their mentor teachers and providing our students with innovative and robust lessons to support the district’s curriculum!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone who attended Project Graduation’s Tricky Tray this past Saturday evening at the high school. An amazing $15,000 was raised, which will support Project Graduation’s determined work to organize and run a spectacular and memorable graduation party for the Class of 2026! These wonderful volunteers couldn’t do this without your support! We’re all grateful!

Kudos to the Otisville Kiwanis K-Kids, who collected more than 130 items for the Carlucci Home, an assisted living community in Port Jervis helping adults with activities of daily living, as well as memory care and any medical needs they may have. Each resident received a personalized, decorated gift bag filled with warm wishes from the K-Kids containing two puzzle books, soup and fuzzy socks.

“It is so rewarding to see the children putting kindness into practice,” said Kiwanis advisor Andrea Yager. “Thanks to all your support and generosity, the ladies are staying warm this winter.”

K-Kids is a Kiwanis Service Leadership Program for primary/elementary school age students. Club members improve their schools and communities — an experience that helps them develop a passion to serve, a desire to lead and the ability to engage and collaborate with others.

Joan Giardina’s IS fourth-grade art students are using liquid watercolors and a watercolor “salt technique” to create gorgeous koi watercolor art! Their work includes drawing from the perspective as if they were looking down into a koi pond.

The watercolor salt technique creates unique textures (air bubbles) by sprinkling salt onto wet paint; as the salt absorbs water and pigment, it leaves behind sparkling, mottled patterns. They applied table or sea salt while the wash was still wet/damp, let it dry completely, then gently brushed off the crystals. How creative (and how beautiful their work is!)

Koi are ornamental domesticated carp with a 40 plus year average lifespan, with some living over 200 years. Originating from 19th-century Japan, they symbolize luck, love, and friendship. They grow up to 3 feet long, are omnivorous, and thrive in social groups within, often requiring, specialized, clean, and spacious ponds.

Thank you to dental hygienists Jennifer Coon and Larissa Ford, who recently visited Sally Mankoo’s ES kindergarteners to talk about dental hygiene. These little ones are pretty smart, too, because they knew which foods the “Happy Tooth” would like them to eat, and which foods make the “Sad Tooth” sad. WELL-DONE, everyone!

Bryon Imbarrato’s Otisville third-graders, like all district third-graders, have been working on fractions during their math lessons. They’ve been comparing fractions using pictures, number lines and even playing Fraction War --- an educational card game based on the classic game of "War," designed to help players practice comparing, simplifying, and finding equivalent fractions. Two or more players flip cards showing fractions, and the player with the largest fraction value wins the round and keeps all cards. The game ends when one player collects all the cards.

Third-graders study fractions to build a foundational understanding of parts-to-whole relationships, which is critical for future success in algebra, geometry, and STEM careers. This introduction helps students move from concrete, whole-number thinking to more abstract concepts, including comparing, ordering, and understanding equivalent fractions.

Learning a foreign language is a cornerstone of strong academic programs in school districts like Minisink Valley because it nurtures cognitive growth, deepens cultural understanding, and strengthens students’ future career opportunities. Studying another language challenges the brain in unique ways, sharpening critical thinking, improving memory and enhancing multitasking skills.

At the same time, learning a foreign language broadens students’ perspectives by exposing them to different cultures, traditions, and ways of thinking, including building empathy and global awareness. In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to speak more than one language is not just an academic asset; it is an essential skill that allows individuals to communicate effectively, collaborate across cultures and thrive in a global society.

The Middle School recently celebrated National Foreign Language Week by inviting five students to share their native language or language spoken at home with the school community via morning announcements with some sentences in those languages! They did great!

Thank you to:
--- Taras Pylpchuk, Ukrainian
--- Adrien Kusztykiewicz, Polish
--- Christel Toussaint, French
--- Santiago Valencia, Spanish
--- Andrew Suen, Mandarin Chinese