MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW! Registration opens Monday, April 6 for the hugely popular KIDS NIGHT OUT, hosted by the Varsity Swimming and Diving team!
"Well hot dog!"
It's "Underground Spirit Week" at Otisville Elementary. Can you guess what today's theme is?
Principal Julia Downey and Assistant Principal Nikachi Griffin know how important school spirit is to the entire school community and always love to be part of the fun!
Disney Day is a great day to remind everyone of an important quote from Walt Disney: "If you can dream it, you can do it!"
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!
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!
FREE GIRLS BASKETBALL SPRING INSTRUCTIONAL CLINICS!
While brackets are busting and buzzer-beaters are dropping this March Madness season, give your own future star a shot — sign your 4th through 8th grader up for our FREE Girls Basketball Spring Instructional Clinic!
• Open to all district girls in 4th through 8th grades
• DATES: Saturday, April 11 and Saturday, April 18
• 9 a.m. to 12 noon in the High School Gym
The clinics will be directed by Coach McDonald with assistance from players in the Minisink Valley Girls Basketball program. The camp’s goal is to provide quality instruction and inspiration for young district athletes. The camp is free of charge, though donations towards the Girls Basketball Program are optional, but welcome. Activities include individual skill instruction and competitive team play. The players may be separated into two levels according to their age and ability. Participants will be expected to wear sneakers and dress appropriately.
Here's the registration link: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLScQbIcAlyC6xV.../viewform
While brackets are busting and buzzer-beaters are dropping this March Madness season, give your own future star a shot — sign your 4th through 8th grader up for our FREE Girls Basketball Spring Instructional Clinic!
• Open to all district girls in 4th through 8th grades
• DATES: Saturday, April 11 and Saturday, April 18
• 9 a.m. to 12 noon in the High School Gym
The clinics will be directed by Coach McDonald with assistance from players in the Minisink Valley Girls Basketball program. The camp’s goal is to provide quality instruction and inspiration for young district athletes. The camp is free of charge, though donations towards the Girls Basketball Program are optional, but welcome. Activities include individual skill instruction and competitive team play. The players may be separated into two levels according to their age and ability. Participants will be expected to wear sneakers and dress appropriately.
Here's the registration link: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLScQbIcAlyC6xV.../viewform
These adorable leprechauns paid a visit to Principal Julia Downey's office yesterday, March 17, to wish her a Happy St. Patrick's Day! Leprechauns are solitary Irish fairy tricksters known for mending shoes, guarding pots of gold, and wearing green. But these little cuties had no tricks, just good wishes!
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!
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!
HAPPY GO LUCKY!
Green is the color of the day, as Stephanie Gove's Otisville third-graders are reminding us, as they wish us all a very Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Green is the color of the day, as Stephanie Gove's Otisville third-graders are reminding us, as they wish us all a very Happy St. Patrick's Day!
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
“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.
Wait… wait… wait a second!
Did you hear it’s going to be almost 75 degrees tomorrow?! That's a little wild, right?
Before the snow completely melts into a memory, let’s rewind and check out Stephanie Guifre and her Otisville Physical Education students, who made the most of the massive snow we've had with some snowy outdoor fun—snowshoeing style!
Snowshoeing is an awesome physical education activity because it’s a high-energy, low-impact, full-body workout that’s great for all skill levels. It strengthens muscles, improves cardiovascular endurance, and challenges balance—all while keeping students active and engaged outdoors. It works the core and legs, and if poles are used, the upper body gets a great workout, too!
Fun fact: snowshoeing can burn up to 1,000 calories per hour…Just maybe not when it’s 75 degrees out
Did you hear it’s going to be almost 75 degrees tomorrow?! That's a little wild, right?
Before the snow completely melts into a memory, let’s rewind and check out Stephanie Guifre and her Otisville Physical Education students, who made the most of the massive snow we've had with some snowy outdoor fun—snowshoeing style!
Snowshoeing is an awesome physical education activity because it’s a high-energy, low-impact, full-body workout that’s great for all skill levels. It strengthens muscles, improves cardiovascular endurance, and challenges balance—all while keeping students active and engaged outdoors. It works the core and legs, and if poles are used, the upper body gets a great workout, too!
Fun fact: snowshoeing can burn up to 1,000 calories per hour…Just maybe not when it’s 75 degrees out
Be there this Saturday! It's Project Graduation's TRICKY TRAY! Support the Class of 2026 and have a great evening out!
Stephanie Giufre’s and Tom Uhrig’s Otisville physical education students have been working their way through different stations doing different types of exercises to reinforce the importance of fitness! Plus, it’s always fun to do this with some great background music!
We’re so proud of the performances given by our Odyssey of the Mind teams this past weekend at the New York State Region 5 competition held at Orange-Ulster BOCES! The Otisville team earned seventh place honors in its division for tackling Problem 5/“Taller Tales of John Jivery.” Congratulations to team members Christian Barth, Evan Jackson, Charlotte Kelly, Tristen Lapertosa, Callan Mark, Malina Myrie, Emma Thompson and Coach Jenna Colman!
The team created and presented a humorous performance about an original tall tale. The tale included a team-created hero or heroine that performed an incredible feat, a unique explanation of how something began or came to be and a surprise for the audience. Each event was accompanied by a visual weather effect that represents an emotion! WELL-DONE, everyone!
The team created and presented a humorous performance about an original tall tale. The tale included a team-created hero or heroine that performed an incredible feat, a unique explanation of how something began or came to be and a surprise for the audience. Each event was accompanied by a visual weather effect that represents an emotion! WELL-DONE, everyone!
Kudos to the Otisville Elementary student scientists, who showcased magnificent work during the Feb. 26 Science Fair!
Their work is amazing! THANK YOU to the Otisville PTO for organizing and hosting this wonderful evening!
Elementary school science fairs are crucial for fostering long-term interest in STEM, building critical thinking, and developing communication skills through hands-on, self-directed projects. They allow students to explore personal passions, encouraging curiosity, resilience through trial-and-error, and the ability to apply the scientific method to real-world problems!
Their work is amazing! THANK YOU to the Otisville PTO for organizing and hosting this wonderful evening!
Elementary school science fairs are crucial for fostering long-term interest in STEM, building critical thinking, and developing communication skills through hands-on, self-directed projects. They allow students to explore personal passions, encouraging curiosity, resilience through trial-and-error, and the ability to apply the scientific method to real-world problems!
FRIDAY’S CUTENESS ALERT!
It’s the Year of the Fire Horse — a year said to bring energy, confidence and bold new beginnings!
Who doesn’t love a parade? Lunar New Year festivities continue through March 3, and today, Feb. 27, the Otisville kindergarten team organized the most adorable Lunar New Year Parade!
Our littlest students were dressed to impress in festive hats — many wearing red, a lucky color believed to bring good fortune and happiness — and proudly carried handmade lanterns, puppets and dragons, all important symbols of the holiday. Lanterns traditionally represent hope and brightness for the year ahead, while parades are meant to spread joy and good luck throughout the community.
As the kindergarteners paraded around the first floor, they were cheered on by older students lining the hallways, filling the school with smiles, applause, and celebration! Who do you recognize?
Dragons are central to Lunar New Year parades because they symbolize strength, wisdom, power, and good fortune. Unlike Western dragons, Chinese dragons are kind and protective, often associated with rain, water, and agricultural abundance. The dragon dance dates back hundreds of years and is performed to ward off evil spirits and invite prosperity for the new year.
It was a day full of culture, creativity, and community — and definitely one to make students smile!
Jessica Kahn’s Otisville kindergarteners have been filling their days with kindness, compassion and heart. Like all district kindergarteners, they’ve been learning just how powerful small acts of kindness can be — and their recent project beautifully brought those lessons to life while weaving together ELA, science, seasonal learning and creativity.
First, students listened to the read-aloud version of Kate Banks’ "The Winter Bird." It’s the story of a nightingale with a broken wing who is unable to fly south for the winter and must learn to survive with the help of forest animals. The story follows the nightingale as it experiences snow, cold and scarcity for the first time, receiving aid from a rabbit, squirrel, and owl, and ultimately discovering the beauty of winter and the strength of community before its wing heals and spring returns. It's a tale of resilience, friendship, and finding wonder in new experiences.
Students connected the story to concepts they learned in their previous “Seasons and Weather” unit, which also included a discussion about the importance of showing kindness to one another.
Later, students created their own bird feeders using pine cones, peanut butter and birdseed. Once completed, they bundled up to go outside where Mrs. Kahn hung their adorable bird feeders on two trees, so hungry birds would find food, which was a particularly thoughtful gesture during these recent sub-zero temperature weeks. There, she read them Aileen Fisher’s “Valentines,” a poem that describes seeds as valentines for February birds reminded them of the importance of not only being kind to each other but birds and animals.
The lesson was clear: Kindness isn’t just for friends in the classroom, but for all living things and even the smallest hands can make a big difference!
First, students listened to the read-aloud version of Kate Banks’ "The Winter Bird." It’s the story of a nightingale with a broken wing who is unable to fly south for the winter and must learn to survive with the help of forest animals. The story follows the nightingale as it experiences snow, cold and scarcity for the first time, receiving aid from a rabbit, squirrel, and owl, and ultimately discovering the beauty of winter and the strength of community before its wing heals and spring returns. It's a tale of resilience, friendship, and finding wonder in new experiences.
Students connected the story to concepts they learned in their previous “Seasons and Weather” unit, which also included a discussion about the importance of showing kindness to one another.
Later, students created their own bird feeders using pine cones, peanut butter and birdseed. Once completed, they bundled up to go outside where Mrs. Kahn hung their adorable bird feeders on two trees, so hungry birds would find food, which was a particularly thoughtful gesture during these recent sub-zero temperature weeks. There, she read them Aileen Fisher’s “Valentines,” a poem that describes seeds as valentines for February birds reminded them of the importance of not only being kind to each other but birds and animals.
The lesson was clear: Kindness isn’t just for friends in the classroom, but for all living things and even the smallest hands can make a big difference!
COSTUME CHECK...and don't they look fabulous?? And, rehearsals are going great!! Take a look and see who you recognize!
Remember, the Otisville Elementary Drama Club's performances of "Seussical JR" are coming up fast: Tuesday, March 3 and Wednesday, March 4 at 7 p.m. in the Otisville cafetorium.
FREE ADMISSION for all!
Remember, the Otisville Elementary Drama Club's performances of "Seussical JR" are coming up fast: Tuesday, March 3 and Wednesday, March 4 at 7 p.m. in the Otisville cafetorium.
FREE ADMISSION for all!
Skyler Klein’s Otisville second-grade music students continue to be in the midst of an “arranging project,” where they take a preexisting song and create their version using glockenspiels! Their selected song was "Rabbit Run." Students previously brainstormed ideas for what instruments they could include and what they could play...and they're doing great!
A glockenspiel is a musical instrument with shiny metal bars that you hit with small hammers (mallets) to make bright, bell-like sounds. It is a percussion instrument, often used in orchestras to sound like birds or magical bells. The name is German for "bell play," and it looks like a small piano.
A glockenspiel is a musical instrument with shiny metal bars that you hit with small hammers (mallets) to make bright, bell-like sounds. It is a percussion instrument, often used in orchestras to sound like birds or magical bells. The name is German for "bell play," and it looks like a small piano.
WHO DOESN'T LOVE KINDERGARTEN CUTENESS?
Our Otisville kindergarteners are growing up right before our eyes! They’re so much more confident in the cafeteria than they were at the beginning of the school year — and just as adorable as ever! From making big lunch choices to enjoying social time with their friends, these little ones are building important life skills every day! Take a peek at these little cutie pies and their happy faces!
Our Otisville kindergarteners are growing up right before our eyes! They’re so much more confident in the cafeteria than they were at the beginning of the school year — and just as adorable as ever! From making big lunch choices to enjoying social time with their friends, these little ones are building important life skills every day! Take a peek at these little cutie pies and their happy faces!
