Volume 40, Issue 6 February 2011 c Va li ll e e s y t

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C O thethe e l VVallealleyy n V o o t r h a l S c MISSION STATEMENT: The Otselic Valley Central School community will encourage decisions that give all students the opportunity to achieve their highest level of learning in preparation for a challenging tomorrow. Superintendent’s Message 2011 is off to a very busy still like to be considered for the committee or have start. We have begun to gather questions, please contact the District Office at 653- community and staff input con- 7218. We look forward to hearing from you. cerning the upcoming budget. —Richard J. Hughes, Superintendent Committees are investigating BAT Committee Members and providing options to address Sally Bucalo (S) our technology and literacy needs. David Cruikshank (BOE, C) Of particular interest to many is James Franklin, Chairperson (C) our Board Advisory Team (BAT) Terri Hammond (BOE, C) for Facilities. Richard Hughes (S) Based on responses from our December newsletter, Scott Poreda (S, C) we have assembled a team of community and staff David Rasmussen (C) members. The goals and purpose of the BAT are to: Oscar Robinson (C) • Study Otselic Valley’s facility infrastructure needs; Kevin Springer (S, C) • Study Otselic Valley’s educational program needs; Robert Tefft (S, C) • Represent the public’s views and interests; William Waltz (C) • Communicate with the public; (C) Community, (S) Staff, (BOE) Board of Education • Determine consultants required to complete the study; • Determine how to address our infrastructure and educational program needs; and • Report to the Board of Education and make recom- mendations for action. The Otselic Valley Drama Club Presents To help gather information from the community, there will be meetings at each building. The first com- Guys and Dolls munity meeting in Georgetown will be at 7:00 p.m. in Friday and Saturday the Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, February 8. April 1 and 2 The first community meeting in South Otselic will be at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Cafeteria on Thursday, February 10. These are the first of many meetings to come but your input will be especially valuable at the beginning of this process. If you are unable to attend either meeting, I have included a list of committee members below. Please speak with them about your ideas and con- cerns, so that your voice can be heard. If you would 2 OTSELIC VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL 2011-2012 Budget Development Calendar Date Event Location Time February 2 Budget Basics/Public Work Session...... Junior/Senior High School .... 7:00 p.m. 24 Budget Basics/Public Work Session ...... Elementary School ...... 7:00 p.m. March 9 Budget Basics/Public Work Session ...... Junior/Senior High School .... 7:00 p.m. 14 NYSSBA Legislative Lobby Day...... Albany 30 Budget Basics/Public Work Session ...... Elementary School ...... 7:00 p.m. April 4 Voluntary budget presentation to faculty/staff...... Junior/Senior High School .....3:15 p.m. 18 Deadline for petitions for Board of Education Candidates.....District Office ...... 5:00 p.m. Board of Education Meeting and Budget Adoption ...... Elementary School ...... 7:30 p.m. May 10 Annual Budget Hearing...... Junior/Senior High School .....7:30 p.m. 17 Budget Vote and Board of Education Election...... 12:00 Noon-9:00 p.m. Elementary School and Junior/Senior High School Board of Education Meeting...... Junior/Senior High School .....7:30 p.m.

Approved Meal Prices Emergency School for 2010-2011 Closings Stations Prices below are correct. The prices listed on the free Radio Stations and reduced price school meals application are incorrect. WSYR-AM 570 WYYY-FM 94.5 High School WBBS-FM B104.7 WWHT-FM 107.9 Student Breakfast Category WHEN-AM 620 WCHN-AM 97 Free Reduced Paid Adult WKXZ-FM 94 WBKT-FM 95.3 $0.00 $0.25 $1.25 $2.00 WZOZ-FM WDOS-AM 730 Student Lunch Category WSRK-FM 103.9 WNTQ-FM 93Q Free Reduced Paid Adult WNSS-AM WNBF-AM 1290 $0.00 $0.25 $1.75 $3.50 WHWK-FM 98.1 WWYL-FM 104.1 Elementary School WAAL-FM 99.1 Student Breakfast Category Television Stations Free Reduced Paid Adult WSTM-TV 3 WTVH-TV 5 $0.00 $0.25 $1.25 $2.00 WIXT-TV 9 WBNG-TV 12 Student Lunch Category YOUR NEWS NOW (10) Free Reduced Paid Adult $0.00 $0.25 $1.75 $3.50 Please Note If our school begins with a one-hour delay, depend- ing on weather conditions one of four things could Pertussis Vaccination happen: The best way to prevent pertussis is to get vac- • we may open; cinated. There are vaccines for children, pre-teens, • we could go to a two-hour delay, then open; teens and adults. The childhood vaccine is called • we could go to a two-hour delay, then close; or DTaP, and the pertussis booster vaccine for adoles- • we could close. cents and adults is called Tdap (CDC). Please contact So, please continue to watch and listen for updates. your doctor about receiving this vaccination. For further information visit http://cdc.gov/ pertussis/index.html ECHOES FROM THE VALLEY 3 Flu Alert—Prevention and Treatment Information How can you help prevent the flu? When should you seek medical help? There are simple actions that you can take to help If your child: reduce your child’s exposure to flu viruses and the • Is breathing rapidly or having trouble breathing; risk of developing the flu: • Is having convulsions or a seizure ; • Wash your hands often, especially after you have • Is not alert or is disoriented; or been out in public or touched things that other • Has persistent vomiting. people have touched, like a grocery cart, a gas You should also call the doctor if your child is more pump or even a doorknob. Your child should wash susceptible to the flu or a complication. For example, his hands after sharing toys or books with friends. if your child is: • To prevent spreading the flu, turn your head when • Under two years-old; you cough and sneeze into disposable tissues. • Has a pre-existing medical condition, such as • Do not expose infants to large crowds during the diabetes, asthma or kidney disease; or flu season. • On treatment or has a disease that decreases the • Avoid close contact with family members who body’s ability to fight infection. have the flu. What other treatments can help? What is the treatment for the flu? Two other treatments may help in some cases. There are four important things to remember when • Decongestants and antihistamines usually do not treating a child with the flu. work very well for children. However, if a certain 1. Rest—Your child should get plenty of rest, but he medicine has worked well for your child in the should perk up at least briefly every four hours. past, try one dose and continue only if it is clearly If he does not have brief periods of feeling better, helpful. Cough medicines are not recommended call your doctor. for the flu, as coughing is the body’s way of clean- 2. Fluids—The best fluids are clear liquids, including ing the lungs. Be sure to follow package directions water, clear juices and sports drinks. If your child for dosage amounts. rejects most solid foods for a day or two that is okay, • Prescription medications are available to treat the as long as he continues to drink well and urinate flu. However, there are some facts to be considered. normally. If your child does want to eat, feed him • They must be prescribed by a doctor. bland foods in small amounts. • They must be given within 48 hours of the first 3. Fever Control flu symptoms, or they will not help. • Treat the fever using an acetaminophen or • At best, they will reduce the length of your ibuprofen product such as Tylenol® or Advil®. child’s illness by 24 to 36 hours. Never use any product containing aspirin • Some may have side effects. or stomach-coating liquids with salicylates. • At times, the liquid form of these drugs may Check the product’s label carefully for these be hard to find. substances. Given these facts, many pediatricians do not • One final key to controlling your child’s fever prescribe these medications for previously healthy is how he is dressed or how he is covered when children with the flu. The medications may be used in bed. Bundling him up will make it harder for children who are hospitalized or who are at high for the medicine to lower his temperature. risk from complications because of underlying medi- Dress or cover your child as you normally cal problems. would for the temperature of the room he is in. If you are unsure if your child has the flu, you sus- 4. Close Observation for Signs of Complications pect your child may have the flu, or your child does • These signs include very frequent cough, rash not respond to these recommendations, contact your and vomiting. pediatrician or family doctor immediately. 4 OTSELIC VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL Rx Drug Abuse Information Know Your Rights! Within the past year the CDC (Centers for Disease Seniors in Section 2 of Participation in Government Control and Prevention) released a report stating have been studying civil liberties. Because many stu- that one in five teens or twenty percent are abusing dents at OV are unaware of their rights or understand prescription drugs. The abuse of Rx medications their rights in school are not always the same as those seems to be the fastest growing area of drug abuse afforded to the general public, the seniors have created for teens. Some pundits have even named the current public service announcements aimed at educating our generation, Generation Rx. Drug abuse of this nature Vikings about their civil liberties. With Mrs. Osowski is on the rise in our area but not yet at the level of and Mrs. Leblanc, students have researched specific national trends. court cases pertaining to teen civil liberties, discussed The following are some suggestions that will help what a PSA is and the elements involved, and have ensure that this trend does not rise to the level seen been responsible for writing the script, recording, across the nation. Teens are often getting caught raid- editing, and creating an original music score. The ing their parent’s or grandparent’s medicine cabinets PSAs are currently airing on O.V. TV as part of the in order to obtain these medications. Monitoring and morning announcements. securing medications are two obvious but simple ways to help combat this issue. Another suggestion is to get Fact or Fiction? informed. Listen to the language that teens use and do As part of the unit on Civil Liberties, students not be afraid to ask them to explain their vernacular. in Section 1 of Mrs. Osowski’s Participation in Here is just a sampling of some of the slang that teens Government class have read George Orwell’s 1949 use for Rx Drug use: Pharming, Z-Bars, Blueberrys, novel, 1984 and compared the fictional society of Addys, Vitamin R and many more. Pharming or Pharm Oceania, where citizens lost their right to privacy, Party refers to the idea of kids securing a variety of with the help of technology and compared it to our pills from various sources and getting together and world today. Students looked at and discussed cur- taking the pills. As for the rest of the slang terms, your rent issues including social networking, advances in challenge is to take this on as a homework assignment, medical technology, as well as the new TSA policies do the research and get informed. I suggest a visit of body-scanning. Students noted how the technol- to www.Nida.nih.gov or contact your friendly School ogy discussed in the novel is no longer science fiction Prevention Counselor. Good luck! and how citizens needed to be proactive in protecting —Catherine Lamphier Young, Prevention Counselor their privacy. ECHOES FROM THE VALLEY 5 Senior Class FFA Notes The FFA and Junior FFA would like to thank Information Station all the generous blood donors who participated in First and foremost we would like to thank all December’s blood drive. It was a successful drive as parents/guardians who helped us make it through we were able to help over 70 people with the blood basketball concessions. We could not have done it collected. It never ceases to amaze us at all the heroes without you. among us. Any senior who worked at concessions or donated While doing community service is important, we items may use those points to help defray the cost of also took some time for fun during the WinterFest any senior expenses that occur in the next five months. contest right before Christmas break. The FFA per- They cannot be used for deposits. The following list is formed an airband skit to the song Big Green Tractor by not inclusive of all expenses. Jason Aldean. The Junior FFA performed an airband • Yearbook (Final payment due May 1, 2011) skit to the song, She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy by Kenny • Graduation Announcements (Ordered through Chesney. The Junior FFA skit came in second place! Jostens) Respectfully submitted, • Senior T-Shirt/Sweatshirt Travis Sheldon, FFA Reporter • Senior Trip Senior Trip As you know we are planning our senior trip to Baltimore/Ocean City, MD, June 3-5. Itineraries were sent home in November. Please make note of the fol- lowing payment schedule. The amount of the trip is based on 20-25 paid students. • February 14—$100 • March 14—$200 • April 18—$100 Practicing for airband—Students practice getting the • May 1—$70 moves down on the pedal tractor outside the class- A mandatory meeting for both parents and seniors room before the actual talent competition. going on the trip will take place on Tuesday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m. Please RSVP to Ms. Slocum or Mrs. Wood if you cannot attend so that other arrangements may be made to go over trip information, rules and regula- tions and to sign the code of conduct. We can be contacted at [email protected] and lwood@ ovcs.org or you can call the High School Office at 315-653-7218 to leave a message. Performing—Junior FFA members performing to “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” Happy Valentine’s Day! My Big Green Tractor—FFA members performing to “Big Green Tractor” 6 OTSELIC VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL Jr./Sr. High School Family and Consumer Citizens of the Month Science Classes During the 2010-2011 school year the Jr./Sr. High School will A fun community service project! be selecting students on a monthly basis to receive the Otselic Mrs. Sutton’s Family and Consumer Science Valley Citizen of the Month Award. This award honors students classes were asked to bake cookies for Santa’s who have met the following criteria: appearance at the pavilion in South Otselic on a. positive interaction with teachers; December 18. The Grange, Fire Department and b. positive interaction with peers; American Legion sponsor this event every year. c. satisfactory academic performance; and With the donations of baking supplies from d. following the rules. many community members, we went right to December 2010 Otselic Valley Citizens of the Month work and baked over 12 dozen assorted cookies. Grade 7 Although the evening was chilly, the cookies Coleman O’Hara, son of Douglas and Leshia O’Hara and hot chocolate kept us warm and energized. Grade 8 7th Grade students to participate Colby VanVoorhis, son of Gary and Patricia VanVoorhis in Cooking Up Fun Sixteen 7th grade students will be able to Grade 9 participate in another Cooking Up Fun: Vary Lauren Harris, daughter of Stephen and Phyllis Harris Your Veggies after school program. Students Grade 10 will learn safety in the kitchen while preparing Esther Lyon, daughter of Jay and Judy Lyon six tasty dishes. Be sure to ask your 7th grade Grade 11 student to prepare it at home as well! Logan Carsten, son of Seth and Kathleen Carsten The program begins January 12 and runs through February 17. Sign ups are on a first Grade 12 come, first serve basis. Coleman Ellis, son of William and Janie Ellis

Wall of Fame Nominations The Wall of Fame Committee is accept- ing nominations for the 2011 induction ceremony. We are looking to recognize graduates, current or former employees, vol- unteers and/or friends of the Otselic Valley Central School District who have made out- standing contributions in their fields. Please contact Richard J. Hughes at 315-837-4407 or Scott Poreda at 315-653-7218, for more information. Row 1: Esther Lyon, Colby VanVoorhis, Lauren Harris; row 2: Coleman O’Hara, Coleman Ellis, Logan Carsten See application on the next page. Great Job! ECHOES FROM THE VALLEY 7 8 OTSELIC VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL High School Library News 7th Grade Spanish Classes High School Book Club News Ms. Connelly’s 7th grade Spanish classes have Before the holidays, the High been working on creating their own weather reports. School Book Club once again The students have been working in groups to locate ventured to the Elementary Spanish-speaking cities and to give realistic reports of School to read with young stu- the weather there—in Spanish, of course! The students dents. We were able to spend were filmed in front of a green screen, which allows time with the kindergarten, them to use iMovie technology to superimpose their first grade, second grade and video over a photo of their city. The result? Weather some third grade classes, as reports on location, everywhere from Chihuahua, well as helping Mrs. Bucalo’s Mexico to Santiago, Chile! class with crafts. Students of Ms. Eschen’s classes have been creating documen- all ages enjoyed connecting taries about animals using the library’s iMacs. After with each other and making researching their chosen animals, they have used new friends! Garage Band to record their reports, and iPhoto and iMovie to match photos with their words. The result? Great, and informative, movies!

Emily Boyce, Merrissa Williams, Grace Lowry

Emily Comfort, Grace Lowry, Mikayla Gillette, Keachia Holmes

Ella Costa, Keachia Holmes, Francesca Cortez

Ms. Eschen and Dustin Marshall ECHOES FROM THE VALLEY 9 Third Marking Period Honor Roll 7th Grade Merit Joshua Cross Honor Benjamin Brown Crystal Hillman Emily Comfort Nicholas DeRochie Adam Monroe Robert Davies Susan Graham Cody Morgan Matthew Garey Crimson Joyce Kara Quick Mikayla Gillette Tiffany Martin Elyse Roalef Marianne Jones Elizabeth Morse Kayla Thorp McKenzie Lidell Gaven Plummer Merit Coleman O’Hara Peter Robinson Jenna DeLee Kent James Stark 10th Grade Hunter Grace Merit High Honor Shelby Hillman Francesca Cortez Esther Lyon Alan Lewis Ella Costa Kayleena Manwarren Tamika Martin Grace Lowery Honor Bethany Mason Hunter Mills Allyzza Agren Kameron Mikula Patience Smith Kayla DeLee Bradley Moyer Kurt Stark Kelsea Graves Autumn Sergent Amber Thornton Sydni Hamlin Corey Stone 8th Grade Rachael Harris Jenna Swayze High Honor Brandon Huntley 12th Grade Crystal Hayner Trevor Marston High Honor Jordan Lidell Amber Monroe Douglas Day Matthew Neal Aletha Mott Jacob DeRochie Jessica Ossont Zachary Muller Kimberly DeVinne Honor Minnie Rhoades Karl Graham JulieAnne Elwood Chantal Stith Bianca Kelly Thomas Foster Eva Stone Honor Angel Horvath-Marshall Howard Straight Jessica Bencke Justine Neal Merit Joseph Billy Madeleine Plummer Nikole Olin Bethany Lewis Joseph Puccio Brenton Rasmussen Angie Marshall Jennifer Rhoades Hope Reynolds Brittany Seager Merit Emily Scanlon Jenna Wood Jonathan Liuzzo 11th Grade Merit 9th Grade High Honor Chelsea Batchelor High Honor Marina Brown Benjamin Davis Amanda Korb Logan Carsten Dustin Davis Grace Reichard Angela Graves Mark DeBottis Carly Stone Michael Larkin Zachary Forrest Honor Jessica Loomis Joshua Fox Kesshia DeLee Gabrielle Lyon Robert Kelly Lauren Harris Elisabeth Reichard Zachary Rowland Jonathan Lyon Honor Nathan Stark Dakota Marshall Kyleigh Bassett Briana Parshall Charles Bishop III Elyse Petersen Jacob Cross 10 OTSELIC VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL Physics Corner First Grade in the Library First graders have been having fun in the Library learning about our senses. We read an old folk- tale from India, The Blind Men and the Elephant, retold by Lillian Quigley, in which six blind men learn about the parts of an elephant by touching an elephant. Then we reached into our sense box and, with our eyes closed, tried to tell which stuffed animal we were holding just by touching. We listened carefully to The Loudest Noise in the World, by Benjamin Elkin. (Do you think if Hello OV! This month’s Physics Corner column everyone shouted at the same time that would be the focuses on a special day of demonstrations from my loudest noise in the world?) Then we used our sense 8th Grade Physical Science class. Back in early box to identify things just by hearing the noise they December, the class decided to take it down a notch for made: scissors cutting, paper tearing or a pencil writ- a day—and turn up the heat! Mr. Witmer did a number ing. We smelled peanut butter, apple and banana in of flame-based demonstrations for the class, which the our sense box after reading Mucky Moose by Jonathan students loved. The demonstrations focused on the Allen, about the smelliest moose in the forest (his best principles of physical and chemical change and the friends are the skunks), and used our eyes to identify differences between elements and compounds. hidden pictures in Tana Hoban’s Look Again! The crowd-pleaser was a pair of Whoosh Bottles. Finally we had our tasting party. First, we read These setups consisted of empty water cooler bottles Gregory the Terrible Eater, by Mitchell Sharmat. Then we filled with flammable ethanol vapor. A lit match was had a tasting party, in which we ate something sweet lowered into each bottle and . . . Whoosh! The vapor (Oreos, lollipops), something salty (popcorn, pretzels), combusted rapidly and a column of flame rocketed something sour (sour worms, lemons and limes), and into the air! Though the show value of this demonstra- something healthy (apples, bananas.). If we use all our tion was important, every necessary safety precaution senses, and read, we can learn so much about our world! was taken to ensure the safety of everyone present! Thanks for visiting the Physics Corner, and be sure to look for a new column next month! —Mr. Witmer Science News 5th Grade The 5th grade has started their Human Body unit. This is always a fun way to find out how our bodies work. Using card stock, students make models of the skeleton and internal organs, placing them inside the skeleton. 6th Grade The 6th graders are studying cell biology. They will draw and label plant and animal cells on the computer. As well as learning all the functions of the cell parts they learn about bacteria, viruses and molds. This is a continuation of the human development unit which also includes the study of our immune system. ECHOES FROM THE VALLEY 11 OTSELIC VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL Non-profit Georgetown, New York 13072 Organization U.S. Postage South Otselic, New York 13155 P A I D South Otselic, Board Members NY 13155 David Cruikshank, President PERMIT #3 Dale Fox, Vice President Gregory Brown Douglas Evans Terri Hammond Gail Evans Burpee, District Clerk DCMO BOCES Printing Service • Norwich, NY

CURRENT RESIDENT OR

ECRWSS BOXHOLDER

“The Otselic Valley Central School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disabilities, marital or veteran status.” Contact person: Richard J. Hughes, Superintendent, P.O. Box 161, 125 County Road 13A, South Otselic, NY 13155 (315) 653-7218.

Otselic Valley Vikings Calendar of Events Girls’ Junior Varsity and Varsity Basketball February February 2 Budget Basics/Public Work Session, Junior 3 Cincinnatus...... Home...... 6:00 Senior High School, 7:30 p.m. 5 Morris...... Home...... 1:00 3 Athletic Booster Club Meeting, High School 7 Stockbridge (V. Only)...... Away...... 6:00 4 7-12 Report Cards mailed from Binghamton 11 Hamilton...... Away...... 6:00 8 Open Community Meeting of the Board 14 Madison...... Away...... 6:00 Advisory Team (BAT) for Facilities, Elementary Gymnasium, 7:00 p.m. Girls’ Modified Basketball Open Community Meeting of the Board February Advisory Team (BAT) for Facilities, Junior 2 Stockbridge...... Away...... 4:30 Senior High School Cafeteria, 7:00 p.m. 4 DeRuyter...... Away...... 4:30 Board of Education Meeting, Gymnasium, 7 Cincinnatus...... Home...... 4:30 Elementary School 9 McGraw...... Home...... 4:30 21-25 National FFA Week 11 Madison...... Away...... 4:30 21 No School—President’s Day 15 Stockbridge...... Home...... 4:30 22 No School—Winter Recess Boys’ Junior Varsity and Varsity Basketball 24 Budget Basics/Public Work Session, February Elementary School, 7:00 p.m. 4 Brookfield...... Home...... 5:30 *Be sure to check the OV website, www.ovcs.org, 7 Madison...... Away...... 5:30 for additions and updates. 11 Gilbertsville/Mt. Upton..... Away...... 5:30