The Howler: October 31, 2025

Dear OQS families,

What a wonderful end to October! We had a pajama day and whole-school assembly and awarded our Golden Paw winners for Respect. Congratulations, all!

We are so excited to see you at Student-Led Conferences on Monday, November 3 and Tuesday, November 4. Student-Led Conferences are one way that students at Ottauquechee School become leaders of their own learning. Last spring, we reached 96% attendance by families schoolwide. Can you help us beat that this year? See below for some questions to ask your child at their conference.

Have a great weekend,

Amelia Donahey

Principal

11/3: Early release (12:45) for student-led conferences

11/4: No school; Student-led conferences.

11/5: Fire Drill

11/6: Picture Retake Day

11/17: Late Start Monday: K-5 drop off 9:45-10:00; no school for PreK

11/19: SPARK! Community Science Night 5:00-6:30

12/6: WinterFest!

12/8: Ski program volunteers accepting payment & rental form waivers 7:30-8:15

12/9: Winter Concert; Ski program volunteers accepting payment & rental form waivers 2:15-3:00

12/11: SAVE THE DATE! OQS Staff Holiday Party, 3-5pm @ the Quechee Inn

12/15: Late Start Monday: K-5 drop off 9:45-10:00; no school for PreK

12/17: SPARK! Community Science Night 5:00-6:30

1/28: SPARK! Community Science Night 5:00-6:30

2/16: Late Start Monday: K-5 drop off 9:45-10:00; no school for PreK

2/18: SPARK! Community Science Night 5:00-6:30

3/25: SPARK! Community Science Night 5:00-6:30

3/30: Late Start Monday: K-5 drop off 9:45-10:00; no school for PreK

4/13: Late Start Monday: K-5 drop off 9:45-10:00; no school for PreK

4/29: SPARK! Community Science Night 5:00-6:30

5/18: Late Start Monday: K-5 drop off 9:45-10:00; no school for PreK

5/27: SPARK! Community Science Night 5:00-6:30

Due to the current federal government shutdown, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits will not be issued to families starting November 1. This week, the state of Vermont arranged to provide half of November benefits starting on November 7. We know that this will impact some of you directly. We are one OQS & Hartford community!

Please reach out to Ms. Hemenway if your family is in need! hemenwayk@hartfordschools.net or 802-295-8654.

Food Drive:

In collaboration with the OQS Parent-Teacher Organization, we are launching a holiday food drive November 17-21. There will be a friendly competition between classes, award TBD. Look for more details to follow.

Weekend Backpack Meal Program

Also in partnership with the OQS PTO, we are currently building our partnerships with our local food banks, including The Upper Valley Haven and the LISTEN Center, to launch weekend meals program. If your family would benefit from a backpack of food staples at the end of each week, complete the form below or reach out to Amelia Donahey or Kara Hemenway for more information.

Monetary Donations:

If you would like to contribute to our local food banks, the greatest impact you can have is through a financial donation. Food banks have access to bulk pricing and can purchase more food per dollar. If you'd like to contribute, please scroll down to the "Community Announcements" section of the newsletter for links.

At the Student-Led Conference, your child will reflect on his or her progress and show examples of recent learning. This is also a time for you to ask your child questions about their learning. On the next page, you will find questions to consider asking at the conference.

Student-Led Conferences are also an opportunity for children to develop speaking, listening and presentation skills. Notice how your child practices formalities such as introductions, thanking you for attending, and signaling transitions in the conversation. These are skills that students learn and develop over time, so don’t worry if they need some prompting from you or their teacher this time around.

Questions to Ask Your Child at a Student-Led Conference

Experience at school:

• What makes you happy at school?

• Do you have any worries at school?

• How have you shown respect and kindness at school?

Relationships:

• Who do you count on at school?

• Who or what makes you feel like you belong?

Learning:

• What do you feel proud of?

• What is challenging for you?

• How do you handle challenges at school?

Questions to Ask Your Child’s Teacher at a Student-Led Conference

• What can I do at home to help my student develop a growth mindset?
• What can I do at home to support my child to develop their joy of reading?
• What resources (book recs, electronic options, programs, camps, etc.) could we use to continue learning as a family in the summer?

The Ottauquechee School, OQS PTO, QLLA, and Quechee Ski School are excited to announce the return of the Ski Club this year! Whether your child is brand new to skiing or already confident on the slopes, all skill levels are welcome!

Ski Club Details

• Dates: Fridays — Jan 9, Jan 23, Jan 30 & Feb 6

• Schedule:

• Depart OQS by bus at 1:30 PM

• Skiing 2:00–4:00 PM

• Parent pickup at Quechee Hill at 4:00 PM*

*If transportation is a barrier, please contact principal Amelia Donahey for alternative arrangements.*

Costs

• Ski Club fee*: $60 per skier

• Rental* fee if needed (Henderson’s): $50 per skier

• Scholarships are available

Registration & Payment
Please complete a separate form for each child. Then, submit payment when you fill out the form with PayPal/Venmo OR at one of the following times:

• Sat 12/6: 8:30–11:30 AM @ OQS Winterfest

• Mon 12/8: 7:30-8:30 AM @ OQS

• Tue 12/9: 2:30–4:00 PM @ OQS

Registration and payment must be complete by 12/9/25.

Scholarship requests can be indicated on the registration form.

Volunteers Needed! The program relies on our amazing volunteers both on and off the slopes — no skiing experience required! Training sessions will be offered before the first ski day. Sign Up Now.

We’re looking forward to another fun and successful season on the hill!

Dear Families,

The Hartford-Norwich Holiday Basket Helpers have asked for referral of families that would benefit from assistance during the holiday season. If you think your family qualifies for support from the Holiday Basket Helpers, please click on the link below. Please choose The Ottauquechee School as your referring agency in the drop down menu.

Here is the link to register your family: https://holidaybasketsvt.org/family-registration-form/

The referral for Holiday Basket Helpers has a deadline of November 3, 2025

"Distribution Day" for families, or the day when families can pick up their gifts, will be Saturday, December 13th. Holiday Basket Helpers will communicate this to families.

All the best,

Ms. Hemenway

School Counselor

hemenwayk@hartfordschools.net

https://www.oqsvt.com/supports/counseling

Week 9: Restorative Questions

There are three tiers to restorative justice:

Tier 1: Prevention: Community Building and Social-Emotional Skills through Circle Practice

Tier 2: Interventions: Address conflicts and harms through mediation and conversations to repair harm

Tier 3: Reintegration and Intensive Support: Using conferences and re-entry circles for individuals returning after a separation or prolonged absence

Last week, we looked at Circle Practice -Tier 1. This is where we spend most of our time and energy because without this foundation, it is not possible to engage in Tier 2 and Tier 3 effectively.

At the Tier 2 level, when responding to conflict or harm, a restorative approach consists of asking the following key questions:

1. What happened, and what were you thinking and feeling at the time of the incident?

2. What have you felt and thought about since?

3. Who has been affected by what happened and how? How have you been affected?

4. What about this has been the hardest for you?

5. What do you think needs to be done to make things as right as possible?

These are questions that can be asked at school, at practice, at home, and any other time when there is conflict. The most important piece is to remember that we are asking and listening with curiosity. We are seeking understanding and reflection, not compliance. If the person who caused the harm is not ready to engage in this dialogue, pause and try again at another time.

Resource: https://www.suffolk.edu/cas/centers-institutes/center-for-restorative-justice

Check out our updates below, including a SAVE THE DATE for Winterfest!

Thank You for Playground Donations!

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed items to refresh our playground!
All donated items will be organized in our shed and made available during recess for all students to enjoy. Your generosity is helping make outdoor playtime even more fun for everyone!

NEW Volunteer Opportunity:

Pizza Pickup Helper – Community Science Nights

We’re looking for a volunteer to pick up pizza from Pizza Chef and deliver it to the school for our Community Science Nights. Pizza costs are covered — we just need your help with pickup and drop-off! Sign up HERE.

Winterfest - SAVE THE DATE!

Winterfest – Friday, December 6
Seeking Raffle Items: Winterfest is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we’re collecting donations for our raffle and auction! This is a great chance for families, local businesses, or crafters to get involved. Please reply to this email if you would like to a donate a Gift Basket (movie night, game night, snack basket, etc.), contribute Gift Cards, offer Baked Goods or a homemade craft.

Interested in volunteering at the event or donating breakfast items? Sign up HERE.

Reminders

Next PTO Meeting – Wednesday, October 30, 6:00–7:00 PM (NOTE THAT THE DATE CHANGED FROM 11/6)
Join us in the school library or via Google Meet.
We’ll be discussing Winterfest and Ski Club, and we’d love your input!

LISTEN Center: The pantry is open on Mondays 12pm-4pm and Tuesdays-Fridays from 10am-4pm. You will receive a warm welcome and the help you need.

• If you would like to donate to the food pantry, call (603)448-4553. The pantry is always in need of donations of canned soups, plain oatmeal, low sugar cereal, peanut butter, fruit cups, jelly/jam, canned tuna and chicken, baby formula and food, quinoa, herbs and spices, cooking oil, crackers, baked beans, and shelf-stable meals. They also need pet food and appreciate any items that support gluten-free, dairy-free, or nut-free diets. Finally, they need toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, feminine products, soap, body wash, diapers sizes 4, 5, and 6, baby wipes, toilet paper, razors, and laundry detergent.

LISTEN Community Dining Hall: 42 Maple St. White River Junction, VT, Monday - Friday between 4:30pm - 5:30pm.

• If you're interested in volunteering in the Community Dining Hall please sign up here or contact Community Meals Co-Managers Larry and Sherise at (802) 698-8764.

The Upper Valley Haven's Community Market: Monday - Thursday 10:00am-4:30pm and Friday 10:00am-3:00pm.

The Vermont Food Bank site provides a list of other food shelves in our area along with hours of operation. https://www.vtfoodbank.org/access-food/find-a-food-shelf/

Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Hartford High School

Please Note: The Haven will be accepting turkey and turkey breast donations during the first two weeks of November, during regular business hours.

Turkey Day distribution will include:

• One turkey

• One box of stuffing

• One can of jellied cranberry

• One packet of gravy

• Two cans of green beans

• One bag of potatoes

• One bag of carrots

• One bag of onions

• One can of pumpkin

• One crust mix

Attendees walking to the event are encouraged to bring a cart or wagon to help carry their items.

Domestic violence affects millions of people across the United States – far more than many of us realize. Abuse doesn’t always look the way you might expect, and those affected may feel isolated or unsure of where to turn. You and those you care about deserve healthy and safe relationships. Here’s how to stay safe or seek support:

• Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong for you or a loved one, connect with professionals. You may want to learn about common signs of abuse.

• Explore these trusted resources: call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or visit www.thehotline.org. You can also text “START” to 88788.

• If you’re concerned about someone, listen without judgment and show care. Ask what they need and how you can best support them; trust their answers.

• Explore safety planning and seek advice from experts.

• Teen dating violence is real: learn how to teach youth about respect and safety.
• Reach out to a confidential EAP counselor.
• If concerned about your own behavior or impulses, seek professional help immediately.