Orange East Supervisory Union

Dear OESU Teachers, Staff, Students, and Families,

What an incredible, heart-filling first week of school! Over the past few days, I have had the privilege of visiting classrooms across our entire supervisory union, and I left every single building feeling deeply grateful and inspired. Everywhere I looked, our schools were calm, happy, and running so smoothly. Most importantly, our students are already settled in and deeply engaged in learning. From early morning meetings, team-building activities, and setting classroom norms, to hands-on mathematics, reading, and even observing monarch butterflies in classrooms, the sense of belonging across our district is palpable.

We have so many wonderful moments from this week to celebrate together. BMU brought the spirit of Aloha to the first day with lei necklaces, creating an immediate sense of warmth and family as students walked through the doors. We shared smiles and great food at the Waits River Valley Ice Cream Social, the Welcome Back BBQs, live bluegrass music at the Newbury Open House, and wood-fired pizza at Oxbow’s Open House! First Day Parades brought so much energy and community spirit to kick off the year.

I am grateful to our leadership team for all their planning and organization for Open House events and First Days of School. A special shout-out to our three new principals who have hit the ground running and are already doing a fantastic job leading their communities Sarah Jalbert at TES, Jeanne Segretto at NES, and Leigh Gunther at BMU.

A big thank you to our Curriculum Coordinator, Rick Dustin-Eichler for leading such impactful professional development and first-day planning to set our educators up for success. (Staff: please take a moment to complete his exit ticket sent via email on 8/28). I echo his words about our student speakers. At the OESU Welcome on August 20, Nettie Morse (Oxbow) and Zhijie Zhong (BMU) spoke to staff about their experience as students. Their remarks emphasized relationships and belonging as key elements that make our schools wonderful places to be.

Thank you to all teachers and staff for welcoming back our students with so much warmth, care, and intentionality. You built environments where kids feel safe, valued, and ready to learn from day one. Thank you to families and students. We are grateful for your partnership, your smiles, and your energy. We are off to a truly great start, and I could not be prouder of our OESU community.

With gratitude,

Heather Lawler

Superintendent of Schools

• Wednesday, September 2 - Blue Mountain Union School Board Meeting 6:00 PM
• Friday, September 4 - Early Release Day for students with Staff Professional Development
• Monday, September 7 - Labor Day Holiday, No School
• Tuesday, September 8 - Thetford School Board Meeting 6:00 PM
• Wednesday, September 9 - Oxbow Unified Union School Board Meeting 5:30 PM
• Thursday, September 10 - Picture Day at Thetford Elementary School
• Thursday, September 10 - WRVSD CANCELED
  
• Monday, September 14 - Picture Day at BES
• Tuesday, September 15 - Orange East Supervisory Union Meeting 6:00 PM
• Thursday, September 17 - Tunbridge World's Fair Agriculture Education Day
• Friday, September 18 - Picture Day at BMU
• Tuesday, September 22 - Picture Day at Oxbow
• Wednesday, September 23 - Picture Day at WRVS

Full Calendars are available on the OESU website at https://www.oesu.org/calendars.

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Blue Mountain Union is on Facebook

Bradford Elementary is on Facebook

Here is the first edition of the 2026-27 BES Family Newsletter!

Newbury Elementary School is on Facebook

Oxbow Middle High is on Facebook

River Bend is on Facebook

Thetford Elementary is on Facebook

Waits River Valley School is on Facebook

Here is the Waits River Valley Newsletter 08/28/2026

OESU is on Facebook

Orange East Supervisory Union (OESU) is located in the beautiful Upper Valley of the Connecticut River, The Central Office is located in Bradford, Vermont. The SU includes Blue Mountain Union School, Bradford Elementary School, Newbury Elementary School, Oxbow Middle High School, River Bend Career and Technical Center, Thetford Elementary School, and Waits River Valley School. The Supervisory Union proudly serves and connects the towns of Bradford, Newbury, Corinth, Groton, Ryegate, Thetford, Topsham, Wells River and local tuition towns. We all work together to support student learning and improve educational outcomes.

Orange East Supervisory Union

64 South Main Street

Bradford, Vermont

(802) 222-5216