Hello OQS Families,

It's hard to believe with the weather this weekend, but spring is upon us! That means it's time to register for spring after-school activities. Below, please find information about Garden Club and Finding Our Stride. Girls on the Run for 3rd-5th graders is already underway. Please reach out with any questions.

Congratulations to our three HSD interim administrators whom the School Board recently approved for permanent positions, after thorough searches by representative committees. See their photos and names below.

Stay safe this weekend,

Amelia Donahey

Principal

4/4: Weather At Your School (WCAX Broadcasts from OQS 4:30-8:00am); Screenagers Film Screening family-friendly event at Dothan Brook School, 6pm

4/14 - 4/18: No School (Spring Break)

4/30: Picture Day; SPARK! Community Science Night, 5:30-6:30 (pizza at 5:00)

5/2: Better World Day

5/28: SPARK! Community Science Night, 5:30-6:30 (pizza at 5:00)

5/29: Save the Date! Spring Concert 5:30-6:30pm

Meteorologist Marissa Vigevani and the WCAX team will be broadcasting from Ottauquechee School live from 4:30-8:00am on Friday morning. ALL students and families are welcome and encouraged to join in the fun!

You may arrive early as you wish, and the WCAX team would love to have some student and family faces on camera by 6:00am! If you are able to participate early, please either stay with your child until OQS staff are available to supervise. Some may choose to go back home for breakfast or a snooze and come back closer to your regular arrival time. School staff will be onsite and available to supervise starting around 6:45am.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• NEXT PTO MEETING- Join us in the school library next Thursday, April 3rd, from 6-7 PM. Everyone is welcome!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

• ALL-SCHOOL CELEBRATION: Volunteers are needed for our Snack Delivery Team on April 10th. Please sign up for a slot HERE.
• MAY TEACHER APPRECIATION: Interested in joining the planning committee or have ideas to celebrate our amazing teachers and staff? Please reply to this email!

DONATIONS NEEDED

• ALL-SCHOOL CELEBRATION: We are collecting individually packaged non-perishable snacks and drinks. Please drop them off in the school office by April 9th. Sign up for a donation HERE.

RECOGNITION

• SKI CLUB: The PTO would like to thank our incredible group of Ski Club Volunteers, Teachers, and Staff for their commitment this season! We had over 45 volunteers whose dedication and support impacted 94 students, many of whom skied for the first time, creating lasting memories and friendships. We also extend our gratitude to our partners—the Quechee Club, Hendersons, and The Quechee Ski and Sports School—whose support made this program possible.

Week 24: March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility

Recently, there have been executive orders signed by the President targeting the LGBTQ+ community, including youth. The orders are used to create fear and chaos but they cannot override the United States Constitution, federal laws, and established legal precedent. In the Hartford School District, we will continue to uphold our policies honoring, supporting, and celebrating all the diverse individuals in our community, including our transgender*, non-binary, and intersex members.

March 31st is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV)! International TDOV was created in 2010 by trans advocate Rachel Crandall in response to the overwhelming majority of media stories about transgender people being focused on violence. She hoped to create a day where people could celebrate the lives of transgender people, while still acknowledging that due to discrimination, not every trans person can or wants to be visible.

Trans athletes have been a major focus in the media, specifically the idea that trans women have an unfair advantage in sports. This belief is couched in the notion that women athletes are inherently inferior to men, which is both scientifically unfounded and rooted in sexism. Claims that trans athletes threaten fairness or make women less safe are based on misinformation, not credible evidence. Fear-mongering harms all women. The so-called “safety concerns” around trans inclusion in sports often perpetuate harmful stereotypes that portray women as fragile and in need of protection, distracting from the real issues facing women’s sports, such as pay inequities and racism.

Trans athletes represent only a tiny fraction of competitors. So, what is the real issue with trans women playing in women’s sports? Is it about our own discomfort and privilege and not necessarily about fairness or safety? If we really cared about women in sports, we’d be focusing on the real issues, like pay inequities, underfunding, sexual harassment, and barriers.

Watch this 5 minute video from the NY Times Opinion section about a trans runner who struggles with wanting to compete to her fullest potential but also believes she may have an unfair advantage and how she is constantly trying to navigate these two truths. (Transcript).

Inclusion reflects the true spirit of sports: unity, opportunity, and celebrating human potential. Sports thrive on diversity and breaking barriers. Trans athletes bring new stories of perseverance, determination, and triumph, embodying what sports are truly about.

Resources:

GLAAD

Get the Facts: Trans Inclusion in Sports

Banning Transgender Youth from participating in sports

How many transgender women play sports?

The Agency of Education created this Federal Updates page as resource for Vermonters. The website will be routinely updated as additional information becomes available. The Agency aims to be disciplined, thoughtful, and factual when evaluating and responding to changes in federal policy.

The Vermont Department of Disabilities Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) is seeking to better understand the unique needs, accessibility requirements, preferred communication methods, and areas where additional support is necessary for Vermonters who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or DeafBlind. If you, one or more of your children or family members have any level of hearing loss, please complete this survey

The Vermont Farm to School & Early Childhood Network and the Upper Valley Farm to School Network invite you to gather in the Sharon Elementary gymnasium to connect, celebrate, and elevate what is happening in farm to school around our region. We are excited to reinvigorate our communities in the Upper Valley in the exciting place-based, farm to school world of school composting, garden-based education, taste tests, farm field trips, harvest of the month, local purchasing, and more! The gathering is 4-6pm, with an optional dinner at 6:00PM.

Join us to:

• Find support for your efforts and access resources
• Build connections with community members
• Learn from successes and best practices
• Strengthen our local networks
• Eat yummy local food!

All are welcome — we’re convening anyone who is interested in getting involved with farm to school programming in our region: teachers, students, farm to school coordinators, school nutrition staff, school administrators, farmers, families, and supporting organizations are all invited! Of course there will be free seeds, door prizes, and plenty of chances to mingle. Childcare will be provided on site. RSVP here.

Looking for quality programming for your child this summer? You can find a directory of summer camps in the area, with registration information, here: https://norwichvt.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30011