The Howler: November 23, 2025

Dear OQS families,

The 50th day of school was this month, and kindergarten students danced in the snow to celebrate!

There are so many more celebrations coming up around the corner. On Saturday, December 6, the PTO is hosting their annual Winterfest event, complete with pancake breakfast and a lot more! On December 9, our students will dazzle the community with their winter concert. And through that entire week, we'll be reveling in reading with the annual Book Fair. See more info about all those events below.

Remember, there is no school Wednesday - Friday this week. I wish all of you who celebrate a Happy Thanksgiving and everyone some rest and relaxation. Please note the next Howler will be on December 5, 2025, due to the holiday break.

Warm regards,

Amelia Donahey

Principal

12/6: WinterFest!

12/6 - 12/12: Book Fair

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

12/15: 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

If you haven't yet had a chance to donate, please consider sending a food item with your child tomorrow. All donations will be tallied, with a celebration for the class that collects the most.

If you know someone who would make a positive impact on students and our school community, please encourage them to apply for our open paraprofessional position.

The book fair will be coming to OQS again this year! It will open during the Winter Festival and be at school from 12/8-12/12. For more information, check out the OQS Book Fair website!

See you there!

Students are not to bring toys, money, or valuable items to school. Electronic devices such as cell phones, games, and music players are distractions in the classroom. Devices that can record photos or videos, sending or receiving messages, or making or receiving phone and/or video calls are not permitted during school hours or on the bus. The school will confiscate toys, devices, and valuables if they become a distraction and may ask guardians to visit the school to retrieve them.

View this complete section in the handbook here.

We have expanded the Comprehensive Behavior Plan section to include a table explaining the Logical Consequences for behavioral infractions. Please reach out to Amelia Donahey with any questions.

Teachers and staff at OQS know there are many factors that contribute to a child demonstrating words and actions that are conducive to learning and relationships. We regularly provide choices, proactive reminders, advance warning before transitions, clear direction, modeling and of course, lots of specific praise to reinforce a child's developing skills. Here is an infographic showing how those same strategies might look at home.

As a token of appreciation, Lifetouch is offering discounts on school photography!

• 50% off a purchase of $50+ with code 50THANKS
• 40% off a purchase of $40+ with code 40THANKS
• 30% off a purchase of $30+ with code 30THANKS

Valid through 12/01/25

To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account, find your student and order using your student's student ID number (if available at your school). Don’t forget to order your FREE Digital SmileSafe card!

More about the Smilesafe program here.

Week 12: The Real History of Thanksgiving

As many of us gather next week at the homes of friends and loved ones for Thanksgiving, let us remember that the true story of the First Thanksgiving was not a simple gathering of pilgrims and the Wampanoag people. Here is a video about the events that led up to the First Thanksgiving and what happened after that feast.

Although the feast is remembered as a symbol of harmony, the peace did not last indefinitely: over subsequent decades the relationship between settlers and Indigenous peoples deteriorated, resulting in violent conflict and major losses for Native communities.

For many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is not a celebration but a National Day of Mourning, first officially observed in 1970. It honors the resilience of Indigenous peoples and remembers the suffering, land loss, and cultural erasure that followed colonization. Others use the day to celebrate Indigenous survival, culture, and resistance, reclaiming it as a time for truth-telling and community healing. If you would like to learn more about Native American History, check out these Crash Course videos. Host Che Jim will teach you about the deep, ongoing history of Native peoples in what’s now known as the United States—from time immemorial to the Land Back movement.

Check out our updates below, including ways to support Winterfest on December 6th!

Winterfest - WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

Winterfest – Friday, December 6
Interested in volunteering at the event or donating breakfast items? Winterfest is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we are still in need of volunteers to make the event a success and donations of breakfast items! Sign up HERE. Our raffle and auction is coming together! Keep an eye out for more information on great prizes from our incredible community partners!

Volunteer Opportunities

Wolf Way – All School Celebration- November 24
We’re looking for volunteers and donations to help make the WOLF WAY All School Celebration a success! Please consider donating an item or volunteering your time. Sign up HERE.

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.

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.

Girl Scout Troop 59225 meets twice a month at the Hartford Library. We're looking for girls who are interested in learning new things, making new friendships, and helping our community. Girls in grades K--8 are welcome to join our multi-age troop.

For more information contact Sharon Comeau at gouveia.sharon@gmail.com or find us at the Girls Scouts of the Green and White Mountains https://www.girlscoutsgwm.org

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.

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

• Survey Findings and Insights

The survey results above are from almost 4000 Vermonters who answered the survey commissioned by the Commission for the Future of Public Education. The findings and insights is a very short read and worth taking a look at as we continue to consider what is the best path(s) forward for transformation of Vermont public education.