Orange East Supervisory Union
Newsletter 9/5/2025
Message from the Superintendent
Dear OESU Community,
Happy Friday! There is nothing quite like the energy of the first few weeks back at school. From our youngest learners to the seniors, there is joy, enthusiasm, and momentum across our schools. A big thank you to our teachers and staff for the incredible work they have done these first two weeks to build strong routines and welcoming environments. Classrooms and common spaces are quickly becoming communities of learning, thanks to their dedication and care.
Here are some highlights from this newsletter:
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The cell phone-free initiative is already improving school culture and engagement.
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Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) are in full motion, promoting kindness, responsibility, and respect.
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At Newbury Elementary, we are so happy to celebrate a $25,000 Year of the Book Grant.
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Soccer is in full swing across the SU. Congratulations to the Oxbow Girls Soccer Team on their 3-0 victory on September 3rd.
These first two weeks have set a positive tone for the year ahead. The relationships being built now will carry us through the challenges and triumphs of the school year. Thank you all for all you do and for being part of the OESU community.
Warmly,
Heather Lawler
Superintendent of Schools
Orange East Supervisory Union
PS - Photo above taken at Waits River Valley School welcome back assembly with Mabel, a 5 month old golden retriever is in training to become a certified therapy dog.
Year of the Book Parade
Author Simon Brooks read aloud
Laurie Williams with Adventure Map
Year of the Book (YoB) at Newbury Elementary
OESU is excited to share that Newbury Elementary School (NES) has been been awarded a $25,000 Year of the Book Grant from The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) for the 2025-26 school year. Their theme is Reading is an Adventure. Thanks to the generosity of CLiF, NES children will experience an incredible number of literacy-rich adventures over the course of the year. This includes five author visits and a writing residency with a naturalist and author, as well as the opportunity for children to build their own home libraries through eight book giveaways. The NES staff is creating wonderful Year of the Book tie-ins as well: they will be coming up with a theme song in Music class, creating Forest Fairies reading buddies in Art, and running, jumping, and stretching our way through StoryWalks in PE.
On Friday, August 29, NES held the Year of the Book Kickoff event here at school with author Simon Brooks (Pictured below reading aloud). Children received a Year of the Book “swag bag” to bring home. This bag of adventure goodies will include a map of the year’s events, a bookmark, a flashlight or book light to enjoy bedtime reading, and a compass to celebrate the adventure theme.
They will be hosting a Family Literacy Night on Thursday, March 19th. Great things are happening in OESU schools!
Adapted from a Press Release written by The NES Year of the Book Advisory Board
Laurie Williams, School Librarian
Alysia Vance, Literacy Interventionist
Cassandra Harmonay, Kindergarten Teacher
Lottie Hannett, First Grade Teacher
Bethani Winchester, Second Grade Teacher
Kelley Houde, Third and Fourth Grade Literacy Teacher
Emily Ross, Fifth and Sixth Grade Literacy Teacher
No Cell Phones from Arrival to Dismissal Across the SU
"Vermont has joined more than half the states across the country in banning smartphones from schools, a move state education officials and lawmakers have said will go a long way toward alleviating compulsive social media use among teens while removing classroom distractions."
Excerpt from "Vermont just became the latest state to ban cellphones in the classroom. What does that mean for schools?" by Habib Sabet, VTDigger
In accordance with new legislation, all OESU schools have banned cellphones and other personal devices like smartwatches from arrival to dismissal. This is in effect in all OESU schools; Blue Mountain Union School, Bradford Elementary, Newbury Elementary, Oxbow Union Middle High School, River Bend Career and Technical Center, Thetford Elementary, and Waits River Valley School. We are ahead of the required start date so we can build capacity to be fully compliant with legislation which goes into full effect with state oversight and enforcement on July 1, 2026.
Many have already noted positive changes to school culture and climate including more conversations, games, and human interaction rather than being engrossed in phones during lunch and breaks. Thank you for all the support from families and cooperation from students and staff as we navigate this change with the goal of improving the overall school experience.
Notice the lack of cell phones in these happy photos!
Photo Credit: Kelly Smith, Waits River Valley School
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, Riverbend 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 Main Street
Bradford, Vermont
(802) 222-5216