The Howler: August 26, 2025

Dear OQS families,

We've missed you! Our staff is eagerly awaiting students' arrival back at Ottauquechee School this Thursday, August 29. Arrival is between 7:45-8:00am, and pick up is at 2:45. If your child will eat breakfast this year, please be sure they stop at the cafeteria first and eat their breakfast before moving on. Read on for more beginning-of-year information and logistics!

Reminder, there is no school Monday, September 1 in observance of Labor Day.

Wishing you and your children a wonderful year,

Amelia Donahey

Principal

P.S. On August 29-30, Ms. Sarah Hisman, Hartford's Curriculum Director, will be covering for me while I attend an important family event. I will be back Tuesday, September 2. In the meantime, please reach out to any of the following people, should you need assistance:

• Your child's teacher
• School secretary Cheryl French (frenchc@hartfordschools.net)
• School counselor Kara Hemenway (hemenwayk@hartfordschools.net)
• School nurse Andrea Davis (davisa@hartfordschools.net)
• Ms. Hisman (hismans@hartfordschools.net)

Thursday, August 28: First day of school PK-5th grade!

Monday, September 1: No school (Labor Day)

Monday, September 15: First monthly late start day of the year; Students arrive 9:45-10:00am; No school for PreK

Thursday, September 18: All-school Open House 5:00-6:00pm

This has been an impressive summer of building projects at OQS. Thanks to the bond that voters passed in the spring of 2024, we have made some important upgrades to our building:

• A brand new roof on the cafeteria is complete!
• We have new ceiling tiles in the cafeteria and nearby bathrooms.
• On the northwest end of our campus, contractors are making good progress on an important drainage project. The purpose of this project is to re-route moisture that collects at that end of the building, which will reduce health and safety risks to our staff and students. We expect this project to wrap up near the end of September.

See below for some temporary changes to traffic flow to start the year.

Our construction projects will have some impacts at the start of the year. Please anticipate slower times at drop-off and pick-up as we account for reduced parking. We will send updated procedures later this fall as the drainage project nears completion.

• ALL (non-bus-riding) students will need to be checked out by their classroom teacher at dismissal:
• Kindergarten will be at their exterior classroom doorway.
• 1st, 4th & 5th will be on the grass/sidewalk area nearest to the construction zone. Please go to your child's teacher to check them out.
• 2nd & 3rd grade will be near the main front door.
• Please park your vehicle, walk to meet your student on the sidewalk, and return via a crosswalk. Watch for extra traffic!

• All K-5 drop-off students enter through the front door.
• Bus riders enter through the cafeteria doors.
• Curbside is for quick kiss-and-go drop-off, appropriate for older students who can unbuckle themselves safely.
• Any student crossing the parking lot MUST be accompanied by a parent/guardian or designated caretakers.

• Ms. Cardente's PreK class will be picked up and dropped off at the cafeteria door.
• Ms. Gissel's class will use the leftside main entrance door.
• Please park and walk your students to/from your respective entrances/exits.

Schedules for all Hartford bus routes are available now at https://hsdvt.com/bus-routes-2 .

All updates to Hartford's elementary school polices for this year have been highlighted in yellow:

• Trimester Dates
• Student Injury Protocol & Tick Safety
• Nutrition: "Soft drinks, caffeinated beverages, drink mixes, and energy drinks are not permitted."
• Dress code: "Clothing must cover undergarments and torso, bra straps excluded."
• Party invitations
• Suspension: "In addition to [the district] policy, the Agency of Education has published guidance regarding Vermont Act 35 of 2021, which severely restricts the use of suspension and expulsion of students under age 8 to those instances where the student poses an imminent threat of harm or danger to others in the school."

Hello! My name is Paula Lynch, and I currently reside in Killington with my black lab, Molly. I have dedicated 32 years to being a Special Educator, teaching students from PreK through eighth grade, with a strong focus on the elementary level. Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to work in various school districts across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Vermont.

I’m also a proud parent of two college students, Clay (23), who attends Montana State, and Kassidy (20), who is at the University of Utah. As a family, we are passionate skiers and love engaging in outdoor activities together. I am thrilled to be joining the Ottauquechee School TEAM and look forward to the experiences ahead!

Building a habit of timely and regular attendance at the beginning of the school year helps set your child up for success. See the graphic below to learn more about the benefits, as well as some tips!

At Ottauquechee School, school begins at 8:00am. You can access the full year academic calendar at https://hsdvt.com/calendar.

The PTO is looking for our next Secretary! No experience needed - just bring your enthusiasm

Secretary Role Includes:

Taking and sharing meeting notes
Preparing agendas & sending meeting notices
Managing PTO records and correspondence
Supporting PTO sponsored events and activities

Why Volunteer?
Support our students and staff
Stay informed about school events and decisions
Connect with other families
Help strengthen our amazing community!

Interested? Let’s chat!
Email us at: OQSPTO@gmail.com

Be the change in our school community. We’d love to have you on board!