Otter Valley Union High School

08/19/2026

💙🌟🦦Give a big welcome to our new staff members, pictured here with Principal Michael Ruppel:

Front Row: Mackenzie Thurston, Guidance (Long-Term Sub); Ainsley Moore, HS Math; Marc Cesario, Spanish (Long-Term Sub), Rachel Taylor, Receptionist; Karyn Stannard, Associate Principal.
Back Row: Carson Leary, MS Health; Andrew Johnson, Custodian.

Camera Shy: Whitney Nichols, 7-9 Alternative Program; Catherin Moulton, Behavioral Interventionist; Janice Wedge, Bus Driver.

08/18/2026

It’s time to complete your student’s registration for the 2026–2027 school year!

To make sure we have the information and required forms needed for the upcoming school year, all families are asked to complete the registration forms for their student(s), even if you believe there have been no changes to your information since last year.

Please log in to your MyPowerHub Parent Portal using this link or copy and paste the link below:

https://rnesu.guardian.powerschool.com/

Once you are logged in, please complete 26-27 Student Registration forms for each student in your household.

You will be able to tell if you have completed the 26 Student Registration form, as the circle on the right of the form will turn green when completed. Once you complete the page/form and submit, the next page/form will automatically load.

Completing the registration process helps us ensure that we have the most current information on file and that your student is ready for the start of the new school year.

If you have questions or need assistance with your account, please email [email protected]

Thank you for taking the time to complete this important step for the upcoming school year!

08/17/2026

Schedules were posted on PowerSchool last week - they can be found through the Portal (https://www.rnesu.org/page/parent-portal) under My Schedule or Student Reports (for a nice, easily printable view).

Any change requests should be made through the Schedule Change Request Form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyszaRHeMNbp95R1yBDdAdVOXeT8F3KJ9MMV29eeB5vsQbbw/viewform

More complicated changes or questions can be directed to your student's Guidance Counselor - Ms. McCartney for 11th & 12th grades ([email protected]); Ms. Wallett for 9th & 10th grades ([email protected]); and for 7th & 8th grades, Ms. Thurston, who is covering for Ms. Ross while she is on leave ([email protected]).

We hope this helps! 💙🦦

08/12/2026

Spots are still available in some of our RNESU Pre-K Programs!

Neshobe School - Brandon
Openings each in the 3- and 4-year-old programs!
Four Year Olds: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:45 am to 1:45 pm
Three Year Olds: Tuesday and Thursday from 7:45 am to 1:45 pm

Otter Creek Academy - Leicester
Openings each in the 3- and 4-year-old programs!
Four Year Olds: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:45 am to 1:45 pm
Three Year Olds: Tuesday and Thursday from 7:45 am to 1:45 pm

Barstow School - Chittenden
Openings each in the 3- and 4-year-old programs!
Four Year Olds: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Three Year Olds: Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm

Lothrop School @ Caverly - Pittsford
Openings in the 3-year-old program!
Three Year Olds: Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm

All RNESU Preschool classrooms are accredited by Vermont’s Step Ahead Recognition System (STARS) and fully licensed by the state of Vermont.

Enrollment is open to ALL Vermont students, not just those who are residents of the towns that RNESU serves.

For more information, or to enroll, visit rnesu.org/prek

Please call RNESU Central Office with any questions - 802-247-5757, or email RNESU Supervisor of Pre-K, Josh Martin, at [email protected]

08/12/2026

When is the first day of school? For *most*of our students, it's two weeks from today!

All students in Kindergarten through 9th grade will start on Wednesday, August 26th. Kindergarten schedules may be a little different for the first few days, information about this should have been communicated to you directly from your school.

OV Students in grades 10-12 will start the following day, Thursday, August 27th.

Finally, for our littlest learners, Preschool will start the following week, the week of August 31st. Again, information about your students exact schedule will be communicated by the school.

And for those who like to plan ahead, there will be NO SCHOOL, Monday September 7th, in observance of Labor Day.

Can't wait to see our halls full of smiling faces again!

The calendar for the whole year is available at www.rnesu.org/page/calendars

08/07/2026

Vermont's new education law, Act 170, creates both important opportunities and significant decisions for school districts across the state. As enrollment continues to decline, the Otter Valley Unified Union School District must consider how to maintain strong educational opportunities while addressing financial pressures, changing enrollment, school facilities, and the long-term needs of our communities. Although Act 170 encourages larger regional school districts, no decisions have been made about the future of our schools, and any potential merger would require voter approval.

Over the next two years, residents of Brandon, Goshen, Leicester, Pittsford, Sudbury, and Whiting will have opportunities to help shape the conversation. This process is about identifying what our communities value, asking difficult questions, and exploring possibilities together—with meaningful local input. Whether you currently have children in our schools, are a former student or parent, or simply care about the future of our schools and towns, your perspective matters. Please take a few minutes to complete our community survey and share your priorities, concerns, and vision for the future of Otter Valley Unified Union schools.

A link to the survey can be found at rnesu.org/act170

Thank you for your continued support of our students, schools, and communities - and for joining us in shaping the future of education in OVUUSD.

08/06/2026

Welcome Back!

Dear OV Families: It’s that time of year again! We are starting to get some cooler evenings, see ...

08/06/2026

Congratulations to Otter Valley Principal Michael Ruppel and new Associate Principal Karyn Stannard!

Both were recognized yesterday at the Vermont Principals' Association (VPA) Annual Leadership Academy. Mr. Ruppel was named the Robert F. Pierce Vermont High School Principal of the Year, and Ms. Stannard was honored as the NASSP Vermont Assistant Principal of the Year for her exceptional work at Mill River. We are incredibly fortunate to have these two outstanding leaders guiding our school community! 💙🦦

08/05/2026

The parking lot isn't the only thing at OV being worked on this summer! Some of the bigger projects include:

- New building-wide PA system (huge security and safety upgrade!)
- Replacement of library windows and installation of heat pumps
- Additional AC units around the building for moisture control
- Stucco work on the library addition
- Annex roof replaced
- Exterior lights on north side of building
- Addition of an evacuation chair for emergency operations

Along with many smaller maintenance and cleaning projects!

08/04/2026

📣 Otter Valley School-Wide Welcome Back!
📅 Monday, August 24
🕒 3:15-6:00 PM

🎉 Students and families in Grades 7-12 are welcome to stop by any time during the 3:15-6:00 window!

Come by to:
📄 Pick up a hard copy of your schedule
🏫 Find all of your classrooms
👋 Check in with teachers who will be on hand
❓ Ask questions of administrators and support staff
💻 Get registration and PowerSchool help
🦦 Grab some FREE OV swag while supplies last!

🌭 FREE Barbecue
🕔 5:00-6:00 PM
📍 Outside on the south side of the building

💙 We hope our students and families will stop by, reconnect with friends and staff, and kick off another great school year with our OV community!