Welcome Scott Whittemore! Over the break, Scott began his long-term custodial substitute role at Barton and will be covering for Randy. We’re excited to have him on board—welcome to the team, Scott!
The Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School Board would like to make a few announcements.
ANNUAL MEETINGS: The LRUEMSD Annual School Board Meeting will be on March 9th at Lake Region High School at 6 PM. You can grab a school report at your Town Clerk’s office, town library or on Town Meeting Day for more details. A big change this year has been our move to a sister-school model, and the feedback so far on that change has been mostly positive.
The Lake Region Union High School Annual School Board Meeting will be March 18, also at 6 PM at the high school.
SEATS: The Elementary-Middle School Board has eight elementary-middle school seats that will be up for election on March 9th, so if you or anyone that you know might be interested in joining a school board, there are opportunities available. Four of those seats have incumbents still willing to serve, but we've got vacant seats that need to be filled in Albany, Barton, Orleans and Westmore.
If you might be interested in running, come on out to the March 9th meeting - or if you can't make it, you can also try asking someone else to go and nominate you. Serving on this board is a time commitment of approximately two Monday evenings a month, either in-person or virtually, plus homework time and any meetings for committees that you join. If you're considering this and have questions about what it's like, current board members would be happy to chat with you!
PUBLIC MEETINGS: We’d also like to flag up a couple of big decisions that could come before the voters in the next year.
As our school buildings continue to age, we've been talking about going to the voters for a bond vote to finance building a new elementary-middle school building on the Lake Region High School property. You can read more about this in the Long Term Planning Committee report inside your town report! We'll be scheduling meetings to share information and get your feedback soon, so keep your eyes out for those.
We're also exploring merging the high school and elementary-middle school boards into a single board, with a single budget and single annual meeting. This is a decision that can only be made by voters. We'll also be having public forums to get input on this idea in the coming months.
ACT 73: There are also conversations happening in Montpelier about redistricting on a state-wide level, which could really shape the future of our schools. We're doing our best as a board to respond proactively to Act 73. However, like there was with Act 46, there's going to be a lot that we can't control at this level. So if you're interested in education in Vermont, keep following Act 73 and sharing your thoughts with our representatives in Montpelier.
BRYANNE MARQUIS, Ms. Bry: Bryanne is our administrative assistant at Barton Graded School, and it would be easy to give her a shout-out every single week. She plays an integral role in the countless details that keep our school running smoothly.
Recently, Mrs. Bry assembled 327 carnations—each with a special note—for students and staff as part of our Valentine’s Day fundraiser. She coordinates the many moving pieces of field trips and winter activities and is currently organizing an upcoming trip to Siskin-Coutts for our students.
Bry is often the friendly face who greets you at the door or the welcoming voice you hear on the phone. She is organized, kind, and deeply committed to our OCSU community. In addition, she manages our website and Facebook page, making a genuine effort to highlight and share the great things happening in our school and broader community.
Thank you, Mrs. Bry, for all that you do for Barton Graded School and the entire OCSU community. We are grateful for you!
The application for school choice for the 2026-2027 school year will go live on February 20, 2026; Please review policy and guidelines before filling out application: /o/ocsu/page/school-choice
Last week, we celebrated Megan Stevens, our amazing third grade classroom teacher! Megan joined our team this school year and has already made a strong impression through her dedication to students and her commitment to continuous growth. Now in her eighth year of teaching, Megan brings a strong foundation from her background in special education. She thoughtfully incorporates project-based and collaborative learning opportunities that truly benefit all learners. Megan is also deeply invested in professional learning—participating recently in the All Learners Network training, “Subtraction for All Learners,” and the VTHEC training “Collaborating for Inclusion: Shared Expertise, Shared Responsibility.” Her enthusiasm for learning, reflection, and collaboration makes her a wonderful addition to our school community. We’re so glad to have you on the team, Megan!
In honor of School Counselors Week, we want to extend our sincere appreciation to our school counselor, Brandon Blunk, for the care, guidance, and support he provides to our students each day. His work plays a vital role in helping students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. We are grateful for Mr. B's commitment to supporting students and strengthening our school community.
Tickets will be sold at the door for $5. Concessions and merchandise will be available for purchase to support the theater program and the Barton Theater.
Shows are on February 13, 14, 20, and 21. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Barton Memorial Building.
We hope to see you there! Please reach out to jpastel@ocsu.org for more information.
We are buzzing with pride after an incredible Barton Spelling Bee on Friday!
🏆 Barton Spelling Bee Champion: Ben Royer
🎉 Our champion will now move on to represent Barton at the District Spelling Bee on February 6th — let’s go!
👏 A huge shoutout to all of our spellers who were BRAVE, and stepped up to compete. It takes guts to, and we are proud of every single one of you.
Hard work. Focus. Tiger Strong.
Let’s cheer Ben on as he take the next stage! 🖤🧡🐅
The 40th Army Band, part of the Vermont Army National Guard, performed a lively and engaging program that included “Golden” from K-Pop Demon Hunters, a Taylor Swift medley, and the SpongeBob SquarePants theme song, capturing the attention of students of all ages. The diverse selection of music helped connect with students while highlighting the versatility and role of music within the military. Middle school band students also had the opportunity to participate in instrumental workshops, led by Army Band members.
This special event was made possible through the generous sponsorship of the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary Post #76, whose support helps bring enriching educational experiences to local schools.
School staff expressed appreciation for the partnership and the opportunity for students to experience a professional musical ensemble firsthand.
On Wednesday, middle school students from Glover Community School joined Barton Graded students for a live performance by Learnin’ the Ropes, a nationally recognized jump rope team. The group has been featured on Good Morning America, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and other national platforms for their high-energy performances and commitment to youth wellness.
Learnin’ the Ropes is dedicated to inspiring, serving, and educating students while promoting active, healthy lifestyles for youth and adults. Their performance captivated students and staff alike, leaving students energized and motivated to stay active.
Special thanks go to OES Physical Education teacher, Mrs. Booth, for organizing this memorable and impactful event.
Due to the extremely cold weather this weekend, the LR Modern Band concert has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 1st, 3:00 PM in the LR Cafeteria. I hope you can attend! Thank you
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HB6bVL87oreDvTplRzBzaBAu4yZBU31KJE6Q3ld5PfI/edit?tab=t.0
We hope to see everyone there!
Winter Modern Band Concert
The LR Music Department will present the Winter Modern Band concert on Sunday, January 25th, 3 pm. In the LR Gum. This is a fundraiser for music lessons and workshops. Admission is by donation. We will be having a bake sale and selling refreshments. This show will be a lot of fun and a great way to celebrate our OCSU community. Three of our bands will be presenting music by Chicago, 21 Pilots, Black Sabbath, Duke Ellington, Sublime, Stevie Wonder, Joe Cocker, Goodbye June, Lenny Kravitz, Pat Benetar and more, including three original works by students. For further information please contact Sara Doncaster at (802) 754 - 2500 x219 or email at sdoncaster@ocsu.org
KAREN LAWSON: For the last month or so, Karen has been helping to organize our very first spelling bee for third and fourth grade students that will be held this Friday.We're excited for our students to have this new and engaging opportunity.
In addition to this, Karen has shown a strong commitment to her professional growth by immersing herself in learning how to use Educlimber in her role as EST Coordinator. She’s been enhancing her skills and knowledge to better support both our team and our students, and we truly appreciate her dedication to continuous improvement in her role.
Karen has been with OCSU for the past three school years providing targeted intervention support for students, and before joining us, she brought 14 years of experience as a math interventionist and 10 years as a classroom teacher. We’re grateful for her continued commitment to the field of education.
