This musical production highlighted the importance of being true to yourself and doing what’s right, even when it’s hard. Through theatre, music, and dance, students explored key themes of trust, inclusion, giving, empowerment, and respect—reminding us all to be our best selves and to care for others.
All K–4 students in OCSU enjoyed the performance. We were delighted to welcome students from Irasburg Village School and Orleans Elementary School to join in the fun.
This experience was sponsored by the Four Seasons Garden Club, and we’re excited to have welcomed some of their members to join us for the event.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iQzNpcxwGWBqPnr4SGS3iahC2yJ4XVKm/view?usp=sharing
LINSAY MCCARGAR: Mrs. McCargar is a dedicated and reflective educator who is always eager to learn and grow in her practice. She is a strong advocate for her students and works diligently to ensure their needs are met. We’re so grateful to have her as part of our team!
As part of our recent PBIS assembly, Mrs. McCargar and her first graders created a wonderful video to highlight our Character Strong focus on Responsibility. Students had a great time acting, singing, and bringing the message to life!
📍Community Forum - Tuesday, November 11, 2025, 6:30PM
👉 Join in person: Lake Region Union High School
👉 Join by link: meet.google.com/hjd-fhff-wme
👉Join by phone: (US) +1 563-277-0713 PIN: 623 518 285#
The Committee seeks input on the concept of a regional Elementary and Middle School to be constructed adjacent to the Lake Region High School.
The Committee will present an overview of this plan and alternatives, offer an opportunity for questions, and listen to feedback from attendees.
OCSU faces significant challenges that require the attention and cooperation of the community to address: the rising costs of education and the subsequent increases in taxation; the need to provide an excellent education for our students in safe, welcoming, and productive settings; the need to alleviate staffing shortages by providing a safe, sustainable, and enriching work environment; and to house our educational enterprise in school buildings that are efficient, functional, and cost-effective.
To meet these challenges, OCSU assessed the current state of our school buildings and facilities, considered the implications of forming a central middle school, and analyzed multiple scenarios involving the renovations of our buildings in combination with new construction. The architecture firm of Truex-Cullins was hired to assist in our analyses.
Truex-Cullins' work has shown that the least expensive option in the long term is to build a new regional elementary and middle school adjacent to Lake Region Union High School.
Whether to move in this direction will be the choice of the eligible voters of the seven towns that make up the Supervisory Union. This Forum will help educate these voters that ultimately shape the quality of education in our community.
For more information please link to the Long-Term Planning section of the OCSU website: (https://www.ocsu.org) including the Truex-Cullins reports and the work of the Committee.
Tuesday, November 11, 2025, 6:30 pm, at Lake Region UHS.
A virtual option is also available:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/hjd-fhff-wme
Or dial: (US) +1 563-277-0713 PIN: 623 518 285#
All families, community members, and staff are welcome.
The Committee seeks input on the concept of a regional Elementary and Middle School, to be constructed adjacent to the Lake Region High School. The Committee will present an overview of this plan and alternatives, offer an opportunity for questions, and listen to feedback from attendees.
More information is available here:
https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3488/OCSU/6120697/OCSU_long_term_planning_forum_notice_November_2025.pdf
A link to the calendar posting for this event is here:
https://www.ocsu.org/events?id=49099065
More information on the committee and its work is here:
https://www.ocsu.org/o/ocsu/page/long-term-planning
🌟Colleague Spotlight of the Week🌟
Shout out to Mrs. Chilafoux, Art Education
A huge thank-you to Mrs. Chilafoux for organizing our Original Works Art Fundraiser! This fundraiser turns students’ creativity into keepsakes like mugs, magnets, and tote bags—what a wonderful way for families to celebrate their child’s artwork while supporting our school!
In addition to leading this initiative, she also serves in various leadership roles in OCSU—mentoring another art educator in our district, facilitating our Partners in Pride leadership committee at Barton, and representing Barton teachers as our union representative. We’re so grateful for her dedication, creativity, and leadership that make Barton a better place for students and staff alike!
We completed our second Tiger Trail and celebrated with a whole-school recess party! Our Barton Tiger even joined in on the fun. We also opened our Bubble Barn for the first time. We’re already making great progress on our third trail—with more than five tiger paws earned so far—and are well on our way to our next celebration. Stay tuned for details about what’s coming next!
At Barton, we believe in reinforcing the positive behaviors we want to see every day. Our goal is to help students make choices that reflect our CUBS Core Values—Caring, Understanding, Brave, and Safe. When students demonstrate these values, they may earn tiger tokens as recognition for their efforts and contributions to our school community.
Positive reinforcement not only helps students understand what is expected, but also builds a sense of pride and belonging in our school. Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting a positive and caring learning environment for all Barton students.
📍LRUEMSD Board Meeting - Monday, November 3, 2025, 6:00PM
👉 Join in person: Orleans Elementary School
👉 Join by link: meet.google.com/ixj-whyd-thp
👉Join by phone: (US) +1 570-554-0289 PIN: 201 502 702#
✅ Board meeting agendas, past meeting minutes, and recorded meetings can be found at https://www.ocsu.org/documents/school-boards/2025-2026-school-board-agendas-and-minutes/lake-region-union-elementary-middle-school-district/829043
For more about Spruce Peaks Arts: https://www.sprucepeakarts.org/
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TEffl-2XA7-LC_m-Ki2uVyB7kSft67XcT6igmd5OI8o/edit?tab=t.0
We hope to see people there!
Interested? Apply here: ⤵
https://www.schoolspring.com/jobdetail?jobId=5396462
Email Dana Jacobs for more informaion: djacobs@ocsu.org
LINDA MERCHANT & WENDY SIMPSON: Let's take a moment to recognize and thank our amazing kitchen team for all they do to keep our school running smoothly and our students well-fed each day. Linda has dedicated 24 years to our school community and we are grateful.
Linda and Wendy are always willing to accommodate special requests, including preparing lunches for field trips and other special occasions. Coming up, they’ll be preparing a special Thanksgiving luncheon for our students and families to enjoy together—a wonderful Barton tradition!
In addition to their daily work, Linda and Wendy strive to ensure that all meals meet state nutrition requirements, are healthy and allergy-safe, and are served with care and kindness. We are so grateful for their dedication and the positive impact they make in our school community every day.
Please take a moment to thank them for their hard work and the warmth they bring to our school kitchen!
