Otter Creek Academy

Hello OCA Families! 

Welcome to a new school year! We’re excited to welcome our students and families as we embark on another year of learning, growth, and unforgettable experiences together. We hope you all had an amazing summer filled with fun, relaxation, and special memories. 

New Faces & Some In New Places!

This year, we have some new staff at OCA. 

• Nate Traynor will be our new Special Educator

• Christina Depoian will be at our Leicester campus now teaching Pre-K

• Melissa Nicklaw will be joining our Pre-K classroom as a classroom support staff member 

• Lorna Poljacik will be our Grade 2/3 classroom teacher

There have been shifts in classrooms and the grade levels that some staff are teaching this year. 

Here is the classroom breakdown:  

• Christina Depoian - Pre-K 3 & 4

• Christine Johnson - Kindergarten (New classroom!)

• Brenna Kimball - Grade 1

• Lorna Poljacik - Grades 2 & 3 Classroom teacher; Carrie Mol - Grade 2 Math & ELA

• Laura O’Brien - Grade 4 & new classroom! 

• Greg Williams - Grades 5 & 6 Classroom teacher; Carrie Mol - Grade 5 Math & ELA

Start of School

The big day, of course, is Wednesday, August 26th!  That is our first day back to school for all K-6 students. We can’t wait to see everyone and hear about all their summer adventures! Our school day runs from 8:00-2:35. Drop-off begins at 7:30. 

Pre-K- 3 & 4 Year Olds

Pre-K 3 & 4 have a delayed start compared to grades K-6. 

• Pre-K 4’s first day of school will be Monday, August 31st. 

• Pre-3’s first day of school is Tuesday, September 1st.

Drop-off time for Pre-K is 7:45-8:00. Pick-up time is 1:45. If your child attends ARK in the afternoon, please call ARK to help arrange transportation if needed. 

Kindergarten

Kindergarten will have a slow start during the first week of school. 

Kindergarten students will attend three half-day sessions from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on August 26, August 27, and August 28. 

There is no afternoon transportation available on these half days. 

Students may arrive at school between 7:30 and 8:00. 

Students will then begin their regular full-day schedule (7:30-2:35) on Monday, August 31. 

After School Care

After-school care is provided by the Boys and Girls Club at Neshobe Elementary School. There will be bus transportation from OCA to Neshobe. A packet will be sent via email in the next few days. If you require after-school care, please complete your application and return it to the school as soon as possible. 

Bus Routes and Drop-Off/Pick-Up Routines

All bus routes will be posted on the district website. Please be sure to check the updated bus routes to ensure the correct times. 

(https://www.rnesu.org/page/bussing-and-routes) 

Student Drop-Off

Our school day at Leicester begins at 8:00 a.m. Students who are not present in their classroom by 8:00 are considered tardy. Students should arrive at school between 7:30 and 7:55 a.m.  There is no adult supervision for students who arrive before 7:30 a.m. Cars should enter the school’s driveway and pull around the parking lot counterclockwise to the main door. Students should exit their vehicles and walk directly into the building. Cars should then continue around the parking lot and exit. 

If you wish to walk your student to the door or require a longer time for dropping your student off, please use the Park-and-Ride area or the town circle. Please do not park in the spaces designated for the town clerk’s office. If your student arrives after 8:00, you will need to park and walk your child into the main office and sign your student in. 

If your child needs to eat breakfast at school, please ensure that they have enough time to eat their breakfast before 7:55. Classrooms start their day promptly at 8:00. 

Pickup & Dismissal

Cars picking up students at the end of the day need to wait behind the orange cone located next to the dumpster. This is to ensure there is enough room for the first bus to enter the parking lot and make the turn. Once the first bus has loaded students and left the parking lot, cars may pull forward to the main door.

Early Release Days 

RNESU will continue these days again this year. Learners will be released once a month at 11:30 AM. Lunch will be sent home with those who sign up for it. The dates for these release days are listed on our District Calendar. 

Breakfast & Lunch/State Meals Program & Household Income Disclosure

The Vermont Universal Meals law ensures that students receive meals through their schools at no charge. However, this does not change the Agency of Education’s need to collect student-level household income information.  

Please complete the Household Income Form from the Agency of Education. This information is critical for all families to fill out.  Your input helps the school and district qualify for many state and federal programs, not just free and reduced meals. I appreciate your attention to this.

Please complete the electronic form:

https://education.vermont.gov/householdincome

School Supplies

OCA provides all school supplies for your child. Please make sure your student has a backpack, a good pair of sneakers, a healthy snack, and, for younger students, a change of clothes. If you need assistance in any of these areas, please contact Diane Randall at drandall@rnesu.org

Registration & Updating Information 

To our newly registered families, welcome! Thank you for completing the registration process  (including updating your parent portal with residency verification information) before the first day of school. If you have questions or concerns related to registration or updating your profile in PowerSchool, please contact the registrar at registration@rnesu.org.

For returning students, an email will come out shortly from Rutland Northeast with instructions for how to update your parent portal in PowerSchool. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the registrar at registration@rnesu.org. All registration needs to be completed before the first day of school.

**Please note that it is extremely important that if you have any change in contact information throughout the year, please contact Mrs. Randall so she can update your information. 

PTO - Parent Teacher Organization

Our OCA PTO had an incredible year, making a positive impact on our school community. From hosting the beloved Turkey Bingo event and providing graduation gifts for our students to establishing a classroom grant program that supports innovative learning experiences, the PTO has helped make OCA an even better place for our learners.

As some of our families move on to OV after graduation, our PTO membership naturally becomes smaller. We would love to welcome new families to join our team and help continue this important work. Whether you have a little time or a lot, your ideas, talents, and support can make a meaningful difference for our students, teachers, and school community. The PTO meets once a month with both an in-person and virtual option. 

Getting involved is also a wonderful way to meet other OCA families, build connections, and be part of the exciting events and opportunities that make our school so special. If you're interested in learning more or joining the PTO, please email Diane Randall at drandall@rnesu.org. We would love to have you as part of the team!

Principal Newsletter & Photos

We love celebrating the wonderful things happening at OCA! Throughout the school year, we'll be sharing student accomplishments, classroom activities, upcoming events, and other exciting school news in our weekly OCA Newsletter.

Be sure to check your email every Friday for the latest edition! The newsletter is also posted on our OCA Facebook page so families can stay connected and see all the great things happening in our school community.

During the registration process, families were asked to indicate whether they permit their child's photo to be used in school newsletters, social media posts, and district promotional materials. If your preferences have changed or you would like to update your child's photo permissions, please don't hesitate to contact me directly. I am happy to help ensure your family's wishes are respected.

Closing Thoughts

We are looking forward to having an amazing year. Together, by building strong relationships, maintaining open communication, and working as partners, we can create a school where every learner feels safe, valued, and inspired to grow. Thank you for trusting us with your children. We are honored to be part of their educational journey. We can't wait to celebrate their successes, support them through challenges, and watch them thrive throughout the school year. 

As the final days of summer dwindle, I hope you and your family can enjoy them.  We look forward to seeing everyone soon and wish you all an excellent start to the school year.  As always, please reach out if there is anything we can do to help.

Best wishes for a successful and enjoyable year!

With kind regards,

Tina Roach

Principal