Thank you to those who have already donated coats. This year, OCS DECA has received 62 requests from families in our district that cannot afford winter coats for their children. We have been able to fill 24 of these requests and are still in need of 38 coats. In addition, there are many high school students we know are in need of coats not included on this list.

Please consider helping just one Onteora student by donating a new or gently used coat. We will also accept monetary donations in any amount to be used to purchase coats (checks to OCS DECA). In the past we have been able to purchase

Your dental plan through the Benefit Trust

Company: Delta Dental

Group #: 10307

Card: There is none.

Contacting Delta: www.deltadentalins.com

∙                       Go to the website and establish a user account.  You’ll be able to track your usage and those of family members who are included in the plan.  Note your enrollee number.  If you need to call Delta, that’s the number they’ll ask for.

∙                       Once you’re enrolled you’ll be able to see all the specifics of our plan.

Plan Coverage :

•           Currently the plan covers 100% for all dental procedures, up to a maximum of $3000

Phoenicia Elementary artists have been working diligently for many months to complete two school-wide art projects that connect to classroom curriculum.  Inspired by the local Leaping Trout Art Project and other community based art “themes” around the country, we dove into making trout themed art.  First and second grade students raised trout in the classroom from eggs to small fingerlings.  These were released into local waters on May 15^th. 

During April and May student art projects of trout were exhibited at the Phoenicia Public Library.    First grade painted watercolor trout mobiles

Grian is also known locally as the Ivy Vine Players.  Students were thrilled to get up close and learn the stories behind the characters, see tricks for making the puppets move and view a variety of different forms of puppetry.

Grian is a master of making beautiful art objects from recycling and everyday found objects. One student wrote Grian that she was so inspired, she is now making her own puppets at home.  Students especially enjoyed shadow box puppetry – all made with cut up cereal boxes, chopsticks, crates and desk lamps.  The magic of a story transformed these objects into pure

This year’s Battle of the Books was another success!  The competition took place on the May 15^th, 2013 in the library.  Three teams of students competed in the jeopardy-style competition and answered questions about ten different books from this year’s list.  The list was made up of multiple genres (short stories, novels, poetry, and non-fiction) and included award winners such as Wonder, by Patricia Palacia, Trapped: how the World Recued 33 Miners from 2,000 Feet Below the Chilean Desert, by Marc Aronson, and “The Adventure of the Speckled Band,” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

This year’s