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2023 Braintree Students work together to create Little Libraries
2023 Braintree Students work together to create Little Libraries

Sanding. Painting. Assembling. It was hard, fun work to build 2 little libraries! These take-a-book/leave-a-book libraries will be installed in the community, including one next to Braintree Blossoms!

Student examining a starfish
Student examining a starfish during a Marine Biology trip

Student examining a starfish during a Marine Biology trip to the Florida Keys

Student holds a baby goat during a trip to Howling Wolf Farm
Ms. Johnson and Ms. Gale's classes visits local farm

Ms. Johnson and Ms. Gale's classes visits Howling Wolf Farm in Randolph.  This farm trip is a chance for the two classrooms to celebrate together on all that they have worked on as buddy classrooms throughout the year.

Painting at Brookfield by Edward Koren
Painting at Brookfield by Edward Koren

Painting at Brookfield by the late Edward Koren.  Mr. Koren was a former writer and political cartoonist for The New Yorker who lived in Brookfield.

Pixelated portraits of teachers from art class
Pixelated Portraits of Teachers

Can you recognize any of the faces here?  Each face contains 192 pixels and identities have been withheld while everyone makes their best guesses. 

This project was inspired by Salvador Dali and his portrait of Abraham Lincoln.  In mid 1970, Dali was inspired by an article in Scientific American magazine that investigated the minimum number of pixels needed to describe and identify a specific human face.  The Lincoln photo he created used 121 pixels.

Sign in front of the District Office

About OSSD

The Orange Southwest School District serves students and families in the towns of Randolph, Braintree, and Brookfield, Vermont. Our three elementary schools provide services to students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Randolph Union High School serves students from grades seven through twelve; and the Randolph Technical Career Center provides technical education services for juniors and seniors from communities throughout Central Vermont.

News & Events

Latest News

Willy Walker OSSD Director of Child Nutrition
OSSD Hires New Director of Child Nutrition and Food Service

By Michelle Holder

There are exciting things on the menu with the new OSSD Director of Child Nutrition and Food
Service, Willy Walker.

His experience in food service is nothing short of impressive; you might recognize his name
from his Bethel catering service, Traveling Willy-B’s, or as a former chef for the Willy-B’s Tavern
at The Three Stallion Inn. He’s been working in restaurants since he was 15, and since
graduating from culinary school in 1986, he has spent his career providing excellent food to
Vermonters.

In addition to his own businesses, Walker also has extensive experience managing larger,
systems-based food services for the White River Valley School District, The Abbey Group, and
Greater Claremont Area Food Service, which served 11 schools.

When I asked him what brought him to RUHS, his answer was easy: the kids. “I always liked
being around the kids,” said Walker. “They like to be communicated with. If you can talk to them
like adults, they are so responsive.” His dedication to kids extends beyond the kitchen; as the
coach for the RUHS Boys’ Varsity Boys’ Baseball team, Walker brings enthusiasm and genuine
joy.

Walker has many ideas about how to help bring nutritious meals to the schools. Before
accepting his job at the OSSD, he cooked at Roots Farm Market in Middlesex, where he
created meals and baked goods using locally-grown ingredients. This is something he hopes to
bring to the OSSD.

Schools currently use local ground beef from Larocque, local syrup, and some local vegetables.
Once he gets systems in place for the schools, he looks forward to collaborating with more local
farms next year. “It’s great to hear from farmers,” said Walker. “What better thing than to get
local food right here in the village?” Walker encourages local farmers and producers who would
like to partner with the OSSD to reach out to him.

Another way Walker hopes to incorporate local food is by partnering with students in RTCC.
Coming up, he’ll have eggplant in the kitchen and later microgreens planted by our students. In
return, he’ll give food scraps to RTCC’s compost. Walker asserts, “It’s going to make it much
more advantageous for the kids because what they’re growing, they’re going to be eating.”

Expanding menus is another goal. The schools currently serve free breakfast and lunch to
students at all schools. There are now 8 or 9 different breakfast options at RUMHS each day,
including cereal, yogurt parfaits, bagels, and a hot entree with eggs, hashbrowns, and breakfast
meat.

And there’s something for everyone, even those with special dietary needs. Offerings include
gluten-free bread and dairy-free milk, a deli station, and vegetarian options along with salad
bars at RUMHS and RES.

Walker also wants to celebrate more holidays across the district. “We’ve got lots of plans to
help celebrate the holidays and the cultures, too, which I think is important because then we get
some more understanding of one another.” In addition to the Thanksgiving meals, he hopes to
add in some special meals for a variety of holidays including, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day,
Easter, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. These meals will also introduce students to new
ingredients and flavors, such as okra.

He also encourages parents to fill out applications for free and reduced lunch, available on the
school’s website. While all students in the district will receive free breakfast and lunch, these
forms help the school district receive federal funding and obtain grants. They can also help
provide additional benefits to the families directly.

Walker says he loves hearing from students and parents about their hopes for school meals. “I
love talking with parents. I’d love to hear from the kids if they want certain items. If I can make
that happen, I will. They’re my customers, same as the parents.”

For questions about the OSSD Nutrition program, or to collaborate with local ingredients,
Walker can be reached by email Willy Walker or through the OSSD
website, https://www.orangesouthwest.org/programs/food-service.

Read More about OSSD Hires New Director of Child Nutrition and Food Service

Upcoming Events

News from Around the District

Here is a look at what is going on around the district.

Ukrainian History and Culture Come Alive for RUMHS Students with Balaklava Blues

By Michelle Holder
On Thursday, September 14th, the band Balaklava Blues performed for RUMHS students.
Before playing music, they began by telling their story, which began with a revolution.

Mark Marczyk met his wife, Marichka, during the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine which
occurred in 2014 and is often cited as the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War that continues
today. When the revolution turned to war, both Mark and Marichka volunteered on the front,
often working in freezing temperatures to build barricades. But their music was their best
weapon for supporting the cause.

Encouraged to leave the front lines, they returned to Canada, and have been fighting ever since
to keep the music and heritage of Ukraine alive.

Their performances include not only traditional Ukrainian music, but also a fusion of Ukrainian
folk songs with the more modern and familiar sounds of EDM, trap, and dubstep. Along with
their other bandmember Oskar Lambarri, the RUMHS students got to hear a variety of
traditional songs from different regions of the country.

The students were captivated by their stories and their songs, which included acapella singing
and a Jewish marriage song. “It was like nothing I’ve ever been around,” said one student.
“Their voices were so strong.” Another student commented, “I liked how the songs inspire them
spiritually. It was a way of seeing how in other countries music is also a way of living.”

The group is dedicated to continuing to help Ukraine through their music and with fundraising
efforts. As Marczyk said at the end of the performance, the songs “build a landscape– a new
home.” To find out more, check out their website https://www.balaklavablues.ca/.

Find Out More about Ukrainian History and Culture Come Alive for RUMHS Students with Balaklava Blues
Willy Walker OSSD Director of Child Nutrition
OSSD Hires New Director of Child Nutrition and Food Service

By Michelle Holder

There are exciting things on the menu with the new OSSD Director of Child Nutrition and Food
Service, Willy Walker.

His experience in food service is nothing short of impressive; you might recognize his name
from his Bethel catering service, Traveling Willy-B’s, or as a former chef for the Willy-B’s Tavern
at The Three Stallion Inn. He’s been working in restaurants since he was 15, and since
graduating from culinary school in 1986, he has spent his career providing excellent food to
Vermonters.

In addition to his own businesses, Walker also has extensive experience managing larger,
systems-based food services for the White River Valley School District, The Abbey Group, and
Greater Claremont Area Food Service, which served 11 schools.

When I asked him what brought him to RUHS, his answer was easy: the kids. “I always liked
being around the kids,” said Walker. “They like to be communicated with. If you can talk to them
like adults, they are so responsive.” His dedication to kids extends beyond the kitchen; as the
coach for the RUHS Boys’ Varsity Boys’ Baseball team, Walker brings enthusiasm and genuine
joy.

Walker has many ideas about how to help bring nutritious meals to the schools. Before
accepting his job at the OSSD, he cooked at Roots Farm Market in Middlesex, where he
created meals and baked goods using locally-grown ingredients. This is something he hopes to
bring to the OSSD.

Schools currently use local ground beef from Larocque, local syrup, and some local vegetables.
Once he gets systems in place for the schools, he looks forward to collaborating with more local
farms next year. “It’s great to hear from farmers,” said Walker. “What better thing than to get
local food right here in the village?” Walker encourages local farmers and producers who would
like to partner with the OSSD to reach out to him.

Another way Walker hopes to incorporate local food is by partnering with students in RTCC.
Coming up, he’ll have eggplant in the kitchen and later microgreens planted by our students. In
return, he’ll give food scraps to RTCC’s compost. Walker asserts, “It’s going to make it much
more advantageous for the kids because what they’re growing, they’re going to be eating.”

Expanding menus is another goal. The schools currently serve free breakfast and lunch to
students at all schools. There are now 8 or 9 different breakfast options at RUMHS each day,
including cereal, yogurt parfaits, bagels, and a hot entree with eggs, hashbrowns, and breakfast
meat.

And there’s something for everyone, even those with special dietary needs. Offerings include
gluten-free bread and dairy-free milk, a deli station, and vegetarian options along with salad
bars at RUMHS and RES.

Walker also wants to celebrate more holidays across the district. “We’ve got lots of plans to
help celebrate the holidays and the cultures, too, which I think is important because then we get
some more understanding of one another.” In addition to the Thanksgiving meals, he hopes to
add in some special meals for a variety of holidays including, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day,
Easter, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. These meals will also introduce students to new
ingredients and flavors, such as okra.

He also encourages parents to fill out applications for free and reduced lunch, available on the
school’s website. While all students in the district will receive free breakfast and lunch, these
forms help the school district receive federal funding and obtain grants. They can also help
provide additional benefits to the families directly.

Walker says he loves hearing from students and parents about their hopes for school meals. “I
love talking with parents. I’d love to hear from the kids if they want certain items. If I can make
that happen, I will. They’re my customers, same as the parents.”

For questions about the OSSD Nutrition program, or to collaborate with local ingredients,
Walker can be reached by email Willy Walker or through the OSSD
website, https://www.orangesouthwest.org/programs/food-service.

Find Out More about OSSD Hires New Director of Child Nutrition and Food Service