Extracurriculars

Finding our Stride is a FREE school-based running program in middle and elementary schools in the Upper Valley with a mission to build FITNESS, RESILIENCE & SELF-ESTEEM in participants through running. 

For more information, check out the flyer and visit the OQS FOS Google Site.

OQS Runners, REGISTER HERE!

The VINS Afterschool Program is an opportunity for students to continue their learning beyond the confines of the school day. Hosted at the VINS Nature Center, VINS programs offer students hands-on exploration in the outdoors with a focus on cultivating scientific thinking and ecological awareness. In this afterschool programs, the great outdoors is our teacher; students will learn from the animals and habitats they encounter at the VINS Nature Center or the natural spaces around their school and discover the wonders of the natural world.

• VINS Afterschool Program Manual
• VINS Scholarship Program

We have two sessions of Garden Club; the Wednesday Gardeners and the Thursday Gardeners. Each group meets once a week in the fall season and one a week in the spring season. Students work in the garden, depending on the season, to prepare soil, plant crops, weed, harvest, cook, and learn about how to care for plants in order to produce a healthy and robust harvest. Master gardener, Paul Sadowski, leads K-5 students and tends the garden in the summer months. Learn more at our Garden Club webpage.

​​​​​​​

"We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. We envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams." Girls on the Run is for girls in grades 3-5 and is coached by our 5th grade teachers, Sandra Rhoades, Nancy Burke, and Special Educator, Erica Bazilchuk. Ottauquechee’s school team typically meets twice a week and trains for a culminating 5K. Learn more about girls on the run.

Wolves on the Prowl is an adventure based outing club for students in 4th and 5th grade. Wolves on the Prowl instructors teach team building, outdoor preparedness and survival skills. We hike, snowshoe, cross country ski, indoor rock climb, and do trail work on the “tools”trail. Wolves on the Prowl is led by Chad Clough, Alisha Keel, Lori Beland and Christy Edgren. Learn more at our Wolves on the Prowl webpage.

​​​​​​​

Founded by a former student, the newspaper club is currently seeking an adult volunteer to lead the club.

Fifth graders who consistently show PAWS behavior may apply to be part of this student leadership group, led by Alisha Keel and Amelia Donahey. PAWSquad creates skits, conducts surveys, makes posters and does other projects to promote a positive school culture among all our learners.

Before the pandemic, baking club was open to grades K-5. Each month students, grouped by grade level (K-2 and 3-5), spend an afternoon cooking up a special treat to share with each other and with the staff the next day. Delectable treats have included, chocolate mint brownies, homemade poptarts, and cinnamon buns to name a few. Parent volunteers are needed to run the baking club.

Current OQS students are interested in a chess club. Family/community members interested in leading the club, please contact our PTO president.

Once monthly, the Nerd Squad, a group of Dartmouth graduate students and research scientists turned volunteer educators, hosts a Community Science Night.

Ottauquechee has a vibrant drama club which puts on a musical production each spring. Past shows have included The Fairy Tale Network, The Magic in Me, and The Magical Land of Oz. Students in 4th and 5th grades are able to participate. OQS PTO currently seeks volunteer directors for upcoming drama club seasons.

If you have a great idea for another extracurricular activity, please reach out to PTO President Liz Bunnell at qspto@gmail.com.