Scott Gordon named OTHS Principal

Transcription

August
2009
RSU 34 Community Connections ECRWSS
Page 1
__________________________________________________________________
POSTAL PATRON
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
OLD TOWN, ME
PERMIT NO. 16
RSU 34 Community Connections
Regional School Unit No. 34
156 Oak Street, Old Town, ME 04468
Volume 1, No. 1
August 2009
Scott Gordon
named OTHS
Principal
See pp. 6-7
LMS Principal
John Keane
talks about
‘Whatever It Takes’
See pp. 16-17
Inside:
Superintendent’s Message ........................... p. 2
Old Town High School .......................... pp. 6-13
Leonard Middle School ....................... pp. 14-24
Old Town Elementary School .............. pp. 25-27
Alton Elementary School ........................... p. 28
Viola Rand School ...................................... p. 29
Southern Penobscot Regional Program .... p. 30
Bus schedules, Back-to-School info ... pp. 31-32
COVER PHOTO—Scott Gordon, the new principal at Old
Town High School, stands next to the Coyote sign in front
of the school. Q&A with Mr. Gordon is on pp. 6-7.
Page
2
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
From the Superintendent
‘Back To School’ issue of ‘Community Connections’
By David Walker, Superintendent of Schools, Regional School Unit No. 34
It is with pride that I present to you the August 2009
As we begin another school year, I wish to thank the
“Back To School” issue of RSU 34 Community Connections.
citizens of Alton, Bradley, and Old Town for their support.
This issue contains end-of-the-year highlights from this past
Your support of our school budget referendum at the polls
spring along with valuable information regarding the upcomthis past June is a reflection of your dedication to the
ing school year. I hope you share in my pride as you read
children and future of our community and is very much
about the accomplishments of our students and staff highappreciated.
lighted in this edition. I also hope you find the information
We look forward with anticipation to the 2009-2010 school
about the new school year helpful. As always, do not hesitate
year and, with your assistance, providing the best possible
to call one of our schools or my office if you have questions.
educational opportunities to our students.
David Walker
RSU 34 Technology Update
RSU 34: More schools, more computers, more technology use
By Jef H. HamLin, IT Director, RSU 34
The change from Old Town
School Department to RSU #34
brought many changes for the
Information Technology (IT)
Department.
First came the most visible
change, the name itself. Anyone
who has done an address change
with the Post Office knows this
isn’t quite as easy as it sounds.
Multiply that by about 100 to
make the changes for an entire
district. Still, the changes have
been for the better and definitely
worth the effort.
Email.
The email addresses for the
former OTSD and Union 90
employees who are now part of
RSU34 have all changed and
hopefully for the better. The new
addresses are shorter and easier
to remember.
They are in the form of
[email protected].
So, for example, I can now be
reached at [email protected].
Website.
The website presents a bit more
of a challenge. We had several
very separate websites, portions of
which were very outdated.
Thanks to our web master, Tim
Larson, who is also the Senior
Technician for RSU 34, we have a
very clean, professional, easy to
navigate website.
The website is still in transition
and parts are under construction,
but Tim is working on it every day
to have it all up and ready for the
first day of school.
The new website is as easy to
remember as the emails and is
located at www.rsu34.org. We
encourage you to visit often. The
main page not only has links to all
the schools and departments
within RSU34, but also has
informational links and any
“breaking” news for the district.
For example, Tim gets the calls
first for school closures and posts
the news in bright red to our main
page for everyone to see. Snow
days seen here first! One final
note on the website, as you check
out the web pages for the individual schools, please take a look
at the photos of the schools.
Tim is also our resident photographer and took all new photos in
the spring on his own time to help
make the sites current and consistent. Thanks, Tim!
* * *
While the summer represents a
break for students and many staff,
it tends to be the busiest time for
IT. This summer has been especially busy.
Laptop computers.
With the State updating all the
MLTI machines, there are over
300 laptops to be imaged and
made ready for distribution to
students and staff.
The Old Town Elementary staff
needed new computers and
elected to buy into the MLTI
program to obtain Mac laptops for
their teachers.
Leonard Middle School has
completed its plan for 1-to-1 in the
sixth grade with the purchase of
18 new Mac Minis. We are hoping
to have these installed and ready
to go for the first day of school.
Old Town High School will be
getting more laptops for students,
with the first round to be 25 new
Acer Minis (highly mobile 10 inch
laptops), to be used initially in
specific subject areas where the
curriculum has been designed for
their use. As curriculum is
developed in other subject areas,
additional laptops will be purchased with the eventual goal
being 1-to-1 for grades 9-12.
Networks.
With the addition of computing
devices in general and specifically
wireless devices, the needs of our
networks have changed. The IT
Department is in the process of
updating the structure of our
networks to increase speed and
access.
Wireless access will need to be
updated and expanded in all of
our schools. The State is doing
some of this work through the
MLTI program, but that covers
only the middle school and possibly the high school. The rest will
need to be done by IT locally. This
is especially true at Old Town
Elementary, where the wireless
presence will more than double.
Faster Internet Connection.
There have been many “behind
the scenes” changes made and
more to come. The most significant visible change is the speed of
our Internet connection. The four
schools within the Old Town city
limits were connected via fiber to
each other a year and a half or so
ago. The fiber connection has
been expanded and these schools
now share a fiber Internet connection through the University of
Maine that allows sustained
Internet speeds approximately
twice what the previous maximum
speed was for all the schools
combined with a new maximum of
10 to 100 times what it was
before!
We are hoping to add Viola
Rand and Alton Elementary to the
fiber next summer.
Viola Rand and Alton Elementary.
Speaking of Viola Rand and
Alton Elementary, each of these
schools will be getting a network
makeover with higher speed
switches and a new server for
things like a new student information system, centralized NWEA
testing, and common storage for
staff.
The two schools will also be
able to communicate directly via a
secure Internet connection to the
central IT Office and have access
to those resources as well as be
able to communicate more efficiently with their counterparts
throughout the district.
Both schools received new
laptops and desktops last year,
and this year we will build on that
with better access to accessory
technology like projectors, cameras, and an improved external
presence (website, parent-guardian access to student information,
etc.).
* * *
With more schools, more
computers, and more technology
use in the newly formed RSU34,
we just had to have more help.
Last year, the Old Town School
Department had a director, one
full-time technician and one halftime technician/half-time integrator at the high school in the IT
Department.
This year the high school will
have a half-time integrator/halftime technology teacher and the
IT Department has grown the
half-time technician portion to
full-time.
Your RSU 34 IT Department
now numbers three—Jef H.
HamLin, IT Director; Tim Larson,
Senior Technician and
Webmaster; and our newest
addition, Matt Veilleux, Technician.
One final note from IT concerns
the Community Connections
directly. It is our goal this year to
not only make the Community
Connection available in PDF
format on our website (in addition
to the printed version, of course),
but also to provide interim updates and articles on the website
as well.
Watch for this new addition to
our RSU 34 website.
If you have any questions for
our IT Department, you are
welcome to contact me directly or
send a question via email to
[email protected]
— Jef H. HamLin, IT Director
(207) 827-3900 x218
RSU #34 Special Education Services
With the formation of the new
Regional School Unit, Loretta
Robichaud, the current Special
Education Director for Old Town
and Kimm Kenniston, Special
Education Director for Union 90
will be assuming new responsibilities.
Mrs. Kenniston will coordinate
IEP meetings for all Special Education Students grades 9-12 within
the RSU as well as those attending
other area high schools.
Mrs. Robichaud will coordinate
all services and IEP meetings for
the Viola Rand School, Alton
Elementary, Old Town Elementary and the Leonard Middle
School.
If you need to contact Loretta
Robichaud her office is located at
156 Oak Street in Old Town;
telephone number is 827-3921.
Kimm Kenniston’s office is
located at the Old Town High
School 203 Stillwater Avenue in
Old Town; telephone number is
827-3910.
August
2009
Page 3
__________________________________________________________________
From the Curriculum Coordinator
Workshops, Testing, Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG)
By Judy Pusey, K-12 Curriculum Coordinator
Summer Professional
Development
Workshops
Teachers and administrators in
RSU #34 had a very busy, productive and short summer again this
year. Over
180 of our
faculty
participated
in fourteen
different
professional
development
workshops
between
June 17th
and August
Judy Pusey
27th on the
following
topics:
• Updating the K-5 English
language arts curriculum
• Revising our K-12 science
curriculum and planning professional development in science
• Integrating information
literacy in social studies and
English at grade 9
• Developing a Response to
Intervention (RTI) program in
reading at OTHS
• Developing a new teacher
induction and recertification plan
for RSU #34
• Participating in a K-8 Response to Intervention (RTI)
workshop sponsored by the
University of Maine
• Updating and coordinating
the math curriculum at OTHS
• Coordinating the K-5 curriculum for RSU #34
• Developing a Response to
Intervention (RTI) program for K5 math
• Developing a district plan for
the use of NWEA data
• Developing a Service Learning action plan
• Participating in the RSU #34
Technology Academy
Testing Calendar Revisions
Since the State is planning to
replace the Maine Educational
Assessment (MEA) with the New
England Common Assessment
Program (NECAP) for grades 3-8
in the 2009-2010 school year, we
will have a different testing
calendar this year. The NECAP
will be administered in reading
and math at grades 3-8 in October, in writing at grades 5 and 8
in October and in science at
grades 5 and 8 in May. The State
will continue to require that the
PSAT be administered to grades
10 and 11 students in October, the
SAT at grade 11 in May, and the
math and science augmentation
tests will be administered to all
grade 11 students in the spring.
RSU #34 will continue to
administer the NWEA in grades 39 to assist us in differentiating our
instruction and in helping students to set academic improvement goals. We will also be
introducing an exciting new
program this year called Compass
Learning that will allow us to use
our NWEA data to design and
deliver individual instructional
programs on the computers in our
schools. This resource will help
our teachers provide additional
personalized interventions and/or
extensions to support our students’ learning.
Jobs for Maine Graduates
Another new program that will
assist our students and teachers is
the Jobs for Maine Graduates
(JMG)
program at
Old Town
High School.
JMG, a
private/
nonprofit
that provides dropout prevention and
school-toBryan Murphy
work transition services for at-risk youth, had
provided funding for our Service
Learning Coordinator’s position
for the past 2½ years. When they
were no longer able to continue
funding this position, they gave us
the opportunity to become a
partner school in their high school
program. Our Service Learning
Coordinator, Bryan Murphy, will
be the new JMG coordinator.
JMG’s competency based high
school curriculum provides students with opportunities to
interact with employers and
community-based organizations in
career development, job attainment, job survival, service learning, and leadership development.
JMG also follows up with graduating high school students monthly
for one year following the completion of the program. Based upon
the success that the JMG program
has had in other high schools in our
state, the need that some Old Town
High School students have for this
type of program, and the opportunity that we had to provide this
program at no additional cost to the
local budget, we felt that this
curriculum should be added at Old
Town High School.
* * *
As you can see, we have had a
busy and productive spring and
summer identifying and preparing
our staff and our curriculum,
instruction and assessment
programs to support our students
and to open new doors for all in
the 2009-2010 school year.
From the RSU #34 Curriculum Office – Alton & Bradley
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the
communities of the new RSU #34.
I have been in the field of education for over 25 years, teaching
various grades from Pre-K to
grade 8 and previously served as a
Special Education/Curriculum
Coordinator in a K-12 school in
Northern Maine.
For the past two years I have
served as Union 90’s Director of
Education, and I look forward to
the opportunities that the RSU
will offer to the students, staff and
communities.
During this transition time, I
By Debbie Bird
directly involved in will include
will continue to work with the two
assisting the staff with the New
schools in Alton and Bradley and
England Common Assessment
am excited about sharing the
Program (NECAP) preparation
educational initiatives that these
and student data analysis. As Dr.
two schools have been involved
Pusey explained, NECAP is a new
with in the last two years.
assessment to the schools of
Since my arrival in Union 90,
Maine and will replace the MEA
Dr. Pusey and I have had many
in math, reading & writing.
opportunities to work together on
educational projects, so we anticiNew Teacher Induction
pate working together in the new
RSU will be a comfortable and
The Department of Education is
natural transition.
taking steps to design programs
that will ensure quality support to
NECAP
all beginning educators. One of
One of the professional developthese steps has been the creation
ment activities that I will be
of a formal mentoring program.
Alton and Bradley are in year
three of this program, and between the two schools, they have
five trained mentors and two
certified trainers. I know that the
new teachers in the two schools
have appreciated the support and
feedback from their colleagues.
We are excited about sharing our
program with the staff in RSU #34.
* * *
The students and staff of Alton
and Bradley are incredible and will
be a great asset to the RSU. I look
forward to an exciting new school
year with many great learning
opportunities for students and staff.
Service-Learning Project: Home Energy Efficiency
Student interest in a brief
experiment this past year has led to
a longer-term service learning
project, funded by a grant last year.
Students, guided by Mrs. St. Peter,
Mrs. Campbell, and Mr. Doty, will
explore several areas of home
energy efficiency through research
and experimentation, and use their
findings to educate their peers and
the public.
The topics will include:
• Comparing types of light
bulbs (incandescent, compact
fluorescent, and light emitting
diode) for quality of light, cost-
A message from the RSU34 Public Safety Committee
We’re excited by the return to
school, and want students to have a
safe and healthy year! We want to
start off the year by making sure
attention is still focused on preventing the spread of communicable
diseases, especially the H1N1 virus.
In the last century, the major flu
incidents have included a mild
outbreak in the spring followed by a
larger, more dangerous outbreak in
the fall. The challenges Maine
summer camps have seen with
H1N1 remind us that we need to
stay vigilant.
Please remind your children at
home, as we will at school, that
proper hygiene is very important!
Frequent, thorough hand washing
and “covering your cough” will go a
long way toward keeping us all
healthy, as will staying home when
sick. For more details, please see
your school nurses.
efficiency, and energy efficiency
• Attic insulation in Maine
• Using home “Kill-A-Watt”
meters to identify the energy used
by various devices and appliances
• Using infrared thermometers
to identify points of large energy
loss
COMMUNITY
CONNECTIONS
RSU
34
is published by Regional School Unit 34 for the citizens of Alton, Bradley, and Old Town.
David Walker, Superintendent of Schools
Judith K. Pusey, Curriculum Coordinator
David C. Wollstadt (www.schoolnewsletters.net), volunteer editor
Many thanks to the teachers, administrators, students, and parents who contributed to the successful publication of this issue with articles and photos. To persons
unidentified we apologize. Each contribution is greatly appreciated.
Page
4
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
‘Restore the Pride’ seeks new athletic fields for OTHS
Restore the Pride is a group of coaches,
citizens, and school & city leaders who
organized over 1 1/2 years ago in an effort
to build a new athletic complex at OTHS
& the property of the former Herbert
Gray School. This all weather all purpose
field would be used for high school football, field hockey & soccer plus allow the
track program to host a meet for the first
time in 25 years. In addition to the new
field, 3 practice fields would be built for
football, field hockey & soccer, new
bleachers would be added as well as a new
scoreboard and handicap parking on the
site of the former outdoor hockey rink.
The entire complex would be fenced in
and allow ticket gates to be constructed so
that any event held by the schools or city
could generate funds through ticket sales.
A concession stand would also benefit
from having more athletic events held in
one area. The benefits of this complex will
serve more than just school athletic
events and will be a big benefit to the
city’s parks & rec programs.
This new multi-purpose surface will
last approx. 50 years, require minimal
maintenance, and can be used year round.
Most recently the group obtained taxexempt status under the RSU #34 that will
allow fundraising to be conducted. Representatives meet with Old Town city council
August 3rd to inform them of the intent of
the project and displayed for them a model
built by former OTHS grad Ben Richard
depicting what the complex will look like
when completed. This model will be taken
to all presentations by the group and the
new computer graphics will be added to the
web page that is still being updated.
The next crucial task for the Restore
the Pride group is campaigning for funds
which will begin very soon. If anyone is
interested in supporting the project or
would like more information they can
contact Mark Graffam @ 991-8064 or
email him [email protected]
Old Town Adult
Education
Fall 2009 Program
Registration—August 25 and 27, 2009
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Classes start September 1 -3, 2009
Classes are held at Old Town H.S. and run
for 14 weeks unless otherwise specified.
Call 827-3906 for more information.
Tuesday (6-9:15 p.m.)
Individualized Instruction
Preparing for College Chemistry
English
Basic Reading and Math
GED Preparation
Painting (8 weeks)
Algebra
Introduction to Computers (8 weeks)
PLATO—Computer Assisted Instruction
Wednesday (6-9:15 p.m.)
U.S. History
Thursday (6-9:15 p.m.)
Contemporary American Studies
Quilting (10 weeks—Starts 9/10/09)
GED Testing
Basic Reading and Math
Individualized Reading and Math will also
be offered during the afternoons on
Mondays and Wednesdays.
Hunters’ Safety—9/21, 9/22, 9/23, and 9/
24—6:00-9:00 p.m.
Hunter’s Safety—10/3 and 10/4—VFW
Hall, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Diagram of Restore the Pride’s vision for Old Town High School athletic fields.
Welcome Back! Chapter 104 Services
welcomes a new team member
By Jon Doty
Gifted and Talented Coordinator
It’s been a busy and exciting summer for us –
relocating classrooms and offices, furthering our
own education, and especially welcoming Mrs.
Campbell to our team! We’re looking forward to
sharing her many talents, especially her passion
for scientific inquiry. As I write this, Mrs.
Campbell and Mrs. St. Peter are taking a graduate course at the University of Southern Maine on
developing critical thinking skills in students, and
I am finishing up a graduate course at the University of Maine. I am also beginning an online
course to gain certification as a Site Coordinator
for Virtual High Schools, to help us continue
expanding that program, and Mrs. Campbell will
attend an institute related to our middle school
Vital Signs (“Monitoring Invasive Species”)
program in August. Lifelong learners, indeed!
We have plenty of goals for next year, and we
look forward to seeing the students’ smiling faces.
Next year will see an expansion of services in
many ways – more than doubling the number of
students accessing distance education, hosting a
resource teacher at Leonard Middle School,
adding to the great things already done at Alton
Elementary School and Viola Rand School by
beginning formal Chapter 104 services, and
expanding our services district-wide to include
visual and performing arts.
What are we? We work with staff and students
to implement the Schoolwide Enrichment Model
(credit to Dr. Renzulli at the University of Connecticut), which includes Gifted and Talented
Education (“Chapter 104” in Maine regulations).
Our general goal is to build local capacity (re-
sources, skills, systemic practices) to support
students who are sometimes left behind academically, socially, and emotionally. We want every
student in our communities to find challenge,
inspiration, safety, relevance, and fun in our
schools! We promote, collaborate regarding, and
support differentiated instruction (planning
adaptations into lessons so they are good fits for
students of varied skills and interests), and
sometimes directly work with students in particular areas to best meet their needs.
Curious about the Schoolwide Enrichment
Model and/or our efforts? Visit our web page by
clicking the link on any of the RSU 34 schools’
home pages (start at www.rsu34.org) – you can
also read more about Dr. Renzulli’s work at http://
www.gifted.uconn.edu/sem/
We love to communicate with students, staff,
parents, and community members, but want to
make sure we don’t shortcut very important folks!
Parents and caregivers, please make sure you
always start with your child’s teacher(s) – they
play the most important role in the day-to-day
services our schools provide your children!
You can find us all over the district. Mr. Doty,
our program’s coordinator, uses an office/lab at
Old Town High School as his home base, but will
frequently be found at Alton Elementary School,
Viola Rand School, and the Southern Penobscot
Regional Program. The best way to reach him is
via email – [email protected]. Mrs. St. Peter
and Mrs. Campbell are resource teachers in our
program, and are based primarily out of classrooms at Old Town Elementary School (Mrs. St.
Peter) and Leonard Middle School (Mrs.
Campbell).
August
2009
Page 5
__________________________________________________________________
‘Reading in the Family’ to expand this year
By Lisa Morin
“The abilities to read, write and
comprehend enable people to
create brighter and more prosperous futures for themselves, their
families and their communities.”
This quote by former First Lady
Barbara Bush explains her dedication to Family Literacy Programs. Since 1996, The Maine
Family Literacy Initiative, a
division of the Barbara Bush
Foundation, has awarded over 200
grants totaling more than $3.5
million.
The Old Town area has received
funding for the past two years for
the Reading in the Family program,
and we are proud to announce the
beginning of year three.
This program began as a collaboration between the Old Town
School Department, the Old Town
Public Library, Penquis HeadStart,
Old Town Adult Education and the
River Coalition.
Last year Literacy Volunteers
of Bangor joined the partnership.
and this year the Housing Authority of the City of Old Town will
join as well.
During the 2008-2009 year, ten
families, including 13 adults and
12 children, enrolled in the Reading in the Family Program.
Parents served by the program
were matched with a Literacy
Coach, who has received special
training in family literacy by
Literacy Volunteers of Bangor.
Enrolled adults met on average 2
hours per week in one-to-one
sessions and two hours monthly in
group literacy activities. During
the last year, seven of the 13
parents received at least 75 hours
of instruction from their Literacy
Coach. Many of the parents
showed dramatic improvement
through participation in this
program.
Old Town Adult Education also
provided educational opportunities for the parents in the Reading
in the Family program, and new
classes are planned for this year.
With the support of their Literacy
Coaches and the Reading in the
Family staff, four adults are in
the process of applying to area
colleges.
Through monthly interactive
literacy events, parents and
children came together with staff
from each of the partner organizations for a healthy dinner and fun
literacy-based activities. The
families enjoyed crafts, games,
reading and some special guests.
Each of the families also received
two books at each of the monthly
intergenerational events. By the
end of the year, families received
over a dozen books!
Books were donated by the
Orono-Old Town Kiwanis and the
Women’s Resource Group at the
Old Town United Baptist Church
and also provided through the
project’s involvement with the
New Books New Readers program
of the Maine Humanities Council.
A very important part of these
events were the student volunteers from Leonard Middle School
and Old Town High School.
Typically 10-15 students came
to assist with serving dinner and
children’s activities. Their pres-
ence was very important to the children
and to the events.
Their participation
will continue this
year and hopefully
more volunteers will
be able to take part.
At the conclusion
of this year of programming, all families were asked to
participate in a
Reading Habits
Survey.
It is apparent from
the comments received that a love of
learning and reading
has transpired, and
for this reason we
are very excited to
announce that this
program is not only
Reading in the Family
continuing for the
2009-2010 school year, but also
Greenbush, and Milford.
will be expanding to include
If you or someone you know
families in Alton, Bradley,
could benefit from the Reading in
the Family program, please
contact Lisa Morin at the River
Coalition (827-8744).
Page
6
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
Scott Gordon, new OTHS Principal:
“As an educator, I want Old Town High School
to be the best school it can be,
but I also have the same goal for
Old Town High School as a parent.”
Q. Why did you apply for the
job at Old Town High School?
SCOTT GORDON: When I
learned that Old Town High School
would be looking for a new principal, there were several reasons I
wanted to apply.
From a personal standpoint, I
have lived in Old Town for the past
15 years, and I have two children
who I expect will graduate from Old
Town High School in 2019 and
2023. As an educator, I want Old
Town High School to be the best
school it can be, but I also have the
same goal for Old Town High
School as a parent.
From a professional standpoint,
Old Town High School and RSU 34
(Alton, Bradley, and Old Town)
have adopted an attitude of “Whatever It Takes” in terms of supporting students. One of my reasons for
coming to Old Town is that that’s
who I am, too. I’m willing to do
whatever it takes to ensure that
kids are successful.
Regional Program (now the Southern Penobscot Regional Program)
for seven years.
I’ve worked with kids all my life.
I started working at Community
Health and Counseling Services in
Lincoln and coached baseball and
basketball on the side at SAD 31
schools in Howland. At that point,
I still needed couple of classes to
get my degree, so I went back to
school and finished my degree at
UMaine. Shortly after that, I got
my teaching certificate and started
teaching at the Regional Program.
Q. Do you think teaching at
the Regional Program helped to
prepare you to be a high school
principal?
SCOTT GORDON: Yes,
although I wasn’t so sure about
that when I left the Regional
Program to go to Penquis Valley.
At the time, I thought being a
high school principal was going to
be a big learning curve for me,
because I was going back to a
“regular” school, and I was going to
Q. Tell us a little bit about
be in charge. However, I quickly
yourself.
learned that my time at the ReSCOTT GORDON: I was born
gional Program had really been
and raised in Lincoln and graduvery good preparation. What I
ated from Mattanawcook Academy
found was that I had been very
in 1987. I have four brothers, three
successful in building relationships
living in Maine and one in Georgia.
with kids at the Regional ProI have a bachelor’s degree in
gram—and if you can do it there,
physical education and a master’s
you can do it anywhere.
degree in educational leadership,
Developing the skill to build
both from the University of Maine.
relationships with high-needs kids
My wife Laurie, is an Old Town
makes it easier to build relationHigh School graduate, Class of
ships with high school students
1989, and her family is from Old
who don’t have the same level of
Town. Her maiden name is Albert.
emotional or behavioral issues. I
We have two children, ages 4 and 8.
believe that relationships are very
The 4-year-old will be starting preimportant—not
just relationships
with students,
but also with
their parents, the
staff, and the
community.
Thanks to
my experiences
at the Regional
Program, nothing
that happened at
Penquis ever
surprised me.
When a teacher
at Penquis Valley
called and told
me that the boys
bathroom was on
fire, my pulse
didn’t pick up
“Old Town High School has adopted an attitude of ‘Whatever
any more than if
It Takes’ in terms of supporting students. One of my reasons for
she had said,
coming to Old Town is that that’s who I am, too. I’m willing to
Your lunch is
do whatever it takes to ensure that kids are successful.”
here. But I
handled it. I went and dealt with
school at Old Town Elementary
it. I was never at the point where I
School this fall, and the 8-year-old
said, “Wow, I’ve never seen that in
will be in 3rd grade. In a few short
school,” because I’d seen it all at the
years, they’ll be attending Old
Regional Program.
Town High School, so I’m very
I think building relationships is
excited to be in the position I’m in
my forte, and part of my ability to
now.
do that came from my experience at
During the past four years, I
the Regional Program, where I had
served as principal at Penquis
to work very hard to build relationValley High School in Milo. Previships with some of some of those
ously, I was a physical education
kids. I developed a pretty good
and health teacher at the Old Town
“My wife Laurie, is an Old Town High School graduate, Class of 1989, and her family
is from Old Town. Her maiden name is Albert. We have two children, ages 4 and 8.
The 4-year-old will be starting pre-school at Old Town Elementary School this fall, and
the 8-year-old will be in 3rd grade. In a few short years, they’ll be attending Old Town
High School, so I’m very excited to be in the position I’m in now.”
ability to do that, and I can do that
with normal kids pretty easily.
Q. As you get to know Old
Town High School, what do you
see as the challenges for the
first year or two.
SCOTT GORDON: The biggest
thing on our plate right now is
accreditation—making sure that we
satisfy NEASC’s standards to
ensure that we retain our accreditation.
I’ve been through the accreditation process. I led Penquis Valley
High School to a successful accreditation in 2007, and I look forward
to the decennial re-accreditation
visit, which will be scheduled for
the 2011-2012 school year.
At this point, however, we have
to work through some issues that
remain from the last visit.
One of NEASC’s concerns is our
science labs. I plan to put together
a timeline for making the needed
improvements in our science labs.
We currently have six science
labs, and five of them are in pretty
poor repair. To make all of them
21st century science labs probably
would not be cost effective. It might
make more sense to upgrade three
of them to be very high quality
science labs, and make the others
high-quality science classrooms
with 21st century technology,
where science teachers could give
lectures or have hands-on activities
that don’t require laboratory
facilities.
We did something similar to that
at Penquis Valley last year, and it
worked out very well.
Q. Why wasn’t this addressed earlier?
SCOTT GORDON: I think the
main reason was that Old Town
High School had more pressing
facility concerns, including the need
for a new roof and a new heating
and ventilation system. In the last
three years the city and the school
department have spent close to $2
million to make the needed repairs
to “secure the envelope.” It would
not have made sense to try to
upgrade the science labs if the roof
was still leaking or if the CO and
CO2 levels in the rooms were too
high. Now, I think the physical
structure is ready to the point
where we can address the learning
spaces.
Q. You say you want to make
Old Town High School “the best
school it can be”? How do you
plan to go about doing that?
SCOTT GORDON: One of the
ways we plan to do this is to have
parent forums at OTHS, so that
parents can ask questions and give
us their input. At this point, we’re
looking at one per quarter, with a
speaker invited to address a topic of
interest. In addition to the speaker,
we would reserve time for parent
questions and comments.
In a more general sense, I want
to make sure that the Old Town/
RSU 34 philosophy of “Whatever It
Takes” becomes part of the culture
at Old Town High School. That will
be a focus for me.
Q. Do you plan any specific
changes in school policies at
Old Town High School?
SCOTT GORDON: I think
we’ll be taking a close look at a
number of our policies to make sure
that we have our priorities in order
August
2009
Page 7
__________________________________________________________________
OLD TOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Scott Gordon, Principal
827-3910
and that we’re focused on
One of my initial
do it, and neither will a laptop.
helping our students succeed.
challenges/tasks will
This is a discussion that we will
One policy that was put in
be to initiate a schoolhave at Old Town High School.
place last year to support the
wide discussion to
We’re comfortable that students at
“Whatever It Takes” effort was
determine exactly
Old Town High School have ada homework policy. Now that it
what this “better way”
equate access to technology right
has been in place for a year, the
will look like. We
now (see the article by IT Director
feedback is that it needs some
fully plan to open in
Jef HamLin on page 2). But we are
adjustment. I look forward to
the fall of 2010 with a
going to review that, and we will
leading the staff as they conwide range technolohave a plan in place for 2010 to
sider exactly what adjustments
gies available to our
demonstrate how we are going to
are needed to ensure that Old
students. We won’t
meet our students’ technology
Town High School works toward
require kids to lug
needs going forward.
our goal of becoming a learning
around individual
community where everyone is
laptops, but we’ll have
Q. Any final thoughts about
supported in their learning.
technology available
Old Town High School for
There has also been some
for all student needs.
readers of RSU 34 Community
concern about attendance. It’s
And by not leasing
Connections?
difficult to be successful if you
600 Macbooks for four
SCOTT GORDON: Yes. I’d
aren’t coming to school and
years, we’ll have funds
like to say a couple of words about
arriving on time on a regular
available to lease or
our students. I’ve talked with a
basis. This may be an issue
purchase high end
number of people who have worked
that we discuss at the first of
hardware and softin a variety of high schools in
our parent forums at Old Town
ware for more specialMaine and elsewhere, and they
“Developing the skill to build relationships with high-needs
High School this fall.
ized
educational
rave about the students at Old
kids makes it easier to build relationships with high school
In general, I pledge to work
needs,
such
as
for
Town High School. There are a lot
students who don’t have the same level of emotional or
with the staff, the board, and
studio
art
and
graphic
of good kids at OTHS—there really
behavioral issues. I believe that relationships are very
the community to draft policies
design classes.
are. A lot of good things have been
important—not just relationships with students, but also with
that will raise the probability of
What’s important is
happening here that I can’t take
their parents, the staff, and the community.”
success for all students. We
that we’re committed
any credit for. I want to continue to
need to hold our students to a high
to the idea that technology has an
premier junior ROTC programs in
support these students and help
standard, but was want them to be
important place in the classroom,
New England in the four years it
make Old Town High School even
successful. I think we can achieve
and it’s here to stay. The question
has been at Old Town High School.
better.
both.
is how can we best deploy technol• The music program, which
You can’t argue with success.
ogy to support learning. Looking
continues to excel and provide an
When you look at where last year’s
Q. What do you see as the
forward, we have to be able to
excellent performing and learning
seniors were accepted, and when
strengths of Old Town High
maintain whatever technology
experience for many Old Town
you look at the number of scholarSchool?
program we adopt. It’s one thing to
High School students.
ships that were given to Old Town
SCOTT GORDON: I think
adopt one-to-one computing; it’s
In general, Old Town’s attitude
High School seniors last June, it’s
there are a lot of good things going
something else altogether to be able
of “Whatever It Takes” extends
very clear that something good is
on. The more people I meet and the
to maintain those 600 computers,
across the entire spectrum of
happening.
more people I talk to, I sense that
especially in years
students. We serve kids who find it
there are a lot of people at Old
three and four,
difficult to meet the challenges of
Town High School who want to see
when the laptops
high school, but we also serve kids
things change and become better. I
will be older and
who excel in high school through
can tell you this—I wouldn’t want
increasingly in
our advance placement courses,
my children to aspire to graduate
need of repair.
Virtual High School courses, the
from Old Town High School if I
In the end, my
Honors Diploma program, and
didn’t think it was a good place to be.
guess is that Old
through our Gifted and Talented
In terms of specific programs and
Town High School
program, which is being extended
activities, I’d point to the following
will provide stuto the visual and performing arts,
as very definite strengths of OTHS:
dents with a
as well as academic subjects.
• The Honors Diploma
combination of
program—OTHS is the only high
tools to meet their
Q. Old Town High School
school in Maine which has articulamany different
decided not to go along with
tion agreements with both the
technology needs.
the Department of Education’s
University of Maine and the UniFor students who
laptop initiative, which would
versity of Southern Maine which
are doing word
have meant leasing laptop
say that our Honors Diploma
processing or
computers for all students in
graduates are automatically qualiInternet searches,
grades 9-12 for four years. Why
fied to enter the respective honors
a wireless netbook
was that?
colleges of Maine’s two largest
may be as good as a
SCOTT GORDON: There were
universities.
more expensive
several reasons for the decision, but
• Advanced placement
laptop. But for a
in a nutshell, we didn’t do the oneclasses—Old Town students have
studio art or
to-one Apple laptop computer
“I think there are a lot of good things going on. The more
the opportunity to take seven AP
graphic design
option because we believe that
people I meet and the more people I talk to, I sense that
classes, which is more than many
classroom that
there’s a better way to provide
there are a lot of people at Old Town High School who want
larger high schools offer.
needs high-end
access to technology than having
to see things change and become better. I can tell you this—
• The JROTC program,
computing capabil- I wouldn’t want my children to aspire to graduate from Old
our students lug laptops around all
which has become one of the
ity, a netbook won’t Town High School if I didn’t think it was a good place to be.”
day.
Page
8
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
13 OTHS seniors graduate with Honors Diplomas
By Meg Garrity
The Honors Diploma Program at
Old Town High School offers
students who complete it the
opportunity to secure an invitation
to the Honors College at either the
University of Maine or the University of Southern Maine. Through an
articulation agreement with each
Honors College and a structured
program at the high school, students who earn an Old Town High
School Honors Diploma are automatically invited to join the Honors
College upon acceptance to either
university.
The program at OTHS started in
2006 and the second round of
graduates completing the program
will be welcomed into the Honors
Colleges at USM and UM this fall,
as well as to other colleges and
universities around the nation.
Jon Doty is one of several staff
members facilitating the program
at OTHS, which will see 73 students this year. Students are
welcome to join the program either
in their freshman or sophomore
years and are allowed to leave the
program at any time. The Honors
Diploma Program has certain
requirements students must
complete by graduation to be
awarded their Honors Diploma and
Charlotte Kenneway
OLD TOWN HIGH SCHOOL HONORS DIPLOMA GRADUATES 2009—Front row (l. to r.): Megan Dorr, Sarah Wilcox, Erin St. Peter,
Molly Segee, Gabriella doAlamar, and Emily Yates. Back row: Charlotte Kenneway, Alecsandra Washburn, Nathan Edwards,
Brandon Wichenbach, Chad Paradis, Kate Goodness, and Marilyn Morrison.
a spot in either UM’s or USM’s
Honors Colleges. These requirements include taking eight honors
courses and two AP or college
courses while maintaining a 90
average, participating in nine
seminars covering
various topics, and
to completing a
Service Project
and a Senior
Exhibition Project.
Doty believes the
idea is to “encourage kids to sustain
high levels of
achievement in
taking on big
challenges and
also to recognize
kids who were
doing those
things. Give them
something tangible to recognize
that they’d really
gone above and
beyond what’s
Honors Diploma candidates at their Senior Exhibition ceremonies at Old Town High School.
required for a high school diploma.”
Completing the Honors Diploma
Program at OTHS doesn’t mean
students must continue on to the
Honors College at the University of
Maine or USM, it just means they
are automatically invited. Nathan
Edwards, a recent graduate of
OTHS, completed the Honors
Diploma Program and will attend
the University of Maine in the fall
with a double major in Athletic
Training and Nutrition. He found
the Honors Diploma Program a
very positive experience.
“The Honors Diploma Program
really exposed me to a lot of the
upper level classes that Old Town
High School had to offer, which I
believe will be a huge asset in
college” said Edwards.
Doty believes students continuing their education at schools other
than UM and USM will be aided by
their participation in the Honors
Diploma Program because of the
challenging courses they took, the
grade point level they sustained,
and the amount of volunteer work
and outside education they participated in.
Edwards also enjoyed the seminars the students were required to
attend, some of his favorites being
the U.S. Military History seminar
and one covering serial killers. He
encourages incoming high school
freshmen and existing sophomores
to “stick with the program; it’s
definitely worth it in the long run,
and it looks great on a college
application.”
What he found to be difficult
with the program was fitting in all
his required courses while still
having free periods to take subjects
he wanted to take.
He used his community service
project to his advantage by coupling
it with his Eagle Scout service
project and constructed a handicap
ramp for the Stillwater Federal
Church.
Another student who graduated
with an Honors Diploma is Brandon Winchenbach, who will be
attending Husson College in the
fall.
Winchenbach chose to attend
Husson because it offered the two
majors he was interested in, Criminal Justice and Psychology, which
he hopes will prepare him for a
career in the FBI. Although he
won’t be part of UM or USM’s
Honor’s Colleges it doesn’t mean he
won’t apply what he learned in the
Honors Diploma Program to his
college career.
“AP and Honors courses are
definitely much more collegeoriented so I think it will be a lot
easier coming up to be acclimated
to courses I’m going to be taking
and the work load that I’ll have to
take” said Winchenbach.
Along with Edwards, he found
scheduling to be the most difficult
August
2009
Page 9
__________________________________________________________________
Molly Segee
part of the program at OTHS, not
the work load itself. He also found
it easy to get help as there was
always someone to go see when he
had scheduling conflicts or trouble
in his classes.
While some people break up
their Service Project hours to
participate in different programs,
Winchenbach chose to volunteer all
his time to OTHS’s summer track
program. He found it easy to
complete the 20 hours required for
the Honors Diploma Program and
went above and beyond those
hours. The Honors Diploma program recommends that students
stick with one or two service
programs, so they get more involved and familiar with their
volunteer work.
“For the Honors Diploma graduates it looks really good on your
transcripts going to all the colleges”
said Winchenbach, encouraging all
students to get involved with the
program regardless of if and where
they are interested in attending
school after OTHS.
Bradie Manion and Kate
Thibault, who participated in the
Honors Diploma program and
graduated in 2008, accepted the
invitation to join the University of
Maine Honors College and have
been enjoying the experience
immensely.
Manion is majoring in Biochemistry and feels one aspect of the
Honors Diploma Program at OTHS
that helped her prepare for college
was the AP courses she was required to take.
“[The courses] exposed me to the
rigor of college on a small scale,
allowing me to learn how to study
for college without having a full
course load of 17 credits,” she said.
She wishes that there would
have been some sort of reading
requirement added to the Honors
Diploma Program and found it to be
“an excellent program for beginning
to expose students to listening to
lectures and then thinking and
analyzing what they learned
about.”
Manion’s advice to the high
school students joining and partici-
Alecsandra Washburn
pating in the program is to stay on
top of the requirements and “read
anything and everything you can.
Reading is possibly the most important skill to learn for college.”
Kate Thibault, along with
Manion, was one of the first students to participate in the program
back in 2006. They were juniors at
the time and were allowed to join
the program because it was the first
year the program was offered.
“We wanted [the juniors] to have
that opportunity,” said Doty. “We
knew there were a lot of kids that
would really be pioneers and take it
on. We modified the requirements
just a little bit for them.”
Since then, only incoming freshmen and sophomores have been to
begin the program.
Thibault has held a work-study
job as a Student Administrative
Assistant for the Honors College at
UM since last year. Although
Thibault only participated in the
Honors Diploma Program for two
years, she found it extremely
beneficial. “I think it was a great
way to be able to talk to people and
get questions answered about what
it was going to be like going into
college and knowing that I was
preparing myself better.” To the
freshmen and sophomores thinking
about whether or not to join the
Honors Diploma Program at OTHS
Thibault makes the point that even
if a student signs up they always
have the option to
leave the program if
it proves to be
overwhelming. She
even had doubts in
the beginning but
says she is happy
that she joined the
program and stayed
with it.
Thibault works
with Charlie Slavin,
the Dean of the
Honors College at
UMaine. He says
the articulation
agreement between
the Honors College
and Old Town High
School “is a way to
Nathan Edwards
really indicate and
signify that the students have gone out of
their way, they have
done something additionally, they have been
successful at it and we
want to recognize that
fact.”
To the students on
the fence at OTHS
about joining the
program Slavin says,
“Who knows what the
future will bring to
those students or any
other students? I think
it’s important to provide yourself with the
Chad Paradis
most opportunities that
you can. This provides you with
another opportunity, an opportunity to both challenge yourself in
high school but also an opportunity
that may lead to a pathway that
will allow for further academic and
intellectual development in college.
Why shut off the world? Why close
the door when you can open the
door and see what happens?”
Students and parents interested
in the Honors Diploma Program at
Old Town High School can contact
Mr. Doty at [email protected]
More information can be found
by clicking on “Honors Diploma” on
Old Town High School’s website
(start at www.rsu34.org).
RSU 34 Staff involved with the
Honors Diploma Program include:
Mrs. Cannon, Mrs. Dahlbergh, Mr.
Dexter, Mr. Doty, Ms. Fitzgerald,
Mr. Gordon, Dr. Pusey, Mr. Smith,
Mrs. Smith, Mrs. St. Louis, Mr.
Walker, and Mrs. Weiss
Kate Goodness
Page
10
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
Advanced Placement courses give OTHS students
the opportunity to ‘jump start’ their college careers
Students at Old Town High
School have a wonderful opportunity to get a jump on getting
themselves ready for post-secondary education through the College
Board’s Advanced Placement
Program. Old Town High School
offers seven different AP classes,
which are taught by Old Town High
School teachers and can be made a
part of a student’s everyday schedule. These courses are normally
limited to Juniors and Seniors, and
there may be some prerequisites for
students to consider before registering.
It is never too early to plan for
this experience, as there are many
benefits for the student. First,
there is an opportunity to earn
college credit and advanced placement. In fact, 90% of colleges in
the United States grant credit,
advanced placement, or both on the
basis of AP exam grades. Next,
there is a real opportunity for
students to stand out in the admissions process. 40% of colleges and
universities report that they
consider AP class experience when
determining scholarship awards.
Further, having one or more AP
classes on your high school transcript demonstrates a level of
maturity and a willingness to take
the most rigorous courses available.
Finally, an AP course gives a
student the opportunity to get a
head start on college level work,
develop appropriate study habits
for college, improve writing skills,
and sharpen problem solving
abilities.
If you are the parent of an Old
Town High School student, you
should be made aware that there
could be a financial benefit to
having your son or daughter
complete an AP class and exam.
According to a study done by
College Board, AP students are
more likely to graduate from
college in four years. It has been
shown that students who take
longer than four years to graduate
at public colleges and universities
can spend up to $19,000 for each
additional year. That cost would
certainly be greater for most
private institutions.
As with any educational endeavor, parental support can play a
vital role in the success of their
child. Parents should be made
aware that these courses are
rigorous, and do require more
homework than most typical high
school classes. As with any rigorous course, there will be successes
and setbacks throughout. If parents could provide some guidance
with developing a consistent study
schedule, a quite space for working
and plenty of support and encouragement, their child will be success-
ful. In addition, like any course
that your child engages in, encourage them to communicate often
with their teachers in regard to
progress and grades. Do not let
your child become completely
overwhelmed before seeking extra
assistance from their instructor.
Poor grades can often be avoided
with better communication.
Old Town High School offers AP
US History, AP English Literature,
AP Statistics, AP Calculus, AP
Biology, AP Art, and AP Spanish.
Students who are interested should
schedule a meeting with their
Guidance Counselor to determine
what course prerequisites might be
needed prior to putting an AP class
into their schedule. The classes
involve a great deal of work, but
the benefits can be great for motivated students.
‘Jobs for Maine Graduates’ begins at Old Town High School
During the fall of 2009, ‘Jobs for
Maine Graduates’ will begin to offer
programming for students at Old
Town High
School. For
those not
familiar
with ‘JMG’,
the program
is delivered
during the
school day
as a part of
a student’s
regular
schedule.
Bryan Murphy
Students
have an opportunity to earn elective credit based on work com-
pleted, as in any other class.
JMG currently partners with 38
high schools and 17 middle schools
who serve as hosts for the program
throughout the state of Maine.
JMG is actually modeled after ‘Jobs
for America’s Graduates’ (JAG),
America’s largest school-to-career
organization. JMG was established
in 1993 by the Maine Legislature,
and is an independent, statewide
corporation with a mandate to
provide Maine youth facing challenges to education with a comprehensive dropout prevention and
school-to-career transition system.
The goals of JMG are:
1. Students will achieve better
grades.
2. Students will experience a
“connectedness” to school
3. Students will improve their
outlook and self-esteem
4. Students will gain an understanding of pathways and opportunities to future success
JMG works to achieve these
goals through a competency-based
curriculum which includes work in
career development, job attainment, job survival, basic competencies, leadership and self development, as well as personal skills.
One of the most crucial pieces to
success for any JMG program is the
JMG Specialist. The JMG Specialist oversees the program and the
JMG classroom, much like a
ATS group plants
flowers for Service
Learning Project
On May 27 and 28 Mrs. Smith’s
ATS group, along with their
student mentors Kai Hermansen
and Jake Leithiser, participated in
a Service Learning Project. The
students planted flowers around
the Old Town High School flagpole.
The next week Kai and Jake led
a discussion about how their
project could improve the environment. The students enjoyed the
beautiful spring weather and the
part they played in making the
area look nicer.
At this time our ATS would like
to make the community aware of
the great job Kai and Jake did this
year to try to make our freshman
year more successful. We would
also like to thank Dr. Pusey and
Mrs. Smith’s ATS group includes Cody Beal, Riley Cannell, Marissa Davis, Kim
Mr. Murphy for the grant money
Engel, Victoria Harper, Lee Jackson, Janelle LeGere, Brianna Mishou, Connor
that made our project possible.
Noble, Shannah Pond, Marcus Sapiel and Karyssa Upham.
teacher would in any other classroom. The JMG Specialist develops
a unique bond with each student in
JMG, and becomes more than a
teacher; they become an advocate, a
counselor, and a mentor. At Old
Town High School, we are very
fortunate to have Brian Murphy
taking on the role of JMG Specialist. Brian served last year as our
Service Learning Coordinator, and
his new role dovetails well with the
work he has done with our students
in the past. He has already developed positive relationships with
many Old Town High School
students, and this will make his
work as a JMG Specialist much
easier to begin.
Another interesting aspect of JMG
is their vigilance in tracking data
and outcomes of JMG students. For
example, 96% of JMG students
graduate with a high school diploma,
as compared to 86% of the rest of
students. JMG has an extensive
data collection and management
system, and they continue to track
their students even after graduation
from high school. It is our hope that
over time, JMG can assist Old Town
High School in tracking all graduates, and garner feedback from
alumni which could impact the
delivery of programming at Old
Town High School, and hopefully
help us continue to meet the needs of
our students.
We are very excited about the
opportunities that JMG can provide
Old Town High School students as
they position themselves to move
into the real world. Best of luck to
Mr. Murphy, as he begins this new
adventure with an inaugural group
of students. JMG’s presence at Old
Town High School is another
example of doing ‘Whatever it
Takes’ to help students succeed.
August
2009
Page 11
__________________________________________________________________
New Staff
Sara Wyman
Sara Wyman graduated from
Lincoln Academy in 2005. She
graduated from the University of
Maine at Farmington with a degree
in Secondary Education – Mathematics in 2009. She did her
student teaching at Mt. Blue
Middle School and Mt. Blue High
School. Ms. Wyman will be coadvising the Math team with Ms.
Desjardins this fall and will be
joining the Old Town High School
staff as a Math teacher.
Sarah Desjardins
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTS NEW MEMBERS—On May 19, the newest members of Old Town’s National Honor Society
were inducted. Speeches were given by former students Erin St. Peter, Molly Segee, Hillary Campbell, and Emily Yates. The guest
speaker for the evening was Dr. Sam Hess, assistant professor or physics at the University of Maine, Orono and Old Town High
School alumnus. The Old Town High School National Honor Society is advised by Karen Marley, English teacher at Old Town High
School. The inductees from left to right, front row Junior Benjamin Segee, Junior Grace Gonnella, Senior Megan Dorr, Junior Megan
Jackson, Junior Emily Lovejoy, Junior Amy Singer, Senior Marilyn Morrison; back row Senior Lucas Bartlett, Senior Nathan Edwards,
Senior Jason Priest, and Junior Robert Bickford.
Lisa Schultz
Jeff Priest
named Maine
Music Educator
of the Year
Jeff Priest, music teacher at Old
Town High School, has been named
the Maine Music Educator of the
Year.
The announcement and presentation of the award took place at
USM on May 21,
2009 and was given by the Maine
Music Educator’s Association.
Speaking on Jeff’s behalf were
Superintendent David Walker and
Craig Skeffington (South Portland
High School band director and
OTHS Alum, class of 1984).
Congratulations, Jeff!
Superintendent of Schools David Walker congratulates OTHS music teacher and
band director Jeff Priest on being named Maine Music Educator of the Year.
Service Learning at OTHS helps update OTES playground
By Brenda Parker
OTHS Teacher
Thanks to the work of students
from Mrs. Parker’s Aspire To
Succeed (Homeroom) group, the
students in Mrs. Bernard’s and Ms.
Morneau’s classes were able to help
their school update the playground.
Mrs. Parker’s group was given the
assignment of finding a service
project as part of the Service
Learning portion of the MELMAC
grant curriculum at the High
School. After some brainstorming,
they chose to make playground
chalk with a group of students from
the elementary school and present
new balls for the playground to the
students. They submitted an
application to receive a $50 grant
from the MELMAC program to buy
the needed equipment and were
granted the funds. The students
went June 3rd each working with a
small group of students to make the
chalk, then as a group handed out
Sarah Desjardins grew up in St.
Agatha, ME and graduated from
Wisdom High School in 2005. She
went on to the University of Maine,
and graduated in 2009 with a
degree in Secondary Education
with a concentration in Mathematics. She did her student teaching at
Leonard Middle School, and completed a field experience at Old
Town Elementary School. Ms.
Desjardins will be co-advising the
Math team with Ms. Wyman this
fall and will be joining the Old
Town High School staff as a Math
teacher.
Mrs. Parker’s ATS students with some OTES kindergartners and 1st graders.
the new balls. The looks on the
students’ faces and the expressions
of excitement were a reward for the
high school students that will be
remembered for a long time. The
group got to participate in an activity
that gave them a taste of the great
things that can done with a bit of
creativity, thoughtfulness and
organization. Thanks, MELMAC.
Lisa Schultz was born and raised
in Oakdale, California. She graduated from Oakdale High School in
1994 and attended Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas
for two years before transferring to
the University of California, Davis
where she received her Bachelor of
Science degree in Mechanical
Engineering in 1999. She held a
couple of different positions in the
technology field prior to moving to
the east coast, and making the
decision to pursue a career in
teaching. Ms. Schultz entered the
Center for Science and Mathematics Education Research graduate
program at the University of Maine
in 2007. She will receive her
Master of Science in Teaching
degree in August of 2009, and will
begin the fall of 2009 as a Science
teacher at Old Town High School.
Mike Brzezowski
Mike Brzezowski will begin work
at Old Town High School this fall
as a Technology Teacher and an
Integration Specialist, where he
will work with teachers in helping
them incorporate and/or improve
technology use in their classroom.
Mr. Brzezowski has a B.S. in
Biology from Penn State University, and a M.Ed. in Secondary
Science Education from the University of Maine. He has worked for
Penn State University, the University of Maine, McGill University,
and College of the Atlantic.
For six years, he has been an
instructor at the Summer Technology Institute, helping graduate
students learn how to use technology in their classrooms. Mike has
also been a classroom teacher at
the Dedham School and the Auburn
Middle School.
Mike is excited about getting
back into the classroom. When not
working, he enjoys walking with his
wife and dogs, kayaking, and
sailing.
Page
12
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
Old Town High School
JROTC Coyote Battalion
repeats as ‘Honor Unit
with Distinction’
The Army JROTC program at Old Town High
School received their Formal Unit Inspection.
The inspection was conducted by Master Sergeant (Retired) Harvey White and Sergeant First
Class (Retired) Ronnie Pena both representing
the United States Army, 2nd Brigade, Eastern
Region, JROTC Command, located at Fort Dix,
New Jersey. Old Town was one of several Maine
high schools to be evaluated during their visit;
all hoping to achieve the same status; Honor
Unit with Distinction. Honor Unit with Distinction is the highest unit award in the Army
JROTC Program. This is the culmination of
three years of hard work by the cadets, in addition to several weeks working hard to ensure
that all areas of unit administration and cadet
curriculum knowledge and personal appearance
were at the highest levels. The inspection started
at 8:00 a.m. sharp with a full battalion formation
in the OTHS Gymnasium. The cadets were
inspected one at a time and they were judged in
three areas; attendance, appearance and curriculum knowledge. The cadets were inspected in
ranks by LTC Kevin Harris and SFC Joe Pope
from the University of Maine at Orono. All
cadets present at school attended the formation
and inspection. After the formation was completed, the JROTC color guard and drill team
C/CPT Caitlin Carroll Briefs the Inspection Team (C/SSG Nicole Ford also pictured)
performed for the inspectors; all cadets watched
and supported their teams. The two teams
performed flawlessly and achieved extremely
high scores.
The Cadet Command Group, Battalion Staff,
Company Commanders, Executive Officers and
First Sergeants then proceeded to the JROTC
classroom and gave a Formal Unit Report
briefing that covered all the battalion’s past,
current operations as well as future operations
for the rest of the school year. The briefing
included a video of the cadets in
action over the last three years. It
again was extremely well received by
the inspection team and the cadets
were given a very high score.
Next was the staff inspection. The
inspectors spent time with each area;
personnel, security, training and
operations, logistics public affairs,
automation and Service Learning.
Every staff section did extremely
well; seven of the seven staff areas
received commendation from the
inspection team and maxed out the
inspection. This was followed by the
final area; a review with the cadets
covering their knowledge of the
JROTC curriculum.
Once the inspection was completed
C/LT Taylor Lane is inspected by LTC Harris from the University of
Maine at Orono (C/LTC Winchenbach and C/CPT James Campbell
are also pictured)
there were four possible outcomes: Unsatisfactory, Merit Unit, Honor Unit, and the highest
award which is Honor Unit with Distinction.
Old Town High School achieved “Honor Unit
with Distinction.” The designation as an “Honor
Unit with Distinction” allows the Principal of Old
Town High School to nominate cadets, from the
program, to the service academies, an honor
normally only held by federal elected officials.
The cadets were notified of their award during
the formal out brief, with Mr. Joseph Gallant,
Principal of Old Town High School in attendance. At the conclusion, the inspectors presented many of the cadets at the out briefing
“Brigade Challenge Coins” for their outstanding
performance and conduct.
Spirits are high in the Corps of Cadets, and all
should be congratulated for the outstanding
outcome of the inspection. This honor would not
have been possible without the hard work of the
cadets, administration, school faculty and staff
and the tremendous support of the families of
the cadets and members of the Old Town Community. The corps of cadets is currently commanded by Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Brandon
Winchenbach. MSG (Retired) Michael Olsen and
LTC (Retired) Amedeo “Deo” Lauria are the
JROTC instructors at the high school and were
very pleased with the outcome.
Old Town High School JROTC Cadets present a formal briefing to the JROTC Inspection Team.
Clockwise from rear left: Caitlin Carroll, Jean Gamperle, Robert Bickford (partially obscured), Felisha
Allen, Nathan Edwards, Mark Reike, Robert Bickmore, James Campbell, FC Pena (from 2nd Brigade),
Brandon Winchenbach, Lee Larry, Dustin Fowler, Vance Deshane, Dacie Manion, and Justin Libby.
August
2009
Page 13
__________________________________________________________________
Fall 2009 Sports Schedules
Varsity Football
Mon
Sat
Sat
Fri
Sat
Fri
Sat
Fri
Fri
Sat
Aug. 24
29
Sept. 5
11
19
25
Oct. 3
9
16
24
3-way scrimmage at Nokomis ................... 5:00PM
at Hermon .................................................. 7:00PM
at Mount View High School (Belfast) ......... 1:00PM
at Orono High School ................................ 7:00PM
Stearns ...................................................... 1:00PM
Dexter Regional High School .................... 6:00PM
Foxcroft Academy ...................................... 1:00PM
at Mattanawcook Academy ....................... 7:00PM
at Maine Central Institute .......................... 7:00PM
Calais High School .................................... 1:00PM
JV Football
Mon
Mon
Mon
Mon
Mon
Mon
Mon
Mon
Sept. 7
14
21
28
Oct. 5
12
19
26
Mount View High School (Belfast) ............. 5:00PM
Orono High School .................................... 5:00PM
Hermon ...................................................... 5:00PM
at Dexter Regional High School ................ 5:00PM
at Foxcroft Academy .................................. 5:00PM
Mattanawcook Academy ............................ 5:00PM
Maine Central Institute .............................. 5:00PM
at Calais High School ................................ 5:00PM
Girls Varsity Soccer
Fri
Sat
Tues
Sat
Fri
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Wed
Thurs
Sat
Sat
Mon
Wed
Fri
Wed
Sat
Aug. 21
22
25
29
Sept. 4
9
11
14
16
23
24
26
Oct. 3
5
7
9
14
17
Alumni ........................................................ 6:00PM
at Orono (Play-In) ...................................... 9:00AM
scrimmage vs. Penobscot Valley HS ........ 4:00PM
scrimmage at Hampden Academy ............ 9:00AM
at Hermon .................................................. 4:00PM
Ellsworth .................................................... 4:00PM
at John Bapst............................................. 4:00PM
Mattanawcook ........................................... 3:30PM
at Bucksport .............................................. 4:00PM
at MDI ........................................................ 6:00PM
Orono ......................................................... 3:30PM
Presque Isle .............................................. 1:00PM
at Caribou .................................................. 1:00PM
Hermon ...................................................... 4:00PM
at Orono..................................................... 4:00PM
MDI ............................................................ 3:30PM
at Ellsworth ................................................ 4:00PM
Caribou ...................................................... 1:00PM
Girls JV Soccer
Fri
Mon
Wed
Fri
Mon
Wed
Wed
Thurs
Sat
Sat
Mon
Wed
Fri
Wed
Sat
Sept. 4
7
9
11
14
16
23
24
26
Oct. 3
5
7
9
14
17
at Hermon .................................................. 4:00PM
at Bangor ................................................... 3:00PM
Ellsworth .................................................... 5:00PM
at John Bapst............................................. 4:00PM
Mattanawcook ........................................... 5:00PM
at Bucksport .............................................. 4:00PM
at MDI ........................................................ 4:00PM
Orono ......................................................... 3:30PM
Presque Isle .............................................. 1:00PM
at Caribou .................................................. 1:00PM
Hermon ...................................................... 5:30PM
at Orono..................................................... 3:30PM
MDI ............................................................ 5:00PM
at Ellsworth ................................................ 3:30PM
Caribou ...................................................... 1:00PM
Boys/Girls Cross Country
Sat
Sat
Sat
Fri
Sat
Sat
Fri
Sat
Sat
Sat
Sat
Aug. 29
Sept. 5
12
18
26
Oct. 3
9
17
24
31
Nov. 14
MDI Relays at MDI .................................. 11:00AM
at Ellsworth Invitationals .......................... 11:00AM
at Presque Isle Invitationals ...................... 1:00PM
at Orono..................................................... 4:00PM
Old Town Sectionals at Old Town .............. 2:00PM
Festival of Champions at Belfast ............. 11:30AM
Pendales at Hampden Academy ............... 3:30PM
PVC Championships at UTC ..................... 1:00PM
Eastern Maine Reg. at Belfast M.S. ........ 11:00AM
State Championships at Twin Brook........ 11:00AM
NE Championships at Wickham .............. 11:30AM
Boys/Girls Varsity Golf
Tues
Thurs
Tues
Thurs
Tues
Thurs
Tues
Thurs
Tues
Thurs
Sat
Sat
Sept. 1
3
8
10
15
17
22
24
29
Oct. 1
10
17
Stearns ...................................................... 4:00PM
at Mattanawcook Academy ....................... 4:00PM
Caribou ...................................................... 4:00PM
John Bapst ................................................. 4:00PM
at Presque Isle .......................................... 4:00PM
at Stearns .................................................. 4:00PM
at Caribou .................................................. 4:00PM
Mattanawcook Academy............................ 4:00PM
John Bapst ................................................. 4:00PM
PVC Championship ................................... 9:00AM
Team Championship .................................. 9:00AM
Individual Championship ........................... 9:00AM
Varsity & JV Field Hockey
Sat
Friday
Mon
Wed
Friday
Mon
Wed
Sat
Wed
Thurs
Mon
Thurs
Sat
Tues
Thurs
Aug. 22
Sept. 4
7
9
11
14
17
19
23
27
28
Oct. 1
3
8
9
at Play Day ................................................ 8:00AM
at Mattanawcook Academy ............ 4:00PM (5:30)
Orono High School ......................... 4:00PM (5:30)
at Hermon ....................................... 4:00PM (5:30)
Central ............................................ 4:00PM (5:30)
Piscataquis Community HS ............ 4:00PM (5:30)
at Central ........................................ 4:00PM (5:30)
John Bapst ................................... 10:00AM (11:30)
Stearns ........................................... 4:00PM (5:30)
Dexter Regional HS ........................ 4:00PM (5:30)
at Foxcroft Academy ....................... 4:00PM (5:30)
at John Bapst.................................. 5:30PM (4:00)
Mattanawcook Academy.............. 10:00AM (11:30)
Hermon ........................................... 4:00PM (5:30)
at Orono.......................................... 3:30PM (5:30)
(Jayvee starting times in parentheses)
Boys Varsity Soccer
Sat
Tues
Thurs
Tues
Thurs
Tues
Sat
Thurs
Sat
Tues
Thurs
Tues
Thurs
Sat
Sept. 5
8
10
15
17
22
26
Oct. 1
3
6
8
13
15
17
Hermon .................................................... 11:00AM
at Ellsworth ................................................ 6:00PM
at John Bapst............................................. 4:00PM
at Bucksport .............................................. 4:00PM
Mattanowcook ........................................... 3:30PM
Orono ......................................................... 3:30PM
Presque Isle .............................................. 3:00PM
MDI ............................................................ 4:00PM
at Caribou .................................................. 3:00PM
at Orono..................................................... 4:00PM
at Hermon .................................................. 4:00PM
Ellsworth .................................................... 4:00PM
at MDI ........................................................ 4:00PM
Caribou ...................................................... 3:00PM
Boys JV Soccer
Sat
Mon
Tues
Thurs
Tues
Thurs
Tues
Sat
Thurs
Sat
Tues
Thurs
Mon
Tues
Sat
Sept. 5
7
8
10
15
17
22
26
Oct. 1
3
6
8
12
13
17
Hermon ...................................................... 1:00PM
at Bangor ................................................... 3:00PM
at Ellsworth ................................................ 3:30PM
at John Bapst............................................. 4:00PM
at Bucksport .............................................. 4:00PM
Mattanowcook ........................................... 5:00PM
Orono ......................................................... 5:00PM
Presque Isle .............................................. 3:00PM
MDI ............................................................ 5:30PM
at Caribou .................................................. 3:00PM
at Orono..................................................... 4:00PM
at Hermon .................................................. 4:00PM
Bangor ....................................................... 3:30PM
Ellsworth .................................................... 5:30PM
Caribou ...................................................... 3:00PM
Page
14
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
LEONARD MIDDLE
SCHOOL
John Keane, Principal
827-3900
Busy summer at LMS: staff additions, new laptops,
improvements to Oak Street Field, 6th grade technology
By John Keane, Principal
Leonard Middle School
It has been a busy summer here at LMS.
First and certainly foremost we have hired
some excellent new and
additional staff.
Staff additions. We
have been able to add a
full time middle level
Gifted and Talented
teacher. Judy
Campbell, a veteran of
ten years at LMS, has
taken on this position
and is very excited
about the possibilities
and challenges a brand
new position like this
John Keane
can offer her and her
students.
In her place we have hired Gert Nesin. Gert
has been on faculty at the University of Maine
for the last several years. Her primary responsibility was leading the elementary Master’s of
Judy Campbell
Gert Nesin
Arts in Teaching program, commonly known
as the MAT program. She has also been a key
leader in running the University’s Middle
Level Education Institute, a week long . Prior
to that Gert was a middle level teacher in
Kittery Maine. Gert’s expertise in middle level
education is known statewide and we are truly
very lucky to have had an opening at exactly
the time Gert wanted to return to middle level
teaching.
We have hired Bailey Hill to be our Literacy
Coach and specialist at LMS. Bailey, originally
from Greenfield, is coming back to the area
with a pile of energy for her new position.
Bailey had been a very successful 9th grade
English teacher at Noble high School in
Southern Maine.
As a Literacy ed tech in Bailey’s program
we have hired Anne Fowler. Anne comes to us
from Hampden, where she has been working
as a library ed tech and is excited to put her
energies full time into teaching struggling
readers. We still have one ed tech to hire in
the area of providing help for struggling math
students.
* * *
Along with the new people we have added a
few other things to beef up our campus.
Oak Street Field improvements. First
and foremost parents will immediately notice
the renovation made to the Oak St. Field. No
longer do we have to look at the frumpy old
fence that lined Oak St. for as many years as I
have been principal at LMS. A great big
thanks to Travis Roy and Jeff Hayward for
spearheading this incredible project. (See inset
or later article for the complete story)
New laptops. We are getting a whole new
set of laptops for teachers and seventh and
eighth grade students. The new ones are for
more powerful and nicer than the last set.
In light of this, we are requiring all parents
of 7th and 8th grade students to attend another
orientation for the laptops. We will be combining it with the fall open house and making it
very short, only reinforcing and explaining the
most important issues for parents when their
child all of a sudden has a powerful laptop in
their hands. This date is set for September 9 at
6:00 p.m. This Open house is designed for all
parents but we will ask 7th and 8th grade
parents to stay a little longer for the purpose of
introducing the new laptop and getting the
insurance taken care of.
Sixth grade technology. The sixth grade
technology project will be complete this year
with every sixth grade classroom being fully
equipped with a full classroom set of mac minis
and LCD monitors. We are very proud of our
wealth of technology at LMS and even more
proud of the kinds of ways teachers weave
technology into the learning process.
In conclusion, I want to convey a real excitement for the upcoming school year. Leonard
Middle School is an awesome place to learn and
work and with the caliber of our new staff and
continued dedication to excellence in making
the teaching and learning process engaging, I
am sensing some real improvements in our
program. Keep in mind that our proficiency on
the state test last year grew by over ten percent. Good things are happening at LMS and
this year will be only better.
7th grade language arts students participate in ‘Red Hand Day’ campaign
By Liz Mares
After learning about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and several violations of human
rights that exist in various places in
the world, some 7th grade language
arts students focused on the issue
of the use of child soldiers in
conflicts around the world.
Reading news articles and
websites dealing with this human
rights issue, and thinking about
their own lives in terms of the
safety and security they enjoy,
students began to feel that they
needed to do something to make a
difference and try to bring about
change.
They read about the Red Hand
Day campaign to collect one million
red hands from people around the
world to protest the use of child
soldiers and decided to participate.
They prepared announcements to
read to other 7th grade students,
made posters to raise awareness
around the school, and provided
other classes throughout the
building with the paper needed to
make red hands.
After collecting 168 hands, and
sticking them all on a huge poster,
their protest was ready to go! The
poster was mailed to the United
Nations in time for Red Hand Day,
which was on February 13th.
This is the anniversary of the
United Nations ban on the use of
child soldiers. Despite this ban, an
estimated 200,000 children aged 18
and younger are currently being
forced to become soldiers in many
countries around the world.
These LMS 7th graders took
action to make the world a safer,
fairer place for kids everywhere.
August
2009
Page 15
__________________________________________________________________
Oak Street Field project back on track after rain delays
By Travis Roy
Now that the rain has stopped,
we are well underway on the Oak
Street Field project.
The final layer of “fill” is almost
all in place.
The next few weeks will start
showing a lot of identifiable
progress. Here is what it should
look like pending weather.
• Week of August 10—the select
fill will be put in place. This is a
layer of fill specifically designed to
not hold water. It is the final layer
before the infield mix and outfield
loam.
• Week of August 17—Sebec
fence will be in town to install the
fence. This is being done before the
final grade of loam and before the
final grade of infield mix on purpose, so that we don’t have to run
machines over these products.
The week of the 17th will also
see the Old Town Water District on
the field, installing a water line
from the school to the field, around
the outfield and down the side of
the field outside the left field line.
The water district has donated all
labor and materials to complete
this part of the project.
The plans are ready for the
dugouts and are being forwarded to
the engineer for the required
stamp. Then they will be off to city
code enforcement officer Charlie
Heinonen for final approval.
Once the fence is in place Jeff
and I will be meeting with Dirigo
Slipform to stake out the area for
the slabs for both dugouts and the
equipment building. Dirigo has
donated all labor and materials,
except the concrete, which we are
buying from Folsom’s.
The Old Town Rotary Club has
volunteered to build the dugouts,
and they also donated $4,000 from
their spring auction.
Jeff Morin has volunteered to be
our lead electrician.
The old telephone pole was
pulled recently and a different one
was put in place near the fence line.
Bangor Hydro donated the materials and labor to complete this
project.
I am working with the loam
supplier and the infield mix supplier to line up those deliveries up
for the week of August 24th.
If any of you have questions
please feel free to let us know.
Otherwise keep thinking good
thoughts about the weather for
the next few weeks!
Pictured above are members of the community who are excited about groundbreaking day earlier in June this summer.
Many thanks to the City of Old Town for the outstanding efforts to complete the project this summer. Pictured above are Bob
Lagasse (left), who did heavy equipment work on the project and Steve Rideout, the project foreman. Special thanks to Steve for his
commitment to doing an excellent job on the project.
2010 Future City Competition topic announced
Last year was Leonard Middle
School’s first year competing in
National Engineers Week’s “Future
City” program. In the program,
middle school students work in
teams to design the city of the
future around a certain theme.
Three LMS students traveled with
Mr. Doty to Northeastern University last January to present their
city, “Vonschiedfulbequier.” The
students created a virtual city
using the SimCity game, and had to
develop the city to meet competition requirements. They had to
research and write an essay regard-
ing the year’s theme, sustainable
water use, and built a model of a
portion of their city to present to
the judges in Boston.
The 2010 topic is: Building
Affordable and Sustainable Housing to Follow a Natural Disaster.
Stay tuned for details!
Page
16
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
LEONARD MIDDLE SCHOOL
‘Whatever It Takes’—Principal John Keane says WIT has evolve
That’s something we’re
seeing more of at LMS—
finding other ways of
assessing kids that we
can use to determine if
they really know what
we’re asking them to
know. That’s pretty the
most accurate way to
determine if a child has
acquired essential
learning outcomes.
We’re not necessarily
there yet, especially as a
whole school, but were
gaining.
One example was the
Curriculum Fair project
that we did last year.
Although students were
Q. What do you mean?
required to complete a
Mr. Keane: WIT started out as a
Social Studies project for
series of changes in our policies to
the Curriculum Fair, we
reduce the failure rate for our
determined that the fair
students. At the same time, we
was as much about
developed a series of interventions
LMS Principal John Keane (right) and Assistant Principal Jen Cyr stand in front of “Whatever It
writing as it was about
to be implemented whenever a
Takes” sign in Mr. Keane’s office.
social studies, so we
student showed signs of academic
school work completion is supdeveloped assessments for both
failure was guaranteed.
struggle so we could get that
ported in the home through high
writing (Language Arts) and the
If you don’t file your income tax
student back on track.
expectations for completing work,
content—how well did they meet
return, the IRS doesn’t just give
appropriate supervision of their
the objectives of the Social Studies
you a zero and forget about it. You
Q. And where are we at now
students work and progress, approcurriculum.
have to file your tax return and pay
with WIT?
priate time and support to complete
For example, I teach a Career
the taxes you owe. If you don’t, the
Mr. Keane: I think we found
necessary work at home and direct
Prep class to the 8th graders at
IRS takes action against you. We
that the changes we implemented
communication with school when
LMS. In the past, I had students do
tell both students and staff that the
were having the desired effect, and
necessary to be on the same page as
a backboard much like the Currequirements of WIT are more like
we’ve taken the process a couple of
their child’s teachers.
riculum Fair, and I would give
real life than just giving a student a
steps further. As a group, our staff
them directions for how to create
zero for missed assignments.
has adopted the philosophy that it’s
Q. What is the next step?
the backboard and what informaour responsibility to enable all of
Mr. Keane: Our next big step is
tion to include on it. This year, I
Q. Do you have any specific
our students to learn. We can’t just
to implement a standards-based
told the students, “You have to
plans as you begin the third
sort them between students who
grading and reporting process at
show me that you’ve been learning,
year of Whatever It Takes?
have certain skills and students
LMS—trying to make teacher
and you have to decide how. Just
Mr. Keane: We have several
who don’t have those skills. We
grades more reflective of actual
make sure that these 16 items
points that we’re emphasizing to
have to make sure that all of our
student achievement. We believe
related to choosing or planning
students, teachers, and others:
students learn the curriculum that
that classroom assessments provide
your career are incorporated into
• For students, we have really
we have developed. We recognize
the best information about student
your project.”
focused in on demanding that they
that some students will grasp the
progress, not necessarily an annual
The results? One student did a
submit their work in a timely
material easier than others, but we
test like the MEA or the Spring
fashion. We do not allow students
have to send a message to all
and Fall NWEA testing.
to simply not hand things in. We
students that failure is not an
have stickers and other reminders
option. It’s not an option for the
Q. Does WIT influence the
for students that “Turning in Your
struggling student, and it’s not an
type of assessments that teachWork is Required”
option for us as teachers or adminQ.What does WIT do for kids
ers will be using at Leonard
• For teachers, we ask that
istrators, either.
who aren’t struggling?
Middle School to determine of
they have clearly identified learnMr. Keane: You’re correct that
students have learned the
ing outcomes and that the work
Q. What do you mean by
the primary objective of WIT is to
material they’re sup“failure is not an option”?
help students who are struggling—
posed to learn?
Mr. Keane: Several years
to help them succeed in learning
As a group, our staff has adopted the
Mr. Keane: WIT
ago, when we looked at our
the curriculum for their grade level
has more to do with the
failure rate, we found that
at Leonard Middle School.
philosophy that it’s our responsibility to
culture that we’ve created.
the majority of students who
But indirectly, I think they
enable all of our students to learn.
For teachers, regardless of
failed did so because they
benefit from two important things
the rules we’ve created
weren’t completing their
that they see happening around
regarding WIT, it’s about looking at
assigned is directly related to
work. The biggest single change
them.
how do we get students to be more
essential learning outcomes. Last
with WIT is that we do not allow
First, good students hear the
successful. Sometimes our pracyear, teachers in all content areas
students to simply not hand in their
message that students don’t have
tices get in the way of students
worked hard at identifying exactly
work. If a student doesn’t turn in
the option of not handing in their
being more successful.
we expect of our students in grades
work, that triggers a series of
work—that the school will monitor
WIT is changing the way we look
six, seven, and eight to learn.
interventions that are designed to
student performance and require a
at assessments. For example, most
• For administration and
get the student to complete the
high standard of output. They
of the time we use written assessguidance, we ask that support be
assignments so that he or she gets
understand it could be them, and
ments. These are appropriate
provided for struggling learners.
back on track academically.
they respond by working at a
assessments, but some students
This includes support for teachers
Prior to WIT, a student who
higher level.
who know the material may not be
in the classroom and support for
didn’t turn in work received a zero,
Second, they’re no longer
successful in demonstrating that
students in the form of extra help,
and that was it. But a student
watching friends who are
knowledge with a paper-and-pencil
tutoring, mentoring, and access to
receiving several zeroes soon found
disenchanted with school being
test. Are there other authentic
specialized intervention personnel.
himself or herself in a position
allow to fail. Instead, they see
forms of assessment that can show
• For parents, we ask that the
where no amount of academic effort
those friends being subjected to
a child has learned the content?
same consistent message about
would result in a passing grade, so
significant interventions, many of
Q. In last year’s back-toschool edition of Community
Connections, you talked about
the “Whatever It Takes” initiative at Leonard Middle School,
which was designed to reduce
the number of failures and
improve level of academic
success. How is that program
doing?
LMS Principal John Keane—
This will be our third year of
Whatever It Takes, which we have
shortened to “WIT.” I’m proud to
say that it has become less of a
program and more of a philosophy
for the way we do things at
Leonard Middle School.
Students who aren
August
2009
Page 17
__________________________________________________________________
ed from a program to a guiding philosophy at Leonard Middle School
movie, several did podcasts, and a
Mr. Keane: Our Whatever It
group of administrators and school
number of them did Keynote
Takes team had a retreat at the
staff who are united in their com(PowerPoint) presentations. But
beginning the summer to talk about
mitment to student learning.”
two students presented their report
next steps, and we’re planning
Generally speaking, I’d say
in a “slam poetry” format, and a
another retreat at the start of the
Leonard Middle School fits that
student who wants to be a radio
school year to look at RTI and WIT
description.
announcer did a podcast using a
and how they interact, so that we
At LMS, we believe that the
radio announcing format.
don’t duplicate things. We want to
primary goal of our PLC is to
My conclusions? First, I think
work smart. We want to make sure
develop answers to four questions:
these alternative assessments
(1) What do we want kids
may have been more authentic
to
learn?
We have to send a message to all
ways for the students to
(2) How do we know that
students that failure is not an option.
demonstrate that they had
they’ve learned it?
It’s not an option for the struggling
learned the material. Second, I
(3) What do we do if they
believe that they were more
haven’t
learned it?
student, and it’s not an option for us
engaged in learning the 16
(4) What do we do if they
as teachers or administrators, either.
items than if I had prepared a
have?
lecture, had the students take
notes, and then given them a test.
the two mesh together.
Q. How are we doing in this
As far as a timeline is concerned,
area? Have we come up with
Q. Isn’t Whatever It Takes
we have to get a plan ready for RTI,
the answers to all four quessimilar to the philosophy besubmit that plan to the state, and
tions?
hind RTI (“Response to Interthen be prepared to formally
Mr. Keane: We’re getting there,
vention,” which is the latest
implement it in the 2010-2011
and to me, it’s pretty exciting.
mandate from the Department
school year.
Our progress is greater in some
of Education)?
When we write our plan, we’ll
areas than others, but here’s how I
Mr. Keane: Yes, there are a
adhere to the ideas and concepts of
see it.
number of similarities, but I’m
RTI, but we’re not necessarily going
(1) We’ve identified what we
proud to say that we developed
to follow the state’s template for
want kids to learn. One of the things
WIT and shifted our focus before
RTI blindly. There are times when
we learned from WIT was that we
the government made us do it.
we’re going to have to implement
had to identify the curriculum that
We have both systems in place at
what we know we do best, rather
we want all kids to learn. Last year,
LMS. They are very similar to each
that simply putting a rubber stamp
that’s what the teachers did during
other, in that both of them focus on
on what the state has said.
their 19.5 hours of in-service time.
kids who are struggling in school.
They determined what the required
The biggest difference is that WIT
Q. We’ve been talking about
curriculum should be. The process is
talks about the whole child and
WIT and RTI and PLGs. The
pretty much complete for science,
looks at grades and daily classroom
other acronym I’ve been earnmath, and social studies very close to
assessments as the focus of data
ing is PLC, which stands for
achieving that. Language arts
collection. RTI, on the other hand,
Professional Learning Commuteachers are still working on it, but
looks specifically at skills relating
nity. The sign on the superinthey’re getting closer.
to math, reading, and behavior, and
tendent’s door says that RSU 34
(2) Classroom and other formal
uses data from formative assess(and before that, the Old Town
assessments are the primary ways
ment tests to determine whether
School Department) is a PLC.
of understanding how well students
students are struggling or not.
What does that mean?
have learned the curriculum. We’re
Mr. Keane: The official defininot there yet. This year, we’ll be
Q. What is our timetable for
tion is that a “professional learning
focusing on assessments during our
implementation of RTI at LMS?
community” describes “a collegial
in-service time.
(3) What do we do if our students haven’t learned the curriculum? Our primary response is WIT,
and we’ll be supplementing that
with RTI.
(4) If students need more—if
they’ve learned what the curriculum requires—we rely primarily on
differentiated instruction, which
may also include pre-testing students to see if they already know
the material and allowing them to
use more advance study materials.
Q. Does technology offer any
assistance in providing differentiated instruction?
Mr. Keane: Oh, my goodness,
yes. We can provide incredible
support in many areas for differentiation through computer
programs such as ALEKS. If
student already knows a math
concept, they can do an ALEKS
program for 20 minutes while
class is working on that concept.
When the class is done, the student who has been using ALEKS
may be brought in to help the
other kids and see if they’re doing
it correctly. After all, the highest
level of assessment is teaching—if
someone can teach a concept, they
know it really well. This year we
are adding the computerized
intervention program called
Compass Learning. This will
provide another tool for teachers
to use in their instruction.
If you don’t file your
income tax return, the
IRS doesn’t just give
you a zero and forget
about it.
n’t struggling thrive at LMS, too, thanks to differentiated instruction
which aren’t fun. They realize that
everyone is being held accountable,
and ultimately, most students want
to see that.
Q.So, what is Leonard Middle
School doing for highperforming students?
Mr. Keane: We certainly aren’t
ignoring that population. In fact,
I’m proud to say that we are taking
care of our upper-level learners
better than we ever have at LMS.
We are providing programming and
opportunities for them through our
Gifted/Talented program, and we
now have a full-time person
handling those responsibilities at
LMS.
Q.Is the Gifted/Talented
program limited to the top 5%
of students at LMS?
Mr. Keane: The state mandate
for Gifted/Talented education
requires us to identify the top 5% of
the student population, but the way
we have designed the program, we
high-performing students, as well.
levels—some more advanced, some
also pay attention to the “talent
About five years ago, we started
more basic—so that all students in
pool”—the next 20% of students
focusing on differentation of
the class are fully engaged.
who are high achievers or who have
instruction as a means of
This can involve several different
high potential but weren’t included
responding to the needs of our
approaches, including the following:
in the top 5%.
better students, as well as those
• Assessing student learning at
Jon Doty, the district’s Gifted/
who are struggling. What it means
the beginning of each unit, so that
Talented coordinator, led
students who already
the way with this and got
know the material can
About five years ago, we started focusing on
the administrators
move on to something
differentiation of instruction as a means of
involved. As a result, when
else.
responding to the needs of our better students,
special programs are
• Compacting the
brought in for Gifted/
curriculum, so that
as well as those who are struggling. Teachers
Talented students, those
students who can work
no longer look at their class and say I’m going
programs are shared with
through the material at
to teach one lesson for all of my students.
other high-ability students
a faster rate have that
as space permits.
opportunity.
is that teachers no longer look at
• Contracting with students at
Q.What about “differentiated
their class and say I’m going to
higher levels.
instruction”? Doesn’t that
teach one lesson for all of my
• Tiering of assessments, so that
benefit high-achieving
students. We have realized that in
higher-performing students have
students, as well?
many cases our students are not
more challenging assessments.
Mr. Keane: Absolutely. The
succeeding because they have not
• Using several different
“Whatever It Takes” model is based
had appropriate access to
reading books at varying levels so
on the belief that we can’t educate
instruction and curriculum. Now
that all students are reading
all students if we take a “one size
teachers deliver a lesson using
material that is both understandfits all” approach. That applies to
material at three or four different
able and challenging for them.
Page
18
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
Three-week tour of Korea, Japan to help bring Asian culture to
When Kelly O’Brien returns to
her classroom at Leonard Middle
School this fall, she’ll bring a lot of
new ideas about Asian culture
acquired during a three-week tour
of South Korea and Japan.
Ms. O’Brien visited the two
countries as part of a study-tour
program, “Korea and Japan in the
21st Century,” sponsored by the
National Consortium for Teaching
About Asia (NCTA).
The NCTA, which is funded by
the Freeman Foundation, sends
groups of teachers to Asian countries to learn about the culture so
that they will be better able to
integrate Asian culture into their
teaching.
Ms. O’Brien, who teaches Spanish, French, and World Languages
and Cultures at LMS, said most of
the participants on the trip were
teachers in high school and middle
school who teach world history,
along with a couple of elementary
school teachers.
She said she will be including
material from the trip into her 8th
grade course in World Languages
and Cultures.
“I think it’s important for us to
learn about Asian cultures, particularly for the future,” she said. “It’s
also fascinating.”
The tour started in Seoul, the
capital and largest city in South
Korea, where the group attended
lectures at the Academy of Korean
Studies and toured museums.
The next stop was Cheongju, a
city of 600,000 about 50 miles
south of Seoul. In Cheongju,
Ms. O’Brien stayed with a host
family who lived in a huge
skyscraper-type apartment
building. The father was the
curator of the Museum of
Early Printing, and the wife
was a piano teacher. They
had an 11-year-old daughter
and an 8-year-old son.
The museum was located at
the Heungdeok Temple, where
the Jikji, the oldest existent
book printed using movable
metal type, was printed in
1377—78 years before the
Gutenberg Bible.
The group then visited
Gyeongju, an important
cultural center on the east
coast of Korea, and the
Temple of Haeinsa on Mount
Kaya, before returning to
Seoul for a day.
Gyeongju was the capital of
the Shilla Kingdom for over 1,000
years. The area has many outstanding examples of Korean Buddhist
art, including sculptures, reliefs,
and pagodas, as well as large burial
grounds and the remains of temples
and palaces.
The Temple of Haeinsa is home
to the Tripitaka Koreana, the most
complete collection of Buddhist
texts, which was engraved on
80,000 wood printing blocks be-
The white origami cranes hanging in the middle were created by Leonard Middle
School students.
Kanegasaki
L
SEOU
Cheo
sa
Haein le
p
m
e
T
ngju
Gyeon
gju
Kyoto
TOKYO
Hiroshima
tween 1237 and 1248. The
woodblocks are stored in an openair building called the Janggyeon
Pangeon, which was built on the
top of Mount Kara during the 15th
century.
“Not only are scripts very important historically, but the way they
are kept is very unique,” Ms.
O’Brien says. “The floor of the
building is made of charcoal, clay,
and plaster that keep pests away.
There are large vents on top of
building and small vents at the
bottom, which work together to
keep the air moving and provide a
natural heating and cooling system.
The lack of humidity on top of the
mountain has resulted in these
woodblock texts being preserved for
hundreds of years.”
The Japan portion of the tour
began with two nights in Tokyo,
where the teachers attended a
series of lectures and visited
several museums.
After Tokyo, Ms. O’Brien
traveled to Kanegasaki, a rural
town of 16,000 in northern Japan
with rice paddies, dairy farms,
and a Toyota factory that makes
Lexus automobiles. It is a sister
city to Amherst, MA.
In Kanegasaki, Ms. O’Brien
stayed with another host family
with two parents, four children,
and two grandparents.
She said the father was the
manager of a large company,
although she never learned what
type of company it was, because she
spoke no Japanese and he spoke
very little English. The mother, a
homemaker, also spoke little
English.
“There were significant language
barriers in Japan,” Ms. O’Brien
said. “The Korean family could
speak much better English.”
She said the oldest son, age 18
and in college, had the best command of English. He also had the
ability to act out what he wanted to
communicate.”
Ms. O’Brien visited the local
middle school, where the family’s
15-year-old daughter was a 9th
grader.
She said everyone took their
shoes off upon entering the school
building. She had six 9th grade
boys as tour guides, but spoke only
“polite English”—they knew the
polite things to say—”After you,”
“Watch your step,” “How do you
do?”— but not much else.
The family also had twin 8year-old daughters, who were
in 3rd grade in elementary
school.
From Kanegasaki, Ms.
O’Brien traveled almost the
length of Japan to Hiroshima,
where she placed 1,000 paper
cranes that had been made by
Leonard Middle School students at the Children’s Peace
Monument in the Hiroshima
Peace Memorial Park.
Thousands of origami
cranes from all over the world
are offered around the monument on a daily basis, in
keeping with the ancient
Japanese tradition that a
person who folds a thousand
cranes can have one wish
granted.
Ms. O’Brien said she put
the cranes underneath the
bell-shaped monument after
registering them with the caretakers of the monument. Afterwards,
the caretakers take the cranes from
the monument and put them in
glass display boxes that form a
semicircle behind the monument
and elsewhere in the park.
“I went back the next day to
check on them, and they were in
the front of one of those boxes,” she
said. “There was also a sign in
Japanese saying that the cranes
August
2009
Page 19
__________________________________________________________________
Kelly O’Brien’s World Languages and Cultures class
Ms. O’Brien’s host family in Kanegasaki, Japan.
A typical Korean classroom.
had been dedicated by Leonard Middle School.
Because the Leonard Middle School students
used regular computer paper instead of colored
origami paper, their cranes were white. When
put in the glass case, they really stood out in
contrast to all the colored cranes.
Ms. O’Brien said placing the cranes at the
Children’s Peace Monument was the highlight of
her trip.
The final stop of the tour was Kyoto, the
imperial capital of Japan from 794 to 1868, when
the capital was moved to Tokyo. The city is home
to numerous shrines and temples, along with the
Imperial Palace and other architectural treasures.
In addition to the three-week journey, Ms.
O’Brien and other tour participants had to attend
a weekend seminar in Amherst to prepare for the
trip in May. They will also attend a “debriefing”
weekend in Amherst. During the coming year,
tour participants are expected to share the
things they learned with other teachers who
might want to teach about Asia in their classrooms.
Ms. O’Brien said she might survey other
teachers in RSU 34 and other nearby school
districts to see if there is enough interest for a
local presentation. Otherwise, she’ll make a
presentation at a conference later in the school
year.
The roofs of Haeinsa Temple.
The Children’s Peace Monument in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
People walking and praying outside of Haeinsa Temple.
Page
20
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
LMS students practice debate skills at Lincoln-Douglas event
By Misty Burgess, LMS Teacher
Leonard Middle School seventh
grade students participated in
Lincoln-Douglas Debates, which
were held in the middle school
library in May. Students came to
consensus on the debate topics and
then signed up for a particular topic
of interest. They worked closely
with peers and teachers to write a
publishable debate speech as well
as prepare for debate cross examination questions, responses and
rebuttal speeches. The debates
were judged by several community
members, which included Kiwanis
Club members, retired teachers,
librarians, lawyers, and education
majors. See the following for debate
topics and medal winners:
Team Triangle debate
topics:
• Should the same work rights
that apply to minors apply to
minors as young as age 13?
• Has the United States intervention in Iraq done more harm
than good?
• Should physical education be
required in K-12 schools?
• Should school uniforms be
required in middle school?
• Should MySpace be used by
children age 17 and younger?
• Should homework be banned?
• Is Wal-Mart good for America?
The highest scoring team of the
day was: Rory Sullivan, Colby
Smart, Kate Rawson (“Is Walmart
good for America”—Negative), 355
points
Other medal winners were:
Best Constructive Delivery:
Sammy Beal, Emma Burgason,
Erica Ogden.
Best Cross Exam Questions:
Meaghan Delcourt.
Best Response to Cross
Exam: Nate Colannino.
Best Rebuttal: Mariah
Trembley, Rory Sullivan
Team Scorpion debate
topics:
• Should cell phones be allowed
in schools?
• Should middle and high school
students be randomly drug tested?
• Should middle schools have
recess?
• Should MySpace allow users
under the age of 18?
• Should schools be allowed to
randomly search student lockers?
• Should the United States
court system have the option to
charge juveniles as adults in
murder cases?
• Should middle schools require
students to wear uniforms?
• Should energy drinks be
allowed in schools?
The highest scoring team was
Nick Gaudet, Sarah Plunkett,
Jessica Madore, and Josh Brasslett
(“Should schools be allowed to
randomly search student lock-
LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE PARTICIPANTS—1st row: Christian Paradis, Faith Brackett, Sarah Plunkett 2nd row: Brianna
Ireland, Cody Sibley, Mariah Hashey, Nick Gaudet 3rd row: Jessica Pollard, Miranda Gifford, Tia Jackson, Abby Sibley 4th row:
Nikkita Crawford, Jeff McClure, Alex Malone, Austin Comeau 5th row: Emily Potts, Ashley Williams, Emily Goodwin, Sara Hall 6th
row: Erica Ogden, Mariah Trembley, Meaghan Delcourt, Emma Burgason 7th row: Colby Smart, Rory Sullivan, Kate Rawson, Nate
Colannino 8th row: Teachers Misty Burgess and Michelle Tuttle Not pictured: Audrey Beal, Sammy Beal
ers?”—Affirmative).
Other medal winners were:
Best Constructives: Abby
Sibley, Mariah Hashey, Ashley
Williams, Christian Paradis, and
Jeff McClure.
Best Cross-Examinations:
Miranda Gifford, Emily Goodwin,
Jessica Pollard, and Nikkita
Crawford.
Best Responses to the CrossExaminations: Alex Malone, Sara
Hall, Sarah Plunkett, Brianna
Ireland, and Faith Brackett
Best Rebuttals: Nick Gaudet,
Cody Sibley, Emily Potts, Tia
Jackson, Audrey Beal, and Austin
Comeau.
August
2009
Page 21
__________________________________________________________________
Professional learning groups—helping teachers talk about student learning
By John Keane
The RSU 34 schools have been
involved with becoming a Professional Learning Community (PLC)
for a couple of years now. The
concept of a “Professional Learning
Community” is portentous and
complex, making it difficult to
define or replicate. If you were to
ask ten teachers in RSU 34 what a
PLC means to them you would hear
ten different answers; however,
there would be some common
themes.
Two of the common themes at
the heart of a functioning PLC is a
focus on student learning and a
climate of collaboration among
teachers to improve student learning. Fortunately, there is a model
out there by which teachers can be
trained to address these two essential elements.
Recently, the Leadership Team
at LMS had an opportunity to
receive training for this model
called professional learning
groups. The training addresses
HOW teachers should collaborate
and converse when discussion
student learning. This may seem
like a rather simple task—teaching
teachers to talk with one another
about student learning—but after a
long-time culture and history of
teachers being isolated in their
classroom, this training is just what
is needed to guide rich discussions
on student achievement data,
student work and teachers lessons.
During a full day of training earlier
this summer, we were enlightened
on several protocols to use when
operating as a professional learning
group. At the end of the day, we
were given the opportunity to roleplay these protocols with in the
group. By the end of the training,
the Leadership Team was very
Members of the LMS Leadership Team learn about professional learning groups (PLGs) and how they can share information about
what they’re doing in the classroom and thereby help student learning.
excited about the possibilities in
using the protocols for the upcoming year.
This training is truly a critical
piece of the journey in becoming a
fully functioning and effective PLC.
Prior to our day of PLG training,
we had the desire to focus on
learning and had been given the
time to discuss student work, but
the conversations were not free
flowing as they should have been,
for a number of reasons. With the
leadership team now trained, our
intention is to bring the use of
these protocols to the various
groups they work with during the
school year—i.e. grade level teams,
vertical teams, smaller learning
teams, etc.) and make use of them
to discuss student work and
achievement and teacher pedagogy.
Our opportunity for getting
trained in these protocols can be
attributes to the efforts of Elizabeth
Mares, our 7th grade resource room
teacher. Ms. Mares is a member of
the school’s Leadership Team and
had heard of a grant
opportunity for this
type of training offered
by the Maine Educators
Association. She
applied for the grant
and we received the
monies to host a wonderful day of training
for most of the Leadership team.
Thanks to Liz Mares
for hard work and
dedication to making
LMS a school of excellence. Thanks also to
the six teachers who volunteered a
day of their summer to take part in
the training. Those teachers were
Kristen Bowman, Jody Layman,
Todd McKinley, Tracey O’Connell,
Lori Townsend and Liz Mares.
Bailey Hill and Anne Cowin.
LMS classes collect ‘Pennies for Peace’
LMS Literacy News
By Kristen Bowman
With the help from students and
LMS Teacher
staff of LMS, the students collected
How much can a penny buy? It
over $250. The money donated will
doesn’t buy much in Old Town.
help the CAI purchase school
But in the villages of Pakistan
supplies, teachers, maternal
and Afghanistan, it can buy a
healthcare supplies, scholarships,
pencil, start an education, and
and schools to replace ones that
transform a life. In these regions,
have either been reduced to rubble
terrorist organizations recruit
by extremists or never existed in
uneducated, illiterate children
the first place.
whose families are often faced
The unit wrapped up in June
with extreme poverty. A pencil
with two guest speakers from the
can empower a child to read,
Islamic Center of Maine who
write, become employable, and
came in to share their memories
ultimately reject the anti-U.S.
of growing up Muslim in both
recruitment tactics of extremist
LMS students filled the Peace Sign their home countries and in
groups such as the Taliban.
Maine. Ali Shareef, a Ph.D.
with coins for Pennies for Peace.
As part of a unit, Ms.
student at the University of
Bowman’s sixth grade language arts students
Maine, and Omar Conteh, a former Bangor High
participated in a Pennies for Peace campaign
student and current student at the University
from April to June 2009 to broaden their cultural
College of Bangor, talked about the cultural
horizons, becoming members of a global family
differences they encountered when they moved
dedicated to peace. Students studied the geograto the U.S. as adolescents. Ali shared with us the
phy and cultures of Afghanistan and Pakistan by
ongoing problem of pollution and overpopulation
investigating the role that education plays in the
in India. Omar shared that he’d never heard of
lives of people living in remote areas of Pakistan
hamburgers or hot dogs until he moved to from
and Afghanistan, with particular emphasis on
The Gambia (Africa) when he was in middle
the roles of girls and women who are often
school! Both Ali and Omar said that the biggest
forbidden to attend school and denied human
barrier they encountered after moving to the
rights. As part of the integrated unit, students
U.S. was learning the language and understandread Three Cups of Tea: Young Reader’s Edition
ing Americans, because Americans “speak too
by Greg Mortenson, founder of the Central Asia
fast.” Both credited the ESL (English as a
Institute (CAI). The Central Asia Institute is a
Second Language) programs at their middle and
registered nonprofit organization that promotes
high schools for helping them learn English.
and provides community-based education and
Ms. Bowman’s students wish to thank all who
literacy programs, especially for girls, in remote
donated to the cause, including LMS Builder’s
mountain regions of Central Asia.
Club.
We are thrilled to welcome Bailey Hill, our
new Title I/Literacy Coach and Anne Cowin,
Literacy Ed Tech III to Leonard Middle School.
Ms. Hill earned her Bachelor of Arts in English
from Stonehill College and a Master of Arts in
Teaching from the University of Maine at Orono.
She comes to us from Noble High School where
she was a dynamic and innovative freshmen
English teacher. Her experience working on an
interdisciplinary team, creativity and passion for
curriculum development, and collaborative skills
will be an incredible asset to our school.
Mrs. Cowin comes to us from SAD 22 where
she was the librarian at the Weatherbee School
in Hampden and Smith School in Winterport.
She is a passionate reader and her experience in
the education field in both the UK and US give
her a unique perspective and insight on the
needs of readers. Her literacy experience will
certainly enrich our team at LMS.
Ms. Hill and Mrs. Cowin are wonderful
additions to our literacy team. When asked
about their thoughts about the upcoming year
they said, “We are excited to become a part of the
Old Town community. Together, we will work
with students to expand their reading skills and
develop the tools they need to be successful in
school. We believe it is important to meet
students at their individual learning levels and
provide support with texts that students can
relate to and enjoy. Our main goal is for school
to be a positive experience for students and a
place where they can thrive and feel personal
success.” Ms. Hill and Mrs. Cowin are truly a
dynamic duo who will work closely with our
students and teams to integrate literacy
throughout the curriculum.
Page
22
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
LMS Student represents Maine at National Geography Bee: a journal of sorts
By Jon Doty
I’ve shared many efforts, successes, and struggles with students
so far in my career, and I look
forward to many more in the
coming years. Accompanying Conor
Millard to the National Geography
Bee will always be one of the
highlights of my career.
Before the Bee
About 40 Leonard Middle School
students this past December chose
to participate in our school’s Geography Bee. We were deeply grateful to our volunteer community
judges, Anthony Feldspauch, BJ
Finch, Cathy Segee, and OTHS
alumnus Denise St. Peter. The
local Bee was exciting and interesting, with each student participating
in seven rounds of questions ranging from our country’s states to far
off places. The ten students with
the highest scores became finalists,
facing an even tougher group of
questions. At the end, Hazen
Dauphinee and Conor Millard faced
off in a back-and-forth championship round, each facing an elimination question at times. Both kept
their cool and displayed phenomenal sportsmanship.
At the State Bee, Conor again
faced tough competition, facing
elimination at times. Conor won
the right to represent Maine, and a
trip to Washington DC, by correctly
answering a question about
Novosibirsk, the largest city of
Siberia. (I cannot claim to have
ever heard of Novosibirsk, much
less know any information about
it).
Monday
I must say, the National Geographic Society (NGS) is a class act.
They pay for each contestant and a
teacher-escort to travel to Washington DC, and arranged a fantastic
agenda for us in the city. Once we
got settled in for a few minutes and
attended a brief welcoming talk,
the NGS put on a “meet and greet”
sort of informal dinner. It was a
very neat time for the kids, chaperones, and families to get to know
each other and have great conversations with folks from all over the
country and world. Conor’s favorite
menu item was the “mashed potato
bar”, served in a martini glass with
a host of toppings to choose from.
Following the dinner, we all
climbed aboard a set of trolleys for
a two-hour tour of the city at
sunset. I’ve been to DC a number
of times, but never seen it from this
perspective. I highly recommend
the trolley tour for new visitors to
the city. I spent much of the trolley
tour swapping cameras across the
aisle with Conor’s parents, Carol
and Paul, so we could each get the
best pictures from the left and right
side of the trolley. I also had a
great conversation with a teacher
from Nevada who works in the
All 55 National Geography Bee contestants gather together on stage.
Conor and other contestants sign each
others’ autograph books.
Conor with Geography Bee emcee Alex
Trebek of “Jeopardy.”
Conor with the Chief Engineer who led
the development of Google Earth.
same specialty as me, but at a
magnet school.
there were no perfect scores in the
room, and Conor was one of two in
his group with a near-perfect 8. He
shared the moment with Kennen
Sparks of Utah. We found out
shortly thereafter that Conor was
one of 14 students who’d advanced
to the tiebreaker round.
I snuck out before the round
began to update our school. It
brought tears to my eyes later that
night when Mrs. Quimby emailed
that the whole 8th grade cheered
after Mr. Keane read the announcement. Some of the kids knew this
6th grader, but many didn’t, and it
feels great to know the school
community is celebrating one of its
own.
The Tiebreaking round is very
quick – its purpose is to narrow the
field to ten finalists. Where students each see multiple questions
in every other round, in the
tiebreaking round every question is
an elimination question. Conor
ended up getting eliminated in this
round, tied for 12th overall (out of
55 National Geographic Bee contestants).
The rest of the day was fun – our
Senator’s office had arranged a tour
of the Capitol Building for us, and I
wandered the city a bit before the
tour began. I got to see some
Senators taking an electric vehicle
on a test drive which made national
news that night, and some pretty
impressive motorcades – the tinted
windows didn’t let me figure out
who was inside. During the test
drive, it was obvious to me that a
few of the Senators from bigger
states are used to having a chauffer
– it was hard not to laugh when one
took about 5 minutes to put the car
in drive, and then nearly hit the
company representative.
I’ve never been inside the Capitol
Building, and the tour was impressive. We saw the plaster model
which was used to make the Statue
of Freedom which rests atop the
Capitol – 19.5 feet tall, and no other
statue in D.C. is allowed above 19
feet, so nothing stands taller than
Freedom. The Capitol Rotunda was
breathtaking.
That evening, my map reading
skills beat Carol’s iPhone and the
cab driver’s GPS unit, to get us on
the way to the evening’s BBQ.
Tuesday
The biggest feature of Tuesday is
the Preliminary Round. The chief
purpose of the Preliminary Round
is to humble the audience members
– out of the 99 questions I hear, I
could probably have answered a
dozen correctly. There are 55
contestants at the Geography Bee
(each state, plus Department of
Defense Schools, Pacific Islands,
District of Columbia, etc.), and they
were randomly split into groups of
11. Each contestant faced 9 questions in the round. While the
contestants did a great job of
keeping their cool, it was a roller
coaster ride for me. Each time
Conor’s turn came up, my insides
would sink, because I’d be convinced the question was impossible
and there’d be no way he would
know the answer to that bit of
trivia. He’d answer correctly, and
my spirits would rise through the
roof, feeling great for him, until the
next impossible-sounding question
was read. At the end of the round,
August
2009
Page 23
__________________________________________________________________
Starfish students respond
to community, school need
By the LMS
Grade 6 Team
On the Starfish team,
students are involved in
assessing, planning, and
implementing a Service
Learning Project each
year. Starfish students
have successfully completed a Service Learning
project for the past three
years. The Old Town
School District through
Tyler and Lauren share the locker room check off list
the office of the Curricuwith the team.
lum Coordinator has
Keane and Mrs. Cyr. Mr. Keane
offered grants for an individual or
has requested that the rooms get a
team of teachers for the past three
fresh coat of paint. Another feature
years. Another grant opportunity
was a brochure to share with
was Kids Consortium: Dara Fund.
coaches for next fall. At the student
For two years, Mrs. Birmingham
level, they designed a checklist that
and Mrs. Townsend, Starfish
will help students take an active
teachers were awarded grants from
role in keeping the locker room
both. Another grantee one year
clean. Students also created posters
was the high school club YAC,
that will hang in the locker rooms to
which helped with our Service
remind others to respect the school.
Learning project at Pickerel Pond.
They are hoping their attitude and
Last year, students didn’t need a
enthusiasm will be passed on to
grant for the work that they chose
other LMS students and everyone
to do because they chose to work on
will work together to make the locker
a community service project.
rooms a better place.
At the initial phase of the planSome students chose to create a
ning, students identified needs that
video to share with the incoming
were closer to home, which does not
sixth graders. We had many
qualify for the Dara Fund Grant,
student athletes in our classrooms
where the criteria follows a Service
this year. The students decided to
Learning model. The type of
use their experiences with sports as
project the students were planning
a focus for the film. Scripts were
was an action plan for the commuwritten, rehearsals done, and
nity and our school. The students
segments were filmed. The video
were thinking that the community
was edited using the iMovie proneed was in the area of
gram found on the Mac minis in our
homelessness, poverty, health costs,
classrooms. Many students spoke
and even the animal shelter. It was
on camera about how to juggle the
soon apparent that some of the
expectations of the sports team
topics were more than a small
with the classroom expectations.
group of students could handle, but
Students will share the segment
after much thought students came
with Mrs. Cyr, the athletic director,
up with the idea to do a mitten and
to get her input.
hat drive for Crossroads Ministries
in Old Town in order to help area
families during the cold season.
The second area that students felt
By Todd McKinley
they could make a difference was
Students on the McCamp Team
the Old Town Animal Shelter.
at Leonard Middle School recently
Students gave announcements each
participated in a Walk for Hunger
day in school to what the shelter
to raise money for Crossroads
needed for items, and one of our
Ministry. This walk served as the
students created a poster to place
culmination of a service-learning
around the school to advertise the
project selected by the team. On
drive. Both drives were very
the mornings of Monday, June 8,
successful because of the help of all
and Tuesday, June 9, students set
in our school community
up signs along the University of
The third area was here at
Maine bike path between Perkins
Leonard Middle School. Student
Avenue and the Stillwater cut-off in
athletes as well as the entire team
Old Town. Each sign highlighted a
were very concerned about the
fact about hunger and poverty - in
condition of our locker rooms.
our nation and world; the students
Through no fault of the teachers,
researched issues related to huncoaches, students, or custodial staff
ger, such as foreign aid, how much
the rooms just needed a little TLC.
industrialized nations consume, fair
Students felt to create a better
wages, education, and AIDS/HIV.
climate and respect for our school
Later, each student wrote an op-ed
during athletic competitions and for
piece on one of these five issues.
physical education class the locker
Throughout the year, students
rooms needed more attention.
read about and discussed various
Athletes wanted show pride in their
issues and topics related to social
school and offer a welcoming place
justice and equality. Although
for other schools to prepare for
solving the problem of hunger
games. A fresh new look was what
seems insurmountable, students
was needed to our facility.
recognized that every step counts in
As school began to wind down
raising the standard of living for
students put into action a mission
someone in need. These students
statement they created to share
encourage you to “think globally
with coaches for next fall.
and act locally” to make a positive
Throughout the planning and
impact on poverty and hunger in
implementation process students
our community
have worked closely with Mr.
Walk for Hunger
Conor stands with his parents and grandmother in front of the Capitol Building.
Kudos to Boy Scout Troop 400 in
Trexlertown, PA – at least I contributed something geographically
to the experience! The NGS put on
a great BBQ at a farm with volleyball, mini-golf, etc. They did a
great job of honoring the finalists
briefly, and then putting the focus
squarely on fun and on the achievements of all 55 contestants.
Wednesday
I really didn’t think the Final
Round questions were any harder
than the Preliminary Round
questions – once you’re in over your
head, does it matter how deep the
water is? The televised Final
Round was another neat experience
– each contestant answered questions until they got two wrong,
until the field was narrowed to two.
I sat directly behind the contestants who’d been eliminated the
day before, and it was amusing to
see each of them perk up when they
knew many of the answers. The
questioning was enhanced by some
pretty neat technology work – the
Bee was sponsored by Google, so
they took the opportunity to show
off the fly-in features on Google
Earth, especially in a series of
questions about airports around the
world. BIA didn’t make the list.
The NGS also brought some props
in for questions, most memorably a
tegu (lizard), and a Chinese Terra
Cotta warrior (after the question,
the warrior waved goodbye – it was
a painted performance artist who
did an amazing job remaining
absolutely motionless). The Championship Round (the final two
contestants) went into 3 or 4
overtimes.
We had the opportunity that
afternoon to meet with Senator
Snowe – very neat that such a busy
person took quite a while between
commitments to sit down and talk
with us, and celebrate Conor’s
accomplishment and experience.
That evening, we had a final
banquet and presentation of
plaques to each contestant – all in
all, NGS put on a very classy
experience for us, and above all,
Conor represented our school and
community extremely well. I’m
very proud of him!
Page
24
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
LMS Fall Sports
Fall is fast approaching and
we have another great schedule
lined up for our LMS athletes.
We’ll kick off the season with
our mandatory parent meeting
on Tuesday, August 25th at
6:00 PM in the LMS gymnasium. All student athletes
entering grades 6-8 who are
interested in participating in
girls’ or boys’ soccer, field
hockey, cross country, or
football must be in attendance
with their parent or guardian.
Football try-outs will begin on
Monday, August 24th at LMS
from 2:30-4:30 PM. Soccer, field
hockey and cross-country try-
outs will begin on Wednesday,
September 2nd (times TBA at
parent meeting). Paperwork and
schedule updates can be found at
our website under the sports link
at: http://www.otsd.org/schools/
lms/lms.htm
Please note that all athletes
must have a physical prior to
try-outs. Parents are encouraged to drop off physical forms,
health history updates and the
Old Town School Department
Athletics form to the LMS office
prior to try-outs. If you have
any questions please contact
our athletic director, Mrs. Cyr
at 827-3900, ext. 304.
INVENTION CONVENTION—LMS 7th grade students from Team Triangle represented
Old Town at the State Invention Convention on May 2nd, at the Reeds Brook Middle
School in Hampden. LMS students included (l. to r.) Marcy Jackson, “Doggie Backpack”;
Mariah Trembley, “Bio Razor”; Rory Sullivan, “Kooky Cutter”; Michelle Tuttle, teacher and
8th Grade Judge; Emma Burgason, “The Torch” (3rd place winner statewide); Christina
McKean, “KinderKard Holder”; and Kate Rawson, “The Green Scoop”.
Leonard Middle School 2009 Fall Sports’ Schedules
A Girls’ Soccer
Day
Date
Wed.
9/9
Friday
9/11
Wed.
9/16
Friday
9/18
Monday 9/21
Tuesday 9/22
Wednesday
Friday
10/2
Monday 10/5
Wednesday
Friday
10/9
Thursday 10/15
Friday
10/16
Monday 10/19
Opponent
Place
Order
Est.
Game Depart Return
Time Time Time
Brewer
Cohen
Bucksport
Ellsworth
Hampden
Lincoln
9/30
Brewer
Doughty
10/7
Hampden
Cohen
Lincoln
Ellsworth
Brewer
Cohen
Bucksport
LMS
Hampden
LMS
Doughty
LMS
Doughty
Bucksport
LMS
LMS
Lincoln
Ellsworth
B/G
B/A
B/A
A/B
A/B
G/B
LMS
G/B
A/B
LMS
B/A
A/B
B/G
B/A
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
B/A
3:00
3:00
A/B
3:00
3:00
3:00
3:00
B Girls’ Soccer
2:30
2:30
2:00
6:15
6:15
7:45
2:30
6:25
3:30
2:15
3:00
6:15
1:40
1:40
8:00
8:00
Day
Date
Opponent
Place
Order
Est.
Game Depart Return
Time Time Time
Friday
Monday
Wed.
Friday
Monday
Friday
Wed.
Monday
Wed.
Friday
Thursday
Monday
9/11
9/14
9/16
9/18
9/21
9/25
9/30
10/5
10/7
10/9
10/15
10/19
Cohen
Orono
Bucksport
Ellsworth
Hampden
Orono
Doughty
Doughty
Bucksport
Hampden
Cohen
Ellsworth
Cohen
LMS
Bucksport
LMS
Hampden
Orono
LMS
Doughty
LMS
LMS
LMS
Ellsworth
B/A
B/G
B/A
A/B
A/B
G/B
B/A
A/B
A/B
B/A
A/B
B/A
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:00
3:00
3:00
3:00
3:00
A Boys’ Soccer
2:30
6:15
2:00
7:45
2:30
2:40
6:25
6:00
2:15
6:15
1:40
8:00
Day
Date
Opponent
Place
Order
Wed.
Friday
Wed.
Friday
Monday
Tuesday
Wed.
Friday
Monday
Wed.
Friday
Thursday
Friday
Monday
9/9
9/11
9/16
9/18
9/21
9/22
9/30
10/2
10/5
10/7
10/9
10/15
10/16
10/19
Brewer
Cohen
Bucksport
Ellsworth
Hampden
Lincoln
Doughty
Brewer
Doughty
Bucksport
Hampden
Cohen
Lincoln
Ellsworth
Brewer
LMS
LMS
Ellsworth
LMS
LMS
Doughty
LMS
LMS
Bucksport
Hampden
Cohen
Lincoln
LMS
B/G
B/A
A ONLY
A/B
A/B
G/B
B/A
G/B
A/B
A ONLY
B/A
A/B
B/G
B/A
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:00
3:00
3:00
3:00
3:00
3:00
3:00
Est.
Game Depart Return
Time Time Time
Day
Date
Opponent
Place
Order
Friday
Monday
Friday
Monday
Friday
Wed.
Monday
Friday
Thursday
Monday
9/11
9/14
9/18
9/21
9/25
9/30
10/5
10/9
10/15
10/19
Cohen
Orono
Ellsworth
Hampden
Orono
Doughty
Doughty
Hampden
Cohen
Ellsworth
LMS
LMS
Ellsworth
LMS
Orono
Doughty
LMS
Hampden
Cohen
LMS
B/A
B/G
A/B
A/B
G/B
B/A
A/B
B/A
A/B
B/A
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:00
3:00
3:00
Day
Date
Opponent
Place
Order
Est.
Game Depart Return
Time Time Time
Wed.
Monday
Monday
Tuesday
Monday
Wed.
Friday
Monday
Friday
Wed.
Thursday
9/9
9/14
9/21
9/22
9/28
9/30
10/2
10/5
10/9
10/14
10/15
Brewer
Millinocket
Hampden
Lincoln
Cohen
Millinocket
Brewer
Doughty
Hampden
Doughty
Cohen
OTHS
Millinocket
OTHS
Lincoln
OTHS
OTHS
Brewer
OTHS
Hampden
Cohen
Cohen
B/A
A/B
A/B
A/B
B/A
A/B
A/B
A/B
B/A
B/A
A/B
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
3:30
6:00
3:30
3:00
3:00
3:00
Order
Est.
Game Depart Return
Time Time Time
Football
Day
Date
Opponent
Place
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Wed.
Wed.
Tuesday
9/8
9/15
9/22
9/29
10/6
10/14
10/21
10/27
Bucksport
Hermon
Newport
Millinocket
Dover
MDI
Hampden
Orono
Bucksport
OTHS
OTHS
OTHS
Dover
OTHS
Hampden
Orono
5:00
4:30
4:30
4:30
4:30
5:00
4:30
4:30
Place
Cross Country
2:30
2:10
2:20
2:15
6:45
6:30
6:30
3:00
8:00
2:20
8:00
3:00
3:15
6:45
6:20
(G/B)
4:15
(B/G)
8:00
6:15
Thursday
1:45
2:20
2:20
4:50
6:25
6:15
Thursday
Wed.
6:40
6:30
9:00
Thursday
2:00
2:30
2:20
2:20
5:00
4:15
4:15
8:00
6:15
8:00
(G/B)
(B/G)
1:50
2:40
2:30
2:00
Order
Thursday
8:00
8:30
Thursday 9/10
Thursday 9/17
6:15
1:50
1:30
Est.
Game Depart Return
Time Time Time
Day
Est.
Game Depart Return
Time Time Time
B Boys’ Soccer
A & B Girls’ Field Hockey
Date
Opponent
TBA
Airline
Lewis Libby
Lewis Libby
Penobscot Christian
Central
Calvary Chapel
9/24 Mattanawcook HOME
Penobscot Christian
Lewis Libby
10/1 Veazie
Veazie
Mattanawcook
Indian Island
All Saints
10/8 Cohen
Cohen
Medway
Dedham
Calvery Chapel
10/15 Medway
Medway
Sedomocha
Central
Mattanawcook
10/21 All Saints
Lincoln
Central
Cohen
Indian Island
Lewis Libby
Medway
Mattanawcook
Penobscot Christian
Reeds Brook
Sedomocha
Veazie
2:40
3:15
6:15
5:45
4:15
3:00
5:55
(G/B)
4:15
3:00
5:55
(B/G)
4:15
2:30
6:45
(G/B)
4:15
2:15
7:00
August
2009
Page 25
__________________________________________________________________
OLD TOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Jeanna Tuell, Principal
827-1544
Welcome Back To OTES
By Dr. Jeanna Tuell
Principal, OTES
As the summer days slip away
and the school year quickly approaches, the staff at OTES looks
forward to continuing to serve as
the educational foundation for
students
living in Old
Town. We
also look
forward to
our new
partnerships
with Alton
Dr Tuell
and Bradley
and see this joint venture as a
professional opportunity for staff
and the students of RSU #34.
Welcome to 5th graders
from Viola Rand School
As part of our new association
with RSU #34, we are pleased to
welcome the 5th grade students
from Viola Rand School. We believe
the students from Bradley will only
add to our dynamic and commitment to educating all the students
in our region. We look forward to
working with these students and
their families as we prepare them
for their middle school education.
Literacy Leadership Team
Last year our school established
a new team of professionals called
the Literacy Leadership Team. The
group’s purpose is to continue to
improve the Pre K-5 Literacy
instruction in our school by implementing the written curriculum,
examining the instructional practices of the staff, using assessment
data to improve student outcomes,
and providing for continual professional development to support
teacher instruction.
This school year, our staff will
have two professional opportunities
throughout the year to gain new
knowledge about reading instruction. First of all, two staff members,
Sharon Greaney and Mary Bagley,
will teach two year-long courses for
the University of Maine Literacy
Partnership at our school. These
courses have been designed for
teachers to develop new instructional practices in literacy, but also
provide skills in developing individual instructional plans for all
learners to be successful in the
regular education classroom.
Sharon Greaney and Mary Bagley
spent last school year being trained
as Literacy Coaches and will
continue to provide “literacy coach-
ing” and expertise to our professionals at OTES.
Another exciting professional
opportunity developed by our
Literacy Leadership Team will be a
school-wide professional book study
of Teaching For Deep Comprehension by Linda Dorn and Carla
Soffos. The Literacy Leadership
Team has shaped several activities
using the professional book of Dorn
and Soffos as a basis for professional dialogue. This book provides
our staff with research based
reading instructional techniques
that will be implemented in every
classroom at OTES. The professional discussion will also create a
more consistent, coherent literacy
program for students at school.
“Science Notebooking”
Last school year our staff engaged
in a new instructional technique
called “Science Notebooking” as part
of our examination of best practices
in Science instruction. The staff
spent the month of March and part of
April investigating how science
notebooks could support our learners
in both literacy and scientific thinking. During these sessions our
science curriculum committee
members presented their ideas and
knowledge about science notebooking
in order for all staff members to
embrace and understand the power
of this instructional practice.
After these professional sessions,
staff quickly agreed the new approach to teaching science was far
more invigorating and intriguing
for the learners than the traditional
instructional practices. The science
notebooking format is much like
what real researchers engage in
during their examination of science
concepts. The notebook provides a
place for recording and organizing
scientific data, technical drawing,
and students’ questions throughout
the scientific process/inquiry.
The most powerful part of
science notebooks are the opportunities this format provides for
recording authentic student thinking of scientific concepts and its
connections to literacy. The science
notebooks strengthen students’
written communication, reading
skills, and the development of
vocabulary. Students of all abilities
can find science education to be a
place where their ideas and
thoughts are acknowledged as
correct, not always found in the
traditional format for teaching
science.
Both of these examples demonstrate how our staff at OTES
continues to push our thinking and
knowledge when it comes to providing the best educational opportunities and programming for our
students. The staff members at
OTES are committed, hard working, and dedicated professionals.
They rely on national standards
during decision-making, but also
have confidence in their own thinking as professionals, which deepens
the professional conversation.
Three new teachers at OTES
This fall three new teachers join
our professional staff at OTES.
Brenda Jackson (5th grade),Jen
Meserve (third grade), and Jen
Culbreth (1st grade) have been
hired as part of our professional
commitment to excellence at OTES.
Brenda Jackson has been a
long time educator in the Old Town
area, serving as a veteran teacher
and leader at the Viola Rand
School. Brenda has demonstrated a
commitment to professional development and best practices in her
instructional program in Bradley.
Students under Mrs. Jackson’s
tutelage have been well served with
her unwavering dedication to high
standards and excellence.
Jen Meserve and Jen Culbreth
are new to our school region, but
not new to the field of education.
Both have extensive experience as
educators in other school districts.
Jen Culbreth, hired to teach
first grade, lived and taught elementary school for eight years.
She graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans with a
bachelor’s degree in English and
later from Syracuse University
with a master’s degree in Elementary Education. Ms. Culbreth has
an extremely impressive resume
with her work as an adjunct professor for Syracuse University in the
area of social studies and literacy.
We look forward to the possibilities
and expertise Ms. Culbreth can
provide to our school system.
Jen Meserve has been a teacher
for ten years—one year at Morton
Avenue Elementary School in
Dover-Foxcroft and nine years at
the Opal Myrick Elementary School
in East Millinocket. She has a
bachelor’s degree in Elementary
Education from the University of
Maine at Farmington and a
master’s degree in Literacy from
the University of Maine.
* * *
Our staff embodies our motto,
“Work Hard and Be Kind.” We
believe in doing what’s best for our
students at all times. The professionals assembled at OTES are
devoted to the concept of excellence
and strive to be the standard for
surrounding schools to emulate. We
look forward to a great 2009-2010
school year.
UMAINE ENTOMOLOGIST JIM DILL shows a millipede to fourth grade students
at OTES. Dill, who also serves as chair of the RSU 34 School Board, talked with
the students about some of the animals he studies. The students were able to
look at and touch a lot of interesting creatures, including the millipede, a
stickbug, a hissing cockroach, and more.
Page
26
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
OLD TOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Poem In Your
Pocket Day
at OTES
Second graders empty the collection tube and count the
money together.
Emily, Kaitlyn, and Kolbie present Tallies for Tails at the Service
Learning Summit in Portland.
‘Tallies For Tails’ a huge success for 2nd graders!
By Mrs. Keane
Second graders in
Mrs. Keane’s class this
year got a lot of first
hand experience counting money and graphing
data. All of the students
participated in a year
long Service Learning
Project. The project
evolved from an Everyday Math unit in
September teaching the
concept of using tallies
to represent numbers.
From left: Caleb, Zack, Adam, Cassidy, Emma, Kaitlyn, John, Isaac, Cassie, Isaac, Liberty, Kolbie,
Students quickly came
Anna, Nick, and Emily (holding the trophy) present the check for $225 to Bobbi Fowler, Director of the
up with the idea of
Old Town Animal Orphanage. Standing in back are Mr. Cyr and Mrs. Keane.
having their Assistant
Principal, Mr. Cyr jot
Mr. Cyr would get a huge chocolate
the Kids Consortium Service
down a tally for each trip that he
chip cookie as a reward for all of his
Learning Summit. The summit, a
made through their learning
hard work and the animals at the
two day event was a great expericommunity. Initially, the students
Old Town Animal Orphanage
ence for the students as well as all
thought it would be nice to collect a
would receive all of the money
of educators and parents that
penny for each tally that Mr. Cyr
collected during the school year.
participated. In April, students
made and then give him the money.
In March Mrs. Keane traveled to
were recognized by the Department
After a class discussion about
Portland with three second grade
of Education and the Maine Comdifferent needs in our communities,
students to present their project at
mission for Community Service at a
it was unanimously decided that
district Service Learning dinner
held at OTES. The second grade
class was awarded a trophy for
their Service Learning project.
In June, the second graders
wrapped up their 8 months of data
collecting and counted and hand
rolled all of the money that had
been donated by students, families,
teachers, custodial staff, and a
number of other generous community members who supported the
project. All in all, Mrs. Keane’s
class was able to present a check to
Animal Orphanage Director, Bobbi
Fowler for $225!
When asked to reflect on the
Service Learning Project this year,
a few students responded;
“I liked keeping track of Mr. Cyr’s
trips through our hallway. It was
fun to make the graph!”
“I feel happy that I can help animals and I can learn at the same
time!”
CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER—Last May, fifth grade students
“I’m very happy that the animals
participated in an activity with the Challenger Learning Center Educators. After
are getting help. I also love that
studying about the reasons for seasons in their classrooms, they learned more
we’re learning too. It’s been a lot of
from the presenters about why we have seasons with a hands-on approach.
fun learning and helping. One of
Above, Lauren Higgins and Lucas Shorette were photographed with the
my favorite parts was counting the
Challenger Learning Center Educators.
money!”
By Jeanna Tuell
The day before a school vacation
can be a day of great celebration
and exhaustion. In order to continue to use every minute of learning opportunity at OTES before
sending the students off to the land
of vacation time, the OTES staff
opted to celebrate National Poetry
Month with “Poems In Your
Pocket” day on April 17th.
Poem In Your Pocket day was
originally organized in New York
City as a way to celebrate National
Poetry Month in April. Poem In
Your Pocket Day has been constructed as a way to increase
literacy skills using creative and
emotional tools such as poetry.
Students need poetry in the
schools’ curriculum. Poetry is a
necessary and excellent way for
students to self-express their
feelings, ideas, and inner thoughts.
It’s a way for them to understand
themselves and draw closer relationships with their peers. Poetry
can be the medium for which
students develop empathy, compassion, and connections with peers
and adults. Students of all abilities
and skills can participate and be
successful with poetry writing.
Poetry writing can be a freer form
of writing than prose writing.
Poetry reading and writing can
promote literacy and emotional
well-being as they develop as
learners and adulthood.
On April 17th every student and
adult carried a poem in their pocket
to share with friends and staff
members. The entire school was
connected through poetry. The
students spent free time sharing
their poetry with others as they
walked in the hallway, ate lunch, or
played on the playground with
friends. The day ended with an
assembly in the afternoon. Students were exposed to a variety of
poems and artists, including a
chance to share their own poetry
with the entire school. Pam
Dunphy, our art teacher, along
with some older students painted to
a poem written by EE Cummings
that had been adapted to music.
The visual presentation was a
wonderful link between written art
and visual art.
Our school believes planned
events, such as, Poem In Your
Pocket Day will broaden our
students’ experiences and
strengthen their overall literacy
development.
August
2009
Page 27
__________________________________________________________________
Gotcha Leaders
a strong, active
group at OTES
By Vicki Wilcox
Guidance, OTES
The Gotcha Leaders group
began three years ago at OTES.
Many of our current fifth
graders started this group and
stayed on to support the OTES
community for all three years.
We have grown into a strong
and active group. We support
things like “mix it up lunch”,
“no put down week”; working at
gotcha parties, welcome new
student events and much more.
Thanks for all your efforts fifth
graders and all the best at
LMS! We currently meet on
Wednesday mornings at 7:30
a.m. and we are made up of
fourth and fifth graders. Our
leaders are Mr. Cyr and Mrs.
Wilcox.
GOTCHA LEADERS GROUP—Kneeling (l. to r): Julia VanSteenberghe, Jessup Harmon, Paisley Lane, Bradley Westura, Emma Cyr,
Allison Ketch, Lauren Gasaway, Delanie Shepherd, Isabel Larsen, and Taylor Stone. Standing: Elizabeth Colaninno, Peyton
Boucher, Bailey Bernier, Zoe Swett, Isabelle Oechslie, Sierra Finnemore-Bryant, Brooke Sulinski, Kaileigh Bell.
1st Parent
Teacher Club
meeting set
for Sept. 9
The Old Town Elementary
School will hold the first PTC
meeting of the school year on
September 9th at 6 p.m.. The
opening meeting format will be a
“Fall Social” for parents and teachers to network and communicate
about expectations for the school
year. This year the PTC will continue to support various curriculum
based activities that enrich the
educational opportunities and
experiences of our students.
The school strongly encourages
parents to participate in the PTC in
any possible way. This involvement
can reflect attending monthly
meetings, helping with one or two
school events, or participating in
one of the PTC sponsored activities.
Research has proven parental
involvement in their children’s
education is a strong predictor of
students’ success.
In the past year, the PTC has
sponsored over 15 school wide field
trips, the Fall Arts Festival,
Healthy Lifestyles Week, the
annual student arts fair, the Ice
Cream Social, Movie Night, and the
school’s Book Fair. All events
generate enthusiasm and excitement for our school and the students. Parent volunteerism and
support of all school events are
needed and encouraged at OTES.
Please consider how you can
support the school’s continued goal
of school excellence. Hope to see
you at the kick off meeting in
September.
Above and below: OTES 3rd graders hold Skype conference with Jody Beers (Lukas Wujcik’s mom) in Antarctica.
Our Trip to
Antarctica
By Laurie Lyons
Come to Antarctica with my
3rd grade class, minus the
winter coat, ski pants, boots,
hat, and mittens! With Mr.
Cyr’s help, our class had the
opportunity to visit Antarctica
by using Skype a video conference internet tool.
Jody Beers, Lukas Wujcik’s
mom, is in Antarctica conducting research with colleagues on
how global warming is affecting one fish species. She took
the class on a tour of Palmer
Station showing them the
rooms, some of the fish researchers are studying, and the
scenery outside the station.
Students had the opportunity
to ask her a variety of questions about Antarctica, global
warming, and their research.
Jody updated our class on
her progress with a blog
(icefishrcool.blogspot.com)
where kids could read updates
and see daily pictures. Channel Two also came in to do a
story and our class was on the
news!
Now my class can say
they’ve been to another part of
the world many don’t get to
see! Pretty impressive.
Page
28
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
ALTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Nathan Dyer, Principal
394-2331
2008-09 a successful year at Alton Elementary School
The 2008-2009 school year was
indeed a year of much success for
both the students and staff at the
Alton Elementary School. Students
in grades Kindergarten through
Grade 5 were extremely active in
their own learning throughout the
course of the year. The discoveries,
learning and overall improvement
that the students demonstrated
was a clear indication that great
things are taking place in our
school!
This past year proved to be a
very exciting time to be in the field
of education . The teaching staff in
Alton were involved in numerous
professional learning opportunities
from Fall to the end of the year. All
the staff and administration took
an active role in being part of the
RtI, Response to Intervention
process, Professional Learning
Communities, Mentor programs for
beginning teachers, as well as
numerous Literacy and Math
enhancement trainings. All of these
have helped our school continue on
a path of educational growth. The
new learning that the staff has
been able to bring back and implement in their classrooms has been
truly wonderful.
As the 2008-2009 school year
drew to a close, we were just
beginning to embark on a new
adventure with new faces, additional opportunities and continued
growth in our new school unit RSU
# 34. Being able to have teachers
collaborate together in their learning, as well as building professional
relationships between Alton,
Bradley and Old Town, will allow
for students to excel in their learning at an even higher level. We are
extremely excited to begin this Fall
with our new RSU #34 partners,
knowing that we will continue
providing our students the best
education possible each and every
day.
— Nathan Dyer, Principal
Alton Elementary School
Academic Fair
Spirit week
Spirit week
Harvest celebration
Academic Fair
Spirit week
Spirit week
Harvest celebration
August
2009
Page 29
__________________________________________________________________
VIOLA RAND SCHOOL,
BRADLEY
Cheryl Leonard, Principal
827-2508
Viola Rand School News - 5th graders going to OTES; Melissa Johnson to teach 4th grade
By Cheryl Leonard
Principal, Viola Rand School
When students and parents
return to school this fall, there will
be a few notable changes at the
school. The lobby/office area has
been spruced up thanks to the
efforts of Steve Dexter and Dave
Ploch, Old Town teachers who turn
into a painting duo during the
summer months! Be sure to check
out the colors in Mrs. Gifford’s and
Ms Leonard’s offices!
Katie Flynn, the fifth grade
teacher, accepted a teaching position in Brewer, so she won’t be
returning to VRS. With that
change, gears got turning and the
parents of the upcoming fifth
graders were contacted about
whether they would welcome an
opportunity for their children to
attend OTES, where there is space
in the building for them, rather
than being housed in a portable
classroom. The vast majority of
parents cast a yes vote in favor of
this change. We will miss these
students immensely, but there are
a number of advantages for them
when they join in with the Old
Town fifth graders in the academic
offerings, intramurals, music
programs… We will utilize the
space in the portable for an expansion of the computer lab, a separate
room for the library, a conference
area for meetings and classroom
space for speech and OT services.
A major surprise to many will be
the fact that Brenda Jackson has
decided to join the fifth grade team
in Old Town. Her presence will be
a source of familiarity for our
students and they will benefit
further from her skills. Her presence here at the Viola Rand School
will be sorely missed, but our
students will continue to benefit
from her instruction, just in a
different location! Mrs. Jackson
has been a strong asset to the
school and although we will be
adjusting to her absence, we wish
her the very best in this new
endeavor!!
The switch by Mrs. Jackson does
leave the school in need of a fourth
grade teacher. Melissa Johnson
has been hired to join us as the new
fourth grade teacher at the Viola
Rand School. She comes from the
Suzanne M. Smith School in Levant. She has taught fourth grade
for five years, then has spent the
last four as a literacy coach. It is
Students were able to show their parents some things they learned about plants.
Viola Rand 2nd graders welcome parents to
Science Night to observe experiments with plants
Students in Cathy Fox’s second grade
class at Viola Rand School welcomed their
parents to their classroom for a Science
Night this spring. The students displayed
plants that were grown around the school in
different environments for 4 weeks. They
were able to see first hand what happens to
plants when they receive little to no water,
just enough, not enough, or too much
sunlight. They observed Zinnias and Alfalfa
and discovered that these two different
plants need specific elements in order to
survive. The students were able to show
their parents success and failures. They
learned the proper way to care for plants in
their environment.
fortunate for our school that she
has a desire to move back into the
classroom to implement with her
own class all the great ideas she
has been coaching others to do! We
look forward to welcoming Mrs.
Johnson into our midst! The staff
is looking forward to a terrific year
with our incredible Bradley families!
Please check the new RSU 34
website (www.rsu34.org) for information; it is quite impressive and is
being added to frequently! You will
find lunch menus and prices, the
calendar, staff contacts.
Thanks go to Tim Larson for his
efforts in creating this resource for
us. If you need to reach administration at the school, the new email
address for the principal is:
[email protected].
Enjoy the remainder of the
summer and we look forward to
seeing you all soon!
Page
30
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
CHILD FIND INFORMATION
SOUTHERN PENOBSCOT REGIONAL PROGRAM
(formerly the Old Town Regional Program) • Barbara Gunn, Director - 827-4441
Another exciting year begins for the
Southern Penobscot Regional Program
(formerly the Old town Regional Program)
By Barbara Gunn, Director
As we approach the latter part of
summer and the beginning of a new
school year, the staff from the
Southern Penobscot Regional
Program would like to welcome
students back for another exciting
and rewarding year. We look
forward to another year where each
and every student experiences
success and pride in their accomplishments.
There have been a few changes
at the Regional Program since last
year. Our first piece of news is our
Regional
Program
wins prize
By Perry Boudreau
In this time of decreasing
revenues and tough decisions it is
refreshing to get good news. At
OTRP in our high school class Life
After Old Town HS we look at the
transition from school to the next
phase in our lives, and eventually a
career that will be satisfying and
rewarding. As a tool to that end we
use a publication called “Student
Paths” that talks about different
careers and post-secondary opportunities. In the last publication we
talked about the wide field of
biotech and careers in the border
patrol. This quarter’s issue talks
about stress, working from home
and wacky scholarships. It offers
the students a chance to send in a
questionnaire to receive more
information on colleges, trade
schools and training programs
available to them. Each quarter the
publication draws 3 student winners for 1000 dollars and three
schools to win 200 dollars. In April
we got a phone call informing us
that we had been chosen as a 200
dollar school winner. Great news
and thanks Student Paths!
name change from the Old Town
Regional Program to the Southern
Penobscot Regional Program. This
change went into effect on July 1.
There are a few changes in staff
at the OTRP for the upcoming year.
Barbara Gunn has returned from
her year as a Distinguished Educator at the Maine Department of
Education. She is looking forward
to being back at the Regional
Program and working again in the
Old Town region. Anne Boucher,
who served as Interim Director last
year, will return to her position as
the Functional Life Skills Teacher
in the elementary classroom. Three
new Educational Technicians will
be joining the Regional Program
this fall. We would like to welcome
Elizabeth Martin, Harold Williams
and Chris Dodd to our school.
Two Regional Program staff
members were recognized at the
Maine Administrators of Services
for Children with Disabilities
(MADSEC) Annual Awards Banquet this summer. Dr. Annette
Nelligan, Social Worker, was
presented with the Maine Therapist of the Year Award and Sonya
Miles, Educational Technician, was
presented with the Maine Paraprofessional of the Year Award. They
were selected from nominees
representing all regions of the
state. We would like to congratulate them for this recognition.
It looks like the 2009-2010 school
year will be an exciting and rewarding one for staff and students
alike! It is a pleasure to welcome
students and staff back to the
Regional Program.
RSU 34 - OLD TOWN, MAINE
A.H.E.R.A. NOTICE
TO:
BUILDING OCCUPANTS:
J.A. Leonard Middle School
Alton Elementary School
Old Town Elementary School
Viola Rand School
Southern Penobscot Regional Program
FROM: David Walker, Superintendent of Schools
The above named schools have been inspected
for the presence of asbestos-containing materials.
A written plan for the management of these
materials has been developed. This plan is
available for inspection at the Office of the
Superintendent of Schools, 156 Oak Street, Old
Town, Maine 04468 during regular office hours.
Copies of the plan for each school may be
obtained on request at a cost of $35.00 per volume.
The purpose of this notification is to ensure
that Regional School Unit #34 is in compliance
with 05-071 Chapter 101 Maine Unified Special
Education Regulation, for children age Three to
Twenty.
“Each school administrative unit shall maintain and implement policies and procedures to
ensure that all children residing in their jurisdiction between the ages of 3 and 20 years including children with disabilities who are homeless
children, are wards of the state or state agency
clients, children with disabilities attending private schools and receiving home instruction,
highly mobile children (including migrant or
homeless), children who have the equivalent of
10 full days of unexcused absences or 7 consecutive school days of unexcused absences during a
school year, and children incarcerated in county
jails, and who are in need of special education
and related services, even though they are advancing from grade to grade, are identified, located and evaluated at public expense.”
If there are questions regarding this notification, please contact Loretta Robichaud at the Office of Special Education at 827-3921 ext. 3.
Judy Pusey is the homeless liaison for
RSU#34. It is the responsibility of RSU#34 to
notify the citizen and parents of the district on an
annual basis that education services are available
to students classified as homeless. If you need
further information to determine the rights available to homeless students in RSU# 34, please
contact Dr. Pusey at 827-3932.
SPECIAL EDUCATION NOTICE
RSU 34 is in compliance with federal and state
regulations regarding the delivery of services to
all resident pupils with special needs. Federal statute (PL.I.D.E.A) requires that RSU 34 identify,
locate and evaluate all handicapped children, aged
3 to 20, within the City of Old Town. Old Town
residents who believe that their child is in need
of special education services, whether attending
public or private school, should address their concern to Loretta Robichaud, Special Education
Director, 156 Oak Street, Old Town, ME 04468.
Telephone: 827-3921
RSU 34 INSURES EQUAL
EMPLOYMENT, EQUAL
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
REGARDLESS OF RACE, SEX,
COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN,
RELIGION, MARITAL STATUS,
AGE, HANDICAP OR
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
Affirmative Action Officer – Scott Gordon
Co-Affirmative Action Officer – Barbara Gunn
Section 504 Coordinator – Loretta Robichaud
Title IX Coordinator – David Walker
Or
Director of the Office of Civil Rights,
Washington, DC
Grievance procedures are available in the
Principal’s Office.
AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT NOTICE
RSU 34 does not discriminate on the basis of
disability in admission to, access to, or operations
of its programs, services, or activities. RSU 34
does not discriminate on the basis of disability in
its hiring or employment practices.
This notice is provided as required by Title II
of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Questions, concerns, complaints or requests
for additional information regarding the ADA may
be forwarded to RSU 34’s designated ADA
Compliance Coordinator:
Loretta Robichaud
Special Education Director, RSU 34
156 Oak Street
Old Town, ME 04468
Phone number
Voice: 827-3921
TDD: 1-955-3323
Monday – Friday
from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Individuals who need auxiliary aids for
effective communication in programs and services
of RSU 34 are invited to make their needs and
preferences known to the ADA Compliance
Coordinator.
This notice is available in large print and on
audio tape from the ADA Compliance
Coordinator.
Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part
99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of
student education records. The law applies to all
schools that receive funds under an applicable
program of the U.S. Department of Education.
FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect
to their children’s education records. These rights
transfer to the student when he or she reaches the
age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high
school level. Students to whom the rights have
transferred are “eligible students.”
• Parents or eligible students have the right
to inspect and review the student’s education
records maintained by the school. Schools are not
required to provide copies of records unless, for
reasons such as great distance, it is impossible
for parents or eligible students to review the
records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.
• Parents or eligible students have the right
to request that a school correct records which they
believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the
school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still
decides not to amend the record, the parent or
eligible student has the right to place a statement
with the record setting forth his or her view about
the contested information.
• Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student’s
education record. However, FERPA allows
schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):
o School officials with legitimate
educational interest;
o Other schools to which a student is
transferring;
o Specified officials for audit or
evaluation purposes;
o Appropriate parties in connection with
financial aid to a student;
o Organizations conducting certain
studies for or on behalf of the school;
o Accrediting organizations;
o To comply with a judicial order or
lawfully issued subpoena;
o Appropriate officials in cases of health
and safety emergencies; and
o State and local authorities, within a
juvenile justice system, pursuant to
specific State law.
Schools may disclose, without consent, “directory” information such as a student’s name,
address, telephone number, date and place of birth,
honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of
time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their
rights under FERPA. For additional information
or technical assistance, you may call (202) 2603887 (voice). Individuals who use TDD may call
the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800877-8339.
Or you may contact us at the following address:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
GENERAL POLICY STATEMENT
It is the policy of RSU 34 to ensure equal
employment/educational opportunities/affirmative action regardless of race, sex, color, national
origin, marital status, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability in accordance with all federal
and state legislation.
RSU 34 will fully comply with Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX, and
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and
intends not to discriminate on the basis of disability in any of its employment practices or educational programs.
Inquiries may be made or grievances initiated
by contacting Scott Gordon, Affirmative Action
Office, 203 Stillwater Avenue, Old Town, Maine
04468, Tel. 827-3910 ext. 303, or Co-Affirmative Action Officer, Barbara Gunn, 21 Jefferson
Street, Old Town, Maine 04468, Tel. 827-4441
ext, 293 or by contact the Office of Civil Rights,
Washington, D.C.
August
2009
Page 31
__________________________________________________________________
School Bus Routes
REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT NO. 34 — OLD TOWN
All times are plus or minus five minutes from the time listed. Please have your children out at the end of your driveway or the designated
stop. Encourage your child not to roughhouse or play at the bus stop. Makes sure that all vehicles are stopped check with your bus
driver and ALWAYS LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING ANY ROAD
RUN A—This bus will cover both secondary and elementary students
for the Poplar St., Woodland Dr., Beechwood Dr. and Stillwater Avenue
from the Bennoch Rd to the Orono town lines.
STOPS
AM TIMES
Beechwood area (Glenburn) .............................................. 6:40
Woodland Drive ..................................................... 6:50 to 7:05
Poplar Street .......................................................... 7:05 to 7:20
Bennoch Rd (Kirkland to Stillwater) ....................... 7:20 to 7:25
Stillwater Ave (Bennoch Rd to Orono) ................... 7:25 to 7:35
Old Town Elementary ......................................................... 7:40
Leonard Middle School ...................................................... 7:45
Old Town High School ....................................................... 7:50
PM TIMES
3:30
3:20
3:00 to 3:20
2:50 to 3:00
2:45 to 2:50
2:15
2:20
2:25
RUN B—This bus will cover Argyle, Southgate Rd, Old Bennoch Rd,
and the Bennoch Rd up to the East Coiley Road.
STOPS
AM TIMES
Edinburg Road (Townlines) ................................................ 6:30
Edinburg Road (by PD road) ............................................. 6:40
Edinburg Road (from PD Rd to Argyle Rd) ............ 6:40 to 6:50
Argyle Road ........................................................... 6:50 to 7:00
Southgate Road (Argyle Rd to Bennoch Rd) ........ 7:00 to 7:10
Old Bennoch Rd .................................................... 7:10 to 7:15
Bennoch Rd (from E. Coiley Rd to Rte 116) ..........7:15 to 7:20
Old Town Elementary School ............................................. 7:30
PM TIMES
3:40
3:25
3:15 to 3:25
3:05 to 3:15
2:55 to 3:05
2:50 to 2:55
2:45 to 2:50
2:15
2:20
2:25
RUN C—New this year, this bus will cover Main Street from Downtown
Old Town to the Orono & Old Town townlines. This bus will also cover
the same area on Brunswick St. for both secondary and elementary
students.
STOPS
AM TIMES
Main Street & Brunswick Street ......................................... 7:00
Main Street & Goldsmith Lane ........................................... 7:02
Main Street (Willow St area) .............................................. 7:05
Main Street (Willow to Prentiss Street) .............................. 7:06
Main Street (Prentiss St. to Bowdoin St.) ........................... 7:07
Main Street (Bowdoin to Spaulding St.) ............................. 7:10
Regency Park .................................................................... 7:10
Main Street (Regency to Orono line) ................................. 7:12
Bowdoin Street (Main to Brunswick St) ............................. 7:15
Brunswick St (Bowdoin to Prentiss) ................................... 7:20
Brunswick St. (Prentiss to Oak St) ..................................... 7:23
PM TIMES
2:45
2:43
2:45
2:45
2:45 to 2:50
2:55 to 3:00
3:00
3:00 to 3:05
3:05 to 3:10
2:43
2:45
2:15
2:20
2:30
RUN D—New this year, the first run through will cover SECONDARY
STUDENTS ONLY for College Avenue, University Park and Stillwater
Avenue from College Ave to Pembroke Drive.
Middle School & High School only
STOPS
AM TIMES
College Ave ........................................................................ 7:00
University Park ................................................................... 7:00
Stillwater Ave (College Ave to Pembroke) ......................... 7:10
ELEMENTARY AM RUN ONLY
Oak Street (Middle School to Brunswick St) ...................... 7:25
Perkins Ave (Brunswick to Jefferson St) ............................ 7:30
Lincoln Street (Jefferson to Stillwater Ave) ........................ 7:35
Stillwater Ave (Abbott to Pembroke Dr) ............................. 7:35
Stillwater Ave (Pembroke to College Ave) ......................... 7:40
College Ave (Stillwater Ave to Univ. Park) ......................... 7:45
University Park ................................................................... 7:45
PM TIMES
3:00
3:15
2:45
2:30PM
STOPS
AM TIME
E. Coiley Rd ....................................................................... 6:55
Bennoch Rd (E. Coiley to Gilman Falls) ............................ 7:00
Gilman Falls (Bennoch Rd to College Ext.) ....................... 7:05
Gilman Falls (College Ave to Fourth St.) ............... 7:10 to 7:15
Fourth Street to Middle Street ................................ 7:15 to 7:20
Treat & Webster (French Island) ........................... 7:20 to 7:25
Center Street (Front St to Seventh St.) .................. 7:25 to 7:30
Elm Street & Middle Street ................................................. 7:40
PM TIME
3:35
3:30
3:25
3:15
3:10
2:40
2:35PM
2:20PM
2:25PM
2:30PM
2:15PM
RUN G—This bus will cover the Hudson Road, West end of the
Kirkland Rd, West Old Town Road, and Stillwater Ave from Bennoch Rd to
College Ave.
STOPS
AM TIMES
Hudson Road by Hirundo .................................................. 6:40
Hudson Rd to Kirkland Road ............................................. 6:40
Kirkland Road .................................................................... 6:45
Hudson Rd (Kirkland to Stage Coach) .............................. 6:55
West Old Town Rd (Stagecoach to Yukon Tundra) ...... 6:55 to 7:05
West Old Town Rd (Yukon Tundra to I-95) ............... 7:05 to 7:15
Stillwater Ave (Bennoch Rd to College Ave) ...................... 7:25
Old Town Middle School .................................................... 7:45
PM TIMES
3:30
3:30
3:25
3:20
3:25
3:15
2:40
2:15PM
2:20PM
2:30PM
REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT NO. 34—BRADLEY
SHORT RUN—This bus will cover Route #178 (Bradley Road) from
the Milford and Bradley Town lines, Corner of Elm and Rte #178, Carter
Woods Park, Boynton Street, Cram Street, Baker Lane and Ten Road.
These times are approximate and will vary.
LOCATION
AM TIMES
Milford & Bradley Town line ............................................... 6:45
Bradley Village (Fire Dept. & Spencer Market) .................. 6:46
Corner of the Bradley Road & Elm Street .......................... 6:47
Carter Woods ..................................................................... 6:50
Boynton Street & Cross Road ............................................ 7:00
Cram Street ........................................................................ 7:10
Baker Lane ......................................................................... 7:15
Ten Road ............................................................................ 7:20
Deer Run ............................................................................ 7:25
Viola Rand School ............................................................. 7:30
Joseph A. Leonard Middle School ..................................... 7:40
OTHS ................................................................................. 7:50
PM TIMES
2:46
2:47
3:30
3:40
3:35
2:55
3:10
3:15
3:25
2:45
*****
*****
2:25
LONG RUN/AM RUN—This bus will cover Route # 178; from (not
including) Carter woods to the Bradley & Eddington Town lines. This will
include Penny Lane & Highpoint Drive. Times are approximate and will vary.
2:20PM
2:20PM
2:20PM
2:45PM
2:50PM
3:00PM
3:15PM
2:15PM
RUN E—This bus will cover Bennoch Road from the Gilman Falls Ave
to the Kirkland Rd., Kirkland Rd and Spring Street. For both Secondary
and elementary students.
STOPS
AM TIME
Littlefield Lane Area ........................................................... 7:00
Bennoch Rd (Rte 43 to Sulivan Ln) ................................... 7:05
Bennoch Rd (Sulivan Ln to Kirkland) ................................ 7:07
Kirkland Rd ........................................................................ 7:10
Kirkland Rd (beyond Poplar St.) ............................. 7:15 to7:25
Spring Street .......................................................... 7:25 to 7:30
RUN F—This bus will cover East Coiley Rd. Bennoch Rd from East
Coiley Rd to Gilman Falls Ave, Gilman Falls Ave, College Ave ext., Fourth
Street; from the K of C Hall to Middle Street. French Island, and Center St.
to Seventh Street. Elm Street to Stillwater Ave.
PM TIME
3:15
3:15
3:10
3:05
2:55
2:50
2:15
2:20PM
2:30PM
LOCATION
AM TIMES
Route #178 near the Carter woods Road .......................... 6:50
Route #178 near the Sand pit ............................................ 6:55
Route #178 near Black Stream .......................................... 7:00
Route #178 near the Experimental Forest Road ............... 7:03
Bradley and Eddington Town lines .................................... 7:06
Penny Lane bus stop (Mail Boxes)
just before the Home Park ............................................ 7:10
High Point Drive Cul-de-sac .............................................. 7:15
Viola Rand School (please drop off at the Driveway) ........ 7:30
Joseph A. Leonard Middle School ..................................... 7:40
OTHS ................................................................................. 7:50
PM TIMES
2:45
2:47
2:50
2:53
3:00
2:55
2:50
2:45
2:20
2:10
2:25
REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT NO. 34—ALTON
The bus schedule for Alton Elementary School was not vailable
when RSU 34 Community Connections went to press. Parents
who have questions about bus times should call First Student at
394-3286 or Alton Elementary School at 394-2331.
Page
32
August 2009
________________________________________________________________________
School bells to ring out
in Alton, Bradley,
and Old Town!
RSU 34 schools will open for the 2009-2010 academic year as follows:
Old Town Elementary (Grades K-5) ............................................................... Tuesday, September 1
Alton Elementary (Grades K-5) ...................................................................... Tuesday, September 1
Viola Rand School (Grades K-4) .................................................................... Tuesday, September 1
J. A. Leonard Middle School .......................................................................... Tuesday, September 1
Freshmen ................................................................................................... Tuesday, September 1
Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors........................................................ Wednesday, September 2
Southern Penobscot Regional Program (all grades) ................................. Wednesday, September 2
4-Year-Old Program ............................................................ 8 a.m. Tuesday, September 1, at OTES
Kindergarten students at all three elementary schools will attend half-day sessions (7:50 a.m.-noon)
for the first four days, Tuesday-Friday, September 1-4. For the remainder of the year, they will have
full-day sessions.
Registration
Kindergarten
If you have not yet registered your child for Kindergarten, please call the
elementary school in the town where you live for an appointment to register
your child:
Old Town Elementary School (827-1544)
Aug. 26 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Open House for families and students.
Aug. 27 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. - Kindergarten orientation, students only,
bus rides will be included.
Alton Elementary School (394-2331) - Registration Aug. 24-27, 9-noon
Viola Rand School, Bradley (827-2508) - Registration Aug. 24-28, 9-noon
J. A. Leonard Middle School
New students may register at Leonard Middle School on: August 26
and 27 from 9 to 11 a.m. No appointment is necessary.
New students may register and current students can make schedule
changes by calling Old Town High School on Tuesday, August 25, to
schedule an appointment (it is recommended that you call ahead at 8273910 ext. 308). Appointments will be set for August 25, 26, 27, and 28
between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
What you need for registration
It is essential that registering students bring transfer cards if they are
going into grades 1-12, or birth certificates and immunization records if
they are entering kindergarten. Parents should notify their previous schools
to send all pertinent records to the RSU 34 school their child will be attending.
School Hours
Four Year Old Program (a.m. session) ......................................... 8:00 - 10:30
Four Year Old Program (p.m. session) .......................................... 11:30 - 2:00
Old Town Elementary School (Grades K-5) .................................... 8:00 - 2:15
Alton Elementary School (Grades K-5) ........................................... 8:10 - 2:30
Viola Rand School (Grades K-4) ..................................................... 8:00 - 2:25
Leonard Middle School (Grades 6 - 8) ............................................ 7:50 - 2:20
Old Town High School (Grades 9 - 12) ........................................... 8:00 - 2:25
FUN WITH BIRD HOUSES—Students in Mr. Lucas’ and Mr. Rand’s room
enjoyed sanding and painting miniature birdhouses for the annual Spring Arts
Festival at Old Town Elementary School.
School
Lunch
menus
for all RSU 34
schools are
available on the
RSU 34 website,
www.rsu34.org.
School Lunch/Breakfast Prices
STUDENT BREAKFAST PRICES
PK-12 ............................... $1.50
PK-12 Reduced ................. $ .00*
½ pt Milk (all flavors) ......... $ .50
STUDENT LUNCH PRICES
Elementary School .......... $ 2.25
Middle School ................ $ 2.50
High School .................. $ 2.75
½ pt Milk (all flavors) ......
.50
PK-12 Reduced Price .....
.40
*There is no charge for reduced breakfast this school year. Federal and/or
State funds will reimburse us for the charge the reduced student would have paid.
School Immunization Requirements
This is a reminder that if your child does not have updated immunizations by the start of school this September, he/she will not be able to
attend school. You must present proper documentation by August 29,
before your child may enter school. You may send a copy of your child’s
updated immunizations as follows:
For students attending Alton Elementary School, Viola Rand School, or
Old Town Elementary School, send immunization documentation to:
Cecile Costello, School Nurse
576 Stillwater Ave, Old Town, ME 04468
(telephone: 827-1544 ext 308)
For students attending Leonard Middle School or Old Town High
School, send immunization documentation to:
Debbie Dwyer, School Nurse
203 Stillwater Ave., Old Town, ME 04468
(telephone: 827-3910 ext. 323)
For your reference, the immunization requirements are as follows for
grades K-12:
• 5 DPT/Dtap (4 if 4th given after 4th birthday)
• 4 Polio (3 Polio if 3rd is given after 4th birthday)
• 2 MMRs (Grades K-12)
• VARICELLA VACCINE (Chicken Pox) **
** Added clarification for Varicella – some need 2 vs 1 vaccine
(usually high school)
Exceptions will be made for the following reasons:
• Medical reasons that contraindicate immunizations. A signed
statement from your physician will be required which will be placed in your
child’s health record.
• Your religious or philosophical opposition to immunizations (a
written statement is required each year and placed in your child’s health
record).
If you have any questions, please call the school nurse 827-1544 ext. 308
If you have questions regarding your child’s immunizations, please check
with your doctor or the Bangor Immunization Clinic at 103 Texas Avenue,
Bangor (992-4547/4548). The best time to call is between 8:00 - 2:00
p.m.
The schedule for the Walk-in Bangor Immunization Clinic is as follows:
• Every Monday and Wednesday: 9 - 11 a.m.
• The 4th Thursday of every month: 5 - 7 p.m.
The fee is $5 - $10 per shot.
P.S. Remember to keep kids healthy with 8-10 hours of sleep, whole
foods, and regular hand-washing.

Scott Gordon named OTHS Principal

Transcription

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