RSU 22 looking RSU 22 • Hampden • Newburgh • … · Hot Mikado is the second full-scale musical that the Drama Club has produced in the last three years. Jennifer Guare is the

Fall 2015 • Link-22 • RSU 22 - Hampden-Newburgh-Winterport-Frankfort • Page 1-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The cast of “Hot Mikado” on stage at the Performing Arts Center for an early October rehearsal. The performances will be held Nov. 19, 20, and 21.

RSU 22 • Hampden • Newburgh • Winterport • Frankfort 24 Main Road North, Hampden, ME 04444 Fall 2015

(Please turn to page 3)

‘Creation Station’ holds first two events at HA Library Media Center

‘Hot Mikado’ coming to HA PAC November 19-21



RSU 22 looking at improvements to Weatherbee-McGraw campus

POSTAL PATRON ECRWSS

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDHAMPDEN, MEPERMIT NO. 2

TheRSU22BoardofDirectorshashiredWBRCArchitectsandEngineerstodosomepreliminaryconceptplanningforpossibleimprovementstotheMcGraw-WeatherbeeportionoftheRSU22campusinHampden. AssistantSuperintendentEmilGen-estsaidtheprojectisthefinalphaseofamasterplanthat’sbeengoingonforthelast20-25years,whichhasincluded: • ConstructionofWagnerMiddleSchoolinWinterport. • ConstructionofReedsBrookMiddleSchoolinHampden. • MajorrenovationsandexpansionatSmithElementarySchoolinWinterport. • ConstructionofthenewHampdenAcademy. “Thisisthelastonethatwe’reprojectedtodealwithforthenext25years,”Mr.Gen-estsaid. HesaidtheprimaryissuesthatneedtobeaddressedarethegrowingenrollmentatMcGrawandWeatherbeeandthetrafficproblemsaroundthetwoschools. SpeakingatameetingoftheBoard’sBuildingCommitteeonSeptember23,Mr.Genestemphasizedthepreliminarynatureofthediscussions. “We’relookingatpre-conceptsofwhat

RSU22’sAssistantSuperintendentEmilGenesthasbeennamedtheAssistantSuperintendentoftheYearbytheMaineSchoolSuperintendentsAssociationforhisexpertiseinfinanceandschoolconstructionandhistirelessworkonbehalfofpubliceducationandthedistrictheserves. Mr.GenesthasbeentheAssistantSuperintendentforBusinessforRSU22,basedinHampden,for22yearsandbeforethatthebusinessmanagerforSAD67inLincoln.Inthelasttwoyears,healsohasservedtheVeazieSchoolDepartment.DuringhistenurehehelpeddesignandbuildtheReedsBrookMiddleSchoolandHampdenAcademyand,inthelate1990s,workedonthemulti-million-dollarrenova-tionprojectattheSmithElementarySchool HewasinstrumentalinestablishingtheRSU22EducationFoundation,whichfostersinnovationandexcellenceinthedistrict’sschoolsbyraisingfundsandgen-eratingcommunity-widesupport,andthePenobscotRiverEducationalPartnership. Mr.Genestalsohelpedestablishthedistrict’spre-kindergartenprogramandpreparesthedistrict’sbudgettosupporteducationalprogrammingwhileconsidering

MSSA names RSU 22’s Emil Genest Assistant Superintendent of the Year

HampdenAcademy’sCreationStationhashelditsfirsttwoeventsintheLibraryMediaCenter. Thefirstevent,whichwasheldOctober1,wasthekickoffforCre-ationStation’sModuleOne:CodingandApps.Itwasledbyguestmen-torJustinMechamofhacktivate.org. StudentstriedoutAndroidStu-dioandsampledsomebeginningcodingstepsusingthatprogram.Thesoftware,plussupportingma-terialsandequipment,wasavail-ableintheLibraryforstudentstocontinuetheirexplorationsindepen-dentlyinthefollowingweeks. ModuleTwo:FabricArtsbeganonNovember5whenstudentsmet


MSSA President Susan Pratt and Emil Genest.

TheHampdenAcademyDramaClubwillperformHot Mikado,ajazzversionoftheclassicGilbertandSullivanoperetta,onThursday,Friday,andSaturday,November19,20,and21,attheHampdenAcademyPerformingArtsCenter. Performanceswillstartat6:30p.m.onallthreeeveningstomakeiteasierforfamilieswithyoungerchildrentoattend. Hot Mikadoisthesecondfull-scalemusicalthattheDramaClubhasproducedinthelastthreeyears.

JenniferGuareistheartisticdirectorfortheshow,HeidiCorlissisthemusicdirector,andRobKissingeristhetechnicaldirector. Ms.Guaresaysthemusicalhas

averyyoungcast,withonlyonesenior. “It’saprettynewexperienceforallofus,”shesays. TheleadrolesofNankiPoo,Ko

Ko,andYumYumareplayedbyjuniorsJustinHatchandMilesMartinandsophomoreAlexandraBuzzini,respectively.

Creation Station modules: Fabric Arts (left photo) started Nov. 5. Coding and Apps (right photo) kicked off on October 1.

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is published by Maine Regional School Unit No. 22 for the citizens of Hampden, Newburgh, Winterport, and Frankfort.

Richard A. Lyons, Superintendent of SchoolsDavid C. Wollstadt, Editor (www.SchoolNewsletters.net)

Maine Regional School Unit No. 2224 Main Road North, Hampden, ME 04444

207-862-3255 www.rsu22.us

The RSU 22 website home page.

Forseveralyears,RSU22hasbeenmovingforwardonproficiency-basededucation,wherestudentsarerequiredtodemonstrateproficiencyinmeetingacademicstandards,ratherthanjustreceivepassinggradesonacertainnumberoftests. Wehavealsobeenpreparingforthetimewhenwewouldberequiredtoawardproficiency-baseddiplo-mas.Inthepast,wehavetalkedaboutthisbeingarequirementforsomedistanttimeinthefuture.Wenowwanttopointoutthatthefutureisgettingcloserandcloser,andproficiency-baseddiplomasarenowonlytwoyearsaway. StatelawnowmandatesthatstudentswhograduateonJanuary1,2018,orlaterwillberequiredtodem-onstrateproficiencyintheguidingprinciplesofMainestatestandardsinordertograduate.Inaddition,allstudentsmustdemonstrateproficien-cyinmeetingeachHampdenAcad-emyprioritystandardinallcontentareasofMainestatestandards. Thecontentareasare: • CareerandEducationDevel-opment • EnglishLanguageArts • Mathematics • ModernandClassicalLan-guages • ScienceandTechnology • SocialStudies

Superintendent’s message

Proficiency-based diplomas coming in 2018; new RSU 22 website; Strategic Plan

By Rick Lyons, Superintendent of Schools, RSU 22 • VisualandPer-formingArts • Wellness(HealthEducationandPhysicalEduca-tion) January1,2018,iscomingsoon,andourcurrentsophomoreswillhavetodemon-strateproficiencyinthoseeightcontentareasinordertograduate. WewillbeinvitingparentsandstudentstojoinusinapublicforuminDecembertolearnmoreaboutthisnewrequirement. Formoreinforma-tion,pleasereferenceschoolboardpolicyIKF“GraduationRequirements”onourwebsite.

*** Ifyouhaven’tvisitedtheRSU22websiterecently,you’reinforatreat.Thewebsitehasbeencompletelyredesignedandupgraded,anditoffersalotmoreinformationaboutwhat’sgoingoninourschools. ThewebsitewasdesignedbyRainstorm,awebsitedevelopment

firminOrono.IthasseparatewebsitesforRSU22,allsixschools,thePre-Kprogram,andAdultEducation,allofwhichcanbecontrolledandupdatedfromoneplace. Itincludesanumberoffeatures,suchasnetwork-wideaggre-gatednewsandevents,amoderndesign,schedules,alerts,news-letters,andmore,whichareenhancingourabilitytocommunicatewithstudents,

parents,andourcommunities. Thewebsiteaddressisthesame,www.rsu22.us.Checkitout—Ithinkyou’llbeim-pressed.

*** OnNovember18,theRSU22BoardofDirec-torswillholditsannualretreattolookatthecurrentStrate-gicPlanandtoconsiderwaystostrengthenandmodifyit. TheStrate-gicPlanisoneofmanydocu-mentsthatisavailableonthewebsite.OntheRSU22homepage,clickon“AboutUs,”andwhenthedia-logueboxopensup,clickon“StrategicPlan.” TheStrategicPlanhasfivemajorgoals,plussub-goalsandactionstrat-egies.Thefivemajorgoalsareasfollows: • Goal #1—StudentLearn-ingandOut-comes:Toimproveindividualstudentengagementandachievement. • Goal #2—StewardshipandDevelopmentofResources:Topro-videadequateresourcestosupportourmission(human,capital,fiscal,andtime). • Goal #3—GovernanceandPolicy:Toprovideeffectivegover-nancetoachieveourmission.

• Goal #4—CommunicationsandPublicRelations:Tocommuni-catewithandengageresidentsofHampden,Newburgh,WinterportandFrankfort.. • Goal #5—ResearchandDevel-opment:Todiscoverandcreatenewknowledgeofidentifyinganden-ablingdevelopmentofvaluablenewproducts,processesandservices.

Screenshot of the Strategic Plan page.

Screenshot of the Hampden Academy home page.


The Building Committee of the RSU 22 Board of Directors and representatives of WBRC Architects and Engineers met with school adminis-trators and town officials on September 23 to discuss possible improvements to the Weatherbee-McGraw campus.

Q&A on Proficiency-Based Education, Diplomas with RSU 22 Curriculum Director Mary Giard

(Continued from page 1)wecando,”hesaid.“Thisisinitsinfancy.Theideaistopromoteconversationsamongalotofplay-ers—theBoard,thebuildingprinci-pals,theTownofHampdenandtheSafetyDepartment,andthepublic.Everyonewillbeaffectedbythisproject;noideaiscrazy.” Hesaidthemostimmediateis-sueistraffic—inparticular,thecon-flictsbetweenparentandbustrafficandthebottlenecksthatoccurwhenparentsdropofftheirchildreninthemorningandpickthemupintheafternoon. JenniferRichardandMikeJohanningofWBRCpresentedtwodifferentoptionsfordealingwithtrafficissues.Oneoptionhadpar-enttrafficenteringfromRoute1A,withtwoparkingareasandadropoffareabetweenthetwoschoolbuildings.Asecondoptionhadseparatebusandparentdrop-offloops,withthebusloopenteringfromRoute1AandtheparentloopenteringfromReedsBrookMiddleSchool.BuildingCommitteemem-bersandothersatthemeetinggenerallyagreedthatthesubjectneededadditionalstudy. Therewassomediscussionofbuild-

Q. What is proficiency-based educa-tion, and what does it have to do with graduation? MARY GIARD:Inproficiency-basededucation,studentshavetodemonstrateproficiencyinmeetingacademicstandards,ratherthanjustre-ceivepassinggradesonacertainnumberoftests.StatelawsaysthatstudentswhograduateonJanuary1,2018,orlaterwillberequiredtodemonstrateproficiencyintheprioritystandardsoftheeightcontentareasoftheMaineLearningResults,aswellastheGuidingPrinciples.

Q. What are the eight content areas, and how do students demonstrate profi-ciency. MARY GIARD:Theeightcontentar-easarecareerandeducationdevelopment,Englishlanguagearts,mathematics,scienceandtechnology,socialstudies,visualandperformingarts,wellness(healthandphysi-caleducation),andworldlanguages.Studentsmaydemonstrateproficiencythroughavari-etyofassessments,includingtests,writtenassignments,oralreports,etc.

Q. When do students have to demon-strate these proficiencies? MARY GIARD:AtvarioustimesoverthecourseoftheircareeratHampdenAcademy.

Q. How do students know if they’re attaining proficiency in the required standards? MARY GIARD:We’reusingusingsoft-waretotrackstudentprogresstowardat-tainingproficiency.Parentscanalsowiththeguidanceofficeorwiththeirclassroomteach-ers.

ATitleIpagehasbeenaddedtoCurriculumandInstructionwebsitesothatparentscanaccessinfor-mationaboutTitleIatanytime. ThepageincludestheParent-SchoolCompact,aswellasgeneral

informationaboutTitleI. BothLeroyH.SmithSchoolandWagnerMiddleSchoolinWinter-portareTitleIschools. TheinformationaboutTitleIisalsoavailableatbothschools.

Mary Giard

Q. Why is it important to talk about graduations requirements now when they don’t change until 2018? MARY GIARD:Because2018isonlytwoyearsaway.Thisyear’ssophomoresatHamp-denAcademywillhavetomeettheproficiency-basedrequirementsinordertograduate.

Q. What has RSU 22 been doing to prepare for the new graduation require-ments? MARY GIARD:Likemostotherschooldistricts,we’vebeenworkinghardtomakesurethatourstudentswillbeabletomeetthenewexpectationswhentheybecomearequirementin2018. Forexample,we’vereviewedthecurricu-luminalleightcontentareasoftheLearningResults,andwe’vechosentolookatitasaK-12opportunity,ratherthanjustatHamp-denAcademy.We’retryingtobuildinsupportfortheproficiency-baseddiplomaallthewayfromkindergartenrightupthroughgrade12.We’vetakeneachofthecontentareas—ELA,math,etc.—andcreatedlearningtargetsateachgradelevel. Ofcourse,there’salotmoretodo,becausewedon’twanttoendupin2018withalotofstudentsatHampdenAcademywhoarestrugglingtomeettheproficiencystandardsthatwillbeexpectedofthem.

Q. How are we doing? MARY GIARD:We’rewellonourway,probablyabouthalfwaythrough.We’vecreat-edpoliciestosupportproficiency-basedwork,we’vedonethecurriculumwork,andwe’veprovidedteacherswithprofessionaldevelop-mentopportunities.Nowwe’reinthemidstoftheassessmentwork,andwe’relookingatstrategiestomeetstudentneeds.

Q. What kind of work are we doing on assessments? MARY GIARD:Assessmentsareacriticalpartofproficiency-basededucationbecausetheynotonlytellstudentswhetherthey’ve

achievedproficiency,buttheycanalsotellstudentswhattheyneedtodotogetwheretheyneedtobe.We’relookingatwhatkindofrubricsdoweneedtohaveinplace,andwhatcanwedotogatherinformationonaregularbasis,sothatwe’regettingaclearpictureofstudentgrowth.We’realsocreat-ingwaysforstudentswhoarenotmeetingstandardstohaveadditionalsupport.

Q. How are you able to provide addi-tional support for students who need it? MARY GIARD:Thereareanumberofthingswe’redoing.Studentscanbegroupedandregroupedtoworkonskillsorstandardsthattheydon’tquitehaveundertheirbelt.We’reofferingtutoringandotherin-schoolopportunitiesforstudents.We’realsoprovid-ingopportunitiesforstandardsrecoupmentatHampdenAcademy.Ifstudentsaren’tmeetingstandards,wecancreateon-linemodulestohelpthemgetontrackandmeetthestandards. We’reusingavarietyoftechnologyoppor-tunitiessothatstudentscantakeadvantageofcoursestorecoup,butwealsoofferavari-etyofalternatives,sostudentscandothingsaboveandbeyondwhatwe’reabletoofferlocally.

Q. What should parents do if they’re concerned about their child’s progress towards graduation? MARY GIARD:Theycancheckwiththeguidanceoffice,classroomteachers,oranadministrator.We’reusingusingsoftwaretotrackstudentprogresstowardattainingproficiency,sothatinformationisavailable.Parentsshouldalwaysfeelcomfortableaboutcallingtheschooltoaskabouttheirchildren’sprogress.Thisisimportantstuff.Theyab-solutelyshouldknowwhat’sgoingon.Defi-nitely,ifwedon’tknow,we’llfindoutsothatparentsareabletogettheinformationtheyneed.That’scriticalforus,becauseparentinvolvementisanimportantingredientinensuringthatstudentsaresuccessful.

ingimprovements,includingthepos-sibilityofconnectingthetwobuildingssotheycouldbeoperatedasasingle,PK-5school.However,therewasgeneralagreementabouttheneedforbetterenrollmentdataandstructuralinformationbeforethecommitteecouldproceedfurtherinthatarea. Amongthedeficienciesthatneedtobeaddressedinanyrenovationplanareeliminatingportableclass-roomsatbothschools;separatingthegymandthecafeteriaatWeath-erbee;providingspaceforguidanceatWeatherbee(guidanceofficesarecurrentlylocatedonthestage);addi-tionalspacefor“specials,”suchasartandmusic,aswellaspossibleexpan-sionoftheworldlanguageprogram;andconstructionofanelevatorat

Weatherbee(theschoolcurrentlyhasalift,whichhasbeengrandfathered). Ifthetwoschoolswerejoinedtogether,thenewconstructioncouldincludesharedlibrary,cafeteria,andgymfacilities. Mr.Genestalsosuggestedthepos-sibilityofincludingaseniorcitizencentertofacilitatetheuseofsenior

citizenvolunteersinthetwoschools. Headdedthatthenextstepsaretocompleteabuildingneedscapac-ityandenrollmentstudyandtoholdapublicforum. “Thepublicneedstofeelthattheyarepartoftheprocess,”hesaid. ApublicforumwillbescheduledfortheFebruary/Marchtimeframe.

Title I info added to RSU 22Curriculum and Instruction web site

RSU 22 looking at improvements to Weatherbee-McGraw campus


HA Guidance planning ‘giving tree’

Dakota Clement winsGold for CPR/First Aid at national Skills USA event

TheHampdenAcademyGuid-anceOfficeismakingpreparationsforaholiday“givingtree”thatwillallowstudentstodonateitemstosupportotherstudentsduringtheholidays. GuidanceCounselorErikaOliversaidinformationaboutthegivingtreewillbemailedhometoparents.Theletterwillgiveparentsanop-portunitytoreplyiftheyfeeltheirsonordaughterwouldbenefitbybeingagiving-treerecipient. Wheninformationaboutrecipientsandgiftitemsiscompiled,thegiving

treewillbepaintedonthewindowinthediningcommonsbyHAartstu-dentsaroundThanksgiving.ThentheGuidanceOfficewillposttagslistinggiftitemsonthetree. Studentsandstaffmemberscantakethetagsoffthetreeandpur-chasetheitems. Thenamesoftheintendedrecipi-entsarekeptconfidential,withonlyanumberappearingoneachtag. Ms.OliversaidthisisthesecondyearthatHampdenAcademyhashadagivingtree.Lastyear,about30HAstudentsweregivingtreerecipients.

AnnaSwiercziewska,anativeofPolandwhospeaksfivelanguages,hasjoinedthestaffofHampdenAcademyasaSpanishteacher. Previously,shetaughtSpanishandFrenchatValleyHighSchoolinBinghamforthreeyears.ShealsotaughtFrenchattheBritishAmericanAcademyinCharlotte,NC,foroneyearwhilealsoteachingFrenchandSpanishatapri-vatelanguageschool. Shealsoworksasatranslatorandonprojectsrelatedtocurriculumplan-ninganddevelopingaseriesofgram-marbookscoveringdifferentlanguages. “Ilovelanguages,”shesays.“That’swhatIdo.Mygoalistopublishmygrammarbooksandtopickuptwomorelanguages,includingArabicandmaybeanAsianlanguage.” Ms.SwiercziewskacametotheU.S.withherparentswhenherfather,whowasactiveintheSolidaritymovement,wasforcedtoleavePoland. “We’renowfreetogoback[toPo-land],butwe’veestablishedalifehere,”shesays.“Mytwinsisterandparentsarehere[intheU.S.],buteveryoneelseisinPoland.” Ms.SwiercziewskalivesinBrewer.ShesayshertwinsisterisadoctorinNewYork. ShegrewupinShirley,NY,abeachtownonLongIsland.ShereceivedherB.A.degreefromtheStateUniversityofNewYorkatAlbanyanddidgradu-ateworkattheStateUniversityofNewYorkatStonyBrook.ShealsostudiedatuniversitiesinFranceandSpainandreceivedherMaster’sdegreefromtheUniversityofNorthCarolinainChar-lotte.

Anna Swiercziewska

MaiaDendingerhasjoinedthestaffofRSU22asanewEnglishteacheratHampdenAcademythisfallafterearn-ingherMas-ter’sdegreeinEnglishattheUniversityofMainelastspring. Whilecompletingherdegreerequirements,shetaughtEnglish101atUMaine. Previously,shehadworkedasawritinginstructoratXavierUniversityinNewOrleansforayearandatDaytonaStateCollegeinFlorida,alsoforayear. AnativeofBoston,shegrewupinMassachusettsbutattendedhighschoolandcollegeinFlorida,graduatingfromKeyWestHighSchoolandmajoringinEnglishatStetsonUniversity. Mrs.DendingersaidsheselectedUMaineforhergraduatestudiesbecausehergrandmother,awinterresidentofFlorida,livesinOrland. Shesayssheismarriedwithtwo

Maia Dendinger

ChristineVoteur,aformersocialworkerwhodidherguidanceinternshipatHampdenAcademyin2013,hasre-turnedtoHAasaguidancecounselor. ShereceivedherMaster’sdegreeinCounselingEducationfromtheUniversityofMainein2013andspentthelasttwoyearsasaguidancecounseloratMilesLaneElementarySchoolinBucksport. AnativeofOrrington,shegraduatedfromBrewerHighSchoolandreceivedherB.A.degreeinCommunicationDis-ordersfromUMainein1990.Shehas17yearsexperiencedoingsocialworkintheBangorarea. Mrs.VoteurlivesinOrringtonwithherhusbandandtwodaughters,ages9and14.Shesaysshespendsalotoftimeatcampandhelpingherchildrenstayinvolvedinsoccer,gymnastics,music,andtheperformingarts.

Christine Voteur

Maia Dendinger, English

NEW STAFF AT HAMPDEN ACADEMY

Anna Swiercziewska, Spanish

Christine Voteur, Guidance

HAMPDEN ACADEMY

DakotaClementhadanear-per-fectscoreandwonthegoldmedalforCPR/FirstAidatthenationalSkillsUSAcompetitioninLouisville,KY,June22-26. Dakotaqualifiedforthenation-alsbywinningthegoldmedalintheeventattheMaineSkillsUSAcompetitionattheUnitedTechnolo-giesCenterinBangorlastspring. NowasenioratHampdenAcad-emy,DakotastudiedCPR/FirstAidatUTClastyear.Thisyear,heisenrolledintheCNA(CertifiedNurs-ingAssistant)programatUTC. Nextspring,hewillbeeligibletocompeteineitherFirstAid/CPRorCNAintheSkillsUSAcompetition. Dakotasayshiscurrentpost-graduateplansaretostudynursingatHussonUniversityandBostonCollege.

NEWS FROM RSU 22 ADULT EDUCATION

Fall Personal Enrichment Courses Are Still Available While most of our fall courses have already started or have completed, we still have some fun and interesting course offerings starting in November or early December:

Mommy & Me Christmas Ornament Workshop Appliqued Mitten Ornaments Paint Me – One Night Paint & Sip (Cider) Party Kissing Ball Workshop Winter Luminary – Glass Etching Workshop Hook an Evergreen Pillow Deco Mesh Wreath Making Class Holiday Pie Making Basic First Aid Introduction to Self-Hypnosis Stress Management Workshop Introduction to the Ukulele Making Movies with iMovie Cream Puffs & Eclairs

Distance Learning Courses We continue to offer nearly 500 interactive courses that you can take entirely over the internet. All of these self-paced courses are led by expert instructors, fit into convenient six-week formats and are reasonably priced. Purchase a course as a gift for a friend or family member! Our full catalog of courses can be found at: www.ed2go.com/rsu22. Some of our more popular course offerings are:

Introduction to QuickBooks 2015 Genealogy Basics A to Z Grant Writing Introduction to Java Programming Adobe Acrobat Photoshop Math Refresher Write Your Life Story Grammar Refresher Pleasures of Poetry Designing Effective Websites Accounting Fundamentals SAT Test Preparation Writing Effective Grant Proposals Using Social Media in Business Introduction to PC Security Start Your Own Small Business

Academic Programs We continue to offer, on an ongoing basis, opportunities for our residents to earn a high school diploma, access Accuplacer prep and testing services, receive individualized basic literacy tutoring and instruction, access HiSET (GED) prep and testing services and receive one-on-one ESL instruction. All of these courses and services are available at no cost to our residents! Please contact our office (862-6422) for more information about these live-changing programs.

Winter Term We are starting to plan now for our winter and spring courses. Please contact us with ideas for courses that you would like to see us offer or if there is a course that you would like to teach for us. We will continue to offer this winter and spring a wide variety of academic, personal enrichment and vocational courses to the residents of RSU 22 and surrounding communities. We should be finalizing our next term’s course catalog by mid-December.

How to Reach Us To find and pay for courses online: http://orono-hampden.maineadulted.org/ To view courses online: www.rsu22.us or www.riversideadultedpartnership.com ‘Friend us’ on Facebook: Riverside Adult Education: Orono, Old Town, Hampden Call us: 207-862-6422 Walk In: 28A Main Road South (Reeds Brook Middle School), Hampden

catsandlivesinOrono.HerhusbandrecentlystartedthesameMaster’sdegreeprograminEnglishthatshecompletedlastMay. Herhobbiesincludebackpackingandhikingaroundtheworld,includingEgyptandIceland,aswellaspartsoftheU.S. “I’vedonealotofhikinginIcelandandsleptinavolcaniccrater,”shesays. Shealsosingskareokeandwritespoetry.

Hajj,PollyFrost,EmilyGonthier,ChloeLawrence,CaraLeino,EmilyParent,ZoePrescott,SydniePhillips,HarmonyStetson,andChristieWoodside. TheTechCrewincludesKrystalGrant,LydiaTilley,AndrewTilley,PatrickKearns,WillCody,AdamCotter,NathanielCust,MatthiasMartin,RobbieMartin,andJazmineMiller. Castmemberssaytheyhaveenjoyedgettingreadyfortheshow. “Therehearsalshavebeenreallyfun,”saysNickParker,asophomore. JuniorMikaylaHolmessaysthecastmembershaveallbecomefriends,andMilesMartinaddsthatrehearsals“aren’tjustworkingwithfriends,it’shavingfunwithfriends.” Ms.Guaresaystheshowoffersseveralchallenges,whichhavemadeitevenmorefunforthecast. “Becauseit’sacomedy,wehavetofigureouthowtomaketheaudiencelaugh,”shesays.“Whenwefigureouthowtomaketheaudiencelaugh,wemakeourselveslaughaswell.” SheaddsthatHot Mikadois“anincrediblymusicalmusical,”with21songsintwohours. “Thedialogueisfastandfurious.Youmighthavehalfapageofdialoguewherefourdifferentthingshappen.” Ms.GuaresaidAbbyElkinshasservedasthestudentchoreographer,helpingthecastmemberslearnalloftheirdancesteps.Inaddition,shesaysDanielleBarrett,whoplaysPeepBo,hasbeenusinghertalentsasadancertoworkwithcastmembersonsomeofthesmall-groupchoreography.

AlsointhecastareAidanBabbittastheMikado;NicholasParkerasPishTush;JackBurridgeasPoohBah;AbbyThompsonasPittiSing;DanielleBarrettasPeepBo;TerraMalkowasKatisha;MikaylaHolmes,JosieLawrence,PaigeMalkow,andRebaSandsasYumYum’sLadies;andNateBailey,NathanManaker,AlexRoss,EliotSmall,HunterSpencer,andOrionZydlewskiasPishTush’sGentlemen. TheEnsembleincludesShelbyDeron,ChelseaEl-Hajj,RubyEl-

(Continued from page 1)‘Hot Mikado’


HA Robotics Team grows to 25 members, 4 robots

November will be ‘Aspire Higher Month’ at Hampden Academy

4 selected for 2 ACDA honors choirs

TheHampdenAcademyRoboticsTeam,whichtooktworobotstotheVEXRoboticsWorldChampionshipsinLouisville,KY,lastspring,hasexpandedfromsevenstudentsto25thisyearandaddedtwomorerobots. AllsevenstudentsfromlastyeararereturningasseniorsthisyearandwillcompeteontheAandBteams,astheydidlastyear. “Wewantedtheseniorstostaytogether,”saidtechnologyeducationteachersandRoboticsTeamadvi-sorsToddMooreandCharlieHuff. TheysaidtheAandBteamshavebeenexpandedtofivememberseach,comparedtofourandthreememberslastyear.ThenewCteamhassevenmembersandtheDteamhaseightmembers;bothareamixoffresh-men,sophomores,andjuniors. Thefirstmeetonthisyear’sVEXRoboticsscheduleisinCapeEliza-bethonSaturday,Nov.14,followedbyameetinBreweronNov.21. “TheCapeElizabethmeetisusuallytooearlyforus,butourtwoveteranteams[AandB]mightcom-petethisyear,”Mr.Huffsaid.“AllfourteamswillcompeteinBrewer.” Othermeetsarescheduledfor

AugustaofDec.12,andErskineAcademyinSouthChinaonFeb.6. ThestateVEXRoboticsmeetforMainewillbeheldonSaturday,Feb.13,atHampdenAcademy. “Wehopetoenterallfourteamsinthestatemeet,”Mr.Huffsaid. Thefourteams(HampdenAcad-emy’steamdesignationis9343)are: • Team9343A—DylanNoyes,ZacPerry,CatherineTrojecki,LeviNash,andA.J.Meo.

• Team9343B—NateCust,KrystalGrant,NateHaiden,NickHashey,andCarrieForen. • Team9343C—DylaanCan-non,JordanCollins,KaelanDinwid-die,DevonDowns,RiahMalachi,MilesMartin,andDariusRamos. • Team9343D—WillCollins,NickGauthier,NathanielJor-dan,TerraMallow,TylerRinfret,StevenSantiago,AlexSmith,andIsaiahSwartz.

Eachyear,therulesfortheVEXRoboticscompetitionchangestopresentstudentswithanewsetofchallenges. The2015-16gameiscalled“NothingButNet.”Therobotshavetopickupballsfromaroundthearenaandshootthemfromtheteam’scornerintotheteam’snet.Robotsgetbonuspointsforpick-inguptherobotoftheiralliancepartner.

TEAM 9343D—Nick Gauthier, Nathaniel Jordan, Isaiah Swartz, Will Collins, Steven Santiago, and Alex Smith. Not present for photo: Tyler Rinfret and Terra Mallow.

TEAM 9343 C—Kaelan Dinwiddie, Jordan Collins, Miles Martin, and Riah Malachi (seated). Not present for photo: Darius Ramos, Devon Downs, and Dylan Cannon.

TEAM 9343B—Nick Hashey, Nate Haiden, Nate Cust (seated), Carrie Foren, and Krystal Grant.

TEAM 9343A—Front row: Levi Nash and Catherine Trojecki. Back: Dylan Noyes and Zac Perry. Not present for photo: A. J. Meo

FourHampdenAcademystudentshavebeenselectedtoperformatJordanHallinBostononFebruary13aspartoftwohonorschoirssponsoredbytheAmericanChoralDirectorsAssociationEast-ernDivision. NoahGardner,atenor,willperformwiththeSouthAmericanRepertoireHonorsChoirforad-vancedhighschoolandcollegestudents. TenorAlexRossandaltosRubyRamsayandDanielleBarrettwillperformwiththeHighSchoolHonorsChoir. NoahandRubyarejuniors;AlexandDaniellearesophomores.Allfourauditionedlastspring,sendinginaudiorecordingsofthemselvessingingthescales,“MyCountryTisofThee,”andafolksongoraria.Theywereselectedonthebasisoftoneandintonation. ThefourHAstudentsareamong25highschoolstudentsfromMainewhowereselectedforthetwochoirs.About250studentswillperformintheHigh

SchoolHonorsChoir;about100studentswillperformintheSouthAmericanRepertoireHonorsChoir. Noah,Alex,Ruby,andDaniellewillattendtheACDAEasternDivisionconferenceFebruary10-13andrehearsewiththeirrespectivechoirsfromWednesdayeveningtoSaturdaymorning.DressrehearsalwillbeonSaturdaymorning;theperfor-mancewillbeatJordanHallontheNewEnglandConservatorycampusat4p.m.Saturday. Studentvocalistsreceivedtheirmusicthisfallandwillbepracticingduringthecomingmonths.WhentheyarriveinBoston,theywillhavetore-auditionanddemonstratethattheyknowthemusic. TheACDAEasternDivisionconferenceisheldeverytwoyears.HeidiCorliss,AcademicTeamLeader,VisualandPerformingArts,andchoraldirectoratHampdenAcademy,saidsomeonefromHAhasbeenselectedforthehonorschoirseverytimeexcepttwicesince1990,butthiswillbethelargestcontingentevertoattend.

Novemberwillbe“AspireHigherMonth”atHampdenAcademy—amonthinwhichstudentswillbeencouragedtoapplytocollege. Thegoalisfourcollegeapplica-tionsperstudent,buttheprojectwillalsoincludemilitaryandFAFSA(FreeApplicationforFed-eralStudentAid)applications. GuidanceCounselorErikaOliversaidthemonth’sactivitieswillincludecompetitionsamongadvi-

sorygroupstoseewhichgroupscancompilethehighestnumberofcol-legeandmilitaryapplicationsandthelargestpercentageofFAFSAcompletions. ShesaidtheGuidanceOfficeissettinguphelpsessionsduringtheschooldaytohelpstudentsprepareapplications. Everytimeastudentcompletesanapplication,theGuidanceOfficewillpresentsometypeofcollege-re-

latedmerchandise—cups,benners,planners,pens,pencils,orotherfreestuffthatthecollegesbringin. Ms.Oliversaidfourcolleges—theUniversityofMaine,UMaine-Augusta,HussonUniversity,andEasternMaineCommunityCol-lege—willcometoHAduringNo-vemberandearlyDecemberanddoon-the-spotinterviewsessionswithinterestedstudents. Lastyear,about75percentof

HAstudentsappliedtoeithera4-yearor2-yearcollege. Ms.OliversaidtheGuidanceOfficeishopingtoinvolveparents,aswell. “Wehopeparentswillsupportandencouragetheirstudents,”shesaid.“Inaddition,parentsaremorethanwelcometocomeinforanyofthehelpsessions.Parentsoftenfelljustasintimidatedbythecollegead-missionsprocessasthekidsiftheyhaven’tbeenthroughitbefore.”

Honors Choir participants—From left: Ruby Ramsay, Noah Gardner, Alex Ross, and Danielle Barrett.


Junior Classical League, Latin are both alive and well at Hampden Academy

AnEagleScoutprojectorganizedbyHampdenAcademyseniorPatrickKearnshasgivenstudentsatWagnerMiddleSchoolanicepatioareabe-hindtheschoolwheretheyhavebeenabletoeatlunchoutdoorsthisfall. Patrick,whosestepmother,JuliaKearns,usedtoteachatWagner,decidedontheprojectafterconsult-ingwithWagnerprincipalRichardGlencrossaboutwaystomakethingsbetterforstudentsandteachers. “Dr.Glencrosssaidtherewasaneedtoimprovethepatiobehindtheschool,”Patricksaid. Patrick,amemberofTroop41,

organizedaworkpartyinAugusttobuildthreepressure-treatedpic-nictables,twobenches,andthreeflowerpots,andtore-doallthebrickworkinthepatioareaandtore-groutthebrickwithsand. InSeptember,thecrewstainedthetables,benches,andflowerpotswithadarkbrownstain. Dr.GlencrosssaidthepicnictablesandthepatioupgradewasabighitwithWagnerstudents. “Thestudentslovethis,”hesaid.“Theywereabletogooutsideandeatlunchonthepicnictables.Wehadmoreparticipationbykidseat-

ingoutsidesincePatrick’sprojectprovidethemwithaplacetosit.” PatricksaidthewoodforthebencheswasdonatedbyHardyCon-structionofHampden,whoseowner,ToddHardy,earnedhisEagleScoutbadgeasamemberofTroop41whenhewasPatrick’sage.Mr.HardyalsoservedforfiveyearsasScoutmasterforTroop234inWinterport. AsofthebeginningofOctober,PatricksaidheneededtocompletehisprojectreportandearnthreemoremeritbadgestoachievehisEaglerank,buthewasconfidentthathewouldgeteverythingdonethisfall.

TheJuniorClassicalLeagueandthestudyofLatinarebothaliveandwellatHampdenAcademy. Atotalof105studentsareen-rolledinLatincoursesatHA,andtheschool’sJCLchaptercontinuestobeoneofthelargestinthestatewithabout80members. Thisyear,threeHAstudentsarestatewideofficersinJCL:

• MariahDennis,asenior,isthestateJCLpresident.Assuch,sheisresponsibleforplanningandorga-nizingthestateJCLconventions. • NatalieHodgman,alsoase-nior,istheeditorofTorch,theJCLnewsletter,apositionshehasheldfortwoyearsinarow.NataliewasalsoadelegatetotheJCLnationalconventionatTrinityUniversity

inSanAntonio,TX,lastyearandplanstoattendthisyear’snationalconventionaswell. • DaijaMisler,ajunior,isthe2ndvicepresident,ajobthatincludesjudgingspiritcompetitionsamongtheJCLchapters. LatinteacherBenJohnsonisthefacultyadvisertotheJCLchapteratHA,whichmeetsatleastoncea

month.Becauseofthelargenumberofmembers,thegroupoftenmeetsbothbeforeandafterschool,withstudentsselectingwhichsessiontheywanttoattend. Inadditiontoplanningandpreparingforstatewideactivities,theHAJCLengagesinanumberoflocalactivities,includingTrickorTreatforUNICEF,pumpkinpaint-

Hampden Academy JCL members march at last spring’s state JCL convention. Daija Misler, Mariah Dennis, and Natalie Hodgman.

ing,andancientmovienight. “HampdenAcademyhasoneofthemostspirited,enthusiastic,high-performing,andwell-roundedJCLsinthestate,”saysMr.Johnson.“Thestudentslikeit—theysignupforLatintobeinJCL,andthentheylearnLatinanddoacademicthingsinJCLaswellasspiritactivities.” Natalie,whohasbeenstudyingLatinsinceherfreshmanyear,saysit’shelpedherwithothersubjects,especiallyEnglish. “StudyingLatinhelpsmeiden-tifydifferentpartsofspeechinEnglish,”shesays. Mr.Johnsonsaysthereareabout500studentswhoareactiveinJCLstatewide,participatinginthreeconventionsayear. ThefallconventionwasheldofFriday,Nov.13,atWinthropHighSchool,withthethemeof“Flash-backFriday,”lookingbackatTVcartoonsfromthe1990s,whichthestudentswatchedwhentheywerelittlekids. Thecertamenconvention,whichfeaturesaquiz-bowltypeofcompe-titionthatemphasizesfastrecalloffactsaboutclassicalcivilizationanditspeoples,languages,andcultures,willbeheldatLeavittHighSchoolinTurnerinMarch. Thespringconvention,anover-nighteventthatincludedacademics,athletics,creativearts,andspiritcompetitions,willbeheldinMayatCampMechuwanainWinthrop. AsstateJCLpresident,Mariahisresponsibleforplanningandorganizingtheconventions. Inaddition,MariahwouldlikeseeJCLincreasenetworkingandcooperationamongschools,sothatJCLbecomesabigfamilyof500studentsthroughoutthestate,ratherthanjustmembersofindi-vidualschoolLatinclubs. Mariahsaysshe’dliketoseeJCLupdateitsabilitytousesocialmedia—Instagram,Twitter,andFacebook—togetmoreinteractionbetweenJCLmembersthroughoutMaine. Anotherpossibilitywouldbetoholdregionalconventionsinvolv-ingschoolsindifferentgeographicareasofthestate.

(Continued from page 1)tocreatelaptopcasesoutofrepurposedclothing.MoreFabricArtsessionswillbeheldthroughoutthemonthofNovember. CreationStationissupportedbyfundsfromtheTibbettsbequesttotheHampdenAcademyLibrary.

Creation Station draws students to HA library for hands-on projects

Wagner students have patio lunch area, thanks to Eagle Scout project

Back row (l. to r.): Cameron Labree and Patrick Kearns. Front row: Tyler Rinfret, Seth Townsend, Jonathan Turlo, and Jarett Jones. All are members of Boy Scout Troop 41.

Wagner Middle School students enjoy lunch at the new patio area behind the school.

Above: Participants in “Fabric Arts,” Module 2 of Creation Station at the Hampden Academy Library.


5th graders enjoy hands-on science at Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Harvest Day at Wagner StudentsatWagnerMiddleSchoollearnedalotaboutlocalfoodsandhealthyeatingduringtheschool’sannualHarvestDaycelebrationonMon-day,Sept.21. “Allofthedifferentveggiesinthesaladbarwerelabeled,andtherewerealotofdifferentfoodsforkidstotry,”saidWagnerKitchenManagerBrendaWhite. Studentsalsopar-ticipatedinthefood

FifthgradersatWagnerMiddleSchooltraveledtotheGulfofMaineResearchInstituteinPortlandthisfallandspenttheafternooninvest-igatingtheconnectionsbetweenpeople,codfish,lobster,herring,andcopepodsinthegulf. Thestudents,workinginteamsofthree,tookontherolesofscientistsandfishermenwhileconductinghands-onresearchintheinstitute’sstate-of-the-artlearninglaboratory. Theyexploredsuchquestionsas: • Howarecodandlobstercon-nected?Studentsnotedthatwhenthecodpopulationwentdown,thelobsterpopulationwentup.How-

ScottArritt,anavidskierwhospentsixyearsintheAirForceasabombdisposalexpert,isthenew7thgradeELAandwrit-ingteacheratWagnerMiddleSchool. Mr.ArrittgraduatedfromtheUniversityofMainelastMay.HedidhisstudentteachingatHermonHighSchoolandWagnerMiddleSchool. AtWagner,hismentorwasJuliaKearns,wholeftattheendoftheschoolyeartomovetosouthernMaine.Mrs.Kearns’departureresultedintheopen-ingthatMr.Arrittwashiredtofill. AnativeofHarmony,hegraduatedfromFoxcroftAcademyandnowlivesinBrewer. Mr.Arrittsayshe’slookingforwardtothefirstsnowfall.“Ican’twaittogetbacktoskiing,”hesays. HeregardsSugarloafandSun-dayRiverashisskiareasofchoice,althoughhe’llprobablytakehisfirstcoupleofrunsatHermonMountain. He’sskiedasfarwestasTelluride,CO,andheskiedinKoreawhenhewasintheAirForce,stationedatOsanAFB. Hismilitaryspecialtywasexplosiveordinancedisposal,servingonAirForcebombsquadsthroughoutthePacificwhileontemporarydutyfromOsan.HealsoservedatTyndallAFB,PanamaCity,FL,andLukeAFB,Mesa,AZ. AsanELAteacher,Mr.Arrittalsoenjoysreadingandsaysheconstantlyhashisnoseinabook.

SamanthaDunton,aWinterportna-tivewhohasdegreesinbothsecondaryandelementaryeducation,isteaching8thgradescienceandalgebraatWag-nerMiddleSchool. Ms.Dun-tongraduatedfromHamp-denAcad-emyandtheUniversityofMaineanddidherstu-dentteachingatDedhamElementarySchoolandHermonMiddleSchoollastyear. ShelivesinBangorandlovesany-thingMaineandanythingoutdoors,in-cludinghikingandcamping,especiallyintheMillinocketarea. SheinitiallygraduatedwithaBachelor’sdegreeinSecondaryEduca-tion,butdecidedtospendanextrayearatUMainetogetaseconddegreeinelementaryeducation. “Iloveworkingwithyoungerkids,andIwantedmoreoptions,”shesaid.

Samantha Dunton

JillianLiversidge,whospent10monthslastyearsailingfromMainetotheBaha-masandbackwithherfamily,isteachingSpanishatWagnerMiddleSchoolandSmithElemen-tarySchool. Sheteach-esoneclassperweekto4thgradersatSmithand5thgradersatWagner,andthree40-min-uteclassesperweektostudentsingrades6-8atWagner. Previously,sheheldapairofpart-timejobs,teachingSpanishatElls-worthHighSchoolfortwoyearsandteachingSpanishtogradesK-8inSurryforthreeyears. Beforethat,shetaughtSpanishtochildreninpreschooltograde5atWaynflete’slowerschoolinPortlandforfouryears,andatMt.AraratHighSchoolinTopshamforfouryears. Mrs.Liversidge,whoisfromOrr’sIs-land,ME,saysshegrewuponalobsterboat,asherdadwasalobstermanfromHarpswell.ShegraduatedfromPhillipsExeterAcademyinNewHampshire,whereshedevelopedherpassionfortheSpanishlanguage. “IspentpartofmysenioryearinhighschoolinCuernavaca,Mexico,”shesaid.“That’swhenIdecidedtochangemycareeraspirations.” ShereceivedherB.A.degreeinSpanishfromMiddleburyCollegeinVermont,whichisrenownforitslanguageprograms.ShealsospentasemesterstudyingSpanishattheUni-versidaddeChileinSantiago,Chile. AftergraduatingfromMiddlebury,sheworkedasaneducationaltechnicianinSAD75inTopshamforayearandahalfwhilesheearnedherteachingcredentials. Mrs.LiversidgelivesinStocktonSpringswithherhusbandand8-year-olddaughter.Sheandherhusbandshareaninterestinboating,whichincludesherfamily’s38-footIslandPacketsailingves-sel,mooredinStocktonHarbor. Shealsohasadaughterwhoiscom-pletingherstudiesatMcGillUniversity.

Jillian Liversidge

DanaAndrews,whohasworkedforthepast13yearsintheSouthernPenob-scotRegionalProgramforChildrenwithExceptionalities(SPRPCE)inBangorandOldTown,isnowaspecialeducationteacheratWagnerMiddleSchool. Mr.Andrewsstartedasaneduca-tionaltechnicianatSPRPCEin2003whenitwasinOldTown.TheprogrammovedtoBangortwoyearsago.BeforejoiningSPRPCE,hewasapoliceofficerinOldTownandacasemanagerfortheDepartmentofHumanServices. AnativeofBrewer,Mr.Andrews

NEW STAFF AT WAGNER MIDDLE SCHOOLJillian Liversidge, Spanish

Scott Arritt, 7th Grade

Dana Andrews, Special Ed

Samantha Dunton, 8th Grade

graduatedfromBrewerHighSchoolandreceivedhisdegreeincriminaljusticefromHussonUniversity. HeandhiswifeliveinBrewer.Theyhavetwodaughters,age12and13,whoarein7thand8thgradeatBrewerCommunitySchool.

ever,asthelobstercatchincreased,thepricewentdown. • Howcanthefisheriesbemademoresustainable?Studentsrole-play-ingasfishermenlookedatresearchtochoosewhichareaofGulftheyweregoingtofish,whattypeoffueltheyweregoingtousetogetthere,andwhatkindsofnetstheywoulduse.Theyenteredtheirchoicesintothecomputer,andaftertheyfinishedfishingthecomputertoldthem

whattheycaughtandwhetheranyofthefishweretoosmallandhadtobeputback. • WhatimpactswillclimatechangehaveontheGulfofMaineecosystem?StudentsresearchedtheimpactsthatwarmerwatermayhaveonkeyspeciesintheGulf—andontheecosystemasawhole. FifthgradeteacherSheridanRawcliffesayseverythingthestu-dentsdoattheGMRIlabisvideo-

taped,andthevideosaresenttoapersonalwebsitethatissetupforeachstudent.“Whenthestudentsgethome,theycanlogontotheirwebsites,usingtheirownIDs,seealltheworktheirteamdidinthelabexercises,andshareitwiththeirparents,”shesays. Ms.Rawcliffesaidtheentiretrip,includingtransportationinacoachbus,wasfundedbyGMRIanditsdonors.

preparation—harvestingvegetablesfromtheschoolgarden,shuckingcorn,andhelpinginthekitchentomakekalechips. Mrs.Whitesaidtomatoes,pep-pers,andcarrotswereharvestedfromtheschoolgarden,whichwasstartedlastspringbydistrictwell-nesscoordinatorBrittanyLayman. Shesaidshealsobroughtin

producefromalocalfarmsotherewouldbeenoughtogoaround. Mrs.Whitesaidtheschoolgar-dencontinuedtoproduceveggiesforthefoodserviceprogramdur-ingthefall,andshe’shopingitwillexpandinthefuture. She’salsohopingtobeabletoincorporatethegardenintolessonsaboutlocalfoodsandnutrition.

WAGNER MIDDLE SCHOOL

Wagner Middle School students had a huge vegetable display for Harvest Day.

Student prepares kale as part of Harvest Day celebration.

Students shuck corn for Harvest Day at Wagner Middle School.


ChristineKeeley,whospentlastyearastheleadtoddlerteacherattheChildren’sVoice,aprivatepreschoolinBelfast,isthenewpart-timelibraryedtechatReedsBrookMiddleSchool. Mrs.KeeleysaidshetookthejobattheChildren’sVoicebecauseshehadal-wayswantedtotryworkingwithtoddlers. “Iloveditandleftworkeachdaywithasonginmyheartandeitherranchdressingorpaintinmyhair,”shesaid.Ultimately,however,shedecidedshewantedtospendmoretimewithherfamily. Previously,sheworkedforfouryearsasaspecialeducationedtechatWagnerMiddleSchoolafterspendingtimeathomeraisinghertwodaughters,Rosalind,nowafreshmanatGordonCollegeinMassachusetts,andLilly-Anne,a7thgradeatWagnerMiddleSchool. OriginallyfromSceneryHill,PA,Mrs.KeeleyreceivedherB.A.inEng-lishfromWashington&JeffersonCol-legeinPennsylvania,andherMaster’sdegreeinMiddleLevelEducationfromQuinnipiacUniversityinConnecticut. BeforemovingtoMaine,shetaughtforeightyearsinPennsylvania(grades7-12)andConnecticut(grade6).

Christine Keeley

BrianSimpson,aneducationaltech-nicianintheResourceRoomatEarlC.McGrawSchoolforthepasttwoyears,hasmovedtoasimilarposi-tionatReedsBrookMiddleSchool. Mr.Simpsonworkedforthetelephonecompanyfor32yearsbe-foreretiringin2011.Heservedforayearandahalfasalong-termsub-stituteatMcGraw,ReedsBrook,andWeatherbeeSchoolsbeforetakingtheResourceRoomjobatMcGraw. AnativeofMinot,ME,Mr.SimpsongraduatedfromEdwardLittleHighSchoolinAuburnandreceivedhisB.A.degreeinHistoryfromtheUniversityofMaine.HisfirstjobaftercollegewasasanedtechintheResourceRoomatGarlandStreetMid-dleSchool(nowtheCohenMiddleSchool).AfterthreeyearsatGarlandStreet,hetookthejobwiththephonecompany. Mr.SimpsonlivesinHampdenwithhiswifeNancy,whoisinher40thyearasateacherandher27thyearatReedsBrook.Theyhavethreegrownsons,twoinNewYorkandoneinCalifornia.AllthreegraduatedfromHampdenAcademy.

Brian Simpson

OurstudentsatReedsBrookhavebeenputtothechallengetoread40booksthisyear.Thisequatestoonebookaweekor10booksaquarter.Lastyearwehadseveralstudentsmeetthisgoalandmanystudentsreadover20titlesduringtheyear! WerecentlyhadauthorKatieQuirkspeaktoourstudentsabouthernewbook,A Girl Called Problem.Wewouldliketoencouragestudentstocheckoutthisawardwinningnovelandtocon-siderreadingthebooksetinTanzania. Someteachershavesetupsystemstohelpstudentsselectbooksfromavarietyofgenres,sothestudentsgetoutsidetheircomfortzones.

AsummertraininginstituteonSevenStrategiesofAssessmentforLearningattheUniversityofMainehasgeneratedalotofinter-estamongstaffmembersatReedsBrookandWagnerMiddleSchools. Thesubject—howtogetstudentstotakeownershipoftheirlearningandtracktheirownprogress—isbeingdiscussedbyteachersatbothschoolsduringaseriesoflearningsessionsthatarebeingscheduledforin-servicedays. “We’retalkingaboutassessmentFORlearning,asopposedtotheoldpracticeofassessmentOFlearn-ing,”saysLauraMatthews,7thand8thgrademathandscienceteacheratReedsBrookwhoattendedtheinstituteandishelpingleadthelearningsessions. “Havingstudentstracktheirownlearninggivessomuchmorebangforthebuckinteaching,”addsGeorgianaPiete,6thgrademathandscienceteacheratReedsBrookwhoalsoattendedtheinstitute. TheinstitutewasfundedbytheMainePhysicalSciencesPart-nership,apartnershipbetweenUMaineandanumberofMaineschooldistricts,includingRSU22.Itwasattendedbyteachersfrommorethan50Maineschools. ThetrainerswereAnitaStewartMcCafferty,formerprincipalatReedsBrookwhoisnowaprofes-sorattheUniversityofSouthernMaine,andDr.JeffBeaudry,oneofhercolleaguesatUSM. Theinstitutebeganwith2½daysofinstructiononthesevenstrate-gies,followedbyaweekofhands-onsessionsatUMaineinwhichtheparticipantspracticedwhattheyhadlearned. “Weworkedwithteachersfromotherschoolsintheareatocreateunitplanswithassessments,”saidMs.Piete.“WhatIlearnedfromthistrainingwasthatwritinggoodas-sessmentsthatreallymeasurewhatstudentsknowandunderstandisdifficult.Ialsolearnedhowimpor-tantitistotrackstudentlearningandtohavestudentshaveowner-shipoflearningandtracking.” WhenMs.PieteandMs.Mat-thewsreturnedtoRSU22,theyfoundthattheirfellowteacherswereveryinterestedinwhattheyhadtosayaboutassessmentsforlearning. Asaresult,theybrokedowntheinformationintoaseriesoffourorfivelearningsessionsforteachersfrombothschools. Thefirstsession,whichfocusedonstudentownershipoflearningandtheuseofone-steprubricsasastudent-friendlymeansofassess-ment,washeldduringthein-ser-vicedayonAugust28. Thesecondsession,onassess-mentsandsettingclearlearningtargets,washeldduringthein-servicedayonOctober9. Futuresessionsareplannedforlaterintheyear. Ms.Matthewssaystheempha-sisofassessmentFORlearning,asopposedtoassessmentOFlearning,appliestobothstudentsandteach-ers. “Thepreviousfocusofassess-mentswasonwhatstudentshave

learned;now,we’relookingatassessmentsasameansofhelpingstudentsandteachersdeterminehowwellthey’redoingonmeetingthestandardsandwhattheystillneedtolearn,”shesaid.

More on the Seven Strategies of Assessment for Learning . . . AteamfromRSU22isattend-ingafour-daytrainingthroughoutthe2015-2016schoolyear.Repre-sentativesfromeachbuildingareparticipatingintrainingsimilartowhatMrs.MatthewsandMs.Pietedidduringthesummerof2015.InformationwillbesharedwithotherRSU22educatorsthroughin-servicetime,staffmeetingsandsmallgroupmeetings.

NEW STAFF AT REEDS BROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL

CarrieKernhasjoinedthestaffofReedsBrookMiddleSchoolasa7thgradespecialeducationteacher. ShecomestoReedsBrookfromDeerIsle-StoningtonHighSchool,whereshespentayearworkingasaspecialeducationadministratorandresourceroomteacherforgrades9-12whilealsocompletingherinternshipforspecialeducationadministration. Theyearbefore,shewasaspeechlanguagepathologistatKennebunkHighSchoolwhileshecompletedherspecialeducationadministrationcourseworkat

Carrie Kern

Carrie Kern, Special Ed Grade 7

Christine Keeley, part-time Library ed tech

Reeds Brook 40 Book Challenge

Brian Simpson, Special Education ed tech

FranciscaSmith,anativeofMexicowholivesinBangor,isthefull-timeSpan-ishteacheratReedsBrookMiddleSchoolthisyear. Forthepasttwoyears,shetaughtSpanishattheAshlandDistrictSchoolinAroostookCounty.Previously,shetaughtSpanishattheParksideLearningCen-terinBangor,aprivatechildcarefacilityforpre-Kandkindergartenstudents. Mrs.SmithgraduatedfromUniver-sidaddelNoroeste(nowUniversidaddelValledeMéxico)inHermosillo,Sonora,in2002withaBachelor’sdegreeinBusinessAdministration.ShethenworkedinabankforayearandthenmanagedadrycleaningcompanyinHermosillo. “That’swhereIstartedteaching,”Mrs.Smithsaid.“Ihadaprogramsomyemployeescouldgobeyondjustdoingthingswiththeirhands.Istartedteach-ingthemEnglishandcomputers,andIfoundoutthatIliketoteach.” ShedecidedthatsheneededtolearnmoreEnglish,soshemovedtoLasVe-gas,studiedthere,andgotmarried. Mrs.SmithandherhusbandMarkdecidedtomovetoMainebecauseMark’smotherisfromNewport. “WecametovisitandfoundthatMaineisabeautifulplacetoraisechildren.”shesaid.“Wewanttoraiseourkidshere.”TheSmithshavetwochildren,ages8and9.

Francisca Smith

Francisca Smith, Spanish

theUniversityofSouthernMaine. Previously,shewasaspeechlanguagepathologistforeightyearsatOronoHighSchoolandMiddleSchool,andfor10yearsinsoutheasternMassachusetts. AnativeofBangor,shegraduatedfromtheUniversityofMainewithaB.A.inCommunicationSciencesandDisordersandreceivedherM.S.degreeinCommunicationSciencesandDisor-dersfromSyracuseUniversity. In2012,shecompletedthecourse-worktobecomeaBoardCertifiedAs-sistantBehaviorAnalyst(BCaBA). SheandherhusbandliveinWin-terport.Theyhavetwochildren,ages8and12,whoattendSmithElementarySchoolandWagnerMiddleSchool,respectively,andadognamedSpot. Ms.Kernenjoyscooking,kayaking,andreading.

(Continued in next column)

REEDS BROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL

2 from Reeds Brook attend institute at UMaine on ‘Seven Strategies of Assessment for Learning’

Susan McCallum

Susan McCallum, Spanish SusanMcCallum,whotaughtSpan-ishfor37yearsbeforeretiringtwoyearsago,isnowteachingSpanishhalf-timeatReedsBrookMiddleSchool. Thelast28yearsofherteachingcareerwereatBrewerMiddleSchoolandthenewBrewerCommunitySchool. AlifelongresidentofHampden,Mrs.McCallumattendedparo-chialschoolsinBangoruntilgrade10andthengraduatedfromHampdenAcademy.ShereceivedherBachelor’sdegreefromtheUniversityofMaine,whereshema-joredinFrenchandminoredinSpanish. Shesaidshedidn’tplantoreturntoteachingafterherretirement,butshe


theday,andtheendoftheday.” Second,thespecialsarescheduledatthesametimeofthedayforeachgradelevel,whichmeansthatteacherscanhavecom-monplanningtimetodiscussstudentlearn-ingandbestpractices,developcommonlessonplans,orotherwisecommunicateaboutstudentneeds. AnadditionalbenefitisthatthePEprogramatWeatherbeeandMcGrawSchoolshasbecomeanintegratedK-5program.Weather-beePEteacherAndrewPlaistedhasteamedwithMcGrawPEteacherRandiKaplansothattwoclassesofthesamegradelevelmaybetaughtatthesametime.Theteach-erstaughttogetheras

GeorgeB.WeatherbeeSchoolhasimplementedasix-dayrotationfor“specials,”or“encoreclasses,”inordertofitSpanishintothecurricu-lumwithouttakingtimeawayfromreading,writing,andmath. Thespecialsincludeonesessionofart,music,guidance/library,andSpanishandtwosessionsofphysi-caleducationeverysixschooldays. Thenewscheduleensuresthatthespecialsreceivethesameamountoftime,regardlessofholidays,snowdays,orotherinterruptions. Undertheoldsystem,studentswouldhavespecialsonthesamedayeveryweek,sostudentswhohadartonMondayswouldhavefewerartclassesbecauseofMon-dayholidays.Similarly,snowdayswouldresultinstudentsmissingthatday’sspecialfortheweek. Now,withthesix-dayrotation,studentsfollowaschedulewithdaysdesignatedasA,B,C,D,E,andFdays.Whenthereisaholidaywithnoschool,aspecialschoolevent,orasnowday,studentsdon’tgowithouttheir“special.”Rather,ifanAdayismissedforwhateverreason,

thenextschooldayisanAday. Thestudentsknowthisandhaveadaptedtothenewsystemverywell.Eachday’sdesignation(A,B,C,etc.)isannouncedinthemorningandattheendoftheday,andit’salsowrittenonawelcomewhite-boardinthehall. TheprocessofdevelopingthenewschedulebeganlastDecember,whenateamofteachersvolun-teeredtoresearchanewmodel. Thebasictaskwastocreatenewscheduleforcomingyear(2015-16)thatwouldsolvetheproblemofhowtoaddSpanishwithoutdetractingfromthecorecurriculumandtheotherspecials,andhowtomaketheprogrammingequitable. Thenewschedulealsoprovidestwootherverysignificantadvan-tagesfortheentireWeatherbeecommunity. First,theschedulebalancesthetimesduringthedaywhenstudentsandteachersworkonreading,writ-ing,andmathintheclassroom. Asaresult,readingisscheduledforthefirstpartofthedayontwoofthesixdays,inthemiddleofthe

GEORGE B. WEATHERBEE SCHOOL

ateamforthefirstseveralweeksoftheyeartomakesuretheylearnedtheindividualneedsofchildrenattheotherschool.Slowly,theyhavetransitionedintoindependentclassrooms.Thismeansthatonceinthesix-daycycle,WeatherbeestudentswalktoMcGrawwithMrs.KaplanandMcGrawstudentswalktoWeatherbeewithMr.Plaisted.Weatherbeestudentsarethrilledtowalkthe30yardstogototheir“old”school,andtheMcGrawstu-dentsareexcitedtohaveaclassattheirfutureschool. OnegoalofthenewschedulewastoallowMcGrawstudentstobemorefamiliarwithWeatherbeeSchoolsothatthetransitionfromgrade2tograde3isasseamlessaspossible.

Toaccomplishallofthesesched-ulingchanges,Mrs.BoonesaidthestaffatWeatherbeehadtoworkwithReedsBrook,Smith,McGraw,andWagnertomakesurethattheencoreteacherscouldcometoWeatherbeeatthesametime. “Alotofdetailshadtobeworkedout,”shesaid.“Therewerealotofconversationsandlotofcooperationandcollaborationatalllevels.” ArtteacherAngeliPerrowsaidthe6-dayschedulehasdefiniteadvantageswherespecialsarecon-cerned. “Holidays,in-servicedays,andsnowdaysnolongerimpactaclass’sarttime,”shesays.“LastyearIhada4thgradeclassthatmissedfourartclassesinarow.Thatisn’taproblemwiththenewschedule.”

MAINE AUTHOR KATIE QUIRK visited Reeds Brook Middle School on Tuesday, September 8 to talk about the time she spent in Africa, the culture there, and how it re-lated to her book, “A Girl Called Problem.” Many students expressed interest in reading the book, which can be purchased at The Briar Patch and Bull Moose in Bangor, as well as at Amazon, Powell’s, Barnes and Noble, Indie Bound, and Auntie’s in Spokane, WA.

JasonKashhasjoinedthestaffatReedsBrookMiddleSchoolasa7thgradesocialstudiesandmathteacher.HecomestoHampdenfromHart-land,ME,wherehetaught7thand8thgradesocialstudiesforfouryears. Mr.KashgrewupinanAirForcefamilyandattendedhighschoolinIllinoisjustoutsideSt.Louis.Afterhighschool,hisparentswenton

Jason Kash

overseasassignmentsandhedecidedtoattendtheUniversityofMainebecausehehadrelativesintheMidcoastareaandwantedtobenearfamilywhileincollege. AftergraduatingwithadualmajorinhistoryandEnglish,hewenttoworkattheRenysdistributionwarehouseinNewcastle,wherehemanagedthetoysection.Hethenworkedasafinishcar-pentermakingfurnitureforalocalcom-panyinBoothbayHarborbeforedecidingtoenrollintheExtendedTeacherEduca-tionProgram(ETEP)attheUniversityofSouthernMaine,finishinghismastersdegreeinteachingandlearning. Whilenewtoteachinginthedis-trict,Mr.KashhasbeenworkingwithRSU22studentsforseveralyearsasanassistantcoachforboththeindoorandoutdoortrackandfieldseasonsatHampdenAcademy. Mr.Kashhasalwayshadapassionforrunning.HewasarunnerinhighschoolandcompetedonthetrackandfieldteamatUMaine. Mr.KashandhiswifeliveinHamp-den.Theyhaveahorse,Monte,whichtheykeepinGlenburn,andtwocats.

Jason Kash, Grade 7

thetaxpayer’sperspective. “AssistantSuperintendentGen-esthasbeenastrongambassadorforpubliceducationforoverthreedecades.HisleadershipisoneofthereasonsRSU22hasbeenonnu-merousoccasionsdesignatedoneofMaine’s‘highperformingandhighlyefficient’schooldistricts,”saidRSUSuperintendentRichardLyons,whonominatedMr.Genestforthehonor. “Heisanassettothedistrict’sadministrativeteam,integratinginstitutionalmemorywithprogres-sivethoughtfulness,”Lyonssaid. Mr.Genestsaidwhatmotivateshiminhisjobarestudentsandthecommunity. “Ipassionatelycareforthebet-termentofstudentsandthecom-munityasawhole.AsIlookaroundRSU22,Icanidentifythesignifi-

cantchangesthathaveimpactedthelivesofcitizens.Myeducationalmissionissimple:Weloveandnur-tureallchildren,”hesaid. Mr.Genestwasselectedfortheawardthroughavoteofacommit-teeofhispeers. “Itisatrulyrewardingexperi-encetoberecognizedbyone’sfellowcolleaguesbecausetheyunderstandthejobexpectationsandimplica-tionsonaday-to-daybasis,”hesaid.“Ialsowanttoemphasizethisawardisareflectionofthededicatedfaculty,staffandBoardofDirectorsoftheRSU22family.” TheawardwasannouncedattheMaineSchoolSuperintendentsAs-sociationAnnualMeetinginOctober.Mr.GenesthasbeenactiveinMSSA,aswellasbeingactiveinthePenquisSuperintendentsAssociation,cur-rentlyservingasitssecretary.

NEW STAFF AT REEDS BROOK

dayontwodays,andattheendofthedayontwodays.Dittoformathandwriting. WeatherbeePrincipalChris-tineBooneex-plains:“Now,ifyouhaveastudentwho’samorningper-son,andwho’ssuper-focusedinthemorning,hewon’thavethesamesubjectinthemorningallthetime.Simi-larly,ifastudentistiredpartoftheday,he’snottiredforthesamesubjecteveryday.Allthreecoresubjects—read-ing,writing,andmath—areevenlysplitbetweenthefirstpartoftheday,themiddleof

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(Continued from preceding page)

Emil Genest honored

Weatherbee adopts 6-day rotation for specials to ensure equal time

Emma Prescott prepares an announcement in the main Hallway for “B” Day at Weatherbee School.

changedhermindwhenshesawthehalf-timepositionadvertised. “It’sperfect,”shesaid.“Ilovekids,Iloveteaching,andIlovenothavingtogetupeverysingleday.Iteacheveryotherday,soeveryweekIhaveathree-dayweekend.”


ZeaJoles,whograduatedfromtheUniversityofMainelastMay,isteach-ing5thgradeatGeorgeB.WeatherbeeSchool. Shedidherstudentteach-ingingrades4and5atOldTownElemen-tarySchool. AnativeofPresqueIsle,shegrewupinBangorandgraduatedfromBangorHighSchool.ShelivesinHampden. Herinterestsincludemusicandread-ing.Sheplayseightdifferentinstruments.Shesaysshealwayshasabookwithherandenjoysreadingnon-fiction,particu-larlybiographiesandautobiographies.

Zea Joles

JayCorbin,whohasbeenteach-ingforthepast11yearsingrades3through10,isteaching5thgradewrit-ingandmathattheGeorgeB.Weather-beeSchool. HeisteamedwithMr.Linde-mann. Mr.Corbinstartedteach-ingmiddleschoolspecialeducationinMillinocketforfouryearsandinGreenbushforoneyear. Hethentaughtinregulareduca-tionclassrooms—grade3fortwoyears,grade4forthreeyears,andacombinedgrade4/5classroomforoneyear,allinGreenbush.HealsocoachedmiddleschoolsoccerandsoftballwhileinGreenbush. AnativeofCarroll,ME,hegradu-atedfromLeeAcademyandattendedtheUniversityofMaineatPresqueIsleandtheUniversityofMaine,whereheearnedhisBachelor’sdegree. In2014,hereceivedhisMaster’sdegreefromSt.Joseph’sCollege. Heiscurrentlytakingcoursesfocus-

Jay Corbin

MikkalaLibbey,aHampdennativewhospentthelasttwoyearsteachingatWatchMeShine,aprivateearlyinter-ventionschoolinBangor,isteaching3rdgradewritingandsocialstudiesatGeorgeB.WeatherbeeSchool. Ms.Libbeysaidsheisteachingintheclassroomacrossfromwheresheat-tended3rdgradewithMrs.Kelsey. ShegraduatedfromHampdenAcad-emyandtheUniversityofMaineatFarmington. SheissingleandlivesinHampden.Shesaysshelovesbeingoutside,spend-ingtimewithfamily,andplayingsports,especiallysoccer.

Mikkala Libbey

CandiceRandall,a3rdgradeteacheratNewportElementarySchoolforthepast11years,isnowteaching4thgradeattheGeorgeB.WeatherbeeSchool. Mrs.Ran-dallstartedteachingatWeatherbeeonOctober13tofillanewpositionthatwascreatedinresponsetoincreasedenrollmentatWeatherbee. Beforeshestartedteach-ingatNewportElementary,shewastheleadteacheratBrightHorizonsFamilySolutionsinBelfastfromJune2003toDecember2004,agrade4teacherinCorinthfrom2001to2003,andalong-termsubatLeroyH.SmithSchoolinthespringof2001. Mrs.RandallreceivedherB.S.de-greeinElementaryEducationfromtheUniversityofMaineinDecember2000. SheandherhusbandGeneliveinEtnawiththeirtwosons,Cameron,asenioratNokomisRegionalHighinNewport,andGabe,11,a6thgraderattheEtna-DixmontSchool. Shesaysherfamilylovestogotocarshows.“Wehavea1970Chevellewhichwehaveworkedonandenjoycruisingininniceweather,”shesays.

Candice Randall

JenniferSmith,whohasbeenaspe-cialeducationteacherinNewHamp-shire,Idaho,andOregonfor12years,isteachingspecialeducation,primarilyingrades4and5,attheGeorgeB.WeatherbeeSchool. Mrs.Smithspentthelasttwoyearsasaregularedu-cationteacheratSt.AlbansElementarySchool. “I’mhappytobebackinspecialeducation,”shesays.“Ienjoyteaching4thand5thgraders.” AnativeofOregon,shegrewupout-sideofPortlandandreceivedherBache-lor’sdegreeinEducationandherMaster’sdegreeinEducationPolicyandManage-mentfromtheUniversityofOregon.ShestartedteachinginIdaho,whereshestayedforfiveyears.Whenherdaugh-terwasborn,shemovedbacktoOregontobeclosetofamily.AfterfiveyearsinOregonandherdaughterreadytostartkindergarten,shebecameconcernedaboutschoolbudgetcutsandhalf-daykindergartenclasseswith30studentsandnospecials.Asaresult,shemovedtoPortsmouth,NH,andtaughttherefortwoyearsbeforecomingtoMaine. SheandherhusbandliveinBangor,whereherdaughter,now9,isin4thgradeinFairmountSchool. Mrs.Smithlovescanning—“Icanev-erythingIcan,”shesays,includingfruits,vegetables,andjam.Shealsoenjoysread-ingandspendingtimewithfamily.

Jennifer Smith

AudreyBracciodieta,whohastaughtspecialeducationforeightyearsinNewYork,Alaska,andArizona,isnowteachingspecialeducationingrades3and4attheGeorgeB.WeatherbeeSchool. Forthepast10years,Mrs.Bracciodietahasbeenastay-at-homemom,butforthepastfouryears,shehasbeensubsti-tuteteachingatMcGrawandWeather-beeSchools. AnativeofMichigan,shereceivedherBachelor’sdegreefromtheUniver-sityofMichiganandaMaster’sdegreeinSpecialEducationfromHunterCol-legeinNewYorkCity. ShetaughtinNewYorkCityforayearandupstateNewYorkforthreeyears.ThenshespentthreeyearsteachinginPalmer,AK,inthesamedistrictasHampdenAcademyPrincipalLeighLarson. Mrs.BracciodietasaidshewoundupinAlaskabecausesheandherhusbandhoneymoonedthereandlovedit.How-ever,theywantedtocometothelower48tostarttheirfamily,soherhusbandgotajobinPhoenix,andshetaughtthereforoneyear. Phoenixwastoohotandcrowded,sotheymovedtoMaine10yearsagowhentheiroldestdaughterwasfourmonthsold. Mrs.Bracciodietasayssheenjoyshiking,cross-countryskiing,andallthingsoutdoors.

Audrey Bracciodieta

CindyDonovan,whoservedasasub-stituteteacheratLeroyH.SmithSchoollastyear,isnowthelibrarianatGeorgeB.Weather-beeSchool. Previously,shewasapar-entvolunteeratSmithandWagnerMid-dleSchoolforsevenyears. Beforeshehadchildren,shewasasocialworkerattwoBangoragencies,UnitedCerebralPalsyandOp-portunityHousingInc.,from1997to2002. AnativeofOldTown,Mrs.DonovanreceivedherB.S.degreeinPsychologyandChildDevelopmentfromtheUniver-sityofMaine.SheandherhusbandJasonliveinWinterportwiththeirtwosons,whoare5thand8thgradersatWagner. Mrs.Donovanenjoysreading,hiking,andgardening.

Cindy Donovan

SuzieImbriaco,whotaughtSpan-ishinSouthCarolinaandVirginiafornineyearsbeforemovingtoHampdenlastyear,isnowthepart-timeSpan-ishteacheratGeorgeB.WeatherbeeSchool. Mrs.ImbriacoisteachingSpanishforoneperiodperweektoall4thand5thgradersatWeatherbee.Lastyear,shestayedhomewithherchildren.Thisyear,hersonisenrolledinkindergartenatMcGrawSchoolandher2-year-olddaughterisindaycare. BeforecomingtoMaine,shetaughtelementarySpanishinLexington,SC,outsideofColumbia,forabout2½yearsandmiddleschoolandelemen-tarySpanishinCharlottesville,VA,foraboutfiveyears.Earlier,shetaughtSpanishforshorterperiodsatschoolsinVirginiaBeachandSouthCarolina. Mrs.ImbriacograduatedfromtheUniversityofSouthCarolina,whereshemajoredinSpanishandminoredinEducation.Sheinitiallyplannedtoteachmath,butthenstartedstudyingSpanishandbecameexcitedaboutit. “IstudiedSpanishforthreeyearsinhighschool,butitwasjustanothersubject,”shesaid.“WhenIstudieditincollege,Igotexcitedaboutitandsawmyclassmatesdoingthesame.Ifigurediftheygotexcited,Iwouldbeabletoengageyoungerstudentsinlanguagelearning.” ShesaidtheturningpointcamewhenshespentasummersemesterabroadinSpain,studyingintheAlcaládeHenares,acityof200,000outsideofMadrid.“IstarteddreaminginSpanish,”shesaid. Mrs.Imbriacoenjoyscookingandreading.

Suzie Imbriaco

ChynnaFeliceisanew4thgradeteammemberattheGeorgeB.Weath-erbeeSchool.AftermovingtoOronoayearago,shesubbedinRSU22andBangorbeforesettlinginatWeatherbee. Previously,shetaughtgrades4/5inCaliforniaforoneyear;grades2/3and4/5inAshville,NC,forfiveyears;andkindergarteninColum-bus,OH,forfouryears.ShealsospenttwoyearsinNewYorkCity,whereshetaughtartandtechnologyclassesattheChildren’sMuseumofManhattan. AnativeofAthens,OH,Mrs.FelicereceivedherB.A.inArtEducationatTheOhioStateUniversityandherMas-ter’sdegreeinEducationattheUni-versityofCalifornia-SantaCruz.Sheenjoyshiking,cooking,makingjewelry,andfamily.Sheliveswithherhusband,Gene,whoworksintheDigitalArtsandTechnologyDepartmentattheUniver-sityofMaine,andherinfantdaughter.

Chynna Felice

NEW STAFF AT GEORGE B. WEATHERBEE SCHOOLSusan Imbriaco, Spanish

Audrey Bracciodieta, Special Ed, Grades 3 and 4

Jennifer Smith, Special Ed, Grades 4 and 5

Cindy Donovan, Librarian

Mikkala Libbey, Grade 3

Shesaysherfamilyalsolovesmov-ies,swimmingandcamping. “Ialsoenjoyscrapbookingandcraft-ing,andIliketorepurposeoldthingsandcreatesomethingnew,”shesays.“IhaveaslightaddictiontoHGTVshows!”

Candice Randall, Grade 4

Chynna Felice, Grade 4

Zea Joles, Grade 5

Jay Corbin, Grade 5

RachellePattershall,acertifiedteacherwithabackgroundinpsychol-ogy,childdevelopment,andsocialwork,hasjoinedthestaffofRSU22asthedistrictsocialworkerforallfiveelementaryandmiddleschools. AnativeofWinterport,shegraduatedfromHamp-denAcademyin1989andreceivedherB.S.degreeinChildDevel-opmentandFamilyRela-tionsfromtheUniversityofMaine. Afterabriefperiodworkinginpre-schools,sheworkedwithIraWeissmanintheHampdenAcademyLifeSkillsprogramforseveralyears.ShethenworkedfortwoagenciesinBangor—WingsforChildrenandFamiliesandUnitedCerebralPalsyofMaine—forfouryearseach—beforeleavingtheworkforcetohavechildren.Mrs.Pat-tershallsaidhertenureatWingsforChildreninvolvedalotoftrainingandstudyingasshemadethetransitionfromchilddevelopmenttosocialwork.“Itwasaperiodofintenselearning,”shesaid. Mrs.PattershallandherhusbandliveinHampden.Theyhavetwosons,age9and10,whoarestudentsatWeatherbeeSchool.

Rachelle Pattershall

Rachelle Pattershall, District Social Worker

NEW RSU 22 STAFF

ingonimprovinghistechnologyinstruc-tion. Mr.CorbinlivesinLincolnwithhiswife,twodaughters,andgoldenretriever,Huck.Helovesanythingthatgetshimoutdoors,especiallyfishing,hunting,hiking,camping,anythingonthewater,andmostsports.


Parentsandstudentsalikeen-joyedtheannualCurriculumNightatEarlC.McGrawSchool,whichwasheldfrom5:30to6:30ontheeveningonOctober1. Studentswereabletobringtheirparentsintotheirclassroomsandshowthemsomeofthethingstheywillbelearningduringtheyear. Someteachersorganizedscavangerhunts,whileothershaddisplaysofprojectsthatthestudentshadcom-pletedduringthefirstmonthofschool. ThePTOorganizedtheChrys-

lerDriveforKidsprogram,whichoffered$10foreverypersonwhosignedupandtestdroveavehicle.Atotalof102peopletooktestdrivessothePTOreceived$1,020fromChrys-lertosupportschoolprograms. PrincipalKristinBriggssaidCurriculumNightalsoincludedaScholasticBookFair,whichwasverywellattended. “Thebookfairwasahugesuc-cess,”shesaid.“ThefeedbackIreceivedontheselectionofbookswasverypositive.”

ElizabethCarfreyhasjoinedthestaffatEarlC.McGrawSchoolasafirstgradeteacherafterteachingfor11yearsinPennsylva-nia,Georgia,andFlorida. Hermostrecentteach-ingjobswereinAllentown,PA,wheresheservedasafreshman-sophomoreacademicsupportandreadingspecialistatAllentownCentralCatholicHighSchoolforoneyearandkindergartenteacher

Elizabeth Carfrey

Offtoagreatstart!Thatishowwewoulddescribeourfirstmonthofthe2015-16schoolyear. SmithSchoolstudentshavebeenextremelybusythispastmonth. Onthefirstday,ournewteamofstudentannouncerstookchargeofanassemblyatwhichalloftheSmithSchoolstaffwasintroduced,andstu-dentswerewarmlywelcomedback. Ourschoolmascot(theBee)stoppedintoremindthestudentsofourrules:BeSafe,BeResponsible,andBeRespectful.

Asteachersgottoknownewstu-dentsandstudentsbegantosettlein,lotsoflearningkickedinrightaway.Later,wehadasuccessfulharvestdaywherestudentsgotachancetoshucklocalcornforlunch. GrandparentsDay,FarmDayandtheBookFairwereotherexcit-ingandsuccessfulhappeningsdur-ingthemonthofSeptember. NWEAtestingwentoffwithoutahitch,givingteachersvaluablein-sightsintothestrengthsandneedsofourstudents,andweareallhappy

NEW STAFF AT SMITH SCHOOL

NEW STAFF AT EARL C. McGRAW SCHOOLElizabeth Carfrey, Grade 1

Kent Burnham, Grade 2

LEROY H. SMITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

EARL C. McGRAW SCHOOL

andreadingspecialistattheJewishDaySchoolinAllentown. Ms.CarfreygrewupinBucksCounty,PA,outsidePhiladelphia,andreceivedherBachelor’sdegreeinEarlyChildhoodandElementaryEducationfromTempleUniversity.ShetaughtfirstgradeinaCatholicschoolinPennsylva-niaandthenmovedsouth,teachingfirstgradeinMacon,GA,forfouryearsandthirdgradeinAltamontSprings,FL,nearOrlando,forthreeyears. WhileinMacon,sheearnedherMas-ter’sdegreeatMercerUniversity.ShealsoearnedaMaster’sdegreeinLiteracywhileshewasteachinginAllentown. Ms.CarfreylivesinOldTownwithherpartner,whoisthesuperintendentatthePenobscotValleyCountryClubinOrono.Shehastwodogsandenjoystak-ingthemonwalks.Shealsolovesread-ing,travel,andmeetingnewpeople.

Farm Day at Smith School

KentBurnhamhasjoinedtheLeroyH.SmithSchoolasournewsecondgradeteacher.Hebringswithhimseveralyearsofexpe-rienceattheelementaryschoollevel. Mr.Burn-hamwasbornandraisedinLittleton,CO,asuburbofDenver.HeearnedhisBachelor’sdegreeinElementaryEduca-tionattheUniversityofMaineatFarm-ington.Uponhisgraduationin2000,heandhiswife,Shilo,movedtotheBelfastareawherehebeganteaching. In2005,Mr.BurnhamtookabreakfromteachingtopursueadegreeinLandscapeArchitectureatKansasStateUniversity’sCollegeofPlanningandDesign.Aftergraduating,heresumedhisteachingcareeronFortRiley,KA, HeandhisfamilyreturnedtoMainein2011.Mr.BurnhamisaresidentofWinterport.Outsideofschool,helovesspendingtimewithhiswifeand3boys,Sam,Harry,andJack.Heisactiveinhelpingtocoachhisson’ssportsteams.

SmithSchoolenjoyedourfirsteverFarmDayonFriday,Septem-ber18.Studentsrotatedthroughstationslearningaboutdifferentaspectsoffarming. •FisherFarmsharedtheim-portanceofsoil,thelifecycleoftheseed,andhowtogrowvegetablesinthewinter. •BeeWhispererPeterCowinbroughthishoneybeesandtaughtthestudentswhybeesareimpor-tanttoagriculture.Studentsalsogottotaste-testhoney! •SchoolHealthCoordinatorBritta-

nyLaymanbroughtherangoragoats,showedthestudentsthedifferencebetweenwoolandfiber,andallowedthestudentstocardcleanwool. •CynthiaBuzziniusedournewmobilecarttoexploretheinsideofthetomato,andstudentshadanopportunitytotastethedifferentvarietyoftomatoes. •GentleMeadowGoatFarmjoineduswiththeirgoatsandexplainedthedifferencebetweengoatandcowmilk. •AlexLaymanhousedanapplestationwherestudentstastetestedappleciderandmadebeautifulap-

pleprints.Theweatherwasperfectandthedaywasfabulous.Studentsatallgradelevelswerebrimmingwithstoriesandenthusiasmwhentheyreturnedtotheirclassrooms. Wewouldliketothankallthevolunteers,presentersandorganiz-ersformakingFarmDaysuchaneducationallyrichevent,demon-stratingthepowerofcommunityinvolvementandhands-onlearning. Pleasefeelfreetoviewasnap-shotofourdayonhttp://wabi.tv/2015/09/18/farm-day-at-leroy-smith-school.

Kent Burnham

Smith School off to a great start for 2015-16 school year

Apples make for yummy learning in First Grade FirstgradestudentsatSmithhavebeentakingabiteoutoffallbylearn-ingallaboutapples!The1stgradershavebeenstudyingthestructure,function,andgrowthofplantsaspartofthesciencecurriculum. StudentsinMrs.Baker’s,Mrs.Davis’s,andMrs.Patterson’sclass-

eshaveconnectedthislearningtotheworldaroundthemsincemanyfamilieslovepickingfreshapplesthistimeofyear. ThestudentsbegantheirstudybylearningaboutthelifeofJohnnyAppleseedandhowheplantedappletreesacrosstheUnited

States.Then,studentsinvestigatedwhathappenedoncetheseedswereinthegroundbyreadingbooks,lookingatphotographs,andwatch-ingvideosaboutplantingandplantgrowth.Studentsshowedtheirnewlearningbycreatingasequencingchartoftheapple’slifecycle.

tobeinsolidlearningmodenow! PleasevisitourFacebookpageat

LeroyH.SmithSchooltokeepupwithourhappenings.

“It’slikethecircleoflife,”com-mentedonefirstgrader.Theunitofstudywascompletedwithatastetestofthreedifferentcoloredapples,andagraphchartingeachclass’sfavorites. Yum!

Parents, students enjoy McGraw Curriculum Night

First graders display their project about the apple’s life cycle.

Shucking corn for Harvest Day.


Gabriel Baker of Frankfortjoins Foundation Board

Gabriel Baker

Foundation Board seeks to expand TheRSU22EducationFoundationisactivelyseekingnewboardmembersandcom-mitteevolunteerstojoinagrowingnonprofitorganizationthatsupportsthestudentsandteachersintheschooldistrict. ServingthetownsofFrankfort,Hampden,NewburghandWinterport,theEducationFoundationfundsinitiativeswithgrantsthathelpfosterinnovativeeducationalprojects.Ifyouhaveadesiretoconnectwithotherswhoshareaninterestinqualityeducationforchil-drenpleaseconsiderjoiningtheteam. Interestedcitizensorthosewishingtonom-inatecandidatesfortheFoundationBoardofDirectorsshouldemailrsu22educationfounda-tion@gmail.com. TolearnmoreabouttheRSU22EducationFoundation,visitwww.rsu22educationfounda-tion.org.

TheRSU22EducationFoundationwastheorganizingsponsorforthreeperformancesof“LifeInaJar–TheIrenaSendlerStory”atHampdenAcademy.IrenaSendlerwasaRomanCatholicsocialworker,whosavedapproximately2,500JewishchildrenfromtheWarsawGhettoinPolandduringthe2ndWorldWar.TheinspirationalstoryofsurvivalisbroughttothesurfaceinthisplayasIrenahadtoconvincetheparentstogiveuptheirchildreninordertosavethechildren’slives.Promisingtoreunitethemwithrelativesafterthewar,shesmuggledthechildrenoutoftheghettoandplacedthemwithPolishfamilies.

TheRSU22EducationFoundationispleasedtohaveFrankfortresidentGabrielBakerjoinitsBoardofDirectors.Sincegradu-atingfromtheUniversityofMainein2001withaB.S.inBusinessAdministration,Mr.Bakerhasworkedinthefieldsofbusinessmanagement,humanresourcesandsalesacrossseveralindustriesincludingfinance,CRM,buildingmaterialsandmostrecently,powerequipment.GabeisDistrictManagerforAriensCompanyofBrillionWisconsin,coveringallofMaineandEasternNewHamp-shire. Mr.Bakerhasactivelysupportedourlo-calschools,servingonetermontheSAD56BoardofDirectors,asChairoftheFrank-fortSchoolWithdrawalCommittee,andtheFrankfortRSU22SchoolOrganizationCom-mittee. GabeishusbandtoChristyBaker,1stgradeteacherattheLeroyH.SmithSchool,andfatherofMadisonBakerandGracieBaker,bothatSamuelWagnerMiddleSchool.

TheEducationFoundationforRSU22isaconstantlyevolvingorganizationfocusedon“fund-inginitiativesthatfalloutsidetheschoolbudget;partneringwiththeschooldistricttohelpachieveitsvision;andbuildingcommunity-widesupportforthebenefitofourschools”.InkeepingwiththismissiontheEducationFoundationhasrecentlydecidedtoofferfundraisingassistancetoschoolclubsandorganizations.CustodianAccountswiththeEducationFoundationallowschoolclubstofund-raiseaspartoftheFoundation’snon-profit501c(3). Howdoesthisbenefitthecommunity?Well,thecostandtimeinvolvedinbecominganon-profittaxexemptorganizationusuallypreventsclubsfrombecominga501c(3),somostschoolclubsrelyonthegenerosityofmany,forsmalldonationsandworkveryhardatfundraisingfortheirclubs.Al-thoughthatwillcontinue,yourclubmayalsoopttoacceptandsolicittax-deductibledonationsfrommembersofthepublicorbusinessesbyestablish-

ingacustodianaccountwiththeEducationFoun-dation. DonationsarethenmadetotheEducationFoundation,careof“yourclub,”andheldinanac-countforyouuntilyouneedthem. InthespringofthisyeartheEducationFoun-dationvotedtoestablishthistypeofaccountbecauseseveralorganizationswerefundraisingandwantedtobeabletowritereceiptsforthetax-deductibledonationstothosewhodonated.TheHampdenAcademyBeeKeepingprojectwasfundedinpartbyonesuchgenerousdona-tion.Sincethen,theEducationFoundationofRSU22hasactedascustodianfordonationstotheReedsBrookMiddleSchoolBandandtheReedsBrookTrailsProject.TheEducationFoundationisdraftingpolicynowtoregulatetheuseofcusto-dianaccounts.IfyourclubororganizationwouldliketopartnerwiththeEducationFoundationtoaidraisingfundsforyourorganizationpleasecontactPeterWittatpeterwitt@juno.com.

Scene from “Life in a Jar.”

RSU 22 Education Foundation introduces Custodian Accounts

Education Foundation hosts artists from Kansas for 3 performances of ‘Life In A Jar—The Irena Sendler Project’

Thegeneralpublicwasinvitedfortwoperfor-mancesonSunday,Nov.8,andover800peopleenjoyedtheplay.ThefiveactorsandDirectorNormConardtookquestionsfromtheaudiencerightaftertheplayandmadethemselvesavail-ableforoneononeconversations–andautographs–longaftereachoftheperformances.TheactorsincludedveteranssuchasIllinoisStateUniversitysophomoreMaryFischerwho–whilehavingbeenintheplayfor5years–wasneverthelessplayingtheroleofIrenaSendlerforthefirsttime.OriginalcastmemberMeganStewart,whohadplayedtheroleofIrenaSendlersincethebeginningin1999,couldnotattendforpersonalreasons.Mary’sgiftasanactressandsincerityinportrayingIrenawereapparent,aswasherbeautifulvoice. TwonewcomerstothecastwereAddisonBrownandMaryKerr,bothperformingfortheirfirsttime.HighSchool(!)sophomoreMaryKerrplayedorphanRenataZajdmanwhowassavedbyIrenaatage14.Sheaddedherbeautifulvoicetoheract-ingskills,featuring2Jewishsongs,oneofwhich

wasperformedinYiddish. NocosttothepublicorthedistrictoccurredasallexpenseswerecoveredbygeneroussponsorsfromthedistricttownsandthegreaterBangorarea,includingbusinessesandChristianandJew-ishorganizations.Thatfreedupover800attend-eestodonategenerouslytotheLifeInAJarFoun-dation,supportingchildsurvivorsoftheHolocaustandtheirfamilies. MondaysawaninspirationalthirdperformanceforRSU22studentsonly,andnearly500studentsfromHampdenAcademyand8thgradestudentsfromWagnerandReedsBrookMiddleSchoolsat-tended.TheQ&Asessionwiththestudentswasparticularlyimpressive. ThisprojectwasconductedinclosecollaborationwiththehistoryandlanguageartsteachersandbuildingprincipalsatHampdenAcademyandbothmiddleschools,wherethetopicoftheHolocaustiscoveredineighthgrade. FormoreinformationontheupliftingstoryofIrenaSendlerandtowatchashortvideoclip,pleasegotohttp://www.irenasendler.org/video/.

Documents

RSU 22 looking RSU 22 • Hampden • Newburgh • … · Hot Mikado is the second full-scale musical that the Drama Club has produced in the last three years. Jennifer Guare is the