March 25, 2022
Dear RSU 71 Students, Families, Staff, School Board, and Community Partners,
Yesterday, we had an emergency closure due to the McCrum Potato Processing Plant fire on the waterfront in Belfast. Due to the fire's proximity to the bus garage and high school, the winds blowing smoke in their direction, and the possibility of toxic fumes and changing wind conditions, we needed to close down the school district. Many thanks to our students, families, and staff for their collaboration and understanding during the morning's confusion.
Big kudos, especially to Troy Howard Middle School Staff and the Transportation Team. Harbor Hill Center had been asked to evacuate residents. Our staff transported, warmly welcomed, and wheeled elderly residents of Harbor Hill into the middle school gym, cafeteria, and a classroom turned into a medication dispensary. Our nurses were assisting Harbor Hill health care workers, and our custodians were all on hand to help, too, as were administrators. Our Director of Food Service was helping deliver breakfasts to residents. As I made the rounds to greet our visitors, the first man I spoke with said, "You are looking at the people who built the city of Belfast." What an honor! Harbor Hill staff members have not been able to thank us enough for all the support. When the last of the Harbor Hill residents were getting to THMS, they got the all-clear to turn around and start transporting the residents back again. Again, our community showed its strengths amid the challenges of the day.
Pandemic Update
Covid-Vaccine Clinic - Thanks to The City of Belfast Fire and EMS and the Belfast Public Health Nurse, there will be a Covid Vaccine Clinic at the Tarratine Building in Belfast on Friday, April 1 from 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. Doses are free of charge to anyone seeking their first shots or boosters.
This Week's Data
Sharing the Good News
Weymouth
Career Education Starts Young! - The kindergarten teachers at Weymouth School took their learning of community helpers to the next level by inviting local community helpers into their classrooms to help further teach why their roles are so important within our community. We read, learned about, and met a farmer, firefighter, police officer, builder, and doctor!
East Belfast
Title 1 Family Night - On Tuesday, the East Belfast community had their Title I Family Night, incorporating Art and Literacy. Staff, students, and families were given materials to create a painted scene from the book The Story Book Night by Helen Docherty. Students brought in their artwork the next day, displayed in the hallways at East Belfast.
Nickerson
Reading and Math Skills Applied Through Baking Bread - For the last two Fridays, Sara Hallam, our FoodCorps Member, has been baking bread with the classes out at Nickerson. Thanks to the generosity of King Arthur Flour Company, students incorporated their reading, comprehension, and measuring skills to make the dough by following a recipe and instructions.
CASS
CASS NWEA Data - We are seeing huge jumps in proficiency in the past two years due to the hard work of our teachers and students, some outstanding professional development done in conjunction with the Maine Math and Science Alliance, and consistent work on refining and following our updated curriculum. Our proficiency rates have more than doubled! Congratulations to CASS students and their hardworking teachers and administrators!
Basketball and Chess- Congratulations go out to our 3rd and 4th-grade basketball players. Both the boys' and girls' teams came out on top during the Lion's Den Tournament. CASS sent several players to the Individual Chess State Championship in Oakland and made us proud with some impressive wins and excellent sportsmanship.
THMS
Musical - Congratulations to the cast and crew of Matilda, who did a great job acting, singing, and dancing in the musical, directed by Mr. Jason Bannister. The crowds were huge and enthusiastic. I went to the Sunday afternoon show where I laughed, cried, and joined the crowd when it erupted in cheering during the standing ovation at the show's end.
UKRAINE REFUGEE FUNDRAISER - Last year, Ms. Conway-Cole's classes corresponded with Anna Mayemeskul's 7th grade English class in Bucha, Ukraine. We exchanged videos about our schools, the garden program, holiday traditions and read books aloud to English language learners. This year we have been saddened to see the school close and our friends fleeing from their homes. We are raising money for the United Nations Refugee Fund UNHCR. In two weeks, we have raised 100 dollars! If you wish to donate, please send in change or checks made out to THMS. Thank You!
BCOPE
Glassblowing at Waterfall Arts - Here is an exciting press release about students learning glassblowing at Waterfall Arts in Belfast. WABI will be filming on Wednesday, March 30: BCOPE Students Learn Glassblowing.
BAHS
Lessons in Public Speaking - The Belfast Lions Club held its annual Speak-Out Competition on March 17 at the Waldo County Shrine Club. The program is designed to help high school students polish their public speaking skills. Participants can speak on any issue or topic of their choice. Speeches are limited to five minutes in length, and the speakers receive two questions from the audience. Judges look at the length of speech, eye contact, comportment, and the ability to answer questions. The competitive event offers cash prizes for the finalists and the opportunity to continue at the District Lions level and the Lions State Convention later this spring. BAHS students Maiara Rebordao and Savannah Springer competed this year, and both will be able to compete at the next levels. They did a great job! Here they are pictured during their speeches and with Teacher and Lion Mr. Chip Lagerbom:
Junior IAABO (International Association of Approved Basketball Officials - BAHS parent, former school board member, Swanville selectman, and long-time officiate for students sports, Scott Cournoyer, expressed his awareness that all sports across the state are in serious need of more officials. And he asked himself, "How can I help fix this?" Whenever he attempted to recruit new adults, they were quick to express that they had no desire to be yelled at by fans and coaches, and they thanked him for being willing to do this thankless job for the kids; then, the conversations ended. He knew we needed to find some fresh young people passionate about the sport and with little to no preconceived opinions about the potential negatives. It was time to get creative. Long-story-short: he worked with many others to get our high school students involved!
Front row left to right - Brynne Sawyer, Ethan Abbott, Audra Faulkingham, Madison Goodwin.
Back row left to right - Madison Shorey, Gary Gale, Rico Washington, James Ritter.
Big Winner! - Madison Shorey BAHS Senior was named Coca-Cola Scholar won a $20,000. Congratulation, Madison! Scholarship Awarded
That's it for this week. Please feel free to be in touch with the staff and me with questions, suggestions, and feedback.
Sincerely, Mary Alice McLean
