Friday, April 8, 2022
Dear RSU 71 Students, Families, Staff, School Board, and Community Partners,
As the coronavirus pandemic winds down, we will move to less frequent updates and send them biweekly unless there is a need. COVID-19, while still on stage, is not hogging the spotlight, and we are beginning to feel our district routines normalize. We can hope that COVID will soon bow out altogether. Each school will continue to share regular newsletters and e-newsletters.
Tonight over 100 of us – school board members, students, teachers, specialists, support staff, parents, administrators, and community partners representing a wide variety of perspectives – will launch our Future Search at the Hutchinson Center from 3:30 - 8:00 and again, all day tomorrow from 8:00 - 3:00. We will take notes in our discussions at tables of eight people each. Then beginning next week, a smaller group will create a draft of a five-year education plan, a new motto, a fresh vision, and clear goals for 2022 - 2027. The school board will vote on its adoption by the end of the school year.
We have wanted to do this collaborative work in person since I began as superintendent in 2018. So in budget preparations for the fiscal year 2019-2020, we had included funds to rent space, hire an experienced facilitator, and serve catered meals. Then in March of 2020, the pandemic struck. We are so grateful to finally be able to gather together in person to share hopes, dreams, and priorities. So we'll be asking: in RSU 71, what are our strengths? And what actions can we take to ensure that all our students succeed?
Thanks to those who took the time to complete a survey; the summary is here: Summary of RSU 71 Future Search Survey Results.
Pandemic Update
This Week's Data
Good News, Reminders, Information
CASS
CASS Students Receive Grant
Mrs. Pooler's class was awarded a grant which will allow students to travel to Acadia National Park as part of their research. Here are some of the students holding a certificate of recognition for their work!
Student Newspaper Club - Congratulations to the CASS Newspaper Club for raising $861 to send to UNICEF!
THMS
Seed Program - See information about an online talk with David Wessels, our THMS garden coordinator, about the Seed Program: THMS Seed Program.
Common Sense Media - Mr. Wessels shares that in community circles this week, many groups talked about how we present ourselves online after watching this quick video from Common Sense Media. One discussion question was, "What are some consequences (good or bad) of people putting forward edited versions of themselves online?"
BCOPE
BCOPE Students Learn Glassblowing at Waterfall Arts - Our partnership with Waterfall Arts was featured on WABI this past week. We have extended the classes until May 16. Never have we seen BCOPIANS run so fast into a classroom! Thank you, and thanks, too, to our anonymous benefactor!
BAHS
Article on BAHS Student Referees: BAHS Students Referee
BAHS Art Teacher Honored - Congratulations to BAHS art teacher Heidi O'Donnell, who received recognition for her work statewide in Art Education. She is currently the National Art Education Association's Eastern Region's Vice President. Her most recent positions as Maine Arts Education Association Secretary and Webmaster have been served with dedication and care. Her thorough attention to detail will serve her well at the national level and benefit the National Art Education Association members and her lucky students!
Food Service
Spaghetti Dinner to Benefit McCrum - Our fabulous food service director Perly Martin is working with the Steel Guardians MC ME-1 to host a benefit dinner for those impacted by the fire at the Penobscot McCrum Potato Processing Plan in Belfast. Mark your calendars for Friday, April 15 at BAHS from 5:00 - 7:30 pm. We are anticipating 1200 people! All food items have already been donated from local vendors and restaurants. In addition, high school students, organized by Student Senate President Grace Hall, will volunteer their time that night.
That's it for this week. We will send the next update on Friday, April 29, the Friday after April vacation. In the meantime, please feel free to be in touch with the staff and me.
Yours truly,
Mary Alice McLean
