November Monthly Update Dear RSU 71 Students, Families, Staff, School Board, and Community Partners, picked Shaw’s quote about imagination for this newsletter because it represents the collective aspirations envisioned by the 100+ people who participated in the Future Search that culminated in our RSU 71 Education Plan. We imagined what we wanted to create, set the plan in motion, and now work hard to bring the vision into being.
Our essential question was, “What must RSU 71 do to best prepare all of our students to respond to current and future needs in a rapidly changing world?” Our collective vision is to “Foster the individual strengths of students and staff through learning that engages all.” We want all 1,442 students to experience their strengths and interests while in school and to develop into adults who can use these productively to create lives full of meaning and fulfillment. Even students – especially students – who struggle academically, socially, behaviorally, or financially – need to regularly get feedback about what they are good at and be provided with the opportunity to learn about the subjects and activities they most enjoy. One of my goals for 2022- 2023 is to bring the perspectives of students, staff, and parents more fully into my work as superintendent of schools. Therefore, I hope to launch a Superintendent’s Student Leadership Advisory Council in January, a Superintendent's Staff Advisory Council in February, and a Superintendent’s Parent/Caregiver Advisory Council in March. Please click on the link to the survey below if you are interested in serving on one of the advisory committees. (or copy & paste this url if button doesn’t work >> https://forms.gle/9XNpdT1n8buX2SLz8 ) While this season can be a joyous one, we are also mindful that it can be a tough time of year for many of our families, especially those who struggle financially. Many community groups – such as the Belfast Rotary’s 100 Fund – provide Christmas presents for needy families. And here is some information about food pantries: https://waldocountybounty.org/food-pantries. Sending warm and fervent wishes for many moments of joy and light this holiday season, Mary Alice McLean, Superintendent of Schools 
Printable version of RSU 71 Education Plan
Good News, Reminders, Information BELFAST AREA HIGH SCHOOL
B.C.O.P.E. BCOPE ANNIVERSARY BASH On Monday, October 31st, we had our anniversary celebration - the BCOPE Bash! Organized and planned by our students, it was a beautiful day and a fantastic way to celebrate twenty years in our current location. We are thankful for all parents, alums, community members, students, and staff who attended. | 
| 
|
SPAT LINES FOR THE BELFAST MARINE INSTITUTE The week of November 7th, our Environmental Chemistry students completed spat lines for BCOPE and the Belfast Marine Institute. | 
|  | 
| On Monday, with a ride from Coach Winslow, we were out on the bay, dropping the last of the lines for our second year. We look forward to being out on the bay again when we pull these lines up in the spring. Many thanks to Hurricane Island and Bob Winslow for making this ongoing project possible for BCOPE. |
BCOPE RECEIVES MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION GRANT FOR OUTDOOR LEARNING BCOPE has received one of the Maine Environmental Education Association’s 2022-2023 Mini-Grants for Outdoor Learning for $1500. The grant, co-written with students, will be used to purchase high-quality digital cameras suited for beginning nature photographers. We plan to use these cameras on our hikes and trail explorations with local scientists while working on the bay with Hurricane Island and local fishermen. Using the cameras will be a means to document our garden's growth further as we continue to build observation skills through authentic learning experiences. |
UPCOMING – WATERFALL ARTS HOLIDAY POP-UP FUNDRAISER In December, students in our Small Business class are organizing and implementing a fundraiser at WaterFall Arts. BCOPE has been invited to participate in the center’s Holiday Pop-Up on December 9th and 10th. Students will be selling hand-printed tote bags, and t-shirts using the designs and knowledge biology students gained in our September collaboration with WaterFall Arts visiting artist Pippin Frisbie Calder. Let us know if you would like more information on this event. | 
|
TROY HOWARD MIDDLE SCHOOL HORSES ACROSS AMERICA
Students from East Belfast Elementary, Nickerson Elementary, Captain Albert Stevens School and Troy Howard Middle School students got to visit with and ask questions about Molly the Police Canine, Hercules the Horse, and Belfast’s finest. In addition, we had a police cruiser, police motorcycle and fire truck on hand for viewing. |
MAKING TERRARIUMS
Troy Howard's 6th-grade Literature and Social Studies Group met with retired teacher Cloe Chunn to make Terrariums making literature to science connections. Quillan Campoamor-Mentlik describes, "We made terrariums. We could use several different kinds of mosses and different plants. There were also these little, cute red berries (my favorite.) Each person chose a glass bowl and then put dirt in until the widest point and poured some water in to moisten the dirt. After that, we got to choose whether to make a moss or lichen terrarium. You could put some little rocks or sticks in, but you had to make sure not to put moss and lichen together. I feel Chloe Chun connected to the environment and all the plants." | 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| Charlee Dow shares, "When we made the moss Terrariums, Cloe Chun talked about the moss being friends, I agree. I think moss are organisms that have different “species,” like animals, and animals are our friends. I like to think the moss is life cycling around the world to see other life..." PATHWAYS - OCTOBER ACTIVITIES
| In the photo to the left are some of the activities Pathways did the month of October. Fold up monsters, popsicle stick creations, potion bottles, painting pumpkins, and to end the month, we had a Jack Skelleton pinata hosted by 'Skully Bob'. |
|
NICKERSON ELEMENTARY HARVESTING SEEDS! We had our first monthly activity with Ms.Nicole, our Foodcorps garden teacher. We harvested seeds from two different kinds of pumpkins and investigated the insides of pumpkins. The students had a lot of fun getting messy, and we observed a lot of teamwork. We look forward to working with her again next month! | 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| | 
| 
| 
| 
| |
EAST BELFAST AND NICKERSON ELEMENTARY FALL TASTINGS RECIPE BOOK
East Belfast and Kermit Nickerson School students collaborated in making a Fall Tastings Recipe book with our FoodCorps Service Member Nicole Caruso.
Students went on field trips to gather apples, worked in the school gardens, shopped at The Common Ground Fair, and had assistance from Troy Howard Middle School garden program.
Click the link below to enjoy these wonderful recipes from our K-5 students. | 
| Click here to get the Fall Tastings Recipe Book! |
CAPTAIN ALBERT STEVENS ELEMENTARY
FALL TASTINGS RECIPE BOOK 
| CASS is excited to welcome back an in-person winter concert where we will have on display the beautiful Sunshine Baskets created by the students. The proceeds from the baskets will go to help a CASS family with a medical need this holiday season. We welcome all to a Breakfast with Santa on December 10 from 8:00-10:00 at Rollie’s. A huge thank you to RSU #71 Board Chair Ryan Otis for allowing the use of his business for this PTG event. |
TRI-TOWN NEWS
So many events happening! Here is the link to the entire letter from Mr. Widmer for all the details
and news >> Tri-Town November 28 Letter to Families
Events:
- Holiday Music Shares: Ames – Thursday, December 15 at 1:00pm
Weymouth – Tuesday, December 20 at 1:30pm
- Afternoon of Cooking: Ames School Cafeteria, Tuesday, December 13, 3:30-5:30pm (RSVP needed)
- Picture Retakes: Ames and Weymouth – Friday, December 2
- Papermaking: Waterfall Arts – December 3 (registration required)
- Breakfast with Santa – Waldo County Shrine Club – Sunday, December 11 from 7:30 to 10am
DISTRICT
MAEOP CONFERENCE Several of RSU 71's office professionals, along with many others from all over the state including Deb Dakin from RSU20, attended the 2022 MAEOP (Maine Association of Educational Office Professionals) Conference Friday, October 21 in Augusta. There were some amazing speakers, including Maine's Commissioner of Education Pender Makin, Kellie Doyle Bailey, SEL Specialist for the Maine Department of Education, and several others. 
|
Left to right: MaryLou Hutchins, Deb Dakin, Leslie Simmons, Betty Lu Davis,
Alison Harvey, Carrie Robinson, Susan Totman PDF Version of this update is available here for download RSU 71 Monthly Update - November 2022
|
