Casco Bay High School Holds 10th Commencement Exercises

PORTLAND, Maine – Casco Bay High School held its 10th graduation exercises on Thursday, June 7, at Merrill Auditorium. There are 90 members of the graduating Class of 2018.

CBHS, founded in 2005, is the Portland Public Schools’ newest high school. It is a part of the EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) network, and CBHS students engage in project-based learning expeditions. U.S. News & World Report ranks CBHS as one of the top high schools in Maine. CBHS college counselor Elizabeth Hampton, emcee of this year’s graduation ceremony, noted that the school’s “dropout rate was less than half of 1 percent last year, which speaks volumes about our teaching staff.”

The school’s non-traditional approach to learning extends to its graduation ceremony. The ceremony this year included Hampton lightheartedly teasing the school’s beloved principal, Derek Pierce, whom she called “our perfectly imperfect principal,” for being too busy working to help students to get his hair cut or shop for new clothes. The ceremony was characterized more by hugs and humor than pomp and circumstance.

In his remarks, Portland Superintendent Xavier praised the Class of 2018 for its work to try to make the world a better place. “Participating in trying to address world problems is what the Casco Bay High School’s Class of 2018 is all about,” he said.

As an example, Botana pointed to a pop-up museum seniors created last fall to reveal the complexities, atrocities and resilient humanity in Syria, for which each student created a work of art. Seniors created the Syrian museum, which was open to other students and the public, in response to the question, "How do we determine what is our moral obligation?"

In March, Botana said, “you and other students at Casco Bay joined in the National School Walkout for students to express their concerns about school Safety.  You left class for 17 minutes – one minute for each victim in the Feb. 14 deadly murders at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. I am proud of the peaceful and respectful way you and other students conducted yourselves that day. And I am proud that you took a stand to call for measures that keep students safe at school, limit access to weapons and provide mental health care to those in need.”

Botana continued, “Your class also took what you learned in social studies about the power of rhetoric and the laws concerning free speech to actually exercise your right of free speech. On First Friday in May, you literally took to your soapboxes, standing atop them in Monument Square to voice your beliefs and passions.”

Botana urged students to continue to take to their soapboxes to make their voices heard. “I’m hitching my wagon to your star,” he said. “I cannot wait to see all that you will become!”

Pierce received a standing ovation from the Class of 2018 as he stood to address the graduates. He focused his talk on Crew. Each grade at CBHS is divided into Crews – groups of students that generally stay together through all four years, with one faculty advisor for each Crew the first two years of high school and another for the last two years. Crew allows students to be part of a smaller peer community, and ensures that faculty members get to know students well.

In Crew, Pierce said, students “experience life with others like you and not like you.” That leads to greater understanding, he said. He quoted one student as saying that Crew led to  “the ability to see the good in people I don’t have anything in common with.”

Pierce encouraged students to continue to create “Crew through life,” not just with friends, but with people who are different from them. He described an incident that took place when he was 6 and which he now deeply regrets that involved him and some friends conspiring to drop a melon-sized rock on a boy not part of their group. Now, Pierce said, there is “a rash of fellows in power” who are choosing “to drop melon-sized rocks on people not in their Crew.” Pierce urged the Class of 2018: “Put down the melon-sized rocks and collaborate with people who think and act differently from you.”

After the principal’s address, the Class of 2018 presented its gift to the school, an outdoor classroom with nine benches and a white board to allow classes to be held outside and away from the influence of technology.

Senior Abigail Williams, chosen as the class writer, recited “The Serenity Trail,” a poem she wrote about the class journeying together. It included the lines: “We who have eaten with the earth/Slept by the tides/Risen with the sun/Know what it means to/Be thoughtful.” She ended with: “Class of 2018, I am incredibly lucky to have walked by your side.”

Another senior, Jacob Libby, was chosen by his classmates to be class speaker. Jacob recounted how the class overcame challenges during the class Quest and worked to raise awareness and funds to help people in countries such as Syria and South Sudan. The class also traveled to Detroit to learn about and assist in that city’s renaissance and created a documentary about unsung heroes in Detroit's efforts to revitalize itself.

Jacob urged his classmates in the future “to be the change this world so desperately needs.”

All the members of the Class of 2018 delivered some “final words,” each sharing a thought on topics such as life, their school experience and the future as they graduated. The Final Words included “I’m only at the beginning, but I’m damn proud I made it to the starting line” and “When I came to Casco, I was just a nerd but now I’m a nerd with a passion.”

As students received their diplomas, faculty read out loud their future college and career plans and what they’ll be remembered for – attributes both funny and serious.

Class members won acceptance from approximately 100 institutions, including various schools in the University of Maine system, as well as Bowdoin, Vassar, Occidental, Cornell, Colorado College, Smith and Mount Holyoke.

Members of the Class of 2018 also won more than $6.1 million in scholarships and grants.

This year, for the first time ever, six students graduated with a Seal of Biliteracy, for having attained mastery of English and at least one other world language. The Portland Public Schools became the first school district in Maine this year to award the Seal of Biliteracy to its graduating seniors. Nationally the award is given in nearly 30 states. 

Botana said, “We are proud to be a leader in this area because, as Maine’s largest and most diverse school district, we recognize that biliteracy forges connections between students and their heritage while making them attractive to future employers and college admissions offices.”

The auditorium’s seats were filled with students’ families and friends and school staff and other current and former CBHS students. Mayor Ethan Strimling and representatives from the Portland Board of Education members and City Council also were in attendance.

Portland's Deering High School Holds 144th Commencement on June 7

PORTLAND, Maine – Deering High School, known as the most diverse high school north of Boston, held its 144th graduation exercises on Thursday, June 7, at the Cross Insurance Arena. There are 230 members of the graduating Class of 2018.

The morning ceremony included remarks by Portland Superintendent Xavier Botana and Deering Principal Gregg Palmer, live music performed by students, the presentation of awards and diplomas and addresses by students. During a rendition of the class song, “Wavin’ Flag,” the graduates celebrated by tossing beach balls back and forth, dancing in their seats and a few waved colorful flags from various countries.

The arena was filled with students’ families and friends and school district staff. Also in attendance were representatives from the Portland Board of Public Education and City Council and Mayor Ethan Strimling.

Superintendent Botana said, “I feel confident that the future, our future, is in good hands with this Deering Class of 2018.” He said that confidence is based on what the class has already accomplished.

As an example, Botana pointed to Class of 2018 member Mulki Hagi, who received a prestigious Bezos Scholar award that took her to the Aspen Ideas Festival last summer.  She parlayed that into the development of a “Local Ideas Summit” which she organized and oversaw this spring.  The summit covered such topics as gender expansiveness, domestic violence, Islamophobia and affordable housing. 

He also noted that Deering students Alex Fitzgerald and Izzy Smith helped develop the school board’s Gender Expansive policy.  “As part of their work with the Gender and Sexuality Alliance at Deering, not only did they shape the policy, but they also helped us to train staff at every Portland public school,” Botana said. “Deering’s GSA also submitted the proposal that was ultimately approved by the Deering student government that made it possible for students to wear whatever color graduation gown they chose to wear today, independent of gender.”

Member of the Class of 2018 also joined the National School Walkout in March to honor the 17 people killed in the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. “You took this opportunity to express your views about school safety,” Botana said. “Deering High School students organized a rally in the gymnasium, where some students read poetry they had written, while others simply spoke from their hearts. After the rally, you filed out of the building and stood in the snow for 17 minutes, one minute for each of the Parkland victims.”

Botana continued, “You stood with your peers in Florida, but you also stood with your own.  When Allan Monga, a junior at Deering, was prohibited from representing Maine at the National Poetry Out Loud competition because of his immigration status, you, along with your principal and staff, spoke out and supported his efforts to achieve his dream.  Before a vindicated Allan left to go to D.C., you lined the halls and sent him off with your love and support.”

The superintendent urged the Class of 2018 to “continue to make the world better with the same passion and flair with which you’ve improved Deering High School and Portland Public Schools.”

He cited the graduates’ academic and athletic successes – including the fact that 13 members of the class are recipients of the Portland Public Schools’ newest award, the Seal of Biliteracy, for having attained mastery of English and at least one other world language.

The Portland Public Schools is the first school district in Maine to award the Seal of Biliteracy to its graduating seniors. Nationally, nearly 30 states bestow the award.

“We are proud to be a leader in this area because, as Maine’s largest and most diverse school district, we recognize that biliteracy forges connections between students and their heritage while making them attractive to future employers and college admissions offices,” Botana said.

As the new graduates prepared to set off for college or career, Principal Gregg Palmer said the best advice he could offer them was to “live in the moment.” He also pledged to honor the Class of 2018 by continuing “to make our school a better place.” He told graduates, “We’re going to work to make you proud of us.”

Palmer, who is completing his first year as principal of Deering, also recognized former Principal Ira Waltz, who attended the commencement “to reconnect to the class he loves so much.” The graduates applauded Waltz, who retired last June.

Palmer concluded his speech by noting how difficult it is to learn a second language, something many Deering students originally from other countries have to do, and asked Husna Munezero Quinn, student body president, what the Swahili word is for “hello. He then had the graduates and audience join him in calling out “jambo!”

Husna spoke next, reflecting on the Class of 2018’s experiences during the past four years. She said her class was used to measuring time in periods and semesters and years, but now would measure it “in the friendships we made and the times we shared together.”

Next to address the graduates were three “Principal’s Choice Speakers”: seniors Shamma Alzefiri, Mulki Hagi and Alex Fitzgerald.

Shamma told her classmates, “We all have big dreams but instead of dreaming, we have to put the effort into making our dreams come true.” She also said, “I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.”

Mulki said she comes from a family that, because of adversity, didn’t have the opportunity to extend their education beyond middle school. Attending high school, she said, was “foreign territory” to her.  But she said overcoming adversity has helped shape her. She gave a shout out to fellow classmates who come from immigrant, refugee and asylum seeking families and applauded them for “working 10 times harder” to succeed.

Alex spoke about coming out as transgender the summer before freshman year but then struggling for three years. “Almost everyone close to me accepted me, but I had to accept myself,” Alex said. Alex was able to do that after “throwing myself into improving the school and helping others” through joining the school’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance. Alex said that among the group’s accomplishments was starting an annual school drag show – Principal Palmer was a guest performer this year. Alex concluded by recalling a photo of Deering students protesting in 1995 against the harassment of some gay students there, noting how far Deering had come in 23 years. “Change can and does happen,” Alex said. “I got to be the change and see the change.”

Salutatorian Lucy Tumavicus told graduates they had been on a “Fred journey.” She said a Fred journey, invented by her grandfather, is “an adventure by way of getting yourself lost.” In the days before GPS, her grandfather liked to take the family on rambling car trips with an unknown destination, Lucy said. She said high school is like a Fred journey because of many unknowns and challenges, but through “will and winging it, we’ve made it here to graduation.” She urged her class members not be fazed by uncertainty. “Be great, do good and ride out the Fred journeys,” Lucy said.

Valedictorian Nicole Whipkey recounted many of the accomplishments of her classmates and told them they were all champions for having graduated. She concluded, “It doesn’t matter where you go but what you do when you get there. Make the world a better place!”

The graduates won many accolades, and thousands of dollars in scholarships and grants. They have been accepted at more than 110 colleges and universities all across the country and even abroad.

They include Bard, Brandeis, Bowdoin, St. Olaf, Smith and Wheaton colleges. Universities include American, Fordham, Hofstra, LaSalle, Loyola, Northeastern, Temple and the University of Vermont. Other institutions include the Toronto Film School, Rhode Island School of Design, the Pratt Institute, McGill University in Canada and the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland. Locally, Deering grads will attend the University of New England and the University of Southern Maine, as well as Southern Maine Community College, Maine College of Art, Maine Maritime Academy and most of the schools within the University of Maine system.

Two Portland Public Schools Juniors Selected As Bank of America Student Leaders

Two Portland Public Schools Juniors Selected As 

Bank of America Student Leaders

Bilan Mohamed, from Deering High School, and Reagan Brown, from Portland High School, are chosen to participate in an eight-week internship and leadership program funded by BOA.

PORTLAND, Maine – Two students from the Portland Public Schools (PPS) have been named 2018 Bank of America Student Leaders. Bank of America (BOA) selected Bilan Mohamed, from Deering High School, and Reagan Brown, from Portland High School, to participate in the Student Leaders program, through which BOA helps connect community-minded high school students to jobs, skills development, and service.

The Bank of America Student Leaders Program is an eight-week Internship and Leadership Conference program fully funded by Bank of America. This year, for the first time ever, the Portland, Maine Market has been designated a BOA Student Leaders site.

BOA Student Leaders participate in a paid internship at a local nonprofit organization where they learn firsthand about the needs of the community and the critical role nonprofits play. BOA Student Leaders learn valuable civic, social and business leadership skills. In addition to the paid internship, each BOA Student Leader will attend the Student Leader Summit held in Washington, D.C. where they will explore how government, business and the nonprofit sectors work to address critical community needs.

Bilan, a Deering High School junior, will do her paid internship at the Boys & Girls Club. According to Deering guidance counselor Libby Heselton, “Bilan has a big smile and a bigger to-do list. Highly intelligent and mature, she is interested in everything and strives to understand all she can.” Reagan, a junior at Portland High School, will do her paid internship at United Way of Greater Portland. Portland High history teacher Sally Reagan said in recommending Reagan that she is “among the most dedicated and meticulous students that I have encountered in my 25-year teaching career. She has a deep interest in politics, history and the world around her.”

Every year, through the Student Leaders program, BOA helps connect community-minded high school juniors and seniors to employment, skills development, and service. BOA looks for the next generation of community leaders, those with a passion for improving their community, and turning that passion into action. Bank of America has invested $2.5 million this year alone with the Student Leader program. This summer there will be 230 students from 48 markets across the country participating – all convening in Washington DC together!

“The Portland Public Schools is grateful to Bank of America for their investment in student learning, experience, and growth,” said PPS Superintendent Xavier Botana. “Consistent with the goals central to our strategic plan – known as the Portland Promise –  the BOA Student Leaders program invests in Achievement, Equity and the Whole Student.”

At the Portland Board of Public Education’s June 5 meeting, Botana and the board honored Bilan and Reagan and expressed gratitude to BOA for partnering with the Portland Public Schools. Botana noted that the Portland Education Foundation (PEF) recently received a $5,000 grant from BOA to support the PPS Families in Crisis Fund. The fund was developed to allow the school district to respond quickly when families face a crisis because of unforeseen and immediate basic needs for shelter, food and transportation.

“When we look at our attendance data, we know that homelessness and absence often go together,” Botana said. “This fund is an effort to help us intervene to mitigate those circumstances that can keep students out of school.”

Botana also recognized PEF Executive Director Kate Snyder “for her work to develop and strengthen our relationship with Bank of America. Thank you, Kate, Erin Macey and the rest of the PEF board for your support and advocacy for PEF.”

PEF’s mission is to raise philanthropic support to enhance educational opportunities for present and future students in Portland’s public schools. PEF’s vision is to strengthen schools through community investment.

PHOTO CAPTION: The Portland Board of Public Education on June 5 honored Deering High School junior Bilan Mohamed and Portland High School junior Reagan Brown for being selected to participate in an eight-week internship and leadership program funded by Bank of America. Pictured (from left) are Deering High School Assistant Principal Abdullahi Ahmed (Bilan’s father); Superintendent Xavier Botana; Reagan Brown; Heather Smith (Reagan’s mother); Bilan Mohamed; Portland Board of Public Education Chair Anna Trevorrow; Rose Parsons, BOA Vice President, Market Manager, Maine; and Bill Williamson, BOA Market President for Maine, Senior Vice President, Senior Client Manager, Commercial Banking

OCEANSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS SELECTED FOR THE SPECIALIZED FOUNDATION SCHOOL BIKE PROGRAM GRANT

The Riding for Focus Bike Program will begin Fall 2018

Oceanside Middle School., May 29, 2018 – The Specialized Foundation announced that Oceanside Middle School is one of the select nationwide schools to receive a grant to begin the Riding for Focus cycling program for the 2018-2019 school year. The Riding for Focus curriculum integrates cycling into physical education classes as a way to help students achieve academic, health, and social success.

“In addition to 36 new schools across the nation, we are delighted to have Oceanside Middle School join The Specialized Foundation family,” said Ted Theocheung CEO, The Specialized Foundation. “With this year's additional schools, our foundation will reach over 20,000 students, across 77 schools, in 30 states. We look forward to working closely with Oceanside Middle School to improve their students’ lives through cycling.”

As a recipient of this year’s grant, Oceanside Middle School will gain access to the Riding for Focus program curriculum, a fleet of bikes, a starter maintenance kit, and helmets to activate the program. Additionally, a select program champion will attend an in-person training hosted by The Specialized Foundation to ensure success as the program is integrated into classrooms this Fall.

Students and staff are ecstatic about the opportunity for Riding For Focus. OMS Students will now have the opportunity to get students out riding and being more physically active which will increase students’ academic success. There has been ongoing research showing increased exercise can achieve similar effects of using stimulant medication for a diagnosis of ADHD. Anecdotally, it appears the more people stay active and aware, the better attention span they will have for the day. OMS Students and staff are excited to implement and collaborate with the community.

Additionally, Oceanside Middle School will be partnering with local bike shop, Sidecountry Sports, to help work together to help build and maintain the school bike fleet. Oceanside Middle School is proud to have the support of Sidecountry Sports and their willingness to support our school - - not only for this new grant opportunity, but to be a part of our June 11th activities day. Oceanside students will ride bikes provided by Sidecounty Sports to ride to the Georges River Land Trust trail head on Booker Street in Thomaston. This will begin the new mountain biking trails that students will ride and maintain with the support of the community.

Riding for Focus is designed to introduce middle school students to cycling’s positive effects on academic performance, health, and social success. The curriculum was developed based on studies conducted by a third-party research organization that investigated the impact of cycling on middle school students. Students that follow the curriculum have seen improvements in their standardized test scores, and the increased physical activity helps to establish life-long habits for exercise, fitness, and wellness. The program has been found to be an inclusive experience for all students, across all ethnographic, demographic, and geographic factors, and is flexible enough to deploy in all types of schools with class sizes from ten to fifty.

To learn more, please sign-up for The Specialized Foundation Blog, and follow The Specialized Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the conversation. #RidingForFocus

About The Specialized Foundation:
The Specialized Foundation was established in 2015 with the intention of introducing students to cycling's positive effects on academic performance, health, and wellbeing, with a focus on students with learning differences like ADHD.
• About The Specialized Foundation: http://bit.ly/_TSF1
• About the Riding for Focus program: http://bit.ly/RidingForFocus1
• Riding for Focus example school: http://bit.ly/R4F_EMS

The Program Champion, Nick Citriglia, OMS school social worker, would like to take this opportunity to thank Logan Radley for his effort on creating the video that was submitted in Phase 2. I would also like to thank Sidecountry Sports, Georges River Land Trust and RSU 13 administration for the encouragement to apply for the Riding for Focus grant. Lastly, I want to thank the Specialized Foundation for the opportunity to administer this cycling program at OMS.

MLTI Student Conference to be held on May 24th at UMaine

What:
The 15th annual Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) Student Conference is once again bringing Maine students together for hands-on learning with technology.

Who:
Over 1000 Maine middle school and high school students, and their teachers

Where/When:
Thursday, May 24, 2018
University of Maine, Orono Campus
8:40 am -  Opening/Student Keynote (Collins Center for the Arts )
1:10 pm - Closing “Uber” session (Collins Center for the Arts )
Breakout sessions all day (throughout the Campus - Sessions by Location Quick Guide)

Schedule Highlights: 
Between 8 am and 8:45 am, school busses unload hundreds of excited students and adults, who grab conference T-shirts and file into the Hutchins Concert Hall, where the Ballroom Thieves and the Maine Youth Rock Orchestra provide a musical welcome.

8:45 am – After Brief Welcome by DOE, UMaine and Apple representatives,
Student Keynote Speaker Nicole Pendleton, an 8th-grader from Camden-Rockport Middle School, takes the stage, followed by a professional reflection by Andrew Johnson, VP of Business Development at Ai2.

2 Blocks of Hands-on Learning Sessions: Visit classrooms where students are demonstrating and learning how to create in a variety of ways – through coding, audio, video, images, text and more.

1:10 pm – “Uber” session in the Hutchins Concert Hall at the Collins Center for the Arts – Over 1000 students and adults participate in a group music project using their laptops and tablets, guided by the Ballroom Thieves and the Maine Youth Rock Orchestra

For more information visit:

http://www.maine.gov/doe/mlti/student/studentconference/about/index.html
http://www.maine.gov/doe/mlti/student/studentconference/attendees/information.html

Former superintendent, Fern Desjardins to serve on Maine State Board of Education

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has announced that Dr. Fern Desjardins of Aroostook County will serve on the Maine State Board of Education. Desjardins was sworn into office at the Department of the Secretary of State in Augusta on May 1, 2018. She is a life-long resident of St. Agatha, and will serve as a representative of Congressional District 2 on the State Board.

Desjardins is a former Superintendent of Schools in MSAD #33 and has spent a 43-year career in the school system. She taught graduate level courses for UMaine as an adjunct faculty member in their outreach programs in Aroostook County for almost a decade.  She holds a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership and a Master’s Degree in Language Arts from UMaine, a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Educational Leadership from USM, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from UMFK.

Since her retirement in June 2017, Desjardins continues to be active in education by serving as a facilitator for the regionalization efforts of five northern Penobscot County school systems, a member of the English Learners Advisory Council at the Maine DOE, and is involved in Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) programs and other initiatives of the Maine DOE.

“My work in education has always been, and continues to be, my real passion in life. Being a member of the State Board of Education is truly an honor, and it is in perfect harmony with what I most enjoy doing – providing the students of all our communities with the best education that taxpayers can afford.  I am blessed to be given the opportunity to be a voice for the students and citizens of Maine by serving on the State Board.”

Desjardins has accepted appointments to work on the Construction Committee and the Maine Charter School Commission as a member of the State Board. “I believe that my educational background and varied experiences will enable me to positively contribute to discussions and decision-making processes of the State Board and the committees to which I am appointed.”

Desjardins replaces former State Board of Education member, the Honorable Nichi Farnham of Bangor.

Portland Board of Public Education Inauguration Set for December 4

In addition to swearing in new and re-elected members, the board will formally vote to elect a new chairperson for the coming year. 

PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland Board of Public Education will hold a ceremony to inaugurate its newest members on Monday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m. in the Portland City Council Chambers at Portland City Hall.

Sworn in will be one board member who was re-elected in the Nov. 7 election: District 5 Representative Marnie Morrione, who will be serving her fourth term. Also inaugurated will be two board newcomers: Timothy Atkinson, who won the District 4 seat; and Mark Balfantz, who won an at-large school board seat. School board members’ terms run for three years.

Also sworn in will be student representatives to the board: Tiana Urey, representing Casco Bay High School; Saharla Farah, representing Deering High School; and Jack Sweeney, representing the Portland Arts & Technology High School (PATHS). The Portland High School student representative has yet to be announced.

An official vote for school board chair also will take place at the inauguration.

Governor Scott Closes All K-12 Public Schools, State Colleges, State Universities and State Offices to Begin Preparations Immediately

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott is directing all public K-12 schools, state colleges, state universities and state offices to close Friday, September 8 – Monday, September 11.

Governor Scott said, “Today, I am directing the closure of all public schools, state colleges, state universities and state offices for their normal activities effective Friday through Monday, to ensure we have every space available for sheltering and staging. Floridians are facing a life-threatening storm in Hurricane Irma, and every family must prepare to evacuate. Our state’s public schools serve a vital role in our communities as shelters for displaced residents and staging areas for hurricane recovery efforts. Closing public schools, state colleges, state universities and state offices will provide local and state emergency officials the flexibility necessary to support shelter and emergency response efforts.”

For detailed shelter information, visit www.fldoe.org/irma and www.floridadisaster.org/info.

Senator Collins & Members of Senate, House Education Committees Request Education Department Take Steps to Assist Students

Senator Collins & Members of Senate, House Education Committees Request Education Department Take Steps to Assist Students While Student Aid Tool Is Unavailable

Letter emphasizes importance of protecting taxpayer and student privacy, expresses concern for students and families unable to use IRS tool for weeks

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, along with Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA), the chair and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, respectively, and Reps. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Bobby Scott (D-VA), chair and ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, respectively, and other Members of the Senate and House Education committees, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today asking the Department to take action to help alleviate complications for students impacted by the current outage of the Internal Revenue Service’s Data Retrieval Tool (DRT).

“On March 9, 2017, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) and the Internal Revenue

State Board of Education Gives Final Approval to Hall Elementary School Project

The unanimous vote by the board means bidding and construction can get underway.

PORTLAND, Maine – The Maine State Board of Education voted unanimously this week to give final design and funding approval for the construction of a new state-funded project to replace Hall Elementary School. This milestone in the state approval process, which took place at the board’s March 15 meeting, gives the green light for the $29.7 million project to go out to bid and for construction work to begin.


Preliminary site work could commence before school ends this June. The school is expected to open in the fall of 2018.


“We are very appreciative of the support from the State Board of Education in giving this final authorization for a state-funded building to replace the current Hall Elementary School,” said Jeanne Crocker, Portland Public Schools Assistant Superintendent for School Management. “And we are also very grateful to our Portland community for its support of this project. This new building will ensure that Hall students have a 21st-century learning environment that meets their educational needs and compliance and safety standards.”


Portland voters in April 2016 approved the construction costs for a new Hall School in a special citywide municipal election. The referendum sought authorization to build a new Hall Elementary School on the existing site at 23 Orono Road for a total cost of $29.7 million. All but $1.4 million of the bonded amount will be reimbursed by the state.


The additional local funding voters approved will enhance the building’s educational and community uses. For example, the local portion will cover such things as the construction of a middle-school-sized gymnasium that can be used by the community, a cafeteria that is large enough to accommodate two 30-minute lunch periods and building security upgrades.


Built more than 60 years ago, Hall School suffered damage in a fire a few years ago and has outlived its useful life. Classes will continue to be held in the old school building while the new one is constructed nearby.

Deering High School Junior To Compete in Poetry Out Loud State Finals March 13

PORTLAND, Maine – Deering High School junior Amran Mahamed has been selected as one of 10 finalists to compete in the 2017 Poetry Out Loud Maine State Finals in Waterville on Monday, March 13.


Amran gave a powerful performance at the Southern Maine Regional Finals at Thornton Academy in Saco on Feb. 28. She was one of five finalists selected from the 23 students reciting poetry in that competition. A total of 10 competitors – the five finalists from southern Maine and five from northern Maine – will compete in the state finals.


The three poems Amran recited were “Bleeding Heart” by Carmen Giminez Smith, “The Song of the Smoke” by W.E.B. DuBois, and “The Paradox” by Paul Laurence Dunbar.


“Deering is incredibly proud of the talent of Amran Mahamed and we wish her the best at the state competition,” said DHS English teacher Shana Genre.


Two other talented Portland Public Schools students competed in the southern Maine regional contest –Ludiya Abdalla from Portland High School and Eve Fischer from Casco Bay High School.  Those students were among the top 10 competitors but only Amran was among the top five advancing to the state competition.


The 2017 Poetry Out Loud Maine State Finals will be held at 3 p.m. at the Waterville Opera House,  located at 93 Main Street, Waterville. The two-hour event is free and open to the public. The snow date is March 14.


Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation contest sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. The event allows students from all over America to compete at the school level and potentially advance to regional, state, or even national levels. Participants are evaluated on their physical presence, voice and articulation, evidence of understanding, dramatic appropriateness, accuracy, and overall performance. The winner of the state competition will be granted an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., where many thousands of dollars in college scholarships are awarded.

Oceanside High School Announces Class 2017 Honor Graduates

Pictured: Jillian Brooks who made Cum Laude

Rockland, Maine - Oceanside High School has announced the 2017 Class Honor Graduates today, Friday, February 17th, 2017.

Valedictorian - Emily Davis
Salutatorian - Nathan Hersom
Summa Cum Laude - Lily McVetty
Magna Cum Laude - Cassie Butler, Madelyn Young, Mitchell DelFrate
Cum Laude - Aidan Giasson, Judith Barstow, Kyle Long, Jamie McMahon, Chase Flaherty, Jillian Brooks, Shannon Ripley, Emma Lee, Haley Montgomery, Alexis Mazurek, Jordan Mini, Brianna White-Ortiz, Sydney Hall, Josef Berger, Danielle Ladd, Kelsey Brooks, Julia Barbour, Coby Dorr, Meredith Mitchell, Ainsley Meklin, Martin King III, Jenna Conant, Casey Benner

We here at RCN America Network are proud of all those that made the list above, what a huge accomplishment.

Also, newest recipients of the Oceanside Pride Award are Marina Lamkins, Ella Finger, Lydia Gamage, Emma Lee, Josh Peaco, Matthew Young, Sebastian Sanfilippo, Autumn Hoffses, Madison McKenize, Molly Gould, Madison Mills.

Finally, Oceanside High School's Winter Special Olympics Team and Coaches received the Brian T. McGovern Sportsmanship Award at the Winter Games Each year a team is awarded the Brian T. McGovern Sportsmanship Award. This team demonstrates unity and spirit in all facets of participation and levels of competition; given the extra cheer to their fellow team members regardless of skill; sincere cooperation with the officials and hosts of the Winter Game; typifies the group experience of participation, cooperation and socialization; the team, which through training, coaching and athletic prowess has shown exceptional skills at the Winter Games.

Registration for January Term Continues at University College at Rockland

ROCKLAND, Maine - The next semester begins January 17 at University College at Rockland.  Registration is ongoing right through the start of the term. Interested new and returning students can choose from over 900 course offerings from the University of Maine System offered at URock.

According to URock's Director, Deborah Meehan, "We welcome interested students right up until the start of the semester." Meehan added that since the January term starts so soon after the holidays, many folks do not plan ahead.  "But we can work with them and create a plan," added Meehan.
Local high school juniors and seniors still have time to take advantage of the High School Aspirations Program. Juniors and seniors may take up to two free courses per term which count for both college credit and high school credit.

"This is an amazing opportunity for high school students," said Meehan. These courses will transfer into the first year of college, cut back on tuition costs and demonstrate to admissions' officers that the student is capable of college level work."  University College at Rockland typically serves 60 High School Aspirations students each semester.

Free academic planning is available with a university professional by calling the office at 596-6906 and scheduling an appointment. More information is also available at the website www.learn.maine.edu/rockland.

OAES Administrator Is Maine’s Elementary School Assistant Principal of the Year

PORTLAND, Maine – Ann Hanna, assistant principal of Ocean Avenue Elementary School (OAES) is Maine’s Elementary School Assistant Principal of the Year for 2017.

The Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) announced Hanna’ selection as Maine’s NAESP National Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year on Thursday, Dec. 1, at an all-school assembly. She will be honored by the MPA at its annual awards banquet at the Spring Conference on April 27, 2017.

The MPA said that Hanna received the award “based on her accomplishments as a strong educational leader.  She is committed to excellence and has a strong desire to meet the academic and social needs of all students.  Her ability to be an outstanding leader, self-reflective and exceed her own goals is demonstrated by the tremendous growth in student learning.”

In announcing Ms. Hanna’s selection, MPA Executive Director Richard Durost told students gathered for the assembly that Hanna is a person who “is the very best” at what she does. He also praised the warm, friendly atmosphere at OAES, which recently was named an authorized IB World School, Primary Years Programme. Durost said such a school climate, “doesn’t just happen. It must be part of the culture here.”

Durost said, “Ann Hanna is an extremely deserving recipient of the MPA’s Assistant Principal of the Year Award. Her work with teachers in the content areas of reading and writing has made a significant impact on students. Her background and expertise as a primary teacher and literacy coach have given her instant credibility and respect from staff members.”

Portland Superintendent Xavier Botana said the recognition of Hanna is “so deserved.” 

“She is absolutely amazing,” Botana told students, adding that she’s “the pride and joy of the Portland Public Schools.”

Mayor Ethan Strimling said he rearranged his schedule to make sure he could attend the event on Thursday. He congratulated Hanna and noted that she was the second PPS administrator to be honored by the MPA as an outstanding administrator. Casco Bay High School Principal Derek Pierce was selected last spring as Maine’s Principal of the Year for 2016.

Strimling said that the double honor for Portland is “a remarkable testament to how great our schools are.”

School Board member Laurie Davis praised and congratulated Hanna, whom Davis said she has known since Hanna first started working for the Portland Public Schools 26 years ago    .

OAES Principal Beverly Coursey praised the caring way Hanna listens to and supports students. “It is an absolute privilege to work with Mrs. Hanna,” Coursey said.

Coursey nominated Hanna for the honor. She wrote that Hanna is “the consummate professional with excellent skills that cover the gamut of school leadership responsibilities. She is an instructional leader, a motivator, a role model, a behavior management specialist, an organizer, and an inspiration to us all. Her ability to maintain the vision for learning of the school while handling the daily myriad of simple and complex duties is unparalleled. Her leadership skills and professionalism are hallmarks of her success in this challenging job. Portland is very lucky to have an administrator of her caliber.”  

Hanna thanked Coursey and also other district and school leaders and her colleagues for their support in helping her do her job, which she said she loves. She also thanked students and told them, “You inspire me to challenge myself every day to do the best that I can do.”

Hanna Ann began her teaching career when she was hired by the Portland Public School in 1990 as a first-grade teacher at Marada Adams School on Munjoy Hill.  She remained at Adams as a Title I literacy coordinator/specialist until East End Community School (EECS) opened in 2006. When she moved to EECS in 2006, she split her time between the Title I Literacy Collaborative and being a teacher leader.  She remained at EECS in this dual capacity and then as a data literacy specialist until the 2011-12 school year, when she moved to OAES.  At that school, she initially split her time between being a data literacy specialist and being the assistant principal. Starting in the 2012-13 school year, she became OAES’ full-time assistant principal.

Hanna received her bachelor of arts in romance languages from the University of Maine, Orono, and McGill University in Montreal. She earned a masters of science in literacy education from the University of Southern Maine, and also holds a certificate of advanced study in educational leadership from USM.

Hanna is a member of the Maine Principals’ Association and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). 

The Maine Principals’ Association is a professional association representing Maine’s K-12 educational leaders.  The Association dates its history back to 1921 and focuses its work on promoting the principalship, educational leadership, and promoting and administering interscholastic activities in grades 9-12.

ATTACHED PHOTO: (left to right) MPA Assistant Executive Director Holly Couturier; OAES Assistant Principal Ann Hanna; and MPA Executive Director Richard Durost

Eastern Maine Community College prepares students for careers in IT.

Bangor, Maine - Communications between computers is a critical part of our everyday life and in today’s world, if the computers go down, the workplace can grind to a halt. Information Technology is a growing industry with a continuous need for skilled workers. To help meet the demand, EMCC is offering Computer Systems Technology, a two-year Associate in Applied Science Degree program designed to train students in personal computer hardware and software; data communications; and computer network hardware, software, and management.

Students enrolled in the Computer Systems Technology program will receive a solid foundation in systems hardware and software, network design and management, customer service, and information security. Laboratory work with peer-to-peer and client/server networks, local- and wide-area networks (LANs and WANs), and midrange/mainframe multi-user systems allows the student to apply knowledge gained in the classroom.

"The CST program at EMCC has been a blast so far. The program is ever changing and uses hands on

Eastern Maine Community College offers Digital Graphic Design program

Bangor, Maine - A picture’s worth 1,000 words. Eastern Maine Community College appreciates the fact that we are living in a world of imagery so it has developed a program to train students to tell stories through graphic design. Everything from signage to clothing to newspaper ads has graphics and the trend is growing. For example, today, we often see infographics instead of written documents to provide information. As the industry expands, more trained designers will be required to meet the demand and EMCC is ready to turn out these artists with its Digital Graphic Design program.

EMCC’s associate in applied science degree in Digital Graphic Design is a comprehensive program that will prepare students for careers as graphic artists, photographers, print media designers, illustrators, and web designers. Graduates may also transfer to four-year colleges and universities to continue their education.

Students enrolled in the Digital Graphic Design program will gain an understanding of theoretical foundations, design principles, page layout, photography, image manipulation and editing, digital illustration, web design and printing/publishing and will be well-prepared for the workforce.

"The job market is tough for everyone—even for individuals with a degree,” said Amy Wilkins, student in the Digital Graphic Design program. “Creative fields like animation, film, and graphic design are even tougher because companies and studios are looking for talented individuals with multiple skills, and not just in one field of interest. This program gives us that training.”

Heather Magee, chair of the Digital Graphic Design Department, agrees. “Colleges across America are onboard, and now offer rigorous programs of study to meet the demands of the industry,” she said. “Today’s graphic design programs prepare students to work in multiple fields from advertising and publishing to printing and computer systems design. While California and New York are chock full of design colleges, other smaller states have their fair share of fine graphic design schools. Maine is one of these states."

There has never been a better time to enroll in Eastern Maine Community College. Students who apply and are accepted to Eastern Maine Community College for the first time in January 2017 will receive a tuition and fee waiver for 50 percent of their spring semester credits purchased. EMCC is waiving all applications fees for Spring Semester. Once accepted, students will pay for a credit hour and those funds will be matched by scholarship provided by the Gaming funds equaling the amount purchased.

Eastern Maine Community College is a two-year college that provides the highest quality post-secondary technical, career and transfer education and serves as a dynamic community and economic development resource. In addition to its Bangor campus, the college has three off-campus higher education centers in Dover-Foxcroft, Ellsworth, and East Millinocket.

Marketing and Communication Experts to Share Career Insights with Husson Students

Bangor, Maine – Husson University will be sponsoring a career panel discussion with four area marketing and communication experts at the Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business on November 29, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.

“This is a great event for anyone with an interest in business or marketing,” said James Westhoff, director of Career Services at Husson University. “The media professionals and entrepreneurs on our panel will talk about what it takes to break into and succeed in today’s communications industry.”

The four media professionals who will comprise the panel include:

T.J. Holloway, the president of Holloway Group Consulting. Holloway earned a Master of Science in Business (MSB 2008) and Master of Business Administration (MBA 2012) from Husson University. Holloway Group Consulting offers professional development and training in a number of industries. Holloway and his organization have served a variety of businesses including Sprague Energy, JSI Store Fixtures, Inc., Hollywood Casino, the Charlotte White Center, Downeast Horizons, and many more businesses in the greater Bangor area. The Holloway Group’s professional development offerings focus on business writing, emotional intelligence in the workplace, managing change, management, leadership, and supervision. In addition to leading Holloway Group Consulting, T.J. Holloway is also an adjunct professor at Husson University’s College of Business where he teaches BA 101 Introduction to Business.

Dale Landrith, the chief strategist at Dream Local Digital. Landrith graduated from Husson

Maine receives $3 Million in school improvement grant funding

Augusta – Maine schools eligible to receive funding under the school improvement grant program (SIG) are invited to apply for funding from the $3 million in funding Maine has received from the U.S. Department of Education. In Maine, schools categorized as “priority” under the State’s Title I accountability system are eligible to apply.

“I encourage eligible schools to consider applying for this grant funding. This is an opportunity for schools to receive purposefully focused additional funds to improve their achievement and opportunity goals for students,” said Deputy Commissioner of Education Bill Beardsley.

The U.S. Department of Education recently announced that Maine will receive a $1.5 million federal award in addition to the $1.5 million award the state received in July.  Funding through the SIG program will be distributed to schools through a competitive application process and will be based on the number of applications received and approved by the Maine Department of Education.

Last year, the Maine DOE issued a $1.6 million SIG award to Washburn Elementary School. These funds are currently supporting Washburn Elementary’s objectives to raise student proficiency in math by 30 percent and reading by 35 percent over the five-year grant award.

As part of the application process, eligible school districts who may be interested in the pursuit of a SIG are also asked to provide the Department with an Intent to Apply form by 4 p.m. on October 31, 2016. Applications from eligible school districts are due by 4 p.m. on December 14, 2016. School officials who have questions about the SIG program or who would like to obtain a copy of the Maine DOE LEA SIG application and the Intent to Apply form should contact Travis Doughty, Maine DOE’s Federal Grant Coordinator, at travis.doughty@maine.gov.

More information about the SIG program is available at http://www.maine.gov/doe/sig/.

Ocean Avenue Elementary School Now an Authorized IB World School

IB (International Baccalaureate) schools focus is on helping students become “internationally-minded,” taking an active, principled, positive stance toward learning and making a difference

 in an increasingly globalized future.

Portland, Maine - Ocean Avenue Elementary School (OAES) has been named an authorized IB World School, Primary Years Programme. OAES is now the only elementary school in Maine to attain such a distinction, and one of just a few in New England, according to OAES Principal Beverly Coursey.

“This is wonderful news,” Coursey said. “Every staff member is to be congratulated. We have much to be proud of.”

IB stands for International Baccalaureate. The International Baccalaureate Organization is a nonprofit education organization that supports learning models built on rigorous intellectual inquiry and personal growth for children. At the elementary school level, this is called the Primary Years Programme (PYP).

In all IB programs, the focus is on helping students become “internationally-minded,” taking an

February is Career and Technical Education month

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s career and technical education schools and educators of applied technology and workforce development are being recognized during the month of February.

“From industry-recognized training and dual enrollments in colleges, to professional licensures and industry-recognized certificates, approximately 8,500 of Maine high school students enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) programs are demonstrating industry and college proficiencies, ranging from robotics to coding, from culinary arts to welding, building trades to health services, and marketing to auto technology. CTE programs adhere to rigorous industry-recognized standards and offer students hand-on learning at its best,” says Maine DOE's Acting Education Commissioner Bill Beardsley.

In Maine, CTE is provided at 27 regional schools in all counties across the state, each affiliated with