The Maine Department of Education is accepting recommendations through April 28 for the 2016 Maine Educator Talent Pool. These distinguished educators may be considered for membership on local and state advisory boards and task forces, as well as be candidates for special recognition through the Department.
Continue reading “Educator talent pool recommendations due soon”
AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Education is promoting locally grown products in school meals by holding the first annual 2016 Maine Farm to School Cook-off.
The regional cook-offs will be held Wednesday, April 13 at the Westbrook Regional Vocational Center and Thursday, April 14 at the Capital Area Technical Center in Augusta. The final cook-off on May 17 will be held at the Kennebec Valley Community College, Harold Alfond Campus in Hinckley.
Each volunteer team will prepare two meals within a specific time frame using at least three ingredients that are grown, raised, caught, or manufactured in the State of Maine and meet National School Breakfast and Lunch Program requirements. All recipes will later be shared in a Maine farm to school cook-off recipe book.
Food service staff representing RSU 61, Portland, Lewiston, RSU 38, Five-Town CSD and RSU 13 will participate in this year’s event. Westbrook and Augusta CTE centers along with KVCC were chosen as cook-off sites for their culinary arts facilities which include well-equipped kitchens and individual cooking and presentation areas.
A panel of judges for the regional cook-offs consists of a CTE culinary arts student, school nutrition director, and professional chef. They will score the dishes based on presentation, taste, creativity, and feasibility to be used in a school breakfast or lunch program.
For final judging, a Kennebec Valley Community College culinary arts student will join a school nutrition director and professional chef. The winning team will be awarded a plaque and have the opportunity to be spokespeople for the second annual cook off in 2017.
The cook-off is part of the State’s child nutrition projects and follows legislation to support healthy meals in schools. For more information on Maine’s Local Foods to Local Schools program, visit www.maine.gov/doe/nutrition/programs/localfoods/.
Members of the media are welcome to attend but need to confirm prior to the event. This event is NOT open to the public.
For more information and to confirm coverage, contact: Anne Gabbianelli at anne.gabbianelli@maine.gov or call 624-6747.
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Acting Education Commissioner Bill Beardsley honored 19 team members for years of service today at the Department, representing a long-standing commitment to Maine’s citizens. Collectively, this group has dedicated over 560 years as employees of State government.
Continue reading “Maine DOE staff recognized for years of service”
Last week, National and Maine Arts Education Advocacy Day was celebrated; a celebration in Maine that was organized by the Maine Alliance for Arts Education directed by Susan Potters. The celebration featured nearly 150 students from all 16 counties who came to the State House to articulate the importance of arts education to legislators and guests.
Hall-Dale Middle and High School was one of 18 high-performing schools selected to present at the Ignite ’16 School Showcase in February. Ignite is hosted annually by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Center for Secondary School Redesign. The national showcase convenes school leaders, teachers, and students from the nation’s top middle and high schools to discuss effective practices, programs and strategies with colleagues from across the country.
Continue reading “Maine school featured for effective, learner-centered instruction”
A Mt. Ararat High School student is off to Washington, D.C. in May for national competition after winning the 2016 Poetry Out Loud competition this month held in Waterville.
Continue reading “Poetry Out Loud Maine state champion heads into nationals”
“Each of you champions, each runner-up, and each participant in these championships has turned an individual skill into such an art.” This is what Acting Education Commissioner Bill Beardsley told the more than a thousand people last Friday evening at the 2016 SkillsUSA Maine Championship opening ceremony at Hampden Academy.
Maine’s adult education students were honored at the State House last week. Those in attendance are from among a pool of over 50,000 adults enrolled in academic, workforce and personal enrichment courses and 1,523 received their school credential.
Continue reading “Adult education celebration at the Hall of Flags”
The 2016 Maine State Finals for Poetry Out Loud, a National Poetry Recitation Contest, will be held on March 15 at 3 p.m. at the Waterville Opera House. The competition is free and open to the public.
Continue reading “Maine high school students compete in national poetry contest”
To celebrate the accomplishments of schools across the United States and Canada, the National Principals Leadership Institute this year has launched the School Innovation and Change Awards (SICA). Five schools will each receive a $10,000 sustainability grant to advance their work.
Continue reading “National Principals Leadership Institute, SICA Awards deadline”
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