Kate Furbish Elementary School Kicks Off Second Year of Bike/Walk to School Initiative

On Wednesday, October 2, Kate Furbish Elementary School in Brunswick held its first Bike/Walk to School Day of the 2024-2025 school year. This is the second year that Kate Furbish has participated in this program, which is a multifaceted collaboration with Safe Routes to School, a national initiative that connects towns and neighborhoods to safe access points for biking and walking to school.

Brunswick’s Safe Routes to School Committee is a subcommittee of Brunswick’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. This committee works with Kate Furbish to help the school engage in this community activity, which recognizes the importance and joy of safe biking and walking to school.

“We love this for many reasons,” Annie Young, Principal of Kate Furbish Elementary School, said. “One of them is the collaboration that we have with many different groups to make this possible. Our parent group helps us out. We have community members help us out, and the Brunswick Police Department helps us out. We are especially grateful for our transportation [team] because they make sure that all students are able to participate.”

As part of Bike/Walk to School Day, Kate Furbish families have the option to ride or walk to school with their children. Some will gather at a nearby spot and head into school together. For students who cannot ride or walk to school with their families, Kate Furbish arranges to have all 19 of its buses stop at a nearby intersection to let students off slightly before arriving at school.

“We have staff and families along the route to school cheering students, as they walk their way onto our school campus,” Young said. “It is a fully-inclusive event for all 600-plus of our kids!”

Kate Furbish started this initiative to build strong traditions at the school and grow community and family involvement through a simple activity available to everyone.

“The Safe Routes to School movement is a national [movement], so we thought, ‘Let’s hop onto that and see if we can motivate from there,’” Caite McNeil, a Brunswick Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee member, said. “I think this is just the beginning of lots more organized efforts.”

Kate Furbish has added more Bike/Walk to School Day dates this year and hopes to continue this tradition for years to come. To further support the healthy lifestyles of its school community members, Kate Furbish also participates in MaineHealth’s 5-2-1-0 Let’s Go! Initiative.

Learn more about Bike/Walk to School Day by watching this Brunswick TV3 video.

Information for this story was provided by Kate Furbish Elementary School. To share good news from your school, please fill out the Maine DOE good news submission form.

Supporting Black, Indigenous, and Educators of Color: The Maine DOE BIPOC Educators Network

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is excited to promote the BIPOC Educators Network, an independent network the Maine DOE has established, dedicated to empowering and supporting Black, Indigenous, and other educators of color across the state. This network complements the work of The Third Place, which actively fosters inclusive spaces for connection and professional development through efforts like SHIFT Maine by Maine Initiatives.

On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, the BIPOC Educators Network is holding its next meeting virtually. This will provide another vital opportunity for BIPOC educators to connect, share experiences, and access tailored resources that promote professional growth and community building. This network plays an instrumental role in building a diverse and resilient workforce of educators committed to enhancing equity and excellence in Maine schools.

Educators who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, or people of color are encouraged to get involved by completing the BIPOC educator information form with their career details, expectations, and interests. Please use this link to join the BIPOC Educators Network event on December 10.

This collaboration highlights the Maine Department of Education’s commitment to fostering a supportive educational environment for educators of all backgrounds. It celebrates and elevates the unique contributions of Black, Indigenous, and other educators of color, while reinforcing the Maine DOE’s dedication to educational equity and excellence. By supporting educators who reflect the diverse identities and experiences of their students, this initiative advances the Maine DOE’s mission to ensure equitable opportunities for all Maine learners.

Please contact Ayesha Hall, Maine DOE Director of Strategic Partnerships, at ayesha.hall@maine.gov for more information.

‘Falmouth Friends’ Initiative Brings High School and Elementary School Students Together on Friday Mornings

At Falmouth Public Schools, high school students start their Fridays by greeting elementary school students through an initiative called “Falmouth Friends.” Launched at the beginning of the 2023/2024 school year by the Service Learning Department, this program continues to bring students from various high school clubs, teams, and classes together with their younger counterparts.

Every Friday morning, a different group of high school students wearing their team uniforms or club apparel welcomes elementary students as they arrive at school. These interactions often include high-fives, and sometimes, the teams bring something to engage with the younger students. For example, the girls’ volleyball team recently played catch with elementary students, and the high school theater group once performed in costume.

“Younger students are immediately drawn to high school students, and the teams always wear their uniform or other team apparel to identify their sport or club,” John Carter, Service Learning Coordinator for Falmouth Public Schools, said.

Falmouth Public Schools’ unified campus setup allows this program to operate smoothly, as high school students with first-period study halls can easily walk to the elementary school to engage with kids. About five to six high school representatives participate each week, greeting elementary students during their school arrival window between 8:30 and 8:50 a.m.

“This is just one way we connect as one campus,” Carter said. “The goal is to create community, and I find that the high school students enjoy it as much as the elementary school students.”

The rotation of high school greeters continues until all sports teams and extracurricular groups have had the opportunity to participate. As Carter noted, “It has been amazing to see students make connections with each other over shared interests across the schools, and it is the best way to start a Friday morning!”

Information for this story was provided by Falmouth Public Schools. To share good news from your school, please fill out the Maine DOE good news submission form.

New Guide on Best Practice Primary Prevention Resources and Lessons Available for Maine Health Educators

Maine health educators can now access the new Best Practice Primary Prevention Resources and Lessons for Health Educators Guide in the Maine Prevention Store. This product is available as a free digital download and contains linked information to primary prevention programs, as well as lessons about individual topic areas.

To access this resource, you must “add to cart” and provide some basic information, but there will be no charge.

The Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Tobacco and Substance Use Prevention and Control Program and the Maine Department of Education (DOE) have partnered to create this repository of evidence-based resources and lessons to support health teachers in delivering current, accurate, and best practice primary prevention education for alcohol, tobacco/nicotine, and other substances. This is not an all-compassing list but rather a helpful start to supporting Maine’s health educators.

The Best Practice Primary Prevention Resources and Lessons for Health Educators Guide identifies the associated National Consensus for School Health Education standards that align with each resource. The information contained therein follows the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Strategic Prevention Framework and is intended to be integrated as a component of a robust health education curriculum.

For more information, please contact Stephanie.Tucker@Maine.gov or Susan.Berry@Maine.gov.

Literacy Learning Grant Opportunity Open to Pre-K through Grade 3 Maine School Teams

In the summer of 2024, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) offered educators free access to professional literacy learning through Steps to Literacy modules from the AIM Institute for Learning & Research. Nearly 650 educators completed more than 20,000 hours of professional learning in the science of reading, phonological awareness, phonics, decoding, spelling, language expression, writing, emerging literacy, vocabulary, dyslexia, and English language learning.

In response to overwhelmingly positive feedback from summer participants, and as a result of the Maine DOE’s continued dedication to supporting high-quality, evidence-based literacy instruction in Maine schools, the Maine DOE is pleased to now be offering a new grant program for schoolwide implementation of this effort. This opportunity is designed for school teams who will be provided access to three AIM literacy modules and who will participate in virtual community of practice sessions for six months. That work will help to support literacy leadership and the implementation of the Steps to Literacy best practices in classrooms.

At the completion of this project, each participating school will receive $5,000 for further schoolwide capacity building and implementation of evidence-based literacy practices.

To be eligible for this grant, schools must register a minimum of three staff members, including at least one general education teacher, one special education teacher, and one literacy leader (a specialist, administrator, or lead teacher). This project will prioritize applications from pre-K through grade 3 school teams. A school administrative unit (SAU) with multiple elementary schools applying should complete a separate application for each school.

Special consideration will be given to schools serving populations of students with identified achievement gaps (i.e. those related to race, income, etc.) and with identified reading proficiency achievement gaps, including, but not limited to, special education in a reading-specific learning disability, reading achievement gaps for economically-disadvantaged students, and racial and ethnic populations.

Interested applicants from schools with fewer than three school staff members should please contact Dee Saucier at danielle.m.saucier@maine.gov to discuss options. Future opportunities will be available for educator teams in grades 4-12.

Applications are due Friday, December 20, 2024.

AIM Pathways™ is a unique, interactive digital teacher training platform, designed to deliver research and evidence-based content in the science of reading. Each Steps to Literacy module provides teachers with engaging learning opportunities organized in a “learn, practice, apply” introductory cycle and contains teaching techniques, videos, and printable resources from the comprehensive AIM Pathways courses to develop participants’ understanding and application of new techniques into classroom practice.

The modules offered as a part of this grant project include:

Module 1: Overview of the Science of Reading (nine contact hours)
Module 2: Phonological Awareness (seven contact hours)
Module 3: Decoding & Spelling (seven contact hours)

To learn more about this literacy module project, you may attend a virtual informational meeting at 3:30 p.m. on December 10, 2024 by registering here. This session will be recorded. Please use this link to complete the Project application.

For additional information, please contact Dee Saucier at danielle.m.saucier@maine.gov.

C-SPAN Student Documentary Competition Open for Middle and High Schoolers in Maine

For the 21st year, C-SPAN is hosting its annual StudentCam national video documentary competition. This opportunity engages middle and high school students nationwide to explore and think critically about topics that are important to them and that will affect their futures by creating short documentaries.

As part of this year’s theme, C-SPAN is looking for students to delve into the heart of the issues they want to see the new presidential administration address using the prompt: “Your Message to the President: What issue is most important to you or your community?”

The deadline for video submissions is Inauguration Day on Monday, January 20, 2025. Competition Guidelines:

This competition is open to all students in grades 6-12. Studnets in grades 6-8 compete in the middle school category, and students in grades 9-12 compete in the high school category.
Students may compete individually or in teams of two or three members.
Documentaries must include clips of supporting or opposing C-SPAN videothat relates to the chosen topic.
Winning StudentCam documentaries will thoroughly explore a variety of viewpoints related to the chosen topic, including those that may oppose the filmmaker’s points of view. It is recommended that students interview experts on the chosen subject, including elected officials.
Documentaries must be between 5-6 minutes in length. (End credits, if applicable, must begin after the 5-minute mark but are permitted to run longer than the allotted 6-minute timeframe.)
Entries must include either end credits or a works cited list. Students can use whichever format they currently use to cite their sources.
Videos are due on January 20.

Next spring, the C-SPAN Education Foundation will award 150 student and 53 teacher prizes, totaling $100,000—including a top prize of $5,000.

@For more information about the competition, including the entry form and video upload, please visit www.studentcam.org.

Maine Announces State Delegates for 63rd Annual United States Senate Youth Program

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is thrilled to announce the selection of Maine’s delegates for the 63rd annual prestigious United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). On Monday, December 2, two exceptional Maine students, Sam Drummey and Emmett Appell, were recognized at their schools for their outstanding leadership, academic achievements, and community involvement. They will represent Maine in Washington, D.C. in March of 2025 for an immersive week-long program, designed to deepen students’ understanding of the U.S. government and inspire future leaders.

Sam Drummey is a senior at Thornton Academy. He serves as the Student Body’s Vice President and is a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability and equal rights. Sam is deeply involved in his community, serving on the City of Biddeford’s Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee and the Biddeford Sustainability Commission. He has earned top academic honors, including awards in Honors Sophomore English, AP Human Geography, Honors Blind Eye of History, and nine other courses. Outside of the classroom, Sam actively volunteers with Maine Youth Action Network, MaineTransNet, and GrowSmart Maine. He is also a member of several school organizations, including the Student Council, Environmental Club, National Honor Society, Model UN, and the Speech Team. Sam’s future career aspirations focus on ensuring equal rights for all, protecting the environment, and working toward a renewable energy transition. His goal is to mitigate the negative impacts of environmental changes on vulnerable populations, while expanding access to vital services like housing and health care.

Sarah Stanley, York County Regional Representative, Senator Angus King; Pamela Buck, State Office Representative, Senator Susan Collins; Delilah Poupore, Sam's mother; Sam Drummey; Jonathan Drummey, Sam's father; Beth Lambert, Chief Teaching and Learning Officer, Maine Department of Education; Vanessa Diaz Gaumond, Youth Programs Coordinator, Maine Department of the Secretary of State — Sarah Stanley, York County Regional Representative, Senator Angus King; Pamela Buck, State Office Representative, Senator Susan Collins; Delilah Poupore, Sam’s mother; Sam Drummey; Jonathan Drummey, Sam’s father; Beth Lambert, Chief Teaching and Learning Officer, Maine Department of Education; Vanessa Diaz Gaumond, Youth Programs Coordinator, Maine Department of the Secretary of State

Emmett Appell is a senior at Erskine Academy. He is a dynamic leader with a passion for both public service and STEM. He is President of the Student Council and Environmental Club, Co-Founder of the Math Team, and Vice President of the International Outreach Coalition. Emmett is also the First Chair Saxophonist in the Jazz Band and the Captain of the Soccer Team. His academic excellence has earned him the Rensselaer Medal and the George Eastman Young Leaders Award, along with competitive research positions at MDI Biological Laboratory, the Keller BLOOM Program at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, and Colby College’s Professor Dasan Thamattoor’s lab. Emmett’s leadership extends to volunteering as Chief of Staff at Dirigo State and as a Rural Youth Activist at JustMe for JustUS. His passion for public service began early, inspired by attending selectboard meetings with his father and witnessing the impact of local government. Emmett plans to pursue a liberal arts education in college to continue his work in policy and STEM, with a long-term goal of becoming a congressman.

From left to right: Kathy Finnemore, Constituent Services Representative, Senator Susan Collins; Karen Fox, Constituent Services Representative, Senator Angus King; Emmett Appel; Beth Lambert, Chief Teaching and Learning Officer, Maine Department of Education; Vanessa Diaz Gaumond, Youth Programs Coordinator, Maine Department of the Secretary of State

“We are incredibly proud of these outstanding students who have demonstrated exemplary leadership, dedication to community service, and a deep commitment to learning,” Beth Lambert, Chief Teaching and Learning Officer for the Maine Department of Education, said. “Both Sam and Emmett embody the values of the United States Senate Youth Program, and we are confident that they will bring their passion for public service and civic engagement to Washington, D.C., as they represent Maine at the national level.”

Members of both Senator Susan Collins’ office and Senator Angus King’s office, as well as representatives from the Maine Secretary of State’s office, were present during Monday’s announcement, underscoring the importance of fostering civic engagement and leadership in Maine’s young people.

The USSYP, established by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962, offers a unique opportunity for young leaders to gain a deeper understanding of the federal government and meet with U.S. senators, government officials, and political leaders. In addition to the immersive experience, each delegate will receive a $10,000 college scholarship.

For more information about the United States Senate Youth Program, please click here.

Applications Open for 2025 Maine DOE Student Cabinet

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has opened applications for its 2025 Student Cabinet, a group of students that meets with the Maine DOE to discuss educational initiatives, opportunities, improvements, and policy. Applications are due on Friday, December 20, 2024.

This is the fifth year that the Maine DOE has appointed students to a Student Cabinet, which serves as a forum to integrate student voices into decision-making that impacts their journey through Maine’s education system. In past years, students have helped to identify mental health needs at school, raised issues of racial equity and school safety, and brainstormed ways to individualize learning.

Students in grades 4-12 and those in their first year of college may apply to be on the Student Cabinet. The newly appointed members will serve from January through April 2025. Student Cabinet members will be expected to attend scheduled during their appointment, prepare for each meeting as needed, work collaboratively with one another and with Maine DOE staff, and express views and opinions openly, constructively, and respectfully.

2025 Meeting Schedule:

Thursday, January 16, 2025, 3:30-5:00 p.m. via Zoom
Thursday, February 13, 2025, 3:30-5:00 p.m. via Zoom
Thursday, March 6, 2025, 3:30-5:00 p.m. via Zoom
Thursday, April 17, 2025, 3:30-5:00 p.m. via Zoom

Instructions for applying:
Students interested in serving on the Maine DOE Student Cabinet must submit their electronic application by December 20. Applications can be submitted electronically here.

For more information, please contact Rachel Paling, Communications & Outreach Manager for the Maine Department of Education, at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

Empowering Students with Diverse Abilities: Nominations Open for Executive Student Transition Committee

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Transition Maine program invites educators to nominate Maine students with individualized education programs (IEPs) to apply for a leadership role on the Executive Student Transition (EST) Committee.

Established by the Maine DOE in early 2022, Transition Maine was created to provide equitable and inclusive post-secondary transition services for students with IEPs to help them ease into adulthood. Since then, the Maine DOE Transition team has been on a mission to amplify youth voices in Maine and beyond. The Executive Student Transition Committee is a big part of that mission.

The Committee is comprised of students with diverse abilities who work to champion their rights and actively shape inclusive transition experiences. As an Executive Student Transition Committee member, a student will engage in initiatives that forge pathways to promoting equitable access to education, employment, and independent living while building leadership and self-advocacy skills.

Committee members independently attend virtual weekly meetings and develop content related to transition topics, like self-advocacy and determination. They also engage in leadership opportunities in community-wide programming, such as taking part in the planning of the Maine DOE’s Annual Transition Maine Youth Summit and representing Transition Maine at local, statewide, or national events.

Along with the nomination form, student nominees will need to prepare a written, audio, or video response to a topical prompt around advocacy and transitions. This can be done independently or with the assistance of an educator.

Executive Student Transition Committee nominees should be students who are passionate about leadership and advocacy. Members

New committee members will help plan and run the 2025 Transition Maine youth Summit in Presque Isle.

of the Committee are compensated for up to 20 hours per month. By joining the Committee, students will be part of a team dedicated to driving positive change and creating opportunities for all Maine students with diverse needs.

Please submit your nomination using this link. If you are a student or want to provide a potential nominee with more information, you can download the file linked here.

For more information, please reach out to the Maine DOE Transition Specialist Titus O’Rourke at titus.orourke@maine.gov.

Maine DOE Staff Contribute to Journal of School Nursing

Maine Department of Education (DOE) School Nurse Consultant Emily Poland, MPH, RN, NCSN, and School Nurse Specialist Sarah DeCato, MSN, RN, NCSN, in collaboration with nurse colleagues across the nation, recently co-authored an article titled, “Exploring Innovative U.S. School Health Delivery Models: A Narrative Review”. This literature review identifies several different school health delivery models that exist today, as well as a need for continued research and growth in innovation to best meet the ever-evolving health needs of students.

This article will be published in the Journal of School Nursing in February of 2025, and it has already been published online.

This partnership was part of a larger project completed in 2023, when the Maine DOE commissioned an environmental scan and state assessment of school health services to gain a deeper understanding of the state of these services. The purpose of this project is to describe school health services, examine innovative models and infrastructures that facilitate Medicaid billing, and provide recommendations for a three- to five–year plan to strengthen school health services.

To complete this project, the Maine DOE contracted with the Center for School Health Innovation & Quality, which is housed in the Public Health National Center for Innovations, a nonprofit organization that is part of the Public Health Accreditation Board.

The environmental scan and summary sheet can be viewed here: