The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is preparing to launch the Multilingual Education Task Force (METF), an initiative to support the development of bilingual programs in Maine schools.
Bilingual programs have benefits for all students, including, but not limited to:
Superior academic performance;
Greater inclusion and improved socioemotional and learning outcomes for multilingual learners;
Intercultural communicative competence; and
Future opportunities for employment in the global economy.
If you are interested in participating as a member of the METF, you are welcome to submit an application. All educators and community members who would like to learn more about bilingual education and begin advocating for, and taking steps toward developing a program in a Maine school are encouraged to join.
May 5, 2022: Examination of opportunities to implement dual language education programs
May 12, 2022: Identifying the challenges and solutions to implement dual language education programs
May 23, 2022: Begin a strategic plan to build the foundation to implement dual language education programs
To learn more about bilingual education, its benefits, various program models, and how to begin the implementation process, check out the Multistate Association for Bilingual Education website. Contact April Perkins, ESOL/Bilingual Programs Specialist, at april.perkins@maine.gov with any questions.
The Maine Department of Education, Maine Department of Health and Human Services, and Avel eCare have partnered to deliver telehealth nursing services to school districts throughout the state, enabling access to nursing services in communities that are struggling with staffing and workload pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the nationwide school nursing shortage.
To expand these school nursing services, the state of Maine used a portion of its COVID-19 federal relief funding to pilot a program with Avel eCare. The eCare School Health program, which has been an Avel service line since 2015, delivers school nurse services virtually via a secure, two-way video mobile unit. The service is being offered at no cost to schools.
“Our school nurses have been on the frontlines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, caring for students and providing critical support to keep students, staff and schools safe. They are absolute heroes,” said Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “We also know they are exhausted and stretched so thin, and that many schools have not been able to find the experienced school nurse staff they need. This partnership with Avel eCare, made possible with federal funds, offers additional nursing support to help fill shortages in our schools and expand the care we provide to our students.”
“We’re pleased to partner on this important effort to provide telehealth school nursing services to Maine schools as part of strengthening Maine’s school-based health programs,” said Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew. “This model bridges gaps in school nursing coverage, helps schools maintain safe and healthy environments, and reduces barriers to learning by providing effective preventive care. School nurses have been invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic and are a trusted resource for their students, school staffs, and communities.”
According to a recent U.S. CDC report, school nurses help students improve their academic outcomes and can also make a significant impact on the broader community. For example, every dollar invested into school nursing program results in society saving $2.20 because of a reduction in emergency room visits and parents taking time off of work to care for their sick children.
“Even before the pandemic, the lives of school nurses were busy. Now, their jobs have expanded to include public health, and that work is simply too big to do alone. We’re thankful to have the support of Avel eCare to help our nurse provide the daily health services that our children need,” said Tara McKechnie, Principal of Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School, which was among the first schools to implement the virtual school nurse program.
The program is currently accepting applications and eligible schools are urged to apply today to take advantage of the available grant funding. K-12 schools, once they fill out an online application, will then receive direct support from the eCare School Health team, at no cost to the school, through June 2023.
Maine Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a statewide effort designed to help school teams form a proactive, schoolwide, systems approach to improving social and academic competence for all students. Schools in Maine are engaging the implementation of PBIS through a variety of training and coaching opportunities offered by the Maine Department of Education in strong partnership with the University of Maine System. PBIS has documented outcomes for schools who implement PBIS with fidelity and integrity related to dramatic decreases in the number of behavior problems experienced in their schools. Additionally, students and staff in these schools report higher ratings of school climate scores than those in comparative schools who do not use a system of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.
Maine DOE will be accepting new applications for schools interested in PBIS to join a 3-year professional development cohort to establish a strong Tier One System. If you would like to learn more, our team will provide an overview of the PBIS Cohort Model and other pathways to access training and coaching for our Maine schools on April 6, 2022 at 3:30pm.
Education Commissioner Pender Makin visited Katahdin Elementary School this week to meet with students and staff and experience the growing outdoor learning opportunities at the school.
Commissioner Makin was joined by Superintendent and Katahdin Elementary School Principal Dr. Marie Robinson, who proudly introduced her staff, many of whom are graduates of the Katahdin schools. The sense of pride and community was evident throughout the building, as well as the commitment to a supportive and fun learning environment. Ms. Jaide Berry joined on the tour of the school and talked about the ways in which she uses the outdoor spaces to connect with students as part of their social and emotional skill building activities. Katahdin Elementary School has created a space where students and staff learn about restorative justice practices, including understanding how the brain works, and how to communicate effectively as valued members of the school and classroom communities.
As she greeted pre-k students on their way into afternoon classes, and learned about another class’ outdoor investigation to find signs of spring, Commissioner Makin had the privilege to thank the teachers of Katahdin Elementary School for all of their hard work and dedication to their students. After a quick tour inside, it was time to put on snowshoes and head out to investigate the amazing learning spaces on campus. The school has snowshoes, skis, and a clothing supply closet that students can access, ensuring that with the right gear, all weather is good weather for learning!
Joined by grade 2 student Bentley and grade 5 student Abbie, Commissioner Makin got to check out outdoor learning spaces, including a shelter built by grade 5 students with the volunteer assistance of a school board member, who used his military training to design a cozy and dry space, and a pond where a game camera caught the exciting adventures of a beaver family and their hut.
With a commitment that began in 2016 to getting students outdoors more, Katahdin Elementary School has developed a campus with trails, a weather station, raised garden beds, and even their own apple orchard. As schools shifted to outdoor learning spaces over the past two years as a prevention method for the spread of COVID-19, the school expanded their own offerings, and used federal relief funds to build large outdoor learning pavilions, and RREV (Rethinking Responsive Education Ventures) funds received through the Maine Department of Education for other outdoor spaces.
On Wednesday, March 23, at 1pm, the EPA will host the first informational webinar on the 2022 Clean School Bus Program.
The Clean School Bus Program will provide $5 billion over the next five years to replace existing school buses with low- and zero-emission school buses. Each year, approximately $500 million will be available exclusively for electric school buses and approximately $500 million will be available for electric buses and multiple types of cleaner alternative fuel school buses.
EPA anticipates that the 2022 Clean School Bus Program application period will open to the public in late April and close in July. We expect that this program may cover up to 100% of school bus and associated charging infrastructure costs for low income, disadvantaged, and rural school districts, while offering significant funding to all schools. Additional Clean School Bus funding opportunities are expected to follow later.
The state will be working closely with the EPA to offer technical assistance to schools wishing to apply for this funding. If you are interested in learning more about technical assistance, please reach out.
Twenty-six teams from across Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts gathered at Thomas College, in Waterville, to compete in the New England District Pine Tree Event robotics competition.
This two-day qualifying event marked a return after a two-year absence due to the COVID 19 pandemic. For teams to qualify for the New England District Event that will be held in West Springfield, Massachusetts next month, they needed to win one of the top two awards (the Chairman’s Award and the Engineering Inspiration Award) or make it into the finals. While there were no spectators in the stands and there were limitations on team members present, there was no shortage of energy and excitement at the event.
Saturday was packed with activity as teams jumped between competing on the field for valuable points, making modifications to their robots in the pit, and interviewing with judges. A common theme share with the judges was how teams had managed to survive during the pandemic. While there were no “rookie” teams, this was the first competition for many of the student participants. By the end of a full first day of competition, The Bucks’ Wrath (Team 6329) from RSU25 went into the playoffs as the top ranked team, narrowly edging out B.E.R.T. from MSAD6.
Despite a wintery mix that swept through on Saturday night, teams were ready bright and early for the playoffs. One of the unique aspects of the playoff format is that different teams come together to form three-team alliances. This can allow for some underdog teams to be part of a winning alliance, which proved to be the case for LRTC 8023 (Team 8023) out of Lewiston as they partnered up with Orange Chaos (Team 4564) out of Brewer and Morpheus (Team 5813) out of New Hampshire. The trio won an intense final match with a close point count, a pair of yellow cards, and a toppled robot. The three finalists, The Buck’s Wrath, Windham Windup (Team 3467) from New Hampshire, and Spartan Robotics (Team 7907) from Massachusetts, qualified to go on to the New England District Event.
Members of B.E.R.T. try to get their robot up onto a higher bar at the conclusion of a match
Victorious members of the Orange Chaos team
The day concluded with the awards ceremony that recognized teams in a variety of categories.
The Blue Crew claimed the top honor of Chairman’s Award at the 2022 Pine Tree Event
The Chairman’s Award went to the Blue Crew (Team 6153) with students from Mt. Blue High School, Spruce Mountain High School, and the Foster Technology Center in Farmington. A young team from rural Western Maine and made up of students from 13 towns across 4 counties, the Blue Crew came together weekly for team meetings and almost nightly during the build season. The Blue Crew brought in members from the SMART team at Spruce Mountain when it dissolved and quickly assimilated them into the team. Their inclusivity is one of their most notable qualities as they include students of diverse backgrounds and physical and cognitive abilities, and elevate them to key roles within the team. R2Blue2, the Blue Crew’s mascot, is well-known in the community and regional robotics competitions. They take him to the middle and elementary schools within their school districts, where they have worked with classes and FLL (First Lego League) teams.
Team 4041’s pit area is easy to find.
The Iron Tigers (Team 4041) out of Gardiner won the Imagery Award. Decked out in black and orange, and always accompanied by their tiger mascot, Cheetoh, the Iron Tigers exemplified the aesthetic spirit of the award.
The Gracious Professionalism Award went to The Collective (Team 4906) from Mid-Maine Technical Center in Waterville.
The Entrepreneurship Award went to The Buck’s Wrath (Team 6329) from Bucksport High School.
The exciting and colorful Northern Force (Team 172) won the Team Spirit Award, whose flag-waving, neon-light flashing, and hot pink outfits were certainly eye-catching in the pit.
The Quality Award went to the Riot Crew (Team 58) from South Portland for the excellent modularity of their work.
The Innovation in Control went to the Outliers (Team 5687) from Portland’s Baxter Academy, whose effective mechanical system for climbing allowed them to consistently climb up to the highest bar in matches.
Other Maine teams competing were: Infinite Loop (Team 2648) from Messolonskee High School, Delta Prime Robotics (Team 4473) with students from Hall-Dale and Richmond High School, Radical Impact (Team 5265) from Chevrus High School, Equilibrium (Team 6161) from Gray-New Gloucester High School and The ANOMALY (Team 3451) from Sanford Regional Technical Center.
Award winners from New Hampshire included Chop Shop (Team 166) winning the prestigious District Engineering Inspiration Award, Tornadoes (Team 7314) winning the Judges’ Award, Windham Windup winning the Excellence in Engineering Award and Morpheus winning the Autonomous Award.
Award winners from Massachusetts included NUTRONs (Team 125) who won the Industrial Design Award, AZTECHS (Team 157) winning the Creativity Award.
If you are interested in learning more about FIRST Robotics Programs in the New England region, please check their website.
In response to the inequitable access to in-person education faced by Maine students at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, MOOSE was created to leverage the expertise of Maine educators to create a free resource for online, asynchronous learning. In the first year alone, over 300 project-based, interdisciplinary, student-driven modules were created spanning all grades from PreK-12.
Now in its second year, MOOSE continues to innovate and evolve, expanding the capabilities of our dedicated online platform and working with educators to create modules that fit within dedicated PreK-12 learning progressions. What started as an emergency response has become a growing repository of quality content and resources that are used as support-rich enhancements to school-based education.
MOOSE has also become known for its responsive professional development, helping Maine educators expand and deepen their own practice even as they create content for the platform. The relationships and learning that come from being on a MOOSE team, along with the support to innovate and iterate on their ideas, are what keeps these educators coming back session after session as Content Creators.
This week, MOOSE launches its first set of PreK-12 MOOSE Learning Progressions, purposefully designed around interdisciplinary topics including: Career Readiness, Climate Education, History of Genocide and the Holocaust, Computer Science, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Math).
These Learning Progressions are created to provide asynchronous, project-based modules by Maine educators for Maine students. The existing progressions will continue to grow through the work of additional Content Creators and new topics will be added in the coming years. MOOSE Modules of all types can be accessed at: https://learnwithmoose.maine.gov.
Easton Elementary School Principal Erin Ireland and Easton School Department Business Manager Kim Hall discovered a fantastic idea to both generate excitement about reading at the elementary level, and promote being a good citizen and role model.
Every time a student at Easton Elementary School is seen going above and beyond their abilities, or are caught doing a good deed, their teacher administers an “Inchy Token” for the Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine. They then call home to deliver the good news of their reward, and are brought to the book vending machine to deposit the token and bring home a free book. This has immediately ramped up excitement for reading, and is further instilling the desire to be a good citizen.
“This creative program has been a huge success in our elementary school,” said Easton School Department Superintendent Mark Stanley.
The Federal School Safety Clearinghouse is hosting a webinar on March 31 at 3:00 PM on school climate featuring strategies, guidance, and resources for kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools.
Presenters will provide an overview of how communities can improve school climate, help prevent acts of violence, and strategies that lead to improved behavioral and academic outcomes.
School climate refers to the quality of school life and is a broad, multifaceted concept that involves many aspects of the student’s educational experience. Research suggests that a positive school climate can lead to a significant decrease in the likelihood of crime, aggression, and violent behavior. Therefore, schools and districts should implement social, emotional, and behavioral support systems to create a climate that supports and responds to student behavior.
The discussion will feature additional school safety-related resources available through SchoolSafety.gov, as well as a Q&A session.
When: March 31, 2022, 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT
Where: Adobe Connect (access link to be provided one day in advance of the event)
For: K-12 School Superintendents and Principals, School and District Administrators, Teachers and School Staff, School Counselors and School Psychologists, Emergency Management, and Parents
It’s early March at Biddeford High School and just like pre-pandemic years, the Pi Parody has returned. Since 2007, Jon Jacques, a Biddeford High School math teacher, has been rewriting the lyrics to popular songs in an attempt to entertain current and former students. Once a year Jacques celebrates Pi-Day (March 14th) with his classes, and shares his yearly creativity on social media.
For many songs, Jacques has grabbed the microphone and recorded the songs himself, and for others he has relied on the Biddeford Singers, the school’s top vocal group. After a hiatus in 2021, Jacques wanted to really make an impact. For the first time, in a display of school unity, Jacques sang with the Biddeford Singers for this year’s song, and the Jazz Band played the music for the track and video. Some of his most popular renditions include “The Pi Memorizer” to Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger”, Pi-Rational Rhapsody to Queen’s mega hit, and I Will Know Pi to Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”.
This year, he has gone to the archives and is proud to present “I Learned About the Number Pi” (a fun take on Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard it Through the Grapevine”.
Personal side of Pi Day 2022: Pi-Guy gets his crown
Over the years I have done a few noteworthy things to celebrate pi day personally. I have shaved my goatee into the pi symbol and shaved pi into my hair a few times (symbol and digits in separate years). I have sculpted a 5 foot tall pi symbol out of snow and written pi in the snow more times than I can remember. How to top all of that was the question that I have had on my mind for a while. This year I no doubt have done that. I shaved my head completely and visited Eye Of Henna tattoo in Portland for a temporary tattoo of pi. The driving force behind this was of course some shock value. While my favorite day of the school year drew nearer, I thought I could really have an impact on things if I tied my antics to a fundraiser. So I decided to do just that. With so many good causes out there I thought it would be fitting with my new “henna pi crown” that it goes to someone fighting cancer so I chose a colleague’s husband as the beneficiary.
Joined by grade 2 student Bentley and grade 5 student Abbie, Commissioner Makin got to check out outdoor learning spaces, including a shelter built by grade 5 students with the volunteer assistance of a school board member, who used his military training to design a cozy and dry space, and a pond where a game camera caught the exciting adventures of a beaver family and their hut.
The Innovation in Control went to the Outliers (Team 5687) from Portland’s Baxter Academy, whose effective mechanical system for climbing allowed them to consistently climb up to the highest bar in matches.
Maine DOE Newsroom 