Heather White started teaching at the Vinalhaven School in 2002. For the first nine years, she was the third-grade teacher, bringing art into the curriculum as much as possible. In 2011, she made the big leap to teaching k-12 visual arts and hasn’t looked back. It was exciting for her to go back to school to finish up her remaining classes to become a certified art teacher, she absolutely loves what she does, and it shows.

Maine Department of Education’s Katherine Warren visited the May, 7^th K-12 art show and spoke to Heather about her successful teaching strategies. Heather focuses on process over product and mistakes just come with the territory. As a matter of fact, that’s exactly where she believes the learning is. A sign in the art room reads, “Fail a lot! Failing is really just practice.”

This is the message that Heather works to convey to her students each day. She told Katherine, “I know the message is getting through when a project comes out of the kiln broken, which happens once in a while, and a student simply says something like, ‘that’s OK . . .I bet I know what happened, I bet there was still some moisture in the clay, I’ll just make another one.”

Another one of Heather’s recipes for success in the art room is “do the work.” She conveys to students, on a daily basis, the importance of showing up and doing the work. It’s the only way to move forward no matter what the task. Students from kindergarten all the way up to twelfth grade know that when they come to the art room, they’re there to work. No matter what the outcome, they always feel knowing they did their best; this philosophy results in more learning opportunities, and more artistic growth.

These teaching strategies really work for Heather and the proof is in the painting. This past winter Heather displayed second and third grade artwork on the Story Trail at Vinalhaven Land Trust’s Granite Island Preserve. It was an art show in the woods and families were encouraged to plan a winter hike to take in the scenery and the stunning artwork. These art pieces were juxtaposed against Vinalhaven’s real winter forest. It is difficult to say which trees were more beautiful, those imagined by Heather’s students, or the real things. Either way, she has done an exceptional job connecting her students and their artistic work to the environment from which it was inspired.

As with the “Winter Birches,” Heather is always looking for opportunities to try something new or unexpected. Another successful collaboration she worked on this year was with the k-12 music teacher Bill Trevaskis. Together they worked with students to produce stop. Motion short films. Heather said, “I was already doing stop motion films, and Bill was already doing a sound design unit. It was the perfect integrated unit, so why not just go for it!”

The results were thoughtful, beautiful, and downright funny ranging from a peeling out sports car to the sinking of The Titanic. Students were certainly proud of their work, as was their teacher.

K-12 students at Vinalhaven are fortunate to have such dedicated teachers. These alternative and collaborative methods for art and music instruction are exciting examples of the many amazing things Maine teachers and students do on a daily basis to improve education across the State.

This story was written by Maine DOE Intern Simon Handleman in collaboration with Vinalhaven Art Teacher Heather White and Maine DOE Staff Katherine Warren. If you have a story idea or would like to submit a written story for the Maine DOE Newsroom, email Rachel Paling at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

Pictured (Left to Right) – Front row: Robb Cotiaux, Brittany Taylor, Bridges Class teacher Windham Middle School, Connor McNeill, Bridges Class teacher Windham High School. Middle row: Austin Rice, AJ Mains and TJ McAllister. Third row: Jack Hedrich, James Tucker, Eric Loftin, Cameron Malone, Sue Hedrich, Bridges Class Ed Tech.

Story submitted by Susan Hedrich, Educational Technician with the Bridges Program in RSU14.

The Bridges classes at both Windham High & Middle Schools recently went on their first community fishing trip as part of their educational programming. An integrated life skills course, the Bridges program serves students from middle school through independence at the Windham Raymond School District.

Students were greeted at The Pond at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester by registered Maine Guide, Robb Cotiaux, and RSU14 central office staff volunteer, Jack Hedrich, who provided instruction about the mechanics of using a fishing pole with worms for bait.  Despite heavy rain that day, the students enjoyed the fishing lesson immensely and caught three fish.

The Bridges teachers would like to include fishing as part of the students’ community engagement experience in the future and determined that they had a need for their own equipment this spring.  The Trout Unlimited Sebago chapter was contacted about this need and the Conservation Chairman, Mr. Cotiaux presented to the Board a request for a grant for $250 to purchase new fishing gear for the Bridges students.  That grant was awarded this month and will finance the purchase of enough sets of gear for each student on their future trips.

After their fishing lesson was over the students had lunch in the Pineland Café and were treated to complimentary ice cream cones courtesy of the Café Manager, Dore Campbell.

For the fourth year in a row, fourth graders at Carrie Ricker Elementary School in Litchfield assemble around one-hundred homemade parade floats. Such a quantity of floats can fit inside the school cafeteria because each one is little bigger than a shoebox. All spring long these students have been studying Maine culture and history leading up to the Maine Shoebox Parade as the culmination of their learning. This month long project begins in early May when each teacher on the Fourth Grade Team (Beth Pfeffer, Chuck Beganny, Jody Raio, Judy Davidson, and Sarah Radasch) provides their classes with nearly 40 Maine-related topics from which to choose. With each class at around 20 students, the choices are abundant.

For many students at Carrie Ricker this was their first formal experience with research. By introducing students to research-based learning in fourth grade, these students will have abundant background and foundational knowledge for what is to come.

Some of the students who covered local businesses even reached out to the proprietors. One student who researched Fielder’s Choice Ice Cream had the opportunity to interview that business’ owner.  In addition to research and construction, students must write a short informative paragraph about their topic. Either the student (if they choose to read themselves) or their teacher will read their words in front of the assembled fourth grade classes at the parade. A combination of research, writing, creative construction, and public speaking skills make the Maine Shoebox Parade a festival about social studies learning, creativity, and presentation as well as State celebration.  Fourth grade teacher Judy Davidson explained this is why parents, teachers, and students alike get so excited about the project each year.

This year three judges presided over the festivities.  Principal Christine Lajoie-Cameron, Administrative Assistant Keli Terry, and Maine Department of Education Social Studies Specialist, Joe Schmidt were tasked with choosing the best of the floats. One crowd favorite was the Litchfield Diving Horses, a local attraction from the early 20^th Century. Still other projects were made more powerful considering personal student or teacher connections to the topic. The student whose project featured Moody’s Diner was related to the patron family. However, Maxx Crowley took home the Student Choice Award for his lighthouse float.

All judges, teachers, parents, and DOE observers agreed the parade was a display of excellent student behavior and work. The student contenders were respectful and friendly. They demonstrated an appreciation for the hard work of their peers. Each year, following the parade, fourth graders bring their floats through the third grade wing. This reprise of the parade gives younger students a glimpse of life next year, as well as something about which to get excited. After the presentation we walked down a hallway and saw the abundant art on display. It is evident the people at Carrie Ricker value student art and creativity, a tool they use to motivate students and strengthen school community. Ms. Terry, Administrative Assistant, commented how special it was to see students and their work, out from behind the front office desk. All those present look forward to the next annual Maine Shoebox parade, and whatever else the students at Carrie Ricker create.

4th grade teacher Sarah Radasch and student

Student’s Shoebox Parade float about apples

This story was written by Maine DOE Intern Simon Handleman in collaboration with Carrie Ricker School. If you have a story idea or would like to submit a written story for the Maine DOE Newsroom, email Rachel Paling at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

Valerianne Hinkley of Wilton has been awarded the National 2018 George Washington Honor Medal by the Freedoms Foundation. This honor is awarded to groups or individuals who “go above and beyond the call of duty” on a local, regional or national level which promotes good works and serve their communities on an ongoing, day-to-day basis.

17 year old Valerianne is a member of the Class of 2020 at Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, Maine. She created her own anti-bullying campaign in 2017 after being bullied herself. The campaign has since reached international levels, including being recognized by the national Bullying Project, in Canada and has been invited over to the Italy headquarters should she be in the area for a visit.

Be Bold Stand Up To Bullying includes a post-it notes locker project at local schools, posters of positive words and sayings, and many more initiatives that promote kindness throughout the school and community.

Valerianne meets and speaks with groups that are interested in hearing her story so that she can share her project and its goals to help raise awareness about bullying in local schools and communities, talk about how to report incidents, and share how to find resources. Her goal is to let everyone know they have a voice when it comes to standing up to bullying, no matter who you are.

East Grand School a 2019 finalist for the national State Education Technology Directors Association’s (SETDA) annual Student Voices Award, which highlights schools leveraging technology for project-based learning and workforce development. More information about each of the 5 finalists can be found on SETDA’s website.

The school has developed its own project-based learning curriculum and educators share that as a result of shifting to this model (which intentionally integrates technology), they have seen students become more willing to take risks, be more persistent when challenged by learning, show empathy and encourage others more readily, and communicate more efficiently when working in groups.

East Grand’s Nomination Video

The curriculum is designed to build a sense of and an appreciation of place (6-8) and community (9-10), as well as a sense of self (11-12). The goal is to empower students to have the skills and self-knowledge to choose a life-pathway they are passionate about and can build upon for a successful future. The learning process also helps students realize the great potential of the area in which they live and the strength of the people around them. Because of the plentiful natural resources in the area, much of the curriculum ties into and connects the students with outdoor experiences. These experiences develop science and social studies skills as well as workforce development skills like persistence, resilience, and thinking flexibly.

Some examples of project-based learning include:

• Habits of Mind: The “Habits of Mind” project introduces students to a number of attributes and practices that they will use throughout their years at the school (and in life!)
• Field Guide Project: Students created a field guide to the local area, highlighting human, natural, and civic structures. They gathered information through field trips and interviews, and used technology to create a guide that could be shared widely.  View the Field Guide
• Latvis Project: During the Latvis Project, each educator develops a project idea and students choose one to join for the month. All are community based and help students develop skills that would be great for future jobs. East Grand received the “Service Above Self” award from the Houlton Rotary Club for these projects.
• Dream Team: A subset of high school students also participate in the “Dream Team” and learn to lead the school’s Virtual Reality Makerspace – helping them gain both technical and leadership skills. 

Additionally, a website was made by East Grand students and educators to share what they do with other educators when they hosted a Learning Design Lab in March. Visit the website.

The winner of the Student Voices Award will be announced on June 22nd, 2019 and will be invited to join the SETDA conference in Washington, DC in November.

East Grand is Pre-K to 12 school located in Danforth, ME (on the borders of Aroostook and Washington counties) and is home to 140 students. The school’s culture and learning environments are highly student-centered and is connected to the small, rural community. It has a strong and supportive superintendent and group of educator leaders that foster student leadership and student ownership of learning across the PK-12 school.

For more information, contact Jennifer Gilman (jgilman@eastgrandschool.org) or Jill Plummer (jplummer@eastgrandschool.org) at East Grand School.

This submission is from the May 2019 RSU 18 Administrative Report, submitted by RSU 18 Assistant Superintendent Keith Morin.

Belgrade Central school has been challenging their students to excel in and outside of the classroom in recent months. They completed the Black Bear Book Award Program with a total of 481 books read. The fourth graders won with 165 books read, followed by third grade with 160, and fifth with 156. Educators Daniels and Bailey expressed their pride over their students’ achievements.

One group of students in Mr. Brooks’ third grade class read the Newbery Honor Book, Because of Winn-Dixie.                                                                                    

Outside of the classroom, second graders spent the day at Bond Brook in Augusta to release salmon fry into the wild. The fry were raised from eggs this winter, with 194 out of 200 surviving even through a power outage and a cooler malfunction. The students were able to witness the lifecycle of a salmon firsthand. 

A third grade class, under the instruction of Mr. Brooks, wrote nonfiction books as part of the Lucy Calkins Units of Study, which is a method of teaching literature to students in applicable ways that adapt to their needs while providing challenges. Students wrote books about the Sun, Computers, Moose, Harpy Eagles, Sloths, Hummingbirds, Flamingos, and many other topics; they then included tables of contents, headings, page numbers, captions, diagrams, and other information. The elementary students were required to perform their own research and take notes in order to write their books. More can be learned about the Units of Study method here: http://www.unitsofstudy.com/k5writing/ 

Second grade students at Belgrade Central are celebrating the last 26 days of the school year with an “ABC” countdown. Every day involves a special activity starting with a letter of the alphabet.

Kids have been learning in and outside of the classroom, but they have also been improving their fitness with the BCS Running Club. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons, you can find first through fifth graders running around baseball and softball fields. This club includes 94 students, and after every club meeting, students use QR codes to track their mileage, which totaled to 1,890 miles, the highest yet. Each session, the students’ mileage is compared to lengths of travel to certain parts of the U.S., then the students learn a fact about the given location. Twenty runners in the club have totaled more miles than the length of a marathon, with the highest at 42 miles. 

Third graders in Brooks’ class were introduced with great joy to the Newbery Honor Book, Because of Winn-Dixie. Students couldn’t stop reading the novel, finished their assignments with excitement, and at the end of the book created a number of projects based on the story. The author’s use of figurative language and more complicated vocabulary, as well as themes such as change and loss, provided a deeper learning experience for students to explore. The unit ended with a Winn-Dixie-themed party featuring menu items inspired by the book. 

Belgrade Central also had students delving into the arts, with first graders creating a mural of the four seasons. Throughout the year, the students heard stories about the seasons, explored the uniqueness of each one, studied authors and illustrators, and discussed things such as healthy living, the senses, and nature, among many other things. After finishing the mural, pictured below, students wrote about their experiences and what they learned. 

At 9:30 on a cloudy Friday morning, the three hundred students of Carrie Ricker Elementary School, Litchfield, gathered in the gymnasium to celebrate the flag of the United States of America. Among the parents and community members who congregated there were close to a dozen veterans who were honored for their service on this 9th Annual celebration at Carrie Ricker. Senator Angus King and a representative for Senator Susan Collins were in attendance as well. The walls were plastered with large, colorful posters bearing messages like, “Best Principal Ever” in farewell to the school’s retiring principal, Christine Lajoie-Cameron.

A procession of first graders was led into the gymnasium by Uncle Sam, a tall star-spangled man in a towering top hat, to the thunderous accompaniment of “The Star Spangled Banner” as the entire assembly clapped in time.

After circling around the gym, the children took a seat and the ceremony began. First graders sang before the school about flag soup, then third graders stood and spoke about the Pledge of Allegiance and its importance, after which all stood to salute the flag for the National Anthem. The second grade performed, and then the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts showed how to properly and respectfully retire a flag. Their troop leader commented that they learn how to handle the flag as part of their organization, and that the young Scouts have looked forward to participating in the ceremony for the last few years.

The winners of the writing competition were then announced. Students in all grade levels had submitted short essays or pieces of poetry, some of which the winners were then selected to read aloud.

Next, the fourth graders recited poetry, and then Senator King spoke at the podium. He told the audience about Andrew J. Tozier, who was born between Monmouth and Litchfield, and was the color-bearer for the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Battle of Gettysburg, where he stood at Little Round Top with the flag under one arm while firing with a borrowed rifle from the other. The Representative for Susan Collins read a letter from the Senator shortly afterward.

Principal Lajoie-Cameron

The Senator Angus King shows students his tie clip as part of his address to the students of Carrie Ricker.

The ceremonies concluded with a choral ensemble composed of the student body, featuring a number of patriotic songs. With the impressive turnout to the event, it is almost certain that Carrie Ricker Elementary will host its 10th annual Flag Day celebration this time next year. All community members are encouraged to attend.

This story was written by Maine DOE Intern Emmeline Willey in collaboration with Carrie Ricker School. If you have a story idea or would like to submit a written story for the Maine DOE Newsroom, email Rachel Paling at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

Submitted by Evelyn Beaulieu, Director of Curriculum and Academic Achievement at RSU 25. 

On Wednesday, June 5, 2019, Bucksport Middle School (BSM) hosted teachers from around the state in a Learning Lab, sponsored by the Maine Department of Education. The Learning Lab’s purpose was to demonstrate how BMS uses technology to enhance learning, and for the visiting educators to take new ideas and skills back to their community.

One of the day’s main focuses was to have students and their experiences be front and center. Members of the school’s Digital Media Club discussed the process of establishing, then writing and distributing the school’s first Digital newspaper. Members J-Lynn Farren, Abbigail Farricker, Kasey Findley, Dylan Wombacher, Emily West, Brianna Grass, Hannah Varnum, Kelsea Gaff, Wynn Therrien and Ella Orcutt also answered guest questions regarding the success and struggles they had experienced establishing the newspaper, and what the group’s long term goals were for the upcoming years, and plans for video announcements and more.

“My favorite part was teachers asking us questions and us being able to teach them how to do stuff,” said Kasey Findley, writer of the paper’s Kasey’s Korny Korner. “I think they gained a lot of resources that they will be able to bring to future classes.”

The school’s GT Art Program had students Ella Hosford, Ayden Maguire, and Diego Harvey working with GT Coordinator Amanda Hoffert doing photo manipulation. They were able to show examples of their photos, and go over the process and technology they used to manipulate the photos.

8th graders Alyx Frazell and Wynn Therrien were on hand to show the amazing work they did with 8th Grade Social Studies teacher Donna Short’s Greek Mythology Research project. Mrs. Short used project based learning to have her student’s demonstrate their understanding of the research process. Through student voice and choice 8th graders used a variety of genres to express new learning, from posters and slide shows to Ms. Frazell’s pottery and Mr. Therrien’s computer program written in Scratch. Guests were able to see the various types of technology that were used, and how Mrs. Short integrated them into project based learning in her classroom.

The final group, were students Wynn Therrien, Dylan Courtney, Andrew Braley, Bo Provencher and Kasey Findley to demonstrate BMS’s 3D printing program. All BMS students take Information Technology class with Mrs. Braley and learn coding, and 3D printing engineering and design. Mr. Provencher and Mr. Courtney showed the boats they had designed in 6th grade, Mr. Findley discussed the bubble wands they had made in 5th grade, and Mr. Therrien and Mr. Braley demonstrated Tinkercad, the program the students use to create their 3D projects. The students went over the design process, the engineering skills that were taught, and how they used problem solving to fix issues that arose when designing their projects.

“I was incredibly proud of all of our students.” Mrs Braley stated. “It was important to us to have the students be front and center, so that instead of teachers listening to just Donna, Mandy and I, they were getting first hand testimonies and examples from the students that we are teaching, and they were able to ask them what they thought was successful and what needed improvement. Having our students be able to demonstrate their learning in such a positive way was incredibly rewarding for us.”