Category: Good News from Schools

Maine Schools Implement First 10 Community Schools Model Using Maine Preschool Development Grant

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Early Learning Team is supporting a First 10 Community Schools pilot through Maine’s Preschool Development Grant. It is designed to bring together school administrative units (SAUs), families, early childhood programs, and community organizations to create a system that helps young children to learn and thrive during the first 10 years of their lives.

The First 10 Community Schools model is a specialized community school approach that involves children and their families even before they reach public school age. Providing resources during this critical period of development for kids has proven to support learning and wellbeing into adulthood. First 10 was developed by the Education Development Center (EDC) under the leadership of Dr. David Jacobson. Participating teams in Maine benefit from EDC coaching, which helps communities to tailor strategies to meet their own unique and individual needs.

Over the past two years, seven SAUs in Maine have been awarded grants to establish teams, hire outreach coordinators, and implement strategies to increase access to quality programming, comprehensive supports, parent education, and coordinated transitions for children and families into public school. The initial cohort of grantees began its work in the summer of 2023 and is now in the second year of implementation.

In July of 2024, a second cohort of schools and communities in Maine was also awarded funding to implement the First 10 Community Schools model. These participants, which include Cape Cod Hill School (RSU 9), Wiscasset Elementary School, North and Bloomfield Elementary Schools (MSAD 54), and Deer Isle-Stonington and Sedgwick Elementary Schools (RSU 76), are currently mapping assets, identifying needs, and building relationships with community partners.

The Maine DOE is excited to share some highlights from the first cohort’s progress:

Sanford Pride Elementary School – Sanford Pride Elementary School (pre-K-grade 4) has implemented multiple strategies to support school transitions for children and families and build family partnerships. One key initiative involves the public school’s collaboration with community-based early childhood educators.

In October, educators from local child care centers, Head Start, and home-based programs joined Sanford School Department educators for a day of joint professional learning. During the event, First 10 Community Schools Outreach Coordinator Shana Palmer provided an overview of Sanford’s efforts to implement the First 10 Community Schools model, and Louisa Anastasopoulos from EDC led a session on the social-emotional and literacy learning domains in the Maine DOE’s Early Learning and Development Standards.

Educators are now participating in cross-site visits to continue fostering collaboration and enhance cohesiveness across the early childhood landscape.

East Belfast and Kermit Nickerson Elementary Schools (RSU 71) – RSU 71 works closely with Waldo Community Action Partnership (CAP) around preschool programming, and that partnership has expanded to include the First 10 pilot at East Belfast Elementary School.

Last year, they launched the First 10 Community School initiative with a Wicked Winter Family Fair, featuring a lasagna dinner, an introduction to The Basics parenting framework, and fun crafts and games for families. This partnership has continued through “play-and-learn” events for children from birth to age three and their families.

This year, RSU 71 and Waldo CAP have strengthened their collaboration by securing funding for a First 10 Community Schools Outreach Coordinator position. The RSU 71 Leadership Team is excited to welcome Kristie Hamlin from Waldo CAP as the new coordinator.

Limestone Community School and Dawn F. Barnes Elementary School (Caswell, ME) – These rural pre-K through grade 8 schools share a superintendent and regularly collaborate to maximize resources for student learning and enrichment. Their role as community hubs was celebrated in August during a Community Fair and Open House on the Limestone campus. The event, featuring a barbecue, touch-a-truck activities, and a fair, drew in more than 350 attendees. It also served as a warm welcome for Cody Closson, the new First 10 Community Schools Outreach Coordinator for the region.

Closson has since built relationships with students, families, and staff members, while creating a Family Resource Space on the Limestone campus. This space includes resources for students and families, as well as the First 10 team’s top ten books for pre-K and Kindergarten.

The Early Learning Team at the Maine DOE is a part of the Office of Teaching and Learning. For more information about the First 10 Schools and Communities pilot, please contact Sue Gallant, Maine DOE First 10 Community Schools Specialist, at Sue.Gallant@maine.gov.

Mountain Valley High School Health Teacher Kristen Allen Named 2025 SHAPE America Eastern District Health Teacher of the Year

On December 16, 2024, the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America) announced that Mountain Valley High School Health Education Teacher Kristen Allen was selected as the Eastern District Health Teacher of the Year. Kristen has taught health education at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford for more than 18 years.

Allen’s Eastern District Health Teacher of the Year journey began when she was named the 2022 High School Health Education Teacher of the Year by the Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AHPERD).

All of the Maine AHPERD Teacher of the Year awardees are eligible to submit application materials for Eastern District Teacher of the Year. The Eastern District, one of SHAPE America’s five districts, includes all New England states, plus Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

“I want my students to be able to navigate life in a way that enhances their health and the health of those around them,” Allen said. “I want my students to remember that the skills they learned and practiced in my classroom, like decision-making, communication, and self-management, can be applied in the real world to improve relationships, manage emotions, and know where and when to go for help.”

Allen earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Community Health Education from the University of Maine at Farmington and her master’s degree in public health from the University of New England in Biddeford. In addition to teaching and coordinating extracurricular groups at Mountain Valley High School, Allen also teaches School Health Education courses at the University of Maine at Farmington.

“The choices students make each day eventually turn into habits and their lifestyle. Establishing healthy habits at a young age will not only lead to a longer life but a better quality of life,” Allen said.

“When one of our teachers is recognized on a national level, there is a strong sense of Falcon pride,” Thomas Danylik, the principal at Mountain Valley High School, said.

Danylik noted that Kristen builds strong relationships in her classroom, and students are drawn to her, with a desire to continue that mentorship outside of the classroom through extracurricular activities.

“This speaks volumes about the kind of teacher Allen is and how much respect our students have for her,” Danylik said.

Allen is now an official candidate for National High School Health Teacher of the Year. These awards will be announced at the SHAPE America Convention, scheduled for April 1-5, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland.

For more information about SHAPE America, you may click here.

Students at Indian Island and Sipayik Elementary Schools Learn About Coding Through ‘Scratch Day’ Activities

Students at Indian Island School (home of the Penobscot Nation) and Sipayik Elementary School (located at one of the sister reservations of the Passamaquoddy Tribe) now know a bit more about coding, thanks to their recent participation in the nationwide “Scratch Day” initiative.

Scratch Day revolves around Scratch, a free, creative coding platform that serves as an online community for kids, cultivating creativity, systematic reasoning, and collaboration. The Scratch Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), houses Scratch and funds projects and resources across the country to ensure they are available to all children.

Recently, the Scratch Foundation selected Maine Indian Education’s two schools as one of six partner organizations, providing them with a generous donation to support their Scratch Day events. The schools also received significant support from Scratch Foundation team members Dr. Jarvis Bailey and Jacy Edelman, with monthly check-ins related to Scratch Day planning.

Ultimately, the Tech Team at Indian Island School and Ellen Nicholas at Sipayik Elementary School planned amazing Scratch Day learning opportunities for their students. Dedicated colleagues worked to facilitate and support Scratch Day stations, where students engaged in activities like creating and playing games using Scratch. Mark Goff, Community Moderator for the Scratch Foundation, also attended the Scratch Day programming.

Overall, staff members at each school noted that students seemed very captivated by Scratch Day, and all who participated had a good time.

“The students were incredibly engaged with Scratch and Scratch Jr. and created their own projects that immersed them in the foundations of coding,” Beth Clifford, Maine Indian Education Curriculum Coordinator said. “We see these experiences as wonderful opportunities to share digital tools that expand students’ repertoires for expressing creativity, for enjoyment, and for opening doors to possible career aspirations.”

Information for this story was provided by Maine Indian Education. To submit good news from your school, fill out the Maine DOE good news submission form.

Maine Solutionaries Project Celebrates Success and a Bright Future Ahead

Every day, communities encounter new challenges that bring with them opportunities to make a positive impact. Since 2024, the Maine Solutionaries Project, a groundbreaking collaboration between the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Institute for Humane Education (IHE), has been working to address situations like these through the educational sphere.

The Solutionaries Project is an initiative that the Maine DOE’s Interdisciplinary Instruction team has spearheaded, reflecting a commitment to innovative and impactful educational practices. To date, 255 teachers and 7,500 students – hailing from all sixteen of Maine’s counties – have participated in Solutionaries Projects, and future enrollment numbers are increasing daily.

Far from being yet another “thing” for teachers to work into their lessons, the Solutionaries Project is a framework built to empower students through critical thinking skills and solution-driven, inquiry-to-action projects. Students define a problem, research the underlying issues, identify the people concerned, and create a practical and workable solution for it. Examples include everything from food waste to human rights and equity.

On Sunday, December 15, 2024, educators, change-makers, scientists, artists, and community members gathered at IHE’s home base in Surry, Maine to celebrate how the Solutionaries Project applies to the real world.

Kicking off the celebration, New York Times journalist Andy Revkin spoke about his decades as a climate reporter and how he has seen the changing environmental status of the globe reflected in the work emerging from student involvement within the Solutionaries Project. Revkin spoke at length about the importance of empowering future generations to better understand the issues facing them and make new choices.

Notable artist and humanitarian Robert Shetterly also lauded the program. The creator of Americans Who Tell the Truth spoke about the world influencers he has interviewed and the connections in philosophy to the work being done through the Solutionaries Project.

Julie Meltzer
Andy Revkin, New York Times
Zoe Weil
Robert Shetterly

“The needs facing students today are increasingly pressing and complex,” Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Team Leader Kathy Bertini said. “Students deserve an education that equips them. Thoughtful and deliberate instruction in inquiry to action is critical. The Solutionaries framework is an invaluable tool for giving teachers and students access to that way of thinking and problem-solving.”

“I would recommend this program to anyone looking to incorporate out-of-the-box, responsive teaching into their curriculum; to anyone looking to motivate and encourage students to change our world for the better,” Erika Leighton, a teacher at Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School in Brunswick, said.

The Maine Solutionaries Project is continuing into 2025, offering multiple cohorts – including cohorts that focus on integrating literacy and numeracy throughout the Solutionaries Framework.

To learn more about the upcoming Maine Solutionaries Project cohorts, please visit the Maine DOE Newsroom. You may also contact Kathy Bertini at Kathy.Bertini@maine.gov or Erik Wade, Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist at Erik.Wade@maine.gov.

The Interdisciplinary Instruction team is a part of the Maine DOE Office of Teaching and Learning.

Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Announces 2024 Awardees 

Five educators have been named 2024 Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (Maine AHPERD) Teachers of the Year. This award recognizes outstanding health education, physical education, and adapted physical education teachers who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to their students and profession.

This year’s Maine AHPERD Teachers of the Year include:

In addition to Teachers of the Year, Maine APHERD also recognizes individuals and a community partner organization who serve as strong supporters of the Maine APHERD mission. For 2024, they include:

Additionally, Maine APHERD has recognized eight students hailing from seven Maine institutes of higher education as 2024 Outstanding Future Professionals in health and physical education:

  • Megan Dionne – University of Maine, Farmington
  • Emily Factor – University of New England
  • Samantha Fickett – University of New England
  • Olivia Gray – University of Maine, Presque Isle
  • Alexa Peck – University of Maine, Orono
  • Courtney Peltak – University of New England
  • Hannah Richardson – University of New England
  • Jobet Tardiff – Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
Pictured from left to right: Alexa Peck, Jobet Tardiff, Courtney Peltak, Jamie Dillon (Maine AHPERD President), Samantha Fickett, Megan Dionne, Hannah Richardson. (Absent from photograph: Emily Factor and Olivia Gray.)
Pictured from left to right: Alexa Peck, Jobet Tardiff, Courtney Peltak, Jamie Dillon (Maine AHPERD President), Samantha Fickett, Megan Dionne, Hannah Richardson. (Absent from photograph: Emily Factor and Olivia Gray.)

Check out the Maine AHPERD website for highlights and resources from the annual conference, held on November 2-4, 2024.

 

Region Two School of Applied Technology Modernizes Forestry Training with New Equipment

On Monday, December 2, the Houlton community celebrated Region Two School of Applied Technology’s acquisition of a new $480,000 John Deere forwarder, purchased through a Maine Department of Education (DOE) grant, made possible by Governor Janet Mills’ Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan.

“Governor Mills’ commitment to equipping our technical schools with industry-standard tools gives students hands-on experience that launches careers and builds Maine’s future workforce,” Maine DOE Commissioner Pender Makin said. “Our forestry sector remains a cornerstone of Maine’s economy, and these investments ensure our students are ready to lead this critical industry forward.”

The school’s new John Deere forwarder is a logging industry standard that future foresters must learn to master. This purchase replaces equipment at the school that was 25 years old. The new forwarder uses a rotating cabin and grapple arm to collect and transport logs from cutting sites to roadside landing areas.

Additionally, Region Two School of Applied Technology also received two forestry simulators alongside this forwarder, providing students with comprehensive training opportunities. It allows them to develop expertise with essential equipment in a controlled learning environment before operating the actual machinery.

This upgrade comes as part of a larger by the Maine DOE, designated specifically for upgrading infrastructure and equipment across Maine’s 27 Career and Technical Education schools. The goal is to modernize technical education facilities statewide.

“It was a great day for Career and Technical Education in the state, as it celebrated the commitment that Governor Mills has continuously shown toward growing these opportunities for the students of Maine,” Maine DOE Career and Technical Education Director Dwight Littlefield said. “Many logging companies have the exact same piece of equipment, which will definitely give the students of Region Two a leg up, if they choose to continue down this path.”

The impact of this investment is already evident in Region Two School of Applied Technology’s enrollment numbers, with the forestry program seeing student participation double from 14 students in 2020 to 28 students in the current academic year. This growth contributes to record-breaking statewide CTE enrollment this school year, with 10,405 students total.

This CTE expansion grant was a part of Maine’s Whole Student Pandemic Response. You can learn more about the Maine DOE’s efforts to bolster the state’s workforce and how the department allocated pandemic-era federal funding to do so here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$7 Million Expansion of Biddeford CTE Center Boosts Career Pathways for Students

Students from Biddeford and surrounding communities are gaining new opportunities to build in-demand career skills, thanks to a $7 million expansion of the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology (BRCOT).

This expansion was part of Governor Janet Mills’ Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, which designated $20 million of Covid-era funding to the Maine Department of Education (DOE) to support the 27 Career and Technical Education (CTE) schools in the state—specifically by upgrading infrastructure and equipment.

This project added 17,500 square feet of new space to the high school-adjacent facility. Great Falls Construction completed the work at BRCOT using a mobile studio design.

“This expansion is a major win for Biddeford and surrounding communities,” Ryan Fecteau, former and newly re-elected Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, said when speaking to

“It isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about creating new pathways to success for students,” Biddeford Schools Superintendent Jeremy Ray told

The new BRCOT wing houses three brand-new CTE programs: culinary arts, hospitality/travel/tourism, and athletic training/sports medicine — the latter being the first of its kind in Maine. This expansion has also allowed the center to grow its existing programs, too, like emergency medical technician training, plumbing, and heating.

“This new wing isn’t just about creating space; it’s about creating opportunity,” Biddeford Regional Center of Technology Director Paulette Bonneau said. “It’s about giving students the tools, resources, and experiences they need to build their futures.”

BRCOT now offers 20 CTE programs and serves around 500 students in grades 9-12 from eight communities. These additional programs will provide students with industry-recognized certifications, college credits, and hands-on training to prepare them for careers and/or further education.

The culinary arts program, for example, allows students to earn their ServSafe certification; the athletic training program offers training in CPR and first aid; and the hospitality/travel/tourism program provides a pathway to Maine’s vital tourism industry.

“We’re not just preparing kids for jobs; we’re preparing kids for careers,” Ray said.

“It’s more than just a building for Biddeford,” Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman said.

During the center’s grand opening ceremony, guests were treated to an impressive brunch spread prepared by culinary arts students under the guidance of Chef Steve Ogden. Senior Emma Alward, a hospitality student, served appetizers.

“I think it’s fun,” Alward said of the program when speaking with Saco Bay News.

Eleventh-grader Sophia Auger, who is enrolled in the culinary arts program, said she never expected to have this opportunity.

“It’s an honor to be able to be a part of the first group to get to do this,” Auger said.

Auger’s classmate, Maya Cochrane agreed, noting that the program is a great fit for students interested in cooking and working in a kitchen.

“When students have interest, we don’t want them to wait,” Ray said. “We want to make sure that they’re ready to capitalize on that, so they can dig right in.”

Bonneau noted that the programs at BRCOT also offer dual enrollment, allowing students to earn college credits while still in high school.

“This grand opening is a monumental milestone for our school and our community,” Bonneau said. “The programs housed here will spark innovation, drive economic growth, and give our students a pathway to success.”

This project was a part of Maine’s Whole Student Pandemic Response, made possible through the American Rescue Plan. To learn more about Maine’s CTE schools or how the Maine Department of Education used federal emergency funding to support Maine schools, please visit the Maine DOE website.

 

 

 

 

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.

‘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.

 

RSU 16 Initiates Annual District-Wide Outdoor Learning Day in Maine

On October 16, students and teachers at all five Regional School Unit 16 (RSU 16) schools in Mechanic Falls, Minot, and Poland participated in the first annual “Drop Everything and Get Everyone Outside (GEO) Day.” The new initiative involves integrating an outdoor learning activity into nearly every content area for students’ daily lessons.

This effort comes as research continues to demonstrate the many benefits of outdoor learning, including improved focus and academics, increased cooperative learning and social interaction, better physical and mental health, and the fostering of an appreciation of and love for nature.

Jessica Harvey, a second-grade teacher at Elm Street School and the 2021 Androscoggin County Teacher of the Year, is one of the educators who has helped RSU 16 to realize its vision of outdoor learning. She and a team of other RSU 16 teachers participated in outdoor learning sessions through The Ecology School to develop a vision and progression of outdoor learning at RSU 16.

Following this professional learning opportunity, teachers held a casual lunch meeting to connect and share successes and challenges related to outdoor learning. That’s how they created the Get Everyone Outside (GEO) initiative, which they decided would be brought to life with a Drop Everything and Get Everyone Outside (GEO) Day across the district to promote outdoor learning.

“Great things happen when teachers have time together,” Harvey said.

The teachers worked with RSU 16 Curriculum Director Jill Mathieu, to establish a representative at each school to help promote and support outdoor learning. Eventually, a plan was put in place for the first annual Drop Everything and GEO Day.

“Outdoor learning is for everyone, and we are proud to see how many educators took their students outside for learning that day,” Harvey said.

Through grants and the district’s Tri-Town Education Fund, RSU 16 has acquired outdoor learning seating and other materials to help teachers and students start teaching and learning outdoors.

RSU 16 hopes to continue to grow outdoor learning district-wide, making it a natural part of the curriculum for years to come.

Information for this story was provided by RSU 16. To share good news from your school, please fill out the Maine DOE good news submission form.