Submitted by Isabel Cochrane, Parent

I am a parent of four children, three of whom were diagnosed with autism. Two of them are considered severe, nonverbal, but have done great so far, thanks to Child Developmental Services support in Arundel, our interventionist Linda Gatz who worked with all three of our kids. She is amazing, hard worker and very focused. Shooting Stars pre school in Scarborough and Young School in Saco and therapists both at school and outside school.

My two boys who have attended school, have done well with the teachers and paraprofessionals, they both have been able to achieve incredible milestones.

We recently moved to Florida because of family and weather, but I am writing this to say that, even though I moved to Florida, I still believe Maine has the best educational support, and some might disagree, but the best support system for children with disabilities.

Those professionals need more incentives. They truly go above and beyond for our kids. The part I miss the most is the educational system of Maine, southern Maine, Young school in Saco and Shooting Stars in Scarborough which have provided a great foundation for my boys.

They still are vulnerable and do need a lot of help but I can tell you, people here in Florida are impressed with my boys skills and how we go about our routine. So I just want to let you know, and hope that the teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists get some support, some incentives because they made my kids lives better. They have helped me become a better mom, and a better advocate.

Pay attention to them. They are doing something right. They did for us!

Submitted by Laura Donahue, Principal, Newport/Plymouth Elementary School and Co-Principal, Corinna Elementary School, RSU #19

Author Shares

One of the great things about being a part of the RSU 19 school district is the involved community that we are a part of. Getting to invite community members in to see the fantastic work that our students are immersed in every day is one of the ways that we can help celebrate our students’ success with the help of community members, creating memorable experiences for all. The first grade team at Newport/Plymouth Elementary School decided to move away from a traditional author’s share this year. Instead, they opened their classroom doors to community members to rotate through all of the first grade classrooms, listening to students read their stories as they sat at tables throughout the rooms. Those who attended were fortunate to hear many amazing narrative stories, and the students were proud to share their published work.

One Book, One School

“In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.” – Mortimer J. Adler

During the 2016/2017 school year, Newport/Plymouth Elementary School participated for the first time in doing One Book, One School. It was such a wildly successful and engaging endeavor that we have continued this activity each year. One Book, One School is an opportunity to generate a lot of excitement and engagement in literacy. Every teacher throughout the school reads aloud the same book to his/her class, ensuring that every student in the school has heard the book. The students then engage in discussions, activities and community activities related to the book. Each year we find ways to generate more and more excitement around the book we choose to read.

One of the activities that students seem to enjoy is our book reveal. A few giant posters of the book hang throughout the school, covered by giant puzzle pieces. Each day leading up to beginning the book, a piece of the puzzle is uncovered. Students can be seen in the hallway gathered around the posters making predictions based on the clues that have been uncovered as to what the book could be. The last piece of the puzzle is revealed at an assembly as the whole school counts down together to see if their predictions were correct. Last year we were fortunate enough to provide each student with a copy of the book we had chosen.

This year as the Newport/Plymouth Elementary School gets ready to consolidate with Corinna Elementary into the Sebasticook Valley Elementary School, we are planning many of these activities together. This year the book teachers selected is the classic, Stuart Little, by E.B White. Our culminating activity will be a joint Family Literacy Night held at Sebasticook Valley Middle School to provide students an opportunity to participate in fun literacy activities with their families that are related to the book. This will also facilitate a wonderful opportunity for students to participate in fun activities with some of the peers they will be consolidating with next year.

Maine Studies

Fourth grade students across R.S.U. 19 engage in learning about Maine studies each year. At Newport/Plymouth Elementary School, the Maine Studies Project has each student collecting information about a Maine park from around the state. This research component helps teach our students how to successfully and appropriately navigate the internet for accurate information while allowing them the freedom to choose information they feel their peers and audience would find engaging. Fourth grader Emiley Rackliff commented, “I liked writing the script for my park because I got to look it up on Google and learn new things about the park.”   Each student’s work is compiled into a unique virtual reality experience that includes video, sound and a 360° view of the park the student chose. Andrew Franklin, a fourth grade student we interviewed about the project, said, “I like building VR worlds and coding, it’s pretty fun.  The 360 degree view of the park is going to be cool!.” Teachers have partnered up with Kern Kelley, our district technology integrator, to help teach students the technological skills necessary to complete such a detailed project. Once all the students have completed their projects, they will be available for the public to enjoy at bit.ly/maineparks.

OHills Reads is a community-led group in collaboration with Healthy Oxford Hills and MSAD 17 that aspires to build a stronger, healthier, and more empathetic community by uniting schools, businesses, local organizations, and families with a community-wide reading and discussion of a common book. This month, in an effort to raise awareness and reduce stigma around substance use and misuse, the community read will be The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner.

According to the educator’s guide, written by Melissa Guerrette, a teacher in MSAD 17 and partner in this project, “This story is both honest and heart-felt, weaving themes of wishes, fierce love for family and acceptance of circumstances beyond our control from a younger siblings perspective. With respectful, age appropriate writing, Kate Messner has given middle grade readers a lens into the realistic ache and struggle of Charlie Brennan and her family, who—like too many families in our country —are facing the tragedy of a loved one with opioid addiction. ”

Plans are underway to bring educational programs to intermediate classrooms in MSAD #17, and to host community events including panel presentations, book discussions, an event with Kate Messner, the author, and a fishing derby. The events will take place throughout the month of January and early February. If you are interested in learning more about or participating in the OHills Reads events, please check the Facebook Page (OHills Reads), or contact Emily Eastman (emilye@healthyoxfordhills.org), Melissa Guerrette (m.guerrette@msad17.org ) or Heather Manchester (h.manchester@msad17.org).