Commissioner joins Governor to present Young Writer of Year awards

AUGUSTA – Three high school students have been chosen as the winners of the Maine Community College System’s “A Journey into Writing” contest and named 2012 Governor’s Young Writers of the Year. They are: Amanda Dickey and Brianna Housman, both juniors at Searsport District High School, and Gaelyn Lindauer, a junior at Bonny Eagle High School in Standish. The contest is open to all high school juniors and home-schooled students of the same age.

Continue reading “Commissioner joins Governor to present Young Writer of Year awards” →

Commissioner, students take field trip to Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Cory Adams of Fort Fairfield Middle/High School had to decide which part of the lobster is most important for its protection--a part of his afternoon spent at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.
Cory Adams of Fort Fairfield Middle/High School had to decide which part of the lobster is most important for its protection–just one scientific question he answered during an afternoon spent at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

PORTLAND – As part of Commissioner Stephen Bowen’s school tour, he visited Fort Fairfield Elementary School students during their trip to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland last week.

Each year, GMRI’s LabVenture! program presents fifth and sixth graders with a new marine biology-related question that scientists need help answering.

Continue reading “Commissioner, students take field trip to Gulf of Maine Research Institute” →

Raising awareness to support children of military parents

Registration for the National Guard and Reserve Institute on October 2-3 in Bangor is now open. The institute illustrates the Military Child Education Coalition’s mission to ensure quality educational opportunities for all military children affected by mobility, family separation and transition.

Continue reading “Raising awareness to support children of military parents” →

Proficiency-based education a success in Gray-New Gloucester

Commissioner Bowen asks questions of Jessica Burnell and Abby Chandler, two of the student panelists who helped describe their experiences with proficiency-based education at Gray-New Gloucester Middle School.
Commissioner Bowen asks questions of Jessica Burnell, left, and Abbey Chandler, two of the student panelists who helped describe their experiences with proficiency-based education at Gray-New Gloucester Middle School.

GRAY – No matter where Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen went during his school tour last Friday, he encountered a similar scenario: students taking control of their learning, reflecting the vision found in the Maine Department of Education’s strategic plan. Students, teachers and administrators at Gray-New Gloucester Middle School in Gray proved they are ahead of the game with their well-received proficiency-based, learner-centered instructional system.

Continue reading “Proficiency-based education a success in Gray-New Gloucester” →

Fairview Elementary highlights student-centered learning with iPads and filmmaking

Sara Richard and Lauren Fletcher use their iPads to learn letters and to spell words.
Kindergarten students Sara Richard, left, and Lauren Fletcher use iPads in their classroom at Fairview Elementary School to learn letters and to spell words.

AUBURN – Imagine walking into a classroom in which every single student is working on an iPad. Now, imagine that these students are kindergartners, and that’s exactly the scene Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen was greeted with when he visited Kelly McCarthy’s classroom at Fairview Elementary School in Auburn.

Continue reading “Fairview Elementary highlights student-centered learning with iPads and filmmaking” →

Year end staff/student reporting requirements

Note: Please share with assistant superintendents, technology directors/data managers, principals and special education directors.

The Maine Education Data Management System (MEDMS) and Infinite Campus State Edition will be available for 2011-2012 updates until June 30, 2012.  School Administrative Units and schools must complete all end-of-year reporting in these systems before this date.

Continue reading “Year end staff/student reporting requirements” →