I hope this newsletter finds you all well and having enjoyed a beautiful fall weekend in Southern Maine. This weekend was the perfect weekend for working outdoors or taking a walk under what was an unseasonably warm October sun. As we reach the mid-way point of the month of October, I'm struck once again by how quickly the school year seems to move. We enter our 8th week of instruction this week! Students have settled in across all seven of our school buildings and it has been a pleasure to see the level of engagement happening in our district's classrooms.

In the coming weeks, RSU 57 families, staff and students will hear from me and from our School Board regarding the beginning of a Strategic Planning process that will create a vision and set goals for the future of RSU 57. This planning process will happen over the course of the entire 2022-2023 school year. When this work begins in earnest, it will be vital that we receive feedback from all stakeholders in RSU 57. Invitations for participation in district surveys and strategic planning meetings that will be open to all, will be shared with parents, caregivers, staff, students and community members.

The work of Strategic Planning is vital in creating clear goals for our district students and staff. Beyond goal setting though, it is an opportunity for all members of our RSU 57 community to share feedback with our School Board and with me regarding the future of education in our district. Preparing students for success in the economy of today requires us to consider the economy of the future. I am excited for this work to begin and hope that you will find a way to participate in the process at some level.

Wishing you all a healthy week ahead.

Dr. Stephen Marquis

Concerts will be held at the Merrill Auditorium on Portland on November 10th and April 24th.

In today's newsletter, I share a brief article from Edmentum.com that provides some simple, but specific suggestions on how to help students study effectively when at home. Effective study skills go a long way in helping any student be successful. One caveat that I would include when thinking about study skills is understanding that while there are some suggestions that are universally helpful, each individual has their own nuances in how they best learn. My own three children are an example of three students who have unique ways in which they work best when studying. One child needs complete silence and total lack of distractions around them such as phones or televisions. Another likes to play music while studying. Lastly, my third child prefers to write out her thinking and her understanding in the form of notes while she studies.

Supporting your student find both an environment and system that works for them will set them up for success. For more information on supporting your student in their study skills, check out this article linked HERE.

Have a great week!

Kyle Keenan

Assistant Superintendent

• October 19: Early Release Day
• October 29: Halloween Carnival at Massabesic Middle School
• November 4: End of 1st Quarter Scoring Period at Middle and High School
• November 8: Election Day - Full Remote Learning Day for All Students
• November 11: Veterans' Day - No School
• November 16: Early Release Day