RSU 16 Community Connection
April 12, 2024
April Newsletter: Renewal and Growth
We hope you're all doing well! Recently, we had the absolute pleasure of reading "Circus Ship" by Chris Van Dusen to our PreK-3 students, and let me tell you, it was a blast! The kids had so much fun, and honestly, so did we! The story is full of amazing illustrations and a fun plot that had us all laughing and engaged from start to finish. It's moments like these that remind us of the magic of storytelling and the joy it brings to both kids and adults alike. So here's to many more fantastic reading adventures together!
Sincerely,
Todd and Amy
District Highlights 📚
We will highlight the accomplishments and milestones achieved by our staff and students over the past month. From academic achievements to artistic endeavors and athletic successes, we take immense pride in the diverse talents of our students.
We are so proud of the cast and crew of "To Tell the Truth, It's Wonderland!" We have a ton of talent at Whittier Middle School. Congratulations to Ms. Ell Fanus on another absolute hit!
Eclipse
Mrs. Lachapelle, 8th grade teacher at WMS, saw the RSU16 Facebook post about Ms. Harvey’s 2nd grade ESS class working with Tech Coach Jill Mathieu to write books on matter. She saw this as an opportunity to create a cross-school connection. Her students had learned about matter earlier in the year, so they read the books the second graders created and provided feedback for each student! The second graders were so excited to receive their messages from the 8th graders! What an amazing connection to promote learning in RSU16!!
Congratulations to WMS Angela Gilbert for being named a Finalist for the Claudette and John Brassil Distinguished Educator Award through the Maine Council for English Language Arts. The purpose of this award is to recognize exceptional English language arts and literacy teachers who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, contributed to the profession, and shown a commitment to the community.
PRHS Students Excel At SkillsUSA State Championship
The following student who attend Lewiston Regional Technical Center perfomed very well at the State Championship held in Bangor. These students distinguished themselves in a talented field of the State's best CTE students.
GOLD
Hope Lemont - Culinary 1 (Wedding Cake Decorating)
Elise Gagnon - Job Skill Demo A (Food, Travel, and Tourism Management)
Aslan Blake - Employment Application (Food, Travel, and Tourism Management)
SILVER
Johnny Bsullak - Plumbing (Plumbing)
BRONZE
Isaah Sewell - Carpentry Knowledge Test (Carpentry)
Regan Cohen - Carpentry (Carpentry)
Rudy Kyllonen - Heating (Plumbing)
Maine Student Book Award Voting Party in the Library
The PRHS/WMS library hosted a Maine Student Book Award Voting Party! The Maine Student Book Award is voted on by students in grades 4-8 around the state. Students must read at least 3 books from the current MSBA list in order to vote. Students voted for their favorite MSBA nominee, and then we played a Maine Student Book Award Easter egg game! All Whittier votes have been sent to the statewide Maine Student Book Award committee, and the winner will be announced soon!
Mr Crosby and the Safe Passage group send greetings from Antigua, Guatemala
Stephanie Scott has joined our Adult Education team as a part-time Literacy Tutor and we couldn’t be happier to have her as another resource for students! She comes with experience in literacy and special education from her previous classroom experience here at Elm Street School. Welcome Stephanie!
We extend our congratulations to our Operations Director, John Hawley, who has recently obtained his bus driving permit. Thank you, John, for your dedication and commitment to being part of the solution. Your efforts are truly appreciated!
Congratulations to Breanna Bartlett who was selected as the 2024 Maine Principal's Award recipient from PRHS. The criteria for this award are academic excellence, outstanding school citizenship, and leadership.
5th grade GaTE and Enrichment students have fully designed their dream homes using angle measurements, square footage, and incorporating other mathematical skills. This really allowed for math to become a reality from the planning to the building. Higher order thinking was happening and these students worked hard, but had fun doing it!
Celebrate School Bus Driver, Van Drivers, Transportation Monitors and Bus Mechanics Appreciation Day on April 23, 2024
Every year, on the fourth Tuesday of April, we will take a moment to recognize the invaluable contributions of our school bus drivers, van drivers, monitors and our bus mechanics. These dedicated individuals play a crucial role in our children's education by ensuring their safe transportation to and from school.
On this Appreciation Day, let's show our gratitude and support for the transportation department. They are the unsung heroes who prioritize the safety and well-being of our children every single day.
Here are some simple ways you can express your appreciation:
Give a heartfelt thank-you card to your child's bus driver, van driver and/or monitor. Include a personal message expressing your gratitude for their commitment to safety.
Encourage your child to create a special card or drawing. A handmade gesture can mean the world to someone who works tirelessly to keep our children safe.
Share your support and thank-you messages on social media using the hashtag #ThankYouBusDrivers. Let's spread positivity and appreciation for these dedicated professionals.
On this Appreciation Day, let's come together as a community to honor and thank the amazing individuals who help our children travel safely to school each day. Thank you, bus drivers, van drivers, monitors and mechanics for everything you do!
MCS Kindergarten had a visit from Maine Agriculture in the classroom and learned all about seaweed. We got to feel it and taste it. Some of us LOVED seaweed! Some of us did not.
School Calendar
Access the full school calendar on our website to stay informed and organized. We appreciate your partnership in creating a successful and well-prepared school year for your child.
ESSA Data Dashboard
Each year, RSU 16 must share with families, under the Title I statute, our dashboard distributed by the Maine Department of Education. To access the dashboard, go to https://www.maine.gov/doe/dashboard