School News

SAD15 (Gray and New Gloucester) School News

Memorial School
Kindergarten screening: On April 7, 8, and 9 the Memorial staff held their kindergarten screening program for the 04-05 school year. They registered 53 children. The Masons were also involved, making the CHIPS ID child identification program available to parents and children. Many families took advantage of this opportunity.

Kindergarten activities: Kindergarten children have been busy learning how to write sentences, understand number concepts and write about weather and bears. They continue to raise funds for wildlife rehabilitation. To date they have raised approximately $350 through their efforts.

Dunn School
Enrollment: Enrollment at Dunn totals 449 students, as many as are at Russell and Memorial combined. There are 149 in grade 3, 158 in grade 4, and 142 in grade 5.

Challenges: This time of year begins the placement process. In his monthly report to the Board, principal Bruce Beaseley stated that many times the public does not understand the agonizing and the time that goes into this procedure. Any parent that has input regarding their child's learning is encouraged to send a letter or email to him at bbeaseley@msad15.org. That information will be considered when placements are made. Beasley stated that it is extremely hard to undo placements once they are complete.

Dunn Student of the week - May 3, 2004

Nicholas St. John - Mr. Hodgkins
David Whitney - Mrs. Seymour
Robbie Morency - Mrs. Moorhead
Connor Rickards - Miss Gardner
David Osgood - Miss Gardner
Ariel Grant - Miss Murray
Caitlin Field - Miss Wolfrom
Sandy Ricardi - Mrs. George
A. J. Ash - Mrs. George
Brandon Correia - Mrs. Banton
Jordan Rice - Mrs. Banton
Katie Morency - Mr. Skilling
Randall Stephens - Mr. Skilling
Rebecca Martin - Mrs. Enaire
Jack Martell - Mrs. Burns
Christopher Marshall - Miss Hilfrank
Connor Mailman - Staples
Manny Martinez - Mrs. McFadden
Courtney Brann - Mrs. Beriau

Russell School
Science Fair
The Gray-New Gloucester PTSA is pleased to announce May 8th as the date for this year's annual Russell School Science Fair. The judging will take place in the morning, and the exhibits will be open for public viewing from 12:00 p.m. - 2 p.m. The PTSA would like to invite the community to stop by and check out some extraordinary projects by the budding young scientists of Gray! FMI, please contact Sheila Myhaver @ 428-4111 or smyhaver@maine.rr.com.

High School
Junior Breakfast And College/Career Fair May 17th
On Monday, May 17th the guidance staff at GNGHS will host a Junior Breakfast, followed by a "mini" College and Career Fair in the East Gym. All juniors will be excused from their period one through period three classes in order to attend, and parents of juniors are invited to attend as well.
Starting time for the continental breakfast is 7:45. Juniors will come to the East Gym after their home room period. Sophomores will also be invited to attend the college fair portion beginning at 10:30 AM.

A presentation called "Preparing for your Journey after High School" by the guidance staff and several of the admissions counselors from Maine Colleges who will be present. After the presentation there will time for students to meet with representatives from fifteen Maine colleges, as well as representatives from a variety of careers.

Class Of 2005 Parent Meetings Announced For May, June
Gary Canter, the College/Career Advisor at Gray-New Gloucester High School*, will offer a two part presentation for parents entitled "Planning for your Child's Future" in May and June. Both parts of the presentation will be repeated with the hope that every parent will be able to attend one of each session.

The talks are geared to convey to parents what they need to know to assist their students to prepare for the final year of high school.

Presentation #1: "Think like a young adult!" is aimed at helping parents understand the stresses, challenges and tasks which await their kids over the coming months and years. Detailed information about the steps required to undertake the college selection and application process, as well as career planning and research will be provided.

"Think like a young adult!" will be offered Tuesday May 18th, and repeated Wednesday evening May 26th at 7 p.m. each time, in the cafeteria.

Presentation #2: is called "Pay Up Time" and will provide parents with an overview of the college financial aid application process, as well as an understanding of WHAT to think about college costs and HOW to meet them. "Pay Up Time" will be offered Thursday, June 3rd and repeated on Tuesday, June 8th. Both meetings will begin at 7:00 PM and take place in the High School Cafeteria.

Please make every effort to attend one of each of these meetings. Gary Canter is a former guidance counselor who has operated College Placement Services in Portland since 1994, providing college, career and financial advice to students and families. His services has been retained by MSAD 15 for the past year.

If any parent would like to attend but is unable, please contact Gary Canter directly at 657-9323 or by emailing him at: gcanter1@maine.rr.com

*AKA "The Wizard of AHS" - After High School!

Department of Teaching and Learning
Recognition: Congratulations to Jane McKinney who is the Literacy Specialist at Memorial and Russell. Jane applied for a mini grant through ACHIEVE (a professional literacy organization) and was awarded $250 to purchase parent-child books for at-home reading activities.

No Child Left Behind: NCLB continues to change. Recently the federal government has decided that the 95% participation rate can be an average over three years instead of on a year-by-year basis. They have also issued new guidance on the Highly Qualified Teacher component, acknowledging that small rural states like Maine have different issues than the large urban areas in the U.S. Teachers who teach in rural districts and are required to teach more than one subject will have three years to become highly qualified. Finally, the federal government has issued some additional flexibility for the state in creating their requirements. The district just received its packet from the state and will be pulling together staff meetings to get the information out as soon as possible.

NCLB funding challenge: Karen Caprio, Interim Director of Teaching and Learning, attended an informational meeting on the NCLB application for the 04-05 school year funding. She learned that SAD15 schools would lose some money in each of the Titles. Losses will range from 5-25% in each category. Nationally the government has put more money into NCLB, but Maine is one of 11 states losing money.

Special Education
Staffing news: A medical leave was granted to Melissa Sullivan, GNGMS resource room teacher. Laurie Sivonen transferred to this position from Dunn School, and Erica Calden will be serving as a long-term substitute in the Dunn position until the conclusion of this school year.

District news
Resignations: Helene Farrar, Middle School Art Teacher; Laurie Sivonen, Middle School Special Ed Teacher; Joanne Cook, Dunn School Special Ed Teacher; Gail Raymond, Elementary Teacher on 1 year leave of absence; Lori Conway, High School Guidance.

Retirements: Gary Gardner, Middle School Librarian; Barbara Wendling, Middle School Language Arts; Craig Mason, Middle School Science; Ann Fryer, Middle School Ed Tech 111.

Elementary placements: The elementary buildings are in the process of student placement for the 04-05 school year. Parents are asked to check with the principal of their building if they want information on how to give feedback during the placement process.

Upcoming meetings and events:
May 12 Personnel Committee, 4:30 pm at Russell School
May 12 Finance Committee, 6 pm at Russell School
May 13 District Improvement Committee, 6 pm at Russell School
May 18 Policy Committee, 7 am at Russell School.