Last Wednesday at Clinton Elementary the kindergarten classes made their own Kodable fuzz buddies. Kodable is an app that teaches computer coding and programming to young learners. They had a lot of fun and enjoyed taking home their new pals. :)
March 26 - 29 the Maine BIOLAB visited Lawrence Junior High School, 1 of 12 middle schools to share this honor in the state of Maine. Students, and a few staff members, were able to engage in state-of-the-art lab activities during their science classes. This was an exciting opportunity for our students to engage in hands-on lessons providing exposure to different careers involving STEM.
Next week on Thursday, April 11th, the high school will run an extended Community Homeroom to hear a presentation by Students Empowering to End Dependence (SEEDs). This program consists of 2 peer presenters - ages 19 and 17 years old and an adult collaborator. The presentation will consist of a short PowerPoint slide, a video, and a question-and-answer session dealing with dependency. SEEDs currently has a series on PBS called Voices of Hope for anyone interested in checking it out. We will have the presentation from 8:30 - 9:30 AM on the 11th in the auditorium for our students.
This past week we did have a group of students sign up and go to a Job Fair put on by Maine General in Augusta. It consisted of all the opportunities that are available in the hospital setting and looking at what the requirements for them are: be they a high school diploma, technical school training, or college. The students who attended and the staff who went said it was very worthwhile. This was spearheaded by our Guidance department and JMG.
3rd Quarter Report Cards will be issued on Friday, but if Thursday’s storm interrupts that we’ll have them on Monday. Shortly after grades are out we will be getting word on our Senior Classes Top Ten. I hope to be able to report on who they are next week, without revealing the order, but will list them alphabetically. This is really the first of the spring accolades for the graduating class.
We will host a Senior Parent Night on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in the Williamson Auditorium from 6:30 - 7:30 PM to go over the end-of-year ceremonies pertaining to Scholarship Awards, and Senior Last Assembly and Graduation, as well as the Project Graduation plans. Mr. Bowers and Mr. Van Tuinen will host the informational meeting. We will be able to answer questions you may have, as well. Parents of graduating seniors, as well as Seniors, are invited to attend. We will post the information for those who can’t attend.
Have a great week.
At Clinton Elementary students were involved with hands-on art exploration in Mr. Mercier's 4th-grade class! 🖌️ Witness the creativity as students mold finger pots from clay, not just honing artistic skills but also fostering tactile learning and fine motor development. Through art, students not only express themselves but also cultivate patience, focus, and an appreciation for the beauty of craftsmanship.
Exploring the world of lines in art class with Mrs. Bolduc at Albion Elementary! 🎨 Meanwhile, Mrs. Bearce's kindergarteners are busy crafting a spring project, embracing creativity and fine motor skills. From straight to wavy, lines play a crucial role in artistic expression, helping young minds develop spatial awareness and precision while fostering a love for art from an early age.
Spring has sprung at Fairfield Primary! 🌸 Mrs. Salley's class embraced the season on March 19th with a delightful sun catcher activity, bringing warmth and color into the classroom. Emphasizing creativity and hands-on learning, such activities foster a vibrant learning environment, sparking imagination and connecting students with the beauty of nature.
At Benton Elementary, Annie Jewell's second-grade class recently
had a special visitor…Ms. Jewell’s dad, Mr. Jewell! Raph Jewell works at Alfaslopes Dairy Farm in Charleston, Maine. During his visit to this class, he highlighted the importance of dairy farms in Maine by bringing a virtual field trip with him. Students were able to “walk” through the farm and see what a typical day looks like for the cows. After learning about the milking process, Ms. Jewell’s students had a chance to try it on their own using a makeshift udder filled with water. They realized just how hard it is to aim for the bucket! They also sampled some cheese that was made with milk from the Alpaslopes farm. We appreciate Mr. Jewell coming in to teach our students all about dairy farming!
On March 14th (3/14), Lawrence Junior High celebrated Pi Day, paying homage to the beloved mathematical constant 3.14! Students dove into the fun of math by experimenting with cupcakes to grasp the link between a circle's diameter and circumference. They also competed to recite Pi's digits to the furthest decimal place. For those who need a refresher, Pi is an infinite and unpredictable number, essential in calculating circles. Math class turned into a sweet adventure, proving once again that learning can be both enjoyable and rewarding!
The high school is in the final week of the third quarter and we’ll start Quarter 4 on Monday, April 1, no fooling.
Spring sports have started with tryouts this week. Games won’t start until April vacation week.
Jocelyn Matos did an all-day training for Early Childhood Development on March 26th with the rest of her MMTC Child Care program.
The following MMTC Automotive students attended an all-day on-site work experience at Ray Haskell Ford on the 26th. Those students are Trafton Cole, Jake Giles, Aidan Meader, Russell Newell, and Liam Poulin.
Our KVCC Welding students participated in a Job Fair that was held on Wednesday, March 27th.
Our EMPOWER students presented their assembly for the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders on Tuesday of this week, focusing on decision-making in different scenarios: one on not vaping, and another on good social media use.
End-of-year festivities will soon be upon us. I will be reaching out to Senior Parents to hold an informational meeting on May 1, 2024, to talk about Graduation and the planned Project Graduation trip.
Enjoy the week.
The Lawrence Chapter of the National Honor Society attended the NHS state convention on Thursday, March 14. At the conference, our juniors and seniors were given the opportunity to meet and network with various other young leaders from around the state, to build on various leadership skills through a myriad of workshops, and to gain new service ideas to bring back to our own community.
During this event, we had two juniors run for the State's NHS Executive Committee Board. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Abigail Taylor, our new Maine State Secretary, and Elizabeth Holden, our new Central Maine Representative.
Last Friday the Unified Basketball Team played before the student body against Messalonskee’s Unified Team. It was a great experience for our students; both players and those supporting from the stands. During our Community Homeroom on Wednesday we had a video showing the addictive effects of cell phone use. It comes from the apps and constant updates and how satisfaction of checking your posts for likes releases dopamines creating a stronger craving for that feeling with neural pathways being affected leading to detachment, sadness, and melancholy affect when faced with other natural stimuli.
If at all possible it would be beneficial to create non-cell phone use time for your kids at night and when they’re doing homework. It is suggested that cell phones be in a different location at night than their bedroom so they don’t check them and can get a good night’s sleep.
We have one week left in the quarter. Report Cards will be ready on April 5th. Spring Sports start next week. Please make sure that your student-athlete has signed up on Family ID on the high school webpage.
Thanks and have a great week!
Last week at Lawrence Junior High the Student Council sponsored a spirit week for students and staff. Part of the festivities included a door decorating contest! First, second, and third place was awarded to Mrs. Easler's homeroom, Ms. Ward's homeroom, and Ms. Longley's homeroom. Thank you to the Student Council and Mr. Quirion for bringing a little extra spirit to our school.
Clinton 6th graders engage in Aspirations Day at Benton, gearing up for the Maine College Circle scholarship writing contest. Inspiring ambition and academic excellence, this event prepares students to articulate their aspirations and pursue higher education opportunities.
On Tuesday, March 12, volunteers from Maine Agriculture in the Classroom came to Benton Elementary to read to students in grades 1-4. Students heard the story of The Wakame Gatherers by Holly Thompson. It is the story of two grandmothers, one from Maine and one from Japan, who teach each other how seaweeds are used and harvested in each country. After hearing the story, the students had an opportunity to try Kelp Krunchies from Maine Coast Sea Vegetables. All teachers who participate in this program receive a free copy of the book and a teacher's guide. This program is supported annually by the "Support Local Agriculture" license plate program which has a mission, in part, to show students how Maine farmers and harvesters help us grow and harvest food in Maine.
Community and creativity merge as Fairfield Primary students collaborate with their families to design leprechaun traps at home, fostering bonds and imaginative thinking. Sharing these creations with classmates not only spreads excitement but also promotes teamwork and camaraderie among peers.
At Albion Elementary Mr. Grenier’s PE class joins in the fun of Jump Rope for Heart last week, promoting cardiovascular health and raising awareness for heart disease prevention. Check out the vibrant snapshots captured by Mrs. Cloutier’s class, showcasing the spirit of community engagement and fitness advocacy!
At Fairfield Primary Ms. Sweatt’s class having a blast during gym with Mr. Plaisted playing Red Light, Green Light Soccer! Encouraging physical activity through fun games like this not only keeps students active but also teaches them important skills like teamwork, coordination, and sportsmanship.
Benton Elementary School hosted MSAD 49’s annual Bulldog Aspirations Day on Friday, March 8. 150 sixth-grade students from Albion, Benton, Clinton, and Fairfield gathered to learn more about different professions in our community. Each student attended one of the 20 breakout sessions that were led by volunteers from many different career fields, including agricultural, writing, medical, performing arts, business, athletics, engineering, culinary arts, and the military. This unique opportunity has surely sparked a greater interest in students' continued career exploration. We're grateful to our Benton Elementary guidance counselors, Marissa Martin and Kelsey Rohman, for organizing this incredible event. We'd also like to extend a huge bulldog thank you to all of our volunteers for their support of our MSAD 49 students!
On Tuesday afternoon Albion Elementary held its quarterly Honors Celebration. During this assembly, the school and parents gather to see the 4,5 and 6th-grade honor roll students receive certificates for their achievements. We were lucky to have Mr. Hoagland’s band play The Star Spangled Banner, Ode to Joy, and Go Bulldogs. Congratulations to the recipients!
Students in Clinton Elementary’s 3rd - 6th grades had the opportunity to engage in wintertime physical activity by snowshoeing during Physical Education class! This provides our students a chance to stay physically active during the colder winter months and explore new areas we can’t reach during the summertime. We start practicing securing the snowshoes to our feet in December. It is very important to secure them correctly so they don’t fall off in the snow! After a few snow storms, we ventured out into the cold in search of natural wonder! Students in grades 3 - 6 get the chance to do this activity once per year during Physical Education.
On March 7th the entire Lawrence Junior High School student population participated in the MLTI Virtual Student Conference. Students engaged in activities focused on Technology, Computer Science, Games, Creativity, Team Building, and Fun! Many students shared that they learned something new about coding, graphic arts, computer science, and much more. We are looking forward to participating again in 2025!
