Teamwork in action at Clinton Elementary! Fifth graders in Mr. Hoyt's class collaborate on a project, showcasing the power of collaboration and creativity. Working together not only enhances learning but also builds essential social skills for the future!
Yearbook Club Teamwork in Action!
Twenty-three students are part of the Lawrence Junior High School Yearbook Club this year. They are currently working on choosing the theme for this year’s publication. Members have expressed excitement to try something new, meet new people, invest in a long-term project, get involved, and have fun while creating. Students are working on the yearbook with the teacher librarian, Ms. Butterfield, and science teacher, Mr. Cloutier. Please see the LJHS Website for details on ordering a yearbook!
High School News: Olympia Snowe Leaders Institute group involves girls from the school who were nominated and selected by the adults in our school. It is an honor and privilege for them to serve and represent Lawrence High School. This day-long Fall Forum event was held on September 26th in Orono. The girls heard Senator Snowe speak as well and participated in sessions to build their leadership skills. Becky Anderson, our Librarian, stood in for Maureen Ferriter, our school counselor who coordinates the program at the high school.
Students who attended are in the picture below: Kylie Delile, Paige Goodwin, Nadia Morrison, Taylor Pellerin, Addison King, Arianna Goodwin, Hannah Carlton, Jillian Boyden, Addison Lea, Jenna Lawe, Charlee Matthews, Marley Peaslee, Mikayla Phillips, and Amyah Vaughn.
📕The ASVAB test was administered on Friday, 9/27, to 31 students. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test (ASVAB) is a comprehensive exam given by all Military Service branches to determine what military service-based skills and job sets a person is qualified to perform. The ASVAB tests math and reading skills but also evaluates a person's ability to comprehend mechanical, 3D rendering, electrical systems, and other vocational skill sets.
There is no obligation to join the military by taking the exam. A minimum score of 31 is required to join the services. The higher the score, the more career fields that are available. (The Army has over 120 different career fields) A score above 60 qualifies for additional enlistment bonuses and top-level security clearance for certain positions.
Students who are 17 years old or older who are interested in joining any military or just interested to see if they qualify for a good military job, should take the exam to get a baseline score to see what career fields they would qualify for.
🎶This past Saturday, the Marching Band hosted their Home Show which was a marching band competition with six other schools, all from the southern part of the state, and included the UMaine Marching Black Bears at the conclusion of the show! It was a great evening and the Lawrence Marching Band performed well, as did all the bands.
🖥️Students in AP Computer Science Principles represented a computing network. The strings each student held were paths connecting devices and each individual person was a computing device. This physical representation allowed students to visualize how information is shared. It also led to discussions about creating redundancy and fault-tolerant systems.
📗On Wednesday of this week the Sophomores were involved in taking their Reading Maine Through Year test. It was given in their Advisories during Block 1 and Advisory. On Thursday, the Sophomores will take the Math Through Year Assessment during their Advisory and Block 2 periods. These are state-mandated tests and will be given in the Spring, as well.
📙Yearbooks are on sale now. Visit Walsworth Yearbooks Lawrence HS website. All students were emailed with the link on Monday evening. The cost now is $60 and will increase to $65 on November 1, 2024.
☕The high school administration: Principal, Mr. Bowers, and Assistant Principal, Mr. Cyr will be hosting a “Coffee House” from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM in the High School Library. This is an opportunity to come by and talk with Administrators. (The coffee will probably be decaffeinated). You’re welcome to stop by for the full hour or just to pop in and say hi.
🤝Next week we have Parent Teacher Conferences and parents can sign up on www.myconferencetime.com They will be held on Wednesday, October 9, and Thursday, October 10 in the evening from 3:30 - 5:00 PM and 5:30 - 7:30 PM. This is an opportunity to meet with your student’s teachers and hear what and how your student is doing in their various classes. We hope to see you there!
Have a great week!
Last Friday, 9/20/24, the Senior Class attended an assembly hosted by Rebecca Casey, the Payroll Manager at KVCC, on the subject of paychecks and withholdings.
The Sophomores will be taking the Maine Through Year Assessments in Reading and Math on October 2nd and 3rd. These are State-mandated assessments that are given in the fall and the spring of each year to assess student performance for Maine’s accountability standards, the Common Core State Standards. Our students will test in their Advisory Homerooms: on Wednesday the students will test during Block 1 and Advisory for their Reading portion and on Thursday the students will test during Advisory and Block 2 for the Math portion. Students should get a good night’s sleep prior to test day and eat a good breakfast either at home or at school. If a testing Sophomore misses a test date, we will pull them from a class to make it up, so it’s important we get as many to take it on the assigned testing days.
We are in the midst of Homecoming Week! The parade kicks off on Friday at 5:00 PM from the high school parking. The football game is at 7 PM.
On Saturday evening we are hosting the marching band competition and will have the University of Maine Marching Black Bears here to perform. The Home Show starts at 5:00 PM and runs through 8:00 PM. Please come out to support our Marching Band! Due to this event, we will be having the Homecoming Dance on Saturday, October 5th.
We hope to see many alumni, family, and friends at the parade and game on Friday night and the Marching Band competition on Saturday! Have a great week!
At Albion Elementary we're excited to kick off our fundraising efforts to enhance our student activities account! Your support will help fund enriching experiences like guest speakers, field trips, and celebrations that make learning fun and memorable. Together, let’s create unforgettable moments for our students!
Benton Elementary fifth-grade classes have committed to a year-long recycling initiative for their Service Learning Project. Students will be collecting used paper from all classrooms and work areas throughout the school year, taking a giant step toward a greener future for our community. In the coming weeks, fifth graders will be delivering recycling bins and teaching younger students about the importance of recycling.
Unlocking the world around us! 🌟 Mr. Mercier's 4th graders at Clinton Elementary dive into the 5 senses, learning to explore and appreciate the richness of their experiences through hands on learning.
Students and staff at Lawrence Junior High are in the homecoming spirit! Today they coordinated their outfits to show their school spirit for Twinning Day! The Bulldog Pride is strong at LJHS!
The kindergarten and first grades in Albion went to Lemiuex’s Orchard in Vassalboro today. They picked apples, had a tour, wagon ride, and went in the corn maze.
Benton Elementary fifth grade students are enjoying the fruits (and vegetables!) of their labor this fall! These students were in fourth grade when, during their library class, they researched gardening and put their knowledge to use planting. After careful tending this summer by Benton educational technician, Tara Mitchell, the garden is ready to harvest. Students have sampled tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers freshly picked out of their garden. The garden club is also working with Benton's nutrition program to turn our monster zucchini into zucchini bread for our students.
Sunny days and laughter abound as Clinton Elementary students discover the joy of friendship and fun at school. The joy of elementary students at school is crucial for their overall development. When children engage in enjoyable activities, they are more motivated to learn and explore new concepts. Positive experiences foster social skills, creativity, and emotional well-being, creating a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Seventh-grade students at Lawrence Junior High School have had an exciting week exploring the 13 Colonies! They started by fishing for information with Mr. Carpenter to practice vocabulary and learn about the New England colonies. In Ms. Longley’s classroom, students took on the roles of various shopkeepers, such as Apothecary, Carpenter, Chandler, and Blacksmith, sharing insights about the Middle and Southern Colonies with their "customers." Finally, in a fun-filled class in the library with Mrs. Butterfield, Mr. Carpenter, and Ms. Longley, students learned about the roles and responsibilities of men, women, and children in the colonies. They created whirligigs, identified animal pelts, and made paper quilt squares to enhance their understanding!
❤️🩹The Lawrence High School CPR and First Aid class, taught by Mr. Spears, offers students an opportunity to learn and practice the skills necessary to help out in an emergency. Students learn these skills through classroom lectures and activities, independent practice, and emergency simulations. The simulations replicate emergencies that a person may come across giving them the chance to apply the potentially life-saving skills they have learned in a stressful but non-threatening environment. Simulations may take place in a classroom, hallway, stairwell, or even in the school parking lot. To date, more than 150 students have passed the class and received certification by meeting the standards of the American Heart Association for adult, child, and infant CPR/AED use and first aid.
🏫On Thursday seniors who have signed up will be attending a College Fair at the University of Maine at Orono. They will be leaving at 8:30 and returning around noon time. This takes place in the field house and features many colleges throughout the state and New England.
🏓Sargent Jared Deroshe of the Maine Army National Guard was in on Tuesday participating in the PE classes going over some physical fitness testing with the students. Also in PE, Mr. Blaisdell and some helpers lined 8 pickleball courts for permanent public and school use on the tennis courts.
💬On Tuesday, student speeches for class officers were given before their respective classmates and voting took place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
👍Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute’s Club met with the Jr. girls this week. The Juniors that we have participating are Addison King, Hannah Carlton, Jillian Boyden, and Arianna Goodwin. Information on Olympia Snowe’s Women’s Leadership Institute can be found on their website: https://snoweleadershipinstitute.org/
🗺️Mrs. Davis’ two Geography classes have been using a variety of thematic maps to determine the best county in the lower 48 United States to survive after the ‘zombie apocalypse’. They have created visual aids that look like backpacks and highlight the most important information about the resources they will need to restart civilization from their chosen spot. Finished projects will be posted in her classroom, a picture of one appears below.
🎵The Lawrence High School Music Department recently hosted the United States Navy Band's "Country Current" small ensemble group on 26 AUG '24 in the WATC to great review and attendance. Here is the link to this concert (and others) courtesy of videographer Chad Smith: www.crossroads-tv.com/live. Viewers will note our Band Director, Loren Fields (LHS '83) soloing with "Country Current" on "When the Saints Go Marching In." Also in the Crossroads-TV archives is this past April's U.S. Army Field Band & Soldiers' Chorus concert hosted on 13 APR '24 in our Williams Performing Arts Center.
🎷Lawrence High School is hosting a Maine Band Directors' Association Competitive Marching Band event on Keyes Field in Pete Cooper Stadium on Saturday, September 28th. Attending schools will be Wells, Biddeford, Westbrook, Blue Hawks, South Portland, Dover, Old Orchard Beach, our own Lawrence High School Marching Bulldogs, and a special guest The University of Maine Black Bear Marching Band. There is a small admission charge for this family-centric event. $7 for adults, $5 for students/senior citizens w/ a $20 max for a family of four. The start time for the first Marching Band is 5 p.m., so get here early. Concessions will be available.
📝 A reminder to folks, if you haven’t filled out the school district’s Meal Benefits Form, you are encouraged to do so. It only needs to be filled out once for the year, so if you have children in multiple schools, one application will suffice. It is used as a data point by the State when allocating funding for Essential Programs and Services. We appreciate your time and effort in completing this and returning it to the school, which will then be turned over to the Food Services Director, Mr. Chamberlain.
Have a great week!
Benton Elementary was bursting at its seams with excited students and their families for our annual Open House. Students picked up a passport as they entered the building and visited many of the important people and parts of our school. We're thrilled so many families were able to take part in this special event!
We continued our tradition of hosting the Darling's "Ice Cream for a Cause" truck the same evening. Darling's collected monetary donations for our Bulldog Boutique - a clothing and food closet that benefits our students - in exchange for delicious ice cream treats. Thank you to Darling's for continuing to so generously support our students!
Snapshots from the first week of school at Clinton Elementary! 🎒📚 Our students have jumped right into learning and fun, embracing new routines and making new friends. Here’s to a fantastic start and many more amazing moments ahead!
Welcome to a new school year at Albion Elementary! 📚✨ Our Open House was a wonderful success, filled with excitement and smiles as students and families explored classrooms, met teachers, and set the stage for a fantastic year ahead. Here’s to new beginnings and great adventures in learning!
The Lawrence Junior High School Library is up and running full force! This wonderful new piece of art was donated to the library by a local artist, Larissa Davis.
Also new to our library is Mrs. Butterfield, our new Librarian-Teacher. Mrs. Butterfield's goal is to have a welcoming space for students, staff, and community. She states "The library is a place to foster curiosity and grow. Larissa Davis's generous gift and inspiring art invite u all to shine."
For more information on the artist and students' reactions to the art, visit the LJHS website.
The High School just had Picture Day on Wednesday; a sure sign that the school year is underway. To access pictures, please visit the LifeTouch website.
The school is accepting nominations for Class Representatives and Class Officers and we will have speeches and voting next week. The following week is Homecoming and next week the classes will be busy with preparation and planning.
We are off to a great start to the new school year. Students should be back in the swing of things as far as classwork and homework go. The first year of high school is usually an adjustment period for the freshmen and in the first quarter, grades may take a dip. It is important to check in with your students as to how their classes are going and check into their grades on Infinite Campus, through the Parent Portal. Many teachers also use Google Classroom to post homework and upcoming assignments. Your student can show you their Google Classroom webpages for their classes. Teachers and School Counselors are accessible and available by phone and email, as are administrators. Please reach out if you have any questions or are unsure of your student’s progress in their classes.
Attendance is also equally important for the success of any student in school. If your child is sick, please contact the high school and call them out sick. If they have an appointment, in order for them to be excused, we ask that they bring back a note from the appointment: whether it is medical, dental, or vision, etc. If there is a planned absence for a trip, etc., we have Planned Absence Forms outside the Main Office window for the student to bring home to get signed and to take around to their teachers before the trip so plans can be made for any upcoming classwork they will miss or work to be completed upon return.
If you have any questions or concerns with regard to your child, please feel free to reach out to any one of us at the high school. Have a great week!
As Lawrence Junior High students step back into school after summer break, the air is filled with excitement and anticipation. Friends catch up and share their summer stories while gearing up for the start of sports practices and new extracurricular activities. The buzz of the first week is also about diving into new subjects and exploring fresh learning opportunities. With a mix of enthusiasm for athletics, rekindled friendships, and academic challenges, students are ready to embrace the new school year with energy and optimism. Pictures are still to come.
Albion Elementary students are full of excitement as they return to school, eager to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. The start of a new school year is filled with anticipation for fresh adventures, creative projects, and opportunities to learn and grow. Pictures of the first week of school to come!
