Last Friday, Maine illustrator and author Josh Alves brought his passion for storytelling to our Clinton students! He engaged K-2 students with captivating stories, music, and writing exercises to help them connect their pictures and words. For Grades 3 and 4, he showcased his books and illustrations, guiding them through story mapping. With Grades 5 and 6, he shared insights from his graphic novels and led a workshop on the elements of writing. This experience is vital in fostering creativity and literacy, empowering students to express themselves through art and storytelling!
On Tuesday, the planetarium visited Albion, bringing engaging learning experiences to our students! Kindergarten explored "Weather and Seasons," 1st graders discovered "Where Do Clouds Come From?", and 4th graders took a deep dive into "The Ocean Planet" to learn about the ocean floor. These interactive sessions not only spark curiosity but also emphasize the importance of understanding our environment and the science behind it. A big thank you to the planetarium for inspiring our young learners!
Our Reading Recovery/Title I Literacy team recently hosted a family literacy night for many of our first and second-grade Title I students. Families learned about the roles of teachers, parents, and students receiving Reading Recovery and Title I lessons, with an emphasis on the home-school partnership to accelerate literacy learning for students.
Families also participated in crafting our next Story Walk for the Benton Elementary playground, using two copies of the book Hold This, by Carolyn Scoppettone.
Each student went home with their very own copy of Big Truck, Little Island, by Maine author/illustrator Chris Van Dusen. We're excited about Chris coming to Benton to visit with our Kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade Bulldogs in March!
Things are certainly spooky here at LJHS! 7th Grade Science students in Mrs. Easler's and Mr. Cloutier's classes research a Famous Scientist and create fun and creative headstones for these scientists. Also check out the spooky display in our Library!
Congratulations to the Lawrence Speech Team for their work at their meet at Bangor High School this past Saturday, 10/26/24! Individual awards include:
😀Ronnie Allen- 2nd Place in Novice Poetry, 4th Place in Novice Prose
😀Ryder Bernier- 2nd Place in Informative Speaking
😀Katharine Brown- 4th Place in Original Oratory
😀Addison King- 2nd Place in Original Oratory, 3rd Place in Oral Interpretation of Literature
🌳When Mrs. Foster and Ms. Perry went to the Farm and Sea to School Institute in the summer of 2023, they learned about ReTreeUS and how they could receive a grant to get an orchard on school grounds. Now we have an orchard of ten fruit trees planted behind the Industrial Technology shop.
🧑🎓The quarter ends on Friday. Students with quarter classes will start new ones on Monday, November 4th. Report cards will be issued by November 12, 2024.
Guidance issued a letter for all students to bring home on Monday re: any families in need of assistance or willing to help out during the holiday season, please let the Guidance Department know.
👻Happy Halloween! Have a great week.
This role playing exercise in Mr. Carpenter's 7th grade class allowed participants to step into the shoes of key historical figures involved in the Boston Massacre of 1770. By embodying characters such as British soldiers, colonists, local witnesses, and lawyers such as Samuel Quincy and John Adams, the students explored the social and political tensions of the time, gaining insights into the motivations and perspectives of all those involved.
It's National Bus Safety Week and School Bus Driver Appreciation Week! Our dedicated MSAD 49 bus drivers work hard every day to safely transport the students of our district. We appreciate all they do, including reviewing bus safety with every Benton Elementary class within the past week. Drive safely, everyone!
Shoutout to the MSAD 49 bus drivers for visiting Albion this week to teach our students the importance of bus safety! Your dedication helps keep our kids safe on the road.
At Clinton Elementary Ms. LaBranche's Pre-K class is enjoying center time. Center time is a time for children to explore, play and choose activities independently or with classmates and teachers. Choices include art, writing, sensory table, math, science, blocks, and dramatic play. The activities are responsive to each child's strengths and needs while supporting their social emotional, cognitive and physical development
Blood Drive in the high school gym on 10/30/24. https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/donation-time
Two students, Liam Poulin and Jake Begin, were recipients of MMTC’s October Students of the Month. Liam is in the Automotive Systems program and Jake is in the Guiding & Recreation program at MMTC. Congratulations to both students!
On Tuesday, we have students who signed up taking the PSAT assessment. This assessment is given to Sophomores and Juniors who would like to take them in advance of the SAT’s. We are not a host site for the SAT’s but interested students can look on their College Board website to see where it is being offered in the spring.
The high school is quickly approaching the end of the first quarter, which ends on November 1, 2024. This can be an illuminating moment for some students that come to the realization that grades actually mean something and that they need to be passing in order to earn credits towards graduating. If a student has had a bad quarter, it might behoove parents to reach out to their student’s teachers to see where their child is having difficulty. If it’s homework assignments that aren’t getting turned in, it might be a good idea to clamp down a bit on the student and have them report to the kitchen table when they get home from school to do their homework first thing or let them blow off steam for an hour and then have them report to a designated spot so they can be monitored that they indeed are working on school work.
This is a time to give adolescents some more freedoms, but if they are demonstrating that they can’t handle the amount you’ve given them, it would be good for their development to re-establish some non-negotiables until they can demonstrate that they can earn back some of those privileges.
Teachers, Guidance, and Administrators are always willing to work with you to help your student navigate schooling, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
Enjoy this fine weather we’ve been having and have a good remainder of your week!
Benton Elementary sixth graders have been learning about civic duties and the branches of our government. This week each class is traveling to Augusta for a tour of the Maine State House, including the Senate and House chambers. They also visited Blaine House, home to Maine's governors since 1920.
At Albion Elementary Mrs. Bearce’s Kindergarten class is hard at work honing their writing skills! ✍️📚 Developing early writing abilities is crucial for young learners, as it enhances creativity, communication, and confidence. Every word they write lays the foundation for their future success!
In late September, the Clinton second and first graders participated in some fun and educational stations all about apples! The students in both first and second-grade classrooms were mixed into four larger groups that rotated to each classroom for stations. Students heard a story about making applesauce and tried some homemade applesauce. Then they got to vote on whether they liked it or not and shared their results. In another station, students worked to plan and design a tower using cups. Then, on the top of their structure, they needed to carefully place an apple to see if it would stay. Afterward, they drew and wrote about how they designed their tower. Students had fun while using some science, engineering, and math skills! Another station experimented to observe if apples would float or sink. Each student received an investigation book and kept track of their color apple and their hypothesis on whether it would sink or float. Students were getting creative in an Apple Art station and used sponges to create a green leafy tree and their fingerprints to create apples in the tree. Clinton first and second graders, and their teachers, definitely had some fun and learned quite a bit about apples!
🎨✨ Ms. Badamo's 8th graders transformed their favorite snacks into vibrant paper and paint sculptures! This project not only sparked their creativity but also highlighted the importance of artistic expression and the joy of personal interests in art. 🍕🍦 Let’s celebrate their imagination!
We had two of our teachers attend a national conference last week. Mr. Meneses and Mrs. Foster, both our Alternative Teachers went to the National Alternative Education Association Conference in Tucson, Arizona from October 7th through the 9th. The trip was supported by an honorarium grant provided by the Maine Department of Education and the Rethinking Remote Education Venture folks who provided the grant that jump-started our alternative education program at the high school, two years ago.
Fall sports teams are winding down, if not wrapping up in the case of our Golf Team. Elizabeth Holden placed second in the State for the Individual Class B State Championships held last Saturday at Natanis Golf Course. Two others who competed in the Individual State Match were Seniors Zack Hill and Jake Frazee; both finishing just out of the top ten. Congratulations to the Seniors for their strong showing and leadership!
Something to put on your calendars is the Craft Fair coming up on November 2nd at the high school. A great way to get into the holiday spirit.
Senior Parents - we’ll look to schedule another Senior Parent Meeting for Monday, September 28th so watch for notices announcing it.
Have a great week!
Up, up, and away! Last week our Benton Elementary fourth graders gathered to launch a giant balloon that carried many types of seeds into the skies above our community.
Dr. Rick Eason - Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and head of the University of Maine's High Altitude Balloon Program - helped the students load their seeds into specialized boxes attached to the balloon. John Garesche, with Launch With Us, LLC, attached a 360 camera to the base of the balloon to record video footage of the journey.
The balloon reached a peak altitude of 117,771 feet and a maximum speed of 73 mph during its 2-hour flight! Dr. Eason and his team retrieved it from a remote location northeast of Bangor and returned the seeds to our school. Our fourth graders have already planted their seeds and placed them under grow lights in our library. The students have high hopes that they'll soon be eating veggies grown from seeds that traveled to the stratosphere and back!
At Clinton Elementary Mrs. Scmidt's Kindergarten class listened to a read-aloud as part of their guidance lesson. Guidance staff Jessica Brown, our partner from Maine Behavioral Health supports our little ones as they are learning how to build friendships and work with one another in school.
Also here are some pictures of kindergarten pumpkin paintings from Mrs. Schmidt's class.
Albion Elementary students in Mrs. Ryan's first-grade class made a visit to the L.C. Bates Museum. The students explored how different animals adapt to various seasons, deepening their understanding of wildlife and the natural world. This experience not only enhances their learning but also fosters a sense of curiosity and appreciation for nature, which is essential for developing lifelong environmental awareness.
🏌️The following Lawrence golfers participated Tuesday, 10/8/24 as they are participating in the KVAC Golf Championships at Natanis Golf Club:
Elizabeth Holden - Qualified for the State Meet which will be held on Saturday.
Zack Hill - Qualified for the State Meet which will be held on Saturday.
Broden Foster
Jake Frazee - Qualified for the State Meet which will be held on Saturday.
Ryan Lea
Trenton Paquette
Good luck to those golfers who qualified for the State golf match on Saturday which will be held at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro with a tee time of 10:00 AM. Good luck Liz, Zack, and Jake!
💼On Tuesday of this week, Mrs. Ferriter and Mr. Bellner took some students up to tour the Penobscot County Job Corps campus. Job Corps is a program for 16 - 24-year-old students and young adults that provides career readiness and on-the-job training in a campus setting with adult mentors. For more information, you can visit their website at penobscot.job corps.gov.
🤝Parent Teacher conferences are resuming on Thursday evening and conferences can be scheduled by calling the school or going online to: myconferencetime.com/lhs.
🖼️Picture Retakes will be held on November 13, 2024 at 8:00 AM for students who missed the original picture day or would like a retake.
This Friday is a Teacher In-Service day, so no students. Students will enjoy the first of two long weekends in a row!
Congratulations to the 16 fifth and sixth graders who have been voted to represent their classes on our Benton Elementary Student Council. The group met for the first time this week and they've hit the ground running! This year our Student Council will collect cans and bottles at school with the help of CLYNK. CLYNK is a recycling movement that started here in Maine and is now being used by some other states. It’s simple: bag it, tag it, scan it, and drop it! We're proud that our Student Council is doing the right thing for our environment, and we look forward to seeing all the great work this group will do this year!
