NO SCHOOL IN RSU#34 SCHOOLS TUESDAY DECEMBER 3, 2019
RSU#34 SCHOOLS CLOSED TUESDAY DECEMBER 3, 2019.
OTHS Theatre presents a three-course mystery theatre experience!
ALL RSU#34 AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES CANCELED TODAY MONDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2019
Our future-thinking group looking at elementary schooling continues its work on Monday - we'll be reviewing community survey results and discussing next steps in our exploration. Please email Jon.Doty@rsu34.org if you're interested in joining us!
From early October:
Regional School Unit #34 (Alton, Bradley, and Old Town) seeks community stakeholders to join an ad hoc advisory committee that will engage in future-thinking conversation about elementary programming across Alton Elementary School, Viola Rand School, and Old Town Elementary School. Those interested in participating can email or call Dr. Jon Doty, RSU #34 Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, at jon.doty@rsu34.org or 827-3932.
This fall teachers welcomed the biggest kindergarten class RSU #34 has ever seen, and the RSU was also able to pilot full-day Pre-K at one location. “We’re proud to have kids thriving in three elementary schools,” says Doty. “Our children are engaged, supported, and learning; we’re thankful for wonderful educators and a very supportive community!” The advisory committee will take a “big picture” look at elementary schooling, and if the group sees opportunities worth pursuing, will make recommendations to the School Board. The group will discuss strengths of current approaches, wish-list opportunities for students such as learning world languages and all-day Pre-K, long-term facilities and transportation needs, partnership opportunities, a possible alternative structure to Title I interventions, and whether one or more schools should explore “niche” opportunities such as a nature immersion school or a public Montessori school. Each meeting will be open to the public and will include a public comment period; the RSU seeks to have a core group of advisory committee members that attends every meeting.
“We have fantastic things going on for children,” says Doty, “and know that they and our communities are best served in the long-run by occasionally re-examining our practices rather than resting on our laurels.”
ALL AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AT RSU#34 SCHOOLS CANCELED TODAY TUESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2019.
Re-post...thanks for the survey replies so far! We'll start taking a look at these this weekend so please take a moment to give us feedback and ideas this week.
***
Dear Alton, Bradley, and Old Town community member, We write to solicit feedback to inform some forward-thinking planning for our elementary schools (Alton Elementary, Old Town Elementary, and Viola Rand School). Kids are thriving in each, and we recently welcomed our largest kindergarten class in RSU #34 history! We know we serve children best if we continually re-examine our practices rather than rest on our laurels, and a committee of staff, parents, and community members is taking the lead on that work. We’d appreciate your feedback on our strengths, challenges, and some opportunities, through doing this brief online survey by Saturday 11/16: https://forms.gle/QuJVDbL43Ge1us2g9 If you’re interested in joining or visiting our committee, please email or call Dr. Jon Doty: 827-3932 or jon.doty@rsu34.org Thanks!
Immediate Opening for Ed Tech III opening at Old Town High School. Check out the Employment tab at www.RSU34.org for application and more information
"Neurons that fire together wire together." Here's a summary of a research study published this week, focused on brain development before five years old: tinyurl.com/yybmfqcu
"...what could be occurring is that screen time is too passive for brain development. 'Perhaps screen time got in the way of other experiences that could have helped the children reinforce these brain networks more strongly,' he said. The first years of life need to be focused on human interactions that encourage speaking, interacting socially and playing with loving caregivers to develop thinking, problem-solving and other executive skills."
Here's a link to the American Association of Pediatricians' guidelines for screen use: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/138/5/e20162591
Dear Alton, Bradley, and Old Town community member,
We write to solicit feedback to inform some forward-thinking planning for our elementary schools (Alton Elementary, Old Town Elementary, and Viola Rand School). Kids are thriving in each, and we recently welcomed our largest kindergarten class in RSU #34 history! We know we serve children best if we continually re-examine our practices rather than rest on our laurels, and a committee of staff, parents, and community members is taking the lead on that work.
We’d appreciate your feedback on our strengths, challenges, and some opportunities, through doing this brief online survey by Saturday 11/16: https://forms.gle/QuJVDbL43Ge1us2g9
If you’re interested in joining or visiting our committee, please email or call Dr. Jon Doty: 827-3932 or jon.doty@rsu34.org
Thanks!
No School in RSU #34 Friday November 1st
School’s delayed opening by 2 hours.
Education begins long before school! Did you know counting out loud makes a big difference for babies? Check out this video and article from Johns Hopkins University! https://youtu.be/h4Amu5OsRUM and http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/inside-school-research/2019/10/infants_understand_counting.html
OTHS maintains an alumni database; it's a great way to help connect our current students with alums in career fields they're exploring, and to also help provide info when our alumni classes are planning reunions! If you're interested in being added to the database, please click here: tinyurl.com/yy28872p
It's not every day you get to spend snack time watching a Maine astronaut make history! Mrs. Gasaway's first graders asked #askNASA what happens if an astronaut drops a bolt during a spacewalk, and how they sleep on the space station.
OTHS alum in the news!
https://umaine.edu/edhd/2019/07/30/reading-recovery-young-learners-benefit-from-umaine-center/
RSU #34 hosts the Eastern Maine Reading Recovery Site, with teacher leader Dr. Sharon Greaney. By hosting the site and serving as fiscal agent, our team of educators greatly benefits day-to-day from Dr. Greaney's expertise and support!
Be on the lookout for an Economic Status Form that we are sending home with all students in the RSU 34 school District. There will be contests held at each school for students that return their forms!! Please return all forms no later than October 10th. This form will provide information needed by the Maine Department of Education to RSU 34 ‘s eligibility status for State Economically Disadvantaged funds available under the Essential Programs & Services Funding Act (State Funding for Schools). Data in this form IS NOT for school lunch purposes, only to determine economic disadvantaged status.
One of our local treasures, and frequent host for our field trips, is having a Fall Fest this weekend! Families can check out what Hirundo Wildlife Refuge has to offer at: https://www.hirundomaine.org/naturemade
RSU #34 hosted a regional Teaching & Leading Academy yesterday, with 140+ educators learning more about topics ranging from social-emotional learning to technology practices to assessment strategies. Thanks to Education Commissioner Pender Makin for keynoting our event!
RSU #34 accepts funding through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. As part of ESEA, RSU #34 is required to provide reasonable opportunity for public comment on the consolidated application and consider such comment prior to the submission of the application. RSU #34 solicited feedback while the program budgets were developed in parallel with the overall RSU budget this winter and spring, and is accepting final public comment on the ESEA application through July 19th, 2019. To read the application, ask questions, and provide comment about the application's goals and priorities please contact Dr. Doty (jon.doty@rsu34.org).