From a community partner:
Registrations for the Hirundo Wildlife Refuge Camp are STILL OPEN! Scholarships are available !
Join us for 1-4 exciting weeks of unforgettable adventures immersed in nature. Each week has a different focus, but every week offers opportunities to explore nature, spot wildlife, paddle, and hike at Hirundo!
Register Here: https://www.hirundomaine.org/summercamp
Week 1: July 8-12 Discover Your Inner Naturalist
Week 2: July 22-26 Blaze Your Own Trail
Week 3: August 5-9 Unearth Hidden Hirundo's Secrets
Week 4: August 19-23 Splash Into Your Next Adventure
Camps are designed for Ages 9-12, and run from 9am-4pm weekdays. We welcome you to sign up for 2, 3, or 5 days (or 4 full weeks) of fun!
Questions? Email: brianna@hirundomaine.org
Shared from our community:
RSU 34 Special Education Opportunities
Elementary Special Education Teachers for Summer School 2024
RSU 34 needs 3 Special Education Teachers for summer school programming. The
program runs July 9th -August 1, 2024, Tuesday-Thursday from 7:30-2:30 each day (12
days). Additional time is provided for preparation and planning. Competitive Rate
$33.34/hour
Elementary Special Education Teacher
RSU 34 is looking for a special education teacher with experience providing specially
designed instruction for students with autism and intellectual disabilities at the
elementary level in a self-contained setting. Competitive Salary and additional stipend
provided.
Speech Language Pathologist- Three Open Positions
RSU 34 is looking for 3 qualified Speech Language Pathologists to provide speech and
language therapy, both direct and consult, to children with a variety of disabilities and
work as an integral member of an educational team to provide high quality services to
children with significant academic, behavioral, and social skills needs. Competitive
Salary and additional stipend provided.
Educational Technicians K-12 (Ed Tech I, II, & III)
RSU 34 seeks candidates that are positive, flexible, and willing to learn within a variety
of educational settings working with students with disabilities. The pay range is $16.56-
$22.34/hour.
Applications for these opportunities can be found at www.rsu34.org
(Employment). Questions should be directed to Kimm Kenniston, kimm.kenniston@rsu34.org .
Come join an amazing team!
The forecast for the remainder of the week is very warm! Please make sure your student is dressed appropriately for the temperatures and brings a water bottle to school daily. Thank you!
On May 3rd and May 10th, the elementary schools of RSU 34 held their World of Work and Community Helpers Day events. These events are intended to immerse pre-k-5 students into the diverse world of careers and trades. Mrs. Wilcox, Mrs. Lunn and Mrs. Goodwin recruited many parents and community members for this annual event. Almost half of the presenters were parents of RSU 34 students! Alton Elementary and the Viola Rand School were welcomed to OTES to hear presentations and become more familiar with the surroundings. Some presenters included a Forest Ranger, OT Police and Fire, a local doctor from PCHC, a nutritionist, a barber, a service dog, an electrician, and many more! We are so thankful to our community members who volunteered their time for these events!
Shared from our community
Shared from our community:
Did you know our library has a membership to the Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor? If you want to go with your family, all you need to do is email Mrs. Reesman at Michelle.reesman@rsu34.org and let her know the date you wish to visit the museum with your family and she’ll send a signed form home with your child for that date! Only one visit request per day is allowed. Let’s take advantage of this cool opportunity for our district!
This Saturday, April 27th, Hirundo is offering a free "Meet a Scientist" event to celebrate Earth Day! This will be at Binette Park in Old Town from 10 AM - 1 PM.
Join Hirundo Wildlife Refuge in celebrating Earth Day at Binette Park in Old Town!
Meet scientists from around Maine, who will showcase some of the equipment they use and what projects they are working on right now!
Peer through lenses and activate your brain by asking questions and discovering more about the world around you. Tables will be stationed around the park featuring topics ranging from golden eagles and bird banding, to DNA extraction, to archaeology! Meet A Scientist will be your one-stop shop to learn about all the local science being conducted.
Learn the basics of what scientists do and how you can become a citizen scientist! This celebration of learning will be fun for everyone, so bring the whole family or come on your own.
Pick up a stamp card at the Hirundo table, visit at least 7 tables, and get a free nature-themed poster of your choice (first come first serve)!
Directions ~ Binette Park
434 Main Street, Old Town, ME 04468 (44.937288, -68.647140)
Located on Main Street in Old Town, along the Penobscot River, between Pepper's Landing and The Rock Church.
The April Bikes for Books Challenge sheet will be sent with your student today, Monday, April 1st if it has not already gone home. The directions are as follows: Fill in as many spaces below with the book title you read to fulfill each challenge during the month of April. Read books of all kinds to get a chance to win a new bike! If you do not need a new bike, other prizes will be awarded. Check out your library and your librarians will give you book suggestions! Bikes and other prizes will be given out during the Reading Assembly in May for all those putting forth a great effort in this challenge!
YMCA Healthy Kids Day April 20, 2024, 10-2
Did you receive an extra author visit book? If so, please return it to school. Are you missing a book you ordered? If so, please email michelle.reesman@rsu34.org.
A reminder that we go outside in all types of weather! Please plan to send boots, snow pants, jackets, mittens/gloves and a hat over the next week or so as spring in Maine seems to bring snow!
Important Reminder: No school tomorrow, Friday, March 15th for a staff in-service day. Enjoy the long weekend!
Help your child get ready for baseball or softball and support the OTHS Coyotes at the same time! Win-win!
RSU 34 Elementary World Culture and Language Teacher, Kristen LePard, as well as volunteer garden coordinator and school board member, Christina Lannan, presented at the annual Educators for a Multilingual Maine conference on March 8. Their session, entitled Cultivating a Sense of Community Through Language, Food, and Art was well received. Check it out here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1PwC7aB8AouprrEqfbrwy_QNm6rw5xracILFoDZMJzww/edit?usp=sharing
Mark your calendars and get your fun socks ready for our upcoming RSU 34 Spirit Day on Friday, March 29th. Donations will be collected for Courageous Steps.
Some of the services RSU 34 provides are funded federally, such as those provided under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and those funded via ESSER / ARP (covid-relief funds, which conclude Sept. 2024). Planning for the use of federal funds is underway in parallel with the RSU 34 planning and budgeting process for 2024-2025. For more information about how to provide input or be involved in the process, please contact Dr. Jon Doty (https://www.rsu34.org/page/superintendents-office)
Good morning RSU #34!
We’re pleased to continue sharing staff profiles of our RSU #34 team. This month we visited with Ann Richard, Kitchen Manager at Old Town High School. After several days of disruption in our community due to the big storm, students and staff are excited about the breakfast and lunch Ann and team are preparing today! Ann was interviewed by our Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Jon Doty.
When you were a kid what did you think you wanted to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a graphic artist. I didn’t know what it was, but I liked art! In high school I also wanted to design clothes.
What was your favorite book as a kid? Favorite book / author now?
There was a book series about nurses that I really liked. Now, I like mysteries. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell is a favorite.
What was your favorite show or movie as a kid?
The Brady Bunch and The Munsters!
What led to your career - you’ve worked with us for more than 30 years!
Before I had kids I worked as a payroll clerk at the shoe shop. I chose to stay at home with the kids, and then I started to work at the schools so I could match up with their schedules, snow days, and vacations. I started with the schools as a substitute, and now I’m Kitchen Manager. I also coached middle school field hockey for a while with Deb Ziobron (rest in peace).
What do you like about working in RSU #34?
I’ve always liked cooking, and I really love the kids. I initially wasn’t excited about working with high school aged kids, but I love it. They’re mature, and I like talking to them…if they initially don’t want to talk, I consider it my challenge to get them to talk.
What do you like about our community?
This area is nice, safe, and friendly. There’s a great atmosphere and sense of community, with fun things to do in town.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
My 2nd grade report card said “Ann tends to be a little bossy.” Also, I’m addicted to Dateline.
That fits with reading mysteries! How do you recharge your batteries?
I like being home with peace and quiet, reading a good book.
Who was your favorite teacher?
Miss Pliska - she read to us a lot in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.
If you could time travel, where is the first time/place you would go?
I’d spend time with my parents again. My dad is the person I look up to most in life.
If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pepperoni and onion pizza.
If you could appear on any game show, what would it be?
Wheel of Fortune
Favorite treat?
Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Cups
Would you rather come face-to-face with a polar bear in the arctic, or a snake in the desert?
Polar bear. No question.
Thanks, Ann, for your hard work for our schools! RSU #34 Community, if you’d like to suggest someone for a future staff profile please use this form: https://forms.gle/m9295zfr8xLTzNzRA
10/02/2023
Dear RSU #34 Families & Staff,
Some of our families have received or will be receiving P-EBT cards (known as SNAP) from the State of Maine. We were not aware this was going to happen and received some questions today; we are passing along information that we have found. The short version is that the state of Maine has changed how it gathers information about what percentage of students in communities would qualify for free and reduced-price lunch. These changes have resulted in widespread distribution of the cards in many communities.
Here is a link to the state's website explaining eligibility for the program, and why you may have received these cards.
https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/programs-services/food-supplement#:~:text=To%20be%20eligible%20for%20this%20program%20individuals%20must%20meet%20the,19%20for%205%20consecutive%20days
There is a "Frequently Asked Questions" section on that website that includes information about other benefits, how to use the cards, and what to do with the cards if you do not wish to use them. There is also an email address for Maine DHHS on that website if you have further questions.
If we learn of more important details we will send them out to families.
Sincerely,
Jon Doty,
Assistant Superintendent