Here is the October lunch menu for OTES.
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
OTES October lunch menu
Re-Affirming Elementary Stakeholder Priorities In 2019 through early 2020, an “elementary stakeholder group” in RSU #34 led a community discussion about opportunities and needs for our community’s elementary students. This process included a number of open meetings, community survey, and reporting to the School Board. The committee discussed what our community was proud of, what remained on our wish list for students, enrollment projections, facilities, and a variety of possibilities. This fall, RSU #34 is conducting a more compact process to confirm that these are still the priorities of our community. We will use this information to inform our planning/budgeting for future years, as well as to inform our applications for grant funds such as ESEA and ESSER/ARP. We invite you to complete this brief survey, and/or to join us at an open discussion at one of these times: *with Alton Elementary PTC, @ November meeting (date TBD) *with Viola Rand School PRIDE, Monday 10/3, 6 PM (email Heidi.Gifford@rsu34.org for Zoom link) *with Old Town Elementary School PTC, Nov. 2nd, 2022 If you wish, please complete this survey by November 3rd, 2022: https://forms.gle/FuvZHH8NEzbhCrVL9 We also invite you to complete this survey about our use of federal Family Engagement Funds: https://forms.gle/PXY7wo2xipzEaMCfA If you would like to be more involved, please contact your school’s administration or RSU #34’s Assistant Superintendent (jon.doty@rsu34.org)! Similar outreach will be coming out in the coming month for Leonard Middle School and Old Town High School.
over 1 year ago, Dr. Jon Doty
This week Mrs. Doty's students explored bird adaptations in both the indoor and outdoor classrooms! Part of the study involved students completing a bird beak simulation to find out what food sources their "beaks" were best suited for. The class also read about Darwin's finches and went on a sensory walk to observe bird life around OTES.
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
Student records scientific observations
A group of students gathered to observe bird activity outside the school
Students use different objects as bird beaks to pick up seeds
Students use scissors as bird beaks to pick up seeds
It’s been a great day for RSU #34! This morning our grant application was approved for $70,000 in supplies to support Computer Science learning at all of our schools; this will support and expand our current coding and robotics efforts, and give us new capacities in virtual and augmented reality. Many thanks to our STEM specialists Mrs. Daniel and Mrs. Zabierek for their hard work in preparing the grant application. Our schools have been leading the way in robotics and coding since a 2012-era community fundraising effort! In addition to our in-school programming for all students, over the course of the past decade competitive robotics teams from LMS and OTHS have each earned their way to international competitions. Then at lunchtime, the Department of Education announced that RSU #34 is one of just four grantees statewide under the Community Schools program. This $50,000 grant will enable us to continue our existing community outreach efforts led by Mrs. Goodwin. Many thanks to her and Mrs. Wilcox for their hard work preparing that grant application. $120,000 total in grant awards is a great way to end a busy week!
over 1 year ago, Dr. Jon Doty
Bee Bots
Legos
Local, free community supper tonight, Friday, September 30th from 5-6pm.
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
Community Supper Flyer
How exciting! Our Holiday Bazaar is back! Mark your calendars and plan to join us on Saturday, December 3rd from 9am to 2pm! 🎁 It's BACK! Old Town Elementary's Holiday Bazaar, Arts and Crafts Fair, is back and in person this year! Join the fun with local Maine makers and support your community. Hosted by the Parent Teacher Club (PTC), this will be the Bazaar's 9th year and we are excited to bring local artisans and shoppers together. Stay tuned for further info here and be sure to check this page as we get closer to the event for a list of participating vendors. AND-Bring the family! This is an event for all, bring the kids for a holiday craft, coloring, and activities. Interested in being a vendor? Contact Lisa Carter for more information: lisamcarter@gmail.com
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
Holiday Bazaar flyer
Bring your best smile tomorrow, Wednesday, September 28th for Picture Day! Order forms are available in the office or pictures can be ordered online at www.mylifetouch.com with code EVTQMNWZ7
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
This Penobscot Pumpkin was planted by Ms. Lolar's class in June, in their Three Sisters of Indigenous America Garden. Mrs. Keane's class picked the pumpkin to be entered into a contest at the Common Ground Country Fair by our volunteer garden coordinator, Christina Lannan. They received first place! The Three Sisters crops that Ms. Lolar's class planted were Penobscot Pumpkin, Norridgewock Beans, and Abenaki Rose Corn.
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
Penobscot pumpkin with tag and blue ribbon
Third graders explored kinetic drawing in the Art Studio today.
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
two students kinetic drawing at a table
students kinetic drawing at a table
student kinetic drawing on the floor
4 students students kinetic drawing on a rug
This Friday, September 23rd is our first RSU #34 PreK to 12 Spirit Day! Dress in your RSU #34, school, coyote, or green and white gear to celebrate our schools and community! Participants are encouraged to donate $1 to the RSU #34 Children's Fund, but this is not required.
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
Old Town Coyote Logo
We are excited to add Spanish lessons to our K-2 curriculum year. We are also weaving in Spanish to other parts of our school. For example, we started a school wide Spanish Word of the Week. This week’s word? La manzana! 🍎
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
Student eating an apple by la manzana sign
We had a beautiful morning for our first walk to school! Join us at 7:05am at Perkins Avenue Park on the following Fridays: September 23, October 14 and 28, November 10 (a Thursday with no school Friday) and 18, and December 2. RSVP in the events section of our Facebook page for automatic reminders.
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
Sun over a group of families and staff waiting to walk to school
Walking to school along a ridge in the forest
September 17th is Constitution Day. Here are two examples of activities from first grade and fifth grade which teach about this day in developmentally appropriate ways. First grade read a mini book about Constitution Day and wrote their own law. Fifth grade learned about the Constitution and created their own classroom versions.
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
Student with Constitution Day work
Student with their own law
5th grade classroom Constitution
5th grade class norms
Today was Dot Day, a day celebrating encouraging students to find their own creativity! Classes listened to Peter Reynolds' book The Dot and created their own dots. https://www.internationaldotday.org/
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
Coffee filters decorated as dots
Two students with their dots
Student with a dot
Student creating coffee filter dot
Yesterday, we had Jim and Jerry from David French Music visit OTES to demonstrate band instruments. Our 4th, and some new 5th, graders laughed a lot and and were very enthusiastic about starting band this year!
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
Man demonstrates a clarinet for students
Man demonstrates a trumpet for students
Our fifth graders are choosing happy in PE!
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
5th grade class spelling out happy on gym floor
5th grade class spelling out happy on gym floor
5th grade class spelling out happy on gym floor
5th grade class spelling out happy on gym floor
Lost and found already! Have your student check in with their teacher and ask to go pick up an item if needed! These tables are located in the main hallway.
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
lost and found items
lost and found items
Thank you to the Old Town VFW for this donation of school supplies. They will be put to good use!
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
Box of school supplies
First Parent Teacher Club (PTC) Meeting this Wednesday, September 14th at 6pm in the OTES Library We have such great families here at OTES and when they partner with our teachers, amazing things happen! Please plan to join our group, by yourself or with a friend, on Wednesday, September 14th at 6pm in the OTES Library. At each month’s meeting, we will discuss a program or aspect of our school, upcoming events, and opportunities for involvement- all voluntary! Meetings will be a mix of in-person and Zoom throughout the year. This is a great way to get to know our school and other families!
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
Mrs. Sullivan’s and Mrs. Gilbert’s classes took time this week to learn about September 11th and the heroes around them.
over 1 year ago, Maggie Mitchell
3rd grade hero writing piece
3rd grade display on 9/11
3rd grade hero writing piece
3rd grade hero writing piece