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.
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!
Local, free community supper tonight, Friday, September 30th from 5-6pm.
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
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
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.
Third graders explored kinetic drawing in the Art Studio today.
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.
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! 🍎
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.
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.
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/
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!
Our fifth graders are choosing happy in PE!
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.
Thank you to the Old Town VFW for this donation of school supplies. They will be put to good use!
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!
Mrs. Sullivan’s and Mrs. Gilbert’s classes took time this week to learn about September 11th and the heroes around them.
What an amazing first week! We smiled for first day pictures, caught frogs, learned about Maine potato harvesting, played games with friends, explored the outdoor classroom, and chose to be happy! Don’t forget to check your email or the news section of this website for our weekly family update and have a great weekend!
We are excited about the school year and all the possibilities.
Many things go into starting up the school year. We wanted to make sure parents are aware of the first day kinks we are all still trying to work out and need your cooperation with:
😊 Make sure you are returning your paperwork from Open House, especially the Free and Reduced Lunch form (even if you do not qualify, please return with your child's name and NA across the form)
😊 End of the day plans for your child should be given to the teacher.
😊 Prepare for the bus schedule to be running late, the bus drivers are learning all the new routes and students, so be pleasant and patient with them.