The OTES Civil Rights Club has stated for this school year. The 4th and 5th grade group is 75 students strong! Their mission is to make sure everyone feels SAFE, WELCOME and RESPECTED at OTES.
A favorite fall OTES tradition is back! Decorate a pumpkin as a favorite book character with your student and drop it off at school on or before October 16th. Pumpkins will be displayed in the library and all students will vote for their favorites! Prizes will be awarded.
Information on the P-EBT cards you may have received recently in the mail can be found here: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/programs-services/food-supplement
OTES fundraisers are due tomorrow, Wednesday, October 4th. Please send completed paper order forms and payments in with your student or drop them off in the office. Thank you for supporting OTES!
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
Shared from our community: free supper next Friday, September 29th
Wear your Old Town Pride Swag on September 22.
GREAT turn out tonight for our first PTC meeting of the school year. If you were unable to attend the meeting, here are the minutes:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1T4kY6q6J1AokCdPWNncHlmRgqQr789JDxXiI6D1h8K4/edit?usp=sharing
We'd love to see you at next month's meeting on October 4, 2023
While we don't miss the heat, we miss the sunshine! Last week our second graders kicked off their annual "Pollinator Protectors" theme by painting in the butterfly garden.
Jasper was the first student this school year to earn a token for the book vending machine for outstanding behavior in the library! He even cut the ribbon!
We are hoping many parents and staff members can join us for our first PTC meeting of the school year on September 13, 2023, at 6 p.m. in the OTES library.
Here's the link to the agenda:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1T4kY6q6J1AokCdPWNncHlmRgqQr789JDxXiI6D1h8K4/edit?usp=sharing
We had a great first day and week at OTES. Check out these smiling faces!
We are supporting this effort sponsored by Old Town Cheering! If you have gently used sneakers to donate, please bring them to our school.
Dear RSU #34 Community,
Thanks for helping us have a great “launch” to the school year! It’s been great to see the smiling faces in the hallways, excited to be back in school despite the hot weather.
Last year we began sharing a profile of a student each month; we are excited to begin sharing the stories of our colleagues! This month we visited with David May, who joined our team as a technician in the IT Department. David very much impressed his colleagues, and this past July began serving RSU #34 as Director of Information Technologies. David was interviewed by our Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Jon Doty.
Q: When you were a kid what did you think you wanted to do when you grew up?
A: I was going to be a professional athlete, playing soccer for Manchester United. All the way through high school I really thought I was going to make it.
My real career path was a little different. In high school I pushed shopping carts, was a lifeguard, and mowed cemetery lawns. After high school I started off doing customer service for credit card companies, then shifted to Verizon Wireless. I changed over to tech support, and then started working at a computer repair shop where I started working more with businesses and device networking. I discovered that I really love computers and solving problems, and it doesn’t feel like work to me. I was ready for a new challenge and I was excited to join the schools’ IT Department.
Q: What do you like about working in RSU #34?
A: I love the people...I love the challenge. Everybody has fun, too. We’re all working hard, and sometimes it can be tough, but at the end of the day it’s all about getting students what they need and we all have fun together. I love coming in to work every day.
Q: How do you recharge your batteries?
A: Usually it’s either an HP 65-watt adapter or USB-C, but….wait….you mean….?
Q: Yep.
A: Playing video games and working out.
Q: At the same time?
Q: What was your favorite book as a kid?
A: The DragonLance series; I still love the fantasy genre!
Q: What was your favorite show / movie as a kid?
A: Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and Return of the Jedi.
Q: What do you like about our community?
A: It’s the people, the sense of community, and events like RiverFest. I grew up in Old Town, and I love how close our community is. Our people are always caring and resilient….tough. We’ve been through a lot together over the years and we keep coming back.
Q: What’s something that most people don’t know about you?
A: I’m a pretty open book! That said, I don’t think most people know I was really into theatre at OTHS - the One Act Play and the Fall Play.
Q: Who was your favorite school teacher and why?
A: Mr. Marty Clark [OTHS Social Studies Teacher] - he really made learning fun! It was cool to start working alongside him before he retired.
Q: Which colleague would you like by your side during a zombie apocalypse?
A: Curtis Robertson. [LMS teacher]
Q: Not me?
A: No.
Q: Wow, zero hesitation on that…OK, I would have guessed you’d go with a certain veteran of the U.S. Army Cavalry, Captain Mike May. OTHS Social Studies teacher? Your brother?
A: Nope. When we were kids he broke a plate and I got blamed for it.
Q: Little did he know that would someday cost him an ally in a zombie apocalypse.
A: I could tell you about all the times I beat him at sports but I won’t.
Q: What’s a small act of kindness you were once shown that you’ll never forget?
A: That’s a tough one - there are a lot of acts of kindness I’ve been shown. People are so kind here and these acts happen every day. It’s hard to pick just one in this district. Wow….I’ll have to get back to you on that one.
Thanks, David, for being part of our team and for your hard work! And thank you to Captain May and our other veterans for your service to our country!
RSU #34 Community, if you’d like to suggest someone for a future staff profile please use this form: https://forms.gle/m9295zfr8xLTzNzRA
Shared from our community: The YMCA is performing Anne of Green Gables at OTES this weekend!
At the end of last year, our fifth grade students built four larger than life Maine invasive insect sculptures to display in our maple grove and outdoor classrooms. Included are signs with facts students collected for each insect along with a QR code that will take you to the Maine Forest Service insect fact page. All wood for this project was donated and the insects were painted with a mixture of beeswax and mica powder, except for the Asian Longhorned Beetle which was painted with stain created by mixing vinegar with steel wool. Over the summer, parent volunteers generously donated their time to install the insects. Thank you to all that helped make this project possible, including the Maine Environmental Education Association.
SAVE the DATE for School Picture Day: September 27
Students who live in Alton and West Old Town - our bus contractor is making some adjustments to routes; we will share more detailed information when it is finalized. Please plan to be out waiting for the bus extra early for the first few days as the routes settle into place. Thanks in advance for your patience!
Open Houses Scheduled for Wednesday August 30th and Thursday, August 31st
We will be hosting two Open House events to welcome students and families back to school. Visit your classroom, meet your teacher, fill out paperwork, and get school supplies if needed. If you have not received your back to school letters, call 827-1544 or simply attend your Open House for information.
3rd-5th grade Open House Wednesday, August 30 4:30-6:00 pm
PreK-2nd grade Open House Thursday, August 31 4:30-6:00 pm
RSU #34 is thrilled to share our back-to-school issue of Community Connections! Inside you will read about some of the great endeavors of our students and staff, along with important back-to-school info such as school start/end times and bus routes. Please help your kids to be on time every day this year!
This issue is dedicated to the memory of our late Board member David Wollstadt, who contributed in many ways to the school district and community.
Here's the link! https://5il.co/21o0w
