Old Town High School

I often tell people that Old Town graduates seem to be everywhere, and I ran into that unexpectedly again this afternoon. While on the field introducing myself to the officials, I learn that one of them is an OT grad. He goes on to say that he has been a school principal and is now the Superintendent of School Union 93! Shout out to Derek Perkins, from OT's Class of 2003. I wonder when he donned the green and white as an OT football player if he ever imagined he would find himself back on Victory Field on a gorgeous September afternoon wearing the black and white stripes in the role of an official?! Derek, Thanks for being an official and Thanks for doing all that you do each day as an educator. OT is proud of you! Go OT!

The Old Town JROTC started a Go Ruck Club this past week. The club is open to all OTHS students and staff. This morning’s challenge was the 9-11 Tribute. Participants started with a 2001 meter ruck march, completed 9 sets of 11 pushups and sandbag (or ruck) thrust, and finished with another 2001 meter ruck. The next event will be the  Mogadishu Mile in October.

Day 1 at OTHS and the band sounded like they were in mid-year form as they were cranking out the tunes to get ready for Football Friday night this week. Go Coyotes.

Coyote Nation... Keep your eyes open for our international travel meetings that will be happening in September. Get ready for Italy and Greece April 2026!! Yotes in Europe 2.0 Go Coyotes.

Day 1 for Old Town High School's Class of 2028 is in the books! Grade 9 spent the day getting to know staff, administration and learning their schedule and the layout of the building. This half-day experience will be tremendously beneficial as all grades join them next Tuesday. A Big Shout Out to OT Student Council and President Rhiannon Bousquet, as they gave up their last day of sleeping in to make our newest Coyotes feel at home. Go Coyotes.

From our opening RSU 34 breakfast to an afternoon faculty meeting. The OTHS staff is back in full force and ready to meet the Class of 2028 tomorrow morning and then everyone on Tuesday morning. Go Coyotes.

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the last days of summer.... We had a number of staff back in the building, especially the last couple of days, as they make final preparations for grade 9 on Thursday and all grades on Tuesday! We are excited! Let's Gooooooooooo Coyotes!

Chromebook Pick Up begins THIS afternoon from 3pm to 6pm. Parents/guardians will also be asked to sign a couple of documents regarding student expectations. The whole process should not take more than 15 minutes. Can't make it today? We will be here Wednesday and Thursday as well! 3pm to 6pm. Go Coyotes.

Old Town High School's SAT test center is ready to welcome 100 area test takers. Be here by 730! Any questions? Email amy.ketch@rsu34.org

Shout Out to Old Town High School's Class of 1964! They are having their 60th reunion this weekend. Have a Great time!

In today's "Where Are They Now?" we catch up with Clara Trefts, from the Class of 2015. Clara joined the Marine Corps shortly after graduating from OTHS to become a crewchief and mechanic on UH-1Y (Huey) and AH-1Z (Cobra) helicopters. With the experience she gained in the Marine Corps, she obtained her FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate. After serving 5 years with the Marine Corps, Clara moved to Alaska to pursue her dream of becoming a pilot. She spent slightly under a year working as a mechanic at the Anchorage International Airport before attending Army Warrant Officer Candidate School and Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training. In 2022, she graduated Army Flight school as a UH-60 (Blackhawk) pilot. Now, she works full-time for the Alaska Army National Guard as a Pilot and Training Officer. Clara says one of the things she appreciated most about her time at Old Town High School was the immense support she received from all of her teachers. She said many of them knew of her personal goals and encouraged her along the way. She said the encouragement further fueled her passion and drive to join the military and to become a pilot. Clara says that she is so thankful for everyone that contributed to her journey. Clara - Thank You for sharing your story! We are Proud of You!

RSU 34 is proud to share the 2024 Back-to-School issue of Community Connections! Inside you'll find articles and photos from spring and summer activities, along with back-to-school information such as calendars, open house dates, and bus routes. The City of Old Town has partnered with us for this issue, so you'll also find great city info and the dates for Riverfest 2024! Many thanks to those who contributed to this issue, and to Corina Larsen / Gossamer Design for bringing it all together. Here's the link for Community Connections: https://5il.co/2twck

Coyote Nation.... A very special opportunity... Please join 2002 Old Town High School Graduate, Dr. Hillary Cauthen, (one of our very own!) for a unique discussion that could be valuable to coaches, athletes and parents and sports officials. Hillary is a noted sports psychologist, President-Elect of the Association of Applied Sports Psychology, and a former D1 athlete. Please follow the link below and scroll down for more information and to purchase your tickets. We hope to see you there! Sunday, August 25th at Kanu! https://www.hillarycauthen.com/event

We're looking forward to the coming school year! In addition to our full-time staff, substitutes help out in a variety of ways: teachers, one-to-one support, office staff, custodial staff, and food service. If you're interested in working with awesome kids and staff on a very flexible schedule, please let us know! Here's the application: t.ly/mcbGC

Good Morning Coyote Nation, tomorrow is the big day. The 2024 yearbooks have arrived in the OT. Pick up times - Wednesday 12:30pm to 2:30pm Thursday 5pm to 7pm Go Coyotes

Great News Coyote Nation! Yearbooks are in! Pick up times are: Wednesday 12:30 to 2:30. Thursday 5-7 See you then. Go Coyotes!

OTHS Social Studies teacher, Michael May, recently had the opportunity to participate in the Penobscot Nation Summer Intensive. This two-day learning experience included teachers from all across Maine. It featured educational and adventure opportunities such as a canoe journey down the Penobscot River, swimming, camping, and hiking on Sugar Island. Educational opportunities were provided by members of the Wabanaki Alliance and covered a wide range of topics. Teachers learned about Wabanaki music, naturalism, history, and current issues facing Native Americans. The overall focus of the Penobscot Nation Summer Intensive was to aid teachers in better incorporating Wabanaki studies in their classrooms. Michael left this training with a renewed focus on teaching the history of the Wabanaki people and strategies to use in his classroom.

The opening pitch for our "Where Are They Now?" series this summer belongs to Kendra Hayward. Kendra is a member of the Class of 2013; she graduated with highest honors and was a captain and pitcher for our 2012 state championship softball team. This was the first in school history. During that historic playoff run, she allowed our opponents only 3 runs over 28 innings, while striking out 38 batters, including 15 Fryeburg Academy batters in the state final. Kendra speaks highly of her OTHS teachers who inspired her love of science and the coaches who taught the value of teamwork. She adds her education at OTHS helped prepare her for her acceptance to Husson University, where she graduated in 2020 with a Doctorate in Pharmacy (PharmD). Kendra was inducted into the Old Town High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022. After graduation, Kendra moved to New Hampshire and began a career in cancer clinical research. She worked at Dana Farber Cancer Institute as a Clinical Research Coordinator in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology. Recently, she transitioned to a new role at Dartmouth College, where she works with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to study high levels of kidney cancer in southern New Hampshire. Since leaving the area, Kendra says she has grown even fonder of the Old Town community and looks forward to visiting as often as possible. Kendra adds that she is thankful for the opportunities she had at OTHS and remains excited to see Old Town continue to educate and inspire future generations of students. Congratulations Kendra! We are Proud of You!

Class of 2028.... Be on the lookout, your schedule for the 2024-2025 school year is in the mail!

On Saturday, JROTC Cadets were back at it - visiting the "Wings and Wheels" show at Dewitt Field in Old Town to help VFW Post 3381 with their shoe sale fundraiser. Go Coyotes!