Today was "Cozy Cocoa" day.
Here are some images of cocoa pouring and drinking in action. Shout out to Student Council for the Cocoa, the candy canes, the dress-up days and the added fun in what has been a difficult week.
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
Caption: OTHS Alternative Ed program visited the Ronald McDonald for a tour and then helped clean the guest apartment. The Program will be going down later in the year to cook a couple of different times for guests.
Go Coyotes!
The Old Town High School Jazz Ensemble performed for the residents at Dirigo Pines in Orono on Friday, December 15th. The large crowd really enjoyed the holiday selections. The Old Town High School Jazz Ensemble students were thrilled to perform for them and hope that their performance put everyone in the holiday spirit.
#CoyotePride
The Old Town High School Jazz Ensemble held their Winter Concert on Thursday evening. Their six selections included three holiday songs and three they are working on for the upcoming State Jazz Festival. Several students stepped up to perform solos, which were fabulous! The night ended with an amazing jazz piece called "Mud bug strut." I see another gold trophy in their future....
The results for the JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl (JLAB) Level I are posted, and both of your Coyote Battalion teams advanced to Level II! Of the five Army JROTC programs in Maine, we are the only school with both the Academic and Leadership teams advancing. Nokomis and Hermon advanced in the Academic competition.
Level I and Level II are online competitions, with cadets competing for a chance to travel to Washington DC in June to compete in the Level III event. Level II takes place in February. A big Congratulations to - our Academic Team - Miles Felcman (captain), Kylee Murray, Killian Pottle, Buddy Thurston, Anna Parsons & Marcus Cote. Also, a big Congratulations to our Leadership team - Jesse Bouchard (captain), Cooper Neely, Kevin Murray, Ian Aldrich, Cameron Jones & Kat Smallwood.
#GoCoyotes
The OTHS Key Club visited OTES KKids today & made ornaments & decorated & ate holiday cookies. The ornaments will be delivered with holiday cards to an assisted living home in Old Town.
#GoCoyotes!
Congratulations to Junior Kai Dube, who has completed her JMG Maine Career Exploration Badge! In the past year, Kai has completed research on the career fields that she was interested in, and then had the opportunity to complete work experience hours within Nursing and Elementary Education. During this time, she was able to get hands on experience at Northern Light Hospital, Quest Diagnostics Lab, and job shadow in Mrs. DeFroscia's Fourth Grade room at Old Town Elementary School. "While working on the MCEB, I was given experiences that I would not have had elsewhere. I was able to gain knowledge in different careers and really find something that is fun and that I would love to do. I am very thankful for this experience and am excited to continue my education after high school now that I have a better idea of what I would like to do in my future." Any Old Town High School juniors and seniors that may be interested in this opportunity, check out JMG's Maine Career Exploration Badge program! It offers 40 hours of meaningful work experience and a $500 academic reward upon completion. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity https://jmg.org/maine-career-exploration-badge If interested, stop by the JMG room!
Monday was Debate day in Mrs. Turners' Current Events Class. The debate question was: "Should professional female athletes be paid the same as professional male athletes?" Both sides did a great job with their research and their participation in the debate. Go Coyotes!
On Thursday, December 14th, the Leonard Middle School bands, and the Old Town High School Jazz Ensemble will have their winter concerts. The middle school groups will perform at 6:30 in the gym and the high school Jazz Ensemble will perform at 7:45 in the cafeteria. All are welcome to attend. Come out and join us for a great evening of music!
Our November "Staff of the Month" went to our amazing custodians! They are always helpful. When a mess is made they are on their way to help. They are busy cleaning the school every single day in the morning and at night to make sure the building stays clean and properly maintained. We are all appreciative of these unsung heroes!
JMG has been setting up a thrift store at the end of the second floor hallway for both students and staff who’re interested in checking it out. This FREE thrift store is for everyone, not just people who need clothing items. This is a recurring event that is put up every Wednesday afternoon and taken down every Friday. JMG in general is a NO JUDGMENT ZONE! Much like their thrift store! JMG students felt that there was a need for this thrift store because they’re aware of how people struggle financially, especially around the holidays. They also just believe that clothes should be reused and recycled in general. They saw the thrift store as an opportunity to express these ideas and help solve clothing insecurity within our community. Students shouldn’t be afraid to stop by every Thursday and Friday if they’re interested!
Cadet Major Jesse Bouchard is the Coyote Battalion Cadet of the Month for October 2023. As the Operations Officer, Jesse is one of the driving forces on the Coyote Battalion Staff. His contributions to the Drill Team this fall were a direct reflection of the success and continued growth of the team. Jesse planned and organized this year’s Mogadishu Mile. The event was highly successful with 38 participants from Old Town and Bangor JROTC programs as well as UMaine ROTC, the highest number to date. Additionally, he is involved within the school through Pep Band, Key Club, and STUCO. Jesse still finds time to be engaged in the community through River Runners and Scouts.
The Equity Committee is holding a Tissue Drive from December 11th thru December 22nd. They are requesting the donation of tissues during that timeframe.
They are hoping this effort will help stop the spread of germs, and make our community a cleaner place.
The Old Town Equity Committee is looking for your help collecting tissue boxes to keep in classrooms!
There are boxes to place donations in the lobby at OTHS.
In Mr. Gilbert’s wildlife biology class, students have been learning about mammals and habitat selection. For a lab, both classes went out back into our local forest to look for red squirrel tracks and food piles (called middens). Students were tasked with keeping track of where the food piles are kept (on the ground, on rocks, or in roots/logs/stumps), and what type of trees the tracks led to (coniferous or deciduous trees). This simple but effective data will ultimately give students an idea of what resources red squirrels might be selecting for.
Yesterday, Cadets from OTHS JROTC assisted the Old Town American Legion in recognizing the sacrifice of the 2,403 service members and civilians killed on December 7th in 1941. After the American Legion members read a few words and held a moment of silence, Norah Sanborn, Jesse Bouchard, Kylee Murray, and Kevin Murray presented the Colors for a 21 Gun salute and the playing of Taps.
Students at OTHS might be starting to see some white 5-gallons buckets at lunch time. Thanks to Lida Kanoti, Chrystal Thacker and Alexis Wesley the school’s Envirothon club has started to compost food waste! What’s great about the collected food from our cafeteria is that it helps Mr. Lewin feed his pigs! This initiative has many benefits. It keeps food out of landfills (which cuts greenhouse gas emissions), helps a local farmer feed his pigs, and then all of that pig poop is used to fertilize crops! So whenever you have any left over food Coyote Nation, feel free to leave it in the white 5-gallon buckets in the cafeteria!
Go Coyotes!
Yesterday in Mr. Gilbert’s Honors Biology class, students looked at how enzymes function. Enzymes speed up chemical reactions, but only when they are in their desired environments. Students tested how pH affects the enzyme catalase. Catalase is found in the liver and turns what would be harmful hydrogen peroxide into harmless water and oxygen. As an added bonus everyone got to have pineapple which contains an enzyme that digests proteins! That’s why when you eat too much pineapple the inside of your mouth starts to get tingly. As you mechanically digest the pineapple in your mouth it’s also trying to digest you! Isn’t science neat?
#CoyotesLearning!
Today, Mr. Dick Bond from the Old Town Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3381 visited the JROTC classroom to recognize Cadets for their participation in the Voice of Democracy essay contest. Norah Sanborn, Ian Dutra, Brianna Engstrom, Kevin Murray, and Kylee Murray received award certificates and $50.00 for their essay submissions. Jesse Bouchard was the winner of the Post-level competition and his essay will move forward to the VFW District competition. Jesse received an award certificate and $200.00 for his winning essay.
#GoCoyotes!
Last Friday, JMG students took a trip to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center to participate in a Career Exploration Day. Here, students participated in a Q & A with Healthcare Professionals, including a Life Flight Nurse, Psychiatric Clinician & Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Physical Therapist, Medical Lab Assistant, and a Radiology Technician. They then took part in a Stop the Bleed training where they learned how to pack and apply pressure to wounds, and how to use tourniquets. It was a great day of learning about all of the different careers that exist at our local hospitals and medical offices, as well as the variety of pathways to getting into those careers. #CoyotesLearning
