NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION’S SPECIAL EDITION #2
Tractor Supply presents 4-H clubs with over $500
DOVER-FOXCROFT — 4-H Clubs in Piscataquis County were recently presented with a check for from the Tractor Supply Company (TSC). Thanks to the generosity of local TSC customers during the fall 4-H/TSC Paper Clover Campaign, 4-H members at the local, state and national levels received a total of $502. Once again, the Dover-Foxcroft TSC was among the top five stores in its region for transaction percentages for donations.
Photo courtesy of Piscataquis County
office of UMaine Cooperative Extension
PAPER CLOVER CAMPAIGN FOR 4-H — Three Piscataquis County 4-H clubs were recently presented with a check totaling over $500 from the Tractor Supply Company, which was raised during the company and 4-H’s fall Paper Clover Campaign. Attending the check presentation at the Dover-Foxcroft store were front, from left, Douglas Haislet, Adam Chamberland, Alison Chamberland and Tyler Libby. Back, Sheila Norman, Trisha White, Jim White, Haleigh White, Christal Merrill, Dawn Merrill and Geneva Libby.
Members from three Piscataquis 4-H clubs were on hand for the presentation: the Mid-Maine Minutemen Boys and Girls 4-H Club, the Parkman Adventure 4-H Club and the 4-H Adventures in Health Science Club. These Piscataquis County 4-H Clubs are members of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program.
The 4-H/TSC Paper Clover Campaign is a nationwide, in-store fundraiser that benefits 4-H programming in the communities where a TSC store is located. The fall 2013 campaign was a very successful promotion, raising over $627,000 that will support 4-H at the local, state, and national levels. The funds raised have provided direct support for local camps, after-school programs and other activities and has granted scholarships to these events so youth can explore their interests in everything from animal science to robotics. For more information on the 4-H program, contact a local University of Maine Cooperative Extension office.
The TSC store in Dover-Foxcroft was recognized with two awards for its outstanding performance during the fall 4-H/TSC Paper Clover Campaign. The store received the Regional Champion Award for having one of the top five highest transaction percentages for Paper Clover donations in its region. This TSC store was, also, the recipient of the Class Champion Award for achieving the TSC company goal.
A PARADE OF FLOATS
Observer photos/Stuart Hedstrom
Earlier in the school year students in the four first grade classes at the SeDoMoCha Elementary School in Dover-Foxcroft created floats at home with their parents as part of a unit on the books of Jan Brett. In her books the author/illustrator uses folktales, other countries and people that she knows — such as her husband who is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra being the basis for the title musician in “Berlioz the Bear.”
Nearly all of Brett’s books were represented in the dozens of student floats on display in the school hallway, including some titles families chose to read on their own.
Foxcroft Academy original one-act play
‘Rabbits in the Garden’ excels at Regional Drama Festival
MILLINOCKET — Congratulations to Foxcroft Academy theater director Bobby Keniston and all students involved in the production of the one-act play “Rabbits in the Garden”, which scored 75 more points than last year to finish fourth at the Maine Class B Regional Drama Festival at Stearns High School on the evening of March 7.
Sophomore Racquel Bozzelli, who wrote the play as a freshman last year, won a special playwriting award for her work.
Three members of the cast won All-Festival Cast Awards: sophomore Angelina Buzzelli as Elizabeth, freshman Camille Bozzelli as Eva and junior Mindy Fenn as the Giggling Inmate. In addition, Fenn and freshmen Brianna Adkins and Hannah Fishburn won a special ensemble award for their portrayal of the play’s three inmates.
“I am very thrilled with the results of the weekend,” Keniston said. “We had an excellent critique from the judges, and I am very proud of my kids.”
LEARNING IN THE OUTDOORS
Photo courtesy of Brownville Elementary School
Brownville Elementary School fourth-graders and their teacher Rebecca Burgess sit in the school’s new outdoor classroom. The learning space was formally opened with a ribbon cutting at the start of the 2013-14 school year, and is located by the school’s nature trail.
TOP SPELLERS IN THE COUNTY
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
On Jan. 9 SeDoMoCha Middle School hosted the district spelling bee, with the top four spellers in grades 5-8 at the Dover-Foxcroft school competing for the chance to move on to the Maine Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 22 at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. After over a dozen rounds only seventh-grader Isabella Santagata and grade 6 student Steffi Victoria remained. The two had another dozen rounds between them before Victoria correctly spelled juxtapose to win the bee. She received $50 and a trophy for finishing in first place, while Santagata won $25 and will serve as the alternate for the State Bee. Among the bee participants were front, from left, fifth-graders Ava Rayfield, Maren O’Connell, Noah Lamb and Cameron Blakely. Middle, seventh-graders Nathaniel Skomars, Phoenix Eastman and Jacob Marsh, sixth-graders, Abbie Tetreault, Benjamin Atwater and Victoria. Back, Santagata, eighth-graders Bailey Weston, Nicholas Cavanaugh, Robert Racila and Morgana Vick. Victoria joins Eastman in 2013, Jenna Clukey in 2012 and Shania Roussel in 2011 as SeDoMoCha spelling champions.
STATE HOUSE VISITORS
Maine Senate Republican office photo
Foxcroft Academy student Alex Shaffer of Sebec shadowed State Senator Doug Thomas, left, of Ripley at the State House in Augusta on Thursday, Feb. 20. Joining Alex for the day were his parents Charles and Stacy Shaffer. The Shaffers attended both a Republican Senate caucus and a morning senate session with Senator Thomas. Thomas also gave the family a tour of the Capitol before they returned home.
STEPPING UP SO NO ONE GETS HURT
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
K-8 students at the SeDoMoCha School in Dover-Foxcroft each decorated a paper shoe as part of the activities for Bullying Prevention Month. The finished shoes are displayed in the main lobby, around the pledge, “Step up so no one gets hurt.”
TCTC students medal at State SkillsUSA competition
BANGOR — Twenty-four students from the Tri-County Technical Center (TCTC) competed in the State SkillsUSA competition held at United Technology Center, Eastern Maine Community College Rangeley Hall, and Mid-Maine Technical Center on March 13-14. The students attending TCTC come from Dexter Regional High School, Foxcroft Academy, Nokomis Regional High School, Penquis Valley High School, Piscataquis Community Secondary School and Greenville High School.
Photo courtesy of TCTC
SKILLSUSA MEDALISTS — Thirteen TCTC students earned medals at the State SkillsUSA competition March 13-14 in Bangor. In front is Forrest Loupin. Sitting, from left, Sarah LaBrecque, Rachel Venable, Taylor Quick, Kayla Braley, Sarah Brewer and Logan Melanson. Back, Matthew Webber, Jacob White, Nikolaus Hasenfus, Jayson Palmer-Wolford, Rachel Emond and Kayla Oldham.
There were 13 medals won by the students participating. Congratulations to the following for a job well done and for representing TCTC so well: Gold Medal winners: Taylor Quick (NRHS) – Basic Health Care, Sarah LaBrecque (NRHS/HOME) – Commercial Baking, Rachel Venable (HOME/PVHS) – Crime Scene Investigation,, Kayla Oldham (PCSS) – Crime Scene Investigation, Matthew Webber (DRHS) – Crime Scene Investigation, Jacob White (PG) – Criminal Justice , Rachel Emond (NRHS) – Culinary Arts, Nikolaus Hasenfus (PG) – Medical Terminology and Kayla Braley (NRHS) – Nurse Assisting.
Silver Medal winners: Sarah Brewer (DRHS/HOME) – First Aid CPR and Jayson Palmer-Wolford (NRHS) – Job Demo Open.
Bronze Medal winners: Logan Melanson (NRHS) – Restaurant Service and Forrest Loupin (DRHS) – Technical Computer Applications.
SkillsUSA participants: Taylor Jo Cesena (DRHS) – Advertising Design, Shawn Woodard (DRHS) – Automotive Technology, Cody Cobb (PVHS) – Carpentry, Cody Hale (NRHS) – Computer Maintenance Technology, Daniel Gallison (NRHS) – Criminal Justice, Mackenzie Peatfield (DRHS) – Health Occupations Professional Portfolio, Zachary Hinton (NRHS) – Job Demo A, Josh Smith (DRHS) – Job Interview, Kenneth Tarnoczy (PVHS) – Precision Machining, Courtney LaChance (NRHS) – Medical Terminology and Conrad Tarr (DRHS) – T-Shirt Design.
The Gold winners from State SkillsUSA will compete in the National SkillsUSA Conference the week of June 23-27 in Kansas City, Mo.
BEST IN THE LEAGUE AGAIN
Contributed photo
For the second consecutive season, the SeDoMoCha Middle School girls soccer team won the Penquis League championship. The Eagles won the title with a victory in penalty kicks in October against the Howland Cougars.
SUPER SMILES
Photo courtesy of RSU 68 School Nurse Emily Poland
February was National Children’s Dental Health Month, and students across the state and the country were asked to create posters that show ways to keep a healthy smile and to “Join the Super Smile Team”. Pictured are the winning posters from the SeDoMoCha Elementary School in Dover-Foxcroft, which will be on display at the Burton Cross Building in Augusta. From left are poster creators Kyla Knights, first grade; Grayson Cole, kindergarten; and Annie Raynes, third grade.
CLOSE UP’ WITH US. SEN. COLLINS
Photo courtesy of Sen. Collins’ Office
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) recently welcomed two students and a teacher from Penquis Valley High School in Milo to her Washington, D.C. office. Students Rachael Baker, a resident of LaGrange, and Amanda Brawn of Brownville, along with teacher Russ Carey of Milo, were in the nation’s capital to participate in the “Close Up” program. Pictured from left is Russ Carey, Amanda Brawn, Sen. Susan Collins and Rachael Baker.
THE CLASS OF CLASS C
Observer photos/Stuart Hedstrom
Foxcroft Academy defeated Western Maine champion North Yarmouth Academy 1-0 to win the Class C state championship on Nov. 2 at Yarmouth High School. The Ponies won the team’s 17th consecutive game, the only non-victory was a 0-0 tie at Class B Old Town, and third state field hockey crown in program history. Foxcroft finished 2013 having given up just one goal in 18 games.
Builders Club raises money for food closet
DEXTER — Each year, the Ridge View Community School Builders Club collects “Coins for the Closet” in an effort to help feed needy people in the community. For the 2013-14 endeavor, the club presented $700 to the Dexter Area Food Closet.
Donations were accepted at school and from the community. The Coins for the Closet kickoff was held in December with members stationed at local merchants accepting donations.
Kickoff participants were Hayley Rossman, Olivia Webber, Isabella Adam, Jordan Ranquist, Media Chesner, Blake Thompson, Caden Bligh, Nick Hanscom, Cheyanne Beem, Abigail Smith, Logan Perkins, Nathan Richards, Alex Gray, Kaylee Deering, Santinaca Lawson, Tory Asbury, Jesse Federico, Tylor Handy, Rachael Sickles and Cloe Mountain.
The Coins for the Closet fundraiser continued at school with a Hat Day for students in grades K-8 and a Jeans Day for staff.
Club members thank the local merchants who allowed collections at their stores. They are always very grateful to all the generous people of the area who donate to help their neighbors in need.
Ridge View Community School receives $1,800 wellness grant
By Abbie Paige
and Elyce Wigham
Ridge View seventh-graders
DEXTER — The Ridge View Community School has been awarded a $1,800 Fuel Up To Play 60 Grant for the 2013-14 school year.
The grant program coordinator is Crystal Greaves, school nurse. This grant was one of three in the state of Maine awarded by the Maine Dairy Council who is partnering with the NFL.
The other two grants went to South Portland and Westbrook. This grant is to encourage healthy eating and increase physical activity throughout the school year.
Ridge View Community School is planning to do activities such as healthy snack programs, cooking programs and physical activity programs for all grade levels. Prizes will be awarded to students who participate in these activities. Prizes include, backpacks, bracelets, Frisbees, water bottles and even your own pedometers.
The grant schools will be tracking their progress for walking and the winning school will receive a visit from an NFL player at the end of the year.
Photo courtesy of Mary Lightbody
Katie Merrill, DRHS senior
Snake charger (platter), stoneware, engobes, glaze
GINGERBREAD HOUSE DAY
Photos courtesy of Brownville Elementary
The Brownville Elementary School held its annual gingerbread house day on Dec. 20, the final day of classes before the holiday vacation. The 106 students in grades K-5 helped each other create some terrific houses.
