Update: October 21, 2019
Flash Mob at GMS 6-8
GMS 6-8 Students gathered together in the gym for their annual club & activities assembly. The highlight of the assembly came at the very end, when most of the GMS 6-8 teachers and staff sang and danced to “This Is Me,” from The Greatest Showman, flashmob style. This had been a big secret since before school started, with clandestine after hours rehearsals, prop preparation, and creative costuming. I think it is fair to say that the students were taken by surprise, and hopefully they got to see the fun and playful side of their teachers. Here is a picture of all of the people who made it happen.
Welcoming Library
Had a great time reading "Dreamers" by Yuyi Morales to students in Mr. Goldsmith & Mrs. Thomas' classes this week as part of the GMS 4-5 Welcoming Library & had a chance to discuss what it would be like to be an immigrant in a foreign country. Also had a great visit with Mr. Lloyd & Mrs. MacInnes' classes reading a similar book.
Architect Selected for Elementary School Project
The Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Facilities Committee, voted to approve the selection of Oak Point Associates, of Biddeford, as its architectural firm to work on the proposed elementary school project. Oak Point will develop a concept design that will eventually go to voters in November 2020, pending acceptance of the plan by the Board later in the spring.
A committee of 18 stakeholders has worked for the last 8 months to study enrollment trends and projections based on two recent reports by Planning Decisions Inc. and is making a recommendation to the Board for a new school project at an upcoming workshop. A presentation on this recommendation will be made to the Board on November 18 at their regular meeting. Many thanks to the members of the elementary education steering committee for their work on this recommendation.
2019 Stakeholder Survey Results
Each year, the district surveys its students, parents, and staff in order to look at trends in many areas of the district and its impact on stakeholders. To check out the latest results from the spring 2019 survey cycle, click HERE.
Calendar Committee Update
A committee of 15 stakeholders has been meeting for nearly a year to study potential ways to rethink the early release schedule. A stakeholder survey was sent out recently with 1,500 respondents weighing in on the options proposed. The committee will meet in a workshop with the Board in December and a final recommendation will be presented at the December 16 regular meeting of the Board. Many thanks to the calendar committee for its diligent work over the last year.
Devin Gifford has been selected as one of the 2019-2020 Telling Room Young Emerging Authors!
Devin, a ninth-grader at Greely High School in Cumberland, will write an eerie sci-fi mystery about a sister and brother investigating a deadly invasion by fog-dwelling shadow monsters who turn out to be at the bottom of an explosive conspiracy. This genre-bending novel promises to have readers questioning the lines between right and wrong.
Greely Golf
Congrats Greely golf team, runner up for Class A state title. Go Rangers!
Opera News
Sarah Bailey, GHS Choral Teacher, recognized by Opera News, for directing the chorus for The Magic Flute. Opera News writes, "The Chorus, prepared by Sarah Bailey, showed power and finesse, soaring gloriously, particularly in the pagan chorales. The orchestra sounded just as beautifully blended. Led by Roberto Kalb, who stepped in on short notice, they infused each beat with well-sensed feeling that poured over into the next, maintaining unflagging momentum from the tight and lively overture, here with a proto-Beethoven quality in the dynamics and attack, to the very end."