FEBRUARY EVENTS

Library Notes

It's time to travel! Students at Asa Adams School are learning all about the British Isles. All classes will travel to the British Isles from February 1 to February 12. Students will be involved in a number of interactive learning centers featuring Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. Parents are invited to come and be part of the fun Monday evening, February 8. Parents of students in grades K-2 are invited to come from 6-7 p.m. Parents of students in grades 3-5 are invited to come from 7-8 p.m. Please come see us in the British Isles!

Student Council Report

School Spirit Days - Show your School Spirit!

Tuesday, Feb. 23 - Wacky Head Day!

Be creative with hats, hair, wigs!

Wednesday, Feb. 24 - Game Day!

Play some games with your class

Thursday, Feb. 25 - Matching Day!

Match your clothes with other Asa Adams folks

Friday, Feb. 26 - P.J. Day!

Wear your jammies

Monday, March 1 - Dress Like an

Athlete Day!   Be sporting!

Nurse's Update on H1N1:

Since the beginning of January, ten people in Maine have been hospitalized for H1N1 and four of these were children.  In general, the H1N1 disease surge is on the decline, but the virus is still around in the state, and it may be around for months or even years to come.  Pandemics such as this often come in waves, and it is quite possible that we may experience another wave of the disease.  The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging people to get vaccinated against the H1N1 virus now that there is plenty of vaccine available in the state for the entire population.  There are several ways you can find and receive the vaccine:

- Call your Health Care Provider

- Call 2-1-1  (24-hour assistance on vaccine and flu clinics)

- Check www.maineflu.gov and see flu clinic locator

“Even if you are not in one of the high risk groups, it is likely someone you live with or work with is.  It is important to get vaccinated to protect your own health as well as those whom you are close with.” (Dr. Dora Mills-Maine's Public Health Director)

We have not had any recent confirmed cases of H1N1 in the Orono Schools, but we need to continue to be diligent in flu prevention steps.  Please call with any questions.

Naomi Gillette

Orono School Nurse (557-9172)

School Counselor's Corner

Happy National School Counseling Week!  The first week of February each year is a week to learn more about what school counselors do and how they make a difference in students' lives. For me, it is a week to be thankful for the work that I am able to do in such a great community.  I'm happy to be your school counselor!

Since the holidays, I have been very busy.  I had a chance to meet with Dana Mosher, the director of Camp CaPella.  He shared some information with me about both winter and summer programming that Camp CaPella provides for students with developmental delays.  If you would like more information about the programs at Camp CaPella, please see me.  I have lots of information!

I have also had a chance to do some work with our Response to Intervention Behavior Team and Dr. Jim Artesani from the University of Maine.  We continue to work diligently to create different programs to support behavior needs of all students.

My visits to classrooms have been so wonderful this month.  In kindergarten, we are working on using kind words, not “toothpaste words”.  Ask your kindergarten student about toothpaste words. In grade one, we have done some first grade challenges, and talked some about conflict resolution, which will be a topic we cover more in the coming weeks.  In second grade, students have been working on being cooperative while doing some fun, hands-on activities.  In grade three, we are knee-deep in my anti-bullying and harassment program.  We will continue with this unit for the rest of winter, and into the spring.  In grade four, we have taken a break from conflict resolution to do some lessons on rumors and gossip, and will be moving onto decision-making and peer pressure this month.  And while I am sure the fifth graders are sad to see DARE end, I am THRILLED to be back in the fifth grade classes on a regular basis.  We have so much to cover in the few months we have them here at Asa Adams!

On that note, I am hoping that the parents of our fifth grade students will take some time over the next month or two to go through your photos of your fifth grader, and choose the five to eight individual photos of your child that you might like to see in my end of the year iMovie.  A baby photo, a toddler photo, a first day of school photo, some of your child having fun/hobbies, and a more recent photo or two gives me lots to work with.  And if you have those great group photos or pictures of your child with some good friends, please send those along too.  Those would be in addition to the photos of just your child.  My e-mail address for this project is mrs.erhardt@gmail.com.  You can send them to be electronically or send them in to me and I will scan and return them to you.  You have plenty of time - I ideally like to begin this project by the end of April vacation.  But parents every year tell me how much time it takes to go through and choose the best photos-so here's some early warning!

Happy February!

Mrs. Erhardt, Guidance Counselor

News From the Principal

Students and staff continue to stay engaged in a wide range of learning opportunities.   During the month of January many exciting events occurred at Asa.  The kindergarten students presented our next school value, “Caring” and sang for the whole school at our Character Counts Assembly.  They did a great job!   Many students were recognized this month for exhibiting the value of the month and earning an apple.  Kindergarten students also took a field trip to Pat’s Pizza to celebrate their learning of the letter P.  Fifth grade students completed the DARE Program and had their graduation on January 21st.  We want to thank Officer Watson for presenting this program to our students.  During the week of February 8th, the fifth graders will begin their visits to Starbase.   We also want to thank Stan Richmond for coming to Asa and teaching our second grade students about owls.

As you know, we are holding our annual “Passport to the British Isles”  February 6-12.  We would like to invite you to visit the Library Open House night, Feb. 8, from 6-8 P.M.   Mrs. Smart, Mrs. Breece, Mrs. Fitch and her student teacher, Ms. Bruton did a great job recreating our school library into the British Isles.   On another note, Mrs. Fournier has been promoting weekly exercise for students and staff through a program called, “Asa Adams is Moving to Disney World.”  Teams are working together to achieve weekly exercise miles.  

Recently our student council and Mrs. White have challenged other student councils in the RSU # 26 to raise money for Haitian relief.  Stay tuned for more information on how much we collected and how our challenge went.     

Mrs. Twitchell has been providing professional development at staff meetings on the Reader’s Workshop Model.  Staff have been reading the work of Linda Dorn, implementing these reading practices into their own classroom instruction, and then sharing and reflecting on this through group discussion at staff meetings.  Thank you Mrs. Twitchell for facilitating this process.  

Jim Artesani from the University of Maine came and worked with our RTI Team on our Response to Intervention plan for students with behavioral needs.  Three of our staff members attended an in-service day at MDI High school to hear guest speaker, Ross Greene.  Ross Greene is a well-known author who has written books on the Collaborative Problem Solving model.  One of his best-known books is called The Explosive Child.

During the month of March, we will be starting a Parent Advisory Team at Asa Adams.  This will consist of a group of parents who are willing to meet monthly with the principal to discuss programs, initiatives, and special school activities at Asa Adams.  This will be an opportunity for parents to ask questions, gather information, and offer feedback.  If you are interested in being on the Asa Adams Parent Advisory Team,  please call the office or send an email to  mailto:pmchugh@union87.org" pmchugh@union87.org.  We will meet the last Thursday of each month beginning March 25th.  The meetings will run from 6:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.

We are sad to say that Craig Pattershall, our day custodian, is no longer working at Asa.  We wish him the best of luck. We would like to welcome Ryan Miles our new custodian, and Amanda Riebesehl a new educational technician to Asa Adams.  

We are hoping to do a test run of the new Alert Now System in the very near future.  We will let you know when we have determined a definite date.  

Finally, I would like to congratulate the Orono Lego Leagues that recently competed.  We had a first place team in the project category and a third place team in the robot performance category.  The first place team members are:  Eliza McC, Madeleine A-R, Emma H, Ryan W, Nathan F, Tim B, Evan K, Anton K, Tom Boss, and Liam K.

The third place team members are:  Connor McC, Owen W, Kevin L, Joe S, Aiden C, Lowell R, and Jacob F.             

Sincerely,