MSAD #51 District Newsletter - April 5, 2024

From the Superintendent

porterI hope this message finds everyone ok and warm while navigating this early spring storm. Many thanks to our facilities staff for their marathon hours over the last two days maintaining the buildings while power has been out and continuously clearing school grounds.

Since its inception as a brainchild of the 2015-18 district Strategic Plan, the Pathways program at GHS has continued expanding and re-imagining itself, reaching hundreds of students over the years. One of the highlights of Pathways is the Student Independent Learning Opportunity, or SILO for short. SILOs offer students course credit for exploring in-depth a topic of interest that is aligned to the state's academic content standards. GHS students Audrey Cohen, Brady Hale, Lauren Hester, Violet Armstrong, Chloe Schueman, and Alina Schueman attended this week's Board meeting to share their experiences with SILOs. GHS Principal Karl Francis recognized Pathways Coordinator Andrew Fersch for his work with students developing their interests and passions through SILO projects. To learn more about SILOS, click HERE. 

Every two years, students in grades 7-12 provide feedback on the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS) on a variety of questions about students' mental and physical health. District Mental Health Specialist Eric Brown and GHS Social Worker Peter Scott provided the Board a summary of the most recent results of this survey. Among the protective factors, here's Greely's overall profile:

  • The majority of our students feel safe in our schools
  • The majority of our students identify protective factors including school staff and parents/caregivers
  • The majority of our students don’t use alcohol, cigarettes/vape, marijuana, or prescription drugs
  • Healthy body behaviors (fruits/vegetables, soda/sports/energy drinks, physical activity)  
     

Among overall areas in need of more attention:

  • Despite majority not using substances, % of students reporting having ever used alcohol has almost doubled
  • Bullying remains a significant concern for our students
  • Depression and suicidality warrants our continued vigilance and scrutiny
     

For more detailed information: 
GHS MIYHS Survey Results
GMS MIYHS Survey Results


Regards,
Jeff Porter


At the April 1 Board meeting, state Reps. Annie Graham and Steve Moriarty present legislative sentiments to the Indoor Track team (above) & Nordic Ski team (below) for state championship wins during the winter athletic season.


GHS seniors Brady Hale and Audrey Cohen talk about their experiences with SILO projects at the April 1 Board meeting (above).

 

Notices from the Office of the Superintendent

Last Day of School

The last day of school is Friday, June 14. Early dismissal times will be as follows: Grades K-5 will be dismissed at 12:30 PM; Grades 6-12 will be dismissed at 11:30 AM. As a reminder Wednesday, June 12 is a full day of school.

Superintendent's Report

Click Here to view the latest Superintendent's Report


 

Stay Connected 


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Find all the ways MSAD #51 shares information here.
 

MSAD #51 Board of Directors Information

All meetings will take place at 6:00 pm in the Gyger Room at Greely High School.  For those of you unfamiliar with that room, the Gyger Room can be accessed from the GHS parking lot (the side without the electronic sign).

April 22 - Regular Meeting

Remember you can watch our meetings on YouTube LIVE (http://bit.ly/msad51livevideo)

Links
Meeting Dates, Agendas & Minutes
Board of Directors Meeting Videos

 

Budget Information 2024-25

Detailed budget information can be found on the District's website at: https://www.msad51.org/apps/pages/budget

Important Dates

 

School Building Project Information

For comprehensive information regarding the School Building Project, please visit the project page at: https://www.msad51.org/apps/pages/building_project

 

Community Partners

Our Community Partners are strong supporters of various areas of the school.  Without them, our students would not have many of the wonderful opportunities and experiences that they receive.

Upcoming Events

Useful Links

Employment Opportunities

MSAD #51 Website

2018-2023 Strategic Plan

District Calendar

GHS Athletics Schedule

Greely Center for the Arts Events

 

If you would like something included in our weekly newsletter, please send a brief write up with title along with a JPEG or PNG image of your flyer (if applicable) to Melissa Porter for approval. The deadline each week is Sunday. Any requests received after Sunday will be reviewed for possible submission in the following week's newsletter. All approved submissions will be posted on the district's website.

Not all items in this email are MSAD #51 sponsored programs. If you need more information, please contact the group or organization that is sponsoring the event.

Maine School Administrative District #51
357 Tuttle Road, PO Box 6A, Cumberland, ME 04021
Contact Us   |   207.829.4800