MSAD #51 District Newsletter - February 9, 2026

From the Superintendent

This is the second part in a multi-part series about the MSAD 51 Profile of a Learner (POL). Last week, I introduced the POL as a vehicle for connecting the aspirational elements of the district's mission to concrete learning experiences occurring in our classrooms, many of which are broadly experienced by students at various grade spans. The four tenets of the Greely POL include Effective Communicator, Creative Problem Solver, Lifelong Learner, and Global Citizen.

When we think about what it means to be an Effective Communicator, these are the key skills and desired actions we hope our students will continue refining over their K-12 educational journey:

• Know how to effectively advocate for oneself
• Listen actively and consider the perspectives of others, even if they differ from your own views
• Share information clearly, accurately, and respectfully so that it can be received in a way that is productive
• Understand how and when to use varying communication styles in different situations so as to be agile, confident, and effective as a communicator

These skills may appear to be self-explanatory, but how do they transfer from being merely something on paper to actionable in students' lives? Each grade span has provided age-appropriate, concrete examples of what it means to be an Effective Communicator:

• Students in grades PK-3 practice their ability to be effective communicators when participating in classroom meetings, engaging in community circles with their peers, and taking turns speaking and listening to each other.
• Students in grades 4 & 5 practice communication skills through research projects, mathematical discourse, and sharing their learning with peers and authentic audiences.
• Students in grades 6-8 demonstrate their skills through participation in restorative and community circles 
• Students in grades 9-12 practice communication skills in all of their courses such as listening, asking questions, interacting, and responding to what is being discussed in a contextual manner

If you missed last week's segment, check it out HERE. Next time, we'll dig in deeper about what it means to be a Creative Problem Solver.

Wishing all of our students, staff, and families rest and relaxation during the upcoming break next week. See you back the last week of February.

Regards,        
Jeff Porter

Katie Wallace, Jordan Young, Madelyn Huntington, Abigail Worcester, Stella McNally, Emma Stein, Lily Pierce, Jenna Plummer, Sarah Weisz, Johanna Kearins, Norah Levesque, Ethan Porch, Declan O’Connell, Harrison Plummer, and Fergus Tan all took part in Boston University’s Model United Nations 2026 Conference (BosMUN XXV) from February 6-8 in Copley Square, Boston. They were brilliant. Such a great group to represent our community. 

Notices from the Office of the Superintendent

Superintendent's Report

In case you missed the latest  Superintendent's Report at Thursday's Board meeting. 

IB Quarterly

Check out the IB Quarterly update: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yj1bN3mbQN4Kx-Tx4JFpDUVyr3oK29vO/view?usp=sharing

Active Minds/ KyleCares Mental Health Matters 5K 

Don't forget to get signed up for the race!

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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).        

February 12- Joint Tri Comm Meeting at North Yarmouth Community Center

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

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

One Campus Project Information

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

Hard Hat Chats

Filming for Hard Hat Chats episode 2 concluded last week… and we’re not saying too much yet 😏 Just know you won’t want to miss it.

Community Notices

Community Notices are not affiliated with MSAD #51.  Please contact the organization directly with any questions. Here is a full listing of Community Notices.

Cumberland North Yarmouth Youth Lacrosse     
 

Useful Links

Employment Opportunities

MSAD #51 Website

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 Wednesday. Any requests received after Wednesday 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.