News from The Hawk’s Nest

    I would like to emphasize to all parents, guardians or anyone picking up a student from school that you need to report to the office upon entering the building. We will dismiss all students from the office. You are not to go to the classroom to dismiss a student.
    We have fortunately been able to have the school's front door unlocked and we really would like to continue leaving the door unlocked as long as the school's rules regarding students' dismissals are followed.
    It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the school with plenty of snow outside and many busy elves inside. The fifth graders continue to collect food items for St. Mary's Food Pantry. If you have any food items you would like to donate, but have no way to get them to the school, please call us and we will gladly come to your house and pick them up.
    Also, the fifth graders will go caroling this week with a special stop at the food pantry to deliver all the "goodies" they have collected. The stop will be followed by the children enjoying cookies and hot chocolate at Mrs. Swallow's house.
    Last Tuesday, our PTO hosted Santa's Workshop for our students. This was an opportunity for the children to purchase inexpensive items for their friends and family. The children were very excited about the many "treasures" they were able to purchase. A special thanks to the PTO members who dedicated their time to purchase the items, set up for the workshop and wrapped the gifts. The children loved it!
    Congratulations to Julia Lunn and Hillary Nason who were recently selected for All-Aroostook Chorus. Students making All-Aroostook Band were Camille Pierce, LacyAnne Mailman, Kyra Scott, Heather Rockwell and Alayna Acott.
    The district would like to offer kudos to our high school chemistry teacher, Dee Hutchinson. We had two college freshmen score the highest in their chemistry class at their respective colleges. Keep up the great work Dee!
    Our after-school students created beautiful cards and passed them out to the residents at Hodgdon Homestead yesterday. The students also sang carols to the residents. The students came back to school to enjoy cookies, hot chocolate and a movie.
    Dr. Marcia Boody, literacy Instructor at UMO, was at school last Wednesday. She modeled good writing strategies for our primary teachers, observed some of our teachers instructing writing, and provided us with valuable feedback on ways we can improve our writing program.
    Our monthly reading night was held last Thursday with guest readers Karen Rochford and Maryann Sylvain reading the Christmas Story. The children had a snack and made a craft. Food items were collected to donate to the fifth grade food drive.
    The concert that was cancelled due to snow on Monday, Dec. 17 has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 16.
    Have a Merry Christmas!