From the halls of Houlton Junior & Senior High School

We are very proud of our basketball and hockey teams. An exciting quarterfinal playoff game for the hockey team, an appearance at the tournament in Bangor for the girls and the IAABO sportsmanship banners for the boys and girls, along with the Maine Principals’ Association sportsmanship banner for the girls, have given us something to cheer about.
And speaking of cheering, the varsity cheerleaders finished second in Eastern Maine in Class C and the junior high cheerleaders placed third at the Aroostook League Competition in Mars Hill on Jan. 14. They also received a trophy for “Best Stunts” as a team.
The District Vocal Jazz Festival will be held at the school on Thursday, March 18.  Friday, March 19, is a teacher workshop day and there will be no school for students on that day.  The junior high musical “Do-Wop Red Riding Hood” will be presented on Thursday, March 26.
Science Class News
It’s that time again! Our annual Science Fair will be held on Tuesday, March 16, in the large gym. The public is invited to come from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. This is an event where hundreds of students, teachers and community members get together to talk science. Good luck and remember to come to the large gym between 2:30-5:30 p.m.
Student Council News
The high school student council will be hosting the annual Winter Carnival on Friday, March 12. Events include quiz bowl, sumo wrestling, battle of the bands, best Youtube video, and an obstacle course.
Senior Class News
Seniors will have pictures taken in their caps and gowns on April 5.
Junior High News
The seventh grade English classes have started working on the Women in History Pageant project.  Fifteen groups of students are working diligently to research and learn about interesting women in history.  The women being studied include: Martha Graham, Phillis Wheatley, Mary Lou Retton, Susan B. Anthony, Emily Carr, Billie Jean King, Shirley Temple Black, Cheryl Miller, Lucille Ball, Barbara Buttrick, Wilma Pearl Mankiller, Sojourner Truth, Queen Noor, Agatha Christie, Martha Washington, and Babe Didrikson Zaharias. The culminating activity will be a pageant held on Thursday, April 8, in the school’s auditorium.  Each group will perform an interview and talent portion before a distinguished panel of judges. The judges will be Renae Foley, Betty Fraser, Jason Tarr, and Steve Fitzpatrick. The official scorer will be Fred Ludwig. The Master of Ceremonies for the event will be Mrs. Dawn Dougan.  It should be an entertaining and educational experience for all.
The seventh graders were sad to see Desiree Ellis leave our school after completing her eighth week of student teaching in English in Karen Bouchard’s classroom. She was enthusiastic, creative, and a great addition to our school.  The students thoroughly enjoyed her as a teacher, and we know she will be a valuable addition to any school lucky enough to hire her. We wish her the best of luck as she heads to Hodgdon High School to complete her student teaching experience.
Art Department News
Art students are working on many different projects and in many different mediums, including drawings with chalk pastels, oil pastels, ebony pencils and colored pencils, paintings in acrylic and watercolor, collage work, scratch art, wood burning, clay, and paper. Each student will be exhibiting a piece of artwork in April at the downtown gallery “Visions.” Photography students are learning about basic composition and design in photography and how to create prize-winning photographs instead of snapshots.
After School Program News
Houlton Jr. High School has a 21st Century Community Learning Center Program. What this means is that we have a homework lab that is open to all junior high students Monday through Thursday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The program focuses on academic improvement as well as enrichment activities. We try to offer something for everyone’s interests. Senior high students are there to assist any student who may need help. We also offer various enrichment activities. Some of the activities are food and nutrition, robotics, snap circuits, 4-H SET (Science, Engineering and Technology), candy making, sewing, show shoeing and chess. All junior high students are welcome to attend.
We have a town bus and Littleton/Monticello bus that will drop students off at the end of the program.  We have been very fortunate to have some community members who are volunteering their time including Mrs. Keber who owns and operates Uncle Willie’s Candy Shoppe, Linda Trickey and Alisha Targonski from Cooperative Extension, and Bart Peters.  We love having volunteers and if you would be interested in volunteering your time, please contact Lori McGillicuddy at Houlton Jr./Sr. High School at 532-6551 or e-mail at lomcgillicuddy@msln.net.