Students and staff at Lawrence Junior High are in the homecoming spirit! Today they coordinated their outfits to show their school spirit for Twinning Day! The Bulldog Pride is strong at LJHS!
The kindergarten and first grades in Albion went to Lemiuex’s Orchard in Vassalboro today. They picked apples, had a tour, wagon ride, and went in the corn maze.
Benton Elementary fifth grade students are enjoying the fruits (and vegetables!) of their labor this fall! These students were in fourth grade when, during their library class, they researched gardening and put their knowledge to use planting. After careful tending this summer by Benton educational technician, Tara Mitchell, the garden is ready to harvest. Students have sampled tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers freshly picked out of their garden. The garden club is also working with Benton's nutrition program to turn our monster zucchini into zucchini bread for our students.
Sunny days and laughter abound as Clinton Elementary students discover the joy of friendship and fun at school. The joy of elementary students at school is crucial for their overall development. When children engage in enjoyable activities, they are more motivated to learn and explore new concepts. Positive experiences foster social skills, creativity, and emotional well-being, creating a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Seventh-grade students at Lawrence Junior High School have had an exciting week exploring the 13 Colonies! They started by fishing for information with Mr. Carpenter to practice vocabulary and learn about the New England colonies. In Ms. Longley’s classroom, students took on the roles of various shopkeepers, such as Apothecary, Carpenter, Chandler, and Blacksmith, sharing insights about the Middle and Southern Colonies with their "customers." Finally, in a fun-filled class in the library with Mrs. Butterfield, Mr. Carpenter, and Ms. Longley, students learned about the roles and responsibilities of men, women, and children in the colonies. They created whirligigs, identified animal pelts, and made paper quilt squares to enhance their understanding!
❤️🩹The Lawrence High School CPR and First Aid class, taught by Mr. Spears, offers students an opportunity to learn and practice the skills necessary to help out in an emergency. Students learn these skills through classroom lectures and activities, independent practice, and emergency simulations. The simulations replicate emergencies that a person may come across giving them the chance to apply the potentially life-saving skills they have learned in a stressful but non-threatening environment. Simulations may take place in a classroom, hallway, stairwell, or even in the school parking lot. To date, more than 150 students have passed the class and received certification by meeting the standards of the American Heart Association for adult, child, and infant CPR/AED use and first aid.
🏫On Thursday seniors who have signed up will be attending a College Fair at the University of Maine at Orono. They will be leaving at 8:30 and returning around noon time. This takes place in the field house and features many colleges throughout the state and New England.
🏓Sargent Jared Deroshe of the Maine Army National Guard was in on Tuesday participating in the PE classes going over some physical fitness testing with the students. Also in PE, Mr. Blaisdell and some helpers lined 8 pickleball courts for permanent public and school use on the tennis courts.
💬On Tuesday, student speeches for class officers were given before their respective classmates and voting took place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
👍Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute’s Club met with the Jr. girls this week. The Juniors that we have participating are Addison King, Hannah Carlton, Jillian Boyden, and Arianna Goodwin. Information on Olympia Snowe’s Women’s Leadership Institute can be found on their website: https://snoweleadershipinstitute.org/
🗺️Mrs. Davis’ two Geography classes have been using a variety of thematic maps to determine the best county in the lower 48 United States to survive after the ‘zombie apocalypse’. They have created visual aids that look like backpacks and highlight the most important information about the resources they will need to restart civilization from their chosen spot. Finished projects will be posted in her classroom, a picture of one appears below.
🎵The Lawrence High School Music Department recently hosted the United States Navy Band's "Country Current" small ensemble group on 26 AUG '24 in the WATC to great review and attendance. Here is the link to this concert (and others) courtesy of videographer Chad Smith: www.crossroads-tv.com/live. Viewers will note our Band Director, Loren Fields (LHS '83) soloing with "Country Current" on "When the Saints Go Marching In." Also in the Crossroads-TV archives is this past April's U.S. Army Field Band & Soldiers' Chorus concert hosted on 13 APR '24 in our Williams Performing Arts Center.
🎷Lawrence High School is hosting a Maine Band Directors' Association Competitive Marching Band event on Keyes Field in Pete Cooper Stadium on Saturday, September 28th. Attending schools will be Wells, Biddeford, Westbrook, Blue Hawks, South Portland, Dover, Old Orchard Beach, our own Lawrence High School Marching Bulldogs, and a special guest The University of Maine Black Bear Marching Band. There is a small admission charge for this family-centric event. $7 for adults, $5 for students/senior citizens w/ a $20 max for a family of four. The start time for the first Marching Band is 5 p.m., so get here early. Concessions will be available.
📝 A reminder to folks, if you haven’t filled out the school district’s Meal Benefits Form, you are encouraged to do so. It only needs to be filled out once for the year, so if you have children in multiple schools, one application will suffice. It is used as a data point by the State when allocating funding for Essential Programs and Services. We appreciate your time and effort in completing this and returning it to the school, which will then be turned over to the Food Services Director, Mr. Chamberlain.
Have a great week!
Benton Elementary was bursting at its seams with excited students and their families for our annual Open House. Students picked up a passport as they entered the building and visited many of the important people and parts of our school. We're thrilled so many families were able to take part in this special event!
We continued our tradition of hosting the Darling's "Ice Cream for a Cause" truck the same evening. Darling's collected monetary donations for our Bulldog Boutique - a clothing and food closet that benefits our students - in exchange for delicious ice cream treats. Thank you to Darling's for continuing to so generously support our students!
Snapshots from the first week of school at Clinton Elementary! 🎒📚 Our students have jumped right into learning and fun, embracing new routines and making new friends. Here’s to a fantastic start and many more amazing moments ahead!
Welcome to a new school year at Albion Elementary! 📚✨ Our Open House was a wonderful success, filled with excitement and smiles as students and families explored classrooms, met teachers, and set the stage for a fantastic year ahead. Here’s to new beginnings and great adventures in learning!
The Lawrence Junior High School Library is up and running full force! This wonderful new piece of art was donated to the library by a local artist, Larissa Davis.
Also new to our library is Mrs. Butterfield, our new Librarian-Teacher. Mrs. Butterfield's goal is to have a welcoming space for students, staff, and community. She states "The library is a place to foster curiosity and grow. Larissa Davis's generous gift and inspiring art invite u all to shine."
For more information on the artist and students' reactions to the art, visit the LJHS website.
The High School just had Picture Day on Wednesday; a sure sign that the school year is underway. To access pictures, please visit the LifeTouch website.
The school is accepting nominations for Class Representatives and Class Officers and we will have speeches and voting next week. The following week is Homecoming and next week the classes will be busy with preparation and planning.
We are off to a great start to the new school year. Students should be back in the swing of things as far as classwork and homework go. The first year of high school is usually an adjustment period for the freshmen and in the first quarter, grades may take a dip. It is important to check in with your students as to how their classes are going and check into their grades on Infinite Campus, through the Parent Portal. Many teachers also use Google Classroom to post homework and upcoming assignments. Your student can show you their Google Classroom webpages for their classes. Teachers and School Counselors are accessible and available by phone and email, as are administrators. Please reach out if you have any questions or are unsure of your student’s progress in their classes.
Attendance is also equally important for the success of any student in school. If your child is sick, please contact the high school and call them out sick. If they have an appointment, in order for them to be excused, we ask that they bring back a note from the appointment: whether it is medical, dental, or vision, etc. If there is a planned absence for a trip, etc., we have Planned Absence Forms outside the Main Office window for the student to bring home to get signed and to take around to their teachers before the trip so plans can be made for any upcoming classwork they will miss or work to be completed upon return.
If you have any questions or concerns with regard to your child, please feel free to reach out to any one of us at the high school. Have a great week!
As Lawrence Junior High students step back into school after summer break, the air is filled with excitement and anticipation. Friends catch up and share their summer stories while gearing up for the start of sports practices and new extracurricular activities. The buzz of the first week is also about diving into new subjects and exploring fresh learning opportunities. With a mix of enthusiasm for athletics, rekindled friendships, and academic challenges, students are ready to embrace the new school year with energy and optimism. Pictures are still to come.
Albion Elementary students are full of excitement as they return to school, eager to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. The start of a new school year is filled with anticipation for fresh adventures, creative projects, and opportunities to learn and grow. Pictures of the first week of school to come!
The students are thrilled to be back at Clinton Elementary! After a fun summer, everyone's buzzing with excitement to reunite with friends, dive into new adventures, and make this school year unforgettable. Here’s to a year filled with learning, laughter, and new experiences!
We're off to a great start at Benton Elementary School! Our first through sixth graders were all smiles as they arrived last week, and they've settled in nicely with their teachers and classmates. Our building was bursting with excitement as our Kindergarten students joined us this week. We can't wait to learn, play, and grow TOGETHER as one big Benton Bulldog family!
The high school had a good opening day with the Freshmen (Class of 2028!) last Wednesday and a smooth opening with all the students back last Thursday. This week during the Advisory block Administrators met with the individual classes, as we always have to set the stage for the upcoming year.
We have some new staff members at the high school this year and they are:
Mr. Cyr - Assistant Principal
Mrs. Davis - Social Studies teacher
Mr. Kandiko - Science teacher
Mr. Richards - School Counselor, returning to us after a couple of years away.
Monica Towne - Guidance Secretary
Becky Anderson - Librarian, coming over from the Jr. High
Luke Quirion - Social Studies teacher, coming from the Jr. High
Derik Saucier - Student Support Services, coming from the Jr. High
Picture day for the high school will be on Wednesday, September 11th. Follow the link to the LifeTouch web page for Lawrence High School.
Open House will be on Wednesday, September 4 from 4:00 - 6:00 PM. All are welcome to come in and tour the school and check in on your student’s classrooms, etc. Mr. Cyr and I will be manning a table in the main entrance area and will have a series of dates for Coffee House days we would like to set up and hold once a month for parents as a way to keep folks informed.
A Senior Parent Meeting is also in the process of getting set up to help keep folks informed in their student’s final year of high school and to meet with the Class Advisors, Mr. Holt, and Ms. Vanhout. Date tba.
Fall Play auditions for Mama Mia will be held on Tuesday, September 10th, and Wednesday, September 11th from 2:30 - 4:30 PM in the Williamson Center. Callbacks will be on Thursday, September 12th.
The Marching Band will be hosting a competition on Saturday, September 28th, capping off Homecoming Week (Sept. 23 - 27th). The Homecoming Dance will be held the following Saturday, Oct. 5th from 7-10:00 PM.
We’re off to a great start and hope to see folks at our Open House or any one of our Coffee House dates and games.
The high school celebrated graduation on Thursday, June 6th in the Williamson Performing Arts Center. We had 99 graduates participate in the graduation ceremony and 102 graduated in the class. Check out the Lawrence homepage under News for photos of when the seniors walked through Benton Elementary in their caps & gowns.
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Summer School Credit Recovery dates will be July 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, and 23, 24, and 25th from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM for students who failed one or more classes with a grade of 55 - 69. Registration is on the school website and you can call the high school Guidance Office.
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On August 26, 2024 at 7:00 PM the United States Navy Country Concert will take place in the Williamson Auditorium. Tickets can be found here: https://usnavyband.ticketleap.com/2024-cc-fairfield/dates/Aug-26-2024_at_0700PM
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Over the past several years Benton Elementary has made significant strides in both academic growth and achievement. This work has revolved around several research-based initiatives that fostered a collaborative approach to meeting the academic and social/emotional needs of our students. The Maine Department of Education recently recognized our school for our accomplishments, and we knew we needed to CELEBRATE before summer break! On Wednesday morning, all of our students and staff members gathered on the playground for a BIG surprise...21 staff members emerged from the school, and students cheered them on in an inflatable extravaganza race! It was an EPIC way to celebrate the hard work of our students and staff!
Grateful for the vibrant spirit at Albion Elementary's Field Day last Friday! With a dedicated team of parent volunteers led by Mr. Plaisted, Mr. Grenier, and Ms. Hines, the day was a resounding success. Their invaluable contributions not only made the event possible but also highlighted the importance of community involvement in fostering memorable school experiences for our students.
Exciting day at Benton Elementary as Fairfield Primary kindergarten students visit for Step Up Day! Witnessing their future classmates and meeting teachers ignites anticipation, fostering a smooth transition and building early connections vital for a positive educational journey.
