Local student named to fall 2022 UAF chancellor’s list

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Jeff Beyea, of Whitefield, has been named to the fall 2022 chancellor’s list at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, in Fairbanks, Alaska.

UAF is a Land, Sea and Space Grant institution and is the leading doctoral degree-granting institution in the state of Alaska. Since it was founded in 1917, UAF has been internationally recognized for research relating to the Arctic and sub-Arctic in areas such as biology, geophysics, engineering, natural resources and global climate change.

VASSALBORO: Teachers ask for more professional development time

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Vassalboro Community School (contributed photo)

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro School Board members spent most of their May 16 meeting discussing the 2023-24 school calendar, and scheduled a special zoom meeting for May 22 to approve a final version, after Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer wrote up their revisions and ran them by staff members.

The main issue was professional development time, scheduled hours for staff to do workshops and training and work together on educational issues.

This past year has seen two early release days most months, days when students go home at midday so staff can meet in the afternoon. Principal Ira Michaud reported the most recent day had been used for a zoom workshop with an outside expert.

Alternatives to early release days include late start days (used in some other Maine school organizations, people said) or full days without students. Discussion tried to balance two objectives: maximizing staff time for cooperative work while minimizing inconvenience to parents.

Michaud emphasized that students benefit from the staff development time. The purpose is to share current information and ideas that make classroom teaching more effective.

Pfeiffer reported after the May 22 meeting that school board members unanimously approved the 2023-24 calendar. It will be shared with parents in mailings and posted on the school website, vcsvikings.com.

In other business May 16:

  • Michaud reported after screening for next year’s prekindergarten and kindergarten classes, preliminary figures are 29 prekindergarten students and 39 kindergarten students.
  • Pfeiffer said plans for summer work include repointing and sealing the school building’s brick exterior, more security upgrades and adding acoustic tiles to reduce noise in the cafeteria.
  • Michaud said third-graders won this spring’s penny-collecting contest. The Student Council voted to use the about $400 collected to buy larger national and state flags for the flagpole in front of the school.

Another thought students had was to replace the worn-out slide on the playground, but Michaud said a new slide would cost between $6,000 and $10,000. He’ll keep the need in mind and hope to find money.

  • Board members approved Mia Sargent as the new art teacher and Joel Estes, who has been a substitute teacher, as an Educational Technician III.

Michaud said Sargent spent a year becoming a credentialed art teacher, after eight years’ experience as an elementary-school classroom teacher. She succeeds Sue Briggs, one of the two Vassalboro Community School long-timers retiring next month; kitchen manager Mary Dumont is the other.

Pfeiffer and Michaud praised VCS staff for their hard work as school enters “the new normal” after the disruptive covid years.

This year’s eight-grade promotion is scheduled for 6 p.m., Monday, June 12, at the China Lake Conference Center, on Neck Road, in China.

After the special May 22 meeting, the next regular Vassalboro School Board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 20.

Board members set their annual summer workshop for 5 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 18, to be followed by the summer school board meeting at 6:45 p.m.

Carrabec High School honor parts announced (2023)

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Luke Carey (left) and Mliss Hem (right)

Valedictorian:

Luke Carey, Carrabec’s Valedictorian, is a student who is a role model in school. With a grade point average of 100.67, he has completed four ad­vanced placement classes, seven honors classes, two early college courses and one dual enrollment class, as well as, advanced math classes. Luke is not only a great student and an extraordinary math team leader, he also applies his strengths to the sports world as well, excelling in basketball, soccer, baseball and tennis. Luke will be attending the University of Maine at Farmington, majoring in actuarial science. Luke is the son of Erik and Tanya Carey, of Embden.

Salutatorian:

Mliss Hem, Carrabec’s Salutatorian, is a bright and successful student. Mliss has a grade point average of 100.00, completing nine honors classes. She came to Carrabec her senior year after being homeschooled and was a great addition to the senior class. Mliss will be attending Washington County Community College, majoring in business management. Mliss is the daughter of Bunn and Margaret Hem, of New Portland.

Windsor students are top 10 seniors at Maine Arts Academy

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Maine Arts Academy recognizes all 41 graduates of the class of 2023, according to a news release from Diane Manter at the academy. Among the class’s top ten seniors are Alexis Scott, who was second, and Alyssa Gagne, who was third, both of Windsor.

Graduation will be Thursday, June 1, at the Augusta Civic Center.

Area students named to the University of Vermont dean’s list

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The University of Vermont, in Burlington, Vermont, has announced the following local students have been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2022 semester.

Jillian Brown, from Augusta, is majoring in human development and family studies.

Autumn Boody, from Washington, is majoring in communication sciences and disorders.

Abbigail Doiron, from Augusta, is majoring in health sciences.

Carrabec High School top 10 seniors (2023)

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Top row, left-to-right: Jessica Benedict, Luke Carey, Lindsay Hamilton, Mliss Hem, Robert Lindblom.
Bottom row: Gabriella Manzer, Caitlyn Oliver, Conner Peabody, William Price, Hunter Sousa

Jessica Benedict is the daughter of Michael and Amanda Benedict, of Anson and April Everton, of Brownville. Jessica will be attending York County Community College for Animal Care and Management.

Luke Carey – Valedictorian, is the son of Erik and Tanya Carey, of Embden. Luke will be attending the University of Maine at Farmington for Actuarial Science.

Lindsay Hamilton is the daughter of Matthew and Marsha Hamilton, of Clinton. Lindsay will be attending the University of Maine at Presque Isle for Biology.

Mliss Hem – Salutatorian, is the daughter of Margaret and Bunn Hem, of New Portland. Mliss will be attending Washington County Community College for Business Management.

Robert Lindblom is the son of Robert and Nicole Lindblom, of Solon. Robert will be attending Thomas College for Education.

Gabriella Manzer is the daughter of Jeremy Manzer, of Anson, and Erin Caldwell, of North Anson. Gabriella will be attending Kennebec Valley Community College for the Paramedic Program.

Caitlyn Oliver is the daughter of Lawrence and Renee Oliver, of Embden. Caitlyn will be continuing in the work force.

Conner Peabody is the son of Robert and Carrie Peabody, of Solon. Conner will be attending Bentley University for Accounting.

William Price is the son of William and Amy Price, of Anson. William will be enlisting in the United States Navy.

Hunter Sousa is the son of Kevin and Elisa Sousa, of Embden. Hunter will be attending Washington County Community College for their Conservation Law Program.

Liberty student named to Abilene Christian University’s fall dean’s honor roll (2023)

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Cassondra Heath, of Liberty, was named to the Abilene Christian University, in Abilene, Texas, fall 2022 dean’s honor roll. Heath is a freshman majoring in music teaching.

Local residents earn award from WGU

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The following local residents have earned an Award of Excellence at Western Governors University, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The award is given to students who perform at a superior level in their coursework.

Whitney Poplawski, of Augusta, has earned an Award of Excellence at Western Governors University Leavitt School of Health.

Brenda Ryder, of Liberty, has earned an Award of Excellence at Western Governors University College of Business.

Local residents named to Simmons U. dean’s list

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The following local students were named to the 2022 fall semester dean’s list at Simmons University, in Boston, Massachusetts: Emma Soule, of Farmingdale, Abigail Bloom, of Waterville, and Maddie Beckwith, of Winslow.

Vassalboro Community School third quarter honor roll (2023)

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Vassalboro Community School (contributed photo)

High Honors:

Grade 3:

Freya Caison, Camden Desmond, Emma Freeman, Tucker Lizzotte, Evelyn Meyer, Sawyer Plossay, Oliver Sugden, Alivia Twitchell and Mayla Wilson.

Grade 4:

Hunter Brown, Kamdyn Couture, Cooper Grant, Sophia-Lynn Howard, Brooklyn Leach, Landon Lindquist, Simon Olson, Landon Quint, Willa Rafuse, Alexis Reed, Asher Smith and Robert Wade.

Grade 5:

Twila Cloutier, Xainte Cloutier, Samantha Craig, Mariah Estabrook, Riley Fletcher, Leah Hyden, Sarina Lacroix, Olivia Perry, Juliahna Rocque, Cassidy Rumba and Charles Stein.

Grade 6:

Basil Dillaway, Zoe Gaffney, Allyson Gilman, Cheyenne Lizzotte, Adrian Sousa, Grace Tobey and Ava Woods.

Grade 7:

Benjamin Allen, Zoey Demerchant, Drew Lindquist, Caleb Marden, Abigail Prickett and Judson Smith.

Grade 8:

Adalyn Glidden, Noah Pooler, and Bryson Stratton.

Honors:

Grade 3:

Titus Caruthers, Parker Estabrook, Marley Field, Norah French, Henry Gray, Olivia Hartford, Finn Malloy, Bryson McKay, Gage Nason, Gabriella Reynolds, Raegin Rodgers, Sawyer Weston, Haley Witham, and Alivia Woods.

Grade 4:

Ryder Austin, Alexander Bailey, Rylee Boucher, Braiden Crommett, Molly Dearborn, Liam Dowe, Chase Fay, Ashlynn Hamlin, Avery Hamlin, Tanner Hughes, Kendall Karlsson, Aria Lathrop, Jackson Robichaud, Keegan Robinson, and Christopher Santiago.

Grade 5:

Lukas Blais, Dawson Frazer, Aubrey Goforth, Chanse Hartford, Aubrey Judkins, Elliott Rafuse, Isaiah Smith, Haven Trainor, and Cameron Willett.

Grade 6:

Samuel Bechard, Bryleigh Burns, Baylee Fuchswanz, Savannah Judkins, Agatha Meyer, Jaelyn Moore and Weston Pappas.

Grade 7:

Juliet Boivin, Tristyn Brown, Ryleigh French, Katherine Maxwell, Paige Perry, Bentley Pooler, Hannah Tobey and Reid Willett.

Grade 8:

Owen Couture, Ryley Desmond, Peyton Dowe, Wyatt Ellis, Madison Field, Kylie Grant, Spencer Hughes, Jack Malcolm, Alexis Mitton, Kole Pratt, Grady Sounier, Kaleb Tolentino, Mackullen Tolentino and Autumn Willis.

Honorable Mention:

Grade 3:

Brayden Lang-Knights, Preston Richmond, Trenten Theobald, and Roman Wentworth

Grade 4:

Reese Chechowitz, Levi Demerchant, Ashton Derosby, Anthony Dyer, Elliot Stratton, Gabriel Tucker and William Vincent

Grade 5:

Kiara Apollo, Wyatt Devoe, Brandon Fortin, Camden Foster, Peter Giampietro, Lucian Kinrade, Isaac Leonard and Arianna Muzerolle.

Grade 6:

Emily Clark, Fury Frappier, Jack LaPierre, Mia McLean and Landen Theobald.

Grade 7:

Dominick Bickford, Gabriella Brundage, Drake Goodie, Cooper Lajoie, Trinity Pooler, Brooke Reny and Alana Wade.

Grade 8:

Aliya Bourque, Madison Burns, Logan Chechowitz, Xavier Foss, Bailey Goforth, Mason Lagasse, Bryella Leighton, Olivia Hartford, Henry Olson, Josslyn Ouellette and Payton Thorndike.