The Adams School  
P.O. Box 29
27 School Street
Castine, Maine 04421
326-8608
www.adamsschool.com

 

The proprietors of the Big Stump Variety Store....with a special customer

See photos of Senator Collins's visit

Ms. P's class posing for nos amis francais.

ADAMS SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
MAY 18, 2007

 

“Chers Amis Americains”

            The letter arrived by e-mail (un courriel!) on Monday morning: “Bonjour, nous sommes la classe de CM. Nous vous remercions pour ce livre qui nous a permis de vous vous connaitre.” I had sent a copy of our 2005-2006 year book to the grammar school in St. Castin, France, and they had been studying it. As I explained to our 4-5th graders, to them “we are last year’s yearbook.” And to us, they are their e-mail of Monday, which included class photos, a map of their village, and lots of details about their interests.

            The French kids are trying to save the bears. We are trying to save the Right Whales. They hold mock elections; we hold mock elections. They celebrate earth day and think of things they can do to save the environment. (“Et vous, vous souciez-vous de l’environment?” they asked.) Ditto. They get out of school for the summer on July 6; we get out June 23. Hmmmm. They have French accents; we have American accents. They have Monsieur Alexandre; we have Monsieur Nelson. They call their principal “Directeur, or Maitre.” We could do that. They look and “sound” like we look and “sound.”

After school they play “au tennis, le football, le judo, le basket, chant, dessin, le cirque.” They have two Yans (Yann and Yan), and two Camilles (boy and girl); we have two Hannahs (Hanna and Hannah), two Merediths, and two Jennifers. Between us, we have three boys named Nicholas. Their older class visits medieval archeology sites; our younger classes dig in the sandbox in search of ancient artifacts. Their school was named after the Baron; we’re still searching for the legendary box of gold the Baron buried somewhere on the peninsula—hopefully in our sandbox. Suffice to say: we’re finding that we have a lot to talk about.

            Now we know what they look like, thanks to their all-school photo and subsequent e-mails, and details of their location, their trips, and global concerns. And we know their names. Relationships take a leap forward when you have a little bit of the personality embodied in a name, and our kids have already decided which name they wish to write to. For some reason, Nino is quite popular with two of our boys. I’d like to write to Marine, who just won their all-school election, which occurred around the time that Segolene Royal and Nicholas Sarkozy were vying for the French presidency.  When you swap names you become real to one another.

            There is a background and foreground to any communication. As I photographed our students to illustrate their letters, we moved around school, changing background settings—the nature center, the climbing wall, the front steps, the swings, and the lobby. “This will provide a little Adams tour,” I explained. “If they put all the photos together, they’ll get a picture of our whole school, as well as the individuals.” On Tuesday, we photographed Mrs. McFadden’s class in our lobby, with the growing St. Castin bulletin board behind them—their French letters, photos, and maps as the backdrop for our message to them. We have established a special web page whereon we can post messages and photo updates. Next week, letters from each Castine student, with photo, will be on their way par avion to nos cher amis Francais. Friday, June 1 is “Mail the Box to France Day,” and we will photograph the whole school at the post office delivering our collection of varied artifacts to Al and Diane for priority shipping. More background. The box will arrive in advance of Monsieur Nelson, and, hopefully, inspire much speculation about its contents.                    

            I’m learning that part of the background to this exchange is the history of  Castine-St Castin relations. “There is a long history of visits back and forth as early as the 1890s,” says Sally Foote, “when Boyd Bartlett was asking about buying artifacts from the church. In the 1930s, Alice Ball and the summer colony sent 3188 Francs to pay for the lighting of their church with electricity.” Sadly, the church was bombed in World War II—and rebuilt. You can see it on their town Web site, which is linked to our school web site. Now the Internet is part of the background of our digital visits. They are their school and town web site photos; we are ours.

The French letter received Monday ended: “We await the arrival of your director and his family with much impatience!” Moi aussi. J’y va! And I shall return with new photos and personal contact…to update our shared backgrounds, and a more accurate sense of sound.

—Monsieur Nelson

“Fore!” Brian Earles at the Castine Golf Club is offering free lessons and play time for Adams School kids, grades 5-8. This will take place on Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 2:30-4:30 beginning May 23. Students who would like to take advantage of this opportunity should bring the golf permission note back to school, signed by a parent. Thank you Brian!

Homework Club ends next Thursday, May 24.  

The Book Fair Cometh…In Ms. P’s room, May 29-31. This will be the last book fair for two years! Stock up!

Tennis & PE Next week: No Tennis on Tuesday; PE on Tuesday will be in either Emerson Hall or outside on the common, weather permitting.

Adams School 8th Grade Bottle Drive:  The 8th Grade Class will visit door to door this Sunday approximately 2-4 PM to see if you have any bottles and/or cans to get rid of.  Proceeds will benefit the Class Trip to Boston over the Memorial Day Holiday.  You can also drop off your bottles/cans to the Adams School or call Sue Macomber at 326-4502 or Todd Nelson at 326-8608 for scheduling a pick up.  Please save your bottles and cans! 

Wanted: Small, compact refrigerator for faculty room. Anyone have one they can donate to the school?

Activity Night at Ellsworth High School….Friday, May 18th, 7-9:30pm. Grades 6-8. Dancing, basketball, Guitar Hero 2, 4 square, DDR.

Dance: Sedgwick School. Friday, May 18th, 7-10:00pm. Grades 6-8. DJ Bill Da Butler. Admission: $5.00.

Cub Scouts: Pack 83 will have an information and registration meeting at Penobscot School on Tuesday, May 22 at 6:00pm. Information: Dana Willis, 326-9653. www.joincubscouting.org                                                                                                    

Bend it like Beckham! Once again the Major League Soccer soccer camp will be offered at Deer Isle Stonington Elementary School.  Three enthusiastic, well-trained coaches from England will be here the week of July 23.  Camp for younger players will be from 9am to noon each day. Older players will meet from 5:00 to 8:00pm.  On Tuesday or Wednesday there will also be a one and a half hour evening session for coaches and potential coaches.  Brochures will be arriving shortly and I will deliver them to area schools.  The fee is $96.00 and includes a soccer ball and MLS t-shirt.  Questions?  Call Jo Jacob at 348-6997 or email at jjacob31@verizon.net.

Strike up the Town Band:     The first Castine Town Band rehearsal of the 2007 season will be held on Wed., May 23rd at 4:00 pm.  It will take place in the Trinitarian Church on Main St.  Adams School band members are encouraged to join. 

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ADAMS SCHOOL MENU       May 21st  - 25th

Monday – Chop Suey, Biscuits, Corn, Peaches, Milk

Tuesday – Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Juice, Baby Carrots, Chips, Cookie, Milk

Weds. – BBQ Chicken, Rice, Peas, Blueberry Crisp, Milk

Thursday – Taco Lasagna, Salad, Rolls, Fruit, Milk

Friday – Chicken Salad Rolls, Veggie Sticks, Chips, Pudding Pops, Milk

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2007 T-Ball & Minor League Program:  Currently we do not have coaches for the T-ball & Minor League programs.  If children ages 7-12 (age 7 before May 1st and no older than 12 by May 1st) are interested in Minor League, they can participate on the Penobscot Team with Coach Carrie Prescott.  For more information and a schedule, please contact Coach Prescott at 326-9667.

 

Updated Calendar:

May

23   Kindergarten screening for 07-08.

23   Golf after school starts…Wed & Fridays.

24   Dennett's Wharf Teriyaki dinner--8th graders waiters.

25   Early Release day for inservice: 11:30 dismissal.

27-30   8th grade class trip to Boston.

28     Memorial Day--No School

29-31   Scholastic Book Fair.

30   Earth Day.

30    GSA spring concert, 7pm.

June

1      Grade 2-3 sleepover at school

1      Mail the Box to France Day!

5      Band and Music rehearsals for Concert.

5        Band plays for Castine Woman's Club, 1:00pm.           

5      Spring Concert and art show, Emerson Hall.

6-7   8th grade Spark's Island Trip.

8        End of third trimester. (12 weeks)

8      Smorgs III….in morning.

9      Readers Theater Multi-Cultural stories...9-12:00.

12   Graduation rehearsals for 8th graders.

13   8th Grade Graduation, 12:30pm. Whole School attends. UU Church.

14   Calvineers and grade 2-3 to Brooksville School.

15   K-3 to Holbrook Island.

15    Term 3 reports go home

19   Last Student day: Field Day (PTC) and Beach picnic.

20    Teacher in-service day.      

21    Teacher in-service day