Principal’s Report
August 2007

Summer Work: We’re hoping to make each classroom look different and special, so that kids who are unexpectedly spending another year in the same room will feel things are fresh! So it’s mostly interior cleaning and painting, to be followed by some special installations: reading lofts, blackboards, etc.

Enrollment: It looks as if we’ll open school with 54 kids, having lost a sixth grader and gained a second grader…in recent trading.

Coaching/Cheering: Glad to see Jennifer Henderson stepping up for another year of the cheering program she started. I hope interest will hold—she’s lost some key players! I’m mindful of balance and length of season and I intend to scrutinize the scope of competitions and fund raising expected of participants to make sure it’s an elementary-level program.
    Alas, we are still looking for a soccer coach. Any leads welcome.

Adams School trips: We’d like to take the whole school to the Common Ground Fair on the last Friday of September. It’s a special schools day at the fair, and MOGFA gives free admission and even reimburses schools for their travel costs. Penobscot school has done it in the past. France: See attached proposal. Board approval for both of these trips?

Nature Center: We’re almost there….porch roof is on…shingling session to follow. We could use a small window for the spot above the porch roof, otherwise all materials are on hand. It’s coming in on budget: cost to taxpayers = 0.

The Blackwood deed: I met Temple Blackwood this week (see attached letter from him—very nice.) and he pointed out just how much new territory we’re gaining for the school. A strip behind the nature center is also ours, plus the lot to the west. As soon as possible, I’d like to move the fence to reflect the new property lines, and do some clearing out to make the land conducive to recess use. Then we can plan our gardening improvements. It would be nice to have a September or October dedication event for this land and the nature center.

Athletics & Laptops meetings: In the first week of school, I’d like to ask parents of MLTI students and athletes to attend an informational meeting at school. They need to do this to authorize their child’s laptop use. We’ll add in a brief introduction to athletics policy and get all the forms signed. GSA does this for athletics and I think it’s a good moment to ask for support and clarity on coaching and team expectations for the whole year.  

Ellsworth American story upcoming: Nick Gosling interviewed me today regarding my trip to France. Story and photos in next week’s paper. Perhaps an announcement of Castine’s intentions to send kids there?




Todd R. Nelson
Principal

Enclosures:

A proposal for a bi-annual 7-8th grade trip
Blackwood Letter
Bearn article
Patriot photo spread
Woodenboat article
Forthcoming Bangor Metro article