Principal’s Report
September, 2008

La Rentrée Scolaire: We opened on the same day as our sister school in St. Castin! We have 58 students and everyone seems to be off to a good start. We began with two old customs: 8th graders ringing the school bell and bringing flowers to the kindergartners. And we added the ceremonial passing of the Blackwood Mace during the circle on the common.

Calendar Change: I’d like to take advantage of the free admission for schools (and travel cost reimbursement by Fairpoint) to take the whole school to the Common Ground Fair on Friday, September 19. This necessitates moving the P-T conference date to the day before: Thursday, September 18th. We’re just flip-flopping. Penobscot and Brooksville schools have gone to CGF; are going this year. Your permission required for calendar change.

Soccer started today….Zach Martin returns as our soccer coach. 12 Game season, plus soccer round robin on September 20.

Field Trip in September: Neat opportunity to send our Calvineers on a weekend trip with Bill McWeeny…part of their plan to present at the New Bedford Right Whale Consortium. They would spend the night on September 27 at Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, assist zookeepers caring for animals, then present the Calvin Project powerpoint at the Right Whale Awareness Day. Travel by private vehicles. Free admission; zoo provides food.

Conference Panel invitation. I’ve been asked to join a panel at the Maine “Take it Outside” conference in Augusta on October 2. The governor does keynote address; I offer views on importance of kids doing things outside. Apparently, there are very few administrators who can comment! So our nature center project and other curriculum-related explorations of the natural environment will be shared with other schools in Maine. Nice affirmation of our larger sense of mission.

The Laundromat is open! We now have our stacking washer/dryer in operation. Annual yearly electricity use: 328 kWh. Estimated yearly operating cost: $35. Clean mops, uniforms, kitchen towels and aprons: priceless.

Monsieur du Jardin: The St. Castin garden gnome will be on his way home shortly, along with a fabulous photo album of his acquaintances made this summer in Castine—including a photo with the school board (le conseil de l’ecole).

Nature center: have a look. It’s entirely shingled, needs only repaired windows, and it’ll be completed. Now to add collections. Thank you Mr. Peacock for a few feathers donated yesterday. It is a terrific place for classes right now. Tipi too, if the red ants vacate! Charlotte has already moved her Web site in front of the front window.

Maintenance: We had to spend some money in August repairing our main refrigerator. That and plumbing and electrical for new washer/dryer may stretch a couple of budget lines. I think we’ll be okay.

Small Rural Schools Grant Funds: We have $1102.27 to spend by 9/30. In the past we have funded special capital items, like laptops, with these funds.

Thanks MMA. Once again, the MMA football players gave us a huge boost in our attic clean-out. Priceless photo on web site, of course….



Todd R. Nelson
Principal

Enclosures:

Two recent columns.