District Writing Tea, 2018

The MSAD #6 District Writing Contest and Writing Tea is a longstanding tradition in Bonny Eagle.  This year marks the 33rd annual event, with the celebration being held Wednesday evening, April 25th.  As always, it is one of the most important and special events of the year.

Students in grades K-8, and any district staff member, may enter an original piece of writing, to be judged by a panel of district teachers representing our elementary and middle school buildings.  From each of those grade levels, there are ten winners chosen, receiving recognition, their piece published in the annual book, and a ribbon.  All of our preK students at H.B. Emery School and Edna Libby School are entered and celebrated as well, with a ribbon and their pieces framed for them, as well as being in the annual book.  All staff members who enter are recognized and celebrated with a ribbon and with their piece published.

For the second year now, we had a further honor, called "Super Scot Scribe," which recognized K-8 students who not only won a top spot for their grade level but according to the judges showed great skill and talent well beyond what would be expected for their grade level.

A special thanks goes to the following:

• the many volunteers who collected and organized the writing pieces in our buildings
• the classroom teachers who supported and encouraged their students who entered
• the staff who entered and served as role models for our young writers
• those who volunteered their time and effort to help as ushers & greeters at the Tea
• the custodial staff at BEMS for their efforts in set up and clean up  
• Assistant Superintendent Mick Roy for the welcome & introductions
• Cathie Bunk, grade 4 teacher at George E. Jack School who served as our emcee
• Rae Theriault, Administrative Assistant for the Superintendent's Office, for help with the published book of writing entries
• Patty Poirier, Administrative Assistant for the Curriculum office, without whom this event would not be possible

~Krista Poulin

 

A very special memory has surfaced... 
Delaney Hesler's mom shared a photo of her in Kindergarten, as a winner for her grade level,
then shared that she has been a winner every year since!  Below is Delaney in her first
and last District Writing Contest, as a Kindergartener and as an 8th grader.

High Impact, Day 3

Yesterday was the third and final day (for this year!) of Assessment for Learning high impact strategy training.  Jeff Beaudry and Anita Stewart-McCafferty from USM, along with our district strategy coach, Kirsten Gould, held session #3 yesterday around this pivotal district work.  In attendance were 54 of our teachers, instructional coaches, technology coaches, and administrators!

The design of the day was framed to meet everyone's individual needs, and it delivered! 

It was one of the best professional days this Curriculum Coordinator had ever been a part of.  

Opening remarks from Superintendent Penna

Discussion around mindframes with Jeff Beaudry.

Kirsten Gould leading a thinking & reflection activity.

An administrator session with Anita Stewart-McCafferty

The administrator / technology coach / instructional coach "think tank"

School-specific reflection and planning 

There were small breakout sessions throughout the day around the most needed topics.

There was also PLENTY of collaborative work time and space.

This is a Wordle.  All attendees were asked to submit 2-3 words that came to mind 

regarding this work and this day.  The larger the word, the more times it came up.  

Notice our big stand out words...

Thanks to all of our administrators for the flexibility and efforts to get so many teachers there.  Thanks to our teachers in attendance who shared so much energy and commitment.  

Thanks to our teachers back at the schools for picking up whatever slack needed, and thanks in advance to them for embracing the knowledge that their peers will be bringing back to them.  

And most of all thank you to Jeff, Anita, and Kirsten for planning such an outstanding day!

~Krista Poulin

"The work we are doing in Assessment for Learning directly connects to our work with Carrie Thurston [data driven intervention work]. Our focus is on how to positively impact student learning to optimize growth. This idea isn't something new being added to our plates. It's expanding and deepening our understanding of the same work we've been focusing on since our Proficiency Based Symposiums."  

--from a classroom teacher

"We should be moving from this being a THING we DO, to being the way we DO THINGS."  

--from a building administrator