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Friday, October 11, 2013

Homecoming at WHS draws crowds and spirit - By Michelle Libby


Homecoming week is exciting for high-schoolers and this year was no different. Each day last week, students dressed according to themes and causes. On Monday students arrived in pajamas for pj day, Tuesday the teens showed the pride in their favorite professional teams or as a superhero by wearing a shirt or costume, Wednesday was wacky and Thursday was wear pink in support of assistant principal Deb McAfee who is battling breast cancer. Friday was class day, where students wear shirts declaring their class. First years wore gray, sophomores wore maroon, juniors wore blue and seniors, who traditionally wear white, wore Arctic camouflage.
 
Friday also was an early day for more than 100 students and teachers as they gathered in the gym at 4:30 a.m. to do a school spirit challenge with Channel 13. Another pep rally was held in the afternoon to psych the teams up for the football game.

All week the Windham athletic teams played homecoming games with great attendance from the community. 

Saturday the band, athletic teams, members of each class and players from Windham Youth Soccer Association gathered to march in a homecoming parade. Each class had a float decorated with a theme. There the administration declared the senior class the winner of the school spirit award with their seventies disco themed float and ultimate school spirit. Fourth place went to the junior class with their hip hop float, third went to the freshmen for “the roaring 2017s” float and second was awarded to the sophomores with their Beatle’s inspirited creation. There was a fair held after the parade and finally the week was capped off with a homecoming dance at the high school Saturday night. 

























The Kindness Guy visits Windham Middle School - By Michelle Libby


Being kind is a skill that speaker and author Michael J. Chase has perfected. With a background of abuse and a willingness to spread kindness and love to everyone, Chase is a captivating speaker who held the attention of 11-, 12- and 13-year-olds for an hour and a half last Friday. The presentation discussed ways to show kindness, stories about bullies and explained to the pre-teens what it does to a person inside when they give and receive kindness. Chase was introduced by the Friends of Rachel club. Rachel was one of the first people shot in the Columbine, Colorado shooting. After her father came to speak to the school two years ago, clubs were created at the middle and high schools. 
 
Chase’s speaker fee was paid for through an anonymous donor in the community. 

“The ultimate in kindness is to donate something anonymously without getting anything in return,” Chase told the audience. 

He broke the ice by bringing a student on stage and giving him a hug. “Your principal is an awesome hugger, too,” he told the students. 

Chase had two grandfathers, one who was loving and wonderful, and the other who was abusive and unhappy. The second grandfather was mean to Chase in emotional ways that caused scars on him as a young boy, but instead of going down that dark path, Chase chose happiness. 

“He was a very scary man,” Chase told the students. “Growing up around this energy wasn’t pleasant. He did acts of unkindness.” 
 
Chase started to be interested in the science of happiness, he told the audience. He read books and listened to the world. “It’s like a great recipe. If you leave one ingredient out, it’s just not the same,” he said. He was missing one of his happiness ingredients…gratitude, which he learned from a turtle which was in the middle of a road. 

“Kindness creates happiness. A simple act of kindness takes you out of your head and puts it right into your heart,” Chase said. “It’s a real thing. It’s called the helpers high.”






Chase has done 12 hours of random kindness with students at Boston University. He has also done 24 hours of kindness, where he gives hugs, buys people coffee and with his kindness crew makes people happy. 

He also spoke about letting in the energy of the power of receiving. “When someone offers you everything, take it in.” 
 
He read quotes to the students that gave meaning to what he was saying. The same boy who was hugged at the beginning returned to the stage and was given a brick to hold for five seconds with one hand, arm out straight.
The brick represented anger, hurt and resentment. Chase explained that when a person holds onto those feelings it weighs him or her down. The brick analogy demonstrated how hard holding on to bad feelings can be. 

“Simple everyday acts of kindness have a ripple effect,” he said. Negativity works in the same ripple effect. There’s no telling how many people are affected for good or bad by one simple action. 

The Kindness Center, based in Biddeford, can be found online at www.michaeljchase.com and on Facebook at The Kindness Center. Chase’s books are titled “I am being kind” and “Loving Everyone.”

Octoberfest: Free family festival - By Michelle Libby


Octoberfest, the brain child of Sheri Huff, is the culmination of two months of fundraising to donate to food pantries in the 10 towns covered by the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce through the Community Coin Challenge. 
 
Last year the communities raised enough money to feed 1,200 families for 60 days, according to Huff, who runs Lee’s Family Trailer, Sales and Service. “We donated a lot of items not covered like Pampers and health and beauty aids, cat and dog food, not strictly food,” she said. 

So far the 10 communities participating, Casco, Gray, Limerick, Limington, Naples, New Gloucester, Raymond, Sebago, Standish and Windham, have raised approximately $13,000, which was about the same as this time last year. 

This year there will be a dance the night before the Octoberfest celebration at Windham Weaponry. Music is provided by Chad Porter and guests and there will be a food and cash bar by Naples Golf and Country Club. Tickets are still available at $25 each at the door or call and leave a message for Laurie at 892-7996 or email lnoel@crossagency.com. 

Saturday is the fun, family day in the parking lot of Buck’s Naked BBQ between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Being the second year of the festival, Huff said that they have worked out some of the logistics from last year.
Helicopter rides will have a required $25 donation for the first 100 people in line. In addition to that ride, there will also be other favorite activities returning like the horse drawn carriage rides, a bouncy house, face painting, hair painting, pumpkin decorating a beer garden, live music and performances by Dancemakers. There will also be apple bobbing, cupcake eating contest, hotdogs, sausages, Pepsi, water, cotton candy…all free. 

“People should come because it’s free. A free festival to give back to them for giving to the coin challenge,” said Huff. “We are hoping a lot of donations will come in that day.” All of the proceeds raised will be donated.
Twenty businesses are donating time and talent to the event, many running the different activities.
The Sebago Lake Rotary Club will host its chili-chowder cook off. Octoberfest is sponsored by Windham Weaponry. 
Huff and her large committee are expecting a large turn out because the weather forecast is positive and word of mouth advertising gets people excited.





Saturday, October 5, 2013

Standards-based grades: Coming soon to a school near you - By Michelle Libby



 Letter grades like A’s and B’s are soon to be a thing of the past for public schools in Maine. On May 19, 2012, the Maine Legislature passed into law LD1422, An Act to Prepare Maine People for the Future Economy, a bill sponsored by Senator Brian Langley. This law requires schools in Maine that receive State funding to change from a letter grade system, where scores are averaged to receive a mark to standards-based grading, where students must demonstrate that they meet certain requirements before they can move ahead or get credit for that particular class. 
 
For Windham, this impacts the current eighth grade class more than any other. The class of 2018 will be the first one to graduate with the new proficiency-based diploma. What will that look like? Administrators and teachers aren’t sure yet. 

“We set the standards for what we are going to hold students to to meet those standards,” said Windham High School principal Chris Howell. Through the proficiency-based diploma Windham High School (WHS) is certifying what a child knows and doesn’t know. 

Each year when a child graduates from a high school no one can tell exactly what the child has learned over their educational career. 

“Standards ensure consistent learning expectations,” according to Leadership in Action, a briefing series for New England educational leaders. “In many high schools, each teacher decides how grades will be awarded. The result? Some courses are very demanding, while others have few requirements. Grades may be based entirely on the quality of a student’s work, while others consider attendance, class participation, and homework completion. Without consistent learning expectations, schools cannot make sure that all students acquire the essential skills they need.”

No longer will students be promoted by grade. They will have to pass the standards before they can receive credit for the course, according to Howell. There will be many opportunities to meet the standards. It’s not going to keep students from graduating if they missed the standard the first time, there will be other chances, said Howell. To make sure this happens, Howell and the teachers at WHS are revamping the curriculum to provide those opportunities. 

“Learning standards establish a minimum level of proficiency, based on common high expectations, that all students must meet before moving on,” said Leadership in Action. 

“I hope when we graduate students they will be better prepared and we’ll have greater transparency,” Howell said. “We’re not going to do any harm to any kids.” 

Schools that do not receive State funding are not required to comply with the law. Schools like Windham Christian Academy and Cheverus are not bound by the law to used standards-based grading. Cheverus is planning to still use a traditional grading system, according to assistant principal Bill Burke. 

At WHS
“We are working pretty hard,” said director of curriculum, instruction and assessment at RSU 14 Christine Hesler. Using guiding principles and trying to figure out how to report these to colleges are two things the administration is working on. The RSU is working with Great Schools Partnerships, a non-profit organization, to help schools implement standards-based learning. 

At WHS, for the first few years of this new grading system, there may be two transcripts for graduating seniors. One will be traditional with letter grades and a grade point average (GPA), while the other will be the proficiency-based transcript letting colleges know which standards a student had to meet to earn the diploma. 

The proficiency-based report card is not mandatory, according to www.gettingtoproficiency.org a State website for schools to use as a resource to explain proficiency-based and standards-based learning and grading.

“Letter grades have nothing to do with the changes that are outlined. If I can sum it up in one idea, this is about students demonstrating proficiency in all standards to earn a diploma. Grades are feedback and are a product of the process,” said Howell.

“The last thing we want to do is hinder a student from getting into a school,” said Howell. “It’s a complex system.” 

For students in the special education program, it could mean that they might not receive a diploma at graduation, instead they would get a certificate of attendance if they do not meet the standards set in their individualized education plan. 

Having a system where students can demonstrate proficiency in certain area, provides different educational opportunities. “What do (parents) want the senior year to look like for their kids? They could earn up to 30 credits from a community college or the University of Maine for free or a very reduced rate,” said Howell.
Leadership in Action tells educators that “The focus is on learning, not time. In most high schools, students are expected to attend class for a certain amount of time every day and graduate in four years. The time students spend in school is consistent, but what they learn is often extremely inconsistent. In a proficiency-based system, learning expectations remain constant while time is variable. One student may graduate in three years, while another graduates in five—but every student graduates prepared for future success.” 

“Obviously this is a work in progress,” Hesler said.

The Standards
There will be standards for every class offered at the high school level, with usually eight concepts to master. Think of checks in a box that a student must receive to earn credit for that skill. There will also be guiding principles, for example a student needs to be a clear and effective communicator and a responsible and involved citizen. These must also be met before graduation. 

Tracking the standards for teachers will be tricky. Reporting and tracking 1,100 students is a lot of work. Hesler is looking into software to track the standards for each child. It may be a dashboard of sorts that is accessible to teachers, it may be something else. They are looking at a few different programs. “I’ve got feelers out there to figure out what’s best for Windham High School,” she said. 

 “This has to be perfect. We’re talking about students and their college careers and technical careers,” said Howell.

Getting into college
“Colleges in Maine have signed off on not to disadvantage a student from Maine,” Howell said.  In 2013, the New England Secondary Schools Consortium approached colleges and universities throughout New England and asked them to endorse proficiency-based approaches to teaching, learning, and graduation, while also stating that no student will be disadvantaged because they were educated in a proficiency-based learning system.” The schools that signed this endorsement can be found at newenglandssc.org/endorsement. 

The University of Maine in Orono is one of the schools whose name is on that site. Sharon Oliver, senior director of admissions, has seen different transcripts over the years. She’s seen schools that rank students and some that don’t. “We are counting on the information that the schools send us,” she said. “Different schools have interpreted the law in different ways,” she said. According to Oliver, schools like Windham send a sheet explaining the transcript to each college. 

“When a student applies to a school we send a report on what that means. We tell about Windham High School and information about how they grade,” Hesler said. 

Oliver said UMaine will rely heavily on that description sheet. 

“We want to see where the rubber meets the road,” Oliver said. “What are the standards and did they meet or exceed them.” 

“We do a holistic read,” she said. Standardized tests like the SATs also provide information for admissions officers. “Summary data like GPA, class rank all help to make a snap decision,” Oliver said. 

Admissions wants to see what a student was involved in, are they academically qualified for the major they are interested in and can they be successful. 

“We are counting on high schools to work with us as a team,” Oliver said. 

Colleges are invited to take classes on how to evaluate the proficiency-based transcripts according to David Svenson, from the marketing department at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish. “The transcripts are considered equal for consideration. We are looking at the whole package,” Svenson said. 

Southern Maine Community College said that the new transcripts will not affect them. “We want to see that they have graduated from high school. The only thing we look for is that a student has a minimum requirement for English competency. They find this out through the Accuplacer, SAT, ACT or TOPEL standardized tests, according to an admissions officer there. 

At Boston University, one admissions counselor, who asked not to be named, had never seen a proficiency-based transcript. “Not having a GPA, one of the main criteria to match themselves up to others and to not have one of the main criteria would certainly seem like a downfall,” he said. “It’s not going to be easy to evaluate.” In a school that receives 52,000 applications with certain programs needing a minimum GPA to apply “it’s a disadvantage, almost a nuisance,” he said.  

The administration at WHS is working with the Department of Education in Augusta to make the transition easier for students and parents. 

“The last thing we want to do is make things confusing for parents,” said Howell. The hard part for most administrators is the perceived lack of support at the State level to support this program financially. The law was supposed to go into effect last year, but was held back because of lack of funding. 

Hall-Dale High School graduated its first class with standards-based grading last June, according to Howell. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2014. 

Oliver from UMaine summed up the requirements, “it’s all about communication.”

At the RSU 14 administration has said, this is a work in progress and will continue to evolve over the next few months and beyond.



Sue Bonior closes a chapter - By Rob McClure



 Every so often, we come across people who we cross paths with that make us feel better about our fellow human beings. Sue Bonior is one of those rare people. Sue has been the administrative assistant for the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce for nearly nine years. A journalist by trade, today is bittersweet for her because at the end of the day, she will begin a new chapter in life or in her words, “the start of a very personal journey.”



Bonior agreed to talk at 9 a.m. on her last day. Instead of a somewhat hurried and distracted dialogue, I was met with an infectious smile and a rare exuberance that only comes from someone who genuinely loves their job. 

“This is my dream job and I love sharing information,” said Bonior as she juggled phone calls, visitors, friends and hugs during the interview, recalling how she first landed the job after a 20-year career as a public information director in social services. Bonior loves information and there is no shortage of that at the Chamber of Commerce. The tiny office located at the corner of Roosevelt and Tandberg Trail is packed with maps, pamphlets, posters, business cards and flyers. The information is literally all over the walls. There is even free Wi-Fi advertised on the door. It is easy to see why someone who loves sharing information while helping people would find such a position so appealing. 

When asked what Bonior’s biggest accomplishment at the chamber was, she said, “Working with the Maine’s Lakes & Mountains Tourism Council, specifically being able to showcase the lakes region at the annual conference in Foxboro.” This gave her an opportunity to speak to others about something very dear to her heart and at the same time increase the tourism numbers two years in a row. Bonior was also instrumental in expanding the Chamber by adding the towns Limerick and Limington to the current town membership. The Chamber of Commerce which also represents the towns of Casco, Gray, Naples, New Gloucester, Raymond, Sebago, Standish and Windham, making it one of the most active chambers in the State of Maine. Over 300 businesses are included in the local membership, according to Bonior.

Bonior believes the lakes region must continue growing businesses, but at the same time strike a balance to maintain the pristine beauty that draws so many of our visitors every year. Not only does Sebago Lake draw in thousands of visitors annually, it is also the water source for 15 percent of Maine's total population. She drew attention to important preservation and conservation organizations such as Loon Echo Land Trust and the Lakes Environmental Association that work hard to balance the need for business while maintaining lands and waterways. “It is essential the activist having a seat at the table,” according to Bonior, explaining the vision of balancing business and nature.

When asked Bonior what she felt was the biggest draw to the area, she gave a very thoughtful response. “People come here because it feels like home, it’s a comfortable place where families can camp, connect and have memories.” Bonior also pointed out the location is ideally situated as an accessible getaway in relation to Portland and other areas.
For now, her time is going to be spent with her mother whom she describes as“fearless”. 

Bonior credits both her mother and late father for inspiring her to always help others and serve a rare obligation in today’s often hurried and competitive world. One can’t help but sense a genuine loss to the region by Bonior’s departure, but there will be plenty of Mainers who will be leaving the “lights on” for her, hoping she returns for another chapter.


Friday, September 27, 2013

Pastor Reed says goodbye - By Elizabeth Richards

The North Windham Union Church is saying goodbye to the Reverend Dana Reed as he heads to Africa for one final assignment as a Navy Reservist. Though he doesn’t have concrete plans for what he will do when he comes back, he will not be returning to his role as pastor of the church, or to the ministry. 

“I came to the realization a few months ago that I really want to try something different,” he said. With the help of Heart at Work Associates in Portland, he explored his interests and past experience to help him discover what new direction he may want to move in. “I went full tilt into that kind of exploration,” he said.


For Reed has been an ordained minister for nearly 30 years, and served as pastor of the North Windham Union Church for 13 years. He has also served as a chaplain in the Navy Reserves for more than 20 years. He filed for an extension as Navy retirement approached in order to take this final set of orders to Africa. 


The position he will hold is that of Command Chaplain, the senior ranking chaplain on the base in the country of Djibouti. “This is a really great opportunity to go to a place I’ve never been to before, and to spend a good amount of time there,” said Reed. Additionally, the position will mean travel to seven other African nations that are supported by the command. He will leave October 14th for processing in Norfolk, VA. From there he will head to South Carolina for training, before spending seven months in Africa. He will retire from the Navy in May of 2014, when this assignment is finished. This position will give him an opportunity to interact with religious authorities and leaders of widely divergent groups, he said. “The African scene is a vibrant religious place right now,” he said.   


For Reed some of the highlights of his time at the North Windham Union Church are a result of being able to respond to social circumstances. Some of these had a national scope, such as responding to the events of 9/11 and the economic downturn of 2008. Others were more local, such as being able to assist families in dire circumstances. “In terms of accomplishments, it’s been more of how we’ve been able to respond to human need,” he said. 


One of his most meaningful experiences came during the disaster of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Reed was called upon by the State denomination to head up a disaster relief committee, as a result of people calling and wanting to help. The conference minister asked him to organize the efforts, and he created a structure to deal with the extensive needs. In close to two years of efforts, the committee had raised over $200,000 through their sister denominational churches, and had sent six medical teams and eight construction teams to the gulf coast, Reed said. 


At the same time, his reserve work took him to DC for a position with the Coast Guard. Through persistence and learning to navigate the fiscal system in DC, Reed helped secure additional funding to place six additional chaplains on active duty after Katrina. 


Doing something valuable both on the civilian side and the Navy side to help human suffering was one of his proudest accomplishments, he said.
Though he doesn’t yet have a job in place for when he returns from Africa, Reed said he will seek employment with a non-profit humanitarian based organization, or an equivalent federal position. On the federal side, he said, he feels there are a number of positions he’d be well suited for, but he would love to find a position with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).


“I’ve just found that I really enjoy starting with nothing, and setting something up quickly,” he said. Much of his training for the Navy prepared him for that kind of work. “You get there with minimal resources and then become that staging place for other things,” said Reed.   


Though a federal job is of interest, Reed said his family plans to stay in the Windham community for two years after his return, to allow his youngest child, who is now a sophomore, to finish at Windham High School. His older son left for college this fall. 


He compares leaving the church he’s served for 13 years to the experience of sending a child off to college. “I don’t think it’s hit me yet, because we’ve been contending with so many changes in our family,” he said, but he suspects it will be very difficult when it does. “You make deep associations with people,” he said. “It’s cradle to grave, and all the associated emotions with that. You get into the nitty gritty of people’s lives, and they trust you with that. You hear things, and you hold them in confidence, and then you leave.”  


Reed said he deeply appreciates being part of the community since 1986, and being able to foster deep and lasting relationships with people in the community. “I’m very impressed with the other churches, their clergy, the efforts that they expend daily, literally, in keeping this community as strong as it is,” he added.