Windham Middle School participates in engaging and exciting learning methods by Lorraine Glowczak

The students at Windham Middle School (WMS) will participate in Project Based Learning (PBL) from now until the end of the year. PBL is an energizing, inspiring and student-centered mode of educational discovery that includes subjects in the humanities, math, English language arts, science and data analysis. 
 

“The teachers understand they are required to meet certain standards and criteria,” began Principal of WMS, Drew Patin. “With Project Based Learning, they deliver these educational expectations in an engaging, compelling and exciting way. Often, the students have so much fun, they don’t realize they are learning something important in the process.”

Each grade level and classroom will work on a specific topic. The projects’ learning process will include interviews, field trips, speaking with a panel of experts in their field of study, as well as building and maintaining specific project designs as it relates to their topic. There will be guiding questions, kick-off events and final products for the required learning outcome. Part of that learning outcome will be shared with the community via print media, including The Windham Eagle newspaper.

The various topics of which the students will participate include the following:

·         Students working with veterans to understand the history of wars, the qualities of a hero, and the sacrifices and contributions made by those who served.

·         Students taking an active role of environmental scientist by constructing an argument supported by evidence that explains the negative effects of pollution in water.

·         In the topic “Be the Voice: Giving a Voice to those that are Voiceless in the Face of Adversity,” students will choose an adversity that the Earth faces due to human factors. They will research this topic to explain implications of this problem and make suggestions for change.

·         Students will learn about the opioid epidemic in Maine by researching its impact on the state and devise solutions to improve Maine’s future.

·         For the “Dam It” projects, students will provide an evidence-based position/opinion on the removal or continued use of a dam on the Presumpscot River.

Last year's class helping with the PWD

·         A team of students will facilitate a project in which they will work collaboratively to become informed and opinionated citizens about controversial renewable energy sources.

·         Another project will engage a team of students in a project where they will develop answers to the following question: “What makes a sustainable community?” 

·         A group of music students will discover ways to make music more accessible to all students in the RSU14 district.

Other projects will look at heart disease, vaping, cultural awareness, hydroponics and how to make a change in democracy.

Each teacher determined the subject matter, based upon their students’ interests. “We wanted to choose a topic that was relevant to our area (community) and many of our students live near or frequent Sebago Lake and other local bodies of water,” explained sixth grade teacher, Cory Didonato, whose group project is entitled, “How Dirty is Our Water?”.

Patin stated that in his experience with PBL, the conversations among students changes from ‘What show did you see last night?’ to ‘What subject and expedition will you be participating in?’.

“Project Based Learning gets kids excited about education,” explained Patin. 

Didonato agreed. “Project Based Learning is inquiry-based which makes the learning more relevant for students. It allows them to tackle real world issues which makes for deeper learning and - hopefully - enjoyment. We enjoy it because we get to see students excited and motivated to make a difference in the world around them.”

Not only do the students get excited about the learning process, but PBL is beneficial to the teachers. “I have found that the teachers are recharged with this style of teaching,” Patin said.

It won’t be long when the students and teachers of WMS will share their excitement for learning with the community. Be on the look out in future editions of The Windham Eagle, as the students share their learning outcomes with our readers.

“This is an opportunity to improve the students’ work,” stated Patin. “They are aware that not only will their teachers see their completed assignments, but others will see what they have done, too.”

Raymond grows with the digital age but maintains its small town atmosphere by Lorraine Glowczak

The Town of Raymond has begun providing a variety of options for residents to obtain information about town activities and events through various multimedia choices. To reach as many people as possible, the town has expanded information sharing on such platforms as YouTube, Facebook, an updated website and electronic newsletters as well as new digital, web-based signs.
 

“Our goal is to inform folks regarding the services the town delivers and provide a better understanding of the many opportunities available to them,” stated Town Manager, Don Willard. “More importantly, we want to highlight why our town is a great place to live.”

A quick glance at the updated town website demonstrates at least five reasons why Raymond is a good place to call home. There are five videos (with more on the way) featuring important information that showcases the services and employees of this quaint small-town municipality.

In the inaugural videos you will learn a bit about Willard’s background and his interest in local government or hear Raymond Fire Inspector, Captain David Mains speak about the importance of smoke detectors. You will also hear Sue Look, the Town Clerk, talk about the new digital web-based signs located at the town hall and public safety building.

“It used to be [on the old sign] that I would spell out one letter at a time regarding each committee meeting,” Look explains in the video. “Now, I can put all the information on the new sign from my computer or cell phone.”

The new signs are one of the ways Raymond residents can access information. In the video, Look further explains why this new technology is important. She stated that it came in handy during the wind storm this past October. She could easily go online to put up emergency messages on the digital sign such as where to get potable water, warm water and shelter. With this technology, she didn’t have to travel on roads with downed power lines to post the messages – she was able to post the information from the safety of her own home.

Bill Blood at work

The three to five-minute videos are filmed by the town’s professional videographer, Bill Blood. “The reason why videos work so well as a source of information is that this medium is one of the ways a lot of people like to get their news these days,” Blood stated.

Blood is an experienced videographer who worked for a public access station in Portland for over 16 years. He also does freelance work, including making documentaries that take him to places like Hawaii. “Bill has the experience and professionalism that will contribute to the production of high quality, informative videos,” Willard said.

Blood, who has lived in Raymond for 20 years, admits that because of his interviews with the various Every time I create a new video I learn something new about the town and the state I live in,” explained Blood. “This is one of the reasons that I have worked in this line of business for nonprofits for over 20 years now. Not only am I giving back to my community, but I am continuing to learn more about the community, its government, its culture and its people. This gives me greater satisfaction than any amount of money can buy. ”The videos, digital signs and website not only provide important messages to Raymond residents but for visitors and tourists as well. “We want to share with our out-of-town visitors the many benefits of living in Raymond and the abundant recreational opportunities here,” Willard explained.

officials and staff, he is constantly learning new things about the area. “

The new technologies and updated website have not put a strain on the town’s budget. “We know how to do a lot with a little,” explained Willard. “Raymond spends within our means and always has an eye toward providing a better level of services without increasing taxes.”

Even though new and updated technologies are being used to share information with residents, Raymond is still a personable small town. “All of our staff strive to have a positive dialogue with our citizens as they do business in the town office,” Willard said. “We provide a friendly and approachable atmosphere. We still operate in the small-town way.”

To view the videos, visit the Town of Raymond website at www.raymondmaine.org

St. Ann’s Essentials Pantry provides for those in need by Michelle Libby

Deacon Wendy and Dick Rozene in front of the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. Wendy wants to get the word out about the St. Ann's Essentials Pantry to help more families and the elderly in need.

For almost three years, St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Windham, has been serving families by providing personal and household items that EBT cards and the food pantries in the area don’t cover.

Under the direction of Deacon Wendy Rozene, the pantry has served over 100 families, with approximately 30 attending monthly.

The idea for the Essentials Pantry came when someone dropped off rolls of paper towels into the collections basket at a church service after having read an article in The Windham Eagle about items that the food pantry didn’t provide. Rozene noticed the donation and thought about the same article which she’d read. She got permission to start an initiative through a grant she applied for from the Dioceses of Maine for $3,000, which gave the pantry its start. Rozene bought shelves and loaded them for the first day. 

Since then, the pantry continues to offer a place for people to get the items they can’t get anywhere else, like paper towels, dish and laundry soap as well as toothbrushes and paste. 

The pantry is free to those who meet the location requirement.

“The pantry is open to all people from Windham, Raymond, Casco, Standish and the lakes region. The first time they come they need proof of residency such as a CMP bill with their name and address on it,” said Rozene. 

Rozene has a list of personal hygiene and cleaning products that are acceptable to donate and ones that are not welcome, like liquid laundry detergents and liquid deodorants. “Toilet paper is essential,” Rozene said. Shampoos, bars of soap and stick deodorant are other items distributed. 

 

Donations come from parishioners, public donations, cash donations, and the St. Ann’s budget, which kicks in $250 per month to help round out the products that will be given away. Rozene has been talking to other churches about contributing to this mission. She said she tried to get other churches to buy in from the first day, and she’d like to team up with them. 

Our Lady of Perpetual Help and other churches have taken collections for the pantry and donated items and cash. Some joint services between churches at Thanksgiving and other times have donated all of the monetary offerings to the pantry. One ecumenical service raised $350 in cash, which was enough for three months of products, said Rozene. 

Girl Scout troops have made bars of soap, dentists have donated toothbrushes and toothpaste, but it is an ongoing effort and donations are always welcome.

St. Ann’s is hosting a golf scramble on Sunday, May 20 at Spring Meadows Golf Course in Gray. Proceeds from that will go toward the Essentials Pantry as well as other outreach programs in the community. The church is looking for teams of four to play or for prize donations. 

St. Ann’s Essentials Pantry runs the last Saturday of the month from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the church on the corner of Windham Center Road and River Road. Items can be dropped off at the church or call Deacon Wendy Rozene at 207-232-0841. For more information on the golf tournament or St. Ann’s programs, call Cynthia at 892-8847 or visit www.stannsepiscopalchurch.com.