01.10.25 - Community Newsletter
In addition to academic success, Brunswick School Department's vision of student development includes engagement and collaboration with the community. In fact, volunteering is so important to personal growth and development that students at Brunswick High School are required to complete 30 hours of volunteer work to graduate!
Kindness is contagious, and student volunteers have reported that making a difference in the lives of others taught them gratitude, gave them a sense of purpose, and strengthened their confidence. Volunteers also report a greater appreciation for what they have. From a practical sense, volunteer work looks good on a college or work application.
Volunteering is especially important for our student-athletes, who give their time and talents to teach their sport to the next generation of players. There is great pride for those who wear the Dragons uniform, along with a sense of responsibility to give back by working with the next generation of student-athletes.
Some examples:
BHS hockey players spend Monday afternoons at Bowdoin College, working with a group of young Unified Hockey players. While the Unified program -- offered for youth with developmental disabilities -- operates independently from Brunswick schools, some of our players have volunteered for several years.
You can find boys’ basketball players teaching kids in the Rec Program, and members of the Brunswick field hockey team love to give back to our youth programs through skills clinics at our other Brunswick schools. The high schoolers have attended junior high games and also invite the younger players to the annual senior night game.
Our baseball and softball teams spend time working with youth baseball programs, teaching skills, and even helping at Evaluation Day. Athletic Director Kaili Phillips tells me that both teams are working hard to cultivate a stronger relationship with the youth programs in town. A baseball clinic for youth was a big hit with the kids.
There are many other examples of Brunswick students giving back.
Our Student Council is always busy organizing blood drives, raising funds to help defray a staff member’s medical bills, coordinating a food drive, and even hosting a thrift store. And that’s on top of their other activities, from homecoming to school spirit events.
Our tutoring program is organized, run, and staffed by students, which is great for students who would benefit from extra homework help.
I could fill multiple articles with examples of students helping others, both in our school and the community. In our annual exit survey of graduating seniors, students speak very positively about the volunteering experience. That’s very good news.
The magic of volunteering is simply that doing good is its own reward. If students can take that feeling with them and continue to help others throughout their lives, they will make the community better for all.
Midcoast Youth Center is pleased to offer a Strengthening Families Program for parents and youth ages 10-14. This is a free program that will be offered Tuesday nights from 5:45 to 8:15 at Fisher Mitchell School in Bath beginning January 21st.
"The Strengthening Families Program is for Parents and Youth 10-14. This program has made a difference in thousands of families in all 50 states and in over 25 countries. Parents want to protect their children, but it’s challenging. Youth need skills to help them resist the peer pressure that leads to risky behaviors. Research shows that protective parenting improves family relationships and decreases the level of family conflict, contributing to lower levels of substance use." Program information can be found at Iowa State University website.
To register for the program please visit MYC website. Registration is open now.
Join the Brunswick Junior High School actors for an evening of frosty fun! Bring your children to the Coffin gymnasium and meet all of your favorite Frozen characters: Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven! There will be kid-friendly activities including story time with Olaf, crafts with Princess Anna, sing-alongs with Queen Elsa as well as face painting and baked goods!
Kids are welcome to dress as their favorite character. This event will be held on Wednesday, January 22nd at 5PM and is open to the public. There is a suggested donation of $10 all proceeds will benefit the BJH Musical Theater program.
*Whether or not you are able to attend, we hope you’ll come see Frozen Jr. at the Coffin gymnasium January 30th, 31st and February 1st, 7th, and 8th at 7PM!
Sustainable Brunswick kicks off their inaugural lecture of 2025 this upcoming Wednesday, January 15th at 6pm in the Morrel Meeting Room at Curtis Memorial Library!
This lecture on The Future of Maine Winters is slightly different from our normal presentation format and instead kicks off with a 30-min viewing of NH short film “Remember Winter,” followed by panel Q&A with representatives Peter Dugas of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Steve Walker of Brunswick Topsham Land Trust, Josh Bossin of Maine Gear Share, and Nathan Alsobrook Bowdoin’s Nordic Ski Program; together, they will discuss what we can expect for the future of New England winters, how to adapt these expectations, and suggested actions we can take to mitigate the worst impacts of these changes on our winters. From warming temperatures to ‘snow droughts’, climate change is drastically changing our winters with far-reaching consequences for both the environment and economy; winter hobbyists, lifelong learners, and anyone in between (resident or not) are welcome and encouraged to attend. See the attached promotional poster for more details; to view the movie trailer, click here. This is a free, in-person event; zoom will not be available and only the discussion will be recorded. Feel free to share with anyone who might be interested and please don’t hesitate to reach out to myself (acharleson@brunswick.com | 207-721-4025), or Adult Services Librarian, Hazel Onsrud (honsrud@curtislibrary.com | 207-725-5242) should you have any questions.
Karen Grant
Technical Support Specialist
Karen grew up in Houston, Texas and attended HSPVA High School for Performing and Visual Arts and the SVA (School of Visual Arts) in NYC!
What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud
I'm proud to work with such a friendly and knowledgable team. They have made me feel truly welcomed.
What do you like to do outside of work for fun?
Fishing, Designing & Drawing Characters for my Comic Book Ideas.
What is your favorite line from a movie?
"Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear."
If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?
Nina Simone
What is something you learned in the last week?
Maine's official pattern is plaid.
Open Employment Positions:
- Spring Sports Coaching Positions are open! BJHS & BHS
- Long Term Sub Speech Therapist - Brunswick Junior High School
- Social Studies Substitute Brunswick High School
- Special Education Ed Tech - Brunswick High School
- School Psychologist - District
- Mechanic
- School Bus Drivers
- Apprentice/Ed Tech I & Bus Aide
- Substitute Teachers, Bus Drivers, Van Drivers, & Custodians
- ...And MORE!
We're hiring for multiple positions. Visit our website to view
all current employment opportunities!
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