Whittier Wire

• May 10: School Dance 6:30-8:30
  
• May 14-16: Grade 8 State Science Test
• May 24: Wellness Day
• June 3: Grade 8 Step-Up Day
• June 12: Grade 8 Field Trip
• June 12: Grade 7 Community Day
• June 13: Grade 8 Promotion Ceremony 6:00pm
• June 14: Last Day

It's Teacher Appreciation Week, and I am very grateful for the teachers and staff at Whittier. The Celtics are using the theme, "It's different here," during their playoff push to the championship. I would argue that it's a better fit for this group of middle school educators.

The teachers and staff at Whittier are invested in their students and each other. They create opportunities for our students to engage, learn and grow. This staff also values their own growth and seek ways to get better at their jobs and regularly try new things. There is a positive culture that exists in our school because they have built it, valued it, and protected it. They work together, and that is a super underrated part of student success. I am proud to work with such a special group of people. #ThankATeacher

Eighth grade teachers selected Owen Leonard, Adalyn Martin, and Sydney Beauparlant as our newest Mid-Knights of the Month. Owen, Adalyn, and Sydney were selected for their standout performance inside and outside the classroom. Their hard work, citizenship, and leadership by example are making a difference at Whittier.

Whittier Middle School was well represented at the ACDA State Festival this weekend. The ACDA provides Maine choral students in grades 4–9 with an honors festival experience explicitly focused on adolescent voice change, inclusive of all genders. Big thanks to Mrs. Edwards for all of her efforts in making this opportunity possible for our students.

Whittier Middle School is participating in a research study, the Citizen Math Impact Study, funded by the U.S. Department of Education. WestEd and American Institutes for Research (AIR) are non-profit research organizations leading the study. WestEd and AIR are working with participating schools to learn more about math teachers’ instruction and how their instruction improves students’ math skills and thoughts about math. About 120 schools with students in grades 6, 7, and 8 across the U.S. will participate in this study. As part of this study, we will invite your child to participate in a short survey. Our district will also be asked to provide student administrative records, including test scores and other background information strictly for the purpose of this research study. The form that eas sent home, as well as the link below, describes the study activities to you and lets you know how to get more information. We only ask you to sign and return this form to your child’s math teacher if you do not give permission for your child to participate in the survey. Attached is a link for an electronic form with additional information about the student. Please sign only if you DO NOT want your student to participate in the survey.

Citizen Math Impact Study:

https://form.jotform.com/airformportal/cme-parent-information

Whittier competed in the Southern Maine Math Meet on Thursday at the Expo in Portland. Nineteen different schools were represented at the meet.

Students representing 8th grade were Gregory Bouchard-Diaz, Alyssa Mason, Leksi Langevin, Fiona Connolly, Hailey Caron, and Logan St. Cyr. Whittier's top 8th grade scorer was Logan St. Cyr, second place was Hailey Caron and third place was Alyssa Mason.

Students representing 7th grade were Juliette Szantyr, Zachary Bartlett, Isabella Comeau, Joshua Varney, Liam Whitney and Ian Rioux. Whittier's top 7th grade scorer was Zachary Bartlett, second place was Joshua Varney, and third place was tied with Juliette Szantyr and Ian Rioux.

This Math Meet was the final meet of the year. We appreciate those students who worked hard during practice and during the competition. The competition is tough but our mathletes persevered! We are done practicing for this school year but I look forward to working with students next fall.

From the RSU 16 Facebook site:

Congratulations to Whittier's Writing Teacher, Ms Adler! She shares, "May 4, 2024 - Star Wars Day; also, USM Graduation Day. Today, I graduated with my Master’s Degree in Teaching and Learning from the University of Southern Maine. I completed the degree requirements over the course of the last two years while maintaining a full-time position as the 7th/8th grade Writing teacher at Whittier. The stars on my cap were signed by my students and colleagues as they too were a part of this journey. I mentioned Star Wars Day because the orchestra played the Imperial March for our walk out! Thank you, all, students, staff, and administrators for your amazing support."

We are proud of you, Ms Adler!

The school dance is scheduled for this Friday, May 10th from 6:30-8:30. Tickets will go on sale Tuesday morning for $5 and will also be available at the door. If students bought tickets for the last time the dance was scheduled, those tickets are good for this dance. Please do not bring students early; the doors will open at 6:30. Also, please be sure to arrive at 8:30, so chaperones are able to go home on time. You are welcome to park in the lot and have your child meet you there. We will have a variety of food and drinks on sale at the dance. This dance is a fundraiser for the Tri-Town Optimist Club.

Outdoor Track at Brunswick 3:30 depart 2:00

Tuesday

7th BB at Saint Doms 4:00 Depart 2:30 (riding with high school JV Softball)

8th BB/SB Home vs St Dominic's 4:00

Boys Lacrosse @ Lake Region 4:00

Thursday

Whittier Track @ Sac Valley HS Depart 2:00

8th BB/SB @ Brunswick 4:00 Depart 2:20

7th BB/SB home vs Brunswick 4:00

Friday

Boys Lacrosse Home (GNG) vs Cape Elizabeth 3:30

Looking for a great way to get active this summer? Join the Whittier Middle School team at the Greater L-A Triple Crown 5K Series. The first event is June 2nd at Festival Plaza in Auburn. Students 14 and under receive FREE registration! All are welcome on Team Whittier.

Visit the Triple Crown 5K website for more information about the series.

Email: svincent@rsu16.org
Website: https://www.rsu16.org/bwms
Location: 1457 Maine Street, Poland, ME, USA
Phone: (207) 998-3462
Facebook: facebook.com/WhittierMidknights