During winter break, the maintenance team was highly productive, completing several important projects. They made ADA improvements to the bathrooms at Minot and replaced the hallway tiles. The flooring at the lower entrance of Elm Street was also updated. At Poland Community, a new gym divider curtain was installed. Additionally, new stair treads and landing tiles were installed on the main center stairway at the high school, and a long-standing leak in a pipe gasket was repaired, which required draining all the water pipes at the high school.

We’re grateful for the hard work and dedication of our facilities staff in making these improvements while students and staff enjoyed their break! Their efforts ensure our schools are safer, more accessible, and better equipped for learning.

Thank you, Alumni, for coming back and sharing your experiences! Your valuable advice and insights were truly appreciated. It was wonderful to welcome you "home"!

Our PreK through 6th grade teachers attended a professional development session Wednesday afternoon led by Jane Armstrong from the Maine DOE discussing actionable strategies for working with and supporting multilingual learners (MLs). Participants worked in groups to role-play the various stages of learning for MLs.

ESS 2nd graders in Ms. Harvey's class participated in a WinterKids activity where they collected items found in nature and made them into suncatchers. Well done 2nd graders-they look amazing!

Today, Whittier Middle School hosted its annual spelling bee, bringing together an impressive group of talented competitors. We are thrilled to announce that our school champion, Mac, and runner-up, Josh, will go on to represent Whittier at the county spelling bee. Congratulations to all participants for their hard work and courage! A special thank you goes to our pronouncer, Ms. Fanus, and our chief judge, Mr. Galipeau-Eldridge, for helping make this exciting event a success. Well done, everyone!

Mrs. Dwyer, MCS/ESS GaTE teacher, is teaching chess to MCS second grade students! How fun!

The Maine Teacher of the Year journey begins with your nomination! Nominate a teacher today. Nominations are open through January 31.

Whittier Middle School is looking for volunteers to be judges at our annual Whittier National History Day. This year the contest will be held on February 11th from 8-12. You don't need any prior history knowledge. We will train you and you will be working with at least one other judge to interview students about their projects. This is an exciting celebration of student work and we'd love for you to be a part of it! Please contact Sean Galipeau if interested at sgalipeau@rsu16.org.

The Football team took charge of the concessions Tuesday night, and what a great job they did!

The Knights Pride Boosters are always on the lookout for more volunteers. It’s a great way to get involved, meet others, and support our students!

Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/DhNBSBq

Access the full school calendar on our website to stay informed and organized. We appreciate your partnership in creating a successful and well-prepared school year for your child.

We value your voice in the process and encourage you to share your input at the School Board meeting on Monday. Stay informed by visiting our website, which serves as the hub for all budget-related updates. Together, we can build a budget that reflects our community's priorities and supports our students' success!

https://www.rsu16.org/.../budg.../2025-2026-budget-documents

RSU 16 School Board has approved an agreement with BIMS (Building Infrastructure Management Solutions) to complete critical repairs to stabilize the boiler system at Minot Consolidated School. These upgrades will enhance efficiency, safety, and reliability, ensuring continued warmth and comfort for students and staff.

The scope of the work includes:

• Boiler Stabilization: Mechanical Services will disassemble, clean, inspect, and install new fireside rope and water port seals on the school’s boiler. While no active leaks have been detected, mineral buildup near the lower waterside port connectors requires attention.

• Low Water Cut-Off Piping Correction: The existing installation of the low water cut-off devices is improper, with a steam trap preventing necessary blow-downs to flush sediment. Mechanical Services will remove the steam trap, reposition the control, and restore proper functionality.

• Condensate Tank Connection: A previously installed condensate tank lacked a power source, causing water discharge issues. A permanent electrical feed has been installed, allowing the pump to function correctly.

• Steam Pipe Insulation: Repairs and new fiberglass insulation with an all-service jacket and PVC fitting covers will reduce heat loss and improve energy efficiency.

• Safety Circuit Updates: The safety circuit for the boiler room will be updated to comply with Maine Fuel Board regulations, replacing two entrance door switches with a single, code-compliant switch.

The total cost of these essential improvements is $43,003. Mechanical Services has agreed to defer payment until July 1, at which time funding will be included in the proposed Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the 2026 fiscal year budget.

The boiler repairs are only a small portion of the overall HVAC assessment. This fall, when the application process for the School Revolving Renovation Fund (SRRF) opens, we will also address improvements to the heat distribution system and the inadequate ventilation at Minot.