Whittier Wire

• October 11: Staff Workshop Day - No school for students
  
• October 14: Indigenous Peoples' Day/Columbus Day
• October 18: Progress Report 1 goes home
• Week of October 21: Student Led Conferences
• November 10: Tri-Town Family 5K at 10:00am

Click here for the RSU 16 District Calendar

We are about to turn the page of our calendars from September to October. For some, that may mean early hibernation and less activity outside. At Whittier Middle School this month, we are going to be pushing our students and families to join us in the Mile-a-Day Challenge.

Whether you prefer running, walking or biking, we invite you to join us in completing at least one mile every day in October. We encourage you to get your mile in one go rather than accumulating part of the mile throughout the day. Rainy days may require you to be creative, but we are Mainers, we can figure it out.

Have fun with it. Schedule it in your day and take a photo to capture your miles with your kids. Want to post it on social media? Use #WhittierMADChallenge or share photos with Principal Shawn Vincent for the students' morning announcements.

By the end of the month, students will be ready for our 2nd Annual Pumpkin Run on Halloween and the Tri-Town Family 5K on November 10th. Register for the 5K now.

Please consider joining the challenge. Many people travel from all over the country to see the beautiful Maine foliage this time of year. It is the perfect time to get outside, be active, and soak it all in. We will be sharing this information with students on Monday.

Roundtable groups are intended to be the hub of Whittier Middle School. Students have the same Roundtable teacher and group of students through their two years at Whittier. Over the course of students' middle school careers, parents meet with the Roundtable advisor for four student-led conferences. Advisors get to know students very well over that time and observe tremendous growth and change in each student.

Part of our central school goal this year is to invest more time and planning into building the communities within our Roundtables. "Across all grade levels, students who feel more connected to school have higher attendance rates, higher academic outcomes, and higher graduation and post-secondary success rates." Additionally, "Positive school connectedness has been consistently linked to various positive health outcomes, including lower levels of substance use, better mental health, and reduced violence." (reference link)

Roundtable has been at the middle of Whittier Middle School and Poland Regional High School since the doors opened in 1999. It has certainly evolved over that time, but it has always been a key to the relationships we have with our students.

On Friday, we shifted the schedule a bit and added extra Roundtable time at the end of the day to involve students in activities we learned from our friends at Kieve-Wavus: The Leadership School. I had the opportunity to facilitate Mrs. Patenaude's 8th grade Roundtable activities, and it was a real treat to see the connections the students had and the high level of participation. Our focus was on communication, and the students really seemed to embrace the learning that went along with the fun.

We look forward to more opportunities to develop the relationships in our school as the year continues. Middle school can be tricky and challenging and students can be tough on each other sometimes. We are invested in making Whittier a place where everybody feels welcome, cared for, and connected.

After introducing new vocabulary, students practice hearing, seeing and using new words in a variety of contexts. This week, students learned a song called "La Vaca Lola," matched pictures with Spanish sentences in a small group game (photos) and drew pictures of unusual animals that Profa described in Spanish and ones that they imagined themselves (photos)

Mrs. Patenaude’s Grade 7 Science: Puffin Burrow Engineering and Design Project

The Starry Night

The Starry Night is a night no one saw coming. The light turns on in the town, and the sun comes down to rest. You can see the tall fiery snake slithery mountain. People from all around come to gain new Knowledge about the Starry Night. So let's start at the beginning. Vincent Van Gogh, an inspiring painter, went to a little town called Whoville just past the mountains and down the rivers. What he saw later would change not only his life but many others. Vincent has been traveling for days trying to find the perfect picture to paint. “Finally,” Vincent said in a relieved voice, he had done it, he had found the most beautiful place, where the sun is down on the east end, where the stars come out to play, and where he can finally let go of his fears. Vincent drew his last painting on that day and then ended himself to satisfaction. Vincent will always be remembered for the beautiful inspirations he drew, and for The Starry Night. Drew Daden found Vincent, and his painting, and he could not believe his eyes. Drew went on to carry Vincent's story, and to finish what he started, to inspire many. Drew went on for beautiful years, but sadly he died on his deathbed, holding The Starry Night, and looking back to how that inspired him, to keep going. Going for more generations, so that he could also inspire many, and he died knowing he did that. Knowing he inspired many, just like how Vincent inspired him.

Creative writing by Braydan Benton

Light Breeze

The light blue sky filled the air with a light breeze

No clouds just a light breeze

A smooth light breeze

A just right breeze

The sunset turned

Darkness fell

Now Stars Filled the sky

The Night became cold

Not too cold

But just enough for a light breeze to fill the sky

The sun rose as the next day came

Morning came

Kids woke up

To the light breeze on the window

The just-right light breeze on the window.

Poem by Wyatt Smith

The chorus students have been introduced to the opportunity of auditioning for the District II Choral Festival. Band students will learn more about the instrumental festival next week. We wanted to help provide a bit of clarification and information for families who may be seeing District II forms coming home, and we also wanted to remind folks that this is an optional opportunity -- while we strongly encourage it, it certainly is not required! Please email Mrs. Edwards at jedwards@rsu16.org if you have questions about Chorus, and Mr. Williams at lwilliams@rsu16.org if you have any questions about band.

WMS District II Auditions & Festival Information for Families

Students interested in this year’s Whittier Writers Club, there will be an information meeting on this Friday, October 4, during lunch and academic support.

Mrs. Wight and Ms. Fanus invite you to bring samples of your writing or original sketches (if you’re interested in graphic novels). At this first meeting, writers will discuss their writing interests and goals for the year.

The club will meet weekly in the Conference Room during the double lunch block. Students in band or chorus who cannot attend, let either Ms. Fanus or Mrs. Wight know and they will reach out if there are any alternate meeting times this year and/or writing contests.

Current 8th graders are eligible to travel to Ireland in June 2026 with PRHS. This will be a 10 day STEM based tour investigating agriculture in Dublin, Galway and Kilkenny. There will be an informational parent meeting in the PRHS Library on Wed Oct 9th at 6pm. RSVP to the meeting using THIS LINK to get more information.

Monday
8th/7th Boys Soccer Hm v Lake Region 3:30/4:45
8th/7th Girls Soccer @ Lake Region 3:30/4:45, 2:25 bus

Field Hockey Hm v Gray-New Gloucester 3:30

Tuesday
7th Boys Soccer @ Buckfield 3:30

7th Girls Soccer @ Buckfield 4:45

Wednesday
No games scheduled

Thursday

8th/7th Boys Soccer @ Gray-New Gloucester 3:30/4:45

Friday
Cross-Country Middle School Invitational @ Smiling Hill Farm, Scarborough

Start times TBD

Check https://prhsathletics.rschoolteams.com/ for scheduling updates. The field hockey team is undefeated and on fire. Check out this week's reports from Coach Jen Lacombe.

Tuesday: The middle school field hockey team improved their record to 4-0. The Mid Knights beat Waynflete 3-0. Lauren Heath, Dani Tarantino, and Ambrie Cotnoir each scored a goal. Brynn did not have a shot on net. The Mid-Knights will play again tomorrow (Wednesday Sept 25th) at 4 on the high school field hockey field. They will play Cape Elizabeth.

Wednesday: WE WON!!!!! 3-0! Dani Tarantino, Ambrie Cotnoir, and Lauren Heath all scored 1 each. Brynn had no shot on net! Next game is Monday, against GNG @ home at 3.30.

Whittier Middle School's Tri-Town Family 5K will take place on Sunday, November 10th, 2024 and it is open to everyone. Join us for a fun family morning on the Minot trails and fields.

Registration is open...and it's free! Let's get the word out there and make this the biggest and best event so far.

We are seeking local sponsors to help make the big day a special one. Tell your friends. All sponsors of at least $100 by October 11 will get their logo on the back of the event shirt. Interested potential sponsors should contact Shawn Vincent (svincent@rsu16.org or 998-3462). Sponsors are coming in! Thanks to Moderne Rug Cleaning, Goss Berry Farm, Family Time Dine & Play, and Fluff Me. This is a great event for students, families and all members of our communities.

Visit the website to register or get more information.

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