The News From MGWS

Lunchtime is a great opportunity to catch up with friends from other classes.  This particular 4th grade group is full of smiles:-)

3 staff members will be saying goodbye to MGWS this year:

~Mrs. Lawrance has been running our computer lab for a few years now.  She assists students with our PLATO program, typing skills, and activities that integrate with the 4th and 5th grade curriculum.  She will be heading to the Middle School to run the PLATO lab next year.  We’ll miss you, Mrs. Lawrance!

~Mrs. Silver has been a secretary here at MGWS since the 4th and 5th grade came to this building in 1999.  She takes care of attendance, record-keeping, correspondence, and so much more.  She is moving on to work in the field of geriatrics.  We’ll miss you, Mrs. Silver!

~Ms. Turner has worked as an art teacher in MSAD #35 for 28 years, and she has also been here at MGWS since 1999.  She has many signature projects – Aboriginal paintings, weavings, masks, and clowns – that have graced our halls for years.  Ms. Turner is retiring from teaching and plans to travel and spend time with family.  We’ll miss you, Ms. Turner!

State board members of Maine Educators of the Gifted and Talented (MEGAT) are
delighted to announce they have selected Sophie Towle as the 2009 Maine Distinguished Student.
Sophie, the daughter of Fred and Trish Towle, is a fifth grade student at Marshwood Great Works
School in South Berwick, Maine. Two years ago, when she was a third grader, Sophie began to
worry about the damage humans were doing to our earth. But instead of just worrying, Sophie
decided there were things she could do at least about her school’s impact on the environment. She
began with her school’s milk cartons. First, she tried chipping them and adding them to her own
family’s compost pile. Unfortunately, they failed to break down and shredded milk cartons blew
around their yard. Undaunted, young Sophie emailed the company that manufactures most of the
milk cartons used in the United States. With their help, Sophie was able to find a compost facility
in her area that would take the cartons. For Sophie, though, that was only the beginning! From
there she was able to add the food wastes to the compost stream. Next she presented information
that demonstrated use of reusable silverware rather than plastic was not only more
environmentally conscious but would save the food service money. Finally she convinced her
school to purchase compost able sugar cane bowls to replace the Styrofoam ones used in the salad
bar. She even brought worms into three classrooms so the students could set up worm compost
bins for the snack food waste in their classrooms.
Grace Jacobs, the coordinator of Gifted and Talented services in MSAD #35, describes
says Sophie is “not only an exceptional student, but she is also a spirited and passionate change
agent.” Her principal, Mr. Jerry Burnell, says: “Sophie is a youngster that not only gets passionate
over an issue but looks to find solutions. It is her drive to make a difference that has impressed
me so much.”

Three fifth grade students attended the The Stock Market Game Program Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, 2009, at The Portland Club.

The Stock Market Game teams work together to create and manage a virtual online investment portfolio of real stocks.  Each team researches and evaluates companies in which to invest.  The research is easily accessed through the site with investor research and news updates weekly.  The students from Mrs. Girouard’s class met with Mrs. Jacobs on Friday mornings during a math lesson in which they had compacted out of.  The teams shared hints, research and reactions, yet managed separate portfolios. Some of the objectives for this opportunity included–to better understand the stock market,  to accurately estimate the cost of purchasing a share of stock, reaching consensus regarding stock investment decisions , benefits and risks of investing in stocks, calculating gains and losses and a basic understanding of the economy.  We kept it simple and are surprised at our success.  It was a rocky season to be working in the stock market!  

Ayuba Gufwan, a polio survivor & lawyer, from Jos, Nigeria was visiting the South Berwick home of Ann Hussey, chair of polio survivors and associates rotary action group. Ann just returned from Nigeria working to bring polio vaccines to the children of Nigeria and Ayuba came back with her to share his story in the states.  Seven out of ten children in Nigeria are not immunized against polio.  The work rotary does to eradicate polio is very important.

Ann and Ayuba were the guests of the World Ambassadors Club on April 17th.  Ayuba operates a bicycle wheelchair shop for survivors of polio in Nigeria.  Each wheelchair costs US$150. to produce- all raised with donations- and this changes the opportunities for the recipient in countless ways. Without a wheelchair, polio survivors must drag themselves along the ground -as their limbs do not function and rehabilitation is not available to them.  Each recipient of a wheelchair must attend school or work to learn a trade in exchange for a wheelchair.  This prevents a life of dependency and helplessness.  Ayuba does, indeed, walk on his hands though he did have a wheelchair here to use.  It was an extraordinary experience to hear his story of perseverance, ingenuity and courage.

The 2009 Maine Geographic Bee was held Friday, April 3rd at USM.  One hundred Maine students in grades 4-8 earned their entrance to this competition. 

Hayden Fitt of Marshwood Great Works School was a proud participant. The preliminary round was held in 5 locations with 20 students per room.  Hayden did very well in the preliminaries. 

The top 10 students from the preliminary rounds entered the finals on stage in the Hannaford Lecture Hall.  It was quite a match.   Their knowledge of geography was certainly tested and the champion was Conor Millard of Old Town.  He will represent Maine in the National Geographic Bee May 19-21st in Washington DC.  Be sure an tune in on the NGC or PBS to watch the National Geo Bee! 

We all congratulate Hayden Fitt, as our school champion and look forward to our next school geo bee in January 2010.  Start studying!  

by Grace Jacobs

Our great art teacher (Ms.Turner ) at Great Works School is retiring, and we asked the following questions to get more information about her retirement.

Q:  Why are you retiring?

A:  I have been teaching for 33 years and it’s about time to do other things.

Q:  How long have you been teaching in this school district?

A:  I have been teaching for 28 years at this school district and before that I taught 5 years in Portsmouth.

Q:  What are you going to do when you retire?

A:  I’m going to ski more and visit my kids and grand-kids. But I’m still going to continue making art

Q:  Do you have an all time favorite project?

A:  My all time favorite was the 5th grade masks.

Q:  What will you miss the most?

A:  I will miss the the students and staff the most.

Q:  Do you have a funny story that happened during your teaching years?

A:  I would be sitting down in my art class when a teacher would walk by the door and ask the students “where is your teacher?” even though I was sitting right there. They wouldask that because I am a little short.

We hope you have learned a little bit more about Ms. Turner’s retirement.

by:MS & GLM

Congratulations to Hayden E. Fitt, a fifth grade student here at MGWS!
She has qualified to represent MGWS and participate in the state level of the National Geographic Bee.  The state bee will be held Friday, April 3, 2009 at the University of Southern Maine.  One winner from each state bee will advance to the national competition, which will be held May 19 & 20th at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington DC.  The National bee will air on the National Geographic Channel on May 20th.

Friday was Mr. Spring’s last day as a long-term sub for Mrs. Starkey. He was a wonderful additional to our staff and he will be missed. The staff gathered for a breakfast in order to say goodbye. Of course, we’re hoping he will be back often to substitute…

Diane Pitman is a special education teacher here at MGWS. Her classroom is a welcoming and busy place, with students and teachers moving in and out all day long. Last year, a district parent, Robin Walker,  nominated Diane for the 2009 Maine Teacher of the Year Award. As a nominee, Diane had some work to do:

-She created a presentation that was displayed at the State capital in the spring of 2008.

-She created a portfolio and presentation that was held at the University of Maine at Orono in the summer of 2008 for the Teacher of the Year Committee and graduate students.

This fall, Diane attended a “Teacher of the Year” banquet at Colby College where she received a Regional Finalist Award.  Korbin Walker, whose mother nominated Diane, stepped right up to the podium and shared his thoughts with the crowd.  Mr. Burnell was also in attendance, as were Diane’s mother, Virginia Garland, and Diane’s husband, Roy Pitman.

We are proud to have Diane as a member of the MGWS team!