OTHS Staff after school on Tuesday learning about and discussing diversity, equity inclusion & belonging with the help of Rebecca Buchanan from the University of Maine. This was the first of three in-person sessions. In addition, there will be eight online (three this fall and five in the spring) learning opportunities for OT staff in our partnership with U-Maine. Shout out to Rebecca for joining us and guiding us through this really important first session. Thank you, Rebecca! We appreciate you!
Coyote Nation - time to refocus after the long weekend.
White day schedule tomorrow.
See you soon!
Woody Allen once said, "90% of success is just showing up."
We've been in school for a little over a month, so it's a good time to remind families that a day or two here and there can really add up over the course of the school year. Attendance is really important to school success!
Be in school and be on time.
Go Coyotes.
Mrs. Turner is getting so much hands on training for our students upcoming trip to London, Normandy, and Paris. She is touring Berlin with EF Tours and learing how everything will work for our students. April 2024.
Amazing.
Go Coyotes.
Today at our Teacher In-Service day, we took advantage of some resident experts to learn more about - NWEA's, Chapter 104, Vocabulary in the Classroom, Gamification, Camera composition & alternative education, just to name a few of the sessions. Teachers also had time in the afternoon for departments and other groups/teacher teams to meet. #LifelongLearning Go Coyotes.
On Monday of this week, Geometry classes in Mrs. Blanchard's room were practicing using the Distance and Midpoint Formulas by completing two Math Libs. (Think Mad Libs, but the stories are sillier.) They were prepping for a quiz later in the week. Students will be able to check their stories online when they are done to check their accuracy. Each card has a problem and multiple choice answers, with the answer choices building a silly story featuring an OTHS staff member!
Go Coyotes.
We hosted our first math meet this year and in a little bit of a twist, the excitement happened at the Old Town Elementary School. There were teams from Bangor High School, Brewer High School, John Bapst, Orono, MCI, Nokomis & of course our Coyotes. A BIG SHOUT OUT & Thank You to Dr. Tuell, David Mahan & OTES staff members for making sure the event was first class. Also, thank you to the OTES K-Kids for the snacks & the adorable messages. You are Awesome. Thanks to OTHS math teachers - team coach Cynthia Blanchard & OTHS math teachers Kristen Thompson, Christina Doore and Eric Smith as well as Brenda Gardner & Amy Ketch. If I forgot someone, I apologize. An event like this does not happen without the help of an entire village. This is proof that our village is INCREDIBLE. #Believe Go Coyotes.
Today in Mrs. Stevens' biology class, we find students hunting for pillbugs to use in choice chambers. What are "choice chambers" you ask, well, let me tell you. Choice chambers are containers that the bugs will live in for a couple weeks. Students designed their own experiments to give pillbugs a choice of 2 environments, or 2 substrates, to see which side is preferable. What are the two environments, I asked Mrs. Stevens. Students picked any 2: pine needles, soil, leaf litter, grass, red, green paper, bark, punky wood, sand, maple leaves, or anything else they could come up with! I am told searching for and catching were the highlights! Science can be fun. Go Coyotes.
The Coyote Battalion hosted their 4th Annual Mogadishu Mile this morning. There were 38 participants from the Coyote Battalion, Bangor JROTC, UMaine ROTC, the OTHS student body, and faculty. Today marked the 30th anniversary of Operation Gothic Serpent, immortalized in the book "Blackhawk Down". It was an opportunity for those involved to challenge themselves physically, but also reflect on the sacrifice made by the 21 US service members who gave their lives that day; including Medal of Honor recipients Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart. Hanna Francis Class of 2024 was the first to cross the line this morning. Alexis Blue of Bangor JROTC was the first female finisher. Go Coyotes.
Congratulations to OTHS senior April McMillan, who has completed her JMG Maine Career Exploration Badge! April completed 40 hours of work experience in career fields that she was interested in, including Sound Engineering and Healthcare.
"Through JMG and the Maine Career Exploration Badge, I was able to have some really awesome and fun experiences! From interviewing professionals to using expensive equipment for surgery or sound design, I was able to do it all. Thank you to JMG for giving me a way to explore myself and my potential.”
Congratulations, April!
Go Coyotes.
Yesterday in Mr. Gilbert’s Honors Environmental Science class, students got to learn about riverine ecosystems up close and personal with a canoe trip on Pushaw Stream at Hirundo Wildlife Refuge. Big thanks to Dr. Doty for helping with student transportation!
Awesome!
Go Coyotes.
Today is Happy National School Custodian Appreciation Day.
Shout out to Doug Shorey, Sam Curtis, Aaron Fowler & Keith Jennings! This is the all-star cast of unsung heroes. They open the building each day, they clean up all of the messes each day, they get the building ready for the next day and lock the doors as they leave. We see you guys and we appreciate all that you do. Thank you!
10/02/2023
Dear RSU #34 Families & Staff,
Some of our families have received or will be receiving P-EBT cards (known as SNAP) from the State of Maine. We were not aware this was going to happen and received some questions today; we are passing along information that we have found. The short version is that the state of Maine has changed how it gathers information about what percentage of students in communities would qualify for free and reduced-price lunch. These changes have resulted in widespread distribution of the cards in many communities.
Here is a link to the state's website explaining eligibility for the program, and why you may have received these cards.
https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/programs-services/food-supplement#:~:text=To%20be%20eligible%20for%20this%20program%20individuals%20must%20meet%20the,19%20for%205%20consecutive%20days
There is a "Frequently Asked Questions" section on that website that includes information about other benefits, how to use the cards, and what to do with the cards if you do not wish to use them. There is also an email address for Maine DHHS on that website if you have further questions.
If we learn of more important details we will send them out to families.
Sincerely,
Jon Doty,
Assistant Superintendent
JROTC cadets presenting the colors at last night's football game.
From left to right, Brianna Engstrom, Kylee Murray (commanding), Zach Wilson & Austin Beal
Go Coyotes.
Mark Koscuiszka is a 3rd year Social Studies teacher & he is our OTHS October "Staff of the Month." These nominations are made by our Student Council, and here is what one student had to say. "Mr. K always goes out of his way to help people, even if they aren’t in one of his many classes. He is able to juggle lots of different classes, including two psychology groups, while making sure that each class gets the attention it deserves and needs." Mr. K does an amazing job of building relationships with his students. Congratulations, Mr. K Go Coyotes.
Congratulations to OTHS senior Wyatt Vickers, who has completed his JMG Maine Career Exploration Badge! Wyatt completed 40 hours of work experience in career fields that he was interested in, including Public Safety, Healthcare and Military occupations.
"While working on the MCEB, I learned a lot about the different careers in these fields, and what a day in the life looks like. Getting this experience really helped me figure out what path I may want to take after high school, and what careers I definitely do not want to go into. To me, there was a lot of value in seeing the strength in camaraderie that exists within careers in public safety and the military. Overall this was a great experience!"
Congratulations Wyatt!
Go Coyotes.
Good Morning, Coyote Nation. We are starting today with a Throwback Thursday Quiz. Name these current OTHS staff studs & stunners. They are NOT OTHS grads, but they still bleed green and white today. Can you name all of them?! Ready.......? Go!
JROTC Red Cross Blood Drive today at OTHS. Something to ponder.... How many Superintendents take time out of their ridiculously busy day to save a life?! Shout out to RSU 34 Superintendent Matthew Cyr for giving up some plasma and platelets. His blood type is "He B Positive."
Thanks to Fox22 and WABI for stopping by for a visit. Great Job OT! We saved some lives today. Proud of you. Go Coyotes.
JROTC blood drive today!
8am to 1pm.
MacKenzie Gymnasium
Make your Wednesday
super-meaningful. Give blood.
Save a life.
Go Coyotes.
Congratulations & Best of Luck to some of our band students!
Joey Porter auditioned on Alto Saxophone and was accepted as a member of the University of Maine Symphonic Band. This is a group for very advanced instrumentalists. They meet two times per week and they will perform three concerts at the Collins Center at the University of Maine. They will also go on a five day tour of Maine during the month of March. Congratulations Joey! We also have four students who are trying out for Jazz All-State on October 13th at the University of Maine at Augusta. Best of Luck to: Ayla Lawrence - trumpet Morgan Davis - trumpet Tyler Priest - trombone Joey Porter - alto saxophone Go Coyotes!
