Principal’s Memo – March 19, 2021
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Hi Everyone,
I hope you all had a wonderful week. Spring is coming! If your child is looking for summer employment please contact our community employment liaison Steph Moutsatsos at smoutsatsos@rsu23.org. Quarter 3 also ends Friday, April 2nd, please check with your child to make sure all work is completed. Spring sports are getting underway soon! Here are this week’s communications:
NO SCHOOL TODAY FOR STUDENTS. THIS IS A TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY.
APRIL BREAK MEAL KITS!
RSU 23 Food & Nutrition Services is excited to be able to provide free meal kits over April break! You may reserve 1 meal kit per chi
ld 18 and under living in your household. Each meal kit will contain 1 loaf of bread, 1 package of deli turkey, 1 head of lettuce, 3 tomatoes, 7 apples, 7 oranges, 1 gallon of milk, and 1 box of cereal. Meal kits will be delivered to your house on the morning of Friday, April 16. Please complete the Meal Kit Request Form by Wednesday, April 7 if you’re interested in having meal kits delivered. Please contact Caroline Trinder at ctrinder@rsu23.org with any questions.
PENNY WAR FUNDRAISER
The junior class is hosting a Penny War Fundraiser next week 3/22-3/26. Bring your loose change or cash to school next week and place it in a grade’s jar during lunches in the cafe. Pennies earn points and silver coins and bills lose points. All proceeds go to support the junior class. The winner will be announced on Island Day next Friday. May the best class score the most cash!
STUDENT SUPPLY CLOSET BOTTLE DRIVE
Money raised will purchase food, emergency needs and gift cards for OOBHS families. See the flyer to participate or Contact Ms. Moutsatsos (smoutsatsos@rsu23.org) or Mrs. Dupee (edupee@rsu23.org) to get a pre-tagged CLYNK bag.
2021 NATIONAL TECHNICAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTEES!
Congratulations to the following OOBHS and Biddeford Regional Center of Technology students who were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society last night!
Andrew Charron, Garrett Dupee, Katherine Holt, Melissa Pelletier, Benjamin Perry, Ciara Roche. Great job. We are proud of you!
BIDDEFORD REGIONAL CENTER OF TECHNOLOGY
BRCOT is currently accepting applications for all of their programs for the 2021-2022 school year. Please visit their website https://sites.google.com/biddefordschools.me/cot/cot-home for more information and to apply. Mrs. Hayes and Ms. Nason are available for support around accessing these programs.
Celebrating Maine’s Community of Young Artists
Portland, Maine, March 2021 – Creative works from Maine art students will be on virtual display during the month of March on the Portland Museum of Art (PMA) website. This multi-media exhibition, sponsored by Maine Art Education Association (MAEA), highlights Youth Art Month, a national celebration sponsored by the Council for Art Education. The annual celebration, which typically takes place in March, emphasizes the value of art education for all children and encourages support for quality art programs in Maine schools and celebrates student creativity from pre-kindergarten-12th grade.
This year, Leah Green, a senior at Old Orchard Beach High School, was chosen to display her artwork entitled “The Peacefulness of Nature” an acrylic painting. Congratulations, Leah! Please visit https://www.portlandmuseum.org/yam-2021 to view the Youth Art Month exhibition.
Special thanks to our two runners up for submitting their creative and thoughtful pieces in the selection process!
 |  |
| “Arches” By Katie Holt | “Attachment” By Kaite O’Neill |
INFORMATION NIGHT FOR SENIORS
There will be a virtual scholarship information session for all seniors and their families on the different local scholarships that are available through OOBHS and how to apply for them on Wednesday April 7th at 5:30 pm. Look for an invitation in your emails in the upcoming weeks.
FAME FINANCIAL AID NIGHT
On Tuesday April 13th at 5:30 pm Jessica Wittier from the Financial Authority of Maine will be offering a virtual informational session about everything financial aid. Your school counselors will share more information in the upcoming weeks including a link to participate in this event.
ALLIED ARTS WINTER SHOWCASE (The Virtual Edition!)
A lot has changed in the way we interact this year, including our annual winter open house and concert. But that has not stopped the students in our Allied Arts programs from creating, playing, cooking, and collaborating! We are pleased to present the “2021 Allied Arts Winter Showcase” highlighting the wonderful work of our OOBHS students during the first semester. Enjoy!
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Students must complete 20 hours of community service as a graduation requirement. Parents of seniors please check with your child to find out if they still have hours to complete. Please contact the guidance office for community service opportunities. We have plenty for the kids to do!
ON TRACK FOR COLLEGE!
Starting this past Wednesday, students and their families have an amazing opportunity to think about what comes after high school and to make sure they have applied for the grants and scholarships that will make it easier to afford school.
On Track for College, is a free, first-of-its-kind opportunity in Maine for our graduating seniors and juniors and their families to learn about college from current college students. It also provides an unprecedented opportunity to interact live with admissions and financial aid experts from seven different Maine universities as well as FAME.
It will be way more than just another zoom meeting.
Live, Interactive Events: Over the course of twelve weeks, On Track for College will deliver a weekly series of interactive information sessions with college students and experts. Never more than 15-minutes, each of the many live event sessions will cover a range of topics and provide a quick look at many of Maine’s exciting and affordable higher education options. Experts from the Finance Authority of Maine will also be participating to provide help with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Your Answers Now: Dozens of admissions and financial aid counselors will be standing by at each of the twelve events. These experts will be ready to participate in live 1-on-1 discussions in breakout rooms providing students and their families with the individual insights they need to make decisions.
COVID has upended the college search process this year but it will not put college out of reach for students and families ready to focus on what comes next. Please encourage your students to register now at visit.maine.edu.
Students just starting out can kick start their college exploration and get help navigating the financial aid application process. We will also be ready to assist students who are ready to apply or have been admitted, making sure they get the help they need to finalize decisions and make plans for a successful transition to college.
SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM!
As a reminder, breakfast and lunch are available daily at school and free to all students throughout the entire school year. We ask that you still complete a Free and Reduced Application. These applications help us to receive funding and programming that helps all students district-wide. In addition, if you qualify, you can get Spectrum internet for only $14.95/month! Applications are available at the front office and on our website at: http://rsu23.schoollunchapp.com. School breakfast and lunch menus are also posted on the RSU 23 Website on the Food & Nutrition Page. Please feel free to contact Caroline Trinder, Food & Nutrition Services Director, with any questions at ctrinder@rsu23.org or 934-4461 ext. 1239. We are looking forward to serving healthy and tasty meals all year!
Free Breakfasts and Lunches are also provided every Wednesday behind Loranger Memorial School between 10:15-10:45am, no need to RSVP, just show up!
FAMILY VACATION FORMS
During the school year some families take vacations and ask that we excuse their children from school days. This is not a problem, however, we do have forms for the student, parents, teachers and administration to sign off on in order to help students understand the expectations of making up missed work. The forms can be found in the main office. Thanks for your help!
STUDENT PARKING & EARLY RELEASE & LATE ARRIVAL
Students who would like to drive their car to school must register their car in the main office and acquire a parking permit. Cars without a parking permit or cars parked in the improper lot may be removed at the owner’s expense. There is no student parking in the front lot.
IMPORTANT & UPCOMING DATES
- Wednesday, March 31 – 8th Grade Family Night-OOBHS Showcase
- Wednesday, April 7 – Scholarship Information Night for Seniors
- Tuesday, April 13 – FAME Financial Aid Information Night
Thank you!
– John