SCHOOL NEWS
A LETTER FROM PRINCIPAL FRANCOEUR
It feels like a while since I wrote a quarterly newsletter-- time is really flying by. I want to acknowledge the incredible work our teachers and staff have done to get us to this point. We had another great quarter of hard work here in our NFI North Schools, and the highlights you will read in this newsletter reflect that. Hard to believe spring break is almost here and that we only have a few months left in the 2022-2023 school year.
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character- that is the goal of true education."
In Education,
A P R I L 2 0 2 3
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Mike Francoeur, Principal
BRIDGE CROSSING ACADEMY
Bridgton, Maine
Burton Withey was hired as our new full-time Special Ed teacher. He was born in Maine but lived in many states in the Western USA. He has been back in Maine for 5 years.
Not only is he friendly and open to new things, Burton is highly qualified! He received his BA in Special Education specializing in Mild and Moderate Disabilities. He has worked with kids since 2009. He's worked for DHS, and has worked as both a Middle and Elementary School Special Ed teacher. Before that he was a machinist, making jet engines with CNC lathes and mills.
Fun Facts about Burton: Burton is a devoted family man. He has 7 kids and 3 grandkids. He enjoys the outdoors including the Rocky Mountains and the US National Parks, and also loves all that Maine has to offer.
Alanna O'Dowd was hired as an Ed Tech at the beginning of March. She comes to us from Hopedale, Massachusetts (Near Worcester). She has always wanted to live in Maine and is excited to join us here at Bridge Crossing Academy.
She has a BA in Human Services and has worked in schools since she was 15. Everyone agrees, she's a great addition to the team!
Fun Facts about Alanna: She likes hiking, has two cats, and her favorite animal is a koala.
Welcome Burton!
Welcome Alanna!
BRIDGE CROSSING ACADEMY
Bridgton, Maine
The Bridge Crossing Academy School is excited for Spring and all of the play and educational opportunities that the sunny and warmer weather provides in our school and community. We continue to work hard on our core academics while incorporating music, the arts, and making learning fun! We are so happy to welcome additional staff to our team which also allows us to welcome new students to our school.
Dates to Remember:
April 17-21 Spring Vacation
May 1-26 NWEA Testing Administration
May 15-26 Maine Science Assessment
Administration
May 19 Professional Development Day
June 21 End of School Year Celebration
School Store Opens at Bridge Crossing Academy
We are pleased to announce the opening of the Bridge Crossing Academy School Store. Students will be able to order money by gilling their sticker charts for work completion, expected classroom behavior, and random acts of kindness. Students earning Student of the Week will also receive additional funds! The students will be able to shop on Fridays and earn toys and prizes that they have helped to pick out. The students will be responsible for working on their money skills, paying for their items, making change, and keeping track of their balances Happy Shopping!
BEACON HOUSE
Buxton, Maine
Spring has sprung and as we head into the home stretch for 2022-2023, we are experiencing turnover that is a bit higher than usual. The team has risen to support each student individually as well as to build a solid community from a group of individuals who are new to us, to each other, and to residential care in general. Fortunately, we are learning very quickly how to support each other and exist as a community. Along with challenges, this fresh-faced community gives us the opportunity to experience normative in action!
The K-12 "testing season" is upon us and we are well prepared to use those results to prepare individualized and direct instruction. In addition to the Spring NWEAs and MEAs, we also have the statewide Science testing for our 8th and 11th graders. Additionally, we took two more students to the ASVAB, a valuable assessment tool in transition planning and implementation.
We just closed grades for quarter three, and grades will be out soon. Most of our staff-team participated in a training, "Google Bootcamp," so that we can continue to utilize increasingly advanced tools in the classroom and better assess and instruct them in more meaningful ways.
Student Spotlight:
KP is a senior at Beacon House School. He is kind and friendly, always treating his classmates and teachers with respect, even when giving feedback or norm reminders. He often shares his interest with others, including coin collecting, rocks, and his houseplants which adorn the windows in his room. KP comes to class prepared and ready to learn every day. School has never been easy for him, but he is intrinsically motivated, and when he sets goals for himself, he does what it takes to meet them. He is willing to step up in the community too From running groups or leading the way with yard work. He is currently exploring career options and will be volunteering to help with the BEHS chapter of the Special Olympics in May. He graduates in June, and as a sure sign of his place in our hearts, we are excited to be there when he walks with the BEHS class of 2023.
KP is ready to take the world by storm
BEACON HOUSE
Buxton, Maine
We are always looking for opportunities for our students to move to less restrictive settings related to their education. To that end, this semester, on top of our core offerings, we have one student continuing her studies at BEHS with Financial Awareness, a requirement for graduation. She will now be better prepared and is far more self-aware as she inevitably transitions to her step-down placement.
In English class this semester, students are focusing on world literature. They continue to work in Tall Tales, Folklore, and Legends as well as the American Frontier.
Students in US History worked through the Great Depression and WWII and are learning now about the transition of the US into a global superpower. In addition to the traditional textbook, students and teachers are finding a wealth of supplemental materials such as Crash Course videos, interactive maps, slideshow, and TedEd.
In Earth Science we finished up our study of geologic time and moved into the atmosphere. In additional to traditional lessons and discussions centered on the textbook, we found materials online.
Math, as always, includes our most individualized content and instruction. Integrated Math is focused on helping students understand how to integrate basic math concepts and skills into real-world application.
We continue to offer independent study options for those who are credit deficient and trying to get caught up. Our newest students have expressed interest in this and we will find an appropriate curriculum when we have gone over their records to find the best option.
Datesto
Remember:
April 12th- Monthly Med Review
May 17th- Monthly Med Review
May 19th- Professional Development
day Students will have a nice long holiday weekend
SIDNEY RIVERBEND SCHOOL
Sidney, Maine
Sidney Students Celebrate April Poetry Month
This April our students have begun celebrating US National Poetry Month! The even kicked off with students researching poems and then chalking poems on our front drive to welcome visitors.
Happenings:
We continue to study the fish from our project that began last summer. Almost all of the students who want a fish tank in their room, have one and there are plans to get the rest of the tanks up and running. Three of the students went to the pet store with staff and picked out an albino pleco to add to the tank in the science classroom At the store, they were treated to being able to hold a 4-month-old Banana Ball Python
Staff Spotlight:
Our school would like to spotlight our newest addition to the team, Ed Tech III, Courtney Mills Courtney started with us on April 6th. She comes to us with a wealth of experience, having worked at two different Sweetser Programs. She is already BHP certified and is working on her orientation to the agency. We look forward to working with her as she observes the school and learns to incorporate her talents into our curriculum and make the job her own
SIDNEY RIVERBEND SCHOOL
Sidney, Maine
2022-2023 Semester:
After wrapping up units on Facing our Fears and Blindness Vs. Sight in English, students are starting a creative writing unit in which they will take what they have learned to write a short story
Students in Chemistry have finished learned about the Mole, and they have begun their study on balancing equations and learning about the Law of the Conservation of Matter. Environmental Science students have been researching communities and the different elements that make up communities.
Dystopian Book Club finished their reading of “Ender's Game”, and they created movie reviews that compared the book to the movie. Students chose “Fahrenheit 451” as the next book, and we prepared to start the novel by learning the elements of dystopian fiction and researching important themes of the novel
In math classes, the teacher is utilizing the Math4Me assessments and interviews to determine student's way of thinking in solving calculations. Once this is determined, it will offer the teacher insights in lesson design that will reach all students at their ability level.
We have moved into learning about the Great Depression and World War II for Modern World History. Students have lessons designed to supplement the text book that include videos and handouts.
Civics and Economics class has focused on how civil rights have been interpreted with the US Constitution and court cases The second half of school year will be more economics based and students will create and operate their own business.
Current Events class students are utilizing google classroom and media links to keep up-to-date and report on and discuss different events in the daily news.
The Mythology class is learning about the mythologies of different cultures and the students have created a museum with different wings dedicated to different cultures Currently they are learning about Norse mythology.
Dates to Remember:
April7th-ThirdQuarterEnds
ReportCardswillbemailedpriorto
Aprilvacation
April17th-April21ndisApril
Vacation
May1st-StateTesting
May19th-NoSchool
May29th-MemorialDayHoliday
June13th-LastDayofSchool
STETSON RANCH
Stetson, Maine
Stetson Ranch Happenings:
Things are blooming here at Stetson Ranch. The consumers here at "The Ranch" have been working on some interesting projects! From horticulture class to life skills and woodworking. The students take care of the plants in the classroom; some students are currently germinating strawberry seeds. On Fridays, those that are in our "Leadership Development Program" participate in life skill activities, where they go on outings like hikes, college tours, and participate in activities like woodworking. In the past few months, students have built some incredible things, and those in leadership are currently making cornhole boards.
Staff Spotlight:
We were lucky to get not ONE but TWO Ed Tech/BHP's as well as a new Math & Science Teacher.
Shining the spotlight on our Ed Tech/BHP's, please welcome Miranda Kuespert and Alison Turtlott They joined our school team in November of 2022, Miranda comes with a teaching background in Early Childhood Education while Alison brings experience as a DSP and an English degree. We are so happy to have them as part of the team and appreciate the fresh new perspectives that they bring to our program at the ranch.
Sharing the spotlight with Miranda and Alison, is our new Math & Science teacher, Dominic Mooney. Dom has a background in teaching as well as a degree in Mental Health and Human Services and is currently pursuing a master's degree in special education. He's a great addition to our team at Stetson Ranch School.
It's shaping up to be an awesome year at Stetson Ranch. There are so many opportunities for growth, exploration and expanding our participant's worldviews through our mission of Trust, Accountability, Safety, Dignity, and Respect.
STETSON RANCH
Stetson, Maine
During February vacation, the participants and staff got the opportunity to go ice fishing on Pleasant Lake. While the fishing haul wasn’t incredibly fruitful, lots of fun was had by staff and consumers alike Students got the opportunity to test out their golf swing, build a fire, catch a fish as well as have lunch on the lake. It was certainly a day filled with fun!
Fun things:
Last month, our youths got the opportunity to attend a Maine Mariners game in Portland for their School Day Game. The consumers had a great time, getting loud with the rest of the crowd and cheering on the Mariners as they took down the Newfoundland Growlers. One of our clients even caught a t-shirt during the t-shirt toss!
Now with spring in swing, we are looking forward to the opportunities afforded to us with the increasingly warm weather and longer days. In the next month or so, consumers will have the opportunity to participate in some of the activities offered by Bowsprit. One activity that is of excitement, for both staff and consumers, is the opportunity to participate in the woodworking program that they offer. The process will allow students to take the wood from the forest to the finished product, with them participating in every step of the process. It is sure to be an incredible educational and fun opportunity for all.
