School News

loading...

Schools

International education

BANGOR – Twenty years after Primary Source was incorporated in Blue Hill, the organization has returned to its Maine roots. Primary Source, a nonprofit organization with headquarters in Watertown, Mass., has opened a Maine Programs office downtown at 47 Main St. The office is an administrative center and staging area for teacher-training programs and a meeting space for consulting activities.

Ryan Bradeen, director of Maine Programs, encourages educators to take advantage of the office’s professional library of nearly 500 texts, maps and curricular materials on the history and culture of East Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the United States. Having worked from his Brewer home for three years, Bradeen said he is pleased to have an official location where educators can have easier access to materials and programs.

Primary Source promotes history and humanities education by connecting educators to peoples and cultures throughout the world, particularly East Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In partnership with teachers, scholars and the community, Primary Source provides seminars, workshops, summer institutes and study tours for K-12 educators. By introducing teachers to global content, the organization helps educators build and deliver curriculum about cultures different from their own.

Primary Source has worked closely with the Bangor School Department, helping to shape its China and world studies initiatives. The organization has worked with educators from 20 Maine school districts including Brewer, Orono, SAD 22 in Hampden, MDI, Blue Hill, Unity, Maine Central Institute, Messalonski, Windham and Sanford. Since 2001, 500 Maine teachers have participated in Primary Source programs here and in Boston. Twenty-two Maine teachers have traveled to China or Africa as part of Primary Source study tours.

Primary Source was born in 1985 at the kitchen table of Anna and Dick Roelofs in their Blue Hill home. The Roelofs were concerned about how to make social studies curriculum relevant and engaging. In 1989, Anna Roelofs moved the young nonprofit organization to Massachusetts.

The Primary Source Maine Programs office is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For information, call Ryan Bradeen, director of Maine Programs, at 942-7146, or e-mail ryan@primarysource.org.

Hermon Middle School

HERMON – An essay written by Hermon Middle School eighth-grader Brittany Robertson has been selected for inclusion in the anthology, “What is important to Me,” published by Creative Communications Inc. of Logan, Utah. Brittany is the daughter of Scott and Wendy Robertson.

Scholarship awards

BANGOR – WBRC Architects-Engineers has awarded two high school seniors each a $250 scholarship for majors in architecture and engineering. To remember its 100th year celebration, WBRC recognizes area high school students as a part of the annual Centennial Scholarship established in 2002.

This year, recipients include Mohamed Nazmy of Orono High School, and Tessa Rosco of Bangor High School. Nazmy has been accepted to Ohio State University where he will major in architecture, and Roscoe to the University of Maine to major in civil engineering.

Nazmy and Roscoe each exemplified the qualities of exceptional students by showing high interests in architecture and engineering through academic course selection and achievement during their high school careers, WBRC officials said.

“This is just one way for us to give back to our community,” said John Rohman, the firm’s CEO. Each student receives a scholarship based on the criteria of satisfactory completion of the first semester at a two- to four-year post-secondary educational institution, with a major in architecture or engineering, and a 2.5 grade point average. Applications are available at local high schools.

Wassookeag School

BANGOR – The Wassookeag School, a small independent community for learning for pupils in kindergarten through grade eight, will hold an information session for inquiring parents at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, at Borders Bookstore in Bangor.

Present to answer any questions will be the director and teacher for the older student group, Debby Bell-Smith; Jeannie Egan-Novak, teacher for the younger pupils; a parent and a pupil. An open house will be held in the coming weeks at the school’s new location, 218 French St.

Colleges

AmeriCorps

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Bangor resident Jillian Foley graduated as a member of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps Western Region.

During their 10 months of service, Corps members worked in teams of 10-12 and were deployed across the western states. The 21 teams provided support to more than 135 community service organizations and were on 24-hour call to aid disaster relief efforts anywhere in the country.

AmeriCorps NCCC projects are directed in five focus categories: the environment, education, public safety, unmet human needs, and homeland security. For information about applying to an AmeriCorps program call (800) 942-2677, or visit www.americorps.org.

Cianbro scholarships

GLENBURN – The Cianbro Charitable Foundation has awarded Cianchette Bros. Scholarships to 16 college students who are children of Cianbro team members. Crystal Wiley of Glenburn, daughter of mechanical foreman Robin Wiley, received a $2,000 award.

With a total of $25,000 in scholarships awarded this year, 2005 marks the sixth year of the Cianchette Bros.’ Scholarship program. More than $150,000 has been awarded since the program was established in 1999.

Maine Maritime Academy

CASTINE – The board of trustees of Maine Maritime Academy will meet at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 19, in Leavitt Hall. The meeting will be part of the annual meeting of the board of trustees and the board of directors of MMA Alumni Association. The MMA Alumni Association will present a report.

The board of directors of the MMA Alumni Association will hold a breakfast meeting at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 19 in Alfond Student Center.

William E. Haggett of West Bath is the chairman of the board of trustees. Charles Sherman of Hampden is the president of the alumni group.

Lawrence University

APPLETON, Wis. – Kelsey Lutz, daughter of Gordon and Marilyn Lutz of Holden, has been named to the Lawrence University dean’s list for maintaining a minimum 3.4 grade point average. She is a 2003 graduate of John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor.

Scholarship award

ORONO – Matthew Carey of Milo, who will attend the University of Maine, has been awarded a scholarship by the Two Ten Footwear Foundation in Waltham, Mass.

The Two Ten Footwear Foundation Scholarship Program was established in 1969 to provide scholarships to people in the footwear, leather, and allied industries. Annual awards range from $200 to $3,000 and may be renewed.