Schools

Award-winning play

BREWER – Brewer High School’s production of the comedy “The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet” by Peter Bloedel recently won the Northern Maine Regional Drama Festival in Caribou.

A mixture of the bard’s classic love story and the rhymes of Dr. Seuss, the fast-paced show took top honors for ensemble acting, production design, set design, costumes, lighting and sound. Four members of the cast, junior Elysa Woodhead and sophomores Matt McLaughlin, Lexi Marceron and Ian MacLeod, were named to the All Festival Cast.

Brewer High School will compete with eight other schools March 24-25 at Camden Hills Regional High School in the State Class A Drama Festival.

The show is directed by Rich Kimball, with BHS senior Devan Doucette serving as stage manager, junior Lucas Simmons the technical director, set design by senior Kendra Keefe and juniors Kira Fizell and Anthony Castiglia on sound.

Cast members are seniors Sarah Breau, Jamie Ecker, Melanie Moore and Craig Douglas; juniors Kristin Brown, Tim Bush, Sarah Somers, Katelan Daniels, Hannah Taylor and Elysa Woodhead; sophomores Matt McLaughlin, Lexi Marceron and Ian MacLeod; and freshmen Erika Cote, Jamie Bartol and Brian Vallance.

Brewer will open the state festival with a performance at 7 p.m. Friday, March 24.

SkillsUSA winners

BANGOR – Some 800 high school and college students from across the state participated in 62 areas of vocational skills competition. Area winners from the SkillsUSA annual event were:

Automotive service: Secondary

. Chris Wiers, Gold, United Technologies Center, Bangor.

Cabinet making: Secondary

. Brock Bradford, Gold, United Technologies Center.

Commercial baking: Secondary

. Kate Bernatche, Silver, United Technologies Center.

Culinary arts: Post-secondary

. Jeremy Harris, Gold, Penobscot Job Corps, Bangor.

Diesel equipment: Secondary

. Sam Green, Gold, United Technologies Center.

. Bill Carbett, Silver, United Technologies Center.

Extemporaneous speaking: Secondary

. Craig Stevens, Gold, United Technologies Center.

Firefighting: Secondary

. Chris Lavoie, Silver, United Technologies Center.

. Caitlyn Mathews, Bronze, United Technologies Center.

Floral design: Secondary

. Dustin Bubar, Silver, United Technologies Center.

. Ceirra Lindsey-Jernigan, Bronze, United Technologies Center.

Food and beverage service: Secondary

. Tabby Horr, Gold, United Technologies Center, Bangor.

. Kevone Riddick, Bronze, Penobscot Job Corps.

Heating: Secondary

. Matt Smith, Gold, United Technologies Center.

. Sean McRea, Bronze, United Technologies Center.

Jobs skills demo B: Post-secondary

. Amber Jacobs, Gold, Penobscot Job Corps.

Plumbing: Secondary

. Anthony Chase, Gold, United Technologies Center.

. Jordan Holmes, Silver, United Technologies Center.

Power equipment technology: Secondary

. Michael Kaelin, Gold, United Technologies Center.

. Jonathan Griffiths, Bronze, United Technologies Center.

Prepared speech: Post-secondary

. Zack Childs, Bronze, Penobscot Job Corps.

Promotional bulletin board: Post-secondary

. Tim McComas, Gold, Penobscot Job Corps.

Related technical math: Secondary

. Jerod Doak, Silver, United Technologies Center.

Technical Computer applications: Post-secondary

. Mitch Sowa, Gold, Penobscot Job Corps.

TV video production: Secondary

. Adam Osborn and Seth Blais, Silver, United Technologies Center.

Video product development: Secondary

. Kendra Richards and Paul Perreault, Silver, United Technologies Center.

Web design: Secondary

. Mike Trimm and Amanda Castonguay, Gold, United Technologies Center.

. Adrienne Ricci and George Moody, Silver, United Technologies Center.

Welding: Secondary

. Andrew Harriman, Gold, United Technologies Center.

Post-secondary

. Elizabeth Drouin, Gold, Penobscot Job Corps.

Debating, speaking contest

ORONO – Twenty-five teams from 20 schools competed recently at the Maine Forensic Association State Tournament at the University of Maine.

Bangor High School took first place in the overall debate tournament, with Deering, Cheverus, Morse and Brunswick in the top five.

The Maine Forensic Association sponsors debate in three forms: policy, Lincoln-Douglas and public forum. Area winners were:

First place in policy debate: Hanna Claeson and Morgan Herrell, Bangor High School.

First place in public forum debate: Andy Baldacci and Joey LaChance, Bangor High School.

In the speech portion of the tournament, students competed in 11 categories.

First place in dramatic interpretation: Tory Gram, Orono High School.

First place in novice poetry: Hilary Divine, Orono High School.

First place in extemporaneous speaking: Zening Chen, Orono High School.

First place in story telling: Greta Landis, Orono High School.

The coach of the year award went to Debbie Averill of Bangor High School.

1Voice for Girl Scouts

BANGOR – Girl Scout volunteers and girls in grades six and above are invited to the winter 1Voice meeting, a format designed to give Girl Scout volunteers and older girl members the information and resources needed for the rest of the year. The District 6 1Voice meeting will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 30, at First United Methodist Church, 703 Essex St.

Included will be a District 6 business meeting for girls in grades eight and above, and adult volunteers. On the agenda are a report from the board of directors, discussion on council realignment proposals and a review of proposed by-law changes. General information will include plans for spring registration, neighborhood organization and the upcoming Gold Award recognition banquet. Age level training for leaders also will be offered.

Teen Girl Scout members will have a program of their own from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Girls ages 11-17 are invited to work on the Studio2B Focus Book – Express It! They will work with teen specialist Samantha Lott to learn how to achieve their personal best and begin to make their dreams come true. Girls must register for this activity by e-mailing Samantha Lott at slot@abnakigsc.org. A fee of $6.50 covers the cost of the focus book, the earned charm and program materials. Adults who work with teens will have a concurrent session. Girls and adults who come for the teen program are invited to bring a bag supper. All who plan to attend the district meeting should e-mail webmaster@abnakigsc.org.

For more information about the 1Voice meeting, or on becoming a Girl Scout volunteer, e-mail Amy Rouse, anrouse@abnakigsc.org, or Pam Tower, ptower@abnakigsc.org, or call the Girl Scout office at 989-7474 or (800) 464-3858.

Alton Elementary School

ALTON – Kindergarten registration and screening will be held Wednesday, April 26, at the Alton Elementary School. Children must 5 years old by Oct. 15 to register. For information and an appointment, call the school at 394-2331.

School award

ALTON – Alton Elementary School has been recognized as an Improving School in math for grade four.

One aspect of the No Child Left Behind Act is the recognition of schools that improve performance in reading and math. Recognition is based on Maine’s Learning Results standards. Improving schools have met the following criteria in four of the last five years:

. Increased number of students in the Meet the Standard performance level.

. Decreased the number of students in the Does Not Meet Standards performance level.

. Achieved a gain of 20 percent in both reading and math, or a positive movement in one area, and 40 percent improvement in the other content area.

Bangor High School

BANGOR – Pops Night will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 31, at Bangor High School. The event will feature the Bangor High School Jazz Choir, jazz bands, fiddlers, soloists, middle school jazz bands and musical combos. A silent auction also will be held and food will be available. The cost is $5, $15 family.

Capri Street School

BREWER – Kindergarten registration and orientation for Brewer children who will be 5 years old by Oct. 15 will be held Thursday, April 6, at Capri Street School. Call 989-8620 to schedule an appointment. Parents must bring their child’s official birth certificate, immunization records and social security card.

The registration is for parents and their children, who will see the school and meet the staff. Children meet with teachers while parents meet with the principal.

Etna-Dixmont School

ETNA – Residents who wish to enroll a child in the Etna-Dixmont prekindergarten program for the next school year are advised to call Carol at the school at 234-2491, or 269-2361, ext. 10. The child must be 4 years old on or before Oct. 15.

Residents who wish to enroll a child in the kindergarten program also should call the school. However, if the child attended prekindergarten this year, it is not necessary to call.

To enroll in kindergarten, the child must be 5 years old on or before Oct. 15.

Kenduskeag Elementary School

KENDUSKEAG – The Water-Shed Mud Mobile will be at the Kenduskeag Elementary School on Saturday, March 25, for a free family fun activity. Three sessions are available.