Schools

Special needs program

BANGOR – The Maine Transition Network Region 3 School to Life program will hold a forum on the employment needs of youth with disabilities 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, in the conference room at Alpha One, 1048 Union St.

The forum will address these questions: Can the Department of Labor and vocational rehabilitation help me? What is the difference between competitive and supported employment? Will I lose my Social Security benefits if I go to work? What can a job developer or employment specialist do for me? What are employers looking for when hiring a young worker? How can I get a job if I have a disability?

Panelists will include Stephen Conroy and Mary Knowlton, transition counselors, Department of Labor; Joyce Santerre, disability program navigator at the Career Center, Training and Development Corp.; Mark Swan and Kelly Davis, employment specialists, Phoenix Employment and Rehabilitation Services; Frank Hartnett, employment specialist, Allies Inc.; Jeff Hooke, employment specialist, Katahdin Friends Inc.; John Jones, Maine Vocational Associates; and several area employers who have hired special needs youth, including Phillips-Strickland House and L.L. Bean.

Call Cindy Tuck, coordinator of the program, to register at 992-2270, or e-mail schooltolife@midmaine.com.

McGraw kindergarten

HAMPDEN – Kindergarten registration for children entering school for the 2008-09 school year will be held at the McGraw School Tuesday, March 18.

Parents may pick up registration packets from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parents unable to do so should call the school at 862-3830.

Children must be 5 by Oct. 15 to register. Completed registration packets should be returned to the school 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, March 18-21. Parents must provide, along with the completed registration packet, the child’s state-issued birth certificate (not hospital certificate); current immunization records; and a small photograph.

Kindergarten screening will be held in May. It will be scheduled after the completed registration is returned. Orientation is usually held in June.

Newburgh kindergarten

NEWBURGH – Kindergarten registration for children entering school next fall will be held 9 a.m.-noon Friday, March 7, at Newburgh Elementary School. The child’s birth certificate from the town office or city of birth and immunization records must be brought to the registration.

Maine law requires that a child must be 5 by Oct. 15 to be eligible to enter kindergarten in the fall.

It is not necessary to bring the child to registration. Pupil screening and parent orientation will be held on May 9. Appointments will be made for screening at registration. Those who are unable to register a child on March 7 should call the school at 234-2781 as soon as possible to set up an appointment.

Veazie kindergarten

VEAZIE – Kindergarten registration and screening for the 2008-2009 school year will be held Thursday and Friday, March 13-14, at the Veazie Community School. Any parent with a child who will be 5 by Oct. 15 may call the school at 947-6573 before Tuesday, March 4, to schedule a child for the process.

Registration is by appointment only so that staff may meet individually with parents and child. Parents are reminded to bring the child’s legal birth certificate and records of immunization to the appointment.

February vacation programs

HOLDEN – Fields Pond Audubon Center offers February vacation programs that give children exercise, fresh air and nature, science and performance experience. Parents may sign up children who are in grades three to eight for one day or all four days, for February vacation. All programs begin at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.

. Tuesday, Feb. 19, children will trek up a ravine or across a marsh to find tracks, animal tooth and claw marks, animal homes, or animal fur, and learn to “read the story” of the signs.

. Wednesday, Feb. 20, children will rehearse and perform a nature-related play. They will take a break and enjoy traipsing in the fields and forest. They will offer their play at 2:45 p.m. for their parents and friends.

. Thursday, Feb. 21, children will make a hole in the ice of a shallow frog pond. They will take some creatures back to the center and study them under the microscope, then let them go. Campers will learn about food webs, life cycles and winter adaptations.

. Friday, Feb. 22, children will participate in the making of maple syrup, beginning with identifying maple trees by their bark and twigs. They will collect the sap and enjoy an afternoon snack of pancakes and syrup.

The cost per day is $40, $30 for Audubon family members; all four days, $140, $130 Audubon family members.

To register, call the Fields Pond Audubon Center 989-2591.

Colleges

Boston College

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Chad Szylvain of Brewer, a junior majoring in biology and pre-med, has been named to the dean’s list with high honors for the fall semester at Boston College. He will spend spring break as a council leader volunteer through the college’s Appalachia Volunteers Program, doing community service in South Carolina.

Keene State College

KEENE, N.H. – Brian Sturgeon of Holden was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Keene State College.

New England School of Communications

BANGOR – A record 174 students made the dean’s list for the fall semester 2007 at the New England School of Communications, with 68 posting high honors and 106 attaining honor grades. High honors are received for a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher with honor grades being a 3.0 to 3.4 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

Alton: Eleanor Kipping, high honors, Brendan Gilbert, honors.

Bangor: Jonathan Fisk, Shawn Garland, Matthew Smith, high honors; Sarah England, Jonathan Hyatt, Tyrus Michaud, Carlin Puckett, Kasey Richards, Patrick Worcester, honors.

Bradford: Jonathan Griffiths, honors.

Brewer: Nicholas Huskins, Daniel Peterson, high honors; Benjamin Kelley, honors.

Bucksport: Emily Pappas, Bucksport, honors.

Dixmont: Mattie Porter, honors.

Hermon: Adam Prosser, high honors; Justin Prymowicz, honors.

Holden: Kailee Deprey, Christopher DesRoches, honors.

Milford: Mercedes Nelson, honors.

Old Town: James Innis, Aaron Jackson, John McKim, high honors; Caleb Cole, Jessica Navarro, honors.

Orono: Meagan Hachey, honors.

Winterport: Sarah Theriault-Cotton, high honors.

University of Maine

ORONO – Following a national search, Mark Pino has joined the University of Maine’s Office of University Development as director of prospect research.

Pino comes from Regis University in Denver, where he held a number of positions over the past six years, including director of research and prospect programs and prospect research analyst. Prior to that he worked at Regis’ School for Professional Studies where he assisted with marketing, new student enrollment and online enrollment.

Pino has a master’s degree in nonprofit management and a bachelor of arts and science degree in marketing and organizational development, both from Regis. Active in professional organizations including the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement, Pino is former president of the Colorado Professional Researchers for Advancement.

He lives with his wife, Marlene, in Orono.

University of New England

BIDDEFORD – Kaitlyn Dyleski of Orrington was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at the University of New England. A 2006 graduate of John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor, she is a sophomore majoring in environmental studies.

Hannah Thieme of Winterport, daughter of Scott and Elizabeth Thieme, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at the University of New England. A 2005 graduate of Hampden Academy, Thieme is a student in the nursing program. She achieved a 3.75 grade point average for the semester.

Maine Community College System

DEDHAM – John Fitzsimmons, president of the Maine Community College System, has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Economic Development Council of Maine. The award was presented at the council’s annual meeting at the Lucerne Inn in Dedham.

William Armitage, council president, praised Fitzsimmons’ leadership and vision in higher education and work force development. Citing his 18 years at the helm of the community colleges and three years as Maine’s commissioner of labor, Armitage said, “Few have had the impact he has had in this state in education, work force development and economic development. Maine and its economy are stronger because he has worked tirelessly to expand access to higher education and to provide individuals and businesses with the skills they need to compete and prosper.”

Under Fitzsimmons’ leadership, the schools within the community college system have transitioned from vocational technical institutes to technical colleges to community colleges, and enrollment has grown by more than 200 percent. In the past five years, since the establishment of the community colleges, enrollment of degree-seeking students has increased by 55 percent.

As Armitage noted in presenting the award, “For a small state that has long struggled to increase its college going rate, the growth of our community colleges has major implications for Maine’s ability to compete in a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive environment.”

The council, with more than 200 members, presents its Lifetime Achievement Award only periodically and to someone who has made significant, sustained and statewide contributions to economic development.

For more information about the Economic Development Council of Maine, call Richard Kelso at 582-5147.