MSAD #51 District Newsletter - October 5, 2023

From the Superintendent

This the third in a four-part series around the district's 2023-24 Strategic Priorities. This week's focus is 21st Century Skills, one of the four priority areas of the Strategic Plan.

 

Maine has developed a set of skills that are known as Guiding Principles. These are the principles that we want all of our students to leave high school being proficient in, regardless of their aspirations beyond high school. These portable, or transferable, skills are life-long staples necessary for success in college, career, the armed forces, citizenship, and everyday life:

 

• Clear and Effective Communicator
• Self-Directed and Lifelong Learner
• Creative and Practical Problem Solver 
• Responsible and Involved Citizen
• Integrative and Informed Thinker

A committee is currently developing a Portrait of a Learner document that will define more succinctly how these Guiding Principles, otherwise known as 21st Century Skills, can be intentionally applied throughout a student's K-12 journey. Ensuring that all Greely graduates have the overarching skill set to meet the demands and opportunities of the 21st Century is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.

 

This priority area includes work on the district's DRAFT Equity Plan (June 2023) pending Board approval later this Fall. This plan has been drafted by the Equity Leadership Steering Committee with the premise that we owe our students the knowledge and skills to be successful living and working in a global economy and society.

After all, the MSAD #51 vision statement includes this language:

• Creating leaders and global citizens prepared to thrive in a changing world.
• The 21st Century requires an education that prepares students to live and work in an increasingly connected world.
• Communicating with diverse audiences, bridging geographic, linguistic, ideological, and cultural barriers.
• Students progress academically, understand diverse perspectives, and contribute to local and global communities.

The world our students will soon inherit is not the same one we grew up with. It has changed rapidly over the last 25 years and we cannot afford to ignore the imperative nature of teaching transferable skills that go beyond the finite knowledge set of a bygone era.

 

Regards,
Jeff Porter

The Maine Supreme Court held legal arguments in front of GHS students this week at the GCA.

 

The GMS 4-5 Green Team spoke to the Board about their plans for the year, shown here with advisor Monica Moore.

Notices from the Office of the Superintendent

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MSAD #51 Board of Directors Information

All meetings will take place at 6:00 pm in the Gyger Room at Greely High School.  For those of you unfamiliar with that room, the Gyger Room can be accessed from the GHS parking lot (the side without the electronic sign).

October 25, 2023 - Joint Meeting with Cumberland Town Council and North Yarmouth Select Board

Remember you can watch our meetings on YouTube LIVE (http://bit.ly/msad51livevideo).

Links
Meeting Dates, Agendas & Minutes
Board of Directors Meeting Videos
 

Community Partners

Our Community Partners are strong supporters of various areas of the school.  Without them, our students would not have many of the wonderful opportunities and experiences that they receive.

Greely PTO

Useful Links

Employment Opportunities

MSAD #51 Website

2018-2023 Strategic Plan

District Calendar

GHS Athletics Schedule

Greely Center for the Arts Events

If you would like something included in our weekly newsletter, please send a brief write up with title along with a JPEG or PNG image of your flyer (if applicable) to Melissa Porter for approval. The deadline each week is Sunday. Any requests received after Sunday will be reviewed for possible submission in the following week's newsletter. All approved submissions will be posted on the district's website.

Not all items in this email are MSAD #51 sponsored programs. If you need more information, please contact the group or organization that is sponsoring the event.