By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
As part of this year’s RSU 39’s summer enrichment program, students in grades six through eight have been learning more about the individuals who work for and serve in their community.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Students in grades six through eight enrolled in the RSU 39 summer enrichment program in Caribou recently visited the Adult Multiple Alternative Center, as part of the program’s focus on learning about the individuals who work for and serve in the local community. In front, from left are: Kendall Mignacca, Kaitlyn Beil, Brittney Willette, Devon LaCasse, Danielle Castonguay, Mara Harris, Stacey Suire and Mrs. Spencer. In back are: Lynn Murphy, AMAC executive director; Ralph Fantasia, enrichment program instructor; Jacob Sperrey, Josh Fortin, Andrew Geer, Hunter King, Victor Negron, Devon Frazier, Dyland Nadeau and Nathaniel Adams..
According to Ralph Fantasia, a member of the teaching faculty at the Caribou Middle School, students enrolled in the enrichment program have been reading the novel, “The Skin I’m In,” by Sharon Flake. The book focuses on the experiences of Maleeka Madison, a middle school student, who is trying to find an identity that she can embrace, despite suffering from low self-esteem and constant bullying.
The subplot in the novel involves a woman who quits her well-paying job in the business world to come teach at Maleeka’s inner-city school, wanting to give something back to her community. The woman goes on to serve as a role model and mentor for Maleeka.
In order to fully understand the concept of serving one’s community, the students in Fantasia’s summer enrichment program will be meeting with members of the local area, who provide valuable services to the community. The students have previously met with Susan White, Caribou Middle School principal, who discussed aspects of her job that the students were unaware of, as well as her role within the community.
On Thursday, July 14, the students first field trip took them to the Adult Multiple Alternative Center (AMAC) in Caribou. This facility provides educational services to adults with special needs and offers instruction in real-life skills. Lynn Murphy, executive director of the center, was very open to the idea of having the middle school students visit the center.
Murphy stated that in the past Caribou High School students had done volunteer work at AMAC, as part of their community service graduation requirement. The center director also commented that the adult clients were excited about the students coming to their facility and had worked on some activities in preparation for the visit. Murphy believes that the AMAC provides an invaluable service to a sector of the community that often is overlooked and that it is important for students to be aware of the facility and all that it provides.
Future field trip sites for those participating in the Summer Enrichment Program include the U.S. Border Patrol Station in Fort Fairfield; the National Weather Center and the Caribou Fire Department.
Fantasia hopes to make this a permanent part of the summer enrichment program and feels that even though the students have been working on their fundamental skills in language arts and math, that it is also important to have them visit locations outside of the traditional classroom setting.
“Students who are more aware of the integral parts of their community are more likely to become responsible citizens who may consider choosing similar career paths,” said Fantasia.
