Hawk’s Eye

By Karen Sattler
    Hopefully, your Mill Pond student has come home and talked about the math-a-thon we’re doing to help “save lives” for kids with cancer. Each student has been invited to participate in this annual fundraising event to help St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Students are able to do everything online this year, if they choose, by going to www.mathathon.organd looking up Mill Pond School in the state of Maine. Our school has its own page within the website to allow us to watch the pledges grow. Our goal is set for $1,000 but it would be wonderful to surpass this in a big way. If no one asks you to sponsor or donate, please feel free to go right to our page and make a donation. I don’t believe the words “child” and “cancer” should be in the same sentence!
    The fifth grade students of Vivian Hynick and Sonya Swallow spent several weeks researching for their Native American Experience projects. With much hard work and dedication, students finished on a high note by presenting their dioramas and reports to other elementary students. The assignment consisted of researching a Native American tribe with a focus on three specific areas: geographical area and shelter, food and food gathering, and family culture. Using books and the Internet, students developed, revised, edited, and did a rewrite of their research papers to a final, finished product. After completing the research paper, students developed a diorama that displayed many visual details of their findings. Students then did oral presentations, sharing key points about their tribe with their peers. As a culminating activity, the students shared their projects with students and staff alike throughout the building. When asked what their favorite part of the project was, many responded that they really enjoyed sharing their projects with younger students. Some enjoyed the freedom of artistic representations through dioramas and even slide presentations. Overall, the fifth grade students excelled in their use of technology in the development and implementation of every aspect of their Native American projects. This was a stimulating and novel experience for everyone!
Contributed photo
CLIFFORD TRIP — Mill Pond students journeyed to Collins Center for the Arts in Orono for a performance of Clifford the Big Red Dog. Taking part are, standing from left, Sierra Pierlioni, Michael Benn, Lydie Carter, Kaelyn Lawlor, Madison Benn,   Mikyla Howland, Abigail McAtee, Jersie Valiente, Alyiah McLaughlin; middle, Hope Howland, Marina Tucker, Vickie Porter, Amelia Scott, Brody McLaughlin, Cordel Smith, Amelia McAtee; and front, Faith Howland, ShelbeyAnn Hall, Emma Fitzgerald, Abbigayle Pierlioni.
    Combining gifted and talented students from both Hodgdon High School and Mill Pond Schools, Mrs. Donna Howard had students “breaking hearts” as they worked together to dissect pig, sheep, and cow hearts. Using Smart Board technologies and working together in small groups, these students used their best scientific method skills to complete examining the parts of the heart: valves, aorta, and ventricles.  Once each part was identified, students were asked to take measurements. Pairing elementary students with high school students always makes for interesting results and allows the older students to act as mentors during the dissection. Are there possible budding scientists among us? After watching these students first hand, I am sure there are a few who are more than capable of that pursuit. Katherine Berube, a fourth grade student at Mill Pond, enjoyed “cutting it open and seeing what was inside. Some of the kids thought it was gross, but I kind of liked it.  We are supposed to be dissecting eyeballs, too.” Each student is now working on a persuasive essay on eating heart healthy.
    Some travel news from our afterschool program: 20 students in grades 1-3 were taken to a performance of “Clifford, the Big Red Dog; A Family Musical,” held at the Collins Center for the Arts in Orono. Abigail McAtee, grade three student, was asked what she thought was special about this experience. “I liked riding the bus with some of my friends. We got to sit pretty close to the stage so we could see really good. It was fun and I hope I can do it again!
Contributed photo
UP CLOSE — Hodgdon Mill Pond students Katherine Berube, left, and Sydney Howell work on dissecting an animal heart during a recent class.
    Another planned outing will take place on April 28 as another 20 students of various ages will take in a Portland Sea Dogs game due to the generosity of Country Kitchen. This trip has been a favorite of our students in the past because the Sea Dogs’ organization does so much to make this fun for youth and adults alike. More feedback on that after the trip!
    Mill Pond’s after school program will complete its daily programming on Thursday, April 26, with a special afternoon of activities. We have a few clowns lined up with all their tricks and some face painting.  There will be prizes given based on most days attended and a few door prizes as rewards for a very encouraging year of programming.  The staff and I would like to thank each parent or guardian who trusted us with your student this year. It has been our pleasure to offer this service to the families of our district!
    Lastly, after two years of planning and seeking funding, we will be taking 35 to 40 students to Boston, Massachusetts for “A Night at the Museum” at the Boston Museum of Science.  Invitations are going out now for this trip in May and we are very excited and thankful for the help we’ve received to make the possibility of this trip a reality.  I can’t wait!
    That’s the news for now from the halls of Mill Pond.  We will catch you up on some other special activities taking place in the near future.