Special Times

I have been looking forward to Memorial Day all year, because I knew we would be recognizing at least one local soldier who was killed in World War Two. Fortunately, we were able to recognize two this year.

Over the last few weeks students in my Honors US History class learned about World War Two by connecting it to the stories of two local men who were killed in the war. Private First Class Harvey Madore of Augusta, ME and Captain Joseph Berry of Wayne, ME fought in the war and are buried in Europe. Madore is buried in the Epinal Cemetery in France and Berry in the Sicily-Rome Cemetery in Italy. I am fortunate enough to be able to visit both cemeteries this summer through the Understanding Sacrifice program. Our work garnered some attention from TV station WVII in Bangor and the local newspaper the Kennebec Journal. We held a school-wide assembly at our school on the Thursday before Memorial Day to remember the meaning of the Holiday and to tell the school about both men. The families of both men were in attendance and we presented each with a framed photo of the grave of their fallen loved one. The students performed very well and I feel privileged to have been a part of it. I hope this is a tradition that will continue.

This is the WVII Channel 7 News report of our work.

On May 13 we took 22 students in grades 9-12 to the annual Model United Nations Conference at Northeastern University. This year the Conference was only one day, but that didn't seem to dim the students' enthusiasm for this annual event. Our students did very well representing Russia, Togo, and Qatar. We had 8 students win awards including two who won representing Russia in the Security Council. We had our typical evening in Boston exploring a bit. It was along day, but a lot of fun. Our journey is chronicled in this Blog.

(It was a little cloudy and a few sprinkles were around, but we still went for a ferry ride)

My amazing month got even better when I found out I had been named the 2016 Gilder-Lerhman Maine History Teacher of the Year. I was nominated last Fall and submitted the necessary essays and classroom work, however I didn't think I had a serious shot at it. I was humbled and surprised to find out I had been selected. Its really a testament to my colleagues and my students that I was able to earn this award. I am very fortunate to work in a supportive environment with great kids! I feel honored and humbled by this!

Things are wrapping up quickly and we are working on Final projects. Students are completing projects in all classes, and for the first time, US History students are doing "museum exhibits". This is a trial run to help us prepare to introduce the National History Day competition to next year's US History students. As we approach Memorial Day things are just starting to wind down. I have Junior advisees and they are white water rafting on our field trip day coming up on June 13. This is the time of year to be thinking about awards and graduation. I also will be making final preparation for the Social Studies Symposium held at my school on June 29th where I will be presenting with my wife on teaching Elementary Social Studies. Once that is over, it will be time for a real vacation and then my trip to visit the World War Two Cemeteries and historic sites in Italy, France, and Belgium in July!