RSU 1 10/27/2026

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we approach the winter months, it’s important to prepare for snowy weather and potential school closures. If conditions necessitate it, we will communicate school closures through our messaging system, district website, Facebook, and local television news channels. Our priority is always safety. We respect and recognize that you, as parents and guardians, will ultimately make the best decision for your children. The district may also use delays and early dismissal, depending on the forecast and timing of storms.

This winter, we will do traditional snow days for the first three storm days. After that, we will implement remote learning days for additional snow days, which means the last student day is set for Thursday, June 17th.

One Maine Department of Education requirement for a remote learning day to count is that school lunches must be available to students. If, for some reason, we exceed three traditional snow days, lunches will be available for any remote learning days through our nutrition department. These meals are available at no cost to students. We will provide more information on how to sign up for meals if necessary.

Let’s hope for a mild winter and that my early morning phone calls are kept to a minimum!

Sincerely,

Patrick Manuel

Superintendent

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Woolwich Central School PTA for once again sponsoring the Northern Stars Planetarium visit this month. From October 20 to October 23, students across all grade levels, from kindergarten through eighth grade, participated in this unique educational experience. Housed inside the portable "super dome," each presentation lasted approximately 50 minutes, offering an immersive environment for scientific exploration. To align the experience with their current curriculum, teachers from each grade selected a specialized presentation from a diverse roster of topics.

Bringing this celestial experience directly into our gymnasium was John Meader, the owner and resident educator of Northern Stars Planetarium. Operating a fully equipped, inflatable star theater, Meader brings decades of expertise and a deep repository of specialized programming directly to schools. His expansive curriculum features more than 25 different planetarium shows that span complex astronomical concepts, foundational earth and life sciences, and traditional live storytelling. Because each program is meticulously designed to align with Next Generation Science Standards and state learning frameworks for grades pre-K through 8, our instructional teams were able to select highly targeted, academically rigorous presentations.

To illustrate the diverse academic opportunities provided during the visit, our grade levels explored a wide array of scientific and cultural themes tailored to their specific curricula. For instance, our youngest learners in Kindergarten and First Grade engaged with foundational astronomy through the presentation Our Family in the Sky. Moving into the physical and biological sciences, the third Grade, alongside Life Skills Group 2, investigated meteorological concepts in Weather and Seasons, while our Seventh Graders shifted focus to microscopic systems during an in-depth session on the Biology of the Cell. Other cohorts explored topics ranging from atmospheric physics in Secrets of the Rainbow to cultural mythology in Stories of Orion, ensuring every student received an age-appropriate, enriching experience.

What do you enjoy most about your current position?

The unique spirit and vibe of the very small school that is PES.

What are your hobbies?

Not really a hobby - more like a business. I am the founder and sole proprietor of my own needle felting business with consignments at Lisa Marie's Made in Maine in Bath, Maine Cabin Masters in Manchester, and Two Sisters in Maine in Freeport.

What are the top experiences on your bucket list?

I always wanted to own my own business - see above - so that's done!

What is the best advice you’ve ever received, or who has inspired you to try your best? Why?

Both of my parents were big into making sure that I always tried to be a kind person way before the current "Be Kind" anthem materialized. I think that I owe being a teacher to my parents because one of the reasons I became a teacher is that we are emblematic of kindness.

If you could have dinner with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be? Why?

Ruth Bader Ginsburg because of her words, "Reading is the key that opens doors to many good things in life. Reading shaped my dreams, and more reading helped me make my dreams come true." I was an avid reader as a child. Actually change the adjective "avid" to "obsessive."

Where do you live now?

North Andover, Ma

What is your current occupation?

BA Stonehill College. I currently co-own a gift shop.

What do you enjoy most about your current position?
Meeting new people, finding just the right gift for the occasion, having a "happy" place for people to come.

How has your education in RSU 1 contributed to your success?
The guidance dept was integral in making sure I saw college options and all possibilities.

What’s your favorite memory from when you were a student?

Meeting my husband.