me arts ed

Maine Association for Middle Level Educators Annual Conference at Sugarloaf

Leonard Middle School staff right before presentation at MAMLE

One of my responsibilities at the Department of Education is “contact person for middle level education”. During the last 6 weeks I have had the pleasure of working with and getting to know the staff of the Leonard Middle School (LMS) in Orono.

I was asked in July if I would give the keynote at the fall middle school conference sponsored by Maine Association for Middle Level Educators MAMLE). After communicating with the LMS principal, John Keane, we made a plan for collaborating on the task. I appreciate the time and dedication the staff put into our 40 minute presentation on Bright Futures! What a talented, creative staff and FUN!

Bright Futures! is the middle level report that was completed this year and was created by the Commission on Middle Level Education. The report includes 12 core practices that outline recommendations for planning and implementing educational programs for the middle grades. Much of the information is exemplary practices that we see in many of our middle schools.

With the help of one to one technology, the importance of creativity and imagination, and curriculum that is challenging, integrative and based on research, the arts play a key role in a middle school environment. I suggest educators read the report and ask yourself: “how are the middle grades in my school doing to meet the educational needs of young adolescents?” This is a great opportunity to design professional development opportunities around the report.

You can view the entire report by going to the middle level webpages at the Department of Education. An accompanying poster is available by contacting me via email argy.nestor@maine.gov and I will gladly snail mail you a poster and/or enough foryour middle school team/staff members.

Outside Fall Fun!

What a beautiful Sunday… and a great day to do something outside. I started my day by picking apples and ended it (before dark) on a long walk. I love going to the farm stand to see the piles of gourds, pumpkins, and the corn stalks leaning against the wooden fence. It was a visual delight.

The drive took us along a blueberry field where I noticed the plants are even richer red than last week in Washington county. The backdrop of the pond and blue sky are intense. The golden leaves on the sugar maples are luscious.

I enjoy eating apples but I prefer it made into applesauce. In my opinion, Macouns make the weetist sauce (no reason to add any sugar or spices). I cooked about half of the 40lbs. of apples we picked and made 7 quarts and 6 pints for the winter. We won’t starve anyway!

I hope your last week of October 2009 is wonderful and that you have a chance to eat fresh apples, carve a pumpkin or go outside and appreciate the last of the leaves as they take on their brown and bronze hues. Before we know it there could be several inches of snow outside. I hear our friends in the county got some this past week.