August 26, 2026

Dear RSU 74 Board Members,

The start of the school year at Carrabec Community School has been defined by remarkable energy, hard work, and a shared dedication to our students. Summer was particularly busy at CCS, with significant facilities projects taking place across the building. Because several of these projects extended well into August, our teaching staff worked exceptionally hard in the days immediately preceding the start of school to get their classrooms ready. Their extraordinary effort paid off, and the building looks fantastic.

To give teachers that extra bit of preparation time following summer construction, our Back-to-School Night was held the evening before school started. This shift was well received, and we were thrilled by the strong turnout of families reconnecting with staff and touring classrooms. During the event, we were able to emphasize the attendance theme for the year: "Every Cobra Counts! Every Day Matters!" Families had the opportunity to meet with our School Attendance Champion, Mrs. Vicki Gould, to discuss the critical role consistent attendance plays in student success. Many parents and students signed Attendance Partnership Agreements and completed a family survey, providing us with valuable insight on how we can best support reliable daily attendance throughout the year.

The first day of school was a resounding success, with students arriving excited and ready to learn. Notably, the implementation of Maine's new state legislation and district policy regarding cell phones and personal digital devices has gone smoothly. Teachers established clear expectations and secure storage routines on day one, and many parents supported this effort directly by encouraging their children to leave personal devices at home entirely.

Our opening workshop days were equally productive, balancing operational planning with targeted professional learning. In addition to reviewing core policies, procedures, and safety protocols, all staff engaged in PD focused on proactive strategies to support student self-regulation and early de-escalation techniques. Elementary teachers engaged in training on use of the Developmental Reading Assessment, which will serve as both a progress monitoring tool and a guide for tailored instruction. Meanwhile, middle school staff reviewed classroom management best practices with Mrs. Merrill, and participated in a Somerset County Health presentation on an upcoming “Positive Norms Campaign”; a data-driven initiative that highlights the overwhelming majority of students who choose to make healthy choices regarding vaping, alcohol, and cannabis.

Thanks to the hard work of our teachers, support staff, and facilities team, along with the strong partnership of our families and community, CCS is off to a wonderful start. I look forward to the positive work we will do to support our students in the year ahead.

Sincerely

Geoffrey Case
Principal, Carrabec Community School
District 504 Coordinator, RSU 74
gcase@carrabec.org - 207-635-2209