October 28, 2026

Dear RSU 74 Board Members,

October at Carrabec Community School has been a productive month, packed with hands-on learning, strong community connections, and a continued focus on student growth and positive school culture.

We kicked off the month with our first Cobra Den Day of the school year on October first. Students spent time engaging in team-building activities to build collaboration and boost school spirit. Alongside our den activities, homerooms have been establishing attendance goals. Students are working together as a team to reach these shared milestones and earn recognition while keeping our attendance momentum strong across all grade levels.

Community and outdoor engagement continued throughout October. Our middle schoolers enjoyed their Walking School Bus event in mid-October, and we look forward to making up the elementary walk this upcoming Thursday, October 29. During national Fire Safety Week, our K-5 students visited the Fire Station and participated in fire safety lessons directly from our local firefighters. Additionally, our fifth-grade classes enjoyed a wonderful outdoor learning field trip where they hiked, fished, cooked, and practiced fire safety. Throughout the day, students applied their academic skills in a practical environment as they measured, estimated, and tried new activities together.

We celebrated our second annual pumpkin decorating contest, winners will be recognized this Friday, October 30. We are also looking forward to closing out the month with our annual K through 5 Halloween costume parade, and everyone in the building is excited that Halloween falls on a Saturday this year.

On the instructional front, our teaching staff engaged in annual fall data meetings to review student performance. Teachers reviewed results from the NWEA and Maine Through Year assessments alongside data from IXL, DRA3, and daily classroom assessments. By triangulating these various data points, staff worked to identify targeted areas of strength and weakness to provide focused intervention and ways to extend learning. It is my goal to continue helping teachers leverage this academic data in meaningful ways to ensure steady growth and achievement gains for every child.

Several of our elementary teachers also had the opportunity to attend a Science of Reading conference hosted by the University of Maine. The conference offered valuable insights into evidence-based reading strategies that support foundational literacy for our youngest learners and strengthen vocabulary and comprehension skills as students transition into more complex texts.

Thanks to the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our students, and the steady support of our community, October has been a fantastic month at Carrabec Community School.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey Case
Principal, Carrabec Community School