April 29, 2026

Dear RSU 74 Board Members,

April at Carrabec Community School was filled with creativity, family engagement, and strong academic focus as we moved into the final stretch of the school year.

We began the month with our Middle School 6‑Word Memoir Family Engagement Event, organized by Mrs. Karen Pease, who deserves a tremendous thank you for her efforts in planning this. The event was highly successful, drawing families together to celebrate student writing in a meaningful and personal way. The excitement quickly spread with several classes in grades 3–5 becoming inspired to write their own memoirs afterward. This is an event we will certainly want to continue and possibly expand in future years.

In early April, our K–5 students had the opportunity to visit the Waterville Opera House to see The Little Prince. This was a wonderful chance for students to experience a historic venue and enjoy a live theatrical performance.

A week before April break, the CCS PTO hosted the district‑wide Grade 5 Semi‑Formal Dance. We are very appreciative of everything our PTO does to support our students and school community, and this event was another example of their dedication.

Academically, teachers have been preparing students for the upcoming state assessments. As discussed at last month’s board meeting, staff are working with students to teach effective test‑taking strategies, help them understand their individual growth goals, and provide incentives for effort and persistence. Students can earn rewards for avoiding rapid guessing and for making progress toward or exceeding their Maine Through Year growth goals.

As a staff, we continue to strengthen our instructional practices. Building on our recent work with teacher clarity and proximity, we are now focusing on effective lesson closures, another essential component of teacher clarity. This work supports our ongoing commitment to research‑based instruction and ensuring that students leave each lesson with a clear understanding of what they learned and why it matters.

April was a month of community engagement and academic purpose. As we move into May, we look forward to finishing academic testing and supporting every student’s growth at Carrabec Community School.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey Case

March 25, 2026

Dear RSU 74 Board Members,

March at Carrabec Community School began with a celebration of reading as our K–5 students kicked off the month with a Dr. Seuss–themed spirit week. We also launched our second annual CCS Read‑A‑Thon, an event designed to build strong reading habits and motivate students to set and track personal reading goals. Classrooms were filled with reading activities, dress‑up days, and excitement as students celebrated reading.

On March 13, we held our first Pi Day celebration (yes a day early), organized by sixth‑grade teacher Ms. Dutch. Students in grades 3–5 and 6–8 competed to see who could recite the most digits of pi, and our top performer impressed everyone by reciting 168 digits. The top three students in grades 3–5 earned the honor of “pi‑ing” Mr. Case in the face, while the top three in grades 6–8 had the opportunity to “pi” Mr. Case, Mr. Ela, and Mr. Ewing (who happened to be subbing that day). The top student in each grade span also received five bowling tickets, generously donated by Central Maine Family Fun Bowling Center. It was a fun, memorable event that blended math, school spirit, and a lot of laughter.

St. Patrick’s Day brought extra excitement to our K–5 wing, especially in Kindergarten. As part of their study of the mystery genre, students followed clues left by a mischievous leprechaun who created quite a mess in their classroom. Despite their best efforts, he managed to escape once again, much to the students’ chagrin.

With support from Mrs. Merrill and staff at the high school, our eighth‑grade students traveled to CHS on March 25 to participate in the CHS College and Career Fair. We appreciate the invitation and the opportunity for our students to explore future pathways and engage with local organizations and post‑secondary options.

We closed out the month with our second annual K–5 “March Mathness” Math Morning, organized by our outstanding third and fourth‑grade teachers, Mrs. Schanz and Mrs. Swihart. Families were invited on March 26 to enjoy light breakfast refreshments before joining their children for a series of math‑themed games and activities. The event created a wonderful opportunity for families to engage in learning alongside their students.

March was a month filled with creativity, curiosity, and community involvement. As we head into spring, we look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to support the growth and success of all CCS students.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey Case