September 28, 2026

Dear RSU 74 Board Members,

September at Carrabec Community School has been an energetic and productive month, filled with community connections, learning experiences, and exciting schoolwide events.

Family and community involvement was especially strong this month. In mid-September we hosted our first annual Grandparents and Goodies morning, welcoming an astounding 175 guests to our school. The positive energy throughout the building made for an unforgettable event. A special mention goes to Mrs. Kim Swihart and Mrs. Alethea Schanz for their hard work and planning in organizing this event. We also appreciate our kitchen staff, maintenance crew, and other school staff who worked behind the scenes to ensure the morning ran safely and smoothly.

Our Fall Book Fair was a big success thanks to the support of our amazing PTO. In addition to assisting with the book fair, the PTO partnered with us to promote a Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive to support local families to help fight food insecurity in our community. We appreciate everyone who donated to this cause.

Our students also participated in learning opportunities outside the classroom with our eighth graders participating in the annual overnight Huts and Trails field trip. I would like to extend a thank you to Mr. Carey, Mr. Ferrari, Mrs. Pease, and Mr. Stone for leading our students on this adventure. The kids returned to school brimming with stories and excitement. Meanwhile, our K-5 students had a fantastic time as they were thoroughly captivated by a special Conjuring Carroll assembly that helped to reinforce the social learning they’ve begun within their classrooms.

Building on our attendance focus, we also held our first Surprise Attendance Day. With the help of Mrs. Gould and our school attendance team, we are working hard to encourage daily attendance by recognizing and celebrating positive attendance trends with our students. To reward their effort, students had the opportunity to throw water balloons at myself and several courageous staff members. A huge thank you goes to Mr. Daigle for serving as a target for all K-8 students, as well as Mr. Ela, Mrs. Sales, and Mr. Carey for stepping up as targets for their homerooms. The students loved it, and it set a wonderful, celebratory tone. We look forward to holding more Surprise Attendance Days throughout the year to keep driving home the message that every day matters.

Alongside all of these student focused events, our academic baseline work is well underway. Students are completing their beginning-of-the-year assessments. The results will provide our teachers with valuable data to help guide instruction and support individual student growth in the months ahead.

Thanks to the hard work of our staff, the enthusiasm of our students, and the continued partnership of our families, September has set a strong foundation for the rest of the school year.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey Case

Principal, Carrabec Community School