Brunswick School Department

Allysia Eldred RISE Teacher at Kate Furbish School Allysia grew up in Portland, ME. Her family includes her son, her fiance and his daughter and her English Bulldog, Kobe! She attended Portland High School and is a graduate of Purdue Global University. What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud The staff being welcoming and supportive. What do you like to do outside of work for fun? Going to concerts, sporting events, arcades with my son and traveling. Watching my son play sports. What is your favorite line from a movie? “You only see the turn, you don't see the road ahead.“ Stand and Deliver If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? Travis Kelce What is something you learned in the last week? How much routine and structure means to kids.

AP Art and Design and Photography 2 Field Trip Brunswick High School AP Art and Design and Photography 2 students visited the Center for Maine Contemporary Art. Students had the opportunity to examine the work on display and create mixed media work in the art lab. A highlight of the visit was seeing the work by a former BHS alumna, Kyle Downs, who creates art from discarded basketballs. His work appears as colorful geometric tapestry designs until careful inspection reveals the tiny textured surface of the balls. Teachers: Jennie Driscoll and Colleen Kearney-Graffam. Quotes from the trip - " What I liked about the contemporary art museum was that we had to think about the art more than just enjoy the piece; you had to use your brain. " "I liked that we saw new art styles and materials used that we had not considered before." #teambrunswickme #maineschoolsuperintendent #brunswickmaine

If you have a child who will be 4 years old on or before 10/15/2025 please join us for PreK Information Night. Tuesday, February 11th 6 :00 - 7:00 pm at Kate Furbish Elementary School on Jordan Ave. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V7tIYDeIsrslPasDoDRFxP34O3Lp6ewIyAvyxsG5LKM/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.hxcb9ft2grq9

Congratulations to Mrs. Albert for being named one of this year's 50 Music Teachers Who Make a Difference by SBO+ Magazine! What a tremendous and well-deserved honor!

This Week's Employee Spotlight - Karen Grant! Karen Grant Technical Support Specialist Karen grew up in Houston, Texas and attended HSPVA High School for Performing and Visual Arts and the SVA (School of Visual Arts) in NYC! What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud I'm proud to work with such a friendly and knowledgable team. They have made me feel truly welcomed. What do you like to do outside of work for fun? Fishing, Designing & Drawing Characters for my Comic Book Ideas. What is your favorite line from a movie? "Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear." If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet? Nina Simone What is something you learned in the last week? Maine's official pattern is plaid.

Our Kindergarten students discovered owl pellets this week! As part of their science studies and K for ME learning, Kindergarteners in Mrs. Lundquist’s class dissected owl pellets to discover what prey owls eat in order to survive. Parents were great leaders to help students get hands-on learning experiences as “scientists.” #teambrunswickme #maineschoolsuperintendent #maine #maineowls #brunswickmaine

Please click the link here to view the January 10th Newsletter. https://secure.smore.com/n/3apes

Volunteering Boasts a Long List of Benefits In addition to academic success, Brunswick School Department's vision of student development includes engagement and collaboration with the community. In fact, volunteering is so important to personal growth and development that students at Brunswick High School are required to complete 30 hours of volunteer work to graduate! Kindness is contagious, and student volunteers have reported that making a difference in the lives of others taught them gratitude, gave them a sense of purpose, and strengthened their confidence. Volunteers also report a greater appreciation for what they have. From a practical sense, volunteer work looks good on a college or work application. Volunteering is especially important for our student-athletes, who give their time and talents to teach their sport to the next generation of players. There is great pride for those who wear the Dragons uniform, along with a sense of responsibility to give back by working with the next generation of student-athletes. Some examples: BHS hockey players spend Monday afternoons at Bowdoin College, working with a group of young Unified Hockey players. While the Unified program -- offered for youth with developmental disabilities -- operates independently from Brunswick schools, some of our players have volunteered for several years. You can find boys’ basketball players teaching kids in the Rec Program, and members of the Brunswick field hockey team love to give back to our youth programs through skills clinics at our other Brunswick schools. The high schoolers have attended junior high games and also invite the younger players to the annual senior night game. Our baseball and softball teams spend time working with youth baseball programs, teaching skills, and even helping at Evaluation Day. Athletic Director Kaili Phillips tells me that both teams are working hard to cultivate a stronger relationship with the youth programs in town. A baseball clinic for youth was a big hit with the kids. There are many other examples of Brunswick students giving back. Our Student Council is always busy organizing blood drives, raising funds to help defray a staff member’s medical bills, coordinating a food drive, and even hosting a thrift store. And that’s on top of their other activities, from homecoming to school spirit events. Our tutoring program is organized, run, and staffed by students, which is great for students who would benefit from extra homework help. I could fill multiple articles with examples of students helping others, both in our school and the community. In our annual exit survey of graduating seniors, students speak very positively about the volunteering experience. That’s very good news. The magic of volunteering is simply that doing good is its own reward. If students can take that feeling with them and continue to help others throughout their lives, they will make the community better for all.

2024: A Year of Local Action in a Changing World - Brunswick Schools Click the Link in the Bio to Read the Article As another year draws to a close, Maine communities have shown that meaningful change often starts at home. In Brunswick, institutions large and small have taken decisive steps toward a more sustainable future, exemplifying how local initiatives can create ripples of positive impact far beyond municipal borders. Take the Brunswick School Department, which has emerged as a beacon of environmental stewardship in 2024. While its primary mission remains preparing students for their diverse futures, the department has recognized that this future must include a healthy planet. By aligning with Brunswick's Climate Action Plan, school officials have demonstrated that educational excellence and environmental responsibility aren't competing priorities – they're complementary imperatives. #teambrunswickme #maineschoolsuperintendent #climateaction #brunswickmaine #maine #environment

Jerry Cross Computer Support Technician How long have you been with the BSD? 19 years What do you enjoy most about working at BSD? It's been so great to work with passionate, friendly, caring, incredible people. The variety of duties in this position has kept me hopping. Working with computers and working with staff and students. One day I'm studying a complex computer issue and the next I'm helping a user understand how a computer works. What do you plan to do on your first day of retirement? My first day will be spent celebrating my 29th birthday again! What do you look forward to most in your retirement years? I'm looking forward to more time building relationships - especially with my granddaughter. We'll be developing our hillside land in Oxford Hills, participating in auto clubs and shows, jamming with musician friends, traveling, summers off, starting a project and finishing (?) it! Tell us about one of your most memorable moments while working in Brunswick. Lots of memorable moments! First of all, Dan Dearing and I worked together for much of the time I've spent here. What a great person! My buddy Mark Rineer and I worked together out of the same office for 3 years. Fun and eventful! The last two years with Tricia as Tech Director have been tremendous. A first-class professional! Many people to be thankful for and grateful to know. Thanks to all for many years working together!!!

🎉🐾 Kate Furbish School Was Buzzing with Excitement This Week! 🐾🎉 Joy was everywhere in our halls as students dove into a week full of fun and learning! 🥳 Here’s a sneak peek at the amazing moments we captured: 🧦 Crazy Sock Day in Kindergarten had everyone showing off their wild style! 🦉 Chewonki's Owl Presentation brought nature up close and personal for our young explorers. 🧸 Stuffie Day in Mrs. Frazee’s class made learning extra cozy and fun. ✨ PreK students discovered the magic of light and reflection. 🐕‍🦺 Kiko the therapy dog stopped by Mrs. Stinson’s room, spreading smiles and calm vibes! What an unforgettable week of creativity, curiosity, and connection at KFS! 💙💛 #MaineschoolSuperintendent #TeamBrunswickME #LearningIsFun #KFSAdventures

🐟🌊 HBS Third Graders Dive into Marine Life Fun! 🌊🐟 Ms. Novak’s third-grade explorers had a shell-tastic time with Snow Island Oysters and Quahog Conservation! 🦀🦪 They discovered the wonders of marine ecosystems, learned how shellfish help protect our waters, and even met a live crab and oyster up close. Talk about a clawsome day! 😄 This hands-on adventure brought science to life and left our students buzzing with curiosity about the world under the waves. 🌟🐚 @mainecoastfishermen #MaineschoolSuperintendent #TeamBrunswickME #MarineScienceMagic #HandsOnLearning

🎉 A Heartfelt Thank You to Joy Prescott for 12 Incredible Years of Service! 🌟 Today, we celebrate and honor Joy Prescott for her remarkable dedication to the students, families, and community of Brunswick, Maine. Since beginning her journey as a School Board member in 2013, Joy has been a steadfast advocate for education and student success. 📚 During her tenure, she served as both Vice Chair and Chair of the School Board, leading with integrity, vision, and a deep commitment to making a lasting impact on our schools. Her 12 years of service have truly been a testament to her unwavering passion for improving education in our community. 💙 Joy, your contributions have shaped countless lives, and your legacy will continue to inspire future generations. On behalf of the entire Brunswick community and School Administration, thank you for your tireless efforts, leadership, and commitment to excellence in education. Let’s all take a moment to express our gratitude to Joy Prescott! 👏 #ThankYouJoy #BrunswickStrong #Teambrunswickme #MaineSchoolSuperintendent #EducationMatters #LeadershipInAction

This Week's Employee Spotlight features the BSD Nursing Department! Jenny Strout (BHS), Jennifer Bowdish (BJHS), Melinda Nadeau (HBS), Janet Rivard (KFS) BSD Nurses Department Collectively, we are Registered Professional Nurses, Nationally Certified by the Board of School Nurses dedicated to maintaining the health and wellbeing for all students in the Brunswick School Department. We have a combined total 97 years of professional nursing experience in a wide range of healthcare settings, including Cardiopulmonary, Emergency Care, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Women’s Health, Inpatient Pediatrics, Pediatric Rehabilitation, Camp Health Center, and of course School Nursing. We have worked in urban and rural settings in and outside of Maine. We all serve on the Executive Committee of the Maine Association of School Nurses and belong to the National Association of School Nurses.

Please click the link below to view this week's Newsletter. https://secure.smore.com/n/nsgm6

Maine Medical Mentors Program Guest Speaker On Nov. 18th, four residents from the Maine Medical Mentors program spoke with Ms. King's Human Anatomy classes. The residents are students at the Tufts School of Medicine that partners with Maine Medical Center for physician training. The residents presented a case study to students, discussed their path into the medical field, and then went to the lab with students to show them how to take a patient's blood pressure, and test patellar and pupillary reflexes. The Maine Mentors Program runs a program called Inside Medicine that holds monthly meetings virtually. The program is full for this academic year but students interested in the program will have an opportunity to participate in the program this summer or next year. #teambrunswickme #maineschoolsuperintendent

Recent HBS Assembly Recap! Last Wednesday, our school community came together for a heartwarming and entertaining assembly! The event began with Mrs. Kenny recognizing students who are "leafing the school a better place," honoring those who have gone above and beyond to spread kindness, show responsibility, and make a positive impact. Each student's name was read aloud, and they received well-deserved applause from their peers and teachers. Next, Mrs. Blanchard delighted the audience with a lively reading of Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins. Her animated storytelling brought the characters to life, and the students were fully captivated by the humorous tale of a grumpy bear and his unexpected duckling companions. The assembly concluded with a show-stopping performance by a group of talented 5th-grade girls. They sang an original, larger-than-life song celebrating our school mascot, the bobcat. Their creativity and enthusiasm had everyone clapping. It was a fantastic assembly that showcased the talents and positivity of our school community! #teambrunswickme #maineschoolsuperintendent

5th Grade Tech Class Robot Day at HBS! 5th graders earned Robot Day in their tech class! Students voted on which robot to explore, with most classes choosing the Sphero Bolts. Using iPads, they learned to calibrate their Spheros, drive them using the app, and even code them with the drawing tool. The classes were buzzing with activity as students played games like Four Corners and Golf and showcased their creativity by designing obstacle courses to race their robots through. It was a class full of hands-on learning, problem-solving, and fun! #teambrunswickme #maineschoolsuperintendent

🎉🎧 2024 Brunswick Buzz Podcast Wrapped! 🎧🎉 🔗🔗​ In bio to listen to past episodes What a year it’s been! 🎙️ We’re wrapping up 2024 with a huge THANK YOU to all of our amazing listeners who made this year so unforgettable! From local legends to behind-the-scenes stories, we’ve covered it all — and YOU were right there with us, every step of the way! 🙌 ✨ Here’s a quick look back at some of the highlights: 🌟 Incredible Guests 📊 Record-Breaking Numbers We can’t wait to keep ​Buzzing into 2025 with even more stories, insights, and of course, all the local love. 💙 ​Thanks to Producer Ryan Weed for making the magic happen. I couldn't do it without you! #BrunswickBuzzWrapped #PodcastRecap #2024Highlights #LocalVoices #BuzzingInto2025​ #maineschoolsuperintendent #teambrunswickme

Yesterday, the Brunswick High School Mock Trial Team won the State Mock Trial Championship, defeating Casco Bay High School in the finals! 🐉 The team is pictured below at the Capital Judicial Center with their coaches, Chris Leighton and Timothy Scott. #teambrunswickme #maineschoolsuperintendent #brunswickhighschool #statechampions