TO: RSU #74 Board of Directors
FROM: Jean Butler
DATE: October 29, 2025
PreK-5 ELEMENTARY REPORT
The arrival of November reminds us of falling leaves, colder temperatures, and the transition back to standard time when daylight slips away earlier in the afternoon. But November also brings the season of Thanksgiving and the chance to connect with family members we might not see often enough, and
the holiday season is right behind. Those are special times in our schools when we help students to remember the people and things in their lives to be thankful for and to involve them in finding ways to celebrate the season of giving.
On October 24th, our grades 3-5 students finished taking the fall NWEA Through-Year Assessment, which is required by the Maine Department of Education as part of the Maine Educational Assessment. Students took tests in reading and math and will take these tests again in May. Fifth graders will also take a science assessment in May. We analyze this test data in our leadership teams and at our data meetings to help us determine the programming needs of our students.
During October and November, teachers are holding parent-teacher conferences. Our goal is to meet with 100% of our parents to set goals for each student and to enlist parents’ support and involvement in their child’s education. Establishing relationships with parents early in the school year helps to form partnerships in which teachers and parents work together to support students along their learning journey.
Both Garret Schenck and Solon Elementary Schools are sponsoring Thanksgiving Food Drives during the month of November. This is an annual activity that teaches students the spirit of giving and supports food cupboards in the towns of Anson and Solon during the holiday season.
November is time for representatives from each school to get together to identify families who need some help purchasing Christmas gifts for their children. Families often have children in two or more schools so we decide which school will buy for which families. We are fortunate that not only staff members but also community partners such as churches and other organizations will take responsibility for buying gifts for some of these families. Everyone who takes a tag from the Giving Tree buys for that child, wraps the gifts, and returns them to one of the schools. We then contact parents to pick them up to put under their tree on Christmas morning. This is what Christmas is all about!
If you have questions about anything in my schools, please contact me.
Have a nice Thanksgiving with your families!