Week 36 - Monday, June 1 - June 5

Dear Memorial Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back after a beautiful weekend. There is a lot going on, so let me get right to relating to you the events and activities of the week.

The District Art Show opens tonight at the South Portland Community Center at 6:00 p.m. While people can wander through the Community Center before the "official" opening, there will be a program that includes student performances at 6:00 p.m. The show will continue through the week. If you have never been to the District Art Show, it is definitely worth your time. Every school and every class have a section of students' art on display. Our students' art is breathtaking. The array and detail of all of the projects is truly impressive. The Art Show will close on Friday afternoon. I hope that you have time to check it out and be as amazed as I am by our students' talent.

On Tuesday night, our chorus and 7th and 8th grade band will have their last performance at the auditorium at SPHS. This is always one of my favorite concerts, but it always leaves me a little melancholy, as I know that it is the last time I get to hear our 8th graders perform as Memorial students. I always feel a bit better thinking that I will hear them when they perform for SPHS! The concert starts at 7:00 p.m.

This Wednesday, our 7th grade students will be going to Funtown for a day of fun and science (not necessarily in that order). Students will be examining the effects of different activities on their heart rates and other vital signs. They will be calculating and comparing the energy consumed against the energy they have expended as they ride the rides and run around Funtown. Finally, they will be looking around Funtown to identify areas of pathogenic concerns. In my conversations with the students who have returned from this trip in other years, I am always struck by how much our students take from the experience. The students will be leaving Memorial at 9:30 and returning in time to catch their buses at the end of the day.

For our parents and guardians who have an incoming 6th grader, our 5th grade parent night will be held on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. in the library. Even if you have a child at Memorial now, it is important to attend, as some new information will be shared.

We will hold our Yearbook Assembly this Friday afternoon. Students who ordered a yearbook will receive their yearbook right after the assembly. Time will be provided in the last 30 minutes of the day for students to sign one another's yearbook. We expect that there will be a few extra yearbooks that will be available for sale. We make these books available first to 8th grade students and then if there are still books left, they are then made available to the 7th and then the 6th grade students, If your child is not going to get a yearbook, they will be provided with a "Memories" packet that they can use to have friends sign at the end of the day on Friday.

This Saturday night is the 8th Grade Social, which will be held at SPHS from 7:00 until 9:30 p.m. in the lower cafeteria of South Portland High School. The theme this year is "Hollywood" and I am told that the decorations and other bells and whistles are quite exciting! If you are interested in helping with decorations and with the set up, you are welcome to join in the fun at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. Food and drink donations can also be dropped off at the High School cafeteria after 3:00 p.m. It is always such a great night for our kids. Thank you to all of the parents that make it possible.

Before the end of the year, it is important for us to take time out to thank all of the parents, not only those bringing us the 8th Grade Social - who have volunteered their time in all of the various endeavors at Memorial. Without the support of our parents, so many of the events and activities at Memorial could not be carried out. Volunteers can stop by JP Thorton's on Monday, June 8 from 7:00 - 11:00 a.m. to get a cup of coffee and a pastry, compliments of us.

This is the last week for most of our athletic teams. With the rainy days last week, there have been some changes to the athletic schedules. Please check out the events listed below.

Next week is yet another busy week with a performance by our drama club, the REACH Closing Ceremonies and our Field Day on Friday afternoon. If you are interested in joining us for Field Day events on Friday afternoon, please contact Janet Flynn or Lisa Ranger in the Main Office.

Next Tuesday is the citywide budget and bond referendum votes.
Voting will take place at the Community Center from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Information about the vote is included at the end of this newsletter. Please make sure that you do all you can to get out to vote on Tuesday, June 9.

As always, you are encouraged to contact the school should you have questions or concerns. Have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,
Megan Welter

Events this week:
Monday, June 1 - Day #6
2:30 - 4:00 p.m. - Drama rehearsal - cafeteria
2:30 p.m. - Homework Club in room 108
3:30 p.m. - Baseball vs Lincoln @ Memorial
3:30 p.m. - Softball vs Lincoln @ Wainwright
3:30 p.m. - Boys' Lacrosse vs. Saco @ Wainwright
3:30 p.m. - Girls' Lacrossse vs. Saco @ Wainwright
6:00 p.m. - District Art Show Opening at South Portland Community Center
7:00 p.m. – Special School Board Meeting - City Hall Conference room

Tuesday, June 2 - Day # 1
District Art Show Continues - SP Community Center
Connections day
2:30 p.m. - Homework Club - Room 108
2:30 - 4:00 p.m. – Drama rehearsal - cafeteria
3:30 p.m. - Girls' Festival Meet @ Windham
7:00 p.m. - 7th & 8th Grade Band & Chorus concert @ SPHS

Wednesday, June 3 - Day #2
District Art Show Continues - SP Community Center
9:30 - 2:00 p.m. - Grade 7 to Funtown
2:30 p.m. - Homework Club - room 108
2:30 - 4:00 p.m. - Drama rehearsal - cafeteria
2:30 p.m. - Builders' Club - room 307
3:30 p.m. - Boys' Festival Meet @ Windham
3:30 p.m. - Baseball vs Mahoney @ Memorial
3:30 p.m. - Softball vs Mahoney @ Wainwright
3:30 p.m. - Boys' lacrosse vs. Gorham @ Memorial
3:30 p.m. - Girls' lacrosse vs. Gorham @ Mahoney
6:30 p.m. - 5th Grade Parent Night - Library

Thursday, June 4 - Day # 3
District Art Show Continues - SP Community Center
No Homework Club
No Drama rehearsal
2:30 p.m. - Staff Meeting
3:30 p.m. - Boys' lacrosse @ Scarborough
3:30 p.m. - Girls' lacrosse @ Scarborough

Friday, June 5 - Day # 4
Last Day of the District Art Show - SP Community Center
1:00 p.m. - Yearbook Assembly in the gym
1:40-2:10 p.m. - Yearbook signing
2:30 - 4:00 p.m. - Drama rehearsal - Dress rehearsal (if necessary) - cafeteria
3:30 p.m. - Softball vs. Moore @ Moore (rescheduled after 5/28 rain-out)
3:30 p.m. - Baseball vs. Moore @ Moore (rescheduled after 5/28 rain-out)

Next Week + a few dates of note:
Saturday, June 6 - 8th Grade Social - SPHS
Monday, June 8 - Regular School Board Meeting - City Council Chambers
Tuesday, June 9 - Vote on Budget and Bond referendums - 7 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Community Center
Tuesday, June 9 - Drama production 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 10 - Step Up day for Kaler, Brown & Dyer
Thursday, June 11 - Step Up for Skillin
Thursday, June 11 - Closing Ceremonies for REACH 6 p.m.
Friday, June 12 - Field Day (afternoon)
Monday, June 15 - Whale Watch - Grade 6 / Point Sebago - Grade 8
Tuesday, June 16 - Grade 8 Step Up to SPHS & Final assembly at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 17 - Release at 11:15 a.m. & final assemblies
Grade 7 - 8:15 a.m.
Grade 6 - 9:15 a.m.

Budget Messages
Vote - June 9, 2009 (7:00 am - 8:00 pm)
• South Portland Community Center (only voting location)
• Absentee ballots available through South Portland City Hall

Maintains high quality education for South Portland students focused on improving student achievement by reallocating existing resources to the following target areas:
• Educating the "whole student" by offering a continuum of services
• Maintenance of facilities
• Kindergarten - Grade 12 Literacy
• Technology Integration
• Professional development
• Curriculum support and supplies (Math Implementation K-12)

Board Budget adopted April 2, 2009
• 16 positions eliminated or reduced
• No programs eliminated
• Class size guidelines upheld
• *0% Increase from taxes (Significantly lower than 3.5% allowed by City Council)

*State subsidy numbers are still being finalized

District Administration salary freeze and Administrator Association re-negotiated collective bargaining agreement salary freeze for 2009-2010

Bond Messages
Vote - June 9, 2009
• South Portland Community Center
• Absentee ballots available through South Portland City Hall

$5.8 million Bond Package initiates Step 1 of Five-Year $41,000,000 Maintenance Plan addressing health and safety issues, ADA compliance, and updating mechanical and electrical systems to bring our two middle schools and high school up to code.

South Portland High School ($2,378,500)
• Electrical Entrance - Increase electrical capacity to meet current needs and correct code violations. Install generator to maintain back-up power.
• Fire Alarm/Emergency Lighting - Install fire alarm notification in all classrooms, correct installation of existing devices and provide ADA compliant fire alarm systems. Replace fire alarm control panel and emergency lighting to meet codes.
• Stairwells/Emergency Egress/Handrails - Remove and replace existing stairwell entrance systems and replace with fire rated doors, frames and construction for student safety in the event of a fire. Replace handrails to meet code.
• Auditorium Dehumidification System study to begin to address humidity control in the Auditorium.
• Building Security System - Install new entrances with second entrances. Install cross corridor doors. Install surveillance and intrusion detection system.

Mahoney Middle School ($1,574,000)
• Electrical Entrance - Modify the electrical service entrance which currently runs unprotected through an old transformer vault in a storage area. Increase electrical capacity to meet current needs.
• Fire Alarm/Emergency Lighting - Upgrade notification system to meet ADA requirements. Replace emergency lighting to meet codes.
• Stairwells/Emergency Egress/Handrails - Enclose stairs in fire-rated separation. Correct egress issue and entrance door system in cafeteria. Replace handrails to meet code.
• Building Security System - Renovate Guidance/Classroom area into a new main office. Rebuild stairs as main entry for all students. Install surveillance and intrusion detection system
• Site Bus Loop/Parent Drop-off - Create new bus loop and parent drop-off, off street creating a safe zone to load and unload students

Memorial Middle School ($1,878,800)
• Electrical Entrance - Upgrade electrical entrance to increase capacity to service school and make the electrical entrance safe.
• Sprinkler System/Fire Alarm/Emergency Lighting - Install wet sprinkler system throughout the building. Install fire alarm notification and correct installation of existing devices. Replace fire alarm control panel and emergency lighting to meet codes.
• End Exterior Walls and Stairwells - Tie masonry walls to floor diaphragm to prevent further separation of the walls from the building. Remove and replace existing stairwell entrance systems and replace with fire rated doors, frames and construction. Replace handrails to meet code.
• Building Security System - Install new entrances with second entrances, and cross-corridor doors. Install surveillance and intrusion detection system.

Work completed through the bond will not be undone through a future High School renovation project.

"Strong Schools" attract residents to build a "Strong Community"