Headlines...News from David Sullivan
I'd like to thank everyone who came to the Ice Cream Social Friday! It was a wonderful evening filled with moments of sadness and joy. We celebrated another great year at Breakwater, said farewell to good friends who are leaving the community, acknowledged the astounding contributions of our volunteers, and enjoyed ice cream cones compliments of the BPA and blue grass music provided by the Jerks of Grass! To view photos from this event, please click here.
While it may seem that the school year is over, the summer is actually an important time at Breakwater when we focus on planning and visioning for the future. During the past few months I have been doing a great deal of thinking about our mission and how it relates to developing a vision for the future. This soul searching has prompted me to draft a refined Mission Statement for Breakwater. I would like to invite you to join me in a conversation about the mission and provide your feedback. I have scheduled two opportunities for these discussions:
Tuesday, June 23 at 5 pm* and Monday, June 29 at 9:30 am. Both events will be held on campus, with specific locations to be determined.
*After the June 23 meeting, I invite you to go to El Rayo Taqueria for dinner. (See Community News story below about El Rayo donating to Breakwater a portion of their proceeds from the entire day on June 23!)
Please Join Us: 2009 Commencement
June 12 - 9:30 am - Daniel N. Crewe Gymnasium
On Friday, June 12, please join Breakwater in celebrating the Commencement of our 5th and 8th grade students. All members of the Breakwater Community are welcome at this event.
Refugee Backpack Program
This past Friday, Breakwater donated approximately 40 "Welcome Kits" to the refugee families via the Refugee Resettlement Program. This school-wide community service program has been a part of the Breakwater curriculum for well over a decade. The "Welcome Kits" created by learning buddy groups are back packs filled with items our students thought would be helpful to families new to Maine. Some items are store-bought, thanks to the bottle drive and proceeds from the Talent Show. Other items are student-made, such as books on where to go in the area.
On Friday, Tarlan from the Refugee Resettlement Program came to Breakwater to pick up the Welcome Kits. He brought with him a special guest, a woman named Alaa who had recently come from Iraq. Alaa spoke to our students about what it was like to be a refugee and her experiences as a translator.
After the Ceremony of Giving, Breakwater students enjoyed their Annual Popsicle Party! Thank you to everyone who made this program possible by supporting the bottle drive and talent show and donating time, backpacks, or items!
Photo: Tarlan with a group of students and his car full of backpacks for refugee families.
Head of School for a Day
Fifth Grader Linnea Hull took her responsibilities as Head of School (for the day) very seriously on Friday. Among her rule-changes while she was in charge was extending recess and allowing students to have candy. Students were thrilled with these one-day changes in policy!
Also while in charge, Linnea oversaw the installation of two new signs at Breakwater's. To view photos from the installation of the signs, click here!
Thank you to Linnea for taking over some of David Sullivan's responsibilities on Friday!
Photo: Linnea points to one of Breakwater's new signs.
A Message from Shana Haines
I'm sad to say that Friday was my last day at Breakwater School. Thinking of my years here brings a flood of memories of smiling children and other amazing people. I have learned an immeasurable amount from this loving community and I will miss you dearly. The second I set foot inside the brick building for my interview in 2004, I felt the specialness of Breakwater and I knew that it was the place for me. My interview confirmed my feelings, and I was ecstatic to get the job. I had never taught first and second grade before and I only had one week to prepare. Of course, as always at Breakwater, my tremendous colleagues came to my aid.
With only a few days before the kids came, my teaching team of Sarah Adams, Mr. J, Mrs. Kennedy and Bridge spent long hours explaining to me what I needed to teach and helping me set up my classroom. I was so nervous to meet my students and their parents, but my fears were instantly allayed when I met Bevan and Tom, Whit, Amy and Hal before school started. Breakwater immediately put me at ease, and this comfort has nurtured my growth as a professional just as it nurtures the intellectual growth of our students. The Breakwater faculty are individual models of great people. The families exemplify how life should be and are models of parenting.
The support I have received from this special community is unparalleled. During the best times of my life, the births of my children, Breakwater has been there to celebrate with me. During the worst times, Breakwater has been there to help guide me and to give me many hands to hold. This support has meant the world to me and remains with me. I can't thank you enough for giving me such positive examples of family relationships and healthy outlooks on life. My memories of Breakwater are plentiful, colorful, and full of love. I can barely remember who I was five years ago, before all of you entered my life.
I am enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Kansas in Lawrence and will be studying Special Education with a focus on multi-cultural issues in parent-professional relationships. Seth, my husband, will be working toward a Master's degree in architecture. I am excited to live in the midwest for a few years and Seth is excited to live closer to home. Seth's dad and his wife live 5 minutes outside of Lawrence. They are very excited for us to move closer and will be a tremendous help with the boys.
I hope to hear from as many of you as possible! My personal email address is shanaj500@yahoo.com. Please keep in touch! I'll be back in town to visit (although not as often as I'd like) and I hope that we'll be back for good in a few years!
2009-10 School Calendar Available!
Planning for next year?
Take a moment to view our calendar for the 2009-10 School Year, available on our website.
Join us on Tuesday, September 8 for Sneak Preview Day and our Annual Back to School Social. After such a great year, we can't wait for the next one!
Third and Fourth Graders Study Poetry
Third and fourth graders have been writing a great deal of poetry over the last few weeks. In Mr. Fisher’s class, students found photographs that interested them and then wrote poems in response to those photographs. Ms. Bullett’s class has learned many different poetry forms this year including limerick, cinquain, and haiku.
We thought we would share some with you:
In the silence of blood
The heart pumping
Muffled
Inside the deep nest of flesh, protected
An egg
Layers of tissue paper
Folding back from the center
Something is in there
An angel
A devil
A beautiful creature with diamonds for eyes
We are afraid in the crimson quiet
The egg
Cracks
- By Annabelle, Grade 4
There once was a cat named rat
He found the lost city of Tat
There were bugs and thugs
Also coffee mugs
But Rat got scooped in a hat
- By Chris, Grade 4
The jagged rock
Lay in front of a grey aurora
A wrecked palace
in the ashes of hope
You cringe in pain
as the blood
trickles down your leg
A bad dream
that will not end.
Then Silence
- By Brandon, Grade 4
Summertime
Hot Sweat
Slurping Yummy Ice Cream
Fluorescent Pretty Flower Colors
Iced Tea
- By Antonia, Grade 3
To read more poetry by Breakwater's Third and Fourth Grade Poets, click here!
Breakwater Photo Albums
Click on the following links to view Breakwater's recent photo albums:
Want to be notified as soon as Breakwater uploads new photos? Become a fan of Breakwater on Facebook!
Community News
El Rayo Taqueria Supports Breakwater
On June 23, El Rayo Taqueria will be donating a portion of their proceeds to Breakwater! Visit their website to look over their menu. This restaurant offers delicious food and a fun, festive atmosphere. So visit them on June 23 and not only will you get a great meal - but you will also be supporting Breakwater. El Rayo is located at 101 York Street and is open 7 days a week. We'd like to extend a special thank you to Breakwater family, Lorie and Tod Dana, and El Rayo for offering this day!
Breakwater Creative Arts Festival Day 2009 - Save the Date!
Friday, July 31, 9 am to 3 pm
Join us to see BCA artwork, the original musical "The Spooky School" Dance performances, music performances, food and fun!
Kudos
Breakwater's Fifth Grade would like to thank everyone who made their Yard and Bake Sale such a success this year! The Fifth Grade Class of 2009 is donating $100 raised from this event to Breakwater.
Thank you to everyone who came to the Ice Cream Social and bravo to all our amazing volunteers who were recognized at the event! Special thanks to all our Ice Cream Scoopers!
Thank you to everyone who helped out on our Parent Work Day on Saturday: Lorie Dana, Josh Edlund, Paul Jones, Michael Jones, Lisa Flanagan, Amy Ford, Sam Fratoni, Moriah Perry, Bill Seeley, Stacey Towne, Camilla Whitehead, and Bevan Whitehead. The campus is singing!
Kudos to Whit Ford for taking so many of the photos that appear in our photo galleries.
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