Guy E. Rowe School

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ASPIRE AWARDS — Pictured with their scholarship awards are front, from left, Anthony Michaud, grade 6, with the Austin Associates scholarship; Jack Bessette, grade 1, with the Suzanne and Rupert Grover scholarship; Madolyn Niemi, grade 5, with the Wayne and Kathleen Chandler scholarship; Gianna Dillon, grade 2, with the Heywood Clubs scholarship; Austin Fox, grade 2, with the Cents for Kids scholarship; Rory Manchester-Wells, grade 3, with the Stephens Memorial Hospital scholarship; Levi Morin, kindergarten, with the New Balance scholarship; and Vincent Lucey, grade 4, the James Boyce Builders scholarship. Back row, left to right, scholarship presenters Patty Rice, Tally Decato, Barbara Howard, Donna Robinson, Barbara Allen, and Principal George Sincerbeaux.

Aspire scholarship

At our November 14th scholarship assembly, eight (8) Rowe students were announced as the scholarship winners from Rowe School for Aspire Higher.

All of our student names were put in for the drawing for attending the Aspire Higher march on October 23rd and those for attending the evening presentation on November 5. Helping Mr. Sincerbeaux present the scholarships was Aspire Higher committee member Tally Decato.

Dangerous items

In the past weeks we have had a few incidents of students bringing items to school that should not be here – and most are in the younger grades. We have had students bring in lighters, a small pocket knife, a screwdriver, and even a small leatherman tool.

In almost all of the cases the student found the item in their backpack and told a teacher. Please make it a habit to check your child’s backpack and belongings to ensure these types of items do not go to school with them.

There is no reason that elementary students should have these items.

New benches

Hopefully all of you have had the chance to see the three new benches that are outside the doors on our bus loop exit. Our PTO purchased one of them and two anonymous donors purchased the other two.

New Balance, our corporate sponsor, has agreed to purchase another bench. So we have ordered two more – with our miscellaneous activity funds picking up the other. When these are installed, we will have five benches outside that exit. We hope you enjoy them – and thank you to those who have made it possible!

REACH presentations

Children in our grades preK, K, 3, 5, and 6 will be having the REACH presentations from November 27 through December 13. This is yet another way in which we strive to keep ALL of our children safe. Here is information on all of the presentations as well as parent meetings that have been scheduled throughout the different communities in Oxford Hills.

Personal Safety Programs are once again being presented to students district wide. The programs will be offered to students in Kindergarten, 3rd, 5th and 6th grade during the coming months. REACH educators will present these programs to the students. This is the 6th year these specific programs have been in the schools.

The goal of REACH is to reduce the incidence of sexual abuse and harassment by teaching children how to recognize and deal with potentially dangerous situations. Educators use age and developmentally appropriate language and content.

The “Three Kinds of Touches Program” is presented to students in grades PreK – 2. This program offers clear explanations about Safe, Ouch and Uh-Oh touches and personal boundaries. It discusses how touches make us feel, and what to do when someone is unsafe or inappropriate. “No, Go, Tell” is also used to give children the skills to speak up and tell a safe grown-up when they feel the need.

The “Child Lures Program” is presented to students in grades 3 – 5. This program teaches students personal safety skills that enable them to take an active and necessary role in protecting themselves from exploitation, abduction and Internet crimes.

Sixth grade students learn about Sexual Harassment and how it is a violation of their Civil Rights to be sexually harassed at school. Students learn the difference between flirting and sexual harassment and who they can report harassment to.

Parent information meetings will be held in several locations to accommodate parents throughout the district. Please attend the meeting that is most convenient for you and your family.

• South Paris, November 19, Monday, 6 p.m., REACH Office, 1 East Main Street

• Oxford, November 20, Tuesday, 10 a.m., Oxford Town Office

• Harrison, November 20, Tuesday, 1 p.m., Harrison Town Office, Community Rm

Advocates of REACH (Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services) are available 24 hours a day to speak to men, women and children who have been affected by any sort of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. Services provided by REACH are free and confidential for residents of Oxford County (1-800-871-7741), including the towns of Harrison and Bridgton.

Parents who have questions about the education programs may call staff during the day at 743-9777.

Upcoming events

November 22 – 25 Thanksgiving break, no school

November 28 – PTO meeting, 6 p.m.

December 3 – 7 PTO Book Fair

December 7 – First trimester assembly, 9 a.m.

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DICTIONARIES — On Friday, November 2, several members of the Oxford Rotary Club were at Rowe to present dictionaries to our third grade students. The rotary has been doing this wonderful community service initiative for several years and once again, our students benefited from it. We thank them for their continual efforts to help our students as they Aspire Higher in their education. Pictured above is Emily Coye’s third grade classroom.