In Today’s News

Sumner students get lesson on organ

The Kotzschmar organ from the Merrill Auditorium is played by Ray Cornils, Portland’s city organist. He spent some time in Megan Andrews Wright’s music classes in Hartford-Sumner Elementary School introducing the students to the 2,000 year old and the music of J.S. Bach. Click here to read the entire article published in the Oxford Hills Sun Journal, November 2nd.

Over 800 Works of Art!!!

Baby Journal

In early September students in grades K-8 were invited to submit artwork to be considered for the First Lady’s upcoming new family friendly Love.Read.Learn!™ Baby Journal. Over 800 pieces of artwork arrived at the Blaine House last week which represented all 9 grade levels from all regions of the state.

On Friday morning it was a pleasure to work alongside First Lady Ann LePage and Becky Dyer from the Barbara Bush Foundation, art teachers Lynne Shulman and Kathy Smith, to select the student artwork.

Students were asked to create original artwork that represented what living in Maine means to them. It was evident that students were inspired by their favorite places and activities. The images were as wide and varied as our state and citizens including moose, deer, fish, lighthouses, the beach and mountains, blueberries, winter and summer activities, families having fun together, and so many other great ideas! The artwork was created using a wide variety of medium including pencil, color pencils, markers, water color crayons, paints, and much more. The techniques varied as well including collage, printmaking, and more.

Needless to say it was no easy task to select 32 pieces from the outstanding submissions. As you can see from the photos the artwork was on display in many rooms throughout the Blaine House. The First Lady had arranged them for us so we could jump right into the task of selecting the artwork using a rubric to guide our work.

The journal is to promote literacy and health to families of newborn babies in Maine and will be provided at no cost to parents of newborns. The First Lady, Ann LePage, has partnered with the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy with the Maine is ME book theme.

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all the teachers who helped guide students and submitted student artwork for consideration. THANK YOU to the over 800 students who used their artistic knowledge to create the outstanding work!

The artists work that was selected will be announced and posted on the meartsed blog in the near future.

Becky Dyer, First Lady Ann LePage, Lynne Shulman, Kathy Smith discussing artwork