Atwood Primary School was the recipient of a Gratitude Grant two years ago, but the inside recess toys purchased through the grant were being put to good use with last week’s rain! #WeAreRSU18 #AtwoodAwesome
The outdoor kitchen is a huge hit on the playground at Atwood Primary School! Recess after recess the children are baking mud pies and serving their hungry customers! So much imagination at work. #WeAreRSU18 #AtwoodAwesome
Kindergarten screening is underway at the Atwood Primary School! A steady stream of kindergartners and preschoolers are working through stations in the library to demonstrate their skills. The children are cheerful and excited to show what they know! #WeAreRSU18 #AtwoodAwesome
What a wonderful first morning as staff welcomed many of our district students back to a new school year! It was a big day for some – especially our youngest learners. Here is Superintendent of Schools, Carl Gartley, ushering a new kindergartener into Atwood Primary School on his first school day! #WeAreRSU18
What was your greatest memory from last school year?
The greatest memories I had from last year were going to the NELE Expo with first graders, seeing the kids succeed at reaching the school reading goal for the read-a-thon, and the end-of-year carnival.
What are you most looking forward to about this upcoming school year?
I am looking forward to seeing all of our returning and new students, and getting to hear about their summers. It is going to be an Atwood AWESOME year!
If you weren’t an administrator, what other profession would you be interested in?
A pirate sailing the high seas in search of treasure.
Where’s your favorite place to explore?
The night sky.
Tell us about your family!
My partner Jodi is a nurse, and my daughter Reagan will be starting fifth grade at the Bean school. We love to play games, ride bikes, and play with our pets!
Sweet, salty, or spicy snacks?
Trolli Gummy Worms.
What is one thing you’d like to share with the students of your school building?
The reason the door to the maintenance closet is always closed is because there’s really a portal to another dimension in there, and we really don’t want anyone to fall in.
What is something you are thankful for?
Commas, no one wants to eat grandma.
What is one of the proudest moments you’ve had so far in your life?
That time I remembered to open my parachute after jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.
Welcome back to another wonderful school year! We are counting down the days until we welcome students back into our school houses. Until then we will be introducing our incredible building administrators. First up is Atwood Primary School’s principal, Jennifer McGee.
What was your greatest memory from last school year?
At the end of the school year we have an annual carnival which is a celebration of the learning we have done all year! I love when the children run out onto the playground which has been transformed into a carnival designed just for them. We have a dunk tank, a petting zoo, games, fire trucks and police cars, tattoos, an army truck, and karaoke. All of the wonderful stations are designed for play and exploration. I always get teary eyed when I watch the children run from one event to the next… big smiles and free to just be themselves at play!
I also have to mention I did kiss a pig, Petunia, last year because the Atwood Awesome children won a reading challenge during our read-a-thon! Petunia did NOT like kissing me judging from her squealing and throwing a giant piggy fit, but it was pretty memorable (and somewhat terrifying) for me!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
Here’s a fun fact! I am waiting for my 8th grandchild to be born in January of this school year! I thought being a Mommy would be the most incredible part of my life on this planet… but being a Gigi… that has been so amazing. I can’t wait for the next little grandbaby to arrive!
Where’s your favorite place to explore?
I just love exploring the great state of Maine and all of the beautiful secret places that exist in the lakes, mountains, coastline, and woods of our state! However, I have so much exploring to do. I have never seen the grand canyon or the west coast of the United States, so those are future places I cannot wait to visit!
What is something you are thankful for?
I am very thankful to have been an educator for my entire career. I have always remained a teacher at heart and I have worked with the most extraordinary teachers on the planet. It is such a gift to watch them weave their magical lessons that turn little children into readers, writers, mathematicians, and scientists! Honestly, this career has been a wonderful gift.
What is one of the proudest moments you’ve had so far in your life?
I am not sure of the proudest moment of my life, but I am most proud of the amazing children my husband and I have! They are incredible adults who make the world a better place. They are hard workers, compassionate humans, and they are in helping professions that assist people, of all ages, in all different ways – and that makes me incredibly proud!
By: Maggie Solis, Williams Elementary Dean of Students
By: Principal McGee, Atwood Primary School
The Atwood Primary School celebrated a wonderful year of learning by ending the school year with their annual carnival! Children enjoyed yummy snacks, games, a petting zoo, challenges, and community vehicles to explore! Over 400 people we in attendance! It was truly #AtwoodAwesome! #WeAreRSU18
