Teachers Meet to Work on Math Curriculum

Last week, St. Brigid’s upper-grade math teachers met to discuss and refine the math curriculum. They spoke with teachers from area high schools to learn more about what is expected of incoming freshmen. 

With most states beginning to implement nationally developed standards, the teachers felt it was important to examine those learning outcomes and ensure St. Brigid students continue to receive a superior educational experience.

Fine Arts Night

Last week’s Fine Arts night amazed the St. Brigid community with the creative talents of our school’s students. The evening showcased the visual arts, with pieces by students of all grades adorning the walls of the Fr. Hayes Center. Attendees were also treated to an impressive show by the band as well as vocal and instrumental performances by individual students.

Proceeds from the event are to be donated to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. 

First Communion Preparations

The second graders at St. Brigid have been busily preparing for their First Communion, which will take place on Saturday, April 27.

Students in Mrs. Ouellette’s class used the St. Joseph rectory kitchen to make bread this week. They mixed the ingredients, allowed the dough to rise, and formed it into delicious rolls that baked in the oven.

Students also created a map of friends and family that will be coming to Maine from around the world to attend the First Communion celebration.

St. Brigid Students Deliver Speeches at Regional Competition

Marissa (grade 6), Robert (grade 7) and Emily (grade 8) delivered
excellent speeches at the regional Civic Oration in Auburn last
Tuesday. Their stories of people who have overcome obstacles
had the audience riveted. Great job!

Holocaust Survivor Speaks at McAuley

Seventh grade students from St. Brigid attended a talk this week by a survivor of the Holocaust. Max Slabotzky, a Portland tailor who grew up in Belgium, came to McAuley on Tuesday to share his World War II experiences with high school and middle school students.

Mr. Slabotzky, 83, talked to the audience about how he was separated from his family and went into hiding when he was just 12 years old. After being caught by the Gestapo, he was taken by train to Auschwitz and forced into labor.

Upon liberation, Mr. Slabotzky learned that his mother had gone to a different camp and been a victim of medical experiments. She passed away shortly after they were reunited. His father had been sent to a mine, where he died as well. A younger brother - who had been kept safe in a convent - was the only other survivor in the family.

The talk fits well into the seventh grade’s upcoming interdisciplinary unit on World War II.

St. Brigid Students to Sing at Pirates Game

Our St. Brigid 4th graders will be singing “God Bless America” on the ice at the opening of the Portland Pirates game on Sunday, April 7th at 4:00PM.

The classes have been rehearsing for over a month and are extremely excited. They will be wearing their school uniforms.

The Pirates will be taking on the Springfield Falcons! 

- Crystal Found

St. Brigid Auction

Greg Lagerquist, anchor for WGME-13 news, will be the emcee and auctioneer for the St. Brigid auction tonight. St. Brigid students Issac and Gabe Russell had the opportunity to tour the station and meet Mr. Lagerquist.

Civic Oration

This year’s school level of the Civic Oration competition featured eight St. Brigid students in grades 5-8. These talented individuals, selected by their classroom teachers, delivered speeches about people who overcame obstacles to achieve greatness. 

Subjects of the speeches ranged from famous people such as Beethoven to personal friends and family members of the speakers. Two students will advance to the regional level. Marissa Page, grade 6, told the touching story of her older brother’s struggle with Tourette Syndrome. The overall winner was 7th-grader Robert Bossong. He wrote about a blind teenager who was the only known person to learn how to see using echolocation.

Marissa and Robert will move on to the regional level of the Civic Oration, which will be held at St. Dominic Academy after April vacation. Good luck!

Grade 8 Presents Living Stations of the Cross

The eighth-graders of St. Brigid acted out the Stations of the Cross as part of the school's observance of Lent and Easter. They did a beautiful job of portraying the stations with honesty and sensitivity.

Third Grade Special Projects

Grade three has been very busy in the past month, especially with science-related activities. 

Nursing students from the University of New England visited the classes recently to teach a lesson about germs. The future nurses gave a “hands-on” demonstration of the importance of cleanliness in avoiding the spread of illnesses. After putting a special, “germ cream” on their hands, the kids used a fluorescent light to see where the simulated bacteria and viruses collected. They then washed their hands. A second viewing under the light revealed that some students hadn’t quite rid themselves of the “germs.” 

Meanwhile, in one corner of Mrs. White’s room, an insulated tank is host to the eggs of salmon. For over a decade, Mrs. White has participated in the Fish Friends program. The program helps to restock salmon populations and teaches students about the life cycle of this important creature. Some of the eggs have already hatched into fry. When the fish are old enough, students will release them at a location to be determined. 

During past years the fish have been Atlantic salmon that had to be released into a local river; this year, for the first time, the eggs are from a landlocked subspecies that will probably have to be freed in a lake instead.