News

Here is this week's Community News from the RSU 21 Communications Department!

Inside:

• Super Bowl champion visits KCS
• MSK team "makes history"
• Math teams soar at meet

KENNEBUNK, Maine - A Kennebunk High School student was among the first local high school students to complete a groundbreaking dual enrollment pilot program in Hospitality Services at York County Community College (YCCC), culminating with a graduation ceremony held on May 8. 

Hank Flynn received post-secondary micro-credentials for completing the course, which opens doors to internships and employment opportunities with area businesses. Flynn’s mother, a YCCC graduate herself, was there to cheer on her son.

The year-long program, the first of its kind at YCCC and in the state of Maine, was designed to be accessible to all learners and introduced students to multiple facets of the hospitality industry, including kitchen operations, dining services, grounds maintenance, guest services, and laundry. Professional chef instruction was a cornerstone of the curriculum.

"I have never had better students than you guys,” said professional chef and instructor Charles Galemmo at the graduation ceremony. “It's been a lot of fun and a real pleasure teaching you."

Students from Kennebunk and Wells High Schools attended classes on the YCCC campus twice weekly, receiving instruction and participating in field trips to local hospitality-based businesses, particularly The Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport.

The program was developed through a partnership between Megan Murray and Robin Reidy, Transition Coordinators from Kennebunk and Wells High Schools, and Caitlin Grant, YCCC's Dean of Economic and Workforce Development. 

“We are so grateful for this partnership with YCCC and for the generosity from our local organizations like the Nonantum Resort,” said Murray. “We look forward to developing similar programs like these in the future.

KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine — Former Super Bowl champion and children's book author Malcolm Mitchell visited Kennebunkport Consolidated School (KCS) on Friday to share his personal journey with literacy and inspire students to embrace reading.

"Reading was the most self-empowering tool to possess," Mitchell told students during his presentation, which was funded by the Kennebunkport Consolidated PTA and coordinated by KCS teacher Taylor Boucher.

Mitchell, a former New England Patriots wide receiver who won Super Bowl LI in 2017, has transformed his platform from professional athlete to literacy advocate. After facing his own reading struggles, Mitchell founded the Share the Magic Foundation to promote youth literacy.

During his visit, Mitchell engaged with enthusiastic students and distributed copies of his book, "The Magician's Hat." Mitchell said the book is meant to inspire young readers to chase their dreams and to overcome obstacles.

"I grew up thinking football was the most important thing in the world, and I realized that it was not," Mitchell said. "Reading was something that was much more sustainable."

 

Mitchell noted he was particularly impressed by "the excitement and energy" of the Kennebunkport students.

Since retiring from the NFL in 2018, Mitchell has dedicated himself to promoting literacy through school visits, his foundation's programming, and his work as an author. His Read with Malcolm literacy initiatives have reached thousands of young readers across the country.

 

For more information about Mitchell's literacy work, visit malcolmmitchell.com.
 

ORONO, Maine - Students from the Middle School of the Kennebunks (MSK) will represent Maine in June after securing top placements at the statewide National History Day contest at the University of Maine in Orono over the weekend. 

The team comprised of Oliver LaPierre, Rudyard Moore, and Gray Wells won the highly competitive “exhibits” category with their display on "The Wabanaki Indian Settlement Claims Act," while Landyn Maffei and Molly Rice-Philp secured second place in the “performance” category for their work on the "Radium Girls.” Both teams earned the honor of representing Maine at the national finals. 

 

"The National History Day project has been a fantastic addition to our school,” said MSK Principal Marty Bouchard. “Under the expert leadership of faculty advisor Christa Boeykens-Bui, our students have thrived and found a great deal of success taking part in the process. This is a proud moment for the MSK and RSU 21 community.”

This was the first year teams from RSU 21 have competed in National History Day contests.

 

Another team comprised of MSK students Krow McClinchy and Grey Sheppard took third place for their exhibit examining prejudice following the September 11 attacks. 

Boeykens-Bui, who is also a Gifted and Talented teacher at MSK, is currently organizing fundraising efforts to support the team's travel expenses for the national competition.

"We're incredibly proud of these students, and now we need community support to get them to Maryland," Boeykens-Bui said. "This opportunity to compete at the national level is truly life-changing."

The National History Day finals will be held at the University of Maryland at College Park from June 8 to 12, where the MSK teams will compete against students from all U.S. states, territories, and international teams from countries including Japan, South Korea, and China.

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News coverage: 

York County Coast Star