COVID response has silver lining
MOUNT DESERT COVID-19 has disrupted education and challenged school administrators and teachers as never before.
But some adjustments that schools have made in response to the pandemic have had quite positive effects, according to Gloria Delsandro, principal of Mount Desert Elementary School.
She said teachers there have cited the benefits of having smaller groups of children and consistent rules and expectations for recess.
“That has had a significant impact in a positive way on student behavior,” Delsandro told the Mount Desert School Committee last week.
“We have seen a remarkable decrease in behavior issues. A lot of fresh air and body movement has been great for the kids and their social and emotional development. And the kids seem genuinely happy.”
Virtual Academy student wins speech contest
BAR HARBOR
“I believe animals have the right to live an amazing life, because just like us, we only have one life,” said Madelyn Marks, in the speech that won her first place in the district’s middle school contest on March 4.
A resident of Trenton and a student at the Mount Desert Island Regional School System’s Virtual Academy, Marks was one of 10 finalists who competed via Zoom before their peers and three judges. This year’s theme for the contest, This I Believe, was inspired by the National Public Radio series of the same name.
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Arts Glances
Elementary school art show
NORTHEAST HARBOR ─ Like a lot of things, the K-8 Mount Desert Elementary School art show is a little bit different this year.
One of the best ways to understand the human experience is to look at the artwork.
Students at MDES took some time during their virtual art classes back in January to talk about the moment we are currently living in.
Students were asked to take images of the world around them to show future generations what it was like to be alive in 2020 and 2021. Students were assigned photography homework and took local photography field trips. This art show is a selection of that work.
Technology supports education about MDI
News Highlights: Technology supports education about MDI
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND – Students can join a Pear Deck session, follow their teacher on a Jamboard, practice mindfulness on GoNoodle, or play part of a song with their instrument while Smart Music assesses accuracy. These are just a few examples of how technology is changing education.
Learning in 2021 looks different from a few years ago because of the first dive into technology that was needed during the pandemic. Schools in the neighborhood are adjusting their budgets in response.
“Every student currently has a device. Every adult has a device, ”Pemetic elementary school principal Rhonda Fortin told the Southwest Harbor School Committee during a recent preliminary budget review of the Zoom meeting on Jan. 13.