Monmouth Academy

The_Maroon_Echo_November_3_2012.pdf

Project_Graduation_Handout.pdf

This play takes place in the small, northern Maine town of Almost.  The lives of the residents change over the course of one night as love and life collide with the Northern Lights. All proceeds benefit Monmouth Academy Drama! All canned food donations go to area food banks.

Please note: The US Studies 2 classes’ presentation “On Flanders Feilds” is being postponed till next Wednesday, November 7th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the MA Cafe due to the upcoming storm.

Maroon_Echo_Sep_10.pdf

2012-2013_Student-Parent_Handbook.pdf

2012
Part I
As written by RSU #2 students

July 4-5
Today we all met at the Concord Station at 7am to depart for Boston. After arriving at Logan airport, we started to make our way through check-ins and airport security. Unfortunately, the security guard we had the opportunity of meeting gave us a sour impression. Finally, we were in the terminal. This started the hunt for food. Myself, as well as other students, started to search for our last meal of our comforting American food. Some ate Burger King, some had sandwiches, but all of us savored our last taste of our comfort food. After a couple hours or so in the terminal, we finally boarded the plane. To our disbelief, the ‘dreamliner’ plane we had the pleasure of taking was luxurious to say the least. Every seat was equipped with a personal television and remote. The television was able to show us our route, entertained us with countless games and movies, as well as Japanese music, movies, news, etc. After a long fifteen-hour flight, we were all relieved to finally get up and stretch our legs and arrive at Narita Airport in Tokyo prefecture. We met with our tour guide, exchanged our weak American money into Japanese Yen, and departed for our hotel. To our delight, the New Takanawa Prince Hotel was simply exquisite. The employees were extremely helpful and friendly, showing us what Japanese hospitality is all about. We were then on our own for dinner. We got the opportunity to explore the streets of Tokyo and fend for ourselves for our dinners. After many attempts at reading menus and navigating through the crowded streets, we finally found comfort in a 7-11. Although this sounds like a let down, since it’s an American gas station, the food that we found there was actually very authentic. Many of us bought prepared dinners that consisted of beef, noodles, and rice. With our long search for dinner complete, we found our ways back to the hotel, and hit the hay. Day one was complete.

July 6
This was our second day in Japan. Each of us woke up from our hotel room and ate breakfast downstairs. There were even some French fries to remind us of home. Then some of us explored the garden behind the hotel, although we had to leave at nine. We did some sight seeing and learned about the Emperor of Japan and his duties. We learned about the main gate and that Tokyo actually had to be rebuilt three times. Our tour guide Aki showed us a statue of a samurai that saved Japan from invasion and he died for Japan’s Emperor. The statue survived the war even though many iron statues and bells didn’t.  The bells are rung 108 times during New Years.
We went to downtown Tokyo and ate lunch. Some of us were even interviewed by a TV crew that wanted to know about how other countries organize their stores and homes. However they thought we were from Canada…
After lunch we had to hurry to the airport to fly to Aomori. There were flat escalators that we learned how to use effectively. The plane ride seemed like five minutes compared to the fourteen hours we spent on the plane coming into Japan.  No one lost their luggage and we went to meet volunteer students from Aomori that would show us around.
Some Aomori students stayed behind and did not go to the Aomori Arena. Most of us went right to bed. Some stayed up a little longer. Aomori is much different than Tokyo. It reminded a lot of us of Maine. There are many trees here, a lot of mountains too. Aomori is very beautiful and it is strange how the only time some of use appreciate that scenery is when it is in a different country. The people in Aomori are so friendly! We miss you all and hope you are doing well.

July 7th
Today was our first full day in Aomori with the Aomori students.  We had breakfast at the Aomori Arena and departed to go to Siebi-en Park.  Then we visited the Saruga Shrine/Park, which was very interesting to see.  After the shrine we went to an art museum.  We talked a great deal about the art museum after we visited it.  There was a huge dog that was outside which was incredible to see.  Then we went to an archeological site where we made a necklace. We then got a tour of the site where Japan people lived thousands of years ago.  We got back to the arena, had dinner and practiced our presentations.
July 8th
Our fourth day was our last day with the students from the Aomori area. We traveled to the Twelve Lakes region and Oraise gorge, which was a two-and-a-half hour drive up a mountain on a meandering road, surrounded by steep, tree-covered hills. Our first stop was in the gorge itself, which was a stream that flowed over and around large stones, fed by hidden waterfalls and creeks. We continued onward toward a scenic boat tour service, which showed us around a lake. Afterward we ate bento, or a boxed lunch, at the station on the other side of the lake. The scenery was very much like the Rangeley area in Maine, except with taller mountains and clearer water.
We then traveled to a bridge above Oraise gorge, which was possibly one of the most breathtaking areas I have ever seen. It was a 300-meter long, two-lane bridge suspended 120 meters above the gorge. We then got on the bus and traveled back to Aomori Station, where we said farewell to the Aomori students. Everybody hugged everyone else and exchanged contact information, and we promised to stay in touch. The students will probably be good friends in the future, and they will strengthen the bond between our two countries.

July 10th
While most of us lay sleeping peacefully in our new homes for the next four nights, some of us were lucky enough to start their Hachinohe experience by being awakened by a mild 3AM earthquake.  Local papers also contained an article with pictures relating to our courtesy call with the vice governor the previous day.  These awesome events would act as a decree to set the tone for a wild Tuesday.
After meeting on the bus, we discussed the difficulties and laughs experienced in our first night at our new homes.  We then headed over to a World War II lookout perched on the edge of the Pacific Ocean.  The view, with perfect visibility, was nothing short of awe-inspiring.  However, we could not stay for long as a trip to the elementary school lay in the immediate future.  Elementary schools in Japan, we soon found out, are nothing like what we have come to expect.  Centered around 4 awesome presentations, we experienced the beauty of Japanese education.  All teachers were kind and helpful and the kids were attentive and excited.  The school was beautiful.  Built the previous year, it exhibited stunning architecture.  At least 4 grand pianos and other unusual sites to American-trained vision adorn the school.  The appreciation for the arts was more than noticeable.  Fourth graders performed ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ in a way that could be expected from adults.  Drawings by 3rg graders flabbergasted Mrs. Higgins and the chorus of 6 – 11 year olds would have had Mrs. Large drooling.  After departing this fairly grand scene we headed to an observatory overlooking the ocean and the city of Hachinohe where we enjoyed a well-needed American style lunch.
After lunch we went to the high school to watch the kids participate in their version of winter carnival.  Not only were the events cool, but also we were treated like royalty.  There is no doubt in my mind that I shall never feel as welcome ever again.
Finally we headed back to the shore to go on a boat ride.  This featured an unholy number of ‘sea cats’ or to us; sea gulls that fought violently for our food and for space in their clustered shrine turned breeding ground.
From here, we retired to our host families exhausted by the unreal temperatures of the day.  If today was any sign of the week to come, we are in for a real treat.

Welcome Dinner

Imperial Palace

Bien Park

San-nai Maruyama

With ViceG Sasaki

With superIntendant Hashimoto

The 2011-2012 NCLB Report Cards for Maine schools are now posted and may be accessed directly through this link:  http://www.maine.gov/education/nclb/reportcard/index.html. Here is the NCLB Report Card for our school (reports cards for the district and other KIDS RSU2 schools are available at http://www.kidsrsu.org/):

All questions should be directed to Deborah Emery, NCLB Coordinator for RSU #2 (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 207.933.4426).

NCLB Report for Monmouth Academy

Maroon_Echo_May_14.pdf

MONMOUTH_ACADEMY_TRIMESTER_2_HONOR_ROLL.pdf