Page 41 - Spring Summer 2023
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From the Halls
By DeWayne L. Morse
Principal
Greetings to all from the Halls of
Houlton Middle – High School.
The year is literally flying by here at Houlton Middle
High School. It has been an exciting spring with many country to establish a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
positive happenings in our school and throughout our division. Jon Solomon will represent Maine on a
community. national level as one of two administrators as the first
A definite highlight of this spring is when our very Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officers for the
own Chris Lee, won the prestigious award as the MIAAA.
2023 Aroostook County Special Education Teacher What symbolizes spring more than the time-honored
of the Year. At the April 10th school board meeting, tradition of tapping trees for maple syrup? A group
Chris’s award was celebrated. Highlights of her of approximately twenty-five local students gathered
teaching career were publicly shared. Chris, a certified late this March to learn more about the process
Wilson Reading instructor, was joined by colleagues, of tapping trees for their sap. Isaac St. John, tribal
family, and students as she was recognized for her historic preservation officer for the Houlton Band of
outstanding accomplishments. Maliseet Indians, played an important role as the entire
process of making maple syrup was broken down and
explained, step by step.
... our very own Chris Lee, won I was honored this year to attend the 2023 MPA
the prestigious award as the Principal’s Award ceremony to recognize the carefully
2023 Aroostook County Special selected, outstanding senior from Houlton Middle
High School. This year’s recipient, Kenzie Hodgkins,
Education Teacher of the Year. daughter of Seth and Holly Hodgkins, was chosen by a
committee given the task to identify the student who
best exemplifies academic excellence, outstanding
It has been an exciting spring for our athletic program. school citizenship, and leadership. Congratulations
While the familiar sports such as baseball, softball, Kenzie, for your well-deserved recognition.
tennis, and track and field are all enjoying success, for This year’s JMG Closing Ceremony was open to
the first time ever, lacrosse is officially being played the public on April 27, and was held in our HMHS
as a varsity sport at Houlton Middle High School. The auditorium. The ceremony focused on the successes
school board officially designated lacrosse as a varsity and accomplishments of the JMG students, with
sport earlier this year, and it has been great to see this special acknowledgements to this year’s seniors.
game being introduced with such widespread support.
Jessica Swimm, JMG Specialist at HMHS, organized
While we are speaking of sports, Jon Solomon, the event. The guest speakers were former JMG
athletic director at HMHS, has garnered an extremely Specialist Heather Quimby and former high school
important position within the Maine Interscholastic science teacher, and current Katahdin High school
Athletic Administrators Association. The MIAAA principal, Heather Mitchell. For the first time ever,
recently made the announcement that they would several students were awarded $500.00 for successfully
be the first Athletic Administrators Association in the completing a 40-hour work study.
www.houltonalumni.com 41
