Page 18 - Newsletter_Winter_2020

From the HALLS

By Tim Tweedie, Principal
Greetings Houlton High
School Alumni,
sports season has looked a little different than in past years. Our
I hope this update finds new athletic director, Phlatt Mclean, coordinated with other
you and your family well! Aroostook County athletic administrators to schedule matches
for Cross Country, Golf, 7 v 7 Football, and Soccer. It has been
Despite the challenges great to see our athletes back on the fields and courses.
created by COVID-19,
our district’s schools have Members of our music staff have also had to explore new and
had successful re-openings innovative ways to provide some of our time-honored music
this fall. We are thankful to have students once again in our opportunities. Thankfully, modern technology and a “refuse
buildings’ hallways and we work daily to ensure the health and to quit” attitude have allowed them to be successful. For the
well-being of everyone who visits our buildings. Our students time being, our annual fall musical will be replaced by two
have been incredibly respectful of personal spacing, they wear radio shows. Our middle school students will be performing A
their masks without being asked, and they sanitize their hands Christmas Carol, while high school students will be performing
regularly. I am immensely proud of their efforts to follow these Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus. We hope to offer the annual
new guidelines and practices. musical in the spring, should the state’s guidelines allow it.

In late September, we received some incredibly positive news As we move forward, we will be looking to start up a few more
when US News & World Report ranked Houlton High School clubs and programs on campus. Students want to be engaged and
the eighth-best high school in Maine (out of 125 schools) and at the same time have fun, therefore, it is important to us that we
the top high school in Aroostook County. We take a lot of pride offer as many opportunities as possible.
in maintaining the strong tradition the Houlton school systems
historically have been known for! Another new practice is our regular Advisory updates. The
purpose of these Zoom-based assemblies is to maintain regular
As we approach the end of the first quarter, everyone seems to communication with our student body concerning school-
be settling into a nice groove. Our teachers have been working related changes and expectations. Our first topic was Why
extremely hard to master remote teaching. In early October, School Matters, which focused on the benefits of a high school
we held a district-wide professional development day in which education, including future salaries, improved health, and
staff members offered in-house trainings for various programs, improved life expectancy rates. Another topic was What RED
apps, and hacks related to remote learning. The presenters did Would Look Like, with the purpose to prepare students for a
an outstanding job of showcasing their talents and sharing their smooth transition in the unfortunate case that we must move to
knowledge with district colleagues. The Houlton Middle-High remote learning at some point this school year. We have several
School staff was pleased to be joined by several members of the more Zoom advisory updates planned, and so far, they have been
Southside staff for a very productive day! very well received.
So, as you can hopefully discern, despite some unique challenges,
we are off to a positive start to our school year. We are happy
"... we will continue to do our to once again be back to 7 Bird Street and we look forward to
best to provide a high quality of the day when much of what has historically made Houlton
Middle-High School such a great place, can return to a sense of
education to our area youth." normalcy. Until that day comes, we will continue to do our best
to provide a high quality of education to our area youth.

Tim Tweedie
Due to some of the challenges attributed to COVID-19, we Principal
have had to explore creative ways to provide extra-curricular Houlton Middle-High School
and co-curricular opportunities to students, while still abiding
by the state health guidelines. As you may have heard, this fall’s
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