Letter from the Principal

 

Dear Great Falls Families,

February might be the shortest month of the year, but it's packed with exciting possibilities! February is also a great time to focus on kindness, empathy, and gratitude. Encourage your children to perform acts of service, express appreciation, and build positive relationships with friends and family.

Tonight!! Thursday, February 8th: This evening, witness the musical magic unfold as our talented Elementary Chorus students fill Great Falls with their beautiful voices. Their winter concert begins at 6:00 p.m., promising a heartwarming performance that will touch your soul. Come celebrate their dedication and talent!

Read-A-Thon: Wow! The Great Falls Read-A-Thon is a smashing success!  With over 40,000 minutes already devoured, those students are on fire!  They're well on their way to crushing their goal of 50,000 minutes, and we have no doubt they'll zoom right past it.  A huge shoutout to all the amazing readers who are participating – you're inspiring everyone with your dedication! Keep up the fantastic reading, everyone! We're all so incredibly proud of you!

Wednesday, February 14th: Please be advised that February 14th is an Early Release Day. Students will be dismissed at noon. Please ensure they have appropriate transportation arrangements made for pickup at that time.

Dress for Winter: Just a friendly reminder that with winter in full swing, all students should come to school bundled up and ready for outdoor playtime each day. Students without proper winter gear will have limited outdoor access during snowy periods. We want everyone to enjoy recess safely and comfortably!

Great Falls DECK Day: Friday, February 16th

Mark your calendars for a heart-warming day at Great Falls!  On February 16th, we're "dropping everything and celebrating kindness" in honor of National Random Acts of Kindness Day. Get ready for a day filled with positive vibes and acts of service. The Civil Rights Team will be facilitating a charming story walk, where kindness takes center stage! Our students will share smiles and stories with their book buddies and create lasting memories. Our students will express their artistic side and contribute to our giant heart-filled bulletin board. Each heart represents an act of kindness, no matter how small, reminding us that together we can make a difference.

Winter Vacation: February 19th - 23rd

Tuesday, February 27th at 5:30 p.m. in the Great Falls Library: Great Falls Rezoning Family Night

We understand that the recent rezoning decision may raise questions and concerns for some families. To help address these, we invite you to join an information session specifically for impacted families. Great Falls and Narragansett administrators will be present on Tuesday, February 27th at 5:30 p.m. to answer your questions about attendance shifts and offer support during this change.

The most important information regarding our school community can also be found in the Great Falls News from the Office which will be emailed to families every Thursday. We hope to keep families updated with the latest information and school events. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at any time at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org or deanna.etienne@gorhamschools.org. Wishing you all a year filled with the magic of learning, the strength of kindness, and the radiant glow of happiness. Happy New Year, everyone!

Kindly,

Becky Fortier and Deanna Etienne

Great Falls Administrators

Great Falls Read-A-Thon

Dear Great Falls Families,

Get ready to unleash the power of imagination and open the door to exciting adventures! This February, Great Falls Elementary will host a magical Read-A-Thon, where students will embark on a thrilling journey through the land of books. But this epic quest isn't just about conquering pages; it's about fueling a love of learning, enriching young minds, and creating unforgettable memories!

Why Read-A-Thon?

The Read-A-Thon is much more than just a fundraiser. It's a celebration of literacy that will directly benefit our amazing students at Great Falls Elementary. The donations we raise will allow us to:

• Plan epic end-of-year celebrations: Imagine field days with giant inflatables and fun adventures! The possibilities are endless, and your support will make these dreams a reality.

• Expand field experiences: From exploring museums and aquariums to visiting local farms, the Read-A-Thon will unlock incredible future field trips that spark curiosity and bring classrooms to life.

• Go beyond the classroom walls: We believe learning extends far beyond the four walls of a classroom. Through the Read-A-Thon, we can fund guest speakers, author visits, innovative workshops, and much more, bringing the world into our school and igniting a passion for lifelong learning.

How You Can Join the Quest:

Every child at Great Falls is invited to become a Reading Champion! Here's how you can support their journey:

• Encourage your child to set a reading goal: Whether it's conquering a chapter a day or exploring a favorite genre, help your child set a reading goal that excites them.

• Gather pledges: Ask friends, family, and neighbors to donate. Let your child track their progress and celebrate their achievements along the way!

• Spread the word: Share the excitement of the Read-A-Thon with everyone you know! Post on social media, talk to your neighbors and let's make this adventure a community effort.

The Great Falls Read-A-Thon is more than just a fundraiser; it's an investment in our children's future. With your support, we can open doors to a world of wonder, ignite imaginations, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Let's turn the pages together and embark on an epic adventure!

Look for your child’s Read A Thon packet coming home soon, and get started now by registering here: https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/323738333230 

Happy reading!

January Update

Dear Great Falls Families,

May this January be filled with warmth, love, new beginnings, and shared happiness. This first snowfall is just the beginning of winter's wonderful world. Let the snow-filled fun begin! 

Dress for Winter: This is a reminder that all students should come to school with appropriate clothing for spending time outside each day. We recommend that students in grades K-5 wear hats, gloves or mittens, boots, and a warm jacket to play outside. K-3 students should also pack snow pants if they plan on playing in the snow and the fields. Those without the proper winter gear will be limited to the blacktop areas when snow is present to keep our students warm and dry. 

School Calendar: 2023 - 2024 Calendar

Monday, January 15th: No School/ Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Wednesday, January 17th: Early Release Day/ Students are dismissed at noon.

Great Falls DECK Day: Thursday, January 18th

Great Falls will be collecting goods for the Maine Needs mini warmth kits. Each grade level will be asked to optionally donate a specific item. Items can be delivered to the main office beginning this week or brought to the GF Winter Family Fun Night on Thursday, January 18th.

Kindergarten: chapstick

Grade 1: hand warmers

Grade 2: mini tissues

Grade 3: mini hand lotion

Grade 4: Dunkin gift cards

Grade 5: bandaids

Thursday, January 18th: Great Falls Winter Family Fun Night 5:30-7:30 p.m. 

During this family and community event, our students will be able to pick up their clay projects. There will be fun activities for all to enjoy including a bouncy obstacle course, winter art projects, read-alouds, face painting, fitness breaks, and a bake sale. Please consider donating baked items for our sale by signing up HERE. We hope to see our Great Falls families at our family fun night!

“Kindness in Clay” Project

K-5 students completed a unique clay project during their art class with Mrs. Rimkunas and Mrs. Burton. Our “Kindness in Clay” project is based loosely on “The Empty Bowl Project” which is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger. The basic premise is simple: students create handcrafted pieces that they keep as a reminder of all the empty bowls and bellies in the world. The money raised is always donated to an organization working to end hunger and food insecurity. With that in mind, Great Falls will be donating 50% of donations to the Gorham Food Pantry and 50% of donations to future Great Falls projects of kindness within our school community. Please support our acts of kindness by donating any amount to purchase your student’s clay project.  The donation form is found HERE. All students will receive their projects to take, regardless of donation. Project pick-up will take place at the Great Falls Winter Family Fun Night on January 18th.

Winter NWEA Testing: NWEA-MAPS Tests (Northwest Educational Association - Measures of Academic Progress) is our district’s universal screening tool and recently adopted state-level assessment. The NWEA assessments will be conducted throughout the month of January in grades K-5. It is necessary for us to gather this data point to inform Response to Intervention supports and classroom instruction. The assessments are aligned to Maine Standards and allow us to collect longitudinal data. As always, your child’s classroom teacher is the best resource to keep you informed about how your child is progressing during this academic year. 

The most important information regarding our school community can also be found in the Great Falls News from the Office which will be emailed to families every Thursday. We hope to keep families updated with the latest information and school events. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at any time at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org or deanna.etienne@gorhamschools.org. Wishing you all a year filled with the magic of learning, the strength of kindness, and the radiant glow of happiness. Happy New Year, everyone!

Kindly,

Becky Fortier and Deanna Etienne

Great Falls Administrators

Happy New Year!

Dear Great Falls Families,

As we turn the page to a new year, we hope to fill our classrooms and hallways with the vibrant energy of learning, the warmth of kindness, and the sparkle of pure joy. May this year be one where knowledge blossoms, where curiosity drives every question, and every discovery ignites a passion for exploration. Let's make our school a haven for open minds and open hearts, where differences are celebrated and kindness becomes the guiding compass of every interaction. Let's make this year one where positivity becomes contagious, spreading like laughter through the halls, and where every day is an opportunity to build each other up and create a stronger, more vibrant community. Happy 2024!

Dress for Winter: This is a reminder that all students should come to school with appropriate clothing for spending time outside each day. We recommend that students in grades K-5 wear hats, gloves or mittens, boots, and a warm jacket to play outside. K-3 students should also pack snow pants if they plan on playing in the snow and in the fields. Those without the proper winter gear will be limited to the blacktop areas when snow is present in order to keep our students warm and dry. 

School Calendar: 2023 - 2024 Calendar

Friday, January 5th: Great Falls Night at the Maine Celtics 

Join the Great Falls staff and students for a super fun event! The Maine Celtics have invited Great Falls to the Portland Expo for a very special night of fun! Every ticket holder will receive a free Maine Celtics hat and $2 from every ticket purchased will be donated to Great Falls Elementary School. Wear your Great Falls gear and join the fun! Tickets are selling out fast and can be purchased at https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/GreatFalls.

Monday, January 15th: No School/ Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Wednesday, January 17th: Early Release Day/ Students are dismissed at noon.

Thursday, January 18th: Great Falls Winter Family Fun Night 5:30-7:30 p.m. 

During this family and community event, our students will be able to pick up their clay projects. There will be fun activities for all to enjoy including a bouncy obstacle course, winter art projects, read-alouds, face painting, fitness breaks, and a bake sale. Please consider donating baked items for our sale by signing up HERE. We hope to see our Great Falls families at our family fun night!

“Kindness in Clay” Project

K-5 students completed a unique clay project during their art class with Mrs. Rimkunas and Mrs. Burton. Our “Kindness in Clay” project is based loosely on “The Empty Bowl Project” which is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger. The basic premise is simple: students create handcrafted pieces that they keep as a reminder of all the empty bowls and bellies in the world. The money raised is always donated to an organization working to end hunger and food insecurity. With that in mind, Great Falls will be donating 50% of donations to the Gorham Food Pantry and 50% of donations to future Great Falls projects of kindness within our school community. Please support our acts of kindness by donating any amount to purchase your student’s clay project.  The donation form is found HERE. All students will receive their projects to take, regardless of donation. Project pick-up will take place at the Great Falls Winter Family Fun Night on January 18th.

The most important information regarding our school community can also be found in the Great Falls News from the Office which will be emailed to families every Thursday. We hope to keep families updated with the latest information and school events. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at any time at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org or deanna.etienne@gorhamschools.org. Wishing you all a year filled with the magic of learning, the strength of kindness, and the radiant glow of happiness. Happy New Year, everyone!

Kindly,

Becky Fortier and Deanna Etienne

Great Falls Administrators

 

Hello Great Falls Families,

It’s hard to believe it is already November! The days are shorter, and they sure are flying by! We will soon be wrapping up the 1st trimester of our academic year, and we have some information to share with you for the upcoming weeks.

Great Falls “DECK” Day, November 20th: Great Falls 1st ever “DECK” (Drop Everything and Cultivate Kindness) Day! On this day we will spend time as a Great Falls school community painting rocks with pictures and inspirational words. The rocks will be displayed on the Great Falls campus. We also encourage our students and staff to wear blue on this day! 

November 22nd-24th: Thanksgiving Break - No School

November 24th: Trimester 2 Ends - Our staff is preparing to share your child’s first progress report. You obtained information regarding your child’s progress at the most recent Parent-Student-Teacher conference and will receive a more formalized report on Friday, December 8th. 

December 8th: Report Cards Sent Home: Sample K-5 IC Report Card

4	3.5	3	2.5	2	1
Distinguished	Exceeding Proficiency	Proficient	Approaching Proficiency	Developing	Emergent

Warm Winter Gear: We want to help ensure that your child is warm this winter season and able to enjoy the fresh air & outdoor activities winter has to offer.  If financial resources are strained and limit your ability to purchase warm winter gear for your child, (coat, snow pants, boots, hats, & mittens), please contact our school social worker, Jaime Tardif, directly at 222-1168 or via email at jaime.tardif@gorhamschools.org for assistance and available resources.  We understand the stress associated with this time of year and are here to help! Similarly, if providing for the holiday season is a hardship as well, she is also able to help guide you with resources for the upcoming holiday.  Please do not hesitate to reach out.   

Volunteering at Great Falls: Great Falls is always on the lookout for parent volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering your time at our school, click the following link and find out more. Gorham Schools Volunteer Info

Next Home/School Connection Meeting: Join the Great Falls administrators at our next Home/School Connection Meeting on Thursday, November 30th from 5:30-6:30 p.m. At this meeting, we will begin planning for our Great Falls winter family fun event. If you are interested in being involved in our school community, this is the perfect meeting to attend!

School Calendar: 2023 - 2024 Calendar

The most important information regarding our school community can also be found in the Great Falls News from the Office which will be emailed to families every Thursday. We hope to keep families updated with the latest information and school events. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at any time at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org or deanna.etienne@gorhamschools.org. Enjoy your upcoming weekend!

Kindly,

Becky Fortier and Deanna Etienne

Great Falls Administrators

Follow Up to Lewiston Shootings

 Good morning,

We understand this tragedy has an impact on our students, staff, and families.  Because it is difficult to predict how anyone will react to a traumatic event, the best we can do is to be supportive and responsive to our students and their varied responses.  Some students will have no or minimal reaction; some will be upset or anxious to some degree.  Some may not have even heard of the event and others will have been immersed in the coverage on TV. The safety of our students is always the top priority in our district. We take seriously our responsibility to ensure the safety of your child every day, we are prepared for a wide range of support.

For all those students who need support, we will have mental health support available throughout the district from counselors, social workers, and psychologists. Our school nurses will also be ready to assist as needed for health concerns that may arise.

If you would like for school staff to reach out directly to your family today by phone regarding the events and how best to support your child, please enter your name, your child's name, and the best phone number to reach you by completing THIS SURVEY. 

We are working diligently to plan for a safe and supportive return to school on Monday and will be in touch again. As always, please feel free to call if you have any concerns or questions regarding your child, or the steps being taken by our school to ensure their safety & wellbeing. We will be available through email today at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org and deanna.etienne@gorhamschools.org and by phone when we return to school at 222-1050.

Kind regards,

Becky Fortier and Deanna Etienne 

Great Falls Administrators