September Letter

Dear Great Falls Families,

At Great Falls, student safety and strong school connections are at the heart of everything we do. As we begin this exciting new school year together, we want to share some important updates and reminders.

The safety of our students, staff, and families is always our top priority. Throughout the year, we conduct 8–10 fire drills as well as other drills, including playground safety drills, to ensure that everyone knows how to respond calmly and quickly in an emergency.

To maintain a safe school environment:

• Locked doors at all times: All exterior doors will remain locked during the school day to ensure the security of our building.

• Volunteer clearance required: Only individuals who have completed the district’s volunteer clearance process may volunteer at school or chaperone field trips. This important step helps us keep all students safe.

• Click here to register: Volunteer Clearance Form. Thank you for partnering with us to keep Great Falls safe and secure.

Along with safety, connection is a vital part of our mission. We believe that strong, meaningful relationships between home and school create the foundation for a thriving learning community.

Here are a few upcoming opportunities to connect:

• Great Falls Family Picnic – This Thursday, September 25th | 5:00–6:30 p.m.
  Join us for an evening of food, fun, and community as we come together to kick off the school year!

• Great Falls Family Breakfasts
  Families are invited to join their child for breakfast in our cafeteria from 8:00–8:30 a.m. on designated grade-level dates.

• First Breakfast: October 9 – Grade 1 Families. Be on the lookout for a survey to RSVP.

Thank you for being such an essential part of our Great Falls community. By working together to prioritize safety and connection, we create a secure, supportive, and joyful learning environment for every child. If you have any questions about safety procedures, volunteer clearance, or upcoming events, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

With gratitude,
Becky Fortier and Deanna Etienne
Great Falls Elementary School Administrators

 Dear Great Falls Families,

Welcome back! We hope you’ve enjoyed a relaxing and rejuvenating summer. As we prepare to kick off the 2025–2026 school year, we wanted to share some important dates and helpful information to make the start of the year smooth and exciting for everyone.

Office Reopening:
The Great Falls office is open. We invite you to stop in or give us a call for assistance with registration, enrollment, or any other questions. You can also reach our office team via email at greatfallsschool@gorhamschools.org.

Open House for Grades 1–5:
Join us on Wednesday, August 27th, from 5:30–6:30 p.m. to visit classrooms, meet teachers, explore creative arts, say hello to administrators, and connect with friends on the playground.

First Day of School (Grades 1–5):
Thursday, August 28th, will be the first day of school for our Grades 1–5 students. Supply lists are available on our site: GF News from the Office.

Important Early Release Days & Holidays:

• There will be no school on Monday, September 1st, in observance of Labor Day.
  
  

• Kindergarten Open House: Tuesday, September 2nd, from 5:30–6:30 p.m.
  
  

• First Day of Kindergarten: Wednesday, September 3rd
  
  

• Our first early release day is Wednesday, September 17th, with dismissal at 12:00 p.m.

Back-to-School Picnic:
We’re thrilled to announce our Back-to-School Picnic on Thursday, September 25th, from 5:30–7:00 p.m. Bring your family and enjoy an evening of fun and community connection!

Stay Connected:
To keep up with all things Great Falls, follow us on:

• 📘 Facebook: Great Falls Parent Connection
  
  

• 📸 Instagram: @great.falls.elementary.school
  
  

• 📰 Principal Blog: News from the Great Falls Principal

We are so excited to welcome our students, families, and staff back for another wonderful year. We look forward to partnering with you to make this a year full of learning, growth, and fun! If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org or deanna.etienne@gorhamschools.org.

Warmly,
Becky Fortier & Deanna Etienne
Great Falls Administrators

Welcome August! Important Great Falls Back-to-School Info

Dear Great Falls Families,

Welcome to August! The air today has a hint of fall, but there are still plenty of summer days left to enjoy before school begins. We wanted to take a moment to share some important dates and helpful information as we prepare for the upcoming school year.

The Great Falls office will reopen full-time starting Monday, August 18th. Please feel free to stop in or give us a call for assistance with registration, enrollment, or any other questions you may have. You can also reach our office team by email at greatfallsschool@gorhamschools.org.

We’re excited to offer optional school tours on Thursday, August 21st, for families and students who are new to Great Falls. A separate sign-up link was emailed last week, and we’ll do our best to accommodate all requests.

Open House for Grades 1-5 will take place on Wednesday, August 27th from 5:30–6:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity to visit classrooms, meet teachers, say hello to administrators, explore creative arts, and connect with friends on the playground.

The first day of school for Grades 1–5 is Thursday, August 28th. Supply lists can be found under the News tab on our school website: https://greatfalls.gorhamschools.org/ (Scroll down on the "News from the Office" page to view all lists.)

Please note there will be no school on Monday, September 1st, in observance of Labor Day.

For our Kindergarten families: Kindergarten Open House will be held on Tuesday, September 2nd from 5:30–6:30 p.m. The first day of school for Kindergarten students will be Wednesday, September 3rd.

You can view the full 2024–2025 district calendar here: School Calendar PDF

Our first early release day will be Wednesday, September 17th, with dismissal at 12:00 p.m.

We’re also thrilled to announce our Back-to-School Picnic on Thursday, September 25th from 5:30–7:00 p.m. Mark your calendars for a fun evening with our school community!

To stay up to date with all things Great Falls, be sure to follow us:
📘 Facebook: Great Falls Parent Connection
📸 Instagram: @great.falls.elementary.school
📰 Principal Blog: News from the Great Falls Principal

We are looking forward to a fantastic year ahead and building strong partnerships with each of you. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org or deanna.etienne@gorhamschools.org.

Warmly,
Becky Fortier & Deanna Etienne
Great Falls Administrators

 

June 5, 2025

Dear Families,

As we enter the final week of the school year, we want to take a moment to reflect on what a wonderful year it has been—full of academic growth, learning beyond the classroom, and so much more!

Here’s a look at what to expect in the coming week:

• Final Academic Check-Ins: Students will be wrapping up the year with final check-ins. Report cards will be sent home on the last day of school, Friday, June 13. Please note that dismissal will be at 12:00 PM on that day.
  
  

• 5th Grade End-of-Year Celebration: On Monday, June 9, we will celebrate our 5th graders with a special end-of-year event and picnic lunch. Families are welcome to join us for the picnic portion from 12:15–1:00 PM.
  
  

• Remote Learning – Tuesday, June 10: Great Falls will serve as a polling place for the FY25 School Budget Public Referendum. To ensure safety and reduce disruptions, all students will learn remotely from home on this day. Please remember to get out and vote!
  
  

• Middle School Step-Up Day – Wednesday, June 11: Our 5th-grade students will visit Gorham Middle School for their official step-up day. They’ll spend time getting to know their future teachers and classmates.
  
  

• K–4 Step-Up Day – Thursday, June 12: Students in grades K–4 will visit their new classrooms and meet their teachers and classmates for the upcoming school year.

These final days are always exciting and meaningful for our students. We’ve truly enjoyed watching them grow this year and are already looking forward to the adventures that await in the fall. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us anytime at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org or deanna.etienne@gorhamschools.org.

Warm regards,
Becky Fortier and Deanna Etienne
Great Falls Administrators

 

May 22, 2025

Dear Families,

We’re excited to remind you that our Field Day experiences kick off next week at the University of Southern Maine Field House in Gorham! This annual district-wide, grade-level event is a highlight of the school year, and our students are looking forward to the fun and celebration.

Field Day Schedule:

• Wednesday, May 28 – Grade 2
  
  

• Thursday, May 29 – Grade 1
  
  

• Friday, May 30 – Kindergarten
  
  

• Monday, June 2 – Grade 3
  
  

• Tuesday, June 3 – Grade 4
  
  

• Wednesday, June 4 – Grade 5

All events will take place at the USM Field House in Gorham.

Volunteer positions have already been filled—thank you to everyone who offered their time and support!

Families are welcome to attend as spectators. Please be aware that parking on the USM Gorham campus may be limited and does require a fee. For detailed parking information, including lot locations and payment instructions, please refer to this document.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to a fun and memorable week with our students! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us anytime at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org or deanna.etienne@gorhamschools.org.

Warm regards,
Becky Fortier and Deanna Etienne
Great Falls Administrators

 

Dear Great Falls Families,

We are heading into the busiest and most exciting time of the school year — the final four weeks! I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight the key events happening during the upcoming week:

• Kids' Club Mornings: We have just two Kids' Club mornings left this year, with one of them happening this Monday. We hope your children have enjoyed the fun and engaging before-school opportunities.
  
  

• Testing Updates: NWEA testing is wrapping up soon, and our Grade 5 Science MEAs will take place this week.
  
  

• Chorus and Band Performance: On Tuesday, May 20th, our Grades 4/5 Chorus students and Grade 5 Band students will be performing at Gorham High School at 6:00 p.m. We hope you can join us to celebrate their hard work and talent!
  
  

• Early Release Day: Wednesday, May 21st is an early release day. Students will be dismissed at 12:00 p.m. On this day, we will also host our final “Adopt a Classroom” session with Gorham High School. This program has been a wonderful way to build relationships between our elementary and high school students.
  
  

• Field Trip Season: We are in the midst of field trip season, and students are enjoying rich learning experiences beyond the classroom — from exploring new places to engaging in career-focused ASPIRE opportunities. It's been a fantastic time of growth and exploration!
  
  

• Family Night - Spring Fling!: Thursday, May 22nd is our much-anticipated Spring Fling Family Night! Join us at 5:30 p.m. for a fun-filled evening with food trucks, games, and activities for the whole family. We can’t wait to see you there!
  
  

• Library Book Checkout: Friday will be the last day to check out library books for this school year. Please help your child return any outstanding books over the next few weeks.

We hope you enjoy the Memorial Day weekend with family and friends. Thank you for your continued support — we’re looking forward to finishing the school year strong with our amazing students! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us anytime at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org or deanna.etienne@gorhamschools.org.

Warm regards,
Becky Fortier and Deanna Etienne
Great Falls Administrators

Letter Regarding Trimester 2 Report Cards

 Dear K-5 Families,

We hope you had a meaningful experience during the recent family/teacher/student conferences. It’s always a pleasure to discuss your child’s progress and participate in the goal-setting process together. Witnessing the growth from the fall to the spring conferences is truly exciting!

As a reminder, the second trimester grading period ended on March 14th. Your child’s report card will be sent home in their backpack tomorrow, Friday, March 28th.

Please note that all assessments are aligned with our standards, and students receive feedback on their proficiency in these areas. Scores are based solely on the assessments from each trimester, with multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their understanding throughout the year. Additionally, "Skills for Life" will be reported separately from academic progress, offering a more comprehensive view of each student’s growth.

Your child’s report card will be printed by their classroom teacher and sent home with them.

Here’s a quick overview of the grading scale for your reference:

Sample K-5 Report Card Scale

• 4 = Distinguished
  
  

• 3.5 = Exceeding Proficiency
  
  

• 3 = Proficient (Right on target!)
  
  

• 2.5 = Approaching Proficiency
  
  

• 2 = Developing
  
  

• 1 = Emergent
  
  

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to support both you and your child’s learning journey.

Sincerely,
Becky Fortier, Great Falls Principal