Welcome Back!

Dear Great Falls Families,

What a wonderful first day of school! 💙💚

Our hallways and classrooms were filled with lots of smiles, happy kids, excitement, and the wonderful energy that comes with the start of a brand-new school year. It was so great to welcome our students back to Great Falls! Our students did an amazing job learning new routines, reconnecting with friends and staff, meeting new classmates, and settling into their classrooms.

Thank you to our families for helping make the first day such a positive and successful one. We are so excited about the year ahead and all of the learning, growing, friendships, and fun to come!

As we get started, please be sure to stay connected and find important school information, updates, and calendar dates through:

🌐 Great Falls Website
https://greatfalls.gorhamschools.org/

📸 Great Falls Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/great.falls.elementary.school/

💙 Great Falls Parent Connection on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/greatfallsparentconnection

🙋 Interested in volunteering in our schools?
Learn more about volunteer opportunities here:
https://www.gorhamschools.org/page/opportunities-for-parental-engagement

Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with us. We are so happy to have everyone back and look forward to a fantastic school year together!

Here’s to a great year at Great Falls! 💙💚

Becky Fortier
Principal
Great Falls Elementary School

August Letter from the Principals

 Dear Great Falls Families,

We hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer! Although there is still plenty of summer left, we know many families are beginning to look ahead. Here are a few important dates and updates to help you prepare for the start of the 2026–2027 school year.

Important Dates

• Wednesday, August 26: Grades 1–5 Open House, 5:30–6:30 p.m.

• Thursday, August 27: First day of school for students in Grades 1–5

• Monday, August 31: Kindergarten Open House and Popsicles with the Principals, 5:30–6:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, September 1: First day of school for Kindergarten students

Open House: Our Grades 1–5 Open House will be held on Wednesday, August 26, from 5:30–6:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for students and families to meet their teachers, visit classrooms, and become familiar with the school before the first day.

Kindergarten families are invited to a separate Open House on Monday, August 31, from 5:30–6:30 p.m. We will also enjoy Popsicles with the Principals as we welcome our newest Great Falls students and families!

School Supplies: Teachers will share information about any specific classroom supplies students may need. Please remember that we will make sure every child has the materials necessary for a successful school year.

Arrival and Dismissal: Additional information about arrival, dismissal, bus transportation, parent drop-off, and pick-up procedures will be shared before the first day of school. Reviewing these procedures ahead of time helps us keep arrival and dismissal safe and efficient for everyone.

New Staff: We are excited to welcome several new staff members to the Great Falls community this year! We will be sharing introductions over the coming weeks so families can begin getting to know the wonderful educators joining our team.

Please continue to watch your email for additional updates as we get closer to the start of school. We are looking forward to welcoming our returning families back and meeting those who are new to Great Falls.

Until then, enjoy the remaining days of summer. We cannot wait to see our students’ smiling faces back in the building!

Warmly,

Becky Fortier, Principal
Deanna Etienne, Assistant Principal

❤️Connection is the heart of learning.

End of Year Message

Dear Great Falls Families,

As another wonderful school year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to thank you for your partnership, support, and trust throughout the year. Together, we have celebrated successes, overcome challenges, and watched our students grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

This year was filled with memorable moments—from classroom learning and school-wide Connection Time activities to field trips, concerts, celebrations, and countless acts of kindness. Every day, our students remind us of the joy, curiosity, and resilience that make Great Falls such a special place to learn and grow.

To our fifth-grade students and families, congratulations on completing your elementary school journey. We are incredibly proud of all you have accomplished and wish you the very best as you begin your next chapter at Gorham Middle School.

As summer begins, I encourage all of our students to continue reading, exploring, playing, creating, and spending time with family and friends. Summer is a wonderful opportunity to recharge and make lasting memories.

We are already looking forward to welcoming everyone back in August! Please mark your calendars for the following important dates:

Important Dates for the 2026-2027 School Year
• Grades 1–5 Open House: Wednesday, August 26, 2026, from 5:30–6:30 p.m.
• First Day of School for Grades 1–5: Thursday, August 27, 2026
• Second Day of School for Grades 1–5: Friday, August 28, 2026
• Kindergarten Open House: Monday, August 31, 2026, from 5:30–6:30 p.m.
• First Day of School for Kindergarten: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
• Labor Day – No School: Monday, September 7, 2026

Thank you for being such an important part of our Great Falls community. It is truly an honor to serve as your principal and to work alongside such incredible students, families, and staff.

On behalf of the entire Great Falls team, I wish you a safe, relaxing, and joyful summer. We look forward to seeing you in August!

Warmly,
Becky Fortier
Principal
Great Falls Elementary School

June Principal Update: Celebrating a Wonderful Year at Great Falls

Dear Great Falls Families,

As we turn the calendar to June on Monday, it is hard to believe that another incredible school year is coming to a close. This month is filled with excitement, celebrations, traditions, and opportunities to reflect on all that our students have accomplished throughout the year.

From academic growth and new friendships to performances, field trips, and countless moments of kindness, courage, respect, responsibility, honesty, and compassion, our students have so much to be proud of. We are grateful for the partnership we share with our families and the support you provide each day to help make Great Falls such a special place to learn and grow.

As we finish the year together, please take note of the following important dates:

June 1 – Grade 3 Field Day at USM
June 2 – Grade 4 Field Day at USM
June 3 – Grade 5 Field Day at USM
June 5 – Gorham High School Senior Walk | 9:00 a.m.
June 9 – Remote Learning Day / Voting Day
June 15 – Grade 5 End-of-Year Family Breakfast, Slideshow, and Parade | 8:00–9:15 a.m.; Kindergarten End-of-Year Celebration | 1:30–2:15 p.m.
June 16 – Grades K–4 Step-Up Day | 9:30–10:00 a.m.
June 17 – Last Day of School; Report Cards Go Home; 12:00 p.m. Dismissal

This time of year is always bittersweet. We celebrate the accomplishments of our students while also preparing for transitions and new adventures ahead. We are especially excited to honor our kindergarten students as they complete their first year of elementary school and our fifth graders as they prepare for the next chapter of their educational journey.

Thank you for your continued support, encouragement, and partnership throughout the school year. We look forward to making these final weeks memorable for every child.

Wishing you a wonderful June!

Warmly,

Becky Fortier
Principal, Great Falls Elementary School

April Family Update

Dear Great Falls Families,

Happy April! 🌷☀️As we head into this stretch of the school year, we have many exciting events, celebrations, and important dates ahead. Spring is always a busy and joyful time at Great Falls, and we are looking forward to all that is to come for our students, staff, and families.
Please take a moment to review some important upcoming dates and reminders for April, as well as several end-of-year events to keep on your radar.

Our spring NWEA assessment window will take place from April 27 to May 29.
During this time:
Grades K–2 will complete the NWEA MAP Growth Reading and Math Assessments
Grades 3–5 will complete the NWEA/MEA Through-Year Reading and Math Assessments
These assessments help us better understand student growth and guide instruction as we finish out the school year. Thank you for helping your child arrive at school rested and ready to do their best!

Thursday, April 16: Around the World Family Night, 5:00–6:30 p.m.
We hope you will join us for this special evening of learning, celebration, and community!
April 20–24: Spring Break; There will be no school during this week. We hope your family enjoys a restful and fun vacation!
Wednesday, April 29: School Committee Meeting, 7:00 p.m. at Great Falls: All are welcome to attend.

There is so much to look forward to as we close out the school year! Please save these dates:
May 4–8 – Staff Appreciation Week
May 14 – Parent/Guardian Classroom Chat | 8:00–8:30 a.m.
Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/FHYcEbzbqzDn5RDp9
May 20 – Last Adopt a Classroom, Last Connection Time, and Early Release Day
May 21 – End of Year Family Picnic | 5:00–6:30 p.m.
May 26 – GHS Jazz Concert | 9:30–10:00 a.m. in the Gym
May 27 – Kindergarten Field Day at USM
May 28 – Grade 1 Field Day at USM
May 29 – Grade 2 Field Day at USM
June 1 – Grade 3 Field Day at USM
June 2 – Grade 4 Field Day at USM
June 3 – Grade 5 Field Day at USM
June 5 – GHS Senior Walk | 9:00 a.m.
June 9 – Remote Learning Day / Voting Day
June 12 – Grade 1 End of Year Friday Fun Picnic, Popsicles, and Play!
June 15 –
Grade 5 End of Year Family Breakfast, Slideshow, and Parade | 8:00–9:15 a.m.
Kindergarten End of Year Celebration | 1:30–2:15 p.m.
June 16 – Grades K–4 Step Up Day | 9:30–10:00 a.m.
June 17 – Last Day of School
Report Cards Go Home
12:00 p.m. Dismissal

We are so grateful for your continued partnership and support. Spring is such a meaningful time in elementary school, filled with growth, celebration, and special memories. We look forward to finishing the year strong together!

Warmly,
Becky Fortier
Principal, Great Falls Elementary School

Great Falls Family Update & Upcoming Events

 

Dear Great Falls Families,

Report cards for Trimester 2 will be sent home with your child tomorrow. If you have any questions after reviewing your child’s report card, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are always happy to connect and support your child’s learning journey.

We also have several exciting events coming up at Great Falls, and we are looking forward to a fun and meaningful stretch ahead!

On Tuesday at 5:00 p.m., we will be hosting the Great Falls Talent Showcase. We have over 40 performers ready to wow us with their incredible talents, and it is sure to be a fantastic evening for our school community. In place of a ticket fee, we are asking families to bring a food donation for the Gorham Food Pantry.

That event also kicks off our annual Great Falls Food Drive, which will continue throughout the week. Our goal is to collect 1,000 food items to donate to the Gorham Food Pantry. At Great Falls, we know that Kindness Counts, and we are excited for our students to make a difference in the lives of others through this effort.

Please also remember that Wednesday, April 1st is an Early Release Day, and students will be dismissed at 12:00 p.m.

Our final grade-level family breakfast will take place on April 9th. Families of our 4th-grade students should be on the lookout for an RSVP and additional details for this special event.

We are also thrilled to introduce a brand-new family event: Creative Arts Around the World, happening on Thursday, April 16th. This special evening will celebrate and honor the many countries and cultures represented by our students and families. It will be a fun and engaging event filled with games, music, art, and more. We are so excited to bring our community together in this way and hope to see many of our families there!

Thank you, as always, for your partnership, support, and commitment to our Great Falls community. We are so grateful for all that you do.

Warmly,
Becky Fortier
Principal, Great Falls Elementary School

Thank You for a Wonderful Conference Week

Dear Great Falls Families,

Thank you for your time, partnership, and care during our recent parent/teacher/student conferences. These conversations are such an important part of supporting each child’s growth, and we truly value the collaboration between home and school.

We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you for the incredible luncheon. Your generosity and thoughtfulness meant so much to our staff. It was a wonderful reminder of the strong, supportive community we are so fortunate to be a part of.

As we continue to look for ways to stay connected and support families, we’re excited to share a new resource:

Meet “Ramsy the Ram” – Our New Digital Assistant 
Ramsy is an AI-powered chatbot designed to help you quickly find information on our district website at https://greatfalls.gorhamschools.org/.

What Ramsy Can Help With:
Ask Ramsy about lunch menus, upcoming school committee dates, or district policies.

Where to Find Him:
Look for the small star icon in the bottom right corner of any district webpage.

Need More Help?
If Ramsy can’t find what you’re looking for, you can click the mail icon within the chat to send a message directly to our staff.

Thank you again for your continued partnership and for all that you do to support our students and school community.

With appreciation,
Becky Fortier
Principal, Great Falls Elementary School

Letter from the Principal

Dear Great Falls Families,

We hope you enjoyed a restful and refreshing February break. We are so excited to welcome our students back on Monday and begin the next stretch of learning together. This time of year always feels full of growth, celebration, connection, and important milestones, and we are grateful to partner with you every step of the way.

Please mark your calendars for the following upcoming dates:

 Monday, February 23 – Welcome Back to School
Wednesday, March 5 – PTCFast conference sign-up emailed to families at 8:30 a.m.
Friday, March 13 – End of Trimester 2
Tuesday, March 17 – Great Falls Got Talent Auditions
Wednesday, March 18 – Conferences from 1:00–6:00 p.m. (Early Release Day)
Friday, March 20 – Conferences from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24 – Partners in Education (PIE) Meeting with the School Committee at 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 26 – Grade 3 Family Breakfast from 8:00–8:25 a.m.
Friday, March 27 – Trimester 2 Report Cards Go Home
Tuesday, March 31 – Great Falls Talent Show from 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 1 – Early Release Day

Spring conferences are an especially meaningful opportunity to celebrate your child’s growth and reflect on goals for the final trimester. We encourage families to sign up promptly once the PTCFast link is shared on March 5.

We are also looking forward to joyful community moments, cheering on our talented students during auditions and at the Great Falls Talent Show, welcoming our Grade 3 families for breakfast, and gathering for continued partnership through PIE. These events remind us how strong and connected our Great Falls community truly is.

Thank you for your ongoing support, encouragement, and collaboration. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school and continuing the important work of learning and growing together.

Warmly,

Becky Fortier, Principal

Dear Great Falls Families,

February is a joyful and busy month at Great Falls, filled with engaging learning experiences, literacy celebrations, and exciting opportunities for our students. From reading challenges to career exploration, our school community has so much to look forward to, and we are excited to share what’s ahead.

This month, students will be diving into meaningful literacy experiences through our One School / One Author focus on Kate DiCamillo and participating in our schoolwide Read-A-Thon. These activities encourage a love of reading while building excitement and school spirit across all grade levels.

We are also thrilled to welcome community members into our building for the Great Falls Career Fair on February 3 and 4. This event gives students the opportunity to explore a wide range of careers, ask questions, and begin imagining possibilities for their own futures. It is always inspiring to see our students engage so thoughtfully with our presenters.

February also includes several special celebrations and milestones. We will recognize World Read Aloud Day, celebrate School Counselor Appreciation Day, and proudly support our students as they present at the School Committee meeting. Family events and field trips, including the Kindergarten Family Breakfast and the Grade 5 snow tubing field trip, add to the sense of connection and fun that makes this time of year so special.

Upcoming Dates and Events

NOW – February 13: Winter NWEA Assessments
NOW – February 13: One School / One Author: Kate DiCamillo
February 2–13: Great Falls Read-A-Thon
February 3 and 4: Great Falls Career Fair
February 4: World Read Aloud Day
February 5: School Counselor Appreciation Day
February 11: Great Falls Students Presenting at the School Committee
February 12: Kindergarten Family Breakfast; Grade 5 Snow Tubing Field Trip
February 14–22: Winter Break (No School)

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We are grateful to share such a vibrant, engaged school community and look forward to a wonderful month ahead.

Warmly,
Becky Fortier and Deanna Etienne
Great Falls Administrators

Dear Great Falls Families,

We hope you enjoyed a restful, joyful winter break filled with time to recharge and reconnect. On behalf of the entire Great Falls staff, we are excited to welcome our students and families back as we begin a busy and meaningful stretch of learning together.

January and February bring many opportunities for academic growth, celebration, and community connection. We are grateful for your continued partnership and support as we move through the winter months. Below are some important upcoming dates to help with planning:

January 5 – February 13: Winter NWEA Assessments

January 6: Grade 3 CogAT Assessment

January 21: Early Release Day

January 22: Grade 5 Family Breakfast; Elementary Chorus Concert

February 3 and February 4: Elementary Career Fair

February 4: World Read Aloud Day

February 5: Counselor Appreciation Day

February 11: Early Release Day; Great Falls students presenting at the School Committee Meeting at 7:00 p.m.

We look forward to welcoming families into the building for special events and celebrating our students’ learning, creativity, and leadership. As always, please be sure to check the Great Falls website for updates and additional details as events approach.

Thank you for your ongoing support, kindness, and collaboration. We are so happy to have our Great Falls community back together and look forward to a wonderful start to 2026.

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