Welcome to another edition of the Superintendent’s Blog! Every other week, I enjoy sharing what’s happening across the Gorham Schools and celebrating the great work of our students and staff, while keeping you informed about important topics.
I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read, explore the topics that interest you, and stay connected with us. As always, thank you for your continued partnership and support of our students, staff, and schools! Some pictures showcasing our students over the past two weeks are below, and then on to the information!
This Blog Topics List (Scroll below to read each post):
SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE AWARENESS MONTH - CONNECTION MATTERS!
Suicide prevention is not simply the responsibility of family members or mental health professionals. We all have a role in creating a community where people feel seen, valued, connected, and comfortable asking for help when they need it.
For our schools...that means building strong relationships between students and trusted adults.
For families...it means creating space for conversations, especially difficult ones, and noticing when something seems off.
For all of us...it means being willing to check in on the people we care about when we are concerned.
If you or someone you know and care about is struggling and you are fearful that Suicide may be being considered, help is available and you do not have to face things alone. Here are some key ways to access help:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 anytime for free, confidential, 24/7 support.
- Maine Crisis Line: 1-888-568-1112, available 24/7.
- NAMI Teen & Young Adult Support: Text FRIEND to 62640 for information, resources, and support.
- Maine 211: Call 211 or text your ZIP code to 211 to locate non-emergency mental health and community resources.
- If there is an immediate threat to someone's safety, call 911.
Perhaps the most important message of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is also the simplest: connection matters.
A student knowing an adult cares about them matters.
A parent asking one more question matters.
A colleague noticing someone isn't quite themselves matters.
A friend sending a text to check in matters.
SUPERINTENDENT'S GOALS FOR 2026-2027 SHARED!
Goal 1 - Metrics for Success
Background:
In addition to providing clear expectations and frameworks for Staff and Student use of AI we also need to ensure that all staff have a foundational understanding of AI literacy in order to ensure AI is being used in our schools in alignment with our expectations and overall best practices. Therefore, this coming year will also be spent providing PK-12 staff with training, resources, and coaching on the appropriate use of AI in our schools.
Deliverables: Completed AI Staff Handbook and districtwide AI learning using Magic School Platform
This goal builds upon and extends the foundation established through the Bright Futures for Little Rams Early Childhood Partnership Plan and the ASPIRE Gorham program. Aspire has always been about creating a birth to adult continuum, however existing programming is currently more “robust” at the MS/HS levels and needs to be strengthened at the Birth to Gr. 5 levels. This goal is intended to create a clear connection between the earliest steps of a Gorham student’s educational journey and their future path by providing relevant, developmentally appropriate learning experiences. These experiences foster lifelong skills that prepare students for success in future career pathways.
Our vision is to create a seamless PreK–12 learning experience that builds on the foundations of the Bright Futures for Little Rams Early Childhood Partnership Plan and the ASPIRE Gorham program. We aim to ensure all students benefit from a consistent, high-quality educational experience that maximizes brain development in the foundational years (birth to age eight) through intentional play and purposeful learning, emotional regulation, and executive functioning skills (Gr. 3-5) to best set our youngest learners up for future success. As students grow, they will engage in authentic learning experiences supported by strong community partnerships, helping them develop lifelong skills and meaningful connections that prepare them for future pathways in college, career, and community.
Deliverables: Completed NEDCC Grant Application which will include a Vision/Plan to Strengthen Aspire Gorham during foundational years (Gr. PK-5).
Background:
A key outcome of this work will be the development and adoption of clear PK–12 guidelines for purposeful technology integration. These frameworks will provide staff with practical expectations for instructional decision-making and clearly communicate them to families. By establishing a shared understanding of how, when, and why technology is used in our schools, we will strengthen trust, promote consistency across classrooms, and ensure that every use of technology serves our ultimate purpose of “Preparing and Inspiring” students for their future success.
Deliverables: Approved Technology Use Framework and PK–12 technology decision-making framework.
WHAT TO EXPECT FOR COMMUNICATIONS FROM OUR SCHOOLS DURING ANY EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Generally, families can expect:
- Lower-level situations with minimal threat to students: We will typically send an email explaining what occurred, how we responded, and any necessary next steps.
- Situations involving a more substantive concern: We will typically send an email and text message, with the text directing families to check their email for more detailed information.
- Situations involving a significant or immediate threat: We will typically use all three communication methods which include: email, text, and automated phone call. These messages will provide the information we can safely share, explain how we are responding, and, tell families what we need you to do.
Emergency communication is rarely “one and done.” We may send an initial message as soon as we have enough verified information to communicate responsibly, followed by updates as circumstances change and a final message when the situation has been resolved. In more complex situations, families may receive several updates along the way.
We know that when something happens at your child's school, your first instinct may be to immediately come to the school. During an active emergency, however, that may be the very thing we need you NOT to do. Police, fire, rescue, and school personnel need roads, entrances, parking lots, and staging areas clear so they can respond quickly and safely.
Please know that we care deeply about the safety and well-being of every child in our care, and we will communicate with you. In return, we ask families to remain as calm as possible, carefully read or listen to our communications, follow the directions provided, and resist the urge to immediately drive to the school unless specifically asked to do so. In an emergency, giving first responders the space they need and following school directions are among the most important ways families can help us keep everyone safe.
I hope this provides some clarity on what to expect for communications from our schools during an emergency response situation. Our hope is that we don't have to do this very often, but know that we will provide you with the information you need during any response situation. Trust is built on solid communication and we will work to earn that trust every single day.
In my next blog post, I'll share more information on our overall plans themselves, where you can access that information and what you should do if you have any questions about our emergency procedures.
THE ED. TECH. TRIANGLE & WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE GORHAM SCHOOLS
TRANSFORMATIVE: Robotics, coding, computational thinking, computer animation, website design, graphic design, advanced photo, video, or music editing, digital marketing, spreadsheet creation, digital citizenship, any tech that helps students with special needs.
To be clear, the Ed. Tech Triangle does not endorse a minimum or maximum amount of screen time per grade, and research does not show that a specific amount of screen time can increase or decrease test scores or student well-being. It isn't about time. Instead, the focus of the triangle is about the purposeful use of technology to transform learning. Using technology to help students produce a unique outcome or develop a high-level skill in ways that a traditional method might not is encouraged. Using technology to support learning in helpful ways is encouraged, while deciding not to use technology when its not doing those specific things is expected.
Ultimately, our goal is not to eliminate technology from learning or to turn back the clock. Technology is, and will continue to be, an important part of the world our students will inherit. Our responsibility is to make sure they learn to use it purposefully, thoughtfully, creatively, and responsibly. We cannot afford to “throw the baby out with the bathwater” by responding to legitimate concerns about screen time with an approach that simply removes technology from our classrooms. Instead, we must teach students when technology is the right tool, when it is not, and how to use it to create, communicate, collaborate, solve problems, and accomplish things that otherwise might not be possible.
That is the promise of the Ed. Tech. Triangle. By keeping our focus on Transformative and Supportive uses, and reducing Restrictive and Disruptive ones, we can preserve the very best of human-centered learning while preparing students for a future in which technological fluency will be essential. Our students need strong relationships, creativity, critical thinking, communication, curiosity, perseverance, and empathy. They also need the ability to navigate an increasingly digital and AI-enabled world with confidence and good judgment. Our job is not to choose between those two futures. Our job is to prepare them for both.
If you have any questions about how technology is used in your child's classroom, please do not hesitate to reach out to your teacher or your school's principal. We are happy to help answer any questions you may have. THANK YOU!
BUSRIGHT/TRANSPORTATION UPDATE FOR FAMILIES
We want to emphasize that these concerns are related to the information being displayed or communicated through the BusRight app, rather than the operation of our buses and routes themselves. We know, however, that families rely on the app when planning for their student’s transportation, and we understand how frustrating it can be when the information displayed does not accurately reflect what is happening on the route.
Our Transportation Department is actively working with BusRight to identify and resolve the technology issues being reported. BusRight has committed to proactively monitoring Gorham’s morning and afternoon routes, identifying system issues as they occur, and working closely with our team over the coming weeks to improve the accuracy and reliability of the information ALL amilies receive through the app.
For families whose BusRight app is working well, no action is needed. For those experiencing difficulties, we appreciate your patience and want you to know that we are aware of the concerns, are communicating them directly to BusRight, and are actively working with their team toward solutions. Please give it another week or so and if you are still experiencing problems, be sure to reach out to our transportation director so we are aware of what problems may be persisting.
Thank you for your continued patience, communication and partnership!
SCHOOL CHORUS & BAND CONCERT SCHEDULE FOR THE YEAR ANNOUNCED!
For the 2nd year in a row our band and chorus teachers from across the district have gotten together and nailed down their performance dates for all things Gorham Music! How convenient! Please see the schedule below, share with family members and mark your calendars! These are performances you do not want to miss!
And just in case that font is too small or blurry to read...CLICK HERE to view the pdf file!
A FEW UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED...
As I close this blog I just wanted to share a few other community events folks might be interested in. Check out the flyers for details or scroll on by - your choice!
Questions - contact Kevin Lambertson at Galilee Church: kevlambertson17@gmail.com
Closing Remarks:
As we settle into the rhythms of another school year, I am reminded again that great schools are built on so much more than what happens inside our classrooms. They are built on relationships, trust, communication, shared expectations, and a community that genuinely cares about its children. We all have a role to play in the success of our children. The community of Gorham clearly knows and acts upon this knowledge in both "big" and "small" ways.
There is so much good happening across the Gorham Schools every single day, and none of it happens by accident. It happens because students work hard, staff care deeply, families remain engaged, and our community continues to believe in the importance of our schools. Thank you for being part of that work and for continuing to partner with us as we Prepare and Inspire every student for the many possibilities that lie ahead. Keep up the great work Gorham! Our students see you!
