Farmington school district officials are celebrating student achievements and paying tribute to veterans

FARMINGTON – Regional School Unit 9 officials celebrated student achievements, community involvement and expanded career opportunities for students during Tuesday evening’s board of directors meeting.

The Mount Blue Campus in Farmington. Rebecca Richard/Franklin Journal

Joel Smith, principal of Mount Blue High School, spoke Nov. 8 about the impact of Totally Trades, which offered ninth-grade students the opportunity to explore non-traditional career paths.

“Our ninth-grade girls explored fields such as metal fabrication, building construction and electrical work,” Smith said. “Our ninth-grade boys also had the opportunity to explore career paths and participate in enrichment activities.”

The Maine National Guard brought a Blackhawk helicopter to campus. “They took some people from the community for a ride. Dee and I were in the same helicopter,” Smith said, referring to school board president Dorothy “Dee” Robinson. “We have transferred the chief inspector to another one.”

Robinson expressed her enthusiasm for the event and praised the coordination of Smith and Assistant Director Galen Dalrymple. “Kudos to you and Galen for putting it together. That was phenomenal,” she said. “I talked to some of the National Guard people and I was super excited to hear that you’re going to continue with that and make it bigger and better.”

Smith also said the school recently recognized more than 45 students for “academic excellence and athleticism.” Noting their calm during recent security drills, he said: “During the transition to classes, there were a thousand students in the room, and they did what they had to do in seconds. The place was completely safe.”

James Black, principal of Mount Blue Middle School, talked about the Veterans Day car parade, which featured about 30 vehicles, including motorcycles, tow trucks and an old Ford pickup. “It was just a really fun event. Veterans had big smiles on their faces,” Black said.

The event got many attendees moving. “There was a gentleman there who served in 1946, and as you know, that number is dwindling,” he added. Black shared heartfelt community feedback, including a note from a veteran who said, “The handmade sign I received from students was more meaningful than any medal.”

WG Mallett School Principal Tracy Williams also spoke about the emotional impact of the parade on students and staff. “It was one of the hottest events we’ve done in a long time,” she said. Williams said both staff and veterans shed tears during the event. In a post after the celebration, Williams explained, “Some students have a deep understanding of what a veteran is because they have family members who are veterans or active military personnel.

Teachers put a lot of energy and time into it, and it felt like a very positive and meaningful event all around,” Williams said.

Janet Smith, executive director of New Ventures Maine, provided feedback via email before the meeting and said students were particularly excited about hands-on activities, including welding. “I absolutely loved welding,” one student commented. “I think I might try it when I’m a junior or senior.”

The board announced its next meetings at Mt. Blue Campus for December 10 and January 15, 2025, both starting at 6:30 PM.