Joyful students

Here’s an image that eloquently tells part of the Watershed School story. I took this picture before classes in the morning out in the hall where an impromptu gathering of students made travel down the hall difficult but joyful. I think the emotion comes through clearly on the faces of the students in the image: happy and comfortable.

As this year winds down to a close, lets let this iconic image remind us of what a wonderful year we’ve had in a wonderful school with amazing people!

Cameron working on light sensing robot

Nora working on her seismograph

Leah measuring sunspots

Watershed’s Conceptual Physics class is wrapping up the year with a three-week individual project period where each student has chosen to investigate some physical phenomenon in depth. The projects range from Margo’s detailed investigation of how eating and insulin affect blood sugar, to Sophie’s elaborate wind tunnel investigation of airfoil shapes.

The project presentations will be on Thursday 9 am and Friday 11 am, June 3 and 4. Please come and see what the students have been up to.

Sophie working on airfoils

Watershed Observation students at the base of the American Chestnut

After showing students the orchard of back-crossed American and Chinese Chestnut trees at Merryspring Nature park, Evans led the students to the magnificent 70′ high tree. The tree is not visible from the road, so it was a real adventure search, but students spotted the burs on the ground and soon found it.

The demise of the American Chestnuts in the first part of the 20th century has been called the “most costly ecological disaster in American history”, Evans told the students. Seeing a wild specimen so healthy in the woods was an inspiring and hopeful sign of nature’s resiliance. In fact, the American Chestnut Foundation has incorporated the genetic material from this tree into their breeding program.

The students are finishing up their year learning the basics of scientific observation by creating a field guide to 15 trees with hundreds of drawings from life. They will be taking a practical test next week where they will be expected identify trees in the forest. Wish them luck!

Street lights are the second largest user of electricity for Rockland, costing the city more than $13,500 every month.  When City Council authorized an evaluation of city energy use as a part of an energy planning grant application last November, a street light survey was identified as a key step.   A street light survey would allow the Council to determine if the existing number, location, and wattage of street lights made sense or if there might be ways to reduce energy costs, while improving the overall quality and efficiency of Rockland’s outdoor lighting.

left to right: Larry Pritchett (chair of Rockland Energy Committee), Janet McMahon (teacher), Nora Willauer, Reid Evans, Nathan Hillman, Fiona Boyd, Devin Fletcher, Brenda Reddy, Sophie Davis

Just as the Rockland Energy Committee began figuring out how to conduct the street light survey, Janet McMahon, a science and social studies teacher at Watershed School, approached the Committee looking for an energy related project her students might do.  The Committee unanimously suggested that the street light survey would be a good project for the class.  Janet McMahon and 10 Watershed sophomores have enthusiastically taken this on.  Since early May, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, student teams have been fanning out in the area east of Broadway to document the city’s street lights (pole numbers, location, light type, wattage, light purpose, etc.).  In addition, they have been working with John Root, Rockland’s Code Enforcement Officer, to put the information they’ve collected on a Geographic Information System (GIS), which will help the City plan more efficiently.  By the time they are finished, they will have covered more than 20 miles of city streets and inventoried nearly 400 street lights.

The three goals of the survey are to confirm that the lights the city is paying for actually exist, to  identify specific lights that should be reviewed to see if they are over-sized for their location or may no longer be needed, and to add the street light data to the City’s GIS system in the code office.

Achieving these goals has the potential to both save the city a great deal of money and provide Rockland with the information needed to transition to more energy efficient street lighting over time.

Cameron Gerrish collects data

In addition to on-the-ground inventory work, Watershed students have been researching steps other towns and cities are taking to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions associated with lighting.  The class’s initial findings are both surprising and inspiring.  Outdoor lighting constitutes up to a third of the energy used by most towns.  As a result, towns of all sizes in Maine and across the country are working to reduce lighting costs.  “It’s as if light bulbs are going off in town officials’ heads all over the country”, one student commented.  Rockland has approximately 773 street lights and a population of approximately 7600, which translates to more than 1 street light for every 10 residents.  This is much higher than the average in Maine.  Many Maine towns, such as Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth, Bar Harbor, Kennebunk, South Portland and Lewiston, have come to the conclusion that they are over-lit and have begun street light reduction programs to reduce light wattage or remove unnecessary lights.   Other towns, such as Bangor and Waldoboro, use lower wattage lights to begin with (for example, in the Bangor area, 50 Watt lamps are used in most residential areas, instead of the 70 Watt minimum used in Rockland.  Some towns are turning off or dimming lights between midnight and 5:00 am when most people are asleep. In addition, there are a host of new more efficient technologies, such as energy on demand and motion detectors that light up streets as pedestrians need them, intelligent (computerized) street light systems that adjust the brightness of lights depending on the amount of moonlight and time of evening, and conversion to LED lighting, which is being piloted from Old Town, Maine to the Los Angeles, California.  An added benefit from these technologies and programs is that residents of many towns are now enjoying a night sky with far less light pollution.

Public safety is usually one of the main barriers that arises when towns consider reducing street lighting.  Surprisingly, study after study has shown that

Nathan Hillman, Devin Fletcher and Brenda Reddy check results.

crime is unaffected or even decreases when the number and intensity of street lights is reduced.  Another barrier identified by the students is that the Central Maine Power rate structure for delivering electricity to Rockland discourages conversion to more efficient technology.  For example, older lamps that use 30% more energy and produce more light pollution are less expensive than the newer more efficient lamps.  There is even a penalty for converting 70 Watt lights to 50 Watt lights.  These create a disincentive to change that is beginning to receive scrutiny at the legislative level.

In the end, “it all boils down to common sense,” says student Cameron Gerrish.  Because most towns have put in street lights over many decades, usually without an overarching plan, there tends to be a lot of waste and inefficiency.  As student Brenda Reddy put it, “every town would like to cut costs and what better way to do it than to cut unnecessary expenses.” Classmate Sophie Davis quoted from the Clinton Climate Initiative, which is working with the many of the world’s largest cities to reduce energy use and costs:  “The solution to the climate crisis isn’t far off in the future – it’s in the buildings we inhabit, our civic infrastructure and the way we organize our

Climate Change Class

lives.” “It’s a no brainer”, says McMahon, “the town saves money, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, and we can see the stars!”.

Come learn more about this fascinating topic.  Watershed students will give a presentation to the Rockland Energy Committee on Wednesday, June 2 at 1:30 pm at Watershed School (Lincoln Street Center).  All are welcome.  For more information contact jmcmahon@midcoast.com.

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Students, parents, and faculty – this is the last update for the year.  Have a great summer.

Important Dates/Upcoming Events

• May 28^th, Friday, 3:00 pm – Please join Harper Alexander for a showing of his film Lazarus and Dives which was made as part of his Senior Project.  The event will take place at Watershed School.
• May 29^th, Saturday, 4:00 pm – Josie Davis will be giving a solo violin recital (with Patti Stowell accompanying on piano) at the Rockland Congregational Church.  This is part of Josie’s Senior Project.  All are welcome.
• May 31^st, Memorial Day – No classes
• June 2^nd, Wednesday, 1:30-2:15 pm – Global Climate Change class presents results of Rockland Street Light Inventory to the Rockland Energy Committee – all are welcome to attend.
• June 3^rd, Thursday, 4:00-6:00 pm – Review and debriefing of the 2009-2010 academic year with Watershed families.  We will also discuss of implementation of the NEASC Accreditation Report recommendations.
• June 4^th, Friday – Last day of classes.  Beech Hill walk at 1:00 pm.  All welcome.
• June 5^th, Saturday, 3:00 pm – End of semester presentations and Watershed Commencement (details will follow).

Other News/Reminders

As you’ve probably heard, Thomas has been selected to be a National Merit Scholar, the fourth Watershed student to receive this distinction.  Congratulations Thomas!

Also kudos to Devin for excelling in many fencing tournaments this past year.  She received a bronze in the Fundy Open in New Brunswick, Canada; a bronze in the Qualifiers for National Championships (the world’s largest fencing tournament, which will be taking place in July in Atlanta, Georgia); and a gold at the North American Cup in Dallas, Texas, with teammates Azaline Dunlap-Smith and Jenni Laforge.  Way to go!

Thanks to the wonderful staff and students at the Watershed School who have demonstrated their caring by helping an elderly couple with yard work and securing a dog pen. This had to be done, but no one came to help until my friend of years ago, Will Galloway, brought the entire school, staff and students, to help on May 11.

The staff and students did a bang-up job of raking up the leaves, cleaning out the ditches, removing the leaves in a wheelbarrow, trimming the bushes, cleaning out the flower gardens, digging a deeper trench around the dog pen and nailing the boards to the poles and the wire to the boards in order to keep the big dog from going over the fence.

Our appreciation for the work — well done — and the spirit of cooperation by both staff and students who have proven to me this city, this state, this country and this world will be in good hands with our young people of today.

Thank you all!

Semper Fi

Leroy Peasley

Rockland

Watershed student Thomas O'Connor

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has notified Thomas O’Connor, a junior at Watershed School in Rockland, that he has reached the next level of the competition. O’Connor is the fourth Watershed student in the history of the small independent high school, which has been in operation since 2003, to achieve this distinction.

The National Merit awards are offered to high school students who have earned the highest scores in the country on the Preliminary SAT. High school sophomores and juniors take the exam in the fall each year. The following spring, juniors are identified as high scorers if they are at or above the 97th percentile in the nation. The next level of the competition will be announced in September when O’Connor and other Maine students will be named either commended scholars or semifinalists. Only semifinalists will continue on to compete for the award money.

Students, parents, and faculty – this is the next to last update for the year.  If you have anything you’d like to include in the final update, please send an email to Janet (jmcmahon@midcoast.com) by May 23^rd.

Important Dates/Upcoming Events

• Volunteers are needed for Sunday, May 16th, which is the last Loaf and Fish of the year.  It takes about three hours (11:00 am – 2:00) to prepare and serve a meal. Please contact Sherry if you are available.
• May 16-17^th (Sunday and Monday)– Movie Night/On the Water Day at Josie and Sophie’s starting at 6:00 pm Sunday through 3:00 pm on Monday.  See Josie and Sophie for details.
• May 17^th, Monday, 8:30 am – All-day faculty workshop to discuss next year’s curriculum and other topics.
• May 20, 21, 22 (Thursday-Saturday) – Maine All-State Music Festival at the University of Maine in Orono– Josie, Sophie, Fiona and Nora will be gone on Thursday and Friday.
• May 27^th, Thursday, 4:00-6:00 pm – Review and debriefing of the 2009-2010 academic year with Watershed families.  We will also discuss the implementation of the NEASC Accreditation Report recommendations.
• May 31^st, Memorial Day – No classes
• June 4^th, Friday – Morning classes only.  All school walk up Beech Hill in Rockport 1:00 – 3:00 pm. Everyone welcome.
• June 5^th, Saturday – End of semester presentations & Commencement
  • 3:00 – 4:15 pm – End of Semester Presentation – Lincoln St. Center
  • 4:30 – 5:30 pm – Watershed Commencement – St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
  • 6:00 pm – Potluck Party Lucia Beach

Other News/Reminders

The 2^nd Annual Watershed Event was a great success thanks to all of you.  More than 200 people attended and we raised over $3,000.  We’ve had many rave reviews from audience members – here’s one that was sent the next day:  “I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the concert last night. It was absolutely WONDERFUL, every last minute.  I was pleased to learn a little more about Watershed. It sounds like a really special place to be.”

And for those who haven’t heard, the spring auction raised more than $7,000.

Congratulations to Nathan Hillman who won 2nd place in the Bagaduce Young Composers Competition for his String Quartet No. 2 in A flat major, second movement.

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Students, parents, and faculty – if you have anything you’d like to include in this update, please send an email to Janet (jmcmahon@midcoast.com) as far in advance as you are able.

Important Dates/Upcoming Events

• April 30^th, Friday, 4:00 pm – Parent Café at Watershed School

• April 30^th, Friday, 3:30 pm – Individual yearbook pages due from students and faculty.

• May 8^th, Saturday, 7:00 pm: The Second Annual Watershed Event with the Brooks and DeNooyer Guitar Duo, Hannah Batley, the Calliope String Quartet and Glenn Jenks.  Tickets are ready to sell to friends and family and posters are ready to put up.  PLEASE SELL TICKETS!!!!  You can get them from Laura at Watershed or contact Janet at jmcmahon@midcoast.com.  A special thanks to Tim and Elizabeth Arruda for designing and printing the posters!

• Volunteers are needed for Sunday, May 16th, the last Loaf and Fish of the year.  It takes about three hours (11:00 am – 2:00) to prepare and serve a meal. Please contact Sherry if you are available.
• May 17^th – No Classes – Faculty workshop

Morning session: 8:30 – 12:30 to discuss next year’s curriculum

Afternoon session: 1:00 – 3:00 Focus groups and discussion

• May 20, 21, 22 – Maine All-State Music Festival at the University of Maine in Orono– Josie, Sophie, Fiona and Nora will be gone on Thursday and Friday.

Other News/Reminders

I’ll be sending an email about the Watershed Event concert to enlist your support and let you know where we are.  Please keep selling those tickets!!!!!

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Students, parents, and faculty – if you have anything you’d like to include in this update, please send an email to Janet (jmcmahon@midcoast.com) as far in advance as you are able.

Important Dates/Upcoming Events

• April 10^th, Saturday, 5:00 pm: Watershed Auction at St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church in Camden.  At last count, there were 100 confirmed donations and 75 confirmed guests.  Joyce sends her thanks to everyone who has worked hard to bring in donations and paperwork.  For those still working on these, please get them in as soon as you can so the auction committee can finalize paper work and be ready for auction day.  Setting up and preparing food will begin at noon at the church.  If anyone wants to volunteer to help, email Chris (cdavis@midcoast.com) for food and Joyce (jhillman@wildblue.net) for auction set up. 

• April 19-23^rd – April vacation

• May 8^th, Saturday, 7:00 pm: The Second Annual Watershed Event with the Brooks and DeNooyer Guitar Duo, Hannah Batley, the Calliope String Quartet and Glenn Jenks.  Tickets are ready to sell to friends and family and posters are ready to put up.  You can get tickets from Laura at Watershed or contact Janet at jmcmahon@midcoast.com.  A special thanks to Tim and Elizabeth Arruda for designing and printing the posters!

Other News/Reminders

-  As Will said in his recent letter, the visit with the Accreditation Committee went well. He didn’t mention the tremendous amount of time and energy that he, Jude, and Ralph (and Mary and Laura behind the scenes) put into the report and preparing for the visiting committee.  Thank you all!