Shrinking school

Raymond schools face one of the biggest challenges in their history. Due to significant declining enrollment and the increase of Raymond’s valuation, the school district will be receiving a much smaller subsidy from the Maine Department of Education. The result is the need to draft a school budget that is less than a 3 percent increase over the current budget. This is not enough to cover costs such as heating and electricity.

The principals and department heads of our schools have been diligently working on drafting a budget that will still offer the high quality education Raymond residents are accustomed to receiving but with significantly fewer dollars. To do this, it has been necessary to cut staff, extracurricular activities, transportation, supplies, equipment, training, books and many other accounts.

At this time, two kindergarten teaching positions have been eliminated as well as a teacher in the fifth- and sixth-grade loop. Reductions to below full-time status have been made in health, guidance and social work. Any further reductions will radically change the program offered to our students.

It has been suggested by a school board member that an additional $150,000 be cut from the overall school budget, and there is no way to do this without reducing further staffing positions. Possible areas for cuts include Spanish, art, music, another classroom teacher and/or a special education teacher.

The next School Board meeting will be March 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Broadcast Studio. There will also be a public forum on Monday, March 31 at Jordan Small Middle School at 7 p.m.

Cookies help children

If you have not yet purchased cookies from a Girl Scout, it is not too late to stock your shelves. Girl Scout Troop 2093 will be selling cookies at The Good Life Market Saturday, March 22 from noon-2 p.m.

Selling cookies is directly related to the Girl Scout purpose of helping all girls realize their full potential and become strong, confident, and resourceful citizens. Throughout the cookie sale, Girl Scouts practice life skills including goal setting, money management, teamwork, planning, decision-making, and customer service.

Each troop sets goals such as field trips and community service projects that they hope to accomplish during the year. The money earned from cookie sales is used to help achieve this goal. This year, Troop 2093 is raising money for The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at the Maine Medical Center.

Making music

Ten students from Raymond Elementary School participated in the 15th annual Orff Festival of Music by joining other children in area schools for a day of musical fun. Raymond students who participated were Eliza Costigan, Amanda Gendron, Alison Kiesel, Megan Knights, Taylor Lamarre, Anna Laprise, Greg Meader, Bailey Nassa, Evan Taylor, and Lexi Walker.

Directed by music teachers Patti Gordan, Nancy Cash-Cobb and Donna Hurd, the festival is limited to a few third- and fourth-grade music students from each school, nominated by their music teachers.

The aspiring musicians participated in workshops, learned new songs and dances, and played instruments such as slide whistles, xylophones and glockenspiels. The day-long festival ended with the children performing songs and dances for their families.

Carl Orff was a musician and prolific composer who wrote in many styles and was known as the world’s authority on children’s music education. He dedicated himself to making musical performance accessible to children and under his guidance, an entire orchestra of special “Orff instruments” was designed, enabling children to play music without formal training.

A new tradition

Sticky fingers and smiling faces will be plentiful this weekend as Maine celebrates Maine Maple Sunday. In Raymond, Balsam Ridge owners Dewey and Sharon Lloy are ready to host activities at their farm at 140 Egypt Road.

The maple business is a new venture for Balsam Ridge, known for their quality Christmas tree farm. With their recently built sugarhouse and expanded operation, they are ready to turn their longtime hobby into a business. The Lloy’s are excited to be hosting their first annual Maple Sunday and will be open both Saturday and Sunday, March 22 and 23, from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Free samples of a variety of maple products will be available as well as a taste of maple syrup over ice cream. Maple syrup, cotton candy and other maple products will also be available.

Change in plans

Although originally scheduled as a teacher workshop and a day off for the students in kindergarten through eighth-grade, there will be school on Friday, March 28 due to the excessive number of snow days this year. The last day of school is scheduled for June 18 assuming no other cancellations are needed.

Ten Raymond students are among this group of Windham and Raymond students who participated in the Orff Music Festival