In October the Wells-Ogunquit CSD shined a spotlight of appreciation on the bus drivers of Ledgemere Transportation, Inc. in Wells.  These men and women transport about 800 students to and from the District’s three schools during an average school day.  The seventeen drivers at this location were celebrated in School Bus Driver Appreciation Week, the third week of October.

During that week, bus drivers were invited to a special breakfast and received gift bags that included cards and letters of appreciation from elementary students. This annual event is sponsored by the PTSA at Wells Elementary School.

“We are incredibly thankful for the work our bus drivers do,” wrote WES Principal Kyle Burnell in an email. “We're fortunate to have drivers in this district that care so deeply about our students.”

Lauren Clark is the manager of Ledgemere in Wells, home to 18 buses, 11 of which are battery-powered.  Clark indicated that anyone interested in a part-time job driving a school bus for Ledgemere Transportation, Inc. should contact her at 207-646-5502 for more information about job training and a sign-on bonus.

According to Clark, one dangerous situation for school bus drivers to encounter continues to be the vehicles that attempt to or actually pass a bus that is picking up or dropping off students. She said that she is receiving an increasing number of reports from her drivers of vehicles illegally passing their stopped busses.  Clark stressed that it is critical for drivers not to pass a school bus when they see it stopped and

Wells Junior High School will present its 30th Annual Turkey Dinner for area seniors on November 17 th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This free dinner will be held in the school’s cafeteria.

The meal is a traditional holiday dinner consisting of turkey with all the “fixings,” coffee, and dessert. Typically, about 400 are served over the two-hour period.

Begun in 1994 by the then principal of WJHS Jeff Rodman, these special dinners continue to serve as a goodwill gesture to the community. It is also an important “service learning” project for the eighth graders. In preparation for the big day, students fill various roles. They make decorations, banners, and table napkins to decorate the dining room and set up tables and chairs.

They also greet guests, bring them to their table, work in the kitchen, wait on tables, and help clean up.

As in past years, the turkeys are donated by Wells IGA and cooked by Congdon’s Family Restaurant & Bakery. The coffee served is provided by Dunkin' Donuts in Wells.

WJHS is located at 1470 Post Road (Route One) in Wells. No reservation for this dinner is required. For further information, call WJHS at 646-5142.

The Drama Department at Wells High School has announced that it has been granted one of the first licenses in Maine to present the spellbinding *“*Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” (High School Edition).  

This two-act play is based on the original Harry Potter story by J. K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne. The production will bring to life the eighth installment of the Harry Potter series in the Olenn Performing Arts Center at WHS beginning November 20th.  

This enchanting production with mesmerizing characters is produced by Andrea Hernandez and directed by Andrew Lopez.  Alex Bedirian is the assistant director, and Judi Dion is the costume designer.

“We have an amazing opportunity to put on a show that pushes our students and faculty to perform at the next level," commented Hernandez in an email.  "We are going to be making people's childhood fantasies a reality.  Harry Potter is a larger-than-life name, and we feel honored to be the first school in Maine to put on this show."

Andy Lopez has been directing stage productions at WHS for over twenty years.  “We are beyond excited to put on such a prestigious and well-known show,” wrote Lopez in an email. “The magic of this franchise will be a fun challenge to bring to life.”

The high school edition of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” returns audiences to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where friendships and adventures await Harry Potter’s son, Albus, who confronts his family's past legacy.

The dates and times of the play are as follows: a matinee on November 20th at 3:30 pm, followed by evening shows on November 21, 22, and 23, at 6:30 pm.   Seating can be reserved and paid for in advance by calling Wells High School or visiting www.wellshs.booktix.com. Tickets can also be bought at the door before each show. Tickets are $6 for students and senior citizens and $9 for general admission.  Seniors, students, and WHS faculty are admitted free for the afternoon matinee on November 20th, but they are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance.

This weekend, consider going to see the Wells Junior High School Drama Department’s presentation of “Eerie Academy,” a spooky comic play that is a collection of vignettes about the strange goings on in a school that not only has students but ghosts, vampires, ghouls, and aliens.

Under the direction of Allison Le, over 60 WJHS students have worked diligently to be ready for opening night on October 24th.

“The actors and set crew have worked hard on bringing this play to life!” wrote Director Le.  “(They) have been busy studying lines, learning to block, and working on their characterization(s) with our Assistant Director, Gregg Trzaskowski.  Stage manager Madison Richards has been working with a large group of students on the sets and props for the show.”

Dates and times of the performances are as follows: Thursday, October 24th at 6:00 pm, Friday, October 25th at 3:30 pm and Saturday, October 26th at 1:00 pm.  Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased at the door of WJHS’s Ward Gymnasium an hour before curtain time.

During a recent local television sports news story, Wells High School senior Kendall Maxon said in the middle of a statement, “I like staying active..” which is an understatement for one who not only maintains a 4.0 accumulative grade point average but is the captain of three WHS teams, Lacrosse, basketball, and soccer.

In late August, Maxon was honored with the distinction of WMTW Channel 8’s “Scholar-Athlete of the Week.” She was nominated for this by her Lacrosse coach, Morgan Pike.

“Kendall is an amazing athlete, student, and young lady,” wrote Pike in an email. She was a phenomenal leader as a junior captain last season and helped lead the team to the state championship. Kendall is an athlete who embodies unselfishness and coaching ability. She leads by example, always putting the team's success above her own, and her work ethic is unparalleled. Whether in practice or during the game, Kendall demonstrates commitment and dedication that inspires everyone around her.”

While visiting WHS, Channel 8 personnel filmed Maxon at Lacrosse practice. In an interview, she told Ch. 8 sports reporter Travis Lee that Lacrosse is her favorite of the three sports she competes in. In Lacrosse, she plays “midfield” and “attack” positions.

Maxon indicated that her favorite subjects are math and science. “I’ve always been motivated to do my best in the classroom,” she told Lee. In high school thus far, she has completed six AP college classes and four online York County Community College (YCCC) classes. Once in college, she plans to continue playing Lacrosse and pursue a degree in Business, focusing on Marketing and Management.

Kendall is also interested in real estate and wants to obtain a real estate license this winter and work with her mother, a real estate agent. Kendall has an identical twin sister, Maren who also plays basketball.

Shortly before the 2024-25 school year began in the Wells-Ogunquit CSD, many District staff gathered in the Wells Elementary School’s cafeteria on August 29th for the traditional “Welcome Back Breakfast,” an event where newly hired staff members are introduced.

Those new hires are listed as follows: last name, first name, position, and what school they will be working in: Ashley Beauregard, Ed Tech II at WES; Elizabeth Bullard, Ed Tech III at WHS; Daysia Cornett, grade 5 teacher at WJHS; Riley Dempsey, Ed Tech III at WHS; Hannah Fishman, kindergarten teacher at WES; Molly Foran, grade 6 English Language Arts teacher at WJHS; Courtney Frink, Principal's Admin Secretary at WHS; Kevin Hill, grade 6 social studies teacher at WJHS; Patricia Hill, self-contained SPED teacher at WES; Kiersten Jones, grade 2 teacher at WES; Kera Kerr, a speech-language pathologist at WES; Sarah Martel, kindergarten teacher at WES, Megan McMinis, speech-language pathologist at WES; Sean McCormack-Kuhman, math teacher at WHS; Heidi Mitchell, Ed Tech II at WJHS; Jen Olin, Ed Tech II at WES; McKenzie Philbrick, art teacher at WHS, Mackenzie Piechota, Ed Tech II at WES; Hannah Wrigley, Ed Tech II at WES.

The Athletic Department at Wells High School is currently taking nominations for the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. If you would like to nominate a former WHS athlete, coach, fan, or contributor to sports at the school, please request a nomination form available at all of the District’s three schools and in the entryway of the WOCSD Superintendent’s Office, located at 1460 Post Road, (Rte. 1) in Wells. Nomination forms may also be obtained by going online to:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1705PzSDQHAq57vVHWZ2waZNq1vIUoZZuVSG4_rDm1WA/edit

Those being nominated must have graduated from WHS on or before June 2014. On the form, those making the nomination should provide as much information as possible, including the nominee’s honors, recognitions, dates, records, newspaper clippings, and artifacts pertinent to the nomination.

The completed form may be returned to Wells High School either in person or by mail at: Wells High School, ATTN: Jodie Lawlor, Athletic Director, 200 Sanford Road, Wells, ME 04090. The deadline for submitting a nomination is November 15, 2024.

Wells High School will soon begin culling student records for the Class of 2023. If you would like to have your records there are three ways to request and obtain your cumulative folder. Either send your request in writing along with your name and mailing address to Erin Sanborn, Wells High School Guidance Office, 200 Sanford Road, Wells, ME 04090, or email her at  esanborn@wocsd.org .  You can also reach her by phone at 646-7011, extension 2204. Please note that to make a request for your folder, you will need to do so by October 15, 2024.