For the second year, Wells Junior High School music teacher Katie Mercier has introduced a unit of study to her eighth-grade students on learning to play the ukulele.

“I think it’s good because it gives them a basis on a stringed instrument,” said Mercier, who pointed out that the ukulele is an accessible, four-string instrument that is popular.  She believes it gives students “a start” to either continue with the ukulele or branch out to another string instrument, such as the guitar or bass guitar. 

At the start each student was assigned a ukulele to play and care for while in class.  Students got familiar with the notes on the small fretboard that corresponded with notes on the upper or treble clef of sheet music. They eventually learned to form chords and play simple songs that they could record on their laptops. 

“I like playing the ukulele,” said student Gavin Dusza, who has been learning piano for the past seven years. He noted that he had experienced some instruction with the violin in elementary school.  “Ukulele was definitely different for me because I never played guitar, but after two weeks, you get the hang of it.”

Fellow eighth-grader Jack Kennedy said, “I liked this unit. I was surprised at how much I liked playing the ukulele.  Music has never been my favorite subject, but the ukulele was actually fun. It’s easy and my new favorite instrument.”  He added, “It makes me think of a nighttime beach-type-of-vibe every time I play.  It's really smooth.”  Kennedy said he would continue playing the ukulele following this class.

The ukulele originated and became popular in Portugal during the 1880s.  Eventually, it became a significant fixture of Hawaiian culture.  The instrument comes in four sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone.  The Hawaiian word “ukulele” translates in English to “jumping flea.”   "Uku" is the word for "flea," and "lele" translates to the verb "jumping."

In honor of National School Committee Recognition Month, Wells-Ogunquit Community School District (WOCSD) Superintendent James Daly recognized the District’s School Committee members and high school student representatives at the Committee’s meeting on January 2nd.  They were acknowledged for their support and commitment to the students and staff of the District.  

“I want to recognize you for all the great things you do,” said Daly to the group.   “You support us no matter what we do (and) we appreciate it.  He added, “We couldn’t have done anything without your help.”

Each member was awarded a plaque from Daly who noted the tenure of each member:  Helena Ackerson - 12 years, including 11 years as Chair; Vice-Chair Jason Vennard - 11 years, including 10 years as Vice-Chair; Boriana Dolliver - 8 years; Heather Sittig - 8 years; Jeff Sullivan - 5 years, and Michele Tourangeau - 4 years.  Student representatives serving on the Committee this school year are Wells High School senior Tory Chase - her first year of service, and Junior Abraham (Abe) Medrano - his first year of service. 

School committees and/or school board members are elected officials who volunteer a great deal of time overseeing the complexities in the management of school districts.  National School Committee Recognition Month is celebrated each January.

In the early morning of January 9th, twelve finalists in the Wells Junior High School Spelling Bee for 2025 entered the Ward Gymnasium to compete in a school-wide assembly in front of an audience of hundreds of students. The finalists consisted of three students per grade level.  They all placed first in earlier pre-qualifying classroom spelling bees.   

The finalists were 5th-grade students Lucy Minogue, Lucie Parker, and Jordan Schettino.   Sixth-graders present were Tyler Donahue, Eric Lee, and Will Minogue.  From the 7th grade were Kyle Dolliver, Riley Gosselin, and Carmen Puliafico.  Representing the 8th grade were Kylie Afthim, Scarlett Lantz, and Laila VanWeest.

“It was great to see the enthusiasm, respect, and excitement that the audience showed the spellers,” commented English Language Arts (ELA) teacher Julie Esch.  “It was a lot of fun!”   

Sixth-grade student Tyler Donahue won this year’s Bee.   In the deciding round, he spelled the words ‘séance’ and ‘vociferous’ correctly in that order.  Eighth-grade student and runner-up Scarlett Lantz advanced to the final round by correctly spelling the word ‘impeccable’ but misspelling the next word, ‘séance’.  Both students will now represent their school at the York County Spelling Bee on February 4th in the library at Massabesic Middle School in East Waterboro at 2:00 pm. 

“It was something,” said an excited and surprised Tyler Donahue.  “I never thought I would get first place, let alone second or third.  It's amazing.”    Regarding the final word of the contest, he added that “I was just in the dark” when presented with the word, ‘vociferous’. 

The first-place prize awarded to Donahue was a deluxe Scrabble board.  Those who placed in the top four of contestants received medals.  All of the participating students received pencils with “WJHS Spelling Bee” imprinted on them plus some Smarties Candy. 

This year’s judges of the contest included ELA teachers Mary Rand, Laney Yeomelakis, Molly Foran, Sarah Downs, and Daysia Cornett.  Music teacher Alison Graichen operated the sound system for the hour-long event.          

York County junior high students participating in this first stage of the National Spelling Bee will join with WJHS finalists in the State Spelling Bee to be held at Bowdoin College in Brunswick on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.  Students who win state competitions are then invited to participate in the National Spelling Bee held in the spring.  Began in 1925, the National Spelling Bee is administered by the E.W. Scripps Company and 267 sponsors in the United States. and elsewhere.

During a regular school committee meeting on December 4th, Wells-Ogunquit CSD Superintendent James Daly recognized and thanked the following people for their contributions to the community and District.  Awarded with praise and plaques of recognition were Adam Shaw, Scott DeFelice, and Courtland Holloway.

Scott DeFelice, a member of the Wells Board of Selectmen, responded quickly to those who suddenly found their apartment homes and belongings gone because of the devastating November 19th Pine Tree Common apartment complex fire on Rt. 109 in Wells.  The tragedy left twelve families needing shelter.  DeFelice, the general manager of the Elmwood Resort Hotel in Wells found himself in a position to provide immediate temporary shelter for those displaced.  Meeting notes from the school committee meeting read, “Scott has done a tremendous job harnessing resources and working to support the families involved, ensuring that they had a place to stay.”

Courtland Holloway, the pastor of Shores Church on Route 109 in Wells, was recognized as a volunteer for the District and community.  With his church in close proximity to the site, he was one of the first on the scene at the apartment complex fire.   Pastor Holloway assisted in directing traffic and shuttling firefighters, tenants, and others to and from Shores Church for intermittent breaks. He and his wife Kara were able to provide gift cards and cash donations to help those who lost their apartment and belongings. The Holloways, who have children attending District schools, often volunteer in the District and have, at times, generously provided gift cards to parents of school children who find themselves in need of assistance. 

Wells Police Sargent Adam Shaw was recognized as a tremendous resource for the District and its students.  Sargent Shaw has assisted the District in addressing safety issues in roundtable discussions, thereby helping the District move towards an even safer environment for students and staff.  Shaw also volunteers his coaching skills at Wells Parks & Recreation and for the Wells-Ogunquit Little League.   In addition, he participates in the annual Guest Reader Day program at Wells Elementary School.

For the second year in a row, the Wells High School varsity football team has won the Maine Class D State Championship game.  At its meeting on December 4th, the Wells-Ogunquit CSD School Committee recognized the team and its coaches for their victory over Foxcroft Academy at Lewiston High School’s Don Roux Field on November 23rd.  The final score was 34 to 0.

Wells-Ogunquit CSD Superintendent James Daly, Assistant Superintendent Pierce Cole, and School Committee Chair Helena Ackerson congratulated Coach Tim Roche and each of his assistant coaches and team members with a certificate of recognition on behalf of the Committee and the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District.   

According to head football Coach Roche, the team finished the 2024 season undefeated, 11-0, including a regular season game with Foxcroft Academy.  Similarly, Foxcroft Academy ended their regular season at 10-1.

“This is back-to-back Championships for the Warriors, and they now have the longest active win streak in the state at 14 games,” noted Roche in an email.  "This year's team started strong and never looked back; they fought through a tough regular season schedule and had a great playoff run. I am so proud of them and the coaches' efforts; we have a great culture here at Wells."

Before acknowledging each coach and team member, Superintendent Daly pointed out that the high school team had one of its best playing seasons.   He added that team members are champions on and off the field and, being so, provide positive role models for the younger students in the WOCSD and the community.

For the past 21 years, kindergarten students at Wells Elementary School have planted tulip bulbs on school grounds in the late fall.  This year was no exception, as the tradition continued on November 12th with 100 bulbs being planted in a garden near the school’s playground.  

Early in the day, over 100 holes for the bulbs were pre-dug by school volunteers who later assisted the students in burying them.  During their recess period students emerged from their school one class at a time.  Once outside, they received some planting instructions; then, each child was handed a bulb of their own to plant. Those volunteering their time to assist the students during a windy afternoon were Meredyth Sullivan, Rachael Kloss, Laura Sacoco, Dianne Trachimowicz, Amber Wolf, and Angela Gagnon.      

As in years past, the bulbs were purchased and provided by the school’s PTSA organization.  The event was organized by Wells-Ogunquit CSD Community Resource Coordinator Maryanne Foley.

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.