Cape schools recognized as first Common Sense District

Common Sense, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids and families thrive in a world of digital media and technology, has recognized Cape Elizabeth Schools as a Common Sense District – the first in Maine.

Cape Elizabeth Schools has demonstrated its commitment to taking a whole-community approach to preparing its students to use the immense power of digital media to explore, create, connect and learn, while limiting the perils that exist in the online realm, such as plagiarism, loss of privacy, and cyberbullying. The recognition acknowledges the district’s commitment to creating a culture of digital learning and citizenship.

“We applaud the faculty and staff of Cape Elizabeth Schools for embracing digital citizenship as an important part of their students’ education,” said Liz Kline, VP, Education Programs, Common Sense Education. “Cape Elizabeth Schools deserves high praise for giving its students the foundational skills they need to compete and succeed in the 21st-century workplace and participate ethically in society at large.”

Cape Elizabeth Schools has been using Common Sense Education’s innovative and research-based digital citizenship resources, which were created in collaboration with Dr. Howard Gardner of the GoodPlay Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The resources teach students, educators, and parents tangible skills related to internet safety, protecting online reputations and personal privacy, managing online relationships, and respecting creative copyright. The free resources are used in more than 90,000 classrooms nationwide.

“We’re honored to be recognized as a Common Sense District” said Superintendent Howard Colter. “By preparing our students to use technology safely and responsibly, we are providing them unlimited opportunities to maximize and personalize their learning.”

To learn more about the criteria Cape Elizabeth Schools met to become recognized as a Common Sense District, visit www.commonsense.org/education/recognition-districts.

Scarborough Kiwanis announces scholarships

The Scarborough Kiwanis Club announced that it awarded four scholarships to graduating seniors at Scarborough High School on June 5.

Each year the club awards scholarships based on the applicants’ “service to school and community.” Thanks to the generosity of the organizers of the 5th Scarborough High School Memorial Golf Tournament, which for several years has named Scarborough Kiwanis as one of its beneficiaries, the club has been able to increase both the number of scholarships awarded and the amount of each scholarship.

This year’s recipients are Molly Amann, Katelyn Jutras, Anna Fitzpatrick and Sarah Brown. Amann volunteered with Key Club, Seeds of Peace, Tri for a Cure, and her church. Jutras volunteered with Key Club and Interact, and served as a youth field hockey coach and a junior docent at the Victoria Mansion. Fitzpatrick volunteered with Interact, the Buddy System, Maine Medical Center, and Maine Boys to Men. Brown volunteered with Key Club, Interact, and Seeds of Peace.

Scarborough High School top 10

Scarborough High School announced the names of students who graduated in the top 10 percent of the Class of 2018: Sebastian Doiron, Anna Chase, Sarah Brown, Samantha Carriero, Ibrahim Chand, Aidan Cohen, Andrew Cusson,  Ivy DiBiase, Anna Fitzpatrick, Hannah Griffin, Eric Huber, Abraham Jordan, Katelyn Jutras, Haley Koukos, Reagan Oliver, Rachel Paradis, Laura Powell, Sylvia Rathmell, Natalie Simonton, Miguel Suarez-Rodriguez,  Luke Thatcher, Faith Winslow and Kade Woolverton.