Campus Life

Hello MSSM Community!

During J-term, the RIs try to host fun activities for students to fill the evenings that would usually be spent doing homework. There has been meringue making, Cupcake Wars hosted by Cooking Club, and Free Rice Night hosted by the Key Club. Additionally, there have been several trips a week to ice skate or to go to Caribou or Presque Isle for dinner.

Every year, MSSM students play Assassins, also known as Spoons or Spy vs. Spy. Each player gets a rolled up pair of clean socks. During the game, students who sign up are given a target to “assassinate” with a pair of socks. Assassins is a quite popular game during this time, and students look forward to it all year.

That’s all for this week,

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

Welcome back from Winter Break! Students are now participating in J-Term, a two-week period where students do a fun class on campus or an internship. Some examples of classes on campus include “Introduction to Architecture,” “Supercalifragilistic Guided Independent Project,” “Stop Motion Animation,” and “Learning to Love Winter in Limestone.” Each class will have a presentation of what they did at the end of the two weeks. Often they will present something that they make in their classes. For example, last year the architecture class created models of their ideal version of the dorms.

Students also have the option to do an off-campus J-Term. For several years now, the Jackson Lab in Bar Harbor has been hosting students for J-Term and providing them with opportunities to see their genetic research. This year, the students in this biology focused J-Term will spend half their time at the Jackson Lab and half their time at the Bigelow Lab for Ocean Sciences in Boothbay Harbor where they will work on a project about seasonal changes in microbial communities in the Gulf of Maine.

Other students do internships both on campus and off campus. Internships have ranged from working with a company that organizes houses to job shadowing law offices. This year, the school has put in special effort to arrange internships at The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle. Students can stay on campus for this internship and commute to the hospital every day. They are job shadowing departments such as the operating room, radiology, eye care, and orthopedics.

That’s all for this week,

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

We’re almost at Christmas Break, and students are part way through their mid-year exams already. Almost everyone is looking forward to the three week Winter Break. Last Sunday was Study Day, a four hour long study session where students have to be on campus studying, either in the dorms or the Academic Building. The teachers all have office hours during this time as well, so students can go in and ask any questions that they have.

There have been a variety of activities in the dorms to relieve the stress of midterms. There was a Holiday Dinner after Study Day where students and staff have a semi-formal dinner to celebrate the beginning of midterms. The Student Senate held a practice final which is a fake final full of amusing questions. Also, a parent did a mass Chipotle run for the entire school. Thank you to everyone who has tried to brighten the mood of midterms and have a happy break!

That’s all for this week,

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

This week, students are signing up for their spring semester classes. There will be new courses in a variety of different departments. The science department will be offering Plant Biology next semester as well as Waves and Oscillations. Other new offerings are Topics in Software Engineering and Robotics, Combinatorics, Research Tutorial, and Differential Equations.

Last weekend, six students participated in All Aroostook, a two-day chorus festival that was held in Presque Isle. The festival ended in a half an hour long performance for the students’ friends and family. MSSM students performed two solos in the song “True Light.”

This week, the chorus and string ensemble will be performing cabarets for their final exam. This is a short performance where the students can choose what song they perform and it is open for the community to watch. These cabarets are a chance for students to showcase their individual talents or perform in a smaller group. Some selections from the cabaret this year include Hallelujah, Baba Yetu by Christopher Tin, Yesterday by the Beatles, and Imagine by John Lennon.

That’s all for this week,

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

The first real snow has fallen in Limestone. However, most teachers live only a street over on Trafton Avenue, so classes are almost never canceled. This weekend, the VEX team The Electric Boogaloos traveled to a meet at John Bapst Memorial High School. Despite some technical difficulties, they were tournament champions. The other two VEX teams will be traveling to Cape Elizabeth next weekend for their first meet.

MSSM representatives traveled to the YMCA’s Youth in Government program this weekend as well. Of the seventeen people who traveled, around ten held a position of power such as President of the Senate or Head of Transportation. Additionally, Annette Mubang won the award of Best Bill. Congratulations Youth in Government Participants!

MSSM also hosted the LEGO robotics league qualifying competition for the second year in a row. This is the LEGO League’s 19th year and the theme is Into Orbit. The First Lego League is a competition for middle schoolers. Seven teams came from all over Aroostook County to be judged on a research project, their core values (similar to teamwork), and their robot’s design. Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped out this weekend!

That’s all for this week,

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

Here in the County, the weather is surprisingly nice and warm for November. This Friday, the Residential Life staff will be playing V for Vendetta, an annual event that usually happens every November 5th but had to be pushed back this year, unfortunately. This weekend is quite busy as members of the Youth in Government program will be traveling downstate to participate in the Augusta convention where they will debate and pass bills. Additionally, one of the three VEX teams, 4393X (or the Electric Boogaloos) will be traveling to compete in their first competition of the season.

This week is MSSM’s math team’s first away meet. Forty students will be traveling out of the fifty-nine on the math team. Currently, MSSM’s top three teams Ivory, Emerald, and Crimson are ranked at 1st, 3rd, and 6th in the state respectively. Math team is run differently at MSSM due to the number of people who compete. Instead of being placed onto one set team, students take a runoff (or a small math test) before every meet to determine which team they will be placed onto. The top ten students go to Ivory, the next ten go to Emerald, etc. This system accounts for students’ individual weaknesses and strengths in terms of math subjects and allows MSSM to build the strongest top team possible for individual meets. 

That’s all for this week,

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

This weekend was the Halloween Dance, which was accompanied by the annual costume contest. Some costumes from the contest were: the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and an impromptu rendition of a skit from a popular TV show Brooklyn 99, which won best group costume. The dance was followed up by a showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Last Saturday, the Cross Country team ran at the state meet. The girls took seventh place while the boys took eleventh. This is the second year in a row that MSSM has qualified for states for both boys and girls. With this meet, the fall sports season is over. However, the girls’ soccer team has been acknowledged for their good sportsmanship by teams from around Northern Maine, so the seniors and the captains will be traveling to collect their award. Thank you to all the athletes who competed this season!

That’s all for this week,

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

Last weekend was the Cross Country Regional meet which was hosted in Belfast. Despite this meet being held over the break, MSSM had 13 runners compete. Dolcie Tanguay took third for the girls’ Class C division and Madison McCarthy took sixth. For the boys, Jay Philbrick took 13th and Sawyer Lachance took 15th. All four of these students were in the top thirty for their races, so they qualified for states as individuals. However, both of the teams qualified for states this weekend as the girls took third and the boys took seventh. Good luck to the cross country runners!

Next weekend, the Key Club will be participating in Trunk or Treat, a program that allows Limestone children to trick or treat in a safe environment. The students will be running small booths around the gym which let small children play games for candy, whether they win or not.

Additionally, this weekend the Student Senate will be hosting a Halloween dance, complete with a costume contest. Students will also be showing The Rocky Horror Picture Show directly after the dance. The showing of Rocky Horror is a yearly tradition that people dress up for, and also do interactive activities with such as commentary, dancing, and occasionally throwing objects such as playing cards during certain points in the movie. 

That’s all for this week,

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

As October break draws near, the fall sports season is wrapping up. Last weekend were the Senior Night soccer games. The girls unfortunately lost in the last few minutes 2-3. The boys, however, won their game 7-0 and will advance to the playoffs. The first playoff game will be this weekend. Cross Country regionals are this weekend as well, where it will be determined if the team advances to the State meet.

Last Sunday, representatives from five colleges came to visit MSSM as part of their Vacationland Tour of Maine. These colleges were Princeton, Swarthmore, Bowdoin, Pomona, and Wellesley. Additionally, there will be a visit from St. Joseph’s College on campus this Wednesday. Thanks to Ms. Jortberg for arranging these visits!

This Thursday, the Theater at Monmouth is coming to the school for their annual show at MSSM, King Lear. Previous productions have included The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

That’s all for this week,

-Jialan Deal

Hello MSSM Community!

This weekend, students got to participate in the Haunted Woods Walk which was hosted at the Presque Isle Nordic Heritage Center. Students had the option to either be guides who lead groups of people through the walk or to participate in some of the bigger horror scenes. This year, the Haunted Woods Walk featured a school bus, Jason from Friday the 13th, and the occasional person with a chainsaw (the chain, of course, was removed). The people hosting the walk always provide pizza, and the event is highly anticipated by students.

This Tuesday, MSSM hosted the Aroostook County meet for Cross Country. The 5-kilometer course went across the back fields of MSSM, and past the Academic Building to end near the dorms. Although the day was unusually muggy for October, lots of students, faculty, and teachers showed up to support the runners. Ultimately, the boys placed fifth, and the girls placed third overall.

This week, the entire junior class will be taking the PSAT which is paid for by the school. Last year, six seniors were nominated as semifinalists for the National Merit Scholarship. MSSM tied with Kennebunk High School for the most National Merit Scholar semifinalists in the state. Hopefully this year we’ll do even better!

Hello MSSM Community!

We’re already one-third of the way through the semester! The grading portal is closed currently, and the teachers are preparing Progress Reports, short descriptions of how the student is doing in their class. Progress reports also contain an effort grade on a scale from one to three. Those grades are merely an indication of how the student is performing in their class and does not affect the overall letter grade.

This past weekend’s events included a showing of Solo: A Star Wars Story, and home soccer games. The games were well attended by students despite the chill in the air, and the light shower of rain during the boys’ games. What’s particularly nice about home games is that even teachers make an effort to come watch the games. Usually, parents cannot come to these games, so the community makes an effort to show support. Last year, when the boys’ soccer team made it to the playoffs, students got half of a “Penguin Day” (canceling classes) to support the boys’ in their game against Central Aroostook High School.

That’s all for this week,

-Jialan Deal ‘20 

Hello MSSM Community!

The weather is finally getting colder, and fall is upon us. This weekend was Eighties Weekend, a themed event put on by the RIs. The events of the weekend included a costume contest, human-sized Hungry Hungry Hippos, a dance, and showings of 80s movies like E.T. There was also a well-attended Rubik’s Cube competition where the fastest finisher completed the cube in 11 seconds. 

Student organizations have been quite busy in the past week. Student Senate put on its first pancake night of the year. The Key Club volunteered at the Boys and Girls’ club, an organization that provides after-school activities for kids, on Thursday. Additionally, they painted the community playground this weekend. Even some students from MSSM who were not in the Key Club stopped to help for a few hours.

That’s all for this week,

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

Today, students returned from their extended weekend. Hopefully, everyone is refreshed and ready for another month. Extended weekends and breaks happen about once a month. Students can either drive themselves home or have their parents pick them up. There is also a free bus service that goes south to towns such as Bangor, Augusta, and Westbrook. 

This weekend is 80s weekend. Every year the RI staff puts on a decade themed weekend. In 2016, the theme was the 90s, and last year it was the 1950s. The weekend is usually kicked off with a dance. Throughout the rest of the weekend, there are fun activities related to the decade. For example, during the fifties weekend, people made and raced cardboard cars down a hill.

That’s all for this week, 

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

This is an important week for MSSM students because it is Student Senate election week. Twice  a year, students are invited to run for Student Senate, an organization dedicated to improving the residential and academic lives of students. In order to get nominated, students must receive fifteen signatures from other students. Then, on Wednesday after dorm meeting, they give a speech in front of the whole school, explaining their ideas for the school and why they should be on Senate. The next day at lunch, students vote on who will be elected. There are currently seven seats open on Senate. 

Student Senate is responsible for many events around the school. They organize both Spirit Week and LAN Party, an all-nighter in the academic building with wifi. Additionally, they improve small things around the school. For example, they fixed the filter in a water fountain, and they have been working on installing an ice cream machine. Student Senate also works with administration, advocating for the students on academic and residential matters. For instance, they passed a resolution asking that the school pay for the students’ AP exams. Overall, Student Senate is an essential part of the school. The students’ involvement in making decisions is part of what makes MSSM unique!

That’s all for this week, 

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

This weekend was the first rocket launch of the year. Under the supervision of Mr. Berz, the MSSM Rocketry Club launched two rockets: the Beshir, named for an alumni of the school, and the Mean Machine. The Mean Machine is unusual in that it has an abnormally long body, giving it a shape more like a tall, skinny tube rather than a rocket. It dates back to the beginning of MSSM history in the late 1990s, and it was quite literally taken off the ceiling of a classroom to prepare for flight. The rocket launch was well attended by the MSSM student body population and even some parents, probably due to the beautiful weather on the day of the launch. 

Next weekend, MSSM will be hosting bikers from Bike Maine on campus for lunch. Bike Maine is an event hosted by the Bike Coalition of Maine where 450 bikers will bike for seven days around Aroostook County. Members of MSSM’s Key Club as well as the Admission Ambassadors will be helping out in the kitchen to provide food for the bikers. 

That’s all for this week,

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community,

Students are settling into their rhythms here at MSSM during the second week of classes. Tuesday was the end of the add period, which is the window during which students are allowed to add classes. Next Thursday is the end of the drop period, the time when students are allowed to drop classes before the class are permanently added to their transcript. 

On the residential side of MSSM, everyone has been quite busy. Many of the school’s clubs, such as the Key Club, Art Club, and Student Senate, are starting up. The Residential Life staff also showed Avengers: Infinity War in the dorm gym which is actually much more comfortable than it sounds. Many students brought bean bag chairs or blankets and pillows to use while watching the movie. This Saturday was also the first Mall Trip of the year. Every week MSSM hires a bus to bring students into Presque Isle, a small city about half an hour away, to go to the mall and Walmart. This event allows students to get some much needed off campus time and purchase anything that they might need. For example, the Boffer class (LARP-style swordfighting) went on the trip this week, so that they could purchase the necessary supplies to make their own weapons. 

That’s all for this week, 

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

It’s time for the 2018-2019 school year. First-year students are settling into their routines, and classes have begun. This year, as well as the 56 new students, there are two new teachers. Dr. Eitan Pechenick is teaching math and Dr. Anders Gårdestig is teaching AP Physics C. MSSM is also welcoming its new executive director, Mr. David Pearson. 

The new school year has brought many changes, such as a new van for transporting students, bathroom remodeling in the academic building, replacing water-damaged ceiling tiles, and new furniture for both the dorms and the academic building. Additionally, the school is beginning a Media Club which will be in charge of writing articles for the newly re-started school newspaper. 

Move-in weekend had many activities to welcome everybody back.  Another change replaced the Pi Mi Walk (a 3.14 mile walk to/fro Lake Trafton), MSSM had its first ever on-campus field day on Sunday. Of course, this was not a traditional field day, instead, teachers and residential instructors (RIs) set up activities such as balloon animal making, kite flying, and chalk drawing. The day ended with throwing water balloons at Mr. Grillo, the Dean of Students, and Dr. Rhodes, a math teacher. Overall, a great start to a new school year!

That’s all for this week,

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

This post will be the last post for a while as I will be taking a break until next August when school restarts. This year is a period of change, because Mr. Shorty will be leaving us. He and his Tuesday jokes will be greatly missed by MSSM. However, we are also excited about the changes that Mr. Pearson will bring to the school. Additionally, MSSM will be saying goodbye to Mr. Pete Pedersen, a beloved member of the math department who has been with MSSM since the early 2000s. Both of these community members will be missed.

Graduation is on May 26th and will be celebrated with the launching of the Sparrow, an M-motor rocket. Next year, students from MSSM will attend colleges such as Cornell University, Carnegie Mellon, MIT, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. We wish the best of luck to the graduates and to the students who are still at MSSM. I hope that everyone has a great summer. See you next fall!

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal 20

Hello MSSM Community!

It’s hard to believe that in only two and a half weeks we will be on summer break. Recently, things at MSSM have been speeding up considerably as students prepare for Advanced Placement (AP) exams and finals. Good luck to those testing in the next couple of weeks!

MSSM will be offering a few different courses next year including a government class and a brand new class for MSSM, AP European History. This class will be taught by the new executive director, Mr. Pearson, formerly of Kents Hill School. Additionally, the math department will be offering Introduction to Higher Mathematics, a course focused on independent study in mathematics for students who have already completed or are taking multivariable calculus.

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

This weekend was the MSSM Prom, the theme of which was an Enchanted Forest. Students were given succulents as gifts to take home. The prom was held at the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle. Unlike many other high schools, MSSM allows all of its students to attend instead of just junior and seniors. 

The MSSM Math Team traveled to the New England Regional Meet this weekend. They placed second overall in the small school division. They were the only school not from Massachusetts to place at the meet. 

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

Students have recently returned from April break and are now in the home stretch to Graduation. Just remember, only 31 days until graduation!

Last week, members of the MSSM track team competed at Mount Desert Island High School. Although only six members of the team were able to compete, athletes took second in boys’ 110 hurdles, second in the girls’ 800 meters, and first in the girls’ discus. Additionally, the girls’ four by one relay team came in third. While scheduling for sports can be difficult at MSSM due to a heavy class schedule, over 35 people are still members of this year’s track team. 

It is almost time for Lettuce Club, a unique MSSM tradition. Lettuce Club meets once a year to see who can eat a head of lettuce the fastest. This person then organizes next year’s meeting and is declared “Head Lettuce.” MSSM is quite famous for Lettuce Club, and there is actually a Buzzfeed article about it: 

https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/teens-are-competively-eating-whole-heads-of-lettuce-and-its?utm_term=.tuYoQkl96#.yhrJOM5PL 

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

Last weekend the MSSM Sea Perch Club competed in Bath, Maine. They sent two teams, the Emperor Penguins and the King Penguins. The Emperor Penguins placed third overall as well as tied for first place for their engineering notebook. The King Penguins placed second overall which qualified them for the national competition in Massachusetts this June. 

Additionally, last week the MSSM Ivory math team traveled to the state competition and placed first overall. MSSM students also took gold in the sophomore, junior, and senior categories. After April Break, a select few of the MSSM math team will travel to the New England Math Meet.  

This Friday is LAN (localized area network) party, an event that MSSM students look forward to all year. During LAN Party students stay up all night before they depart for April break using the internet that stays on all night (normally it shuts off at midnight). Students play video games, eat pizza, and play Find the Fool, a game like the popular camp game Mafia but more complex. This event is hosted by Student Senate, and a majority of the school attends. 

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

While technically it is spring in the county, there is still over three feet of snow on the ground and more to come. However, the unusually warm weather hopefully shows that soon spring will truly be here. 

During this past weekend, MSSM celebrated Easter in a variety of ways. The RIs hosted a massive Easter egg hunt with roughly 500 eggs hidden throughout the dorm building. Additionally, MSSM prides itself on supporting students’ various religious beliefs, so students were invited to go to churches in the surrounding area. 

This weekend will be quite eventful for MSSM students. Representatives from the MSSM Key Club will be going to the district convention to share ideas about how to improve the club and communicate with other clubs in our district. Additionally, Sea Perch (underwater robotics) will be traveling to the state competition. On Saturday, the Theater Club is putting on “4 AM,” a play about being awake when the rest of the world is asleep, and the French Club is hosting La Fête Des Fleurs, a spring dance. 

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

Last Friday, the Literary Magazine hosted the first annual Spelling Bee. Six teams competed. While the event was run by students, teachers were invited to participate as well. After six rounds, the winning word was “aa,” a type of a basaltic lava.

This week is Spirit Week, an annual event hosted by the Student Senate who have been planning it since the very beginning of the school year. Throughout the week there are themed days. This year’s themed days are:

Monday - Twin Day

Tuesday - Dress Up Like Your Teacher Day

Wednesday - Salad Dressing Day (ex. Ranch dressing could be a cowboy hat)

Thursday - Character Day

Friday - Class Color Day 

Students can earn points for their grades by dressing up or participating in competitions like soccer, giant jenga, and Mario Kart. At the end of the week, there will be a pep rally with a performance from the Jazz Band.

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

This week Mr. McCartney, the Head of the English Department, has taken his Daily Life in Medieval England class to New York for five days in order to experience medieval architecture in person. They have been to cathedrals such as Saint John the Divine and Cloisters. Additionally they have been to normal tourist locations like Times Square and Nintendo. While MSSM students may have extra difficulties arranging off-campus trips due to MSSM’s remote location, it just makes trips more exciting when they are able to make them happen.

Last Wednesday, a former MSSM student, Dr. Tom Giblin gave a lecture entitled “From Einstein to the Nobel Prize in 2017: Gravitational Waves and our Unknown Universe.” Dr. Giblin is currently a physics professor at Kenyon University as well as the instructor of Fields and Space Time, an advanced physics course currently offered at MSSM for students who have already completed AP Physics C.

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community! 

The past weekend was Disney Weekend, an event organized by the residential life staff. Once or twice every year the residential instructors (RIs) organize a themed weekend for the students. This weekend featured events such as Disney movies and a dance as well as cupcakes brought up by the MSSM Parent’s Association.

Another event celebrated by the MSSM Community is Pi day every March 14th (3.14). This event, typically run by Student Senate, features competitions like a Pi reciting contest, the best Pi drawing, and a Pi(e) eating contest. The winners of these contests get to decorate Mr. Shorty, the executive director, in the face with a Pi(e)!

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

This week has been eventful for the MSSM students. In the past week, MSSM students have traveled to a VEX Competition and the Maine Science Bowl. Additionally, the past weekend was Friends and Family weekend during which the MSSM music program hosted a variety show featuring performances from the jazz band, the chorus, and the string ensemble. One special aspect of MSSM variety shows is that students have the option to perform solos or duets with the music teacher’s permission. This practice allows students to take initiative and prepare their own performances. 

This Wednesday, the entire Math Team will travel to Madawaska for the final math meet before states. The MSSM Ivory team is currently number one in the state and will move on to compete at the state level. 

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

Despite delays in returning due to poor weather conditions and bus company availability, MSSM is finally back in session. The students are all hopefully well rested and ready to learn after an extended break. The hardest part of the school year, the period after J-term and before February Break, is behind us now, so everything is looking up.

A special shout out to the jazz band, 'Pingu Has a Sad', who traveled to Houlton to compete in the District 7 Jazz Festival. They received a score of 1, the highest score possible and they qualified for States on March 16th in Newport. The MSSM jazz program is relatively new; it only began last year, so this qualification is quite exciting. Congratulations to the jazz combo!

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

This week has been unusual for MSSM. Due to an outbreak of the flu, all of the students have been sent home a week early. However, they are still participating in classes through Google Meet. While this style of classes is unusual, the MSSM students are making the best of it, and it is an interesting experiment in using long-distance education strategies. Classes started back up at 10:30 on Monday, and even band and chorus will hold classes this week. 

Over the weekend the MSSM Rocketry Club launched two rockets, the Space Penguin and the Influenza “the Flew.” The successful launches were watched by two certified members of the National Rocketry Association, Mr. Berz, the Rocketry Club advisor, and a student who had launched earlier this year. The launch took almost three hours on top of about two feet of snow. The Flew went 635 feet high and the Space Penguin about 729 feet. Both rockets had G motors. The Rocketry Club is also preparing for the graduation launch of the Sparrow which has an M motor. 

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

On Wednesday, February 7th, the entire student body will take a test called the American Mathematics Competition (AMC). Freshmen and sophomores in Accelerated Principles of Geometry and Accelerated Advanced Mathematics (Algebra II and trigonometry) take the AMC 10. Juniors, seniors, and sophomores who are in pre-calculus, calculus, and post-calculus classes take the AMC 12. This test is a 25 question, 75 minute long test dedicated to improving and testing problem solving skills. The AMC 10/12 is used as the first round qualifier for the International Mathematical Olympiad. Students who perform well on the test then take the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). After a few more qualifying rounds, they are invited to a summer camp, and six people are chosen from that camp to represent America in the IMO. Additionally, some colleges, especially STEM oriented ones, may ask to look at your AMC scores. At MSSM, if you receive the highest score in your math class, or you qualify for the AIME, then you are invited to a dinner with the Math Department at Governor’s. 

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

Over this weekend, the Parents’ Association hosted an event called the Cookie Caper. Every year, parents come up to Limestone in collaboration with the Parents’ Association and bake hundreds of cookies. This year there were around 1200. These cookies are then left in the lower lounge for students to decorate with candy and frosting. There is also a competition in cookie decoration with awards for categories like Best Penguin Cookie and Best Math Themed Cookie. The winners of these will get a $25 Amazon gift card. The student body is very grateful to the Parents’ Association for their efforts!

Mr. Shorty has decided to move on from MSSM, so the search for a new executive director has begun. MSSM students are quite involved in the process of hiring new faculty. Most teachers who are seriously considered for working at the school give a presentation to the student body. The students then fill out a survey about their opinion of the presentation. MSSM students are quite lucky that their opinion is taken into account when making decisions. Another example of this consideration is that the Student Senate president, Scott Gilley, has a position on the Board of Trustees to represent the student body. Additionally, occasionally after dorm meeting there are optional meetings with Mr. Grillo, the Dean of Students, to discuss topics such as mental health. 

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

After three weeks of break and two weeks of J-term, the second semester has started. All the students who were off campus have finally returned, and we are ready to begin classes again. The second semester signifies the start of many new classes. Some examples of the new classes are Introduction to Programming, Game Development, Shakespeare: His Life and Works, Modern Literature, Basic Design, Public Speaking, Complex Analysis, Number Theory, and Daily Life in Medieval England. 

For first year students, second semester brings the opportunity to be removed from structured study (mandatory studying between 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM Sunday through Thursday). Freshman and sophomores remain on structured study until two thirds of the way through the spring semester while first-year juniors get off two thirds of the way through the fall semester. Structured study is designed to help new students transition to MSSM and support returning students who are struggling. During this time, first year students (and students who have low grades) have the option to study in their room or the Learning Center. Tutors in various subjects are also available during this time.

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

We are already one week into J-term, and students are beginning to think about their final projects. At some point after the end of the term, students make an exhibit for their J-term to show the rest of school what they have been doing. For example, my J-term, the Science of Harry Potter, is making posters exploring topics about Harry Potter in depth. Other examples of exhibits include short stories, podcasts, slideshows, and videos. 

During J-term itself, students work on a variety of different class activities. People in the architecture J-term are working on a model of the dorms for their final project. Prior to that they were working on drawing with perspective. Another example of activity on campus is the students in the Loving Winter in Limestone J-term who built a snow fort outside of the dorms complete with snow penguins. Recently, students working with Dr. Barrans in the J-term about atmospheric sciences took a field trip to a nearby town’s weather station and helped launch a weather balloon. 

J-term is also a period of time with many residential life activities. For example, the Cooking Club hosted an event called the “Cupcake Wars” in which students made cupcakes and were judged by teachers. The students competing made about 90 cupcakes which were shared with the student body. Another big residential event during J-term is the game of Assassins. During this game, students who sign up are given a target to “assassinate” with a pair of socks. Assassins is a quite popular game during this time, and students look forward to it all year.  

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community! 

As we return from winter break, the snowdrift next to the stairs leading up to the Academic Building is now taller than most students. Despite the enormous amount of snow, the students have been rejuvenated by the three week long winter break and are ready to return to school. Prior to the spring semester, students spend two weeks in a short semester known as J-term.

Every year for two weeks in January, students participate in J-term, one class that they find interesting that is not found in a typical curriculum at MSSM. In past years, there have also been international trips to places like the Bahamas and Japan. Students have the opportunity to organize an internship with help from Mrs. Rhodes, one of the math teachers. While typically the students approach potential sponsors, MSSM does have an organized program with the Jackson Laboratory, a world-renowned genetic research facility, based in Bar Harbor, Maine. Focuses of on-campus J-terms include the science fiction movies, organic chemistry, fitness, analyzing Harry Potter, debate, and more. Though J-term had a late start due to some burst pipes, students have eagerly started their first week. This term helps students transition smoothly from winter break to the spring semester, and it allows them to spend more time with their friends during the two week period. 

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

The first real heavy snow of the year has fallen in Limestone. The semester is almost over, and students are anxiously awaiting the beginning of Christmas break. Last Sunday, MSSM took part in Study Day. During this time, students must be on campus between 12:30 and 4:30, preferably preparing for their midterms. Sunday night tutors are also in the Learning Center for two hours during Study Day, and almost all of the teachers have office hours. Some teachers require students to come in for a set amount of time, but others simply offer a quiet place to work. Some teachers even bring in their dogs or food! 

After study day was the Holiday Dinner. During the dinner, both the string ensemble and the MSSM Jazz Band performed for the students and faculty. As their last task for First Year Seminar, all the first year students helped set up for the meal. With a night full of music, food, and conversation, Holiday Dinner is a nice way to bring the community together prior to the week of Midterms. 

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

As we come back from November Break, people are beginning to prepare for midterms always a stressful time of the year. As the days get shorter, the students are studying hard, working for a successful end of the semester. On Saturday, 24 hour quiet hours will begin in the dormitories. Midterms will begin on December 12th and last through the 15th. As midterms approach, it is important to study, but it is also important for students to remember to take care of themselves by sleeping, eating and getting exercise, a balance that can be difficult for some. 

Over the weekend, two of MSSM’s VEX Robotics teams competed at Hall-Dale. This year's competition is called "In the Zone." Teams compete by maneuvering their robot around a 12x12 field and stacking cones. One team, the Adelie Penguins, made it to the finals and lost by only four points. They earned the Sportsmanship Award and are invited to the state championships. The Emperor Penguins earned an Excellence Award and have already qualified for states. Good job VEX!

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

Over the week MSSM hosted the Aroostook Qualifier FIRST® LEGO® League. LEGO League is in its 18th season, and this year’s theme is Hydro Dynamics. Participants came from all over Aroostook County to compete with their robots.  They were judged on a research project, their core values (similar to teamwork), and their robot’s design. Special thanks to volunteers from MSSM and the Limestone Community who helped out during the event and judged the participants. 

Recently, MSSM has been raising awareness for several causes. Last Wednesday was Prematurity Awareness day and students dressed up in purple to honor it, the color for prematurity.  MSSM also participated in Purple Pinkie for Polio, a joint fundraiser with the Presque Isle Rotary Club to raise money for polio vaccines in countries like Afghanistan. In some countries when a child is given a vaccine for polio (costs roughly $1), health workers mark their pinkies with purple dye. Therefore, when people who donate money get their pinkies colored purple, it symbolizes one life saved. 

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

In the past week, the Residential-Life staff showed The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is particularly special to the MSSM student body because many students will dress up as the characters. Additionally, the students provide commentary and bring props to use during the movie (for example, everyone throws rice during the wedding scene). The event has high attendance and is greatly enjoyed by many members of the student body. 

Over this weekend, the MSSM Key Club held an event where people could make blankets for children in the hospital. The event was open to the entire student body. The blankets were made by cutting strips and tying them together. In total, the student body made twelve blankets. The blankets will go to Project Linus, an organization dedicated to providing blankets for children in hospitals. The blankets will be donated to local hospitals possibly in Presque Isle or Caribou. 

This week, fifteen representatives from MSSM’s Youth in Government will be traveling to Augusta with Mr. Melega, the MSSM US History teacher. Youth in Government is an organization dedicated to giving  high-schoolers hands on experiences in model government. 50% of the MSSM representatives have been elected for leadership roles during this event. We wish them luck in passing bills and assuming leadership!

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

-Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello MSSM Community!

This weekend at MSSM, the student senate held a Halloween Dance. Before the dance, the students paraded through the Lower Lounge for a costume contest. Highlights of the costume parade included Struck by Lightning (lightning and the person struck by lightning), Cosmo and Wanda from the The Fairly Oddparents, and the Kool Aid Man. 
Another notable event was the launch of two rockets by the MSSM Rocketry Club. Two members were trying for their National Association of Rocketry (NAR) Level 1 Certifications. The chosen names were  the Berbinator and the Space Penguin Supreme. Both rockets launched successfully, to the excitement of both the rocketry club and spectators. 
This Wednesday, 62 students (over one-third of the school), will be participating in the first away math meet in Caribou. Since Caribou high school has limited space, only the top four teams will go to Caribou while the other three teams will stay at MSSM to compete. In previous years the MSSM math team has done extremely well. Last year, MSSM Ivory took first place in the Maine State math meet. Hopefully this year MSSM will do just as well!

That’s all for this edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”

Jialan Deal ‘20

Hello, MSSM community!

After a long and restful Summer, it’s finally time for everyone to return to Limestone! With many new faces, including students AND faculty, we can confidently predict a successful academic year. Here at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, new students are getting into the groove of their new environment. Returning students are doing a great job helping them adjust to life at MSSM (it has always amazed me that our community is so genuinely caring)! 

On another note, MSSM has recently accomplished something that is very important; for the first time, the student body at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics has a female majority! Kudos to our school for breaking the gender stereotypes and contributing to female representation in STEM fields.

Stay tuned for next week’s edition of “So This Happened at MSSM”.... We will be interviewing a third-year senior regarding her positive experience at MSSM. Get ready for some special inside information!

Sarah Kuptchik, ‘18