Great Salt Bay Community School

About This Cause

Great Salt Bay Community School is a K-8 grade school in midcoast Maine serving the children of Bremen, Damariscotta, and Newcastle. The mission of the school is to provide a nurturing, safe, and enjoyable environment in which all children are challenged and inspired to pursue excellence in all aspects of their education. At all grade levels our learning curriculum is guided by the Maine learning standards. As described by the Maine Department of Education, these “academic standards provide a set of clear expectations as to what students should know, understand, and be able to explain as they progress through each K-12 grade level.” These standards include: English language arts, mathematics, science & technology, social studies, health & physical education, and visual & performing arts. In order to ensure the quality of our educational program, our students in grades 3 - 8 participate in the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA). Consistently, our students have performed above the state average in the areas of reading and mathematics at almost all grade levels. On the science MEAs, our fifth and eighth grade students performed well-above the state average. Seeking to provide our students with an enriching, vibrant, 21st century education, our teachers and staff supplement the classroom experience with visiting educators and field trips. Some of the visiting educators have included Mary Boothby (8th grade printmaking), Mary Cerrullo (3rd grade oyster program), Tim Dinsmore (7th grade archeology unit), Sara Gladu (DRA - environmental education), John Meader (myths & astronomy), Belinda Ray (5th grade writing program), and staff from Chewonki and Darling Marine Center. Our students have participated in field trips to Biscay Orchards, Boothbay Botanical Gardens, Camden State Park, Maine State Museum, Maine Wildlife Park, and Old Fort Western. Great Salt Bay School recognizes that co-curricular and extracurricular programs are an integral part of the total educational program. The co-curricular programs include debate team, drama club, jazz band, math team, robotics club, student council, and yearbook. Our student athletes can participate in archery, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, softball, and track & field. In all of these sports, students have the opportunity to develop good sports skills and attitudes while playing against other schools in AOS 93, as well as the other schools in the Busline League. Throughout the year the school hosts a number of events to strengthen the sense of community within the school and with the families of GSB. In the fall we gather together for our Open House and PTO sponsored Welcome Back Dinner, the Harvest Fair, and parent/teacher conferences. In the winter we showcase our music and arts programs with the Winter Band and Choral Concerts, the Beginner Band Concert, the Strings Concert, and the Young Artist Showcase. In the spring we encourage families to get involved in Unplug It Week, the Bike Rodeo, spring concerts, and finally our 8th grade graduation. Recognizing the importance of connecting our students to their community, our school has built strong community educational collaborations. These include the Darling Center, DRA, Farms & Farms Kitchen, Hidden Valley Nature Center, Camp Kieve, Miles of Friends, Skidompha Library, and the CLC YMCA. Moreover, we pride ourselves in our efforts to give back to community. Each winter our school community sponsors a food drive, GSB Cares-A-Ton, which helps our local food pantry and we host a Red Cross blood drive. This year GSB has expanded its involvement with our senior living communities by bringing our musicians to perform at Coves Edge and Lincoln Home. These experiences enrich the lives of all those involved, especially our children. Finally, Great Salt Bay Community School is fortunate to have an active PTO. The mission of the PTO is “to act as an organization that supports GSB students in their many activities and provide assistance to GSB staff in their numerous programs.” The PTO organizes fundraisers, including a Jog-a-thon in September and a “Spring $5 Fundraiser,” with all proceeds benefiting the school in the form of school-wide cultural events, classroom tools, student scholarships, and extracurricular events. The PTO provides parents the opportunity to learn more about what goes on at GSB, as well as information on issues and topics that are important to parents and students. In addition to the PTO, the school community benefits from the Friends of Great Salt Bay. This non-profit organization is specifically dedicated to supporting our school with a mission to "Enhance the Education of GSB students." Each year the Great Salt Bay Community School strives to make the educational experience stronger for its students. Our goal is to “Be Better Than Our Best.” Our students are blessed to live in a community that recognizes that supporting its public school is one of the most important investments of all. Together we are making our future stronger as a community and as a nation by educating our children. Thank you for your support of Great Salt Bay Community School.