Dipping for Olympians

Once again, Team Raymond took the plunge and participated in the 23rd Special Olympics Lobster Dip which was held on New Year’s Day at Old Orchard Beach. Dippers were treated to a 52 degree sunny day but the water temperature was only a shocking 44 degrees. This year’s event had a record-breaking 400 dippers who together raised more than $101,000 for the Maine Special Olympics. Team Raymond, consisting of John Dionne, Jack Fitch, John Keller, Beth and Steve Nadeau, George Tanguay, and Jean and Mary Thornton, also broke their record and raised $5,240.

First-time dipper Beth Nadeau said, “The dip was scheduled for noon but they needed to postpone it until 12:30 because there were so many participants this year, so we all stood outside jogging in place and building up courage. There was so much energy in the atmosphere that most of us decided to do the “double dip.” Can you imagine jumping into the frigid water not once, but twice? The money raised from the dip will help many children and adults with intellectual disabilities enjoy training and competition in many Special Olympics sporting events around the state.

Ski for Sunshine

Raymond is full of avid skiers and snowboarders, and it is time to hit the slopes for a great cause. Camp Sunshine has teamed up with Shawnee Peak for the 16th Annual Moonlight Charity Challenge to be held on Friday, Feb. 4, from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

This is your opportunity to enjoy a fun-packed afternoon and evening of skiing and snowboarding while raising money for Camp Sunshine and Shawnee Peak’s Adaptive Ski Program. Simply form a team of four, collectively raise $300 and get ready to win. In addition to the fun of racing and the awesome T-shirt, each participant will receive a lift pass valid until 10 p.m. so you can stick around and ski under the lights after the event.

Dinner, an awards ceremony, and raffles will be held in Blizzards Pub from 6:30-8:00 that evening. Conditions on the mountain are excellent, so find some friends and treat yourselves to some fun while helping others. Contact Camp Sunshine at 655-3800 or campsunshine.org for more information.

Dodge goes cuckoo

I first saw Grant Dodge perform in Jordan-Small Middle School’s spring musical “Music Man” and I was blown away. At the time, he was just an eighth-grader but it was obvious he was gifted. Over the years, he has developed his skills as a very talented artist and musician and now I cannot wait to be entertained while he plays Randle P. McMurphy, the lead character in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Lake Region Community Theatre will be presenting the adaptation of the 1963 novel on Thursday and Saturday, Jan. 27 and 29, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 30, at 4 p.m. at the Lake Region High School auditorium in Naples. This production is being directed by Rob Juergens who also fabulously directs the musicals at Windham High School and is the artistic director of Windham Center Stage Theater. General admission tickets are $10 each and are available at the Krainin Real Estate offices in both Raymond and Naples. For more information, call 838-3846.

In our school

Jordan-Small Middle School has been bustling with activity and many students have accomplished outstanding successes.

In November, a group of students were invited to participate in the AMC 8 American Mathematics Competition held at the University of Southern Maine. The following students were designated as state honor roll students for their performance in this competition: Nick Ball, Kaitlyn Dostie, Emily Gagne, Daniel Hanson, Jeffrey Pollard, Aiyanna Maciel, Sean Mains, Cameron Peavey, and Courtney Stedt.

In December, the Imperial Robotics Team participated in the 11th annual First Lego League Robotic Meet held in Augusta competing against 52 teams from around the state. The teams had to solve complex problems using a robot made exclusively of Legos as well as perform a quality research presentation. Coached by Chris Newcomb, the team consisted of Lane Dearing, Matt Dostie, Liam Flynn, Jack Gresh, Dylan Koza, Ben Libby, Greg Meader, Ryan Plummer, Lexi Walker and David Young. Congratulations are in order for their first prize win for the presentation portion of the meet.

In January, the annual National Geography Bee, using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society, was held. Students in all grades were tested and the top finalists in each grade moved on to compete in the final bee. The finalists were fifth-graders Ezra Davison and Maggie Nunn, sixth- graders Ilana Peet and Lee Peet, seventh-graders Sean Mains, Greg Meader and Evan Taylor and eighth-graders Emily Algeo, Kaitlyn Dostie and Aiyanna Maciel. After answering several difficult questions, Aiyanna Maciel won the bee and will now take a written test to see if she qualifies for the state championships held in April.

Congratulations to the following students who achieved honor roll status for the first trimester:

Grade 8

High Honors: Kaitlyn Dostie, Emily Gagne, Emma Gresh, and Aiyanna Maciel.

Honors: Emily Algeo, Jesse Catir, Alana Cobb, Jenna Cole, Madison Cutten, Megan Doughty, Katelyn Dudley, Noah Estey, Crystal Frappier, Chase Gendron, Madeline Gillespie, Daniel Hanson, Gavriella King, Alexandra Lewis, Madison Millette-Gagnon, Shelby Peavey, Bryanna Power, Julia Rand, Kristina Smith, Haley Stedt, David Stratton.

Grade 7

High Honors: Alexis Walker.

Honors: Zachery Callahan, Isabella Davis, Megan Knights, Allie Pandora, and Jeffrey Pollard.

Grade 6

High Honors: David Young.

Honors: Taylor Bernier, Mikayla Bureau, Suzanna Butterfield, Eliza Chim, Jack Gresh, Jaret Korzeniowski, Cameron Peavey, Kayla Saunders, Madison Shimko, Cortney Stedt.

Grade 5

High Honors: Danielle Meader.

Honors: Ian Emery-Shaw, David Ferrante, Maggie Nunn, Kieran Rowe, and Maegan Vierra.

Church suppers

Christ Chapel is hosting its next community meal on Saturday, Jan. 29, from 4:30-6 p.m. The menu will consist of pasta dishes, meatballs, salads and desserts. This meal is free of charge and is open to the surrounding communities. All ages are welcome. For more information, please contact Tammy Gisel at 655-5058.

Casco Village Church invites you to their “Let it Snow” supper to be held on Saturday, Jan. 29, from 5-6 p.m. Traditional fare will be served including beans and franks, casseroles, salads, rolls, beverages and homemade pies. The cost is only $7 for adults and $4 for children under 10.