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Opening Day 2024

This morning, RSU 18 staff gathered together at Messalonskee High School to kick off another great school year! Staff members grabbed delicious pastries and coffee as well as district SWAG gear before heading inside the auditorium for the opening session led by Superintendent of Schools, Carl Gartley. 

Mr. Gartley welcomed the entire district back and introduced new staff members. From state data’s rave reviews to student accolades, he highlighted the things he was most proud of as Superintendent of our district. The Wellness Team and Assistant Superintendent, Keith Morin, created this year’s district theme: 

“The power of me… be present, positive, purposeful, and playful.” 

Mr. Gartley shared that the educators of RSU 18 are fully present, positive, purposeful, and playful as they work with students each day, and the energy and excitement this morning only spoke to that as everyone gathered together to prepare for another year of learning and growth! He encouraged the district to continue on in the good work they are doing. 

Mr. Gartley then invited Churchill Elangwe-Preston to the stage as our guest speaker. He is the owner of Mbingo Mountain Coffee, housed right in Waterville. Mr. Elangwe-Preston expressed his gratitude for the incredible work RSU 18 educators have been doing all these years and explained how teachers are so very influential in the lives of their students.

“Uplift your mood, 

Uplift lives.” 

This is the heart behind Mbingo Mountain Coffee, and he shared that it is exactly what the educators of RSU 18 do each and every day! Mr. Elangwe-Preston grew up in an African village where his parents owned a coffee and cocoa farm. When he was a boy, he noticed that all the other neighboring farms had their children work in the fields instead of attend school. One day he asked his father why the other children didn’t have an opportunity to gain an education like he did. His father explained how fortunate he was to gain an education, and although his father was unable to change the other children’s situation, it fueled a lifelong dream inside Mr. Elangwe-Preston. He desired to go out and create an opportunity for all the children of that village to be able go to school.

Fast forward, Mr. Elangwe-Preston attended Kennebec Valley Community College and Rochester Institute of Technology, pursuing a career in engineering. As he established himself as an engineer, he never forgot the children in the fields from his hometown. Through a series of events, Mr. Elangwe-Preston decided to leave the security of his job and step out to create his Mbingo Mountain Coffee business as a medium to effect change. He took a leap of faith, driven to make education accessible to all of the children of those farmers because he recognized the importance of an education. 

Henry Adam’s said, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” Teachers are influential and impactful. They have the opportunity to partner alongside families and change the world! The children learning in the classrooms of RSU 18 will one day become lawyers, doctors, astronauts, teachers, politicians, and more. As Mr. Elangwe-Preston closed, he thanked the educators of RSU 18 again for the work they do, and encouraged everyone to continue inspiring our young students and remain encouraged. 

Both Mr. Gartley and Churchill Mr. Elangwe-Preston left the educators of RSU 18 with a message of positivity, joy, and excitement for the incredible work to be done this year as we open our school houses and welcome students back this week!

No detail was left out of this spectacular morning – from Sunrise Bagel and RSU 18 kitchen staff catering the event to student athletes cheering staff members on as they entered the building on a red carpet. Thank you to Mr. Gartley, Mr. Morin, all the RSU 18 administrators, tech team, and wellness team who made this morning a success.

#WeAreRSU18

 

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