The Mt. Blue Campus in Farmington. Rebecca Richard/Franklin Journal

FARMINGTON — Regional School Unit 9 officials celebrated student achievements, community engagement and expanded career opportunities for students at Tuesday night’s board of directors meeting.

Mt. Blue High School Principal Joel Smith spoke about the impact of Totally Trades, which provided ninth grade students with opportunities to explore nontraditional career paths Nov. 8.

“Our ninth-grade girls explored fields like metal fabrication, building construction and electrical work,” Smith said. “Our ninth-grade boys also had the chance to explore career pathways and participate in enrichment activities.”

The Maine National Guard brought a Blackhawk helicopter to the campus. “They took some people in the community up for a ride. Dee and I were on the same helicopter,” Smith said, referencing school board Chairperson Dorothy “Dee” Robinson. “We put the superintendent on a different one.”

Robinson expressed her enthusiasm for the event and praised Smith and Assistant Principal Galen Dalrymple’s coordination. “Kudos to you and Galen for putting that together. That was phenomenal,” she said. “I got to speak to some people from the National Guard, and I was super excited to hear that you’re going to continue that and make it bigger and better.”

Smith also shared that the school recently recognized more than 45 students for “academic excellence and athletic prowess.” He noted their composure during recent safety drills, stating, “In the middle of transitioning to classes, there were 1,000 students in the hall, and they did what they needed to do within seconds. The place was completely secure.”

Mt. Blue Middle School Principal James Black recounted the Veterans Day car parade, which included about 30 vehicles, such as motorcycles, tow trucks and an old Ford pickup. “It was just a really neat event. Veterans had huge smiles on their faces,” Black said.

The event moved many in attendance. “A gentleman who served in 1946 was there and as you know, those folks are getting fewer and fewer all the time,” he added. Black shared heartfelt community feedback, including a note from a veteran who said, “The handcrafted sign I received from students was more meaningful than any medal.”

W.G. Mallett School Principal Tracy Williams also spoke about the parade’s emotional impact on students and staff. “It was one of the warmest events we’ve done in a long time,” she said. Williams shared that both staff and veterans shed tears during the event. In a message following the celebration, Williams explained, “Some students have a good understanding of what a veteran is, as they have relatives who are veterans or active military.

Teachers put a lot of energy and time into it, and it felt like a very positive and meaningful event all-around,” Williams said.

Janet Smith, executive director of New Ventures Maine, provided feedback via email before the meeting, sharing that students were particularly excited about hands-on activities, including welding. “I absolutely loved welding,” one student commented. “I think I might try to do it when I’m a junior or senior.”

The board announced its next meetings at the Mt. Blue Campus for Dec. 10 and Jan. 15, 2025, both beginning at 6:30 p.m.