Dear RSU 21 Families, Happy Friday! I can't believe we're already into the month of February...time is quickly flying by us.


It is Black History month and I certainly hope that families and students have an opportunity to learn more about the contributions of African-Americans in this country. Check out the public library and events being hosted in our schools and around our communities.


As audio and video upgrades continue in the board room, a quick reminder that the School Board meeting for Monday will be remote only via ZOOM. I hope you can participate!


Have a great weekend!


Much Love,


Terri I. Cooper, Ed.D.

RSU 21 Superintendent



What's Happening (2/5/24 - 2/16/24)


Monday, February 5th

REMOTE ONLY: School Board | 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.


Thursday, February 8th

Finance | 8:15 - 9:15 a.m.


Monday, February 12th

FY25 Budget Cost Center Presentations | 7:30 - 10:15 a.m.


Tuesday, February 13th

FY25 Budget Cost Center Presentations | 7:30 - 10:45 a.m.


Communications | 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.


Wednesday, February 14th

FY25 Budget Cost Center Presentations | 7:30 - 10:00 a.m.


Thursday, February 15th

Human Resources | 8:15 - 9:45 a.m.


(Full Calendar)

Teju the Storyteller Kicks off Black History Month at KCS

Tejumola Ologboni, AKA Teju the Storyteller, presented KCS to students Friday morning an updated version of The Gingerbread Man fairy tale. He told a personalized fable: The Cornbread Man.


The historian and folklorist weaved a tale of magical realism into his personal story of having grown up and attended segregated schools in Kansas (he moved with family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin when he was 11 years old).


He heard the story of the gingerbread man at school and didn't know what gingerbread was, so he asked his mom to make him some. Discovering that he didn't like the taste, he instead asked for some cornbread. Much of the ensuing fable followed the same beats, with the Cornbread Man jumping from his freshly baked tin and taunting those who sought to eat him. Upon finally being eaten by a fox, Teju told students that the Cornbread Man's hubris and anger blinded him to the danger of actually being eaten. He said they should not get angry or spiteful toward those who question their skin color, their preferred spoken language, their voice--or any characteristic that they should be proud of as part of their identity. "Just say yourself, 'ha ha he he: you don't know much about me.'"

Parents at KES Highlight District's 545 Volunteers

Jessica Reynolds and Aaron Rich are two volunteers among the more than 500 who are registered to help out in RSU 21. On Monday, they each were in the KES library to help students with reading and engaging with library materials.


"I like being able to stay involved in my daughter's education to help where needed," Jessica said, after previously volunteering in class where arts and crafts were the projects of the day. "It's fun to see what they do in their school and to meet their classmates."


For Aaron, he finds himself volunteering at two schools--KES, where his daughter goes to school, and Sea Road School, where his son is a student.


"My daughter loves when I volunteer here--and I love to give back to the community,"Aaron said, "It's a great opportunity to actually see what goes on in our schools--to see our kids' smiles on their faces--I love it. It brings our community closer together when we volunteer."

Click Here to Visit the Brick Store Museum Site

AI: The Hype, The Reality and The Future

A Family U Presentation

One use of generative artificial intelligence, or GenAI, is spotting manipulated images. Family U Presenter Chris Babcock explained how companies like his, Liberty Mutual, use AI to help spot insurance claims that might be fraudulent. 


“There was a photo submitted of a crashed car, but when analyzed, (the AI) saw a distinct outline of pixels around the license plate,” he said. “And the AI generated a conclusion that it had likely been photoshopped.”


As a Solutions Architect, Babcock is constantly seeking ways to integrate cutting-edge technology to increase efficiency and find solutions to problems. GenAI is his latest solution search–and it might soon be integrated throughout society.


The most commonly known generative AI models include ChatGPT, Claude, Sherpa and Stable Diffusion, with the most latter creating images and the former generating text. With a prompt, such as “show me a goat on a hill in chilly weather at sunset,” an image AI then filters that input it through neural networks and builds consensus to produce batch outputs, providing several versions of which the user can then select. This same method used with a copywriting AI is both exciting and concerning to educators.

CONCERNS OF CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM


Babcock explained that all GenAI models are producing derivative outputs, meaning their outputs are based on what data they are fed: there will never be any purely original content generated from them. But the outputs are startlingly accurate, realistic and often seen as coming from a human–whether it be a speech, paper assignment or piece of visual design imitating human artwork. 


While tools exist to detect AI-generated content that may be submitted as part of class assignments, they are–just like the GenAI producing the content–not infallible. This means that students may be able dodge plagiarism detection by training an AI model with their writing to teach it tone and style that would reflect their own writing; or, a student may simply enter a prompt “write this article as a 10th grade student.”


Still, the concern goes with equal measure of opportunity to make class time more efficient for teachers–and allow students to experiment and use AI as a tool, instead of being seen as a cheating shortcut. 


“In the classroom, teachers–just like mine who said we wouldn’t always have a calculator in our pocket to do long division, or to not use Wikipedia as research–educators should consider getting on board to understand how this is part of a working process that students will use in later jobs.” 


INDUSTRY DISRUPTION: WILL JOBS BE LOST? WILL ART BECOME DEVALUED?


One of the big areas for mass content evaluation is with law firms. Some are using AI to digest and analyze court cases. “Go in and find historical parallels of this case and tell us how likely we are to win this case,” Babcock offered. But ChatGPT was found to make up cases in briefs that were filed in court. This is an instance of industry disruption that needs tweaking: lawyers can get valuable insight to their own perspectives and presumptions about their case, but probably shouldn’t rely on AI to write their brief that would go before a judge. 


As for the large-scale disruption that economists wrestled with before–what about factory workers? Artists? Writers? This was a concern with the rise of automation and robots, and still people work in factories and provide crucial jobs across all industries. The key is moving forward with the technology being used to be productive; not to replace human perspective, expertise or intuition.


The example of vaccine manufacturers using AI to fast-track the development of dozens of vaccines was one of the most compelling examples of the technology being used that would take decades otherwise. Still, the concern for artists and creatives, Babcock said, could be seen as very real concern tempered by the reality that we want and expect human-produced art and writing because it is authentic and resonates in ways that AI-generated content would not; and that artists can use it themselves to touch up their own work without starting over. And not all disruption displaces personal preference for products produced by humans.


“I have four Kindles at home and I still prefer to read a paper book." 

Jump Rope Demo at KES Jump Starts Kids Heart Challenge Campaign

The South Bristol Spindrifters (4th - 8th grades) performed tricks demonstrating dexterity and athletic prowess for KES students on Wednesday. This kick-off to the Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser is leading up to another fitness event on Friday, March 8th. To donate to this American Heart Association campaign on behalf of KES, please click here (Deadline to donate is Thursday, February 29th).

Check Out Coverage on WMTW-TV Channel 8: Annual Redcoats and Revolution Restaurant Simulation at MSK an Historical Hit

With parents and peers seated with menus offering appetizers like The Quartering Act, the annual 8th Grade Social Studies simulation once again offered participants a way to couch their historical knowledge into public speaking exercises by 'serving' guests in the fictional restaurant, Redcoats and Revolutions. A special thanks to Duffy's and Allison's restaurants for donating coupons and gift cards to participants. CHECK IT OUT: WMTW-TV visited the classes Friday--search for coverage on their website to listen and read student interviews on the experience.

Weaving Art Installation at KES

KES Students Aria Bausha, Annabella Schoening, Madison White and Sylis Willey work with Art Teacher Ms. A-M and Ed Tech Oksana Thomas to wrap decorative cloth through hand rails in the common area.

Weekly Attendance

*ADA = Average Daily Attendance

Athletics


RSU 21 Athletics Live Stream Link

- Here are the latest sports schedules-


Need some fan gear? Show your Rams pride by visiting the online apparel store.


Let's go Rams!

Helpful Links

District Contact Information


2023-2024 School Calendar


Job Postings

Community Resources

In a moment of crisis, you do not have to be alone.

Sometimes you need a conversation--not an internet search.


Dial 2-1-1 for the Maine Hotline. This service can help with issues like acute crisis, financial assistance, mental health, addiction treatment, health care, or heating and utilities assistance. Additionally, the national Suicide Hotline is 9-8-8.


Here is a list of more resources available to everyone throughout our district and beyond.

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Regional School Unit 21

Arundel • Kennebunk • Kennebunkport

207-985-1100