thumb”¢nail (thum’nail’)
…2. anything quite small or brief,
as a small drawing or short essay
Thumbs up to the free skin cancer screenings being offered throughout York County, through Southern Maine Health Care and the Cancer Care Center, and also to the effort to get the word out about being safe in the sun. Skin cancer is very common, since many people were not raised with any precautions about avoiding burns, and it can be fatal, particularly if not diagnosed. Everyone needs to protect themselves from the sun’s rays by using sunscreen as directed, covering up with clothing and shade implements, and keeping an eye out for any new spots on their skin. We’re glad to see celebrities such as Hugh Jackman coming out publicly about battling skin cancer so that others can see it’s a real and serious threat of which we all need to be aware as the summer season begins.
Thumbs down to the most recent round of “report card” grades issued by the state Department of Education. Superintendents throughout York County ”“ both those whose schools received top marks and those that did not ”“ said these assessments are not valid and do not help them make decisions on how to improve the schools or better allocate resources. While an “F” grade is certainly eye-catching, it means very little about student performance, instead focusing on test participation and other such measures that favor more affluent communities. If the state wants to grade all the schools, they should develop a criteria with school leaders statewide that truly reflects students’ progress and tracks upkeep of facilities and quality of teaching staff so the data can be used to actually make a difference. Right now, it seems to be a waste of time and money.
Thumbs up to Biddeford Primary School Assistant Principal Barbara Adriance and her cohorts on the Biddeford School Department leadership team, who planned and hosted a Community Day and Carnival last Saturday at Biddeford High School. Adriance came back from a seminar about school attendance with the idea that the issue really begins at home, so she and others planned this event to share information with parents about the importance of school attendance and the resources available to them. Children who miss school regularly, often due to their parents failure to make sure they attend, fall behind quickly and often never regain their ground, Adriance learned, so it’s important to reach out to these families. The school community really came together for this carnival day, with organizations such as Sweetser and the public library hosting booths. Kudos to Adriance and all of those involved for making a big effort to give these families a boost and help ensure the children’s success in school.
Thumbs up to all of those who volunteered to help search for Jaden Dremsa, the 15-year-old Waterboro teen with Asperger’s who went missing after going out for a walk on May 8. Not only neighbors, but also those from further afield, showed up to help, some with search dogs or other expertise, giving the Maine Warden Service a helping hand in the early days of the search. It was inspiring to see the community come together in this effort, with the congregation of Lakeside Community Church even giving up their worship space to host ”“ and even feed ”“ the search crews. Sadly, Jaden’s body was found in Lake Arrowhead over the weekend, a grim end to this search that had united the community in hope to find him alive. Family members can find some comfort amidst their grief, knowing that they have friends and neighbors supporting them.
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