LIMESTONE, Maine — The Maine School of Science and Mathematics held their annual open house on Nov. 9 and 10 to open up their doors to new prospective students and their families, who made the trip to northern Maine from all across New England.
The two-day event began with registration at 3 p.m. for the approximately 50 students interested in attending MSSM for the 2015 school year. After completing their registration, students and family members piled into the auditorium for an official welcoming from MSSM Dean of Enrollment Alan Whittemore, as well as a special introductory presentation by Executive Director Luke Shorty.
The event kicked off as only an MSSM event could, with current MSSM students performing a unique demonstration of two inflated, remote-controlled flying fish built by MSSM students. The remote-controlled fish were created by MSSM students.
As Whittemore dodged flying fish, he welcomed the potential students and their families with the energy and enthusiasm that MSSM has come to be known for.
“Things are really going well for us here at MSSM and we have some new and exciting things going on. We just recently added ‘The Manor,’ which is a second new co-ed dormitory that was built to house MSSM students,” said Whittemore.
Whittemore also spoke about the admissions process for MSSM — a topic that was surely on the minds of potential students. He used the analogy of students being like a table–top, because a table needs four strong legs, and the students need to be strong in four different areas.
“The admissions process is like a table-top in the way that students need to be strong in four areas, just like a table needs four strong legs. First, there is the application itself, which tells us things like which school district are you coming from. Next, we look at your ability to convey your thoughts to us through an essay, as well as a short-answer question,” Whittemore added.
“If you can’t relay your thoughts in a meaningful manner, you may have difficulty doing so in a classroom at MSSM. We look at who you are and where you’re from, and the transcript you’re bringing with you from your former school. Then we look at what others have to say about you, mainly your teachers. We want to know what your math, science and English teachers, as well as your guidance counselors have to say about your work ethic, curiosity, your willingness to try new things, your willingness to seek help and other types of things like that. We look at your interviews, which is an opportunity for our faculty to play a role in the decision of who will be in their classrooms next fall. They are asked to measure such things as your ability to converse in a civilized manner, simple but important things like that. Lastly, we look at your test scores. We ask for you, regardless of grade, to submit one of three tests as an example, whether it’s the A.C.T., S.A.T or P.S.A.T. And, yes we do take into account what grade level you are.”
Whittemore explained that once the admissions process is complete, the admissions review committee, which is made up of representatives of the staff, who sit down and look at each individual application, and then come up with a recommendation and a decision is rendered.
Shorty was the next presenter to make his way to the front of the auditorium to give those in attendance a brief slide-show introduction to MSSM.
His slide show began with an acronym, which he claims describes MSSM students, and that acronym is C.O.S.M.I.C. Shorty explained that students at the school are C.O.S.M.I.C. because they are curious, open, supportive, motivated, imaginative and collaborative. Shorty used a number of other key words to describe both the students and faculty at MSSM. Those words included ambitious, creative, inquisitive, innovative, dedicated, professional, committed and enthusiastic.
Shorty then gave everyone an in-depth look at the various courses offered through MSSM, which include a number of advanced placement courses, as well as many college-level courses that will earn students college credits, as MSSM has a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Maine at Presque Isle, which allows these credits to be transferred. He also explained that the schedule for MSSM students is more similar to a college schedule than that of a high school one.
“Say, for example, your class is over at 11:30 a.m. and you don’t have another class until 2:30 p.m. Then that time is your free time,” Shorty added. “If you’re struggling in a subject, our teachers are dedicated to having regular office hours that are mandatory. It’s a time when you can go to their office and ask them to help and work with you. They’re dedicated to maintaining those office hours, and most of them hold office hours late into the evening.”
After Whittemore and Shorty finished their presentations, MSSM student ambassadors were assigned groups that they then led on a guest tour of the many unique and interesting facets of the school including the green house, the pool and the “maker space,” where many of the innovative projects begin for MSSM students and faculty.
Once the tour had concluded, the students met back up with their family members for dinner in the school’s gymnasium. Dinner was followed by a student panel, which met back in the auditorium. Sunday night also included a community panel, including faculty and current parents of MSSM students.
After the panels were finished fielding various questions from students and parents, the entire group traveled to “The Manor” for an ice cream social and musical entertainment provided by FreeBlock, an MSSM-based a cappela group.
Monday morning was set aside for a number of scheduled events that occupied the students for much of the day. After an 8 a.m. check-in, students and their parents attended demonstrations that explained various classes like Quests in Literature and Monsters in British Literature, while parents attended a Dining and Health Services presentation made by college counselor Erica Jortberg. Students spent the next few hours attending actual assigned classes they hope to take next year, while parents met with Residential Life Director and Dean of Students Matt Grillo, along with Elizabeth Pelkey and AJ Rossignol, who are both part of the school’s residential life staff.
Before the conclusion of the open house, the administrative team provided another panel for a questions-and-answer segment that ended with an overall evaluation from Whittemore.
At 12:15 those who wished to gather one last time for lunch were able to do so, and by 1 p.m. MSSM faculty and students were wishing their visitors a safe trip home with the hope and expectation of seeing them all once again next year.
MSSM will be holding another open house starting on Jan. 18, 2015. To register for the upcoming event, visit MSSM’s website at www.mssm.org.
