Follow Up from Yesterday's Event at Woodside

Dear MSAD 75 Parents, Staff, and Community,    We are incredibly relieved that yesterday’s incident ended with our students being found safely and reunited with their families. While the immediate response and collaboration with our local law enforcement was a success, we recognize that a critical incident occurred, and now the work begins to address how this situation happened. To that end, we are working both internally and externally to ensure student safety remains our top priority. We are currently conducting a joint After Action Review with our emergency partners, including the Topsham Police Department and Sagadahoc County officials, Maine Game Wardens, and Sagadahoc Sheriff's Department to identify what worked and where we can continue to make improvements in preparation for the future. Additionally, the district has opened a separate, internal investigation to gather information and identify how this incident occurred. We will convene our School Safety Team and District Incident Command Team to conduct a team review of safety procedures. This includes a Protocol Compliance Review and a Supervision audit, with the goal of identifying whether there is a need for enhanced playground security/protocols,1 and/or supervision ratios. We remain thankful to our partners for their response yesterday, and most importantly, we want to assure our community that we are committed to strengthening our security, discussing protocols and learning from this event, and preventing any recurrence. If you have specific questions you may use the following email: information@link75.org  We are actively monitoring this email specifically for questions or concerns. Warmly, Heidi

Friday, Nov 07 2025

Press Release: Missing Students Located – Woodside E...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Date:  November 6, 2025   Time:  2:00 pm Contact:  Heidi O’Leary, Superintendent  Maine School Administrative District No. 75  Phone: 207-798-3688  Email: information@link75.org Topsham, Maine — The two Woodside Elementary School students reported missing earlier today have been safely located.  We extend our sincere gratitude to the Topsham Police Department, school staff, and community members for their quick response and support during the search. Out of respect for student privacy and family confidentiality, no additional details will be released at this time. The District appreciates everyone’s concern and cooperation as safety procedures were followed and coordinated closely with local law enforcement. Heidi O’Leary Superintendent

Thursday, Nov 06 2025

Preparing for Weather (Looks Like Rain in Our Area T...

It's Time to Talk Weather Events November 5, 2025     Dear Parents and Guardians, As the air gets crisper and we start dusting off our hats and mittens, it means one thing: winter is officially on its way! We know that for our students, snow often means dreams of sledding and, of course, the magic of a Snow Day. For those of us running the schools, it means it's time to talk safety, logistics, and communication. My top priority—always—is the safety and well-being of every student and staff member. That's why I want to hit the refresh button on our inclement weather plans so we're all on the same page before the first big flakes start to fly. This proactive update is designed to: Help families prepare for potential weather-related disruptions. Clarify our decision-making process for delays and closures. Reinforce the importance of parental discretion—you know your roads best! Please give the information below a quick review and keep it handy. We're ready for whatever the weather throws at us, and we appreciate your partnership in keeping our community safe and informed! School Safety and Inclement Weather Snow Days Full-day closings may occur when weather conditions make travel unsafe. The decision to cancel school will be made as early as possible to allow families time to plan. Parents and guardians always have the final say in determining if it's safe for their child to travel to school. Early Release If weather conditions are expected to worsen during the day, we may implement an early release. Parents will be notified as soon as the decision is made. Please ensure your emergency contact information is up to date for prompt communication. Afternoon Closings If concerns about safe travel arise during the school day, we may cancel after-school activities. Cancellations may include: Clubs Performances Practices Competitions Meetings Emergency Situations In cases of unforeseen emergencies (e.g., loss of heat, water, or electricity), we may need to close school or implement an early dismissal. Our priority is to ensure student safety and well-being in these situations. Parental Discretion We recognize that weather conditions can vary across our district. If school is in session but you believe road conditions are unsafe for your child: You have the authority to keep your child at home. We fully support and respect your decision. Your child's absence will be excused.   Superintendent's Commitment   As Superintendent of Schools, I assure you that safety is our top priority. We are committed to making informed decisions while recognizing that parents and guardians have the ultimate authority in determining what's safest for their children. Remember, your child's well-being is paramount to us, and we appreciate your partnership in ensuring their safety.   How You Will Receive Notifications   ParentSquare is our primary means of communication. We also notify: Social Media: Facebook Local TV Stations: WCSH 6, WMTW 8, WGME 13 Radio: 99.5 WCME Our Decision Process: What Happens Before the Call   We want you to know that the decision to delay or close school is never made lightly or in isolation—a tremendous amount of coordination happens behind the scenes, often starting long before dawn. Here’s a quick look at what goes into that early-morning call: Overnight Monitoring: We monitor the weather forecast every night. If a storm is predicted, we begin checking the National Weather Service and listening closely to various weather reports. The 4:00 AM Check-In: My team and I wake up around 4:00 AM to watch the latest reports. Our Transportation Director, Tom, often goes out and drives actual bus routes around our wide district to verify real-time road conditions. Local Conditions Check: By 4:30 AM, we are texting and calling to discuss the variable conditions. Our district is geographically wide, and conditions can be vastly different from towns like Harpswell to Bowdoin. Community Collaboration: At that early hour, I am also consulting with area superintendents and each of our town's road commissioners. It is so important for you to know that safety is the absolute priority, and a lot of collaborative effort goes into this final, complex decision.   Policy EBCD POLICY EBCD Emergency Closings

Thursday, Nov 06 2025

⚠️ Field Hockey Game Postponed Tonight ⚠️

From Heidi Wright/ Mt. Ararat Athletic Director; Attention Mt. Ararat Community: Tonight’s field hockey game has been postponed by the MPA due to the weather forecasted for tonight and will now be played tomorrow. Thank you for your understanding! #1 Skowhegan v #2 Mt. Ararat Thursday, November 6th, 2025 7:30 PM Hamden Academy Hampden Academy: 89 Western Ave, Hampden, ME 04444 Team Bus Departs at 4:00 PM *Tickets sold for tonight's games will be honored tomorrow night! 🦅🏑Eagle Pride is soaring high! 🦅🏑

Wednesday, Nov 05 2025

Field Hockey Regional Final

From Heidi Wright: Athletic Director Mt. Ararat High School #1 Skowhegan v #2 Mt. Ararat Wednesday, November 5th, 2025 7:30 PM Hamden Academy Hampden Academy: 89 Western Ave, Hampden, ME 04444 Team Bus Departs at 4:00 PM 🦅🏑HISTORY MADE! 🏑🦅 Huge congratulations to the Mt. Ararat Field Hockey Team for making program history with their first-ever Regional Finals appearance! Your hard work, passion, and teamwork have taken Eagle Pride to new heights — we’re so proud of you! 💙❤️ 🦅🏑Eagle Pride is soaring high! 🦅🏑 ADMISSION: Tickets must be purchased online through GoFan. Below is the link to purchase tickets: MPA (Maine) Events and Tickets by GoFan MPA Ticket prices are Adults $12 Students $6 Senior Citizens (65+) $6. Here is the link  https://gofan.co/event/4079495?schoolId=MPA . There will be an iPad on site with a worker operating it as a “help desk” to sell tickets to those who need assistance but purchasing tickets prior to the game makes entry much smoother. There will be no cash sales. Online tickets from GoFan will be redeemed on site by a ticket agent. Fan Bus: Following Saturday’s game, we received several requests about organizing a fan bus for Wednesday night’s game. We reached out to our transportation provider, but unfortunately, we’re not able to offer a fan bus to Hampden Academy this time. LIVE-STREAMING OF STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES: All state championship games hosted by the MPA will be televised by MPBN and live streamed through the NFHS Network. To access the live streaming, you will need to get a subscription at  www.NFHSnetwork.com/me . The event will also be available on mobile devices at m.nfhsnetwork.com and subscribers can download the NFHS Network app from the iTunes store. ELECTRONIC PROGRAMS: Click HERE to view the Field Hockey Program when it is published or go to the MPA’s website. SPORTSMANSHIP: ● All competitors, coaches, and spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and sportsmanlike manner. ● Bare-chested individuals are not allowed. ● Cowbells, shakers, signs, or placards on sticks or other devices designed to support the shaker,signs, or placards are not allowed. ● Banners may not obstruct spectators viewing of the contest. ● Horns, musical instruments, or noisemakers of any kind that in any way interfere with the games are not allowed. ● Any person throwing objects on the playing field will be removed immediately from the field. ● Mascots or other individuals are not allowed on the playing field. ● Spectators are not allowed on the field at any times, including the end of the game. AWARDS: All awards will be presented on the field. We ask that all schools help to make this a memorable moment by displaying good sportsmanship. Athletes must be in uniform during the awards presentation. MERCHANDISING: There will be MPA championship merchandise available for sale at this year’s championship. Northwest Designs (NWD) is excited to be the Official Championship Merchandiser for the Maine Principals’ Association. The available merchandise will look different this year. Items will be printed on-site, and apparel will be able to be customized, too. In addition to being on-site, items are also available online before and after the events, too: https://online-apparel.com/s/mpa-store/ .

Tuesday, Nov 04 2025