Schools show cooperation through humor

Longley Principal Kristie Clark, left, and Martel Principal Steve Whitfield, right.

Take-off on ‘American Gothic’

LEWISTON — Last week, Lewiston schools Superintendent Bill Webster tweeted two funny photos paying homage to the famous painting, “American Gothic.”

The parody photos are of Longley Elementary School Principal Kristie Clark as the woman, and Martel Elementary School Principal Steve Whitfield as the farmer.

“One of the ways that we are beginning to bring Longley and Martel together is through art!” Webster tweeted.

Whitfield invited Clark to Martel School’s family fun night. They both supported the idea of posing in the iconic image, one with stern faces and a second photo with smiles to represent joint work being done.

Longley and Martel schools will merge when Connors Elementary is built and opened in 2019. Clark has been named principal of the new school. She and Whitfield have been working on coordinating the merger.

Groundbreaking for the new school is scheduled for May 30. — Bonnie Washuk

Advice to student rep: Don’t let Tom ‘bamboozle you’

AUBURN — At Wednesday night’s Auburn School Committee meeting members met a new student representative, Edward Little High School junior Patrick Luizzo. Luizzo joins junior Bilal Hussein on the committee.

Luizzo said he’s a National Honor Society student, plays soccer and is on the Business Roundtable. He recently helped organize the prom, and plans to be founder of the soon-to-be Student Congress.

School Committee member Bonnie Hayes asked if he had time to serve on the School Committee too?

Yes, Luizzo said.

Hayes — who can be sassy, part of her charm — wore a wry smile as she offered some advice: Don’t let committee Chairman Tom Kendall “bamboozle you” into making time consuming video reports about what’s going on at the high school. (I’ve seen Kendall do it.)

Laughter followed. — Bonnie Washuk

Anita Murphy honored

Kudos to Anita Murphy, who seems to know everyone in the community, for being honored with a Substitute Teacher of the Year award by Kelly Manpower.

Murphy is the retired high school tennis coach and often covers at the Lewiston Middle School. That’s lucky for the school, Principal Jake Langlais said.

“She covers different classroom and different places,” Langlais said. “The beauty of her is how good she is with kids, how flexible she is. Whenever she’s needed, she’s willing to go.”

When Murphy is in a class, “I never have to worry,” he said. “She’s so trustworthy and so capable.” — Bonnie Washuk