In March, Wells Junior High School held its annual Geography Bee with 10 classroom school finalists competing. Sixth-grader Tyler Donahue received first place, and 8th-grade student Clyde Holzer finished second. Runners-up were Kyle Dolliver and Eric Lee.

Other participants were Gabe Brown, grade 7. Gabe Danner-Wilson, grade 8; Zoe Lemont, grade 8; Will Minogue, grade 6; Liz Nadeau, grade 6; and Abigail Nawfel, grade 7.

Acting as the master of ceremonies of this contest was a former social studies teacher and organizer of many previous geography bees at WJHS, Bonnie Dill.

“Bonnie Dill was our special guest MC, and she knocked it out of the park,” noted teacher Allison Le. “The ten student finalists did an awesome job during the event, with the end being a long, multi-question showdown. Overall, it was a great success!”

Earlier this year, Maren Maxon, a member of the Wells High School Girls Varsity Basketball team, scored her 1,000th point during a home game against Fryeburg Academy. During the game, Maxon, who is the team's point guard and captain, learned that she was just a couple of points away from reaching this milestone. When she achieved the feat, a timeout was called so her teammates and coaches could congratulate her on the court. Maxon is only the third female basketball player from Wells High School to reach this record.

“It was a representation of what I have worked so hard for and put so much time and effort into,” said Maxon. She described the achievement as receiving “a reward” as she reflected on the moment she reached the 1,000-point mark. The Wells team won that game against Fryeburg Academy, with a final score of 69-39, and concluded the 2024-25 season with 14 wins and five losses.

Sandi McPadden, Maren’s coach, commented in an email, “Maren's presence and contribution to our team is invaluable. If our team was in a scoring rut and needed a basket, there was no doubt that the team could be put on her shoulders. Maren's basketball IQ is something that is so rare- her natural ability and intuition to make the right move or right pass is beyond her years.”

Maxon, a senior, started learning to play basketball with her cousins at the age of four. As a child, she joined her aunt’s Little Dribblers, a group that performed during halftimes at basketball games. She began playing competitively year-round, beginning in the fifth grade.

Maxon plans to attend college to study in the areas of public health or health sciences to become a physician’s assistant or fill some other role in the medical field and continue playing basketball.

Wells Junior High students will present three performances of the beloved children's whimsical musical "James and the Giant Peach JR." in the Olenn Performing Arts Center at Wells High School. The show times are as follows: April 3rd at 4:00 pm, April 4th at 6:30 pm, and April 5th at noon.  Admission is $5 at the door. This delightful production is based on the book by British author Roald Dahl and is directed by Allison Le.

The Wells Players troupe at Wells High School has announced that they will present the enchanting stage adaptation of The Wizard of Oz on stage in the Olenn Performing Arts Center at Wells High School beginning March 19, 2025.    

This musical is based on the original children’s fantasy novel published in 1900, titled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.  In 1939, the book was made into the MGM motion picture The Wizard of Oz.  Years later, it was adapted for the stage by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company.  Popular tunes in the play include "Over the Rainbow" and "Follow the Yellow Brick Road."

The story brings to life the mesmerizing and appealing character of Dorothy, a little girl swept away in a tornado who is now trying to find her way back home in Kansas.  She travels the Yellow Brick Road to find the Wizard of Oz, who can help her return home. Along her journey, she meets a scarecrow, a woodman made of tin, a cowardly lion, and numerous munchkins.

This local high school interpretation is directed by Andrew Lopez, who has been directing stage productions at WHS for over twenty years.  Others who helped make this play come to life include Producer Andrea Hernandez, Alex Bedirian (assistant director), Bailey Smith (musical director), Dianah Shelley (choreographer), and Judi Dion (costume designer).  Mr. Lopez and Mr. Bedirian also designed the stage lighting for this show and created the colorful stage sets.   

"We are excited to bring a classic show to life on the stage and create performances that will have children and adults alike dancing and laughing in their seats,” commented

Hernandez in an email.  She noted that the production involved 55 students, including 10 students from Wells Elementary School.

Curtain times and ticket prices for the Wizard of Oz are as follows: March 19 at 3:30 pm, (free for students and senior citizens, $6 for general admission), March 20 and 21 at 6:30 pm ($6 for students and senior citizens, $9 for general admission) and March 22 at 2 pm ($6 for students and senior citizens, $9 for general admission).

Wells High School Principal Eileen Sheehy recently announced that Senior Cooper Bourque has been selected to receive this year’s Maine Principal’s Award, sponsored by the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) in Augusta. Each year, high schools that are members of the MPA select one outstanding senior to receive this honor.

“Cooper is very deserving of this recognition,” remarked Principal Sheehy. “Cooper's dedication to learning and growing while always embracing collaboration, citizenship, and reflection is admirable. He is a natural leader by example and is a very positive influence within our school community.”

“It was unexpected, especially since I didn’t know this was an award,” said Bourque. “I really appreciate it.” During his high school career, he has successfully taken numerous Advanced Placement (AP) courses, including courses in psychology, calculus, literature, and physics. He is a member of the National Honor Society, served on the 2024 prom committee, and, as a freshman, served as Class Secretary.

Bourque is a member of the WHS Football Team and the WHS Indoor and Outdoor Track teams. Recognizing a need, he donated significant assistance in helping to improve the track program at WHS.

As a good citizen, Bourque has tutored a middle school student struggling with math and worked each summer with his fellow football teammates, cleaning up local beaches. “Through the football team, we do a lot of volunteering,” added Bourque, who plans to study Biomedical Engineering in college.

The MPA Award was established in 1984. Award recipients and their principals are invited to attend the organization’s Honors Luncheon in the spring. At that time, recipients will receive a lapel pin and plaque. Also, five of these students will be selected in a lottery to receive a $1,000 scholarship.

For the second year, Wells Junior High School music teacher Katie Mercier has introduced a unit of study to her eighth-grade students on learning to play the ukulele.

“I think it’s good because it gives them a basis on a stringed instrument,” said Mercier, who pointed out that the ukulele is an accessible, four-string instrument that is popular.  She believes it gives students “a start” to either continue with the ukulele or branch out to another string instrument, such as the guitar or bass guitar. 

At the start each student was assigned a ukulele to play and care for while in class.  Students got familiar with the notes on the small fretboard that corresponded with notes on the upper or treble clef of sheet music. They eventually learned to form chords and play simple songs that they could record on their laptops. 

“I like playing the ukulele,” said student Gavin Dusza, who has been learning piano for the past seven years. He noted that he had experienced some instruction with the violin in elementary school.  “Ukulele was definitely different for me because I never played guitar, but after two weeks, you get the hang of it.”

Fellow eighth-grader Jack Kennedy said, “I liked this unit. I was surprised at how much I liked playing the ukulele.  Music has never been my favorite subject, but the ukulele was actually fun. It’s easy and my new favorite instrument.”  He added, “It makes me think of a nighttime beach-type-of-vibe every time I play.  It's really smooth.”  Kennedy said he would continue playing the ukulele following this class.

The ukulele originated and became popular in Portugal during the 1880s.  Eventually, it became a significant fixture of Hawaiian culture.  The instrument comes in four sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone.  The Hawaiian word “ukulele” translates in English to “jumping flea.”   "Uku" is the word for "flea," and "lele" translates to the verb "jumping."

In honor of National School Committee Recognition Month, Wells-Ogunquit Community School District (WOCSD) Superintendent James Daly recognized the District’s School Committee members and high school student representatives at the Committee’s meeting on January 2nd.  They were acknowledged for their support and commitment to the students and staff of the District.  

“I want to recognize you for all the great things you do,” said Daly to the group.   “You support us no matter what we do (and) we appreciate it.  He added, “We couldn’t have done anything without your help.”

Each member was awarded a plaque from Daly who noted the tenure of each member:  Helena Ackerson - 12 years, including 11 years as Chair; Vice-Chair Jason Vennard - 11 years, including 10 years as Vice-Chair; Boriana Dolliver - 8 years; Heather Sittig - 8 years; Jeff Sullivan - 5 years, and Michele Tourangeau - 4 years.  Student representatives serving on the Committee this school year are Wells High School senior Tory Chase - her first year of service, and Junior Abraham (Abe) Medrano - his first year of service. 

School committees and/or school board members are elected officials who volunteer a great deal of time overseeing the complexities in the management of school districts.  National School Committee Recognition Month is celebrated each January.

In the early morning of January 9th, twelve finalists in the Wells Junior High School Spelling Bee for 2025 entered the Ward Gymnasium to compete in a school-wide assembly in front of an audience of hundreds of students. The finalists consisted of three students per grade level.  They all placed first in earlier pre-qualifying classroom spelling bees.   

The finalists were 5th-grade students Lucy Minogue, Lucie Parker, and Jordan Schettino.   Sixth-graders present were Tyler Donahue, Eric Lee, and Will Minogue.  From the 7th grade were Kyle Dolliver, Riley Gosselin, and Carmen Puliafico.  Representing the 8th grade were Kylie Afthim, Scarlett Lantz, and Laila VanWeest.

“It was great to see the enthusiasm, respect, and excitement that the audience showed the spellers,” commented English Language Arts (ELA) teacher Julie Esch.  “It was a lot of fun!”   

Sixth-grade student Tyler Donahue won this year’s Bee.   In the deciding round, he spelled the words ‘séance’ and ‘vociferous’ correctly in that order.  Eighth-grade student and runner-up Scarlett Lantz advanced to the final round by correctly spelling the word ‘impeccable’ but misspelling the next word, ‘séance’.  Both students will now represent their school at the York County Spelling Bee on February 4th in the library at Massabesic Middle School in East Waterboro at 2:00 pm. 

“It was something,” said an excited and surprised Tyler Donahue.  “I never thought I would get first place, let alone second or third.  It's amazing.”    Regarding the final word of the contest, he added that “I was just in the dark” when presented with the word, ‘vociferous’. 

The first-place prize awarded to Donahue was a deluxe Scrabble board.  Those who placed in the top four of contestants received medals.  All of the participating students received pencils with “WJHS Spelling Bee” imprinted on them plus some Smarties Candy. 

This year’s judges of the contest included ELA teachers Mary Rand, Laney Yeomelakis, Molly Foran, Sarah Downs, and Daysia Cornett.  Music teacher Alison Graichen operated the sound system for the hour-long event.          

York County junior high students participating in this first stage of the National Spelling Bee will join with WJHS finalists in the State Spelling Bee to be held at Bowdoin College in Brunswick on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.  Students who win state competitions are then invited to participate in the National Spelling Bee held in the spring.  Began in 1925, the National Spelling Bee is administered by the E.W. Scripps Company and 267 sponsors in the United States. and elsewhere.