GSB Pumpkin Math!
Guess which secret staff school spirit day this is! (Kudos to the kids who figured it out!)
On Friday, October 31, the fifth graders at G.S.B. turned the cafeteria into a full-blown cardboard arcade! Families, teachers, and fourth graders came to play and cheer on the creative game makers.
More than 25 amazing arcade games filled the room — everything from claw machines and foosball tables to skee-ball, marble runs, ping-pong, and even whack-a-mole! The fifth graders dreamed them up, built them from cardboard, wood, wire, and glue, and made sure every game worked before the big day.
This project started six weeks ago after the students watched the inspiring documentary “Caine’s Arcade”. They learned how to design, test, and improve their games just like real engineers.
During the arcade, players won fun prizes like stickers, erasers, pencils, snacks, and bookmarks. The energy was off the charts as fourth graders visited the different game, trying to play them all and find their favorites!
This new G.S.B. tradition started just last year, and it’s already a school hit. The fourth graders left buzzing with ideas — they can’t wait to make their designs as fifth graders in 2026!
More than 25 amazing arcade games filled the room — everything from claw machines and foosball tables to skee-ball, marble runs, ping-pong, and even whack-a-mole! The fifth graders dreamed them up, built them from cardboard, wood, wire, and glue, and made sure every game worked before the big day.
This project started six weeks ago after the students watched the inspiring documentary “Caine’s Arcade”. They learned how to design, test, and improve their games just like real engineers.
During the arcade, players won fun prizes like stickers, erasers, pencils, snacks, and bookmarks. The energy was off the charts as fourth graders visited the different game, trying to play them all and find their favorites!
This new G.S.B. tradition started just last year, and it’s already a school hit. The fourth graders left buzzing with ideas — they can’t wait to make their designs as fifth graders in 2026!
5th grade bird watching field trip to Coastal Rivers
5th graders took part in an Improv class with Ms Teralyn Reiter during experiential block!
Grade 6 has just complete their identity troll sculpture project in art, inspired by the Thomas Dambo trolls at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.
5B Experiential wrapped up their Rube Goldberg projects by using VR headsets with Mr. Nick. Students designed and built digital Rube Goldberg machines in virtual reality!
For the third year in a row, Great Salt Bay Community School students partnered with the Frances Perkins Center in Newcastle, Maine, for a meaningful art and history collaboration. Since our last visit, the Frances Perkins Homestead has been officially designated a National Monument, making this year’s trip a special one—even as the recent government shutdown required a few creative adjustments.
In art class, Ms. Rey’s seventh graders are beginning their Social Justice Collage Portrait Unit with a study of Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of Labor. Perkins’ groundbreaking work transformed American life through her advocacy for Social Security, child labor laws, minimum wage standards, welfare programs, and unemployment insurance, among other social reforms.
In previous years, students have toured the Perkins family home—walking through historic rooms, viewing Frances Perkins’ typewriter, exploring the kitchen to learn about early cooking practices, and examining tools and agricultural implements from the turn of the century. Although this year’s experience looked a little different, students continued to engage deeply with Frances Perkins’ legacy, connecting her lifelong commitment to social justice with their own creative expression in art.
Because of the government shutdown, visitors were not able to enter the National Monument buildings this fall. Instead, students’ learning experience took place entirely outdoors. Education Coordinator Mary Reid and volunteer Erica Smith gathered large informational panels from outside the barn and led students on a guided walk through the wooded trail, where they learned about the landscape, the original garrison site, and the brickmaking history of the Perkins family. Students also participated in sketching activities inspired by their surroundings.
“It is so phenomenal that this incredible woman has roots right here in Midcoast Maine, has changed the lives of so many Americans to this day, and is still unknown to so many,” said Ms. Rey. “She is a champion, and it is important for students to learn about her work and her legacy.”
In art class, Ms. Rey’s seventh graders are beginning their Social Justice Collage Portrait Unit with a study of Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of Labor. Perkins’ groundbreaking work transformed American life through her advocacy for Social Security, child labor laws, minimum wage standards, welfare programs, and unemployment insurance, among other social reforms.
In previous years, students have toured the Perkins family home—walking through historic rooms, viewing Frances Perkins’ typewriter, exploring the kitchen to learn about early cooking practices, and examining tools and agricultural implements from the turn of the century. Although this year’s experience looked a little different, students continued to engage deeply with Frances Perkins’ legacy, connecting her lifelong commitment to social justice with their own creative expression in art.
Because of the government shutdown, visitors were not able to enter the National Monument buildings this fall. Instead, students’ learning experience took place entirely outdoors. Education Coordinator Mary Reid and volunteer Erica Smith gathered large informational panels from outside the barn and led students on a guided walk through the wooded trail, where they learned about the landscape, the original garrison site, and the brickmaking history of the Perkins family. Students also participated in sketching activities inspired by their surroundings.
“It is so phenomenal that this incredible woman has roots right here in Midcoast Maine, has changed the lives of so many Americans to this day, and is still unknown to so many,” said Ms. Rey. “She is a champion, and it is important for students to learn about her work and her legacy.”
Duck stamp live draw session with GSB fifth graders! This is the first part of our junior duck stamp contest unit. All third fourth and fifth graders will be participating in live duck drawings to prepare them for their final composition.
These are the troll inspired sculptures (GSB Art classes visited the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens for inspiration) that connect art and identity and students have to incorporate two aspects of themselves into their final sculpture (hobbies, favorites, etc.).
Have a happy and safe Halloween everyone!
Here are a few photos from our Pre-K & Kindergarten costume parade!
8th grade shelter building w/ Mr. Brown
Here's the Healthy Lincoln County Food Pantry November schedule for our local communities!
Ask any 8th grader; "What's the difference between the law of conservation of matter and the law of conservation of energy?"
And they'll tell you, "The law of conservation of energy matters less!"
And they'll tell you, "The law of conservation of energy matters less!"
7th graders dive into a cell to interact with organelles in VR
More from the Darrowby Farm Sanctuary community connections 8th grade field trip!
8th grade harvests carrots at Twin Villages Food Bank Farm
This is one of GSB's Art community connections units. Students participate in a sanctuary tour, learn about the mission and the animals and complete a live draw activity.
In Art class, 7th grade learned about shoe designers and are creating their own shoe sculpture from cardboard.
