FARMINGTON — When students arrive at Mt. Blue Middle School on opening day, Wednesday, Aug. 31, a new principal will greet them.

Principal Jason Bellerose of Skowhegan took over the reins of the school on July 1 after Gary Oswald retired in June after 30 years at the school, 18 of them as principal.

Bellerose previously taught at Skowhegan Area Middle School for 16 years and had leadership roles there.

“I think the custodian staff has done a tremendous job getting the building ready and staff has started to ready their classrooms,” Bellerose said. “We are all excited for the kids to return.”

One of the new programs at the middle school this year is the Adaptive Learning Program that has been in the works over the summer.

“I’m proud to say our maintenance team and Maintenance Department have done yeoman’s work in building a space for the students served by the program,” he said.

The Health Program will now be called Health and Wellness.

While there are no curriculum changes, a workout component has been added so students can learn health and live health, he said.

“As far as other changes go, I think when people see a new principal they immediately think: change,” he said. “I’ve tried to immerse myself in the many good things that happen here. The idea is to take an approach where I seek first to understand. I have a vision, but I’m more interested in building a vision with the staff and that vision we create together will be an agent of change.”

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

RSU 9 schedule, meal prices

School starts for kindergarten through grade nine on Wednesday, Aug. 31, and for high school upperclassmen on Thursday, Sept. 1.

Students in all grades have Friday, Sept. 2, off for a four-day Labor Day weekend.

The first of 35 late-arrival days is Wednesday, Sept. 7. Students go to school one hour later than usual.

Student breakfast prices

• Kindergarten through grade five, full-paid, $1.10;

• Grade six through 12, full-paid: $1.25; and

• Students qualified for free and reduced-price: 0.

Student lunch prices

• Kindergarten through grade five, full-paid: $2;

• Grade six through 12, full-paid: $2.25;

• Students qualified for reduced-price: 40 cents; and

• Students eligible for free lunch: 0.

Source: RSU 9