REGION — SAD 44 Board member Stephanie Herbeck started Monday’s meeting by sharing her thoughts on a project done by the Telstar eighth grade communications class called “Person Behind The Mask.”

Dean of Students Lindsay Luetje and School Counselor Stephanie Mastroianni oversaw the effort and two eighth graders, Maylyn Hastings and Angelica Hart, lead the presentation, which was seen by Herbeck via Zoom.

“COVID-19 has changed the way school feels,” Herbeck said. “Getting to know each other is tough, it’s hard to connect, it’s hard to get to know someone with these masks on.

With the students realizing the impact mask wearing has had on meeting or interacting with other classmates, they came up with their idea of the “Person Behind The Mask.”

The eighth graders interviewed five students and two teachers from each grade, took their pictures and put them up on a bulletin board in one of the school hallways. Each teacher and student was asked the same four questions which were: What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? What is your favorite song? What is a television show that represents your family? Where is your favorite place to travel?

The questions generated many different responses and allowed for students and staff to learn more about each other.

“I thought it was a pretty amazing project during this time,” Herbeck said.

In other news, Superintendent Dave Murphy quickly went through middle and high school spring sport coaching appointments, with Tim O’Connor heading the middle school baseball team with Steve Pelletier as assistant coach. Natasha Howard will be head coach of the softball team and Mary Proulx will be assistant coach and Michelle Bouchard, Kaitlyn Brown and Colleen Raymond will be running track together, with all three splitting stipends. Tanya Johansen was appointed advisor of the high school drama club, also.

Murphy informed board members that the last day of school will be Thursday, June 17.

Board members also unanimously approved the 2021-2022 school year calendar. Murphy said overall the calendar is very similar to this year’s, but noted that during the fall there are multiple half-days scheduled at Telstar. Murphy explained that the high school is going through accreditation and that additional time is needed in order for this to happen. Half days are scheduled in September, October and December, according to Murphy.