Students can have a respite in PCES ‘Pirate Cove’

GUILFORD — Piscataquis Community Elementary School students whose emotions may be getting the best of them and are in need of a quiet place for a respite now have a place to go. 

The “Pirate Cove” allows them to take a moment to collect themselves before things escalate into a potential disciplinary situation.

“The Pirate Cove is a room we created and staff so students who are having a hard time have a place to go,” PCES Principal Anita Wright told the school board during an Oct. 11 meeting. She said when a student gets upset it can be hard to continue in a public setting, keep focused on their work and let go of what they are struggling with.

 She said the Pirate Cove provides a quiet, calm room with small tables, books and magazines, a couch, low lights and soft classical music. If they desire, students can talk with the social worker or behavioral interventionist.

“They don’t have to talk, but if they want to talk there’s someone there with them,” Wright said. 

“If you are making bad choices, your only choice is the office,” she said, saying bad behavior is not being rewarded by being able to head to the Pirate Cove. Wright said the room has been working well so far a month and a half into the school year, and students are not abusing the option to go there as the school works to help support student self-regulation.

Wright said a partnership with art teacher Wendy Lorigan’s Main Street Art Studio is up and running. The partnership has helped create a pottery studio with several wheels and a kiln being installed. After-school programs, family nights and curricula extensions are all future possibilities.

“You can see that people are getting excited about it,” Wright said.

In other business, the school board accepted the transfer of grade 7-8 science teacher Trisha Moulton to the Piscataquis Community Secondary School physical education/health teacher position. 

“Trisha expressed the interest in transferring and I think it’s going to be exciting for her,” Superintendent Kelly MacFayden said. She said the grade 7-8 job is being advertised.

Principal John Keane said recent PCHS graduate Zac Wilson had been substituting, but with on-going online college courses and wrestling coaching duties starting in the near future, he would not have been able to continue teaching after the first quarter.

MacFadyen said new Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative Director Josh McNaughton has been getting out into the community to promote adult ed.

McNaughton previously served as superintendent in Millinocket and has a background in adult education. Living in Dover-Foxcroft and with school-aged children, McNaughton wanted a job closer to home to allow him more time with his family.

The superintendent said PVAEC has added pottery and digital citizenship to its enrichment program offerings.