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MEXICO — Jason Long, principal of T.W. Kelly Dirigo Middle School in Dixfield, was the guest speaker at a recent meeting of the River Valley Rotary Club fellowship luncheon at HOPE Association. He spoke to the membership about the needs of his school, not only monetarily but also voluntarily. He is seeking any assistance anyone can provide.
Long stressed the need for substitute teachers and a variety of volunteers serving in various capacities, such as in the main office, cafeteria, library and on the buses. Long also mentioned the food pantry supplied “by a mix of local donations as well as from the Dixfield Food Pantry and Sharing Center with the help of the Good Shepard Food Bank.”
Long pointed out the need for better storage containers for the pantry, for hangers to display clothing collected in recent months, as well as cell phone calling cards to distribute when appropriate.
“One of my middle school students, a sexual assault survivor, did not feel safe without the ability to make phone calls, but the family ran out of minutes on their calling plan,” he explained. “We provided her a calling card, and it established some trust. In another case, I was working to get a parent to address their student’s truancy and after weeks of frustration, I ultimately learned the parent did not have a means of transportation and the phone had been shut off. By giving this family a calling card, I had opened the door of communication to address the attendance issues.”
Long said he hopes there is an opportunity “to explore starting a Dirigo Interact Club for the 2020-2021 school year. The needs are very real, and so is the opportunity to make a difference.”
For more information about you can help address the needs of this school, call Long at 207-562-7552.
PHOTO: From left, Dave Duguay, River Vally Rotary Club president; Jason Long, principal of Dixfield Middle School; and Patricia Duguay, fellow Rotarian. (Submitted photo)
