Back To School

Holden Police talk safety as first day of school arrives

Updated: Aug. 29, 2023 at 11:42 PM EDT

By Mark Rediker

With the first day of school upon us, Holden Police wanted to talk safety.

Local

Maine schools face staffing shortages as classes starts up this week

Updated: Aug. 28, 2023 at 4:31 PM EDT

By Joy Hollowell

Low wages and increased demands are creating dwindling job applicant pools for Maine's school systems

Back To School

Maine Hello: Thousands of students move into UMaine

Updated: Aug. 25, 2023 at 5:22 PM EDT

By Brian Sullivan

A soggy day didn’t dampen the spirits of first year students preparing to spread their wings and fly into college life.

Back To School

Bangor School Department advances communication methods ahead of school year

Updated: Aug. 24, 2023 at 5:40 PM EDT

By Alyssa Thurlow

Summer is drawing to a close and kids and teachers will be heading back to school.

Back To School

Elementary school in Hermon has tips for kids beginning Pre-K

Updated: Aug. 23, 2023 at 5:58 PM EDT

By Kaddie Sharpe

Students of all ages are returning to the classroom this fall, but how should first-time student prepare to begin their academic career?

Back To School

Maine bus driver shares safety tips as school year approaches

Updated: Aug. 22, 2023 at 5:50 PM EDT

By Brittany McHatten

According to the Maine Department of Education, 80% of students in the state take the bus to and from school each day.

Back To School

Several backpack and school supply giveaways this weekend

Updated: Aug. 18, 2023 at 4:47 PM EDT

By WABI News Desk

As back to school time approaches, many organizations are stepping up to help families in need.

Back To School

Courageous Steps Project takes on 10th annual Back to School Drive

Updated: Aug. 9, 2023 at 5:09 PM EDT

By Connor Magliozzi

You’re not too late if you’d like to be part of the effort to help children across the area get school supplies for the upcoming year.

Back To School

Penquis accepting donations for ‘We’ve Got Your Back’ program

Updated: Aug. 7, 2023 at 6:21 PM EDT

By WABI News Desk

Penquis’ We’ve Got Your Back program helps 1,200 students living in Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Knox counties with backpacks and school supplies each year.

Back To School

Courageous Steps Project’s 10th annual Back-To-School Drive

Updated: Aug. 7, 2023 at 6:09 PM EDT

By WABI News Desk

A Penobscot County nonprofit is celebrating a decade of helping local kids go back to school with all the supplies they need to succeed.

Daily Forecast

Back To School

Fill the Bus event aims to support local families in need

Updated: Aug. 4, 2023 at 5:59 PM EDT

By Connor Magliozzi

Some families across the region won’t have to worry about affording school supplies for their kids thanks to the generosity of strangers.

News

Newport Shop has Back-to-school sale

Updated: Aug. 2, 2023 at 3:51 PM EDT

By Kaddie Sharpe

If you’re looking for a spot to back-to-school shop, we know a place with extremely affordable deals to save families money this year.

Back To School

Online toolkit looks to steer kids toward a healthy digital future

Updated: Aug. 2, 2023 at 1:21 PM EDT

By Brittany McHatten

Back-to-school shopping looks different these days. Investing in new technology can be helpful as the school year starts.

Back To School

Mother honors son’s legacy of giving with Stuff the Bus supply drive

Updated: Aug. 2, 2023 at 11:42 AM EDT

By Morgan Sturdivant

A Presque Isle mother is continuing her son’s legacy of giving this summer.

Back To School

Non-profits team up to Fill the Bus

Updated: Aug. 2, 2023 at 11:36 AM EDT

By Morgan Sturdivant

Two non-profits have teamed up to help families before they head back to school.

Back To School

Penquis’ We’ve Got Your Back program

Updated: Jul. 20, 2023 at 11:35 AM EDT

By WABI News Desk

Penquis’ We’ve Got Your Back program helps 1,200 students living in Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Knox counties with backpacks and school supplies each year.

News

Bangor Police Dept. reminds drivers to be patient as kids head back to school

Updated: Aug. 31, 2022 at 5:17 PM EDT

By Allegra Zamore

For many kids around the region, it’s back to school this week. Bangor schools start Thursday. and that means more cars and people will be out and about on the roads.

News

Bangor School Dept. passes revised dress code

Updated: Aug. 17, 2022 at 6:13 PM EDT

By Tom Krosnowski

The revision was developed by a group including administration, parents and students.

Local

Voters overwhelmingly reject Maine school construction plan

Updated: Aug. 10, 2022 at 2:47 PM EDT

By WMTW

Voters in Litchfield, Sabattus and Wales have overwhelmingly rejected a plan to fund a school construction project.

News

Stuff the Bus event held in Oakland Saturday

Updated: Jul. 24, 2022 at 9:39 AM EDT

By WABI News Desk

ShineOnCass foundation collecting supplies to donate to Oakland school food pantries

News

Bates College begins spring semester with new mask guidelines

Updated: Jan. 19, 2022 at 6:34 AM EST

By WABI News Desk

In addition to masks, booster shots will be required to attend school in person.

News

Husson students move in for school year

Updated: Aug. 28, 2021 at 7:49 PM EDT

By WABI News Desk

Kropp-Anderson says currently about 75 percent of the student population is fully vaccinated. 99 percent of the staff population is vaccinated.

Back To School

Backpack and school supply giveaway in Fairfield this weekend

Updated: Aug. 26, 2021 at 5:38 PM EDT

By Spencer Roberts

The Christmas Angels of Maine is a group that started last fall collecting toys and gifts for kids.

Back To School

UMS to require COVID-19 shots for all on-campus students

Updated: Aug. 4, 2021 at 2:04 PM EDT

By WABI News Desk

Talks are also underway with labor leaders for a similar policy for university faculty and staff.

News

Maine doctors, school administrators discuss what upcoming school year could look like

Updated: Jul. 29, 2021 at 9:22 PM EDT

By Tom Krosnowski

The panel recommended mask-wearing and other measures while also keeping kids in school.

Back To School

Penquis campaign to get backpacks to kids means free food for some donors

Updated: Jul. 16, 2021 at 5:53 PM EDT

By Catherine Pegram

The goal is to get backpacks and school supplies to about 1,500 students in need

Coronavirus

Department of Education releases color coded system for schools; Somerset County returns to green

Updated: Dec. 11, 2020 at 1:43 PM EST

By WABI News Desk

The Department of Education has changed is color coded system on school safety during the pandemic to movoing Somerset County back to a green designation.

Back To School

State creates team of retired nurses to help schools with contact tracing

Updated: Nov. 24, 2020 at 3:27 PM EST

By WABI News Desk

The team includes 21 retired nurses who have been trained to contact trace by the Maine CDC.

Education

Education department moves York Co. into yellow school safety category

Updated: Nov. 20, 2020 at 12:16 PM EST

By Catherine Pegram

Five counties are designated yellow, indicating hybrid learning is safest.

Back To School

CDC Update: Waldo County moves to yellow, other 15 Counties remain green

Updated: Oct. 23, 2020 at 1:00 PM EDT

By WABI News Desk

A yellow designation suggests an elevated risk of COVID-19 spread, and schools should consider hybrid learning.

Back To School

Maine Dept. of Education says all counties have a ‘green’ status

Updated: Oct. 16, 2020 at 1:26 PM EDT

By WABI News Desk

Green means a low risk of coronavirus spread, allowing for in-person instruction.

Back To School

RSU 25 adapting to hybrid learning

Updated: Oct. 15, 2020 at 1:26 PM EDT

By Brian Sullivan

Bucksport High School is one month into its hybrid learning plan.

Local

COVID-19 outbreak at Community Regional Charter Schools in Skowhegan, Cornville

Updated: Oct. 8, 2020 at 6:08 PM EDT

By WABI News Desk

The Maine CDC is reporting 13 cases of coronavirus at Community Regional Charter Schools in Skowhegan and Cornville.

Back To School

Skowhegan area schools to close after COVID-19 cases at charter schools

Updated: Oct. 8, 2020 at 12:23 PM EDT

By WABI News Desk

Schools in MSAD 54 will be closed for the rest of this week

Back To School

State announces additional $164M in funding for Maine schools

Updated: Sep. 23, 2020 at 11:39 AM EDT

By Morgan Sturdivant

Schools may use these additional CRF funds to pay for substitute teachers or learning facilitators as well as other needs.

Back To School

School nurses encourage parents to screen children at home

Updated: Sep. 18, 2020 at 1:34 PM EDT

By WABI News Desk

School nurses said parents should ask their children if they are feeling well or if they have a sore throat or a cough.

Local

DOE color codes for schools remain same, York Co. still yellow

Updated: Sep. 11, 2020 at 12:19 PM EDT

By Catherine Pegram

York County moved from green to yellow last week with the increase in COVID-19 cases there

Back To School

Desk shortage delays some schools from reopening as planned

Updated: Sep. 9, 2020 at 7:18 PM EDT

By Morgan Sturdivant

Some schools are still waiting for key supplies like desks.

Back To School

Hallowell and Richmond Police Departments compete to ‘cram the cruiser’

Updated: Sep. 9, 2020 at 4:29 PM EDT

By Allegra Zamore

The department that collects the most school supplies wins.

Back To School

Thomas College adapts first year orientation amid pandemic

Updated: Sep. 8, 2020 at 4:47 PM EDT

By Allegra Zamore

The Waterville school is taking steps to maintain the college experience for their students.

Back To School

Hallowell and Richmond Police friendly school collection competition

Updated: Sep. 8, 2020 at 9:20 AM EDT

By Joy Hollowell

Friendly competition between Hallowell and Richmond police departments means much needed school supplies in RSU 2

Back To School

Skowhegan Police and hospital school collection challenge

Updated: Sep. 8, 2020 at 7:53 AM EDT

By Joy Hollowell

Skowhegan Police and Redington-Fairview General Hospital in friendly competition to collect school supplies

Coronavirus

RSU 57 delays start of school, member of transportation dept. tested positive for COVID-19

Updated: Sep. 8, 2020 at 6:25 AM EDT

By WABI News Desk

The delay will affect in-person and remote learning.

Back To School

Maine student athletes rally to #LetThemPlay

Updated: Sep. 7, 2020 at 5:08 PM EDT

By Allegra Zamore

Athletes, parents, and supporters rallied at the State House Monday to create a sense of urgency for decision makers.

Back To School

Rockport tutoring program launching learning pods

Updated: Sep. 4, 2020 at 6:46 PM EDT

By Ryan Munn

These pods will teach math and language arts to kids kindergarten through 8th grade.

Back To School

State changes color designation for York Co. schools, Penobscot Co. stays green

Updated: Sep. 4, 2020 at 12:17 PM EDT

By WABI News Desk

York County schools have been designated as yellow. Penobscot County remains green.

Back To School

RSU 67 students to make use of outdoor tents when school begins

Updated: Sep. 3, 2020 at 5:33 PM EDT

By Alyssa Thurlow

TV5 visited Lincoln schools Thursday to see how they’re making use of tents they have purchased.

Back To School

Winslow Junior High School unveils new building

Updated: Sep. 3, 2020 at 5:02 PM EDT

By Allegra Zamore

The building eight years in the making is an addition to Winslow High school.

Back To School

Maine DOE releases pandemic procedure protocols

Updated: Sep. 3, 2020 at 5:02 PM EDT

By Emily Tadlock

The Maine Department of Education put out a draft document on standard operating procedures for schools during the pandemic.

Back To School

Maine Department of Education recommends isolation rooms for students showing COVID-19 symptoms

Updated: Sep. 3, 2020 at 4:54 PM EDT

By Allegra Zamore

The Maine Department of Education has recommended isolation rooms in schools to hold students showing symptoms.