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"Buying into Education": MSK revitalizes Career Day event

KENNEBUNK, Maine — Students at the Middle School of the Kennebunks (MSK) got a glimpse of their potential futures Wednesday as the school revived its Career Day program after a multi-year hiatus.

The event brought approximately 30 local professionals to MSK, representing fields ranging from athletics and civil engineering to hospitality and law.

"This is the time where research shows that students really buy into their education," said MSK Assistant Principal Luke Myers, who helped organize the event. "It's important to make that connection between what they're learning today and what they could be doing in the future."

Myers said hearing from those local community members who are in their careers drives home what students are learning.

“Hopefully, this experience motivates our students to continue to strive in their academics," Myers said.

MSK Career Day Travis Lee WMTW

Travis Lee, Sports Director at WMTW Channel 8, discusses his career path and does a writing exercise with a group of MSK students at Career Day 2025.

 

Career Day featured a variety of speakers, including a professional athlete, civil engineers, insurance sales representatives, first responders, and media professionals. One popular session was a hospitality panel featuring representatives from local employers.

"We had somebody from The Nonantum Resort, somebody from Dairy Queen, and somebody also from Kennebunk Beach Improvement Association," explained MSK School Counselor Pal Covie, who also helped organize the event.

MSK Career Day 2025

A panel of local hospitality industry professionals answers questions from students at MSK's Career Day event, which was revived in 2025 after a several-year hiatus.

 

Covie said students particularly wanted to know more about jobs at these hospitality companies, as they typically hire workers who are middle and early high school age for summer jobs.

"A lot of the students were interested in knowing how much money is being made in these professions, what they can do in the future, and just what the application process looks like," Covie said.

This is the first Career Day event at MSK in several years. Myers said it was important to revive the experience.

"We thought that a career day would be a good way for our students to connect what they're learning to the real world."

MSK Career Day Brad Church

Former NHL and Portland Pirates player Brad Church, who now lives in Kennebunk, tells students how he became a professional athlete at MSK Career Day.

 

Both Myers and Covie are hopeful that the event will continue in the years to come.

"We've heard some good things from the presenters and the students,” Myers said. “We are hoping to bring it back next year and keep on improving it each year."


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York County Coast Star

MSK students deliver over 100 backpacks to local Head Start program

SANFORD, Maine — Middle School of the Kennebunks (MSK) Student Council members delivered more than 100 backpacks filled with school supplies and handmade items to Sanford Head Start on Thursday, May 15 as part of a new community service initiative.

The backpacks, originally secured through a donation to the MSK Parent Teacher Group (PTG), contained educational materials for preschoolers, including books, crayons, paper, paints, markers, pencils, and rulers. Some backpacks also included fleece blankets handcrafted by MSK seventh-grade students.

During their morning visit, the middle school students spent time reading and playing on the playground with the 3- and 4-year-old Head Start students.

"This project has provided our middle school students with a meaningful opportunity to support younger children in our community," said Polly Mienders, MSK Student Council advisor and global studies teacher. "The students have embraced this initiative with enthusiasm and dedication."

MSK backpack drop

The project began in April when MSK homeroom classes in grades 6-8 were encouraged to collect supplies appropriate for preschool-aged children. The student council plans to continue the initiative in future years.

"We're grateful to the MSK PTG for initiating this project and helping our students engage with the broader York County community," said Marty Bouchard, MSK principal. "These kinds of service opportunities are invaluable learning experiences."

Sanford Head Start is operated by York County Community Action Corporation (YCCAC), which provides comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and family support services to low-income children and families throughout York County.

“Building literacy is one of our main goals as a Head Start program and those one-on-one moments can serve to reinforce social relationships,” noted Cecily Silva, Director of Head Start for York County. “We’re grateful to the Middle School of the Kennebunks for their generous gifts and their time connecting with our students.”