Fabulous Find, Service Credit Union donate to nonprofits: Community news update

Monarch School of New England receives Fabulous Find grant

ROCHESTER — The Monarch School of New England has announced it has received an $8,890.22 grant from The Fabulous Find. The Monarch School of New England was one of three nonprofits selected to participate in the store’s December partnership program.

Diane Bessey, Executive Director of the Monarch School of New England, said; “We are grateful to be a part of The Fabulous Find’s supportive community and for this partnership opportunity. This grant award helps our school continue to move forward in an innovative way, so that we can continue to provide our students with special needs with the programs and services they need to learn as the pandemic continues.”

The Fabulous Find is a boutique-style resale shop at 139 State Road (Route One) in Kittery which partners with different worthy, local non-profit organizations each month. Since opening in July 2010, The Fabulous Find has donated over $2 million dollars to more than 150 nonprofits in the greater Seacoast community.

To learn more, visit: monarchschoolne.org.

Rochester Middle School students explore tech center

ROCHESTER – Rochester Middle School eighth graders recently toured the R.W. Creteau Regional Technology Center, learning more about the career technical education programs it offers.

Attendees learned about the 17 career pathways at the center, visiting programs from Accounting to Video and Photographic Arts.

Incoming Spaulding High School students were greeted by CTE Ambassadors, a new program started this year. About 50 student-ambassadors guided students, explained programs, and shared their experiences and personal growth in career technical education.

Freshmen may take a variety of exploratory classes, and select pathways starting in their sophomore year.

Incoming Spaulding ninth graders who attend the Paul School and St. Elizabeth Seton School will visit Creteau Center in the coming weeks.

“I always enjoy talking with staff and prospective students during these tours,” Superintendent Kyle Repucci said. “It’s special to see students experience what the Creteau Center has to offer, and discover an interest or passion that can last a lifetime.”

The Creteau Center is part of the Tri-City Opportunities, which offers high school students in Rochester, Somersworth and Dover the ability to access career technical programs at their partnering schools, allowing for more diversity of programs and overall opportunities.

"The tours are a great opportunity for students to meet our Ambassadors, to hear their CTE story, and ask questions that will help guide them into their own pathway!" said Michele Halligan-Foley, director of Career Technology Education.

Enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year closes March 4. Applicants will be interviewed in March, and learn about their acceptance in April. Applications by students after March 4 will be reviewed if openings remain available in April.

To visit the Creteau Center website go to https://sites.google.com/a/sau54.org/cte/home?authuser=0. To review the Program of Studies go to https://coredocs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1368473/Spaulding_HS_Program_of_Studies.pdf

Service Credit Union awards $10k to Arts in Reach

PORTSMOUTH — Arts In Reach (AIR), a nonprofit committed to empowering teenage girls and gender expansive youth, is proud to announce a $10,000 sponsorship from Service Credit Union. This award is helping to fund free year-round arts programs in 2022.

Service Credit Union is celebrating its 65th year of improving the financial wellbeing of military personnel, their families, and the greater New Hampshire Seacoast community. Service and community are at the core of their work, and there is no exception in their support of Arts In Reach.

“Arts in Reach is an amazing organization that we are excited to partner with.” Community Relations Manager Jaime Yates said. “We are in awe of the work they do to empower youth in our community and can’t wait to see the impact of AIR’s programs on the teens they serve.”

From mixed media and clay to acting and wearable art, Arts In Reach teens explore new ways to express themselves creatively and authentically while building confidence and making friends in a safe, inclusive environment.

Service Credit Union’s sponsorship funds twenty teens to participate in AIR programs and access transportation and supplies for programs free of charge. This sponsorship gives teens opportunities to work with their peers and professional teaching artists to create visual, performing, and literary arts.

“We are incredibly grateful to Service Credit Union for their investment in youth empowerment,” commented AIR Executive Director Debra Holloway, “AIR closes opportunity gaps and creates brighter futures for our Seacoast youth.”

To find more information about Service Credit Union, go to https://servicecu.org, and to learn more about Arts In Reach and its corporate sponsor program, visit www.artsinreach.org/donate.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Monarch School of New England, Fabulous Find, Creteau Center