Lewiston students showcase maple-sugaring research in GMRI partnership; Jennifer Labonte honored

At a May 4 Lewiston School Committee meeting, students from McMahon, Farwell and Connors presented posters and described a hands-on maple-sugaring science project developed in partnership with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI).

The presentations were led by Jennifer Labonte, Lewiston Public Schools’ instructional specialist for K–12 math and science, who described a codesigned project in which fourth- through sixth-graders tapped trees, collected sap-volume and sugar-content data, and analyzed historical temperature records to determine optimal tapping windows. "We started early in the year, planning and co-designing lessons with teachers and scientists," Labonte said.

The project combined science, math and literacy. Student Matilda Hodgman summarized five years of tapping-season temperature data and said the group found the best time to tap in Maine was late February into early March. Farwell students described collecting sap from February to March 2026, testing how tap placement affected yields and ending the project with a community pancake breakfast where students tasted the boiled sap.

Superintendent Jake Langley and other district staff noted the project cost the district no direct funds; Labonte credited partners and school staff for making the work possible. "We needed our students, our teachers, our coaches, our janitorial staff, our GMRI scientists and people at the district level to make this learning possible," Labonte said.

During the recognitions segment, Sue Williams read an email from GMRI president and CEO Glenn Prickett announcing that Labonte was the inaugural recipient of the GMRI Wayfinder Award. The email praised Labonte’s leadership and sustained collaboration, saying she had "helped expand access to high quality experiential science learning for students who might not otherwise see themselves reflected in these spaces."

Amanda Dickis, a researcher at GMRI, told the committee the partnership aims to build confident, capable students who will become environmental stewards. "None of this work over the last five years would be possible without her support and the support of many others," Dickis said.

Committee members praised the students’ public presentations and the district’s partnership with GMRI, noting that 106 students attended a field symposium in Portland where Lewiston’s fourth-graders were the youngest participants. The committee concluded the recognitions and moved on to other business.

The district said it hopes to continue the maple-sugaring project in future years as part of its ongoing STEM programming with GMRI.