Deputy Steve Cronce 

School Resource Officer (SRO)

Dirigo High School - TWK Dirigo Middle School - Dirigo Elementary School

Deputy Steve Cronce ("Officer Steve") joins the Dirigo school community with 14 years of law enforcement experience. Throughout his career, he has served in a variety of roles; including, Patrol Investigations, Field Training Officer, and School Resource Officer. His broad range of experience has helped shape a practical, community-centered approach to school safety. Deputy Cronce has also been serving in the Maine Army National Guard since 2020. Currently, he is an HR Services Officer with the 133rd Engineer Battalion.

Deputy Cronce is a certified DARE and ALICE instructor, and is committed to providing students and staff with meaningful safety education, positive mentorship, and a consistent, approachable presence on campus. He believes that strong relationships between students, families, educators, and law enforcement are the foundation of a safe and supportive learning environment. 

As the SRO for Dirigo High School, Dirigo Middle School, and Dirigo Elementary School, Deputy Cronce focuses on proactive safety, trust-building, and being a reliable resource for students -whether they need guidance, support, or simply someone to talk to.

Outside of work, Deputy Cronce is a dedicated family man who enjoys playing music and spending time outdoors. He looks forward to becoming an active, friendly, and engaged part of the Dirigo Cougar Community.

Rachel Buck (Social Worker), Kaelyne Thompson (Principal), Madison Knowles (SOM), Kathi Knowles (grandmother), Hannah Zale (Family Friend)

Joshua Rouille (Phys Ed, Adv. Algebra II); Xandria Libby (Semester Spanish); Colby Averill (ELO); Colbie Page (Choir)

Kai Tuell (Science); Alana Piper (Adv. English 9, Algebra II); Mitchell Giberson (Future Perspectives); Sophia Poulin (English 12); Sunny Pealatere (Digital Media); Leah Turnbull (Algebra II); Nevaehlee Blessing (Indigenous Cultures); Garrett Brissette (Biology); Owen McLain (Biology); Brianna Woods (JMG)

Third grade student doctors put their knowledge of the human body from Amplify Unit 3 to use in some operation room themed stations! They built models of their spine, read X-rays, played a bit of operation, and made a trace of their body with some labeling! 

Photos of the Field Trip that JMG took to the Sunday River Career Exploration Event on Tuesday, November 4. Mr. Preble attended with us! by Jenn Bell

Advanced biology students have been working for this test during my Cougar Paw. They do this almost every flex for either biology or Spanish. I end up having a few other students who aren’t in my classes joining when they find out this is happening. It really helps my freshman students who are in my Flex to get help to see how dedicated students are to learning. 

Jay (somehow) coerced Tricia into being his personal assistant in preparing the football field. 

4th graders working on castle picture for Middle Ages project.   And 4th graders enjoying the fruit of the day (was the first day of it). by Marilee Colpitts

Kindergarten students made flags and sang two songs to honor our Veterans at our Veteran's Day Assembly.

The Treat Fairy stopped by with a sweet surprise for DHS staff. 

This is my learning lab, I have students when they have completed work and grades are good they have been learning to sew. We are making pillows.

The school with the highest percentage of participation gets to showcase the cougar bobblehead for the year.

Monday, December 15 - PJ Day

Tuesday, December 16 - Book Character Day (dress like a book character)

Wednesday, December 17 - Wacky Wednesday (miss-matched, inside-out, mixed up, you name it)

Thursday, December 18 - Twin (or multiples) Day (find a colleague, dress like a twin, triplet, quadruplet, etc.)

Friday, December 19 - Dirigo Pride Day (Wear your Cougar swag)

Spanish I & Semester Spanish students held a sugar skull coloring contest where students and staff got to vote on a winner. Sugar skulls are a common symbol during Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) and represent the people who have passed in the afterlife. 

Brady Philbrick - Football, Stetson Thurston - Boys' Cross Country, Layne Johnson - Golf,  Griffin Houghton - Boys' Soccer, Madison Knowles - Girls' Soccer, Keira Reny - Field Hockey, Sophia Archer - Girls' Cross Country

Students from Dirigo High School, Spencer Cox, Ethan Knowles and Max Giberson, performed along with Mr. Hamalainen at a recent Coffeehouse at the "Church on the Hill." Former student, Isaiah Lovelace also sang a few hits. 

Adrian Knowles and his GT project. In GT Enrichment we have been working being persistent with a project even when it gets difficult.  For this project students selected a lego sculpture to build.  As they built their sculpture they created a stop motion video to show their progress.  Adrian selected one using nanoblocks (think tiny legos) and did an amazing job with sticking with the project and also created an awesome stop motion video.

We had about 50 Veterans in attendance.  The breakfast was prepared and served by Region 9's culinary arts program.  Kindergarten students sang two songs for the Veterans and the DHS choir also performed for them.  

Mrs. Robbins  Pre K class learned about the classic tale Goldilocks and the 3 Bears.

The kiddos pretended to be Goldilocks. They sat in the different sized chairs, matched the correct spoons to the porridge bowls and lastly helped stir the porridge and then tasted it!

All DES 2nd graders go on a field trip to Ludden Memorial Library.  It's VERY exciting because they receive their first library card! Ms. Lee gives the students a tour of the library, reads one of the Chickadee books to them in the story room, and gives them their library cards. This has become a tradition and we have been doing this trip for the last four years. by Cindy Petherbridge

Dec. 2, FASFA Info Session for Parents/Guardians and Seniors @ DHS Library, 10:30 - 1:00

Dec. 3, Choir Concert (TWKDMS, DHS) @ DHS, 6:00pm

Dec. 4th, Christmas Concerts @ DHS: grades K-2 5:00-5:45pm grades 3-5 6:15 -7:00pm

Dec. 5th Trimester 1 Report Cards go home

Dec. 8th & 9th DES PTO Kid's Holiday Sale at DES

Dec. 11th Band Concert (DHS and TWKDMS) @ DHS, 6:00pm

Dec. 12th JMG Paint Night

Dec. 19th Early Release Day (Student dismissal starts at 11:30)

Dec. 20 - Jan. 4 No School for Holiday Break

Jan. 5 - School resumes for all students

Fall Sports by Sara Thurston

As we wrap up an incredible fall season, we want to extend our gratitude to everyone who helped make it such a success. Our athletes worked hard, represented Dirigo with pride, and truly showed what it means to be a Dirigo Cougar.

We’d like to offer a few special thank-yous:

To Jay Nicholson, Aaron Arsenault, Randy Hamlin, and our outstanding custodial staff:
Thank you for keeping our fields in excellent condition and for all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into preparing for—and cleaning up after—practices and games. Your efforts are essential, and we appreciate all you do.

A huge thank-you to Barbara Chow and the Dirigo Boosters for an outstanding season in the Chow-House. Your hard work in running concessions—especially those famous, best-in-the-conference fries—made this fall a great success.. Your hard work throughout the fall strengthens every one of our athletic programs.

We also want to thank everyone who volunteered at concessions this season. As we head into winter sports, we encourage families and community members to continue supporting the Boosters by helping when you can. Their efforts fund many valuable “extras” for our teams—as well as essentials... like uniforms! Even a small amount of volunteer time makes a meaningful difference. 

Finally, a heartfelt thank-you to our coaching staff. The time, energy, and care you bring to our programs each day is extraordinary. From planning practices to traveling to games to being a steady, supportive presence for our athletes, your dedication does not go unnoticed. We are grateful for all you do, and Dirigo is lucky to have you.