FIRST -
A VIDEO Message From Superintendent Heather Perry and Assistant Superintendent Chris Record...
(Here's a link to the written message)
I am so proud of our students and their willingness to share their voices and contribute to the journey of becoming "anti-racist" in a positive and community oriented manner. Here's a link to the Channel 8 Coverage of yesterday's rally.
Here are some additional resources parents/guardians and staff may wish to use if you'd like to enter into instructive conversations regarding racism and becoming "anti-racist". They are in no particular order of importance and shared with the sole intent of trying to be helpful.
First up is a great resource put together by our neighbors in Portland. I couldn't begin to be able to put together a more comprehensive list of resources so, with permission, I am sharing theirs.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f-irKiVOeqv3LxF0AHG-ftI7GBGHnrQo/view?usp=sharing
Second is another great resource put together by another of our neighbors in South Portland. Once again, I couldn't begin to be able to create a more comprehensive list of resources so, with permission, I am sharing theirs.
https://libguides.spsd.org/antiracism
Another resource I'd like to share is a copy of a presentation done by our very own GMS Civil Rights Team students at a statewide convention they were asked to present at on this important topic. When you see names in red, these are our students and THEIR VOICES.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Di0MqhEbtLJBjhVHBncn_J2tKU8jOUi-Cb2kJfcMZ7A/edit?usp=sharing
Another resource from our GMS Civil Rights Team students shares REAL and PERSONAL STORIES of GORHAM students who have experienced racism. This resource can help to make things "real" for our students and to let them know...this is not a problem from "next door" but one that needs to be addressed right here in our schools. Its called "Embrace Race: Student Stories"
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1siVQ7D7N_aXh1ywa_Hqs7cDEB8s_t-1zLHUcw55jVQA/edit?usp=sharing
This next resource was created by one of our talented school counselors at Great Falls Elementary School. Mrs. Berry compiled a padlet of some incredible resources. Check them out!
https://padlet.com/ellenberry/6qebgo2iemreg3m0
The final resource (for today) was compiled by GMS staff after trainings on this topic.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Wp8hJJ48Ciy43YgsgGXFyrZ5t9nwPTQuS02zxoOVCyU/edit?usp=sharing
REMINDER - ENCOURAGING USE OF ABSENTEE VOTING PROCEDURES
Just a reminder that the Town of Gorham is strongly encouraging voters in Gorham to use the absentee ballot process to participate in voting on July 14's state wide elections. Here's information for how to access this option to make sure you are able to get out and vote on July 14.
You may vote absentee by requesting a ballot and one will be mailed to you when they become available. Absentee ballots must be returned by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
You may request a ballot online by clicking here:
You may also request a ballot by calling the Town Clerk's office at 222-1670, 222-1674 or 222-1676. Thank you!
WE ARE GOING TO NEED YOU TO VOTE ON OUR SCHOOL BUDGET THIS YEAR SO PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO ENSURE YOU ARE ABLE TO VOTE ON JULY 14. THANK YOU!
UPCOMING IMPORTANT MEETINGS
I've mentioned this several times, but want to mention it again...I will be presenting our draft re-opening framework to the Gorham School Committee on the evening of June 10, 2020. You can find the agenda (and zoom link at the top) by CLICKING HERE. Please note that I am currently "building" that agenda, so you may not see if the first time you click on the link, but it will definitely be there by Monday so save the link! After that meeting, I will of course more broadly share the presentation materials with everyone as well.
Other important meetings coming up are:
* June 17 - Special School Committee meeting (this one will be mostly an executive session for School Committee to review my evaluation with me).
* June 24 - Special School Committee meeting (this one will be mostly an executive session for School Committee to conduct their annual self evaluation).
Both of these agendas can be found by clicking on THIS LINK as the dates for those meetings draw closer.
Finally, I wanted to mention that the Town Council will be meeting on June 16 at 6:30 p.m. to consider and then vote on the approval of the Gorham municipal budget, of which the school budget is a part. You can CLICK HERE to find that agenda and zoom link once it is posted by the Town. Of course, that is also directly related to the final "meeting" I wanted to make sure you are all aware of - even though it really isn't a meeting and that is the planned state referendum on July 14th. It will be at this election that voters in Gorham will be asked to validate the school district's budget via referendum. A "yes" vote approves the budget that was approved by the Town Council on June 16th and allows us to move forward with the proposed FY 21 budget as "validated" by voters. A "no" vote would require us to re-start the process until we can bring forward a budget that is approved by School Committee, Town Council and validated by the majority of voters participating via referendum.
As I mentioned earlier, it will be important that folks get out to vote (via absentee ballot would be best) on July 14th!
PARENT AND STUDENT THOUGHT EXCHANGE LAUNCHED TO GATHER FEEDBACK TO HELP US REVISE AND STRENGTHEN A FINAL RE-OPENING PLAN - PLEASE PARTICIPATE!
We have recently launched TWO important Thought Exchange surveys to help inform our ongoing efforts to create a strong re-opening plan for the Gorham School Department that will guide our decision making later on this fall. One survey is for parents and one is for Students. Below is information on how to access both from Assistant Superintendent Chris Record:
- Parent link
- Dear Gorham Parents/Guardians,
We are currently in the process of closing up an unprecedented school year. We deeply appreciate all you have done to support your children through this experience. Your feedback from our last Thought Exchange a few months ago was instrumental in helping us shift our approach to Distance Learning/Teaching. We are reaching out to you again to hear your thoughts/questions/concerns to guide our reopening plans in the Fall. At this time, although we are building our core beliefs and frameworks for a reopening plan, we are not exactly sure what school will look like and what parameters will be put in place by the state government when schools work to open up this fall.
Please participate in this Thought Exchange to share your thoughts and ideas as we are planning a re-opening of school in the Fall while still dealing with the unknowns of COVID-19.
By phone: Text the 9-digit code 573-556-829 to the phone number 728-55 to get a link to participate in this exchange
- Student link
- Dear Gorham Students (6-12)
We are currently in the process of closing up an unprecedented school year. We deeply appreciate all you have done to continue to try to learn through this challenging time. Your feedback from our last Thought Exchange a few months ago was instrumental in helping us shift our approach to Distance Learning/Teaching. We are reaching out to you again to hear your thoughts/questions/concerns to guide our re-opening plans in the Fall. At this time, although we are building our core beliefs and frameworks for a re-opening plan, we are not exactly sure what school will look like and what parameters will be put in place by the state government when schools work to open up this fall.
Please participate in this Thought Exchange to share your thoughts and ideas as we are planning a re-opening of school in the Fall while still dealing with the unknowns of COVID-19.
By phone: Text the 9-digit code 616-161-736 to the phone number 728-55 to get a link to participate in this exchange
THANK YOU GORHAM BUS DRIVERS!
Our drivers got together today and created this awesome message for our graduating seniors. We love our seniors and we love our bus drivers! Nice work team! Oh, and Thank you to Rob Roy who helped bring it all home with his drone pictures and a little photoshop magic!
HELP US END THE SCHOOL YEAR ON A POSITIVE NOTE FOR OUR HARD WORKING STAFF! PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN OUR "KUDOS BOARD"!
Do you have a particular teacher you want to thank for their work this past year? How about a bus driver or a school administrative assistant or guidance counselor or nurse? Have I got a platform for you! A Kudos Board! Please click on the link below...upload a picture or a video and take a moment to thank our incredible staff for making this unprecedented year as positive an experience as possible for our children and families. My plan is to share this with all staff at our closing on June 16 so please share your comments by then! Here's the link:
https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/67xsl53X
FINALLY, A REMINDER GHS GRADUATION CEREMONIES WILL BE HELD THIS WEEKEND! HERE IS HOW TO ACCESS IF YOU WANT TO VIEW!
We will be celebrating our GHS seniors this weekend with their graduation ceremonies - yes that is plural! We will be holding SIX "mini-ceremonies" over the course of the weekend using the following schedule:
Saturday - 9:00a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Sunday - 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
As you are likely aware, we are VERY LIMITED in the numbers of individuals that can participate and only those with specific approval may attend the actual ceremony in person. However, we know our community wants to watch our students as they take the next big step in their bright lives...so we've developed a FREE LIVE VIDEO STREAM where you can go to view either one ceremony or all the ceremonies if you want to! Here's that link:
http://graduation.gorhamschools.org
Then on Sunday night, we are organizing a graduate convoy where each graduate and their family will decorate their personal vehicles and then line up by 7:30-ish p.m. on Sunday evening in the Industrial Park for a police/fire escort through downtown Gorham. The route will take the convoy on Route 25 and then turn left onto South Street and then right onto Morrill avenue where the convoy will end at GHS with a little surprise for our graduates once they arrive!
I so look forward to sending our GHS graduates off on a positive note even under our current restrictions. It certainly has been a year to remember and an experience I hope our GHS graduates will remember fondly in the years to come.
And speaking of our seniors...Thank you Ava Pitman (pictured below) for your two year service to the Gorham School Committee! Awesome job Ava! Good luck in your exciting future!
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