Parent Open Q&A Sessions Announced!

The recent surveys, media headlines, social media and the seeming speediness that our summer seems to be cruising along have certainly created a nice little "buzz" in our community regarding the opening of our schools.  It is good that everyone is thinking about this important topic because to be honest, we (the schools) are going to need ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET, regardless of the model within which we open (Red, Yellow, or Green).  Bottom line though - I have full faith that the Gorham School Department will put together a Re-opening plan that will provide the best possible educational programs in the safest environments possible with the love, care and focus on relationships we have always had for every child we work with!  WE CAN AND WILL DO THIS! ☺

I have answered many emails  over the past few weeks from many parents - all whom had incredibly thoughtful and important questions to ask regarding how our schools will re-open and the potential implications for their children. There were questions regarding child care, questions regarding face coverings, questions regarding social distancing, buses, what schedules will look like, what kind of programming will be offered virtually, and much much more.  And although I answered each question emailed to me, I am very sure there are more out there...and I want to make sure to answer them.  

Additionally, I want to provide parents an opportunity to share thoughts and ideas regarding our draft re-opening plans for our schools in a timely enough manner as to allow for revisions to occur before the final plan is brought to the School Committee on August 6 for approval and decision making about how we will open our schools.  

Finally, I want to make sure that once the decisions  are made...that I communicate these decisions to parents effectively and that parents are once again given an opportunity to  ask questions and gain clarity prior to the opening of school in late August.  

As a means to these ends -  I have scheduled  THREE open parent Q&A sessions next week prior to the approval of the plan for the purposes of answering questions and providing feedback.  Then I have scheduled ANOTHER THREE open parent Q&A sessions the week after the plan is approved by the School Committee for the purpose of answering questions and making sure expectations are clear.  I have broken these open sessions up  by grade level so that parents can ask grade level specific questions and provide grade level specific feedback.

The schedule for these meetings is below.  Please feel free to flag the one (or ones) you wish to attend and mark your calendars!  The dates for all these meetings (along with zoom login information) will also be posted on our district website's calendar.   As always, if you  have any questions, please ask...otherwise - I look forward to seeing many of you at these meetings.  

Rough Agendas:

*  Opening Welcome
*  Brief verbal overview of grade level re-opening plans (Green, yellow, red)
*  Feedback/questions

Meetings List (BEFORE Plan Approval)

*  K-5 - 7/27 @ 6:30 p.m. via zoom
* 6-8 - 7/28 @ 6:30 p.m. via zoom
* 9-12 - 7/29 @ 6:30 p.m. via zoom

Meetings List (AFTER Plan Approval)

Note: I will email a link to the Re-opening plan after it is approved by the SC on August 6 so you can review prior to these meetings.

* K-5 - 8/10 @ 6:30 p.m. via zoom

* 6-8  - 8/11 @ 6:30 p.m. via  zoom

* 9-12 - 8/11 @ 5:30 p.m. via zoom

P.S. - I will do my best to record these sessions and post them on our district website for parents who can't make it...but as you all know - there's nothing like being part of the live discussion to really make sure your questions are answered!