Before I get to the informational part of this update, I just wanted to share how proud I am of our schools, our school staff, students and parents. Its been an interesting time these past several months, but our school community continues to be resilient, creative, and focused on the right things - supporting one another! An example (of many possible ones): who says you can't do a school wide pumpkin painting event under COVID 19 physical distancing restrictions? Narragansett students and families certainly don't! CLICK HERE to view the full slide show...LOVE TO SEE THOSE SMILES!
We just finished week #8 of face to face instruction under our hybrid model. As we continue to see COVID 19 cases rise all around us and across the state, let's first count our blessings and then let's continue to show our community how much we care about one another by:
* wearing those masks,
* washing/sanitizing those hands frequently and
* keeping our 6 ft of physical distance
I challenge all of us to do what we can to keep this positive train going! GO RAMS!
Now on to the informational "stuff"...
K-5 REMOTE LEARNING FAMILY SURVEY NOW "LIVE" - PLEASE PARTICIPATE!
K-5 remote learning families should have gotten information yesterday regarding a survey that we'd like you to complete. It is earlier than we had anticipated originally, but that's Gorham...always trying to reflect, correct and improve! The survey asks K-5 remote learning families if there are any families interested in having their students return to face to face instruction via the hybrid model beginning on Nov. 30, 2020. I am sharing this with all of you so that you are all aware and so you all understand the reasons for asking this question of K-5 remote families earlier than anticipated.
As you may recall, as when were getting ready to open schools back up again this fall, we asked K-12 families to choose between sending students to school 2 days per week under our hybrid plan or participating in our fully remote learning program. We made it clear that if folks chose to participate in the fully remote option they would have to stay in that program option through Jan. 25, 2021. We needed this level of commitment from families to provide consistency, and we needed to make staffing and transportation decisions, etc. based on numbers of students participating in person and remotely in our programming. This all made perfect sense at the time, and still does - however - we neglected to really think about the differences between K-5 and 6-12 schedules. K-5 operates its programming based upon trimesters while grades 6-12 operate their schedules based upon quarters. Although January 25, 2021 makes perfect sense for our 6-12 learners because it falls at the beginning of the 2nd semester (end of 2nd quarter), it doesn't make as much educational sense for our K-5 learners as that date would fall smack dab in the middle of the 2nd trimester.
The District Leadership Team identified this issue and have worked to develop a plan through which we could allow families currently in the K-5 remote learning program to elect to come back to the hybrid model of learning at the conclusion of Trimester 1 (Nov. 30, 2020). This timing makes much more educational sense for our students at these grade levels.
That being said, I am asking all K-5 fully remote learning families to please participate in the survey linked below. The survey is due Nov. 2 so that we have the data needed to make the necessary adjustments that would allow K-5 remote students to return to the hybrid model beginning on Nov. 30.
Here is the survey link: https://forms.gle/XoGyDMDNkq6NyRms9
Please be sure to read the full introductory letter for specific details!
Now, just because we have moved this timeline up for K-5 does not mean K-5 remote families MUST choose to return to hybrid. K-5 remote learning families may absolutely choose to remain in this program. If you do, we will check in again at the end of January to honor our original timeframe (however we'd discourage transitions for K-5 students at this time), and one more time at the end of the 2nd trimester (March 13, 2021). As was the case from the beginning, if a family participates in the hybrid model, that family can always choose to go to the fully remote program at any time...they just can't go from the remote program back to hybrid until these designated times.
For 6-12 fully remote families, we will be sticking with the original date to check in with you on this important decision. We are keeping this timeline because of how the courses are structured online for participating students. We'll be sending a survey out to 6-12 families as we get to December.
For any of our remote learning families, please reach out to your learning coordinators with any questions you may have!
WHAT WILL SNOW DAYS LOOK LIKE THIS YEAR?
As I foreshadowed in my last blog post...snow days will look very different this year. Yesterday K-5 families received a copy of this SNOW DAY PARENT LETTER in their Thursday folders. Today, I'm making sure to share with all families K-12 via this blog post and then Grades 6-12 families will likely also see it again in your school based weekly updates. Please read this letter and reach out to your building principal and/or your child's teacher with any questions you may have.
Also as was mentioned in the snow day parent letter, those families who are interested in participating in our snow day meal program need to sign up to participate. On snow days we can anticipate coming (which isn't all of them, but likely most of them), families are able to sign up for an additional meal to be either sent home or delivered to them on the day before the storm. You can learn more about this program and how to sign up by CLICKING HERE (scroll to just below home delivery message). If you have questions, please call Michael Sanborn at 222-1375.
WINTER ATHLETICS
After Wednesday's announcement by the MPA regarding the delay of the winter sports season from its typical starting date of Nov. 16, I am starting to get some questions regarding what our plans are for winter athletics in Gorham. First, I want to let folks know that this delay was not a surprise...as with everything else this year...typical schedules really aren't able to be "typical" with COVID 19 around.
The MPA is doing exactly what it needs to do to develop plans to safely conduct winter programming. They are working collaboratively with the Maine Department of Education, DHHS, Maine Superintendents Association and others to look at ways in which these programs may safely occur. Their timeline is solid and we hope to have detailed plans in place well in advance of any newly established start date.
For those who are interested, I can share that the basis for any planning in this area is through the use of the State's Community Sports Guidelines. Feel free to click on the link to learn more.
Whatever the results of this important work - rest assured that the Gorham Schools will offer whatever programs we safely can for our students. We strongly value the ability of our students to be active in our schools beyond academics and this won't change because of COVID 19. We are working on "plan A", "plan B" and "plan C" to make sure of it! I know that our trusted Athletic Director Tim Spear will work hard at keeping students and families informed. I encourage patience and please stay tuned!
ONE LAST PITCH - PLEASE BE SURE TO VOTE ON NOV. 3!
If you haven't already done so (and many of you have), please remember to make a plan to get out and vote on November 3rd! Need information on polling locations for this year? CLICK HERE. Need information on what's on the ballot? CLICK HERE. Need information on the School's bond referendum question and the need for approval of our $5,689,000.00 bond request...check out my blog posts for:
* October 2, 2020 and
You may need to scroll a little on each blog post linked above, but each post gives specific details on all six projects requested as part of the school bond referendum question. If you don't want to scroll for those details, you can CLICK HERE for a one page summary of each project as well.
Also for those of you that weren't able to watch the Candidates forum for School Committee members...the link is below if you want to watch...
There is no more important civic duty than voting and this year, more than ever, our leaders definitely need to hear our collective voices! See you at the polls!
UPDATES TO COVID19 WEBPAGE
Just wanted to make you all aware that I've put a few updates onto the COVID19 Webpage...nothing too significant, just some updated info on what are considered common and less common symptoms and some updated flow charts from the MDOE. I've updated the student/family handbook to reflect these changes.
As always, if you have questions, please reach out to your school nurse!
UPDATE ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION DISTRICT-WIDE WORK
The Gorham School Committee continues to work on refinement of its DRAFT Anti-Racism Policy which you can view by CLICKING HERE. At the last meeting of the Gorham School Committee, the Committee also voted to create an "Anti-Racism Ad Hoc Advisory Committee". The purpose of this new committee is listed below:
"The Gorham School Committee and the Gorham School Department reject all forms of racism as (it is) destructive to the district’s mission, vision, values, and goals. This Committee is established in an effort to eliminate all forms of racism, intolerance, inequity, and disparity in our school system. We aim to ensure that each school creates a welcoming equitable culture and inclusive environment that reflects and celebrates the diversity of the district’s student population, their families, the community, and an environment that reflects our Code of Conduct."
The Committee will be chaired by a designated member of the Gorham School Committee and will be jointly administered by the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent. Additionally the Committee will be facilitated by an outside trained consultant. Members of this Committee will include the following:
* Students (2 GHS),
* Staff (1 from each school),
* Parents/Guardians (1 each grade span),
* Community Members (2),
* 1 Administrator from each grade span, and the Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent, and
* 3 School Committee Members
Additional invited guests will be brought in as needed throughout the course of the Committee's work.
Among such other duties as the School Committee may from time to time assign, members shall collaborate with the Superintendent and/or their designee to support the achievement of the objectives specified in the Anti-Racism policy to:
Develop a plan to provide training to all administrators, teachers, and staff in cultural competency and anti-racist practices;
Review existing policies, programs, professional development and bring ideas/recommendations in an effort to promote racial justice;
In partnership with the “Teaching and Learning Committee”, examine and advise in the implementation of potential changes to curriculum and instructional materials for all grades to ensure they reflect cultural and racial diversity and include a range of perspectives and experiences, particularly those of historically underrepresented groups of color;
Review discipline data based upon demographics and recommend alternative discipline processes, such as restorative practices; and
Examine demographic participation rates in curriculum programming and opportunities;
Assist in the development of a plan to recruit a more diverse applicant pool;
Strengthen Civil Rights Teams at each school and support students and staff in their work.
The School Committee will be working to form this new committee through the month of November with the intent of beginning its work in earnest in December after the anti-racism policy has been voted upon. If you are a parent or community member interested in participating in this important work, please reach out directly to let me know. Again, my email is heather.perry@gorhamschools.org. Thank you!
IN A TIME WHERE SO MANY THINGS ARE CHALLENGING - LET'S SHARE WHAT WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR!
I don't know about all of you - but I am tired! Not the physical variety...but the mental and emotional variety. Something tells me I am not alone! Parents/ have been working around the clock doing their best to help make this hybrid learning model work and that is no small feat! Administrators, teachers and school staff have been doing the same! Students have been working hard to focus and do their best to learn in this new environment. All of us have been making the best of this poor situation and have remained focused on supporting one another, building and strengthening relationships. All of this while being bombarded by 15 political fliers in the mail each day, TV and radio political ads, political signs, and whatever we call the news now-a-days! I KNOW - IT IS EXHAUSTING!
The other day I was walking by Baxter Memorial Library and I remembered an incredible program that we did together in Gorham about three years ago now. It was called "Happy, Healthy Gorham" - remember that? There were so many great activities that came out of that work that were so uplifting and showed the positive power of community! My personal favorite was when we had our students and staff join in with area businesses, USM and community members to create gratitude ribbons. These cloth ribbons were everywhere - where you could write what you were grateful for. They were then collected and strung up all along the sidewalk by Baxter Memorial Library. It was a site to see...and wonderful to walk by and read all the things we were grateful for as a community.
Now, I realize my own limitations and know that I can't possibly recreate that awesome work in just a month or so, but given the fact that the Thanksgiving break is coming up - I thought - what a great time to once again recognize what we are all grateful for! To step back from the fray and daily grind and to just take a moment to breath and see the larger picture of what is important in our community. So instead of ribbons...I've created a digital medium for the same purpose called a "Kudos Board". I would ask EACH OF YOU (students, staff, parents, and community members - so please share) to click on the link below and share with everyone what YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR. You can upload a photo or a video and a message sharing what you are grateful for. Once folks have had a chance to post, I will share it broadly...so have a little creative fun...follow our Code of Conduct and let's see what we can create together! I think we will find that even though we are tired, and even though COVID doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon - we still all have so much to be grateful for as a community!
HERE IS THE LINK: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/rUPEzQiY
VIRTUAL REALITY - A BIG HIT AT GHS
Just one more quick thing to "brag about"... did you know that through our Aspire Gorham grant, we've been able to purchase THREE Virtual Reality kits for use in our schools with the focus on allowing students to experience career focused learning activities in our classrooms via distance? These VR programs allow students to "dig in" to hands on work experiences virtually without ever leaving the classroom - at least not physically! Pictured below is Adam. Adam is a GHS student who is one of the first students to utilize this exciting new program! Adam is interested in mechanics. Through use of this program, Adam is able to practice assembling and disassembling bikes and furniture virtually. The program is engaging, it teaches real skills that can be used in the workplace, it is safe and best of all - it is fun! Thank you Aspire Gorham for making this possible for our students!
A GREAT FREE RESOURCE FOR EVERYONE ON SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
You can learn more by reading the News Release LINKED HERE. Then feel free visit the home page, take a quick minute to sign up for a free account and then surf around all the great resources!
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