Happy Friday once again everyone! I hope your week has gone well! Hard to believe we just closed out week #9 of face to face instruction in our schools! I know this hasn't been easy for folks. Parents, students and staff alike are working overtime (and then some likely) to keep our schools open and ensure that our students have access to high quality distance and face to face learning opportunities. I know I keep saying this, but its only because I keep thinking it each day when I see the incredible work being done across our community - SO PROUD TO BE A RAM!
This reminds me to REMIND YOU that we have an awesome team of parent volunteers who have created specific Facebook Groups for parents to join. The purpose of these groups is to create a forum whereby parents can help parents get through these difficult times. Share resources, ask questions, and get answers! Not from some stuffy school person (I'm not really stuffy mind you, but wanted to drive home the point) but from other parents just like you! If you haven't already joined, please consider doing so...its quick, its easy...and it is a great way to find support and share ideas as we continue our COVID-19 journey together! Here are the links for those interested:
- Gorham Community Support: Great Falls Elementary K-2 (so far 50+ members)
- Gorham Community Support: Great Falls Elementary 3-5 (so far 75+ members)
- Gorham Community Coordinators Village K-2 (so far 80+ members)
- Gorham Community Support Village 3-5 (so far 80+ members)
- Gorham Community Support Narragansett K-2 (so far 60+members)
- Gorham Community Support Narragansett 3-5 (so far 45+ members)
- Gorham Community Support GMS Gr. 6 (so far 90+ members)
- Gorham Community Support GMS Gr. 7 (so far 120+members)
- Gorham Community Support GMS Gr. 8 (so far 70+ members)
- Gorham Community Support GHS (so far 105+ members)
OK, now on to other important information. . .
COVID 19 RELATED REMINDERS
I'm sure those of you (like me) that follow case numbers and the data behind COVID-19 have probably already seen some of the charts and graphs below...but I thought it important to share a few just in order to provide context for the information "reminders" below. Please know - I share these NOT to frighten anyone or to cause panic or to make people feel bad...I share this information, and the following reminders as a means of encouraging thoughtful positive action moving forward. Actions that we can all take to help one another and to help keep our schools and businesses open as we work through what is clearly a new surge in the virus across our great state.
I grabbed this screen shot below of a CDC graph entitled: "Maine Daily Incremental Reported COVID-19 Cases"
The gray lines are the numbers of new cases, the yellow line is the 7 day average and the blue line is the 14 day average. Clearly, as Dr. Shah states, (he is) "out of synonyms for concerning."
This second graph, I took from Dr. Shah's twitter feed (which by the way if you don't follow him is very informative...you can find him @nirav_mainecdc). This graph shows cases distributed by county.
The striking part of this graph is not only its "height"... in other words - the total number of cases...but also the myriad of colors indicating the various counties that are being impacted in Maine. As Dr. Shah points out: "This degree of community transmission means that face coverings and physical distancing are more important than ever." This brings me to a series of healthy reminders...
REMINDER #1:
It is VERY IMPORTANT, now more than ever...to follow the three basic safety precautions for COVID-19 which are:
1. Wear your face coverings
2. Maintain 6 ft. of physical distance
3. Wash/Sanitize your hands frequently
REMINDER #2:
If you or your child is experiencing 1 "common symptom" or 2 of the "less common symptoms", please remain home and reach out to your school nurse and your PCP.
Students who are home due to symptoms of COVID 19 as listed above should NOT return to school until one of the following is completed:
1. Present the school with a negative COVID test AND a doctor's note (form provided by the school)
2. Present the school with a doctor's note stating an alternative diagnosis (form provided by the school)
3. Remain out of school and isolate at home for 10 days from symptom onset and symptoms have improved.
REMINDER #3:
If you are a close contact to someone that has tested positive for COVID 19, stay home and quarantine for a period of no less than 14 days. Individuals in this situation are also encouraged to get tested for COVID 19 but it is recommended that that testing not occur until between 5-7 days from the exposure. If you test too early, it could come back negative even though you may actually have it because it hasn't yet built up in your system enough to demonstrate a positive result on the test.
REMINDER #4:
Communicate! Communicate! Communicate! For students attending school, make sure their symptoms screener survey has been completed for that day. If your child is experiencing symptoms keep them home and reach out to your school nurse and PCP. If you think you or your child may be a close contact keep them home and reach out to your school nurse. If you have had a call from CDC and are not sure what to do, reach out to your school nurse and they can help to clarify. We are here to support you and help guide you through this foreign territory safely.
REMINDER #5:
Don't believe the rumor mills! There is A LOT of misinformation out there folks - especially on social media...don't fall into the trap of allowing that stuff to unnecessarily increase your anxiety. Know that if there is a positive case in our schools - WE WILL COMMUNICATE WITH YOU DIRECTLY. Also know that CDC is conducting contact tracing as well for those cases that are not school related. One way or the other (either via the school if the positive case is related to a school student or staff member or via CDC) you will know if you or your children are direct contacts of someone that has tested positive for COVID 19 in as timely a manner as possible. You can also always check our website for the most up to date number of cases in our schools. CLICK HERE to view this information which is updated daily.
To be clear, if there is a positive case of COVID 19 in any of our schools all staff and parents will be made aware of it. If a staff member or student is deemed to be a "close contact" for the individual that tested positive, you will receive a personal call from the school letting you know this is the case and what to do. Understand, however that a contact of a close contact is NOT a close contact. In other words, if "Sally" tested positive and we determined "Johnny" to be a close contact who later hung out with "Danny"...Johnny is the close contact and should quarantine for 14 days but Danny is not. Danny would not become a close contact unless Johnny tested positive for COVID 19 and on and on it goes!☺
Overall, I think that our state's public schools have demonstrated just how SAFE they are during our fall openings in the midst of this continued pandemic. Although we can't keep COVID 19 out entirely, evidence suggests that when and if a case does come to our schools, it doesn't spread. This can only be attributed to our staff, our parents and our students following our safety protocols. As cases increase across our state, I am optimistic that as long as we continue to focus on these 5 reminders, we will be able to keep our schools open and IF we do have to go "Red"...it would not be for the extended period of time we experienced last spring!
DRESSING FOR SUCCESS THIS WINTER!
Although from the past couple of days you may not have noticed, but winter in Maine is most definitely coming! Now, if you are someone like myself during a typical Maine winter, I would simply shut myself up indoors, and do my best to hibernate indoors to get through the winter. Well, this is no typical winter in Maine. This winter will be a COVID winter...and because of this, I am going to do all I can to stay active, and get out there to enjoy Maine's outdoors - even if it is COLD! I am planning ahead for this purpose! I have a nice winter jacket, snow pants, boots, hats, gloves, thermals and the like. I have also dusted off my snow shoes and am going to see if I can get myself back into snow shoeing this winter. I'm sharing all of this with you NOT because I wish to bore you (although that may be what is happening - my apologies) but to point out the importance of NOT allowing ourselves to get "locked up with COVID" this winter if we can at all prevent it!
As a whole, the schools are going to be doing their best to take this same attitude. Whenever weather permits, we will still have outdoor recesses, outdoor learning, and time for mask breaks - OUTSIDE. What this means for students - especially students in grades 6-12 who may not typically think this way - is that you are going to need to dress accordingly! Those high school students who in the past would run from their car to the school in shorts and a T-shirt in January and then back again at the end of the day - well - you may want to dress more warmly this winter! All students - not just K-5 students - should come to school prepared to get outside this winter! Just like you would put on a jacket and tie for a job interview...let's make sure we "dress for success" this coming winter and come to school prepared to spend some time outside whenever we can!
STORIES NEEDED!
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES REGARDING ISSUES OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION TO HELP INFORM OUR CONTINUED WORK!
WE NEED YOUR VOICE!
I am asking parents who are willing, to participate in an important google survey. The aim of the survey is to offer up an ability for parents to share their experiences within the Gorham Schools with the issues of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in a safe and anonymous way. The survey won't be your typical survey. It won't ask your opinion. Instead, it will ask you to share your experiences through the telling of stories. At the end of the survey you will have the opportunity to share your name and email contact information if you'd like to set up a one on one meeting with me to more deeply share your stories and experience. For those that wish to participate in this piece, I will then reach out to schedule a time to meet with you. Once completed, I will compile the stories and corresponding themes that are collected and share them back to parents and discuss their implications at a forum to be scheduled later this winter - likely via zoom.
To be clear, these surveys and potential follow up meetings will NOT be a time for me to lecture to you on this topic, and conversely, it is not intended to be a time whereby you lecture me on this topic. Instead, the focus is on SHARING REAL STORIES...SHARING OUR REAL EXPERIENCES...and on LISTENING to these shared experiences as they relate to our schools. No judgement, no blame, no finger pointing. Just respect, honesty, courage, compassion and responsibility - sound familiar? ☺
I would ask parents who are interested in participating to please complete the survey/story by November 20, 2020. I look forward to hearing from you and as always, if you have questions, please feel free to email me at heather.perry@gorhamschools.org
Here is the link to the survey.
SHARE WHAT YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR!
The picture below is something one Gorham parent shared that she was grateful for!
Awesome - it sure does take a whole community! As winter draws more close, as COVID cases pick up, and as people's anxieties increase - WE ALL need to take stock in what we are grateful for! Please share using the link below. You can upload a picture, a video message, or just write a statement! I will collect these until Nov. 20 and then share them out with everyone! Click the link below to start sharing now!
WELCOME TO OUR NEW SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS!
Our three new School Committee members were sworn in earlier today! Congratulations to James Brockman, Nikki Hudson and Sarah Perkins!
GHS STUDENTS PRESENT: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE!
GHS Theater is putting together a feel good Fall show -- It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, livestreaming Nov 13-15!
I know there might be some skepticism about the idea of spending time on Zoom for fun, but It's a Wonderful Life draws on the tradition of radio theater, which means it would be satisfying to listen to, even if there was nothing to look at... and there is PLENTY to look at. The cast is doing beautiful work bringing this story to life, and it's a pretty good one for the moment we find ourselves in.
We hope you can make it! Order through Broadway on Demand:
Pricing information:
- $5 for "Single Viewer Stream"
- $10 for "Household Stream"
- $20 for "Platinum Contributor Stream"
Patrons will have 24 hours to use the link from the time the livestream begins. (If they miss the livestream what they'll see is a pre-recorded performance.)
Live Streaming!
It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
Friday November 13 and Saturday November 14 at 7:30
ASPIRE GORHAM NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO OUTSIDE THIS WEEKEND - CHECK OUT OUR TRAILS!
Have you explored the awesome trails located right here in Gorham? If you haven't - YOU SHOULD! Nice weekends like the one we have coming up are running short before Maine's winter takes over...CLICK HERE to see what trails you can explore along with the Cherry Hill Farms Trails without having to go far at all!
That's it for this week folks...STAY SAFE and WEAR THOSE FACE COVERINGS!☺
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