December 4 Update

Just  wrapping up lucky week #13 of in person learning here in Gorham!  I realize we've seen a lot of letters go out recently regarding positive cases associated with our schools, but let's take a minute to celebrate the positives!  In the past 13 weeks of our hybrid model, we have had a total now (as of today) 13 positive cases of COVID 19 associated with our schools.  Not one of these cases has originated in our schools (don't want to jinx myself here so "knock on wood") but seriously - NOT ONE.  This is as we continue to serve well over 2700 students.  This is as we continue to ask over 500 employees to  report to work each day.  The Maine DOE reported just last week that schools have only 40% the positivity rate that is seen across all other sectors in our state.  It seems what we are doing and how we are doing it is working so please keep wearing those masks, washing/sanitizing those hands and keeping your six!

As Commissioner Makin stated in an article in the Portland Herald Press just this morning, according to the data our schools are some of the safest places to be right now and shutting down schools, unless we shut down all other activities in a community, wouldn't make conditions any safer.  As Commissioner Makin states:  "It would take a full community wide shutdown of all the other activities of daily life if we were to shut down schools and say that would be a step that would make people safer."  I couldn't agree more and want to be clear that in Gorham my goal is to continue to prioritize in person learning because we know it is what is best for our students.  As long as we can continue to operate our schools safely, maintaining our hybrid model of learning will continue to be our priority moving forward.  

Now, it is important to note that not all parents may share this same sentiment and there is no shame in that.  As parents you need to do what is right for your family in your unique circumstances.  For those parents who would like to consider remote learning, moving students from our hybrid model of learning to a fully remote program continues to be an option at any time.  However, as was the case in the fall once students are in the remote learning program they do need to stay there for the trimester/semester.  I would urge parents who may be considering this to please reach out to your building principals to discuss the potential "pros" and "cons" so that you may best weigh that important decision.  

MORE COVID LEARNING:  WHAT DEFINES AN OUTBREAK IN SCHOOLS & HOW ARE SCHOOLS SUPPOSED TO REACT TO AN OUTBREAK IF IT OCCURS?

With the increasing number of cases in our community, I wanted to share this information - not to increase anxiety - but hopefully to do the opposite because you know we have plans in place for just about any contingency.

An outbreak of COVID 19 in schools is defined as having 3 or more positive confirmed cases associated with the school within a single 14 day period.  These outbreaks may be handled very differently depending upon several different circumstances the largest of which being if the cases are related, or if they originated within the school itself or not.  

In all circumstances where a school has reported 3 positive cases within the 14 day window described above, the first thing the school does is reach out to the Maine Department of Education to report the positive cases and alert them to the fact that an outbreak may be occurring.  The MDOE then refers the information shared to the Maine CDC.  If the Maine CDC determines the situation to indeed be an outbreak, a Maine CDC outbreak investigator would then be assigned to investigate and coordinate any response with the school.  Things get pretty individualized from here depending on the specific circumstances of the case, but generally what would occur if an outbreak were indeed declared is the following:

1.  A specific notification would be sent to all individuals associated with the school to make them aware of the outbreak,

2.  If all three cases were in a single classroom, the entire classroom would be considered close contacts for the purposes of quarantining and testing and would be moved to a red status.  If the cases were spread across multiple classrooms the entire school would move to a period of remote learning whereby all in person learning would be suspended for a period not less than 14 days.  

3.  Either the classroom impacted or the school impacted would be required to be deeply cleaned, disinfected and sanitized.

4.  Identified individuals (either classroom or school wide) would be encouraged to be tested for COVID 19.  If individuals were determined to be a close contact, they would be required to remain quarantined for no less than 14 days regardless of test result.  Individuals who were not close contacts, but were still sent home as a result of the outbreak would have the option of returning after a negative COVID test as long as building cleaning had been completed by that time.  If these individuals (non close contacts) elect not to be tested, they would need to remain quarantined for the full 14 day time frame.

4.  The classroom/school would continue to be closely monitored by CDC outbreak investigators until the outbreak is "closed".  This would occur 28 days after the last positive test or symptom onset associated with the outbreak is reported, whichever is later.

Whew - that's a lot of information in there...and it is certainly NOT INTENDED TO HEIGHTEN ANYONE'S ANXIETY! The intent of sharing this information is to make parents, students, staff, and community members aware that these protocols exist and that these contingencies have been planned for with the continued focus on ensuring the safety of our school family.  

It is important to note that the first "straw" to be pulled to implement these protocols would involve first having to get to 3 cases within a 14 day period and second, that those cases would be determined by the CDC to be related and therefore constitute an outbreak.  So far, this has not occurred for our schools.  But given the increasing numbers in our community right now, there is a growing chance this could occur, so I wanted you all to be prepared and to understand roughly what to expect and more importantly WHY these protocols exist to ensure the safety of our students and staff.  

DEEP BREATHS...WE GOT THIS!

Now, after reading all this COVID information...I'm sure some anxiety has been heightened.  If this is the case, I encourage you to take a step back, take a few deep breaths and know that if an outbreak occurs, myself, our school leaders, our school nurses and our entire school staff will be standing right by your side to help lead us safely through such an occurrence with the ultimate goal of returning everyone to school as quickly as possible. 

Our district has clear plans for how to operate in a red environment, for a short term or longer term need.  You can view the details of those plans by reading our "Pandemic Operations Plan".  Our teachers know how to deal with whole classes being moved to red, groups of students being quarantined, and everything in between.  Our school nutrition and transportation folks know how to deliver meals, and our support staff know how to support.  We are prepared, we care deeply about each and every student in our care and their families and we share the common goal of ensuring students are in face to face instruction environments as much as is safely possible.  Know we will get through whatever COVID 19 has to throw at us this winter TOGETHER! ☺

SEL4ME RESOURCE FOR STAFF AND FAMILIES

I had shared this resource back a month or so ago, but given some increasing uneasiness across our community, I wanted to make sure that families and staff had access to this important resource developed by the Maine Department of Education.  

SEL4ME is a FREE Social/Emotional Learning resource for all educators, parents, students and community members.  It covers materials from Pre kindergarten all the way through 12th grade and is an excellent resource!  I've taken a screen shot of the opening pages for preK, grade 6 and grade 10 so you can see some of the topics.  These are just a few of the many topics that can be explored...I encourage you to dig more deeply!  

Pre K:

Gr. 6:

Gr. 10:

Some timely topics for sure, especially now with what we are all going through with COVID 19.  

Here is the link - IT IS FREE!  CHECK IT OUT! https://sel4me.maine.gov/

GORHAM ANTI-RACISM POLICY UPDATE

The Gorham School Committee will be voting on the new Anti-Racism Policy for a 2nd and final reading at its next meeting scheduled for Dec. 9, 2020 beginning at 7:00 p.m.  The meeting will be open to the public via a zoom link that can be located at the top of the agenda, or by going to our district home webpage and clicking on our calendar of events.  If folks wish to share public comment, they are welcome to do so using the public comment section of the agenda.  This meeting will be live streamed on the Town of Gorham's facebook page, and recorded and posted on the Town's website as well as the School District's website.  You can find a copy of the revised Anti-Racism Draft policy by CLICKING HERE.  You can view the agenda and public school committee meeting packet by CLICKING HERE.  If you have any questions, please reach out to me via email at heather.perry@gorhamschools.org.  

SNOW DAY LUNCHES - UPDATED INFORMATION

Just wanted to update you that at some point next week, families who have signed up for snow day lunches should be getting a special delivery.  You will be receiving a special snow day lunch pack to keep stored in your home for use when schools have to be closed to in person instruction due to inclement weather.  The plan is to have drivers deliver these snow storm meals when delivering the regular bag meals for at home learning days.  If you have signed up for these meals and do not receive them by the end of next week, please reach out directly to School Nutrition Director Michael Sanborn at michael.sanborn@gorhamschools.org.  Also, if you did not sign up but are now interested in receiving one of these snow day meals, please go to the School Nutrition website LINKED HERE and complete the snow day survey, or you may reach out directly via email to SNP director Michael Sanborn at the email listed.  

ASPIRE GORHAM NEWSLETTER

Our most recent Aspire Gorham newsletter is ready for viewing.  I've included a quick "snapshot" from a highlight section on one of our students below...you will have to click the link to learn more about Gracie and Devyn's experiences!  

CLICK HERE to view the full newsletter.  HAPPY READING!

SOME RECENT STUDENT FUNDRAISERS OF INTEREST

These are certainly not all of the programs going on in our schools to raise funds for different student groups, but here are a couple I thought folks might be most interested in - especially with the Holidays coming right up...

Class of 2023 Online Auction:  

*  CLICK HERE for the introductory Video with information on how to participate.

*  CLICK HERE for the auction items Video.

Gorham High School Football Apparel:

*  CLICK HERE for the site to order your football "swag"!

WE NEED YOUR VOICE TO INFORM THE FUTURE OF CTE!

Westbrook Regional Vocational Center (WRVC) and the Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS) invite you to a community forum on the future direction of programming and their vision for a career in technical education in our region.  Gorham High School sends 73 students to these two schools each year and we'd like to see that number increase!  Please see the flyer below for more details, and just in case the link from the flyer doesn't work - here's the zoom link to join.

https://zoom.us/j/99690015701?pwd=T1VUZFdRd2RRZnBNTFc5QWluK3BBZz09

Passcode: 335502

Or iPhone one-tap : 1-312-626-6799 

Well, that's enough information for this week's Blog.  See you again next week!