Week #32 is in the books and what an incredible week it was! You would think it was planned that the first full week of four day per week of instruction for students in grades K-8 just happened to coincide with Teacher Appreciation Week! I wish I could take credit for that strategic thinking...but I can't! It was just sheer luck...but what a gift it was for our teachers to have their students - all their students - with them during this wonderful week full of appreciation and thanks for our incredible educators!
During the April break, I asked parents to respond to a quick survey using one word to describe our incredible and talented teachers! Over 400 parents responded! Below is a wordle created using the words of parents to describe Gorham educators...and I must say - I couldn't say it better myself!
Its been an amazing week! Our Teachers deserve it! THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR STUDENTS, ALL YOU ARE DOING, AND ALL YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO! OUR TEACHERS ARE SIMPLY INCREDIBLE! GO RAMS!
GORHAM SCHOOLS ANTI-ASIAN RACISM STATEMENT
I realize, this topic is in stark contrast to the opening of this blog. Moving from the uplifting topic of Teacher Appreciation Week to the much more serious topic of Anti-Racism is not an easy or natural shift. However, it is a very necessary one as I discovered earlier this week when I became aware of an Anti-Asian racism incident involving students right here in our community.
I will not go into the details of this incident as it is confidential. Please know it is being addressed and addressed well. However, the issue was serious enough to give me great pause and to consider the need to make a clear statement on this topic as the leader of this incredible school district. As our schools continue to tackle head-on, issues regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion one of the things I have learned most of all is that silence does not address the issues that need to be addressed. Silence simply creates a void that is all too often filled with hate. Speaking out and breaking that silence fills that same space with love, kindness, and understanding and it is in this vein that I share the statement below with all of you on behalf of the Gorham Schools.
The Gorham School Committee and the Gorham School Department reject ALL forms of racism. In holding with the mission/vision of the Gorham Schools which speaks to a vision of ensuring that "ALL students are prepared and inspired to take on the complex challenges facing our current and future world", The Gorham School Committee, The Gorham School District Leadership Team, and the Gorham School's Staff express unequivocal support for Asian and Asian American students, staff and community members. We express dismay and disgust at the increase in Anti-Asian racism and violence that continues to play out across our country. The pandemic has brought a surge of Anti-Asian hate and violence in America, including right here in Maine, right here in our own back yard. We reject racism, xenophobia, and nativism, and stand with those who have been harmed by all forms of Anti-Asian incidents. These racist attacks must stop. In our school community, people of ALL racial identities should feel safe, welcome, and respected for who they are. We can all make a difference and I urge us all to become more self-aware and to speak up when we hear any language that is discriminatory or demeaning. We all have a role to play in speaking up and filling the silence with love and kindness rather than hateful words or actions. Let's come together as a community to stop Anti-Asian racism and all forms of racism. Our community is a strong and caring community and what keeps it it that way is our continued commitment and willingness to address the challenges we face head on and to constantly strive to be better tomorrow than we were today. We all have a role to play. I encourage us all to continue to play it.
Sincerely,
Heather J. Perry, Ph.D
Superintendent of Schools, Gorham, ME.
FY 22 PROPOSED BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING WITH TOWN COUNCIL ON TUESDAY NIGHT
At its April 14 regular meeting, the Gorham School Committee approved of the FY 22 proposed budget by an unanimous vote of 7-0. The School Committee then issued a 112 page Budget Booklet to Town Counselors for their review. This joint budget workshop meeting will present the highlights of that proposed budget.
Although the meeting will be a workshop meeting (that will not involve public comment) the meeting is open to the public to view. It is a very informative meeting and I would encourage those who are interested in learning more about what the proposed FY 22 School Budget accomplishes to tune in!
Next steps in the process will be a public hearing on the proposed school and municipal budget scheduled for June 1, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. At this meeting, the Town Council will vote on the proposed FY 22 School Department Budget. The results of that vote will then be brought to a public referendum scheduled for June 8, 2021.
As always, if ANYONE has ANY questions regarding the proposed FY 22 School Department Budget, please feel free to reach out to me via email (heather.perry@gorhamschools.org).
Here's the link to the joint budget workshop meeting with Town Council:
LET'S GET VACCINATED! SCHOOL BASED CLINICS COMING SOON TO GMS/GHS!
As we continue to hear good news on the COVID 19 vaccination front...I wanted to take a moment to STRONGLY ENCOURAGE all eligible individuals in Gorham to get vaccinated. Currently, individuals ages 16+ are eligible to become vaccinated and word on the street is that the FDA will soon approve ages 12+ for the Pfizer vaccine. You can continue to work with providers such as Northern Light, Maine Med. to schedule a vaccine or there are also now many opportunities to simply "walk in" to clinics in the area for your vaccination. The best way to find out how to get vaccinated remains to EITHER directly contact your Primary Care Physician OR to go to the Maine CDC's vaccination website.
In preparation for and in anticipation of the approval of the Emergency Authorized Use of Pfizer COVID 19 vaccine for youth ages 12-15, the Gorham Schools has begun working with Maine Medical center to provide school sponsored vaccination clinics to encourage eligible students to become vaccinated. We are working to schedule clinics at both GMS and GHS. Right now, tentative dates (subject to change) are set for May 19 and then again for June 9. MORE INFORMATION WILL BE COMING SOON FOR PARENTS OF ELIGIBLE GMS AND GHS STUDENTS! For now we have scheduled a parent information night with members of the Maine Med. Vaccination team for Thursday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. This meeting will occur via zoom and details will be emailed to families next week along with other pertinent information. For now, if you are interested, please hold the date in your calendars!
Some young people may ask - why should I get vaccinated? COVID isn't as serious for me because of my age. Well, here are just a few things the experts from the CDC and other leading medical fields are saying to help answer that question:
* COVID 19 is a respiratory illness with long lasting effects that are still widely unknown.
* The more people are vaccinated, the less likely COVID 19 is to spread and the more quickly we can get back to "normal" activities.
* Broad vaccinations will mitigate impacts of COVID 19 variants.
* When you are fully vaccinated, you no longer have to quarantine if exposed to a positive case.
Of course, the choice to get vaccinated or not is a personal one...but one I would strongly urge young adults and families to make. I am now fully vaccinated as I know many of our teachers are as well and the emotional weight lifted alone was enough for me to know I made the right choice for me! Please stay tuned as more information will be forthcoming within the next week or two regarding possible school based clinics! In the meantime, stay safe everyone! Keep wearing those masks! Keep washing/sanitizing those hands...and Keep that physical distance!
P.S. and if for no other reason than to get me to stop reminding you to do those three things above...please strongly consider getting vaccinated!☺
SUMMER IXL ONLINE READING AND MATH PROGRAM
Last summer we offered a new software system called "Exact Path" to interested parents to work with their students online in the areas of math and reading to offset potential pandemic related learning loss. This was a voluntary program. We have received a good amount of feedback on the use of this program through the summer and over the course of this past year and have decided to move in a slightly different direction for the coming summer.
This summer, we will be offering all families in grades K-8 the use of the IXL online learning platform for reading and math. This is a much more user friendly and intuitive program that students are actually already used to using as we often use it in our regular classrooms. Students will be allowed to take home their devices for this purpose over the summer. Parents can elect not to use the program, to use it just a little, or to use it a lot. It will be completely up to each family.
For those parents who are interested we have the following information for you!
GHS SENIOR EMILY PARUK THANKS TEACHERS WITH ORIGINAL POEM
Check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_Z7CBvDAZw
MORE EVENTS FROM GORHAM OUTDOORS!
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