4.9.2020
Dear Lewis Libby School Staff, Parents and Guardians:
The following message has been sent out by the Maine Commissioner of Education:
As you know, US CDC guidance recommends an 8 to 20 week timeframe for avoiding large group/in-person instruction once there is evidence of community transmission of COVID-19. I am recommending, with the support of the Governor, that [Maine schools] … replace classroom/group instruction with remote/distance learning for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
This announcement means that, together with other districts across Maine, the Milford School Department will continue with our current status for the remainder of this school year which includes extending our homebound learning plan with teachers providing students assignments and times to connect so that students can receive encouragement, ask questions, and have their needs met.
I want to emphasize that students that were in good standing prior to school closure will move to the next grade level for the 2020-2021 school year as would normally be the case. We want to reassure you that if your student is trying, they will be ok. We are all here to help you and your student and make the learning process as smooth as possible. Remember to be patient with yourselves as we continue to tread uncharted waters and reach out for help to any staff member as we continue to provide student support through Google Classroom as well as other digital modes of communication. As you know the situation continues to evolve and in order to continue to educate our students we all have to change our current conditions of learning to continue to thrive. It has always been said that there are life experiences that teach you more than a book ever could. Make sure you give yourself permission to shift gears and allow for creativity and play.
Our new meal delivery program will provide meals to families that signed up through the closure. If you have any questions about meals or food service please reach out to Donna Conary at 827-2252 ext.103.
The following resources are available to you and your students:
● Non-emergency Situations
○ The school counselor is available during the regular school day via email and call/text at 207-200-5912 if you have a question or concern.
● Emergency Mental Health Situations
○ If your student is having a problem or you/they are concerned about somebody else, call the crisis hotline. This will connect you to your closest crisis center: 1-888-568-1112
○ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) 1-888-568-1112 (Voice/TTY)
Crisis Hotline
○ Child Abuse 1-800-452-1999 (Voice) 1-800-963-9490 (TTY) The State of Maine’s child abuse hotline is staffed 24 hours a day
○ Domestic Violence 1-866-834-HELP (4357) This number gives you information on domestic
violence, crisis counseling, and emotional support.
○ 211 Available 24 hours a day/7 days a week to provide information and connect you or someone you know to local programs and services that can help.
You can continue to reach out to us at the Google voice numbers that have been provided by your child’s teacher, and our school email is consistently checked. Please continue to look for email communication from the school. In addition 4-8 students should be checking their student emails regularly. Continue to connect with your students’ teacher each week. If you need an email address to reach a staff member please refer to our website. It is important to remember to check emails, voicemails and other forms of established communication with your child’s classroom teacher. If you are not seeing a school email, please remember to check your “spam” or “junk” email folder.
We will get through this by continuing to be there for one another, by staying focused and using the tools of care, respect, responsibility and education to remain moral and determined in the purpose of this moment and all the ones that follow. When this is through, it will be less about what we learned from books and more about what we have learned in life. Together, we’ve got this.
Sincerely,
Patricia L. Clark
Superintendent
