As we end this school year, many people are wondering about the start of the 2020-2021 school year. While the Maine Department for Education (DOE) and Maine CDC are working on developing clear and specific guidance, we are planning for a range of possibilities such as in-class learning with physical distancing, a hybrid of remote and in-class learning, and all remote learning. Any level of uncertainty is uncomfortable and, unfortunately, we cannot nail this down to a single plan at this point in time. Our collective knowledge and understanding of COVID 19 is changing rapidly. Additional information and updates over the next two months will impact our decisions.
Our goal is to have as many students and staff members participate in classroom-based learning as quickly and safely as possible. While we all wish to return to our regular routines and procedures, we know we will have to live and teach within the demands and constraints of COVID 19; whatever those are for our community and for individuals at any particular time.
Our teachers and administrators will continue to discuss what worked with remote learning this spring and what needs to be improved; even if remote learning is needed just for “snow days.” We know specific assignments and due dates, given in common formats and collected in similar ways across the district would help parents and students. We know all our students need computers (or tablets) and good connections to the internet. Having common equipment, common educational software, and clear expectations will be helpful.
We would also like to hear from you. Please use this link to give us feedback regarding your experience with remote learning this spring.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxowDYCopGMctgjOxmZ_EoZeOcUQ0na76BjSOkf8_kn2EZOg/viewform
Parents (and students) will continue to be invited to provide feedback and input into plans for next year through surveys, email, and/or video conferencing. We will do our very best to create detailed plans, knowing we may need to shift between them as the situations and knowledge changes.
This has been a challenging stretch of time and we deeply appreciate how you have supported your children and our community.
Sincerely, Patricia L. Clark, Superintendent/Principal
