Health Update 14 – May 1, 2020

Good Evening,

I want to clarify the technical issue in Infinite Campus we are working through and also update everyone on the end of year plans.

Infinite Campus (IC) Glitch:

For reasons we are working to understand, percentages may appear for some middle school and high school students’ course grades under the modified pass/fail system in IC. These percentages do not represent the final percentage for the third quarter ranking period. Rather, they are the percentages at the time of closure of classroom-based instruction before going to remote learning.  Student work from remote learning also factors into the final grades of PWD, P, F, or I at the middle and high school level. We apologize for the confusion and will continue to work to identify the source and fix this glitch.

End of Year Plans:

Our last official calendar day of the 2019-2020 school year is Wednesday, June 17th. In collaboration with area school districts, we will wrap up new remote learning during the week of Monday, June 1st through Friday, June 5th.

The period from Monday, June 8th, until Wednesday, June 17th, 2020 will focus on enrichment activities, and connections with our students in wrapping up the year. Senior make up work is due June 5^th. All other student make up work must be completed and turned in by Friday, June 12^th, by noon.

Our breakfast/lunch program will also continue through the end of the regular school calendar and summer feeding will run throughout the summer months. Please be reminded if you have a balance, to contact Food Service at 992-5532.

End of year activities will include things like, but is not limited to:

Assemblies, awards ceremonies, step up days, meet and greets, field events, Senior Salute, and graduation for our incredible Class of 2020 on June 14th.  All of these will be done in accordance with the Governor’s Executive Orders requiring social distancing and continued remote access. Details and further information will be sent to families from the school administration.

Students who are in good standing, based on the preponderance of evidence from the entire school year, will matriculate to the next grade and new courses.

These are challenging times and we are incredibly proud of our faculty and staff for going above and beyond and our students and families who have met the challenges at exceptionally high levels of engagement and success.  Please know there are numerous resources for times when ones are struggling. If you are concerned with how your child is doing emotionally, you may contact the NAMI MAINE HELPLINE. Their number is 800-464-5767, press 1(helpline@namimaine.org). Other helplines are listed, below:

• Maine’s Statewide Crisis Line: (888)568-1112 (call or text)
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (or online chat here)
• National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
• Trevor Project LGBTQ Crisis Line: 1-866-488-7386 (online chat here or text TREVOR to 1-202-304-1200)

There is also a NAMI MAINE teen text line, at (207) 515-8398. This is open from 12:00 pm until 10:00pm and is a peer support text line for youth 14-20 years old and staffed by individuals under 23 years of age. Please note, the Teen Text Support Line is not a crisis line but a way for teens to have someone to talk to if anxious and just need a friendly ear. Also, don’t hesitate to reach out to us as well and also dial 2-1-1 for information on the COVID-19 crisis in Maine.  We advise keeping these numbers on hand for easy access.

More information will be shared in the coming weeks regarding summer programming, which will follow state and national regulations and on recommendations from the Center for Disease Control.

Ten-Year Strategic Plan:

Due to technical difficulties with last evenings’ workshop, public comment on the draft Ten Year Strategic Plan:  Pathways to Excellence is extended to the School Committee Meeting on May 13^th and the second reading is scheduled for May 28^th.

We look forward to the day when our students and staff are able to return to a regular school schedule in our buildings. As we move forward, let us all keep the faith of hope, compassion, and safety for all.

Be well,

Betsy M. Webb, Ed.D.