February 18, 2022
Dear Students, Staff and Families,
Today marks the last day of school as we head off for the February school vacation! I hope everyone can take some time to rest, relax and re-energize. It doesn’t matter where you are, home or away, as much as the importance of taking time for yourself and your family to enjoy quality time and experiences for the upcoming week.
Upon our return to school, the calendar will soon turn to March which means spring will be here before we know it. March is a full month of learning and a great opportunity for academic progress. We are hopeful as positive cases continue to decline that our students will move toward increased opportunities and experiences beyond the walls of their classroom.
People have been asking about the universal mask mandate in schools. At this time, we continue to adhere to the Maine Department of Education’s (MDOE) Standard Operating Procedures which follow guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). We await further guidance from the Maine CDC and will continue to share any changes they may implement with families and staff, but indoor universal masking currently remains in place. Changes are anticipated in the upcoming weeks.
Families in eligible locations within the state now have access to COVID-19 tests through the Project ACT Website; families can also access free test kits through COVIDtests.gov. We encourage all families to take advantage of this program and test students prior to returning from February break. This measure will serve to decrease the impact of additional cases on our students and staff as well as hopefully continue the downward trend in the total number of positive cases in Southern Maine.
Stay healthy and keep safety in mind.
Matt Nelson, Superintendent of Schools