News
February 2021 Board Meeting
David Walker is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: February 17, 2021 Board MeetingTime: Feb 17, 2021 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom...
OTHS Earns AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award
Old Town High School Earns College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity AwardOne of Only Five Maine High Schools Recognized for Closing the Gender Gap in AP Computer...
Congratulations Mrs. O'Connell! Lifetime Achievement Award
Leonard Middle School and RSU #34 were thrilled today to be part of a surprise presentation to our School Counselor, Mrs. O'Connell. The Maine School Counseling...
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David Walker
Dear RSU #34 Families and Staff, This notice is to inform you that RSU #34 has identified an exposure to COVID-19 related to an Old Town High School Extra-curricular activity. All close contacts have been notified and advised of next steps such as quarantine, symptom checking, and testing. If you have not been individually contacted, you do not need to take any additional steps. As always, please remember to conduct daily screening, and use our COVID hotline when you learn of a positive or likely case of COVID-19 in our school community. We thank you for your efforts to keep our schools safe and open! For general Covid-19 questions, please dial Maine’s helpline at 211 or 1-866-811- 5695. Questions for the school nurse may be directed to Nurse Jana at 827-3910 or jana.caron@rsu34.org. You can also text your zip code to 898-211 or email info@211maine.org. Please call your healthcare provider with questions about symptoms. More information can be found at www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. Sincerely, David A. Walker David A. Walker Superintendent of Schools General Information follows: Covid-19 is a respiratory illness that may range from mild to severe. Some people may be asymptomatic (no symptoms at all,) but may still test positive. Covid-19 may be more severe in adults 60 years and older and anyone with underlying health conditions. The virus mainly spreads through droplets and aerosols, such as when an infected person coughs or sneezes and an uninfected person breathes in the virus. Signs and symptoms of Covid-19 may include: Fever or chills, new or uncontrollable cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, and nausea/vomiting/diarrhea. The Maine CDC recommended preventative measures to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. This includes: • Wearing a mask in public and increased hand hygiene measures. • Washing your hands with soap and warm water after using the bathroom, before and after eating, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. • When soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands and avoid close contact with people who are sick. • Cover your cough or sneeze and disinfect your hands afterwards. • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaner or wipe.
Dr. Jon Doty
OTHS JROTC cadets, led by 1st SGT Peaslee, taught local cub scouts this afternoon how to conduct a flag ceremony and care for the flag. Just a few weeks ago, OTHS JROTC earned an incredible score of 99 on its three-year accreditation inspection! view image
Dr. Jon Doty
Exposure and travel reminders ----------------------------------------- Dear RSU #34 Community, We hope our families had a wonderful and safe February vacation week! In this notice please see a reminder about travel and what to do if you learn of confirmed or likely exposure to a COVID-positive person. Please also continue to be vigilant about daily home screening, masking, social distancing, and hand hygiene to keep the spread of COVID slow! Exposure to COVID: Please remember that the SARS-COV-2 virus spreads quickly, and in some cases without symptoms. It is very important to communicate quickly with us if you learn at any time of a positive or likely case of COVID-19, so we can be sure we’ve notified anyone who may have been in close contact with the student or staff member during an infectious period. Throughout the school vacation we have had staff checking the COVID hotline multiple times daily. Please leave a detailed message at (207) 827-7171 (choose option zero), or use the webform at http://rsu34me.apptegy.us/o/rsu-34/page/covid19--2 Travel Overview Each year many families use school vacation weeks opportunities for travel, but at this time such travel brings with it additional risks for contracting and transmitting COVID-19, according to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC). It is critically important that our school communities continue to do everything we can in order to keep our schools safe, open, and able to provide in-person instruction. The US CDC has issued strong guidance to the American people to continue to limit our interactions and travel at this time. We encourage our staff and families to know the risks and the requirements for travel, and to communicate with your school office if you have travelled so that our schools can continue to operate safely. Travel within the U.S. In accordance with Maine travel guidelines, any staff or students who travel within the US to any state other than New Hampshire or Vermont (no restrictions as of 2/21/21 for these two states only), will be required to either: 1. Complete a 10-day quarantine upon arrival in Maine and continue to monitor for signs and symptoms for an additional 4 days OR 2. Obtain and receive a negative COVID-19 antigen or molecular (PCR, NAAT, or isothermal) test result within 72 hours prior to arrival back into Maine to forgo the 10-day quarantine. Travelers may be tested upon arrival in Maine as well but must quarantine while they wait for test results. A negative COVID-19 antigen or molecular (PCR, NAAT, or isothermal) test result will allow the traveler to leave quarantine early. International Travel CDC has also provided guidance as it relates to international travel. The current risk assessment level for COVID-19 is at 4, or VERY HIGH, for nearly every country. You can review the risk levels by country, here (t.ly/47xI). At this time, all air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding a flight back to the United States. See Frequently Asked Questions about this requirement for more information (t.ly/urM0). Upon return to the United States, staff and students must quarantine. International travelers can return to school after they: 1. Get tested 3-5 days after travel, and receive a negative test result AND stay home and self-quarantine for 7 days after travel. 2. Do not get tested and stay home for 10 days after travel. 3. Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not. (t.ly/J2w3) Any staff or students who have travelled internationally will not be permitted inside the school building for a minimum of 7 days, even if a negative test has occurred. Returning to work or school after travel is not dependent on the length of time spent within the restricted states or other countries, meaning that a day visit still requires any person to quarantine and/or test as described above. All members of the household who travel must test or quarantine if over 12 months old. Testing site information for Maine can be found, here (https://www.maine.gov/covid19/restartingmaine/keepmainehealthy/testing). Any person who is quarantining should stay home, and not have in-person contact with others unless there is an emergency. Please continue to follow best practice safety protocols: wear a mask, keep physical distance, wash your hands and monitor for symptoms, and help protect our schools and neighbors. Thank you for your hard work and support!
David Walker
February 12, 2021 Dear RSU #34 Community, We greatly appreciate your hard work for our community’s children during the pandemic! Our students and staff continue to do incredible things to learn safely during the pandemic, and we celebrate reaching another milestone with the upcoming February vacation. In this notice please see information about travel and what to do during the school vacation week if you learn of confirmed or likely exposure to a COVID-positive person. Please also continue to be vigilant about masking, social distancing, and hand hygiene to keep the spread of COVID slow! Exposure to COVID Please remember that the SARS-COV-2 virus spreads quickly, and in some cases without symptoms. It is very important to communicate quickly with us if you learn at any time of a positive or likely case of COVID-19, so we can be sure we’ve notified anyone who may have been in close contact with the student or staff member during an infectious period. Throughout the school vacation we have staff checking the COVID hotline multiple times daily. Please leave a detailed message at (207) 827-7171 (choose option zero), or use the webform at http://rsu34me.apptegy.us/o/rsu-34/page/covid19--2 Travel Overview Each year many families use school vacation weeks opportunities for travel, but at this time such travel brings with it additional risks for contracting and transmitting COVID-19, according to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC). It is critically important that our school communities continue to do everything we can in order to keep our schools safe, open, and able to provide in-person instruction. The US CDC has issued strong guidance to the American people to continue to limit our interactions and travel at this time. We encourage our staff and families to know the risks and the requirements for travel, and to communicate with your school office if you are travelling so that our schools can continue to operate safely. Travel within the U.S. In accordance with Maine travel guidelines, any staff or students who travel within the US to any state other than New Hampshire or Vermont (no restrictions as of 2/08/21 for these two states only), will be required to either: 1. Complete a 10-day quarantine upon arrival in Maine and continue to monitor for signs and symptoms for an additional 4 days OR 2. Obtain and receive a negative COVID-19 antigen or molecular (PCR, NAAT, or isothermal) test result within 72 hours prior to arrival back into Maine to forgo the 10-day quarantine. Travelers may be tested upon arrival in Maine as well but must quarantine while they wait for test results. A negative COVID-19 antigen or molecular (PCR, NAAT, or isothermal) test result will allow the traveler to leave quarantine early. International Travel CDC has also provided guidance as it relates to international travel. The current risk assessment level for COVID-19 is at 4, or VERY HIGH, for nearly every country. You can review the risk levels by country, here (t.ly/47xI). At this time, all air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding a flight back to the United States. See Frequently Asked Questions about this requirement for more information (t.ly/urM0). Upon return to the United States, staff and students must quarantine. International travelers can return to school after they: 1. Get tested 3-5 days after travel, and receive a negative test result AND stay home and self-quarantine for 7 days after travel. 2. Do not get tested and stay home for 10 days after travel. 3. Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not. (t.ly/J2w3) Any staff or students who have travelled internationally will not be permitted inside the school building for a minimum of 7 days, even if a negative test has occurred. Returning to work or school after travel is not dependent on the length of time spent within the restricted states or other countries, meaning that a day visit still requires any person to quarantine and/or test as described above. All members of the household who travel must test or quarantine if over 12 months old. Testing site information for Maine can be found, here (https://www.maine.gov/covid19/restartingmaine/keepmainehealthy/testing). Any person who is quarantining should stay home, and not have in-person contact with others unless there is an emergency. Please continue to follow best practice safety protocols: wear a mask, keep physical distance, wash your hands and monitor for symptoms, and help protect our schools and neighbors. Thank you for your hard work and support!
Angela Porter
Are you or someone you know looking for a job? Check out https://www.rsu34.org/employment-applications-and-vacancies for new postings (Teachers, Ed Techs, Coach and we are always looking for more Substitutes)