OTHS Parent/Student Email Update
Monday, January 11, 2021
Good Afternoon!
We hope this email finds you doing well!
Just a reminder, no school next Monday, January 18th as we observe
Martin Luther King Jr. Day. No in-person classes and No virtual classes!
NEW INFORMATION
Repeat day switch message
As we look towards the start of the spring semester, our Monday/Tuesday groups are heavier than our Thursday/Friday groups. If there are families who are willing to switch, please reach out to Amy Ketch at amy.ketch@rsu34.org . We appreciate your consideration.
Schedule changes
Our guidance staff will be offering remote schedule changes this week. On Tuesday and Thursday they will have time at the end of each block. On Wednesday, they will be available at 12:30. Students will receive an email with more details later today. At the start of each day, the links for the sessions will be emailed to all students.
For all virtual students:
Returning from all virtual
As we look forward to the start of the spring semester, we have had some inquiries from our all virtual students to return to a hybrid schedule. We are happy to have students back in person, but please be aware that the hybrid days will be dependent on space availability in their classes. We can not guarantee to return to the days that were previously assigned.
Remote only SH
All virtual students who have a space in their schedule have been assigned a Remote only Study Hall. This is a placeholder on the schedule. There is no requirement to check in with any staff member.
Academic Support Block
ASB on remote days
There is no requirement for students to check in on their remote days for Academic Support Block.
Junior/Senior Release Form
The following information was sent to all juniors and seniors: As we look to the start of the spring semester, many juniors and seniors have picked up an Academic Support Block (ASB) (Study Hall). Please take a look at your schedule on Infinite Campus. Any student who has a release form on file has been noted in IC, and on their schedule it says "Junior or Senior Release." If your schedule currently says "Academic Support Block" - we do not have a release form on file for you and therefore you MUST attend that ASB. If you would like to be able to leave school during that time, please pick up a form, have it signed by your parent/guardian and return it to the Guidance Office as soon as possible. Release forms can be picked up in the Guidance office.
Morning Drop-off
First, thanks so much for adhering to our request for dropping off students (as much as possible) in the 815-830 window. We greatly appreciate your efforts. For the remainder of the school year, it is perfectly fine to simply drop your student off at the front entrance of the building. We will return to the rear drop-offs - post-COVID, but for now it is easier for you and for us to simply drop at the front door. Our only word of caution is to watch for any buses that may be in the loop. Let them go first, and keep a close eye on their red loading/unloading lights. It is against the law to pass a bus with those lights on. Afternoon pick-up will remain behind the building.
Thanks so much for your cooperation!
Positive Cases
At this time, we do have a handful of Old Town High School students who tested positive for COVID-19 over the holiday break. While this is not surprising coming off the break, it is concerning and will cause us to constantly evaluate how we operate our school day-to-day in the safest manner possible. Fortunately, school was not in session so the contact tracing from within our building that needed to be done was relatively minor.
While I remain hopeful that things will subside, if we do have a student in the building that tests positive, we will reach out to teachers and the parents of students who may have come in contact with the positive person as soon as we confirm the positive case. If you do not receive a phone call, you would have no reason to be concerned.
The increase in cases also reinforces the importance of screening at home and screening when students enter the building in the morning. We will continue to be as vigilant as we possibly can in order to keep our school community safe for all. Thank you for your on-going support.
We know that there is a perceived negative stigma to a positive COVID test, however there should not be, it could happen to any one of us if we are in the wrong place at the wrong time and are not exercising caution. We also know that in times like this, the rumor mill runs wild. Please make sure that you have verified your information and don’t rely on social media to have the most up-to-date and most accurate information. If you believe that you have information that would help us in our quest to keep students safe and remain open, please reach out to our amazing school nurse, Jana Caron. She can be reached at 827-3910 ext. 2323 or by email at: jana.caron@rsu34.org.
PSAT Results/Books
PSAT results for all those who took the exam are available for students and parents in the Infinite Campus Portal and online through the college board’s website. (students were emailed in December with instructions) Students who would like the hard copy of their test book should stop by the guidance office by the end of January. Any student who did not take the PSAT but would like to have a copy of the book is welcome to pick one up as well. Books will be recycled after January 31.
OTHS Yearbook
Important Dates & Information
Yearbooks purchased between now to May 14th cost - $75.00
Books cannot be purchased after this date
January 29th - Last chance to personalize
February 11th - Senior Ads due
https://www.jostens.com/yearbooks/students-and-parents/about-yearbooks
https://www.jostens.com/yearbooks/students-and-parents/yearbook-ads
Please contact Mrs. Turner if you have any questions christina.turner@rsu34.org
Winter Sports Update
Jan. 18th Starts the Competitive Season for OTHS (Hockey Starts Jan.11th)
Reminder:
Masks, social distancing, personal water bottles, and coming prepared to play are all requirements of the season.
Athletes are to report to the athletic complexes at the start time for practices, we will not be housing or holding student-athletes in spaces this season.
Schedules for sports practices have been communicated to the athletes.
Competitive Season Schedules are available on our website at https://www.rsu34.org/o/oths/browse/41940
Men’s Basketball Update: Men’s basketball tryouts will be Tuesday, Jan 12th - 6:15-7:45 pm - Grades 9-10, 8-9:30 pm - Grades 11-12
Streaming Services: OTHS athletics has partnered with NFHS this sports season to livestream all events in Mackenzie Gymnasium. Check out our school page on the NFHS Network - https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/old-town-high-school-old-town-me, this is a paid subscription service that includes the ability to watch the Coyotes on the road at other school programs. Athletics that are located at different athletic venues will be broadcast on the Coyote Sports Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CoyoteSportsEventsProgramingNetwork
Seniors - Financial Aid
If you need help completing your FAFSA, please email Sue St.Louis at sue.stlouis@rsu34.org. She will schedule you an appointment with Meredith Lee, our FAFSA specialist. It is important that you file your FAFSA as soon as possible to make sure that you meet college deadlines.
Remote for a Day
If your student needs to be home because they have symptoms, but are still feeling well enough to attend remotely - please call the Main Office to approve the change to ‘remote for a day.’ Again, it is NOT enough for the student to call in and tell the Main Office and it is NOT enough for your student to simply tell the teachers. Those will not be approved and will result in your student being marked absent.
Spring Semester Classes
All students will pick up new classes in January with the start of the Spring Semester on January 25. We are hoping to offer Band and Jazz - but might need to make changes in students' days to make the process a little smoother. Also, students who are all virtual will need to make some changes as there are a couple of classes that we can not accommodate virtual students - PE and Ceramics. We need to balance out some sections - so you may see some moves in classes on schedules. We are working to keep the same classes but maintain the balance as well.
Also - please note - Due to the nature of the class Painting will be changing to Artology. Description below. All students signed up for Painting will be automatically enrolled. All virtual students signed up for ceramics will also be automatically enrolled.
Artology (Previously called Painting Class): is designed to provide a foundation of art knowledge. The emphasis is placed on understanding the Elements of Art and Principles of Design as a basis for art making. Students will explore a variety of artists, art processes and materials such as drawing, mixed media, two & three-dimensional design, as well as exploring new digital art connections in this virtual learning world. Student artwork will reflect aesthetics & cultural and historical contexts. Willingness to get involved in the creative process is a more important requirement than the student’s talent or previous experience.
REVIEW
Student Email
All students should be checking their email several times a day. Please help remind your student to develop this habit.
Infinite Campus Parent Portal
Would you like to be able to pay closer attention to your student’s grades and attendance? Have you signed up for an Infinite Campus portal account?
Contact Sue St. Louis in the OT Guidance Office at 827-3910 x 2114
She can help you!
Just a heads up for parents - every student already has an account and access to their grades.
Beginning of the Day - School Announcements
We are still looking for students who might be interested in reading morning announcements over the intercom to our school. No experience or expertise required - Mr. Lindsey will train you.
RSU 34 app
Do you have the RSU 34 app? If not, why not?
Stay up to date on all of the current happenings.
Download the app with the green coyote on the Apple iTunes store or for Android devices - on Google play store.
Northern Lights Screening link:
https://covid.northernlighthealth.org/covidcheck or got to https://tinyurl.com/OTscreen
As always, thank you for your support.
If you have questions/concerns, do not hesitate to reach out by phone or email.
Have a Wonderful Week!
Scott Gordon
Principal
827-3910 x. 2303