Here's a link to the slides for this evening's RSU #34 back-to-school presentation and Q&A: tinyurl.com/y5fmhqcf
The link to the Zoom session, which begins at 6:30, is https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/81748182042
Important Reminder: RSU #34 will be finalizing in-person enrollments based on family preferences we have received and enrollments through August 14th. New enrollments or family preferences for remote or in-person learning expressed after that point will be processed as they come in. At minimum new enrollees will be supported in remote learning, and will be offered in-person learning as space allows. That space will not necessarily be in the school the child would normally attend based on address, in which case families may need to provide transportation. In grade K-12 families that prefer for their student to learn remote-only may continue to do so. Enrollments are processed at the Superintendent's Office, 156 Oak Street in Old Town. (207) 827-7171.
Dear RSU #34 community, as the calendar turns to August and we still navigate a pandemic together, we know you have many questions, worries, and wonders about the 2020-2021 school year. Our team has been working toward a safe and effective 2020-2021 school year since April. We are working hard to bring students back in-person as often as possible within state and federal requirements and reasonable precautions for the safety of all involved. We continually update and revise our plans as the scientific and medical community learn more about the novel coronavirus, and as we learn from nations and states with earlier school start dates. Please let us know your questions here; we will use this information to update a FAQ that will become publicly available late on Wednesday, August 12th. https://forms.gle/FaeejQT2ERDAWyEr7
Please joining us in washing hands, wearing masks, and keeping distance to keep the community spread of COVID-19 slow! Our community and state have worked very hard and sacrificed to keep the spread slow since March; thank you and let's keep it up!
RSU #34 community, we're working to prepare for everything that may come our way this year, and know access to devices at both home and school is important. Our older students will be able to take devices back and forth as normal, but if you've seen how many mittens a little kid loses each week, you know they need a different plan! If you do any weekend cleaning, please keep an eye out for older laptops & chargers that may not be of use at home anymore. We anticipate a community-wide effort in the next few weeks in collaboration with an awesome partner to help collect, rehab, and redistribute older computers to kids in our schools that will use them at home. There's a well-regarded program called CloudReady/NeverWare that can turn some really old machines into devices similar to ChromeBooks. If you have any contacts in the business community that may have access to a number of decommissioned computers, we'd appreciate that outreach as well! Thank you - we have an awesome community! https://guide.neverware.com/supported-devices/
RSU #34 will be finalizing in-person enrollments based on survey form feedback and enrollments through August 14th.
New enrollments or family preferences for remote or in-person learning expressed after that point will be processed as they come in. At minimum new enrollees will be supported in remote learning, and will be offered in-person learning as space allows. That space will not necessarily be in the school the child would normally attend based on address, in which case families may need to provide transportation.
Check out https://www.rsu34.org/employment-applications-and-vacancies for Job Openings at RSU 34 for the 20-21 school year!
Required parent form for RSU #34 students - Fall 2020
Dear Parents/Guardians of RSU #34 Children,
Our district has put together a form through which parents/guardians will inform the schools of their family’s plans and needs for the upcoming start to the school year. Please submit one form per RSU #34 student in order for us to coordinate family plans PreK-12. We estimate this form will take no more than 5 minutes per student to complete. Please submit this form as soon as possible and no later than Friday, July 31st.
You can watch the presentation of our planning to the School Board here: https://www.rsu34.org/article/272060?org=rsu-34
RSU #34 anticipates needing to move flexibly between three “lanes” in 2020-2021, depending on things such as community transmission rates of the novel coronavirus and the rates of student and staff illnesses with symptoms similar to COVID-19. These lanes are: fully remote learning, a combination of in-person and remote learning, and in-person learning five days per week. Families that wish to participate remotely all year long may do so. More details and background about the district’s plan can be found here (tinyurl.com/y9o23gmk).
Here is the link to the form: https://forms.gle/qzbHRsjgZQuNAkuNA
Any questions should be directed to the building principal of your student. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We thank you for your hard work, patience, and community spirit supporting our children throughout the pandemic.
Sincerely,
RSU #34 Planning Team
RSU #34's 2020-2021 application for federal program funding is in the "public comment" phase. This application, under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), covers services we provide to students through Title IA, Title IIA, and Title IVA. Services provided under these funds include Reading Recovery, Supplemental Instruction for Literacy and Mathematics, professional development for teachers, and Title IV programming under Safe & Healthy Schools, Well-Rounded Education, and the Effective Use of Technology. For more information on the applications and/or to provide comment, please email Dr. Doty at jon.doty@rsu34.org . Thank you for your support of RSU #34 schools!
VOTE!
School Budget Validation Referendum Vote tomorrow July 14, 2020. Please support the budget as adopted at the annual school budget meeting held on June 24, 2020
RSU#34 July 2020 Board Meeting
Wednesday July 15th 6:30 pm
David Walker is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: July 15, 2020 Board Meeting
Time: Jul 15, 2020 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/83596851882
Meeting ID: 835 9685 1882
The School Board meeting on Wednesday, July 15th will include an update about planning for the 2020-2021 school year. The meeting will be at 6:30 PM, and a videoconferencing link is included above.
At the June meeting we shared an invitation to participate in planning and feedback; if you’d like to be involved please email Dr. Doty for more details. Jon.Doty@rsu34.org
As you’ve no doubt seen, information about the COVID pandemic changes rapidly, as do things like outbreaks and the availability of PPE. Our team continually adjusts planning possible paths forward based on medical guidance, a “reasonable precautions” approach, and resource availability. We’re working to develop a flexible, resilient approach that can carry forward through changing conditions. We know that our approach to schooling is tremendously important to kids, staff, household members / families, and community – and that our approach impacts learning, safety & well-being, social development, abuse & neglect, adults’ ability to work, and much more. We know we and our students are fortunate to live and work in an awesome community that always finds a way.
2020-2021 SCHOOL CALENDAR - Can be found in the documents page of our website
The Maine Department of Education will soon release draft guidance for schools and communities, with parameters and restrictions for a safe reopening of the physical school buildings. Our educators are very eager to teach kids in person. We know the path ahead is complex and uncertain, with some factors in our control and some beyond our control.
Next Wednesday evening, June 17th, there are two public opportunities to learn more and ask questions. The School Board's committee on Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment meets at 5:45 pm via Zoom; planning for the fall is the largest agenda item. The full School Board meets at 6:30 pm via Zoom; a more brief update on our plans for the fall will be shared then. Both meetings have opportunities for public comment, but please know you can reach out to our schools at any time. Phone numbers and email addresses are at www.rsu34.org; information about how to connect to the meetings will be posted there next week.
Together, we will continue doing our very best by kids and community as we navigate through the pandemic!
As a long school year comes to a close, it is time to begin the retrieval of student devices for inventory, repairs, and redistribution. You may drop off your device at any time (M-Th, 9am-2pm) for those that are no longer using their devices or have an alternative device and no longer need them. You may drop your device at OTES on the 8th from 9 am to 2 pm. From the 9th to the 11th of June, you are welcome to bring your device to the front door of J. A. Leonard Middle school between the hours of 9 am and 2 pm each day.
Beginning on the 8th of June, there will be someone at OTHS to receive devices as the last week of school winds down and Seniors finish their preparations for graduation through the 12th of June. Also, staff from the elementary schools will be reaching out to families and making arrangements for those devices.
Beginning the week of June 15th to the 19th, there will be someone from 8 am to 2 pm at each school to receive the remainder of devices.
On the 22nd of June, an inventory will be done and phone calls will be made to coordinate drop off or pick up of any remaining devices. This will be done through the 26th of June.
Dear Families and Community Partners,
Don’t miss out on this amazing webinar GEAR Parent Network is hosting. There is still time to sign up!!!!
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 from 10 a.m. to Noon
“School Work and COVID-19: What You Can Do to Help Your Kids to Not Fall Behind” Presented by: Elisa Sousa, MEd, LSW, Children’s Case Manager, Crisis and Counseling Centers; Join us in a discussion around your child’s school work, how to advocate, maintaining balance during this stressful time and creating structure for your family. In addition to learning about the importance of role modeling and listening to your children.
Parents/families of RSU #34 kids, if you haven't already done this survey please do. We value your input / feedback!
Our families and educators have done amazing things with kids on an emergency basis this spring. Please let us know the strengths and challenges on this anonymous survey: https://forms.gle/hdJ4X7RseMUhHjdp9
Please do the survey by June 3rd. Thanks!
Parents & families of RSU #34 kids, we seek your input/feedback! Our families and educators have done amazing things with kids on an emergency basis this spring. Please let us know the strengths and challenges on this anonymous survey: https://forms.gle/hdJ4X7RseMUhHjdp9 Please do the survey by June 3rd. Thanks!
Parents & families of RSU #34 kids, we seek your input/feedback! Our families and educators have done amazing things with kids on an emergency basis this spring. Please let us know the strengths and challenges on this anonymous survey: https://forms.gle/hdJ4X7RseMUhHjdp9
Please do the survey by June 3rd. Thanks!
We have family food boxes available for delivery or pick up starting Wednesday afternoon May 20th! Please call School-Community Coordinator Jennifer Goodwin at 370-8564 or email her at jennifer.goodwin@rsu34.org if your RSU #34 family could use one!
The University of Maine Extension has a series on food and cooking that could be great to do with kids, called "10 Steps to a Healthier You!" The lessons and supporting videos are available at the links below. Thanks for sharing these, Professor Kate Yerxa! Lessons: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KZ-te2z-Uqjkb67DPMbVwBQhk63GGZCY?usp=sharing -----and----- Videos: https://extension.umaine.edu/food-health/efnep/10-steps-to-a-healthier-you/
Understanding Anxiety during COVID-19 Parent Webinar 5
Link to video: https://youtu.be/a1I5Exg58-U
Link to slides: https://www.bangorschools.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Parent-Webinar-5-compressed.pdf