Old Town Elementary School

We will be moving from daily updates to updating families and the public each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. However, we are always here for you via phone (video and/or audio) email, and messaging. Reach out anytime! Our next update will be issued tomorrow, Wednesday, April 28th.

Remote Learning Family/Public Update 4/27/20 🙂Welcome Back! We hope you all were able to find some moments of rest and relaxation during this past week. We are back in the swing of remote learning with this week’s BINGO boards and online learning. Links to materials can always be found at http://rsu34me.apptegy.us/o/rsu-34/page/covid19--2 ❓We Are Here for You! We understand that this is a time of many difficulties, among them, supporting your student’s learning at home. IT IS OUR JOB TO HELP YOU! Here is where to get the help you need: Your student’s teacher can help you access learning materials, understand assignments, and give tips or support for managing work time and effort. They can also connect you with support staff in specific subjects. Reach out to your student’s teacher via phone, email, or messaging. Our counselors are available at trysha.lunn@rsu34.org (K and 1st) or vicki.wilcox@rsu34.org (2nd-5th). They can help you with social-emotional concerns, as well as some behavioral and family supports. They are great at connecting you to resources or being a listening ear. Our nurse is available at cece.costello@rsu34.org or via voicemail at 827-1544 ext 308 for concerns about your student’s health or questions related to health. Remember, if you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911. If you have questions about meal pickup or delivery or questions about reapplying for free and reduced lunch status if your income has changed, please call our Food Service Department at 827-3908. Regardless, all meals are currently free for all children 0-18. If you are in need of food for household goods beyond school meals, please contact jennifer.goodwin@rsu34.org or 370-8564. If you have a general school question or are not sure where to turn, email jeanna.tuell@rsu34.org or maggie.mitchell@rsu34.org or call the school at 827-1544 and we will do our best to help you. 🚌🍎📃Meal and Work Packet Pickup/Delivery This Thursday, April 30th Bus routes will run again this Thursday, April 30th with a week’s worth of meals and next week’s packets. The OTHS pick up location will be open on the 30th from 10am to 12pm. Packets will be available for pick up at OTES, VRS and AES on Thursday, April 30 and Friday, May 1 from 8am-2pm.

Late Addition: Tonight, 4/17/20, at 5 pm, The Holy Family Parish will be hosting a pick up spaghetti and meatball dinner for all families. They have packaged meals and want people to drive up and participate. We are lucky to have so many wonderful community resources for our families.

Remote School Family/Public Update 4/17/20 ✅Work Documentation Today or ASAP Please be in communication with your student’s classroom teacher today or ASAP about their work completion. This documentation needs to happen in order for your student to be marked present for the week. If you have not contacted them about past weeks or are ever late in communicating, we can always go back and adjust attendance. Thank you! 🌞Vacation Week April 20th-24th ▪️There will be no required work assigned. ▪️There will be no meal distribution or pick up. ▪️There is an optional BINGO board if families would like to use it during vacation. It was attached to paper packets, is available at www.rsu34.org, and is included in this message as an image. Other suggestions for vacation week are: go back and earn extra BINGOs from previous weeks, explore things that teachers have already shared, make up work, or unplug and refresh! ▪️If you should need assistance from school during vacation, please email jeanna.tuell@rsu34.org or maggie.mitchell@rsu34.org or call 827-1544 and leave a voicemail. We will connect with the staff needed to help you, if possible. 🏫The Week of April 27th-May 1st Packets for the week of April 27th-May 1st will be available for pick up when we come back from vacation on Monday, April 27th from 8am-2pm at OTES, AES, and VRS. Weekly meal and packet distribution will begin again on Thursday, April 30th.

Remote School Family/Public Update 4/16/20 ✅Work Documentation Today or Tomorrow Please be in communication with your student’s classroom teacher today or tomorrow about their work completion. This documentation needs to happen in order for your student to be marked present for the week. 📃Work Packets for The Week After Vacation April 27th-May 1st Packets are available for pickup at OTES, AES and VRS tomorrow, Friday, April 17th from 8am-2pm and not again until Monday, April 27th at the same locations and times. Packets are always available online at www.rsu34.org. 🌞Optional Vacation Week BINGO Board There will be no work assigned during vacation week, April 20th-24th. However, by request, there is an optional BINGO board for students to use during vacation next week. It has general K-5 options that will give structure to your week, but also let students have some fun! This board is completely optional! The vacation BINGO is attached to printed packets that are delivered and/or picked up and is available online. Other suggestions for vacation week are: go back and earn extra BINGOs from previous weeks, explore things that teachers have already shared, make up work, or unplug and refresh!

Remote School Family/Public Update 4/15/20 🚌Meal and Packet Distribution by Bus Tomorrow, April 16th Tomorrow, Thursday, April 16th is a big day! Busses will be out on their routes delivering seven days worth of meals as well as packets for the week after vacation (April 27th-May 1st). Meals and packets are also available at OTHS from 10am-12pm on Thursday, April 16th. 📃Packet Pickup/Online Packets will be available at OTES, AES and VRS on Thursday, April 16th and Friday, April 17th from 8am-2pm. They will also be available with meals at OTHS from 10am-12pm on Thursday, April 16th. There will be no packet pick up next week (April 20th-24th). Packets are always available online at www.rsu34.org. 🌞Vacation Week Options There will be no work assigned during vacation week, April 20th-24th. However, by request, there is an optional BINGO board for students to use during vacation next week. It has general K-5 options that will give structure to your week, but also let students have some fun! This board is completely optional! The vacation BINGO is attached to printed packets that are delivered and/or picked up and is available online. Other suggestions for vacation week are: go back and earn extra BINGOs from previous weeks, explore things that teachers have already shared, make up work, or unplug and refresh! 🏅Gift Certificate Winners Today we entered all of the OTES students who completed their work last week into an online spinner and found six random winners of gift cards to local businesses. Thank you to the Old Town-Orono Kiwanis as well as the Warren Rand Memorial Fund and Richard May Memorial Fund for sponsoring these gift cards! These gift cards will arrive in the mail soon! We will be holding drawings like this each week, so keep up the good work! This week's winners were: Zach G. in first grade to IGA Shaday N. in 4th grade to Governor's Grace M. in 5th grade to OTO Kyleigh F. in 3rd grade to Hannaford Callie C. in 3rd grade to Spencer's Ice Cream Melanie M. in 3rd grade to County Road Market

Remote Learning Family/Public Update 4/14/20 We have no new important information to share today, but please watch tomorrow for information on Thursday's packet and food distribution. Enjoy the sunshine!

Remote Learning Family/Public Update 4/13/20 ⭐️Great Job Families! Thank you to all of our families who are working so hard to learn at home! After calculating participation data, we have approximately 94% of our families who are participating and communicating with their teachers. This is impressive! 💻The Challenges of Learning at Home If supporting your student’s education at home is difficult, your student is resisting, or you just need help keeping the momentum going, here are some ways your student’s teacher can help to support you: 🍎Schedule a call or video chat weekly, or every few days, so we can directly speak to your or with your student. 🍎Set aside one hour each day at home, the same hour if possible, to complete the required tasks for that day. This time should be before TV, computer (for fun) or other preferred activities. 🍎Make sure to give your student breaks, snacks, and time to play outside and inside! 🍎Contact your teacher for more ideas or ways to get through some material each day. We are here for you, please reach out and let us know how we can continue to support you and your student!

Remote Learning Family/Public Update 4/10/20 ✅Documenting This Week’s Work If you do not have the ability to share your student’s work completion with their teacher today due to power and/or internet outages, please do so as soon as you can, preferably on or before Monday, April 13th. 📃Accessing Next Week’s Work Anytime at www.rsu34.org Final packet pick up opportunity at OTES, AES or VRS on Monday, April 13th from 8am-2pm. 🥣Meal Distribution Reminder/Resource Center Meals are now only available on a weekly basis each Thursday. The next meal bus distribution and pick up at OTHS is scheduled for Thursday, April 16th. If your family should need further food support, please contact our RSU #34 Resource Center coordinator, Jennifer Goodwin at jennifer.goodwin@rsu34.org or 207-370-8564

We understand that families are facing a new round of challenges this morning with the snow and lack of power and/or internet. Please put your safety and mental health first, teachers will be understanding if communication is difficult today.

Remote Learning Family/Public Update 4/9/20 Required Work Packet Pick Up Friday 4/10: Due to the forecast, the building will not be open for packet pick up tomorrow. Monday 4/13: Packets can be picked up from 8am-2pm at OTES, VRS or AES Packets are always available digitally at www.rsu34.org Free “Little Libraries” Stocked Today, our staff members stocked three free “little libraries” where families are welcome to go and take books for their students. These three locations are: Anderson Lane (right in front of the FSS Center located beside the garage), Meadow Lane (right beside the mailboxes as you drive into Meadow Lane), and Dow IV at 16 Chapman Street (right beside the shed as you drive into the property). We hope to add books to the Governor’s Restaurant “little library” (right in front of the entrance) soon! Time for Kids or Scholastic News We are still receiving copies of Time for Kids and Scholastic News in the mail here at school, so we have included copies of these newsletters with printed packets, instead of letting them go to waste. These are not required, but we thought they would be great reading material for students. If you are accessing materials digitally, visit https://www.timeforkids.com/ or https://scholasticnews.scholastic.com/ for some free links there! Thank you! Thank you to our food service workers, custodians, bus drivers, and other staff who prepared, organized, and delivered almost 12,000 meals today! This was a huge task that has helped so many of our families! "School is NOT closed for the year. The building is. If you listen closely you can hear the hum of hard working teachers, administrators, and support staff preparing to save the day in ways and means never seen before. Yes, we are brokenhearted, but these broken hearts will lead.” - Peyton Anderson

School Closure Family/Public Update 4/8/20 Commissioner's Recommendation We are aware of the Maine Department of Education Commissioner's recommendation to move to remote learning for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. As a school district, we are currently reacting to that recommendation and making long term plans. Please be patient as we adjust to this change. We will share updates as we get them. TOMORROW, THURSDAY 4/9 ONLY: Bus Meals and Required Work for Next Week 4/13-17 A reminder that required student work packets for next week, April 13-17, will ONLY be available by bus TOMORROW, Thursday, April 9th! This will be the only bus distribution of next week's materials. Please go out to your bus stop and ASK for the packets you need. Your other options are to access the materials digitally at www.rsu34.org or pick packets up tomorrow, Friday, or Monday at OTES, VRS or AES from 8-2, or tomorrow, Thursday 4/9 at the OTHS meal pick up site from 10-12. Seven days’ worth of meals will be distributed tomorrow 4/9 and the next meal distribution will be on Thursday 4/16. Missed this Week’s 4/6-4/10 Packet? Copies are always available at www.rsu34.org and will be available at OTES tomorrow, Thursday 4/9 and Friday 4/10 at OTES.

School Closure Family/Public Update 4/7/20 There are no new updates for today, just a reminder that you are doing a great job and our OTES staff is working hard to "have your back"!

School Closure Family/Public Update 4/6/20 Update on Meal Pick Up and Delivery: Change to Thursdays ONLY Beginning April 9th Meals will be available as usual from our OTHS tent and from our buses tomorrow Tuesday 4/7 and Wednesday 4/8 of this week. However, rules and waivers have changed several times since we began this program, and on April 9th we will make another change. We will consolidate our efforts and start sending home one week’s worth of breakfasts and lunches on Thursdays (one exception is noted below). This will minimize exposure for everyone, but it will require some planning on the part of parents and guardians. A 7-day menu with storage and preparation instructions will be included with the meals. On Thursday the OTHS tent will open at 10:00 AM and the buses will roll out as usual at 10:30 AM. Each child up to and including the age of 18 will receive a bag containing components for 7 breakfasts and 7 lunches. We will repeat this process again on April 16th following the same schedule. No Meals or Work During Spring Break April 20th-24th Please note that April 23rd falls during Spring Break, which is an anticipated closure. We will not be sending meals out that week, but will resume on April 30th and will continue weekly until the end of the school closure. Work will also not be assigned or distributed that week. Work for the week of April 27th-May 1st will be distributed digitally, by bus, or pick up on Thursday 4/16 and digitally or by pick up on Friday 4/17. Weekly Work Packet Distribution: Bus Option Change Given that bus routes are going to be Thursdays only starting this Thursday, April 9th. Please make sure you plan to be at your bus stop that day if you would like to pick up a work packet. Packets will still be available weekly on our website https://www.rsu34.org/covid19--2 and emailed parents and guardians at each grade level. Packets will still be available at pick up locations as well. Totes will be located at all three elementary schools on Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays from 8 AM-2 PM. The totes will be labeled for families to pick up the grade level packet(s) they need. There will also be a tote at the OTHS meal pick up site on Thursdays from 10 AM-12 PM. Beginning Today, Monday April 6th: Documenting Work Completion Please see your teacher’s communication for specific directions on documenting work completion throughout the week or on each Friday. Students will be marked present for the week if they have completed their teacher’s work requirements and absent if not. Questions about these procedures should first be directed to the classroom teacher and then to Dr. Tuell or Mrs. Mitchell if you have additional concerns.

School Closure Family/Public Update 4/3/20 LAST CALL: The last day to pick up required weekly work packets for the upcoming week is MONDAY, APRIL 6th! Each family can choose the option that works best for them to access the student work packet on Thursday, Friday or Monday for the upcoming week’s assignments. Electronic: Packets will be available weekly on our website https://www.rsu34.org/covid19--2 and emailed parents and guardians at each grade level. OR Pick Up Locations: Totes will be located at all three elementary schools and at the OTHS meal distribution site each Thursday, Friday and Monday. The totes will be labeled for families to pick up the grade level packet(s) they need. OR Bus Distribution: Packets will be available for pick up on the meal distribution bus routes on Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays. An adult or student must be at the bus stop to request their grade level packet. School Nurse Contact Our school nurse, CeCe Costello, is available to support our students and families. While she is not a replacement for your doctor’s office, she can be of assistance for questions, concerns, and support. Families are welcome to contact her at cece.costello@rsu34.org or leave a voicemail at 827-1544 ext. 308. She will be checking this voicemail regularly Monday through Friday. Mrs. Wilcox’s Bike Challenge Mrs. Wilcox is challenging our OTES students and staff to keep up with her bike riding. Please feel free to share your mileage and biking pictures with her at vicki.wilcox@rsu34.org so we can motivate each other to enjoy some physical fitness as we look forward to more spring weather!

School Closure Family/Public Update 4/2/20 Some Updated Information: Weekly Work Packet Distribution Options Friday 4/2/20 and Monday 4/6/20 Each family can choose the option that works best for them to access the student work packet on Thursday, Friday or Monday for the upcoming week’s assignments. Electronic: Packets will be available weekly on our website https://www.rsu34.org/covid19--2 and emailed parents and guardians at each grade level. OR Pick Up Locations: Totes will be located at all three elementary schools and at the OTHS meal distribution site each Thursday, Friday and Monday. The totes will be labeled for families to pick up the grade level packet(s) they need. Hours at OTES are 8-2. Hours at OTHS are 10-12. There is no need to notify us that you need a copy or will pick them up. OR Bus Distribution: Packets will be available for pick up on the meal distribution bus routes on Thursdays, Fridays, and Mondays. An adult or student must be at the bus stop to request their grade level packet. There is no need to request a packet ahead of time as all buses will have copies of every grade level. Beginning Monday 4/6/20: Documenting Work Completion Please see your teacher’s communication for specific directions on documenting work completion. Alton WiFi The public wifi is now open at Alton Elementary School. It is best accessed in front of the building and not in the staff parking lot. Facebook Notifications Not Working as Usual Today, our Facebook notifications are not functioning as they normally do. If you post a question there and don’t get a response, please contact your student’s teacher or Dr. Tuell (jeanna.tuell@rsu34.org) or Mrs. Mitchell (maggie.mitchell@rsu34.org) or use Facebook Messenger.

The buses that are coming around today to distribute lunches will have print copies of next week's work for students. If you would like to receive a hard copy, please come out to the bus for the packet your child needs. A hard copy can be picked up at OTES in the lobby.

School Closure Family/Public Update 4/1/20 Reminder: Weekly Work Packet Distribution Options Starting TOMORROW, Thursday 4/2/20 Each family can choose the option that works best for them to access the student work packet on Thursday, Friday or Monday for the upcoming week’s assignments. Electronic: Packets will be available weekly on our website https://www.rsu34.org/covid19--2 and emailed parents and guardians at each grade level. OR Pick Up Locations: Totes will be located at all three elementary schools and at the OTHS meal distribution site each Thursday, Friday and Monday. The totes will be labeled for families to pick up the grade level packet(s) they need. OR Bus Distribution: Packets will be available for pick up on the meal distribution bus routes on Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays. An adult or student must be at the bus stop to request their grade level packet. Thank You! Thank you to all who greeted us on the parade route today! We miss you and we’re happy to see the smiling faces of students, families, and others. Thank you to the staff who planned and participated in this event as well!

School Closure Family/Public Update 3/31/20 Weekly Work Packet Distribution Options Starting Thursday 4/2/20 Each family can choose the option that works best for them to access the student work packet on Thursday, Friday or Monday for the upcoming week’s assignments. Electronic: Packets will be available weekly on our website https://www.rsu34.org/covid19--2 and emailed parents and guardians at each grade level. OR Pick Up Locations: Totes will be located at all three elementary schools and at the OTHS meal distribution site each Thursday, Friday and Monday. The totes will be labeled for families to pick up the grade level packet(s) they need. OR Bus Distribution: Packets will be available for pick up on the meal distribution bus routes on Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays. An adult or student must be at the bus stop to request their grade level packet. Planning Ahead for April Vacation 4/20-4/24 No meals will be offered during April Vacation week Monday 4/20 through Friday 4/24. There will also be no required student work for that week. Alton Elementary School WiFi The installation of the Alton Elementary School public wifi is delayed, but will happen as soon as possible. Be Kind Pictures If you would like to send a picture of your student doing something kind or spelling a letter of kind in sign language, please email it to maggie.mitchell@rsu34.org for us to use later in a public post.

School Closure Family/Public Update 3/30/20 IMPORTANT: Digital Learning Packet or Paper Materials Distribution via Bus or Pick Up Each Thursday, Friday and Monday until further notice the learning packet for the week will be available at all three elementary schools, the OTHS meal pick up area, and on all bus routes. You must be out at your stop on one of these days to ask for the specific grade level packets you need! Each Thursday, the next week’s assignments will be available. All of these will be available electronically on our district website https://www.rsu34.org/covid19--2 if you do not require a paper copy. Please Check Your Spam/Junk Folder We are getting reports that some emails from our district are going to the junk/spam folder of the recipient. Please check this spot on your account to make sure you are not missing important information from your student's teacher. Thank you! Need for Food/Resource Center We have staff who have been working in our Resource Center bagging up food for families who need it. Please reach out to jennifer.goodwin@rsu34.org or call her at 207-370-8564 if your family is in need of food beyond our district’s meal distribution. Updated Online Resources We have updated our RSU #34 website with a COVID 19 section. It can currently be found by visiting rsu34.org, clicking on Menu, and then COVID 19. Soon, there will be an easy link on the homepage as well. Our OTES Facebook cover photo has updated contact information for our Resource Center and this image has been posted on our app as well. Don’t have our app? Go to your phone’s app store and search for RSU #34 ME and download our free app.