Dear RSU 71 Students, Families, Staff, School Board and Community Members,
I hope that each of you enjoyed some cozy time over Thanksgiving. Ours was the most peaceful we've ever had as it was just my husband, our two sons, and our faithful black labrador, Reb. We missed being with extended family but thoroughly enjoyed how well the boys get along with each other these days -- adult children can be a joy! I ate way too much turkey and pie, of course, but I don't regret a single bite (despite my clothes seeming to have shrunk a bit).
COVID - 19 Update - Today, the Maine Center of Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Education announced that Waldo County is still in GREEN mode. So we in RSU 71 will stay the course, keeping grades K-8 in the GREEN/In-person mode and grades 9 - 12 in the YELLOW/Hybrid mode. So far, we have had five positive cases of the coronavirus in individuals associated with RSU 71 schools, all of whom are now fully recovered: two at BAHS, one at THMS, one at CASS, and one at Ames. The cases were not connected, and there is no evidence of transmission in the schools. All the confirmed cases' primary contacts were quarantined, and none of their tests came back positive.
Please keep up the excellent work regarding wearing masks, keeping social distance, washing hands thoroughly as often as possible, and using hand sanitizer when soap and water are not immediately accessible. Our teachers and other staff's most significant challenges at the front lines are keeping students distanced from one another. Anything that parents, grandparents, and guardians can do to remind their children-- little ones can be reminded to fly like a bird with arms outstretched like wings -- will be super appreciated by educators.
You may have seen in the news that the United States CDC has changed some of its guidelines about release from quarantine, but Maine CDC has not yet done so. We must follow the Maine CDC guidelines. If the Maine CDC changes its guidelines, we will then re-evaluate our protocols.
Additional information can be found here:
Please feel free to contact our talented administrators and nurses, and to contact me. This update will be Robo-emailed to all families and posted on the district website and my blog.
Wishing you all many moments of comfort and joy this holiday season,
Mary Alice
