Friday, October 22, 2021
Dear RSU 71 Students, Families, Staff, and Community Members,
In the past couple of weeks, many have observed that the two camps at war on the national and state scenes also exist in our community. As our collective pandemic patience peters, each side is increasingly exasperated with the other. Yet, I hope we can still communicate with one another in civil and respectful ways despite our differences. The truth is that we share a lot of common ground:
Parents, grandparents, and caregivers on both sides of the pandemic posts -- those who favor covid-19 vaccinations and masking and those who do not -- are worried for our children and young adults, though for different reasons.
We agree that each camp is increasingly angry, with some angry at liberals, the liberal media, and those who espouse a liberal agenda. But, in contrast, others are angry that anti-vaxers and anti-maskers are lengthening the timeframe during which we need to endure this blasted pandemic.
We agree that we want winter sports and other activities like theatre, band, and chorus to go forward as normally as possible for the sake of our students' well-being.
We agree -- whether we believe in the efficacy of masks as an essential mitigation strategy against the coronavirus, or we don't -- that masks are an immense annoyance. I look forward to having a community bonfire when we are on the other side of this pandemic and hope to gain permission from our Fire Chief to burn a mask as a symbol of the worst being behind us.
We agree that pooled testing will be a significant step toward normalcy and fewer quarantines.
We agree that we need to work hard to change the conversation about pandemic gloom and doom and remember to share the good news.
We agree that the anger on all sides is grounded in fear and exhaustion.
We agree that we always want to speak and communicate with respect for all students, families, and staff. We will do our best not to swear at one another or threaten one another.
Pandemic Data and Information
Pooled Testing Update - We regret not being able to roll the program out sooner, but we are happy to say that we're on track to begin very soon. The first day of testing at BAHS, BCOPE, and THMS (grades 6-12) will be Monday, November 1, and then weekly every Monday moving forward. We hope that the elementary schools will begin the following week, but we will update you before then.
At this time, we would like to re-open the online registration process to grades 6-12 only. The link to the Concentric registration site is https://testcenter.concentricbyginkgo.com/minor-consent.
Access codes are as follows:
TROY HOWARD/6ZY1I3
BAHS/PYHG3H
BCOPE/X2O7L3
If you have already registered your child, you do NOT need to do this again. However, if you have a question about whether your child's registration has been processed, please get in touch with your child's school nurse.
The online registration will be open FOR NEW REGISTRATIONS moving forward. Any registration received before Wednesday at noon will be added to the following week's testing schedule.
We sincerely thank you for your continued patience and support as we navigate this pandemic together.
Vaccinations for Students Aged 5 - 11 - Inoculation from the coronavirus will soon be available for children who are 5 - 11! We will be hosting vaccination clinics in November in our schools. Stay tuned!
Pandemic Data - Here is the pandemic data for the week, from Friday, October 15 at 9:00 am through Friday, October 22 at 9:00 am.
Immunization update/request
On September 1, 2021, LD 798 went into effect, eliminating religious and philosophical exemptions to vaccinations. Since then, we have learned that during the public comment period following this law going into effect, the decision was made to require two varicella vaccines for ALL students K-12 instead of the previous one. This decision is effective immediately. Your child's school nurse will be in contact with you shortly if your child requires a 2nd varicella vaccine. We realize the frustration with this announcement and are here to support you and your family while still needing to adhere to this law.
Good News and Information
BAHS - BAHS Glassblowing at Waterfall Arts
RSU 71 Elementary Librarian- Kristen Byrer:
Sir David Amess, MP (Member of Parliament), was a kind and funny person who genuinely cared about his constituents and truly wanted to help everyone. I lived in the UK and worked for MP Amess during the summer of 2005 study abroad session. It was an opportunity of a lifetime. During that summer, I visited Southend-on-Sea with my MP David Amess for a constituents' surgery, tabled a Prime Minister's question while Tony Blair was Prime Minister, saw London win their Olympic bid, met Jane Goodall, went to a reception in Winston Churchill's bunker under Whitehall, climbed the Elizabeth Tower to hear Big Ben chime noon, and ate fish and chips on the Southend Pier in Essex. We were sadly in London during the 7 July terrorist attacks too. He touched many peoples' lives, and I hope we can all continue to share David and his family's message of kindness and love.
Ames - https://waldo.villagesoup.com/2021/10/15/model-aircraft-carrier-delights-ames-students/
Curriculum Development: Kindergarten teachers worked together on Monday to review and revise their social studies curriculum standards based on new standards from Maine DOE (Department of Education). Standards cover four broad areas; Civics and Government, Geography, Personal Finance, and Economics and History. In addition, teachers used the standards to map out units of study. Next week Grade 1 teachers will meet to do this important work. Then, at the end of the school year, the new curriculum will go before the Board of Directors for review and adoption.
Professional Development: Grades K/1 and 2/3 teachers worked with our Mathematics Specialists today. The focus is shifting teachers' mindset about what fluency means in an elementary math class. Teachers are grappling with ideas like:
efficiency, flexibility, and accuracy over speed
understanding where automaticity fits into fluency
the use of a variety of strategies (visual, physical, verbal, symbolic, contextual) to build understanding
understanding algorithms as one kind of strategy (there are many more kinds of strategies)
accessing fluency by assessing efficiency, flexibility, and accuracy
students experiencing number combination through counting, then deriving to get to automaticity.
students experiencing foundational number combinations before they can derive other number combinations.
This is a lot of work for our teachers as they show their ability to be flexible and learn new ways to think about how students attain math skills. This work will continue throughout the school year.
Belfast Lions Club - Belfast Lions Club hosts the first annual Ghostly Gallop 5K on Saturday, October 30, 2021, in front of BAHS. Run, jog or walk in this event! Costumes, kids, and dogs are all welcome! Help raise money for a good cause. All proceeds go back into the community. Here is the link for early registration. Or show up that morning to participate. Hope to see you there!
https://runsignup.com/Race/Register/?raceId=73685
Maintenance / Custodian Department - Welcome Ernie Moores to the High School Custodian Team.
School Safety - Our Student Resource Officer has completed the 2 part course on the CSTAG course "Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines." Congratulations, SRO Rick Smith!
https://mainedoenews.net/2021/10/13/behavioral-threat-assessment-free-training-opportunity/
THMS- Our 6th graders had an opportunity to support Belfast's Million Daffodils Project this week with a large planting between the school and the YMCA. We can't wait to see what blooms!
That's it for this week. As always, please feel free to reach out to staff and me with questions, concerns, good news, and good ideas. Please continue to be kind and civil to one another and all of our staff members, who work very hard to give our students the very best in difficult circumstances.
Sincerely,
Mary Alice
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