April 9, 2021
Dear Portland Public Schools families, staff and community members,
We’re continuing our weekly communications with you about our plans for increasing in-person learning across grade levels. This week’s update includes a reminder about a schedule adjustment next week for elementary and middle school students so teachers can prepare for the transition, information about vaccines and health and safety protocols, an overview of our summer learning program planning, a link to our new Spring Reopening website, and more.
Casco Bay High School successfully launched its new hybrid two-day-per-week schedule for grade 10-12 students on April 5. Deering and Portland are ready to do the same this Monday, April 12. Thank you to staff, students and families for working together to ensure the success of these changes.
As a reminder, we are adjusting the schedules of most elementary and middle school students this coming week. The schedule change is to give staff time to make sure they and their classrooms are ready on the Monday after spring break – April 26 – when students return four days per week. On Wednesday, April 14, there will be no remote work for elementary and middle school students. Also, no elementary or middle school student cohorts will attend school in person on Thursday, April 15. Instead, that day will be a remote learning day for ALL students. April break starts Friday, April 16, so that’s a day with no students or staff.
These schedule adjustments will NOT apply to students attending Peaks and Cliff island schools or Remote Academy – which all will continue with their regular schedules. Also, students in our district special education programs – Breathe Day Treatment and Beach – will keep to their normal schedules.
UPDATES ON HEALTH AND SAFETY
Although the state lists Cumberland County as “green” and the number of COVID cases has declined since the winter peak, we remain concerned about COVID cases in our area. We believe that with increased vaccinations and testing and data showing lower transmission in schools as compared to the community, it is safe to add more students at this time. However, it is vital that everyone – students, staff and families – continues to abide by our health and safety measures, including masking and physical distancing, not just at school but outside of the home. Also, please heed the latest travel guidance over April break. For those who are eligible, please get vaccinated. We’ll keep on quarantining unvaccinated students and staff as needed and will continue to adapt our plans based on evidence and data.
Here are a few specific updates:
- Student vaccine information: This past Wednesday, all Mainers 16 and older became eligible to receive a vaccination against COVID-19. We are working with our state and community partners to assist eligible students to get appointments in the coming weeks. Families may contact their child’s healthcare provider to schedule a vaccination or go to Maine’s COVID-19 vaccination website for up-to-date information on locations accepting appointments.
The CDC says that a vaccination against COVID is safe for those 16 and older. While vaccinations are not required for school attendance at this time, we encourage students 16 and older to get a vaccine when they have the opportunity. We are committed to working to provide accessible options to the extent possible. Currently, the school district does not have any mechanism to offer vaccinations to students. We have let the state know we are interested in assisting in any way we can to get students 16-years old and above vaccinated.
- Close Contact Determinations: The state has released an updated Standard Operation Procedure about responding to positive COVID cases. A key change is that if a class maintains assigned seats, fewer students will be considered close contacts and require quarantine. This guidance is not intended as a mandate that students can’t move and must stay in seats. We support teachers engaging students, within our health and safety protocols, with appropriate instructional activities. Seat assignments are generally most appropriate at the high school and middle school levels. Some staff may use this tool, where appropriate, to minimize the number of close contacts in the event of a positive case.
SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING
This summer, perhaps more than any other, we know that many of our students will need additional support – both academic and social-emotional – to be prepared for what we hope will be a full return to school this fall and for their future learning journeys. We are in the process of planning for a variety of summer programs to help students reconnect to school, as well as to their peers and teachers.
We are able to use our federal Coronavirus relief funds to pay for this important work. We’re focusing on providing varied high-engagement opportunities that will address students’ immediate and long-term learning needs and that help them feel seen, challenged and supported. We are currently designing district, school-based, and community-based programming. We will be sharing more specifics early next month to help families plan for their students' summer learning. Stay tuned!
VOLUNTEERS/VISITORS IN SCHOOLS
We have received questions about allowing volunteers and visitors back in our schools as we make this transition to more in-person learning. However, to continue to protect staff and student health and safety, we have decided to retain our policy of limiting non-school staff or visitors in our schools throughout the remainder of this school year while school is in session. We expect this to change for the fall and will be working toward developing a new policy, which may include requiring that visitors provide proof of vaccination.
SPRING REOPENING WEBSITE
To make it easier for you to keep track of all this information, we have revised sections of the reopening website to reflect these updates so everyone can reference that page for the most recent guidance.
I will close with a huge shout out to all our staff, who are working very hard to make these transitions possible. Thank you also to our students and families for doing your part by being vigilant about following our health and safety protocols. Cooperating together, we can ensure that these next steps to enhance our students’ learning experience for the remainder of this school year are successful.
Sincerely,
Xavier Botana, Superintendent
|
|
|
HEALTH AND SAFETY UPDATES
|
|
|
|
The Portland Public Schools puts out a weekly COVID advisory each Friday. It includes the number of positive cases associated with our schools during the past week and any outbreak declarations or building closures as a result. Staff, families and staff at impacted schools are immediately notified of positive cases and closings, but the weekly advisory is an effort to keep the broader PPS community informed. The advisory is posted at the end of the day on Fridays in the District Spotlight section of the district's homepage. Here’s the link to the April 9th update.
|
|
|
NEW IMMUNIZATION LAW (COVERING NON-COVID-RELATED IMMUNIZATIONS REQUIRED TO ATTEND SCHOOL)
|
|
|
As of September 2021, a new state law, LD 798, will go into effect. It states that philosophical or religious immunization exemptions are no longer allowed for school attendance. If you are unsure of your student’s vaccination status, please contact your school nurse. It can take 6 months to catch up on required vaccinations. Details of the new law can be found here: LD798.
|
|
|
SCHOOL BOARD WILL VOTE ON THE
FY22 BUDGET ON APRIL 13
|
|
|
At its April 6th business meeting, the Portland Board of Public Education received the recommended FY22 Budget from the Board's Finance Committee. A public hearing was also held. On April 13th, the Board will vote to recommend an FY22 school budget to the Portland City Council. Public comment will also be held. Check out the FY22 budget calendar for meeting schedule. You can also view Budget Development materials at this link. Go to BoardDocs to view agendas and get more information. Zoom links to meetings will also be posted on this platform as well as on our social media.
|
|
|
|
EMERGENCY BROADBAND BENEFIT PROGRAM FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS
|
|
A new $3.2 billion federal initiative, called the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, can help lower the cost of high-speed internet for eligible households during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible households can get benefits that include up to $50/month discount for broadband services and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider. Households that are eligible include the following, if one member of the household:
- Qualifies for the Lifeline program, including those who are on Medicaid or receive SNAP benefits;
- Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, or did so in the 2019- 2020 school year;
- Experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020, and
- The household had a total income in 2020 below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers.
Click HERE for more information on other household eligibility categories and benefits. Click HERE to begin the application.
|
|
|
DHS SENIOR TOP WINNER AT SCIENCE FAIR
|
|
|
Linh Nguyen, a senior at Deering High School, is the First Place Grand Award winner in the 2021 Maine State Science Fair. Linh came out on top among the nearly 160 students competing for prestigious state titles and more than $1 million in scholarships and awards. She won for her research on how carbon nanotubes could be used as an inexpensive remover of arsenic in drinking water systems. In other news, Linh also is the winner of a prestigious national 4-year-scholarship. Learn more.
|
|
|
|
KMS MUSIC TEACHER PART OF MAINE KIDS ROCK INITIATIVE FOR 2021-2022
|
|
|
APRIL 2021 IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH
IN MAINE
|
|
|
MDOE SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ATTACKS ON ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS
|
|
|
The Maine Department of Education issued a statement in April taking a stance against the demonstrations of hate and violence endured by our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) friends and neighbors. The statement says, “We understand that discussions about discrimination and violence can be emotional and at times difficult to navigate for both educators and our students.” With that in mind, the Maine DOE has created a resource page to help support these conversations in our classrooms. It also has a webpage on Personal, Student, and Staff Reflection and Engagement to help educators and students to take time to reflect on our own biases and beliefs and help us understand how we see the world around us. Learn more.
|
|
|
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL WEEK!
|
|
| National Assistant Principals Week is April 5–9, 2021! The Portland Public Schools joins NASSP, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the American Federation of School Administrators in honoring the enormous contributions of assistant principals to student success. This year, our celebration takes on even greater significance as we recognize all that assistant principals have conquered amid the pandemic and consider what their ever-expanding and evolving role might look like moving forward. Through it all, America’s assistant principals have demonstrated unwavering leadership—becoming a source of strength and inspiration for us all. Please send a shout out and/or appreciation to your child's Assistant Principal. |
|
|
PORTLAND PHOENIX STORY FEATURES
OAES HEAD CUSTODIAN
Donna Colello, head custodian at Ocean Avenue Elementary School and a finalist for a national Custodian of the Year contest, is featured in this April 7 Portland Phoenix story: “Making Portland Work: Custodian helps city schools maintain clean bill of health”. Read the story here.
Here is the link to vote through April 16 to help Donna and her school win recognition and prizes. Each person can vote once a day.
|
|
|
Note to Newsletter Subscribers
To change mailing preferences or unsubscribe, open the newsletter, scroll to the bottom of the page, and follow the instructions. If you have other questions and feedback, contact us at communications@portlandschools.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
