IMPORTANT UPDATE

Dear Parents/Guardians,

On May 24th, the Governor’s Moving Maine Forward Plan and recent announcement regarding CDC’s new guidance go into effect lifting restrictions on capacity limits, physical distancing, and masking for those fully vaccinated. Although all of the new guidance does not apply to schools, the Maine DOE has released updated Public Health Guidance and Standard Operating Procedures. Below are the items that impact our programming the most:

• Indoor masking protocols for students and staff will remain in place.

• Eating and drinking still requires 6' distancing for all

• Outdoor masking and physical distancing protocols will no longer be in effect (students may take their mask off during recess and outdoor classes).

• Adult distancing requirements have been removed.

• Distancing related to music went from 14’ to 6’.

• Those who are vaccinated and asymptomatic do not need to quarantine if deemed close contacts and those participating in pooled testing* and are asymptomatic do not need to quarantine for any school-related events if they are deemed close contacts (this applies to school sports, extracurricular activities, and school functions). The quarantine exemption does not apply to community-based activities including, for example, club sports, and Girl Scouts.

* We will evaluate the requirements of Pooled PCR Testing (see page 4) and determine its feasibility for the return to school this fall.

COVID VACCINE CLINIC

York County Emergency Management and MaineHealth vaccinated 247 students (12+) at the COVID vaccine clinic held this week at BHS. We heard from many parents that they were grateful for this convenient option to have their child vaccinated prior to the end of the school year. PLEASE NOTE: Due to the Biddeford School Budget Election on Tuesday, June 8th in BHS Tiger Gym, ALL vaccine second doses will occur on Wednesday, June 9th at BHS Tiger Gym. As this date is now an in-person school day for grade 5-12 students, we will coordinate students to have their vaccine while in school, if desired. If parents prefer to accompany their child, they may attend the BHS clinic with them. Please watch for a separate communication on specific details.

If your child missed the original clinic, you may schedule an appointment or attend a walk-in at various other clinics in our area through one of these links: MaineHealth Clinics, Northern Light Health Clinics, CVS, or Walgreens. If you would like more information, have concerns, or are still evaluating if your child (12+) will receive the COVID vaccine, we have included an educational video here (and included below) hosted by the Maine DOE with Maine physicians and infectious disease experts.

FINAL WEEKS OF SCHOOL

As we head into the last three weeks of school, please note the changes to the school calendar and important dates listed below. We continue to finalize plans for our summer programming and learn of other community opportunities for student engagement which we will share in future communications.

• Monday, May 31st: Memorial Day - No School

• Wednesday, June 2nd: Half-day IN-PERSON instruction for all students K-12. Elementary grades will be released at 11:20am and BMS/BHS at 12:20pm.

• Friday, June 4th: BHS Senior Assembly (9:15am) & Graduation (6pm)
  
  

• Tuesday, June 8th:

• Biddeford School Budget Election, 7am-8pm

• Dayton Consolidated 5th Grade Graduation, 6pm
  
  

• Wednesday, June 9th:

• Full-day IN-PERSON instruction for all students K-12.

• COVID Vaccine Clinic for second doses (more information to come)

• Thursday, June 10th: BMS Promotion, 6pm
  
  

• Friday, June 11th: Last Day of School for all PreK-12 Students & Remote Learners
  
  

• Click here for a complete list of End of Year events by School.

ESEA REPORT CARDS

The federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that all school districts and schools make available annual school and district report cards to parents and communities that include data on student achievement, educator qualifications, and per-pupil expenditures. We are pleased to share this information with our parents and community and welcome your support and involvement in helping to improve the performance of our students and our schools. All ESEA report cards are now housed within the ESEA Dashboard. The ESEA Dashboard is available here: https://www.maine.gov/doe/dashboard.

EMERGENCY HELP FOR FAMILIES

The Biden Administration has launched the Emergency Broadband Benefit program which provides a discount of $50/month to eligible households for broadband access. We recognize that the high cost of internet service can be a real barrier for families whose children are trying to access their education. To see if you're eligible and to apply, visit GetEmergencyBroadband.org

Stay Well,

Jeremy Ray

Superintendent of Schools

Congratulations to Christine Goulet on being named the 2021 York County Teacher of the Year! Ms. Goulet has been educating youth for 18 years and teaches 2nd grade at Biddeford Primary School. “Mrs. Goulet’s personality is infectious. Each day, she greets her students with a big smile and laughter. Perhaps she has chosen her outfit to align with her thematic instruction or adorn an unusual accessory to bring her lessons to life. The students want to be with her each day as they are all important in the learning community that she has cultivated. Mrs. Goulet’s growth mindset is remarkable, and helps to lead the work within her building and district,” said Director of Innovation and Curriculum Mandy Cyr in her nomination.

As part of the Maine Teacher of the Year Program, hundreds of teachers across Maine are nominated by a member of their school community. Through a rigorous application process, one teacher from each county is selected as the County Teacher of the Year by a panel of teachers, principals, and business community members within the county.

Read more in yesterday’s Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier article or check out her announcement at 38:40 in the Maine DOE and Educate Maine video!

There is no doubt our School Nurses have worked tirelessly this year. They not only had to stay up-to-date on ever-changing guidelines and requirements but they have become expert contact tracers to support the Maine CDC’s efforts. They expanded their healthcare role to include support and education to parents around all things COVID, including close contacts, quarantining, isolation, traveling, rapid testing and more. We are very grateful for their hard work in taking care of our students and supporting our parents - THANK YOU!

• JFK - Jessica Wasco, RN

• BPS - Cassandra Jacques, RN

• BIS - Alexandria Oliver, RN

• BMS - Joan Luciano, RN

• BHS, APC & COT - Krystal Taschereau, RN

• Dayton Consolidated - Jennifer Aguirre, RN

Email: closurequestions@biddefordschools.me
Website: www.biddefordschools.me/health
Location: 18 Maplewood Avenue, Biddeford, ME, USA
Phone: 207-391-6868
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biddefordschooldepartment/
Twitter: @BiddefordSchDpt