Dear MJHS Families,
We are excited to welcome all of our 4th graders, new and current students back to school. I hope you are all doing fantastic and enjoying the long, sunny days of summer. Since last March, the COVID-19 pandemic stretched our community, families and our schools to the max. Staff have been working extremely hard for the reopening of our schools for the 2020-2021 school year as we awaited the guidelines of both the Maine Department of Education and the Center for Disease Control. On August 5, 2020, the RSU No. 67 Board of directors chose to open our schools with all students attending and also providing a full remote synchronous(real time) option. On August 19, 2020. The school board also voted to move the first student day to September 8, 2020. This letter contains a great deal of information. I encourage you to read everything carefully and review it with your middle schooler so everyone can be prepared to start school out on the right foot. Please help prepare your child for the ways in which school will look very different than it did when they left back in March. Much as things look different now when you go anywhere, school is going to be different too.
Here are a few highlighted changes that you can start talking about now:
Each student MUST complete the symptom check daily before coming to school and follow the guidance listed for each question.
The rooms that were previously used for art, music, PE, cafeteria and library will now be used as classrooms. The gymnasium has been converted to three classrooms to be used by three 8th grade classes and the fourth will be in the cafeteria. There will be three 20ft x 30ft tents that will be used for music and other classes when applicable.
There will be staggered start times for MJHS. Grades 4-6 will arrive between 7:15-7:30 and will depart between 2:00-2:15. Grades 7 and 8 will arrive between 8:15-8:30 and depart between 3:00 and 3:15. If you are dropping your child off to school, use the designated drop-off area just before the bike rack. Please do not drop your child off directly in front of the school because there will be increased bus traffic with a tighter drop-off window.
Hallways have new signage indicating traffic flow expectations, social distancing markers, and hygiene protocols.
There are alcohol based hand sanitizer pump stations located strategically around the building. We will be teaching safe hygiene practices.
Teachers and staff will be wearing face coverings.
Students will report directly to their first period classroom upon arrival to school. They will get breakfast delivered to them in their homeroom
Each classroom will be arranged in front facing rows with student desks spaced six feet apart from side to side and front to back. Seating will be assigned.
Lockers will not be used at this time. Instead, students will carry their belongings with them in their backpacks.
All students will eat their lunch in their classroom.
First student day will be September 8, 2020
FACE COVERINGS
The governor has mandated that staff and students wear face coverings during school. We will comply with this mandate and expect that all students will come to school prepared to wear an appropriate face covering. We will have face covering breaks throughout the day, but students should be prepared to wear their covering for the majority of their time in school. Should your child forget their face covering at home, we will provide a disposable one to use for the day. Should a child refuse to wear their face covering, we will first ask them to please comply with the expectation. If the student continues to refuse, please know they will not be allowed at school. I hope that we are all able to avoid a face covering struggle because we understand how difficult this is going to be. Just be confident that we will do our best not to make this a major event but it is our responsibility to make sure kids are masked for the safety of our school community. I really hope to avoid face covering battles and that everyone will do their best to follow this particular rule. I am recommending that you start introducing your child to wearing a mask for longer periods of time. I am sure that they have used one here or there but not for a prolonged amount of time. If they do not practice now, this will be an extremely difficult transition.
Here is the language about face masks directly from the Maine Department of Education Adults, including educators and staff, are required to wear a mask/face covering. Students age five and above are required to wear a mask/face covering that covers their nose and mouth. (Updated 7/31/20) Masks are recommended for children ages two to four, when developmentally appropriate. (Updated 7/31/20). Masks/face coverings must be worn by all students on the bus. Face shields may be an alternative for those students with documented medical or behavioral challenges who are unable to wear masks/face coverings. (Updated 8/12/20). The same applies to staff with medical or other health reasons for being unable to wear face coverings. Face shields worn in place of a face covering must extend below the chin and back to the ears.
Next week we will send more details about your child's schedule. We are creating a video orientation that should help remove some of the surprise of these changes, and we ask that you share it with your child prior to their first day. This will be shared with families a little closer to the start of school. While it is our goal to have all students back at school for in-person instruction, we recognize that it is necessary for us to be prepared for a hybrid or remote learning model. If this happens it will be because there are health and safety recommendations that require smaller group sizes and a greater degree of physical distancing. Please be ready as plans could change and adjust dramatically overnight. Finally, thank you for all that you can do in advance to help your middle schooler prepare for the return to school. We are all very much looking forward to seeing them again soon!
Sincerely,
Christopher Cowing
Principal, Mattanawcook Junior High School