Mattanawcook Jr. High School

December 10, 2020

 Dear Students and Families,

 As we prepare to bring our students back for hybrid instruction starting on December 14^th, I want to give you the most up-to-date information regarding the Maine CDC and Department of Education (DOE) recommendations for masking and social distancing, which RSU No. 67 schools are following. They were updated on November 20^th, and explained to the in-person students at MJHS on November 23^rd, but I know parents and white day hybrid students may not have this information yet.

Please click this link for the complete DOE priority notice specifying the updated changes, paying special attention to the sections titled “Increase structure around mask breaks” and “Swapping out damp or soiled masks”. https://mailchi.mp/maine/cu5lemq6y0-1322296?e=4f16ec1299

To summarize, if students or staff are taking a mask break, or eating/drinking with their mask off, they need to face forward/the same direction and cannot talk. They also must be still, a minimum of 6’ apart, and seated if possible. Once students have finished eating their lunch, they will have an opportunity to socialize/turn-and-talk when their mask is back on as long as those seated around them also have their masks on. There is a new limitation for the total length of all mask breaks to be a maximum of 15 minutes per day in addition to the time they spend eating and/or drinking, and a single mask break is limited to 5 minutes. Masks may become damp or soiled during the day, so please send your students with extra masks and baggies or containers they can use to store their washable masks if this happens. We do have disposable masks and baggies at school if needed.

Another important reminder is that masks must cover the mouth and nose completely other than during mask breaks. If a mask does not fit properly, students will be asked to adjust it or given a better-fitting mask to replace it.

In order to maintain the safety of all staff and students, these expectations will be enforced and students will be moved from in-person to remote instruction if they are unwilling to comply. I’m asking that you discuss these changes at home before sending students back to school.

Sincerely,

 

Sarah Hainer

MJHS Interim Principal