Scarborough Public Schools
Weekly Newsletter - May 14, 2021
Message from the Superintendent
Dear Friends,
We continue to be very excited to have heard this week that our 12-15 year olds can be put on the list to be vaccinated. Earlier in the week we sent a message out to our school community on this. In case you missed it please click on the link here.
The Governor's office announced today that the State of Maine will adopt the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (U.S. CDC) new guidance which allows fully vaccinated Americans not to wear face coverings indoors, effective May 24, 2021. The Maine Department of Education’s requirements and recommendations for schools, along with other Federal requirements, have NOT changed and remain in effect at this time. Additional federal guidance from the U.S. CDC for schools and other venues is expected to be coming soon, and we will keep you updated as any new changes occur.
This week we also learned that the school funding proposal was encouraging in that the proposal is to fund Maine schools at 55%. This long-sought goal of 55 percent contribution to the total cost of pre-K through grade 12 public education is positive news. This will move the needle to ensure we have a basic level of funding for public schools available to all children.
It is that time of year when we begin to celebrate and honor the class of 2021. Many exciting events are planned for our seniors including graduation. Scarborough's graduation will be one of the most memorable days for our graduates and families. It will begin at 7:00 pm at Cross Insurance Arena on June 13th. Congratulations on our soon to be graduates of the Class of 2021!
Sincerely,
Sanford Prince
Weekly SPS COVID-19 Update
Vaccination Updates - All Maine Residents Ages 12+
All Maine residents age 12 and older are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.
Scarborough Schools has teamed up with Northern Lights to offer Covid-19 vaccine clinics for anyone 12 and over! On Monday, May 10, the FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine for anyone 12 years of age and older. In an effort to assist families, we will be offering two vaccination clinics (see the table below). The clinics are scheduled for either a Cohort A Wednesday, or a Cohort B Wednesday. Cohort C student are eligible to come to either clinic. Like adults, children receiving the vaccines will need two doses. Keep in mind that it is important that your child(ren) are available for both clinics in order to be fully vaccinated.
In order to assist Northern Light in preparation and planning, if you would like to have your child(ren) participate in the clinics, please complete the brief questionnaire below. Please complete a questionnaire for each of your children (12+) that you would like to receive the vaccination. There will be much more detailed information to come, including a parental/guardian consent form. As long as there is a signed consent form on file, a parent/guardian will not need to be present with their child on the day of the clinic. There will be no out of pocket expense for families. Please complete this questionnaire by Monday, May 17th.
FREE Transportation to COVID-19 Vaccination Sites
Spring Assessment Information
As the assessments themselves are new and the accountability and reporting will look different (they will not be used or reported publicly as they have been in the past, per DOE communication as they currently are seeking a federal waiver for accountability). Please know that in any case, we will not be using the state assessment data to make instructional or program decisions. In fact, the MEA Science assessment is an operational field test with no items available from which students can practice other than to learn how to navigate the online assessment.
We will continue to use the i-Ready Diagnostic data this spring to assess growth from fall to spring and identify areas for curriculum improvements for reading and math. As there is overlap with both the state test and i-Ready, we will analyze and compare data from both to determine assessment planning for next year. We are quite concerned about over testing our students both this spring and next year.
Click here for additional information on the spring assessments as well as opting out of state testing.
Author Visits Our K-2 Schools - Virtually
Samara Cole Doyon's Visit to Pleasant Hill School
This year's Lupine Book Award winner, Samara Cole Doyon visited Pleasant Hill School this past Tuesday to meet with students, share how her book came to be, how she uses similes in her book, and also to answer questions from the students. Samara will be visiting all three schools ths spring.
Advice from Samara Cole Doyon: write, write, write...
Upcoming SPS Events - Mark Your Calendar!
- May 18 - Town Council/School Board FY22 Budget Review
- May 19 - Town Council Finance Committee FY22 Budget Review
- May 20 - School Board Meeting & 2nd Reading of the FY22 Budget
- May 26 - Town Council Meeting & 2nd Reading of the FY22 Budget
- May 31 - Memorial Day Holiday
Final Week of 2020-2021 School Year
Cohort A will turn in devices on their last day on June 15. There will not be remote instruction June 16- 18.
Cohort B will turn in devices on their last in person day(s) June 18.
Cohort C will be complete on June 18. Families should return devices to their respective school.
Cohort D students may follow their individualized schedules through June 18.
ESY or summer academy students will keep their current device.
2021-2022 Kindergarten Registration Packets are Available
Kindergarten registration packets are now to be ready to downloaded! You will need to print the packet before dropping it off at your school; unfortunately we do not have online registration at this time. Download the 2021-2022 Kindergarten Registration packet by clicking here.
If you need a packet mailed to you, please contact:
LyndaLee Landry at Blue Point:
llandry@scarboroughschools.org
Maureen Kirsch at Eight Corners:
mkirsch@scarboroughschools.org
Laurie Olore at Pleasant Hill:
Families will be able to drop off completed paperwork beginning Wednesday, May 5th at the school their child will attend. Due to physical distancing requirements we will ask families to sign up for a Wednesday afternoon time slot (1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.). The sign up link will be in the same email notification with the registration paperwork but just in case you are planning ahead, the dates will be May 5th, May 12th, May 19th and May 26th.
Fully Remote Preparedness Plans
Health & Safety
Please make sure you review the UPDATED Student Health Self Assessment questions EVERY DAY before sending your child off to school.
TOGETHER, we can make our schools as safe as possible!
Links to Our Schools
Services & Information
Spec. Services | Alison Marchese, amarchese@scarboroughschools.org
Food Services | Peter Esposito, pesposito@scarboroughschools.org
Athletics & Activities | Mike LeGage, mlegage@scarboroughschools.org
Curriculum I Monique Culbertson, mculbertson@scarboroughschools.org
Community Services | Todd Souza, tsouza@scarboroughmaine.org
Tech Support
For technology assistance with SPS student laptops, please send a message to techsupport@scarboroughschools.org and someone from Technology will be in touch to assist you.
Scarborough Schools
Website: www.scarboroughschools.org
Location: 259 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
Phone: (207) 730-4100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scarbmeschools/
Twitter: @scarbmeschools