Panther Press
October 14, 2022
School Picture Information
*Picture Retake Day will be Tuesday, November 1st.
NWEA Starts Next Week!
- Arrive to school on time
- Have breakfast- remember that they can eat at school for free
- Go to bed at a reasonable time and get a good nights rest
October is Bullying Awareness Month, but exactly what is bullying?
Many times, people confuse rude and mean behavior with bullying. All three are unacceptable and do not follow our three school rules of being respectful, responsible, and safe. Here is the definition we use to determine whether or not someone is being bullied or there is an incident of bullying behavior:
“Bullying” includes, but is not limited to, a written, oral or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof directed at a student or students that:
(1) Has, or a reasonable person would expect it to have, the effect of:
(a) Physically harming a student or damaging a student’s property; or
(b) Placing a student in reasonable fear of physical harm or damage to the student’s property;
(2) Interferes with the rights of a student by:
(a) Creating an intimidating or hostile educational environment for the student; or
(b) Interfering with the student’s academic performance or ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or privileges provided by a school; or
(3) Is based on a student’s actual or perceived characteristics identified in Title 5, section 4602 or 4684-A, or is based on a student’s association with a person with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics or any other distinguishing characteristics and that has the effect described in subparagraph (1) or (2).
As you can see, it can be confusing, but our hope is that by helping students manage emotions and find the correct words to express what they need incidents of bullying will decrease.
Fire Safety Week @ PCS
DISMISSAL PROCEDURE FOR WALKERS & BIKERS
Students who are walking or riding a bike home from school will be released AFTER buses have left.
Covid Policy
For the 2022-2023 school year:
- Stay home if sick or showing symptoms.
- If an RSU 16 staff member or student is positive, call the school nurse or district nurse. We do not need a picture of the positive test.
- Students and staff will isolate for five (5) days with a positive test.
- Students and staff in RSU 16 who were positive and are able to return to school or work on Day 6 should wear a mask for days 6-10.
- RSU 16 will support personal choice for masking.
- Masks are available upon request.
- The choice will be respected and RSU 16 will not tolerate any form of harassment, peer pressure, or persuasion against an individual's masking choice or belief.
- If there is a positive member in the household, it is encouraged that you wear a mask at school for 10 days.
- RSU 16 will follow the Maine Department of Education Communicable Disease protocol and monitor for 15% or greater absenteeism.
- RSU 16 will discontinue exposure notification. This means you will no longer receive notification if you were potentially exposed.