March 20, 2020
Dear Families/Caregivers and Colleagues:
Wednesday was a remarkable day for MSAD 11! Thanks to our amazing staff, especially Linda Sergent, Director of Child Nutrition and our entire food service team, over 3,600 free meals (3 breakfasts and 3 lunches per student) were prepared for distribution to families. In addition, 10 days worth of learning materials were made available to all Pre-K - Grade 12 students. I am proud of the way our staff came together to provide all our students and families with educational materials along with three days worth of nutritional meals. Thank you all!
Below is an update on various matters:
School Closure
Due to the state of civil emergency and the recommendation from the governor to cease classroom instruction during this period, the closure of all MSAD 11 schools has been extended to Friday, April 24. We will continue to monitor the conditions and reassess the situation in late April.
Members of the public are not permitted to enter any of the MSAD 11 facilities, including the Central Office, in order to continue our deep cleaning routine and keep our on-site staff safe. To reach the Central Office or any one of the schools, please call and if no one answers, leave us a detailed message and someone will return your call as soon as we are able.
Student Learning Plans
Staff worked hard to prepare up to 10 days worth of learning materials that were distributed on Wednesday and are intended to offer opportunities to learn from March 23 - April 3, 2020. If your child hasn’t secured his or her materials, you may go to the school on Monday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. to pick them up. If your child is in grade 6-12 and you haven’t picked up a laptop, please do so on Monday. If you need help to do that, reach out to your building principal or Central Office at 582-5346 and leave a message.
Classroom teachers and other MSAD 11 professionals will be regularly reaching out to students and families to offer support, answer questions, and share ideas for ways to practice learning at home. We also understand that these are unusual times and that your family may need to focus solely on developing a new routine and supporting one another rather than following the suggestions offered by our staff. We completely understand. When your child is ready to check out the learning options, our staff will be ready to support you by phone or email.
The administrative team will be meeting over the next few days to devise a plan for how we may further support any continued learning through the month of April.
Free Meals to MSAD 11 Students
Understanding that this is an ever evolving situation, MSAD 11 will continue to distribute meals on Mondays and Wednesdays for all long as we are able to keep our staff safe and receive the food and supplies deliveries needed. If you have not yet signed up for meals and wish to do so, you may sign-up on-line at www.msad11.org or call 582-5346. As a reminder, meals can be picked up as follows:
· Pick Up Locations - 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
o Gardiner Area High School
o Gardiner Regional Middle School
o River View Community School
o Laura E. Richards School
o Downtown Gardiner in the parking lot behind the library
o Pittston-Randolph Consolidated School
o East Pittston United Methodist Church,
o Randolph Town Office
o Helen Thompson School
o Fuller’s Market - West Gardiner
· Pick Up Location - 4:00 - 6:00 pm
o Gardiner Area High School - ONLY
Please continue to practice the safety measures put forth by the Governor of Maine and the CDC. Take care of yourself. If you are able to safely do so, assist your neighbors and others throughout this health crisis.
Sincerely,
Patricia Hopkins
Superintendent of Schools