RSU 67

Grade 5 at Mattanawcook Jr. High School will be remote tomorrow, Thursday, April 8, 2021 due to the lack of substitutes. Lunches may be picked up at Mattanawcook Jr. High School between 10:00 and 12:00.

Grade 5 students create cell models as part of their science unit.

The Public Forum on the Budget is postponed to Wednesday, April 7th at 5:30 due to widespread internet outages.

From Maine DOE: Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Available to Eligible Families in April The FCC recently adopted a Report and Order that established the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, a $3.2 billion federal initiative to help lower the cost of high-speed internet for eligible households during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Benefits of the program include: Up to $50/month discount for broadband services; Up to $75/month discount for broadband services for households on Tribal lands; and A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider. The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per eligible household. A household is eligible if one member of the household: Qualifies for the Lifeline program, including those who are on Medicaid or receive SNAP benefits; Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, or did so in the 2019- 2020 school year; Experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020, and the household had a total income in 2020 below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; Received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year; or Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program. The FCC expects the Emergency Broadband Benefit program to be open to eligible households before the end of April, 2021. Please check the FCC’s website, www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit, regularly for the latest information. Once up and running, eligible households will be able to enroll through participating broadband providers or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). Many types of broadband providers can qualify to provide service in this program. The FCC is currently setting up the systems needed for providers to participate. Contact information for the providers participating in the program will be posted on USAC’s website: https://www.usac.org/. For more information, the Report and Order along with the rules governing this program can be found here: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-adopts-report-and-order-emergency-broadband-benefit-program-0.

March 17, 2021 Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members, Today at approximately 12:00 noon, administrators at Mattanawcook Jr. High School were alerted of a bomb threat made against the school. The Lincoln Police Department was contacted immediately and students and staff were safely relocated to Mattanawcook Academy. Students and staff remained at Mattanawcook Academy until dismissal. All threats to our school or students are taken very seriously and investigated thoroughly. This incident caused considerable disruption to students, staff, and families. We recommend that families talk about the incident and emphasize the seriousness of this matter. In an event such as this, the safety of our students and staff must be our first priority. Brief communication regarding the relocation of our students was shared with parents as soon as feasible. Specific details about the situation were not shared until now as this was an active investigation. Mattanawcook Jr. High School has been carefully checked and cleared by law enforcement. We will return to school for in-person instruction tomorrow. Sincerely, Jean Skorapa, Superintendent Regional School Unit 67 25 Reed Drive Lincoln, Maine 04457 207-794-6500

Due to a situation at MJHS all students and staff have been relocated to MA. Grades 4 through 6 will be dismissed from MA. We will update you regarding dismissal of grades 7 and 8.

March 15, 2021 Dear Staff, Parents, and Community Members: This letter is to inform you that we were notified this morning that a member of the Ella P. Burr community has tested positive for COVID-19. As with every positive COVID-19 case, the district is working directly with Maine DOE/CDC to determine the infectious period and contact tracing requirements, based on the impacted individual’s last day of attendance before developing symptoms or testing positive. Those who are impacted will be contacted and asked to quarantine. As this is an isolated incident, Ella P. Burr School will continue with in-person instruction. We continue to ask all families and staff to monitor students for any symptoms. All individuals should contact a health care provider if they develop symptoms. General questions regarding COVID-19 can be answered by calling 1-866-811-5695, you can text your zip code to 898-211, or email at info@211maine.org or by calling your primary care provider. More information can be found at www.maine/gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. Questions regarding student health can be directed to Jeri Davis, RN by calling 794-6711 or by emailing: jdavis@rsu67.org. Questions regarding scheduling or instruction should be directed to Ella P. Burr School at 794-3014. Sincerely, Jean Skorapa, Superintendent

March 11, 2021 Dear Staff, Parents, and Community Members: This letter is to inform you that we were notified this evening that a member of the Mattanawcook Academy community has tested positive for COVID-19. As with every positive COVID-19 case, the district is working directly with Maine DOE/CDC to determine the infectious period and contact tracing requirements, based on the impacted individual’s last day of attendance before developing symptoms or testing positive. Those who are impacted will be contacted. Mattanawcook Academy will be fully remote on Friday, March 12, 2021. We will provide an update regarding the plan for instruction for the week of March 15 after contract tracing has been completed tomorrow. Ella P. Burr School and Mattanawcook Jr. High School students will continue with in-person instruction. We continue to ask all families and staff to monitor students for any symptoms. All individuals should contact a health care provider if they develop symptoms. General questions regarding COVID-19 can be answered by calling 1-866-811-5695, you can text your zip code to 898-211, or email at info@211maine.org or by calling your primary care provider. More information can be found at www.maine/gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. Questions regarding student health can be directed to Jeri Davis, RN by calling 794-6711 or by emailing: jdavis@rsu67.org. Questions regarding scheduling or instruction should be directed to Academy at 794-8935. Jean Skorapa, Superintendent

February 23, 2021 Dear R.S.U. No. 67 Families, I am deeply saddened to inform you that a student at Ella P. Burr School died tragically in a fire at her home last evening. She was a beloved member of the Ella P. Burr School community and will be missed greatly. Your child may have questions or worries about this loss. We encourage you to talk with your child. How we, as adults, manage ourselves serves as an important model for helping kids handle tragedies like this. It is important that your child is loved and supported as he/she talks about his/her feelings. You may want to consider the following when talking with your child: • Tell the truth. Talk about death vs. “going to sleep.” Explain the situation. • Allow for your child to talk about feelings. If this is the first loss your child has experienced, your child may not know how to respond and will be looking for your guidance. • Affirm all expressions. It is okay to express feelings honestly. Tolerate the expressions rather than dismissing them or discouraging the expression of feelings. • Encourage written expressions such as notes, letters, pictures to the family, etc. • Reaffirm that your child is safe and that your child is loved. • Affirm that your child’s reaction is normal and you understand the way your child feels. • Watch for signs such as lack of concentration, sleeplessness, unusual fears, withdrawal, etc. • Help your child return to a normal routine as soon as possible. District school counselors are available to provide emotional support for our students and staff. If you have special counseling concerns or would like additional support for your child, please contact your school’s counselor. Patrice Turner, Ella P. Burr School at 794-3014 Louise Adelstone, Mattanawcook Jr. High School at 794-8935 Andrea Smith or Henry Pietras, Mattanawcook Academy at 794-6711. Our deepest sympathies go to her entire family. Sincerely, Jean M. Skorapa, Superintendent of Schools

February 8, 2021 Dear Staff, Parents, and Community Members: It is hard to believe that February vacation is right around the bend! Friday, February 12, 2021 is the last school day before break. School will resume on Monday, February 22nd. I would like to thank you for all you have done and continue to do to allow us to provide as much in-person learning as possible. Some families take the opportunity to travel during February break. If you plan to travel outside of Maine, please remember that New Hampshire and Vermont are currently the only states exempt from restrictions under Governor Mill’s executive order. Due to the executive order requirements, your child will need to receive a negative COVID test or quarantine for 10 days prior to returning to school. Further information regarding travel may be found at www.maine.gov/covid19/. Whether traveling or not please continue to wear your mask when in public, maintain physical distancing (6 feet or more), and wash your hands often. These practices will support our efforts to continue in-person instruction. I hope you and your family are able to use this school break to relax and rejuvenate. Thank you for your continued support of our schools, our students, and our community. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s school. We look forward to seeing our students for in-person instruction on February 22nd. Sincerely, Jean Skorapa, Superintendent of Schools

Due to the impending storm, there will be no school on Tuesday, February 2nd. There will be no remote school option either for Tuesday, February 2nd.

January 29, 2021 Dear Staff, Parents, and Community Members: This letter is to inform you that we were notified today that a member of the Mattanawcook Jr. High School community has tested positive for COVID-19. As with every positive COVID-19 case, the district is working directly with Maine DOE/CDC to determine the infectious period and contact tracing requirements, based on the impacted individual’s last day of attendance before developing symptoms or testing positive. Those who are impacted will be contacted. In-person will resume at Mattanawcook Jr. High School on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 as planned. Ella P. Burr School and Mattanawcook Academy students will continue with in-person instruction. We continue to ask all families and staff to monitor students for any symptoms. All individuals should contact a health care provider if they develop symptoms. General questions regarding COVID-19 can be answered by calling 1-866-811-5695, you can text your zip code to 898-211, or email at info@211maine.org or by calling your primary care provider. More information can be found at www.maine/gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. Questions regarding student health can be directed to Jeri Davis, RN by calling 794-6711 or by emailing: jdavis@rsu67.org. Questions regarding scheduling or instruction should be directed to Mattanawcook Jr. High School at 794-8935. Sincerely, Jean M. Skorapa, Superintendent

"Get Up To Speed" Maine Launches Statewide Internet Speed Test Mapping Initiative The Maine Broadband Coalition has launched a statewide internet speed test mapping initiative. The goal of the “Get Up To Speed” initiative is to gather data from across the state to generate the most comprehensive map of both the presence and quality of internet in Maine to date. Residents are being asked to help the initiative by taking this less-than-a-minute test to map their own speed through the Maine Broadband Coalition’s website. Please see the news section of our website for more information.

January 25, 2021 Dear Staff, Parents, and Community Members: This letter is to inform you that we were notified today that a member of the Mattanawcook Jr. High School community has tested positive for COVID-19. As with every positive COVID-19 case, the district is working directly with Maine DOE/CDC to determine the infectious period and contact tracing requirements, based on the impacted individual’s last day of attendance before developing symptoms or testing positive. Those who are impacted will be contacted. Due to the number of individuals in quarantine, all students at Mattanawcook Jr. High School will have remote instruction through February 1, 2021. Ella P. Burr School and Mattanawcook Academy students will continue with in-person instruction. We continue to ask all families and staff to monitor students for any symptoms. All individuals should contact a health care provider if they develop symptoms. General questions regarding COVID-19 can be answered by calling 1-866-811-5695, you can text your zip code to 898-211, or email at info@211maine.org or by calling your primary care provider. More information can be found at www.maine/gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. Questions regarding student health can be directed to Jeri Davis, RN by calling 794-6711 or by emailing: jdavis@rsu67.org. Questions regarding scheduling or instruction should be directed to Mattanawcook Jr. High School at 794-8935. Sincerely, Jean M. Skorapa, Superintendent

January 22, 2021 Dear Staff, Parents, and Community Members: This letter is to inform you that we were notified today that an individual affiliated with seventh and eighth grade at Mattanawcook Jr. High School has tested positive for COVID-19. As with every positive COVID-19 case, the district is working directly with Maine DOE/CDC to determine the infectious period and contact tracing requirements, based on the impacted individual’s last day of attendance before developing symptoms or testing positive. Those who are impacted will be contacted. Due to the number of individuals in quarantine, grades 7 and 8 will have remote instruction through January 29, 2021. Grades 4-6, Ella P. Burr School, and Mattanawcook Academy students are not affected by this case and will have in-person instruction. We continue to ask all families and staff to monitor students for any symptoms. All individuals should contact a health care provider if they develop symptoms. General questions regarding COVID-19 can be answered by calling 1-866-811-5695, you can text your zip code to 898-211, or email at info@211maine.org or by calling your primary care provider. More information can be found at www.maine/gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. Questions for the school can be directed to Jeri Davis, RN by calling 794-6711 or by emailing: jdavis@rsu67.org. Jean Skorapa, Superintendent

January 19, 2021 Dear Staff, Parents, and Community Members: This letter is to inform you that we were notified today that an individual affiliated with Mattanawcook Jr. High School has tested positive for COVID-19. As with every positive COVID-19 case, the district is working directly with Maine DOE/CDC to determine the infectious period and contact tracing requirements, based on the impacted individual’s last day of attendance before developing symptoms or testing positive. Those who are impacted will be contacted. As this is an isolated event, Mattanawcook Jr. High School will continue to offer in-person instruction with a remote option for families. We continue to ask all families and staff to monitor students for any symptoms. All individuals should contact a health care provider if they develop symptoms. General questions regarding COVID-19 can be answered by calling 1-866-811-5695, you can text your zip code to 898-211, or email at info@211maine.org or by calling your primary care provider. More information can be found at www.maine/gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. Questions for the school can be directed to Jeri Davis, RN by calling 794-6711 or by emailing: jdavis@rsu67.org. Sincerely, Jean Skorapa, Superintendent

January 15, 2021 Dear Staff, Parents, and Community Members: This letter is to inform you that we were notified today that an individual affiliated with Mattanawcook Academy has tested positive for COVID-19. We have taken steps with our response team to follow Maine Center for Disease Control and Department of Education guidelines and will be notifying anyone who is considered a close contact. Any student or staff member who had direct exposure to the individual will be required to quarantine through January 22, 2021. Due to the number of individuals in quarantine, Mattanawcook Academy will have remote instruction next week. Ella P. Burr, Mattanawcook Jr. High School, and Region lll students are not affected by this case and will return to in-person instruction next week. As always, we continue to ask all families to monitor students for any symptoms. The same is true for our R.S.U. No. 67 staff. All individuals should contact a health care provider if they develop symptoms. General questions regarding COVID-19 can be answered by calling 1-866-811-5695, you can text your zip code to 898-211, or email at info@211maine.org or by calling your primary care provider. More information can be found at www.maine/gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. Questions for the school can be directed to Jeri Davis, RN by calling 794-6711 or by emailing: jdavis@rsu67.org. Sincerely, Jean M. Skorapa, Superintendent Jean Skorapa, Superintendent Regional School Unit 67 25 Reed Drive Lincoln, Maine 04457 207-794-6500

January 6, 2021 Dear Staff, Parents, and Community Members: Happy New Year to the R.S.U. No. 67 Community! The start of the new year and the distribution of vaccines to fight COVID-19 gives us hope for improved health and a gradual return to normalcy. Our intention is to operate all schools in a hybrid/yellow model the week of January 11-15 and then return to in-person/green instruction with a remote option beginning on Tuesday, January 19. Please understand that this plan may have to be altered if positive cases occur in our schools that require significant quarantining, health markers deteriorate in our community, or the Department of Education changes the color designation for Penobscot County. The county color designation for operating schools is announced each Friday at noon. We will inform families as soon as possible should we need to alter our plan for opening for any reason. As a reminder, to further protect our staff and students, an additional protocol of temperature checks prior to entering school has been instituted. The additional mask wearing requirements issued by the Department of Education will be strictly enforced. Please reach out to your child’s building principal with specific questions regarding these protocols. In order to get our students back to in-person instruction full time, all the time, we must continue to work together as a community. Let’s show support for one another by practicing social distancing, wearing face coverings and practicing good hygiene. Sincerely, Jean Skorapa, Superintendent of Schools

Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members, There continues to be an uptick of positive COVID 19 cases in our community. Although Mattanawcook Academy and Ella P. Burr have no known cases at this time, to protect the health and well-being of our staff and students, we will move to a remote learning model through January 8, 2020. I recognize this puts an additional burden on families, but the health and safety of all must be our priority at this time. Please reach out to your child's school if you have questions regarding material pick up. In order to get our students back to full in-person learning we must all work together to do part by social distancing, wearing face coverings, and practicing good hygiene. Stay healthy and well during the holiday break. Kind regards, Jean Skorapa, Superintendent

DECEMBER 12, 2020 Dear Parents, and Community Members: This letter is to inform you that an individual affiliated with Mattanawcook Jr. High School has tested positive for COVID-19. We have taken steps with our response team to follow Maine Centers for Disease Control and Department of Education guidelines and will be notifying anyone who is considered a close contact. Anyone who had direct exposure to the individual will be required to quarantine for 10 days. Due to the number of staff required to quarantine, Mattanawcook Jr. High School will be fully remote through vacation. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that ranges from mild to severe. It can be more severe in adults 60 years and older and in those with underlying health conditions. The virus mainly spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes and an uninfected person breathes in the virus. Signs and symptoms include: ●fever / chills ●new loss of taste / smell ●cough ●congestion / runny nose ●shortness of breath / difficulty breathing ●nausea / vomiting ●fatigue ●diarrhea ●muscle / body aches ●sore throat ●headache Please keep in mind that many things can cause respiratory illness, so students should be up-to-date on influenza and routine vaccinations. Maine CDC recommends prevention measures to help control the spread of COVID-19. These measures include proper handwashing with soap and warm water, which is especially important after using the bathroom, before / after eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. When soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands and avoid close contact with people who are sick. Cover your cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. General questions regarding COVID-19 can be answered by calling 1-866-811-5695, you can text your zip code to 898-211, or email at info@211maine.org or by calling your primary care provider. More information can be found at www.maine/gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. Questions for the school can be directed to Jeri Davis, RN by calling 794-6711 or by emailing: jdavis@rsu67.org. Sincerely, Jean M. Skorapa, Superintendent