TO: RSU 63 PARENTS and STAFF

FROM:  SUSAN SMITH, SUPERINTENDENT/DIRECTOR of CURRICULUM & INSTR.

RE: VACCINES and OUTBREAK STATUS

DATE:  THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2021

We have been working with other organizations in our area to provide a vaccine clinic for students ages 5 to 11.  Penobscot Community Health Care will be holding a clinic for RSU 63, AOS 47, and Brewer students on Saturday, November 13^th from 10:00am until 12:00pm in the Performing Arts Center at the Brewer Community School.  Attached is the required consent form and fact sheet. 

Today, we received notice from the Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) that the Holbrook School has three people from different families who have tested positive for COVID-19 over a fourteen-day time period. This means the Holbrook School has officially met the definition of an “outbreak.”  The outbreak status is removed once we have gone 28 days without a positive case.  Working with the CDC, we will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation.   

We also received word this morning that all our pool tests from Tuesday are negative.  We will continue with pool testing, universal masking, physical distancing, and hand sanitizing to help mitigate the virus. 

Please continue to monitor for symptoms of infectious illness, such as the flu or COVID-19.  Students, staff, and visitors who have symptoms should stay home and contact their healthcare, regardless of vaccination status. Staying home when sick is essential in preventing spread to others.

1. The following questions are used for screening for school attendance:
   100. Within the past 24 hours have you had a fever (100.4 and above) or used any fever reducing medicine?
   101. Do you feel sick, have vomiting, diarrhea, or a sore throat?
   102. Have you been told to stay home and isolate/quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure?

If the answer to any of these questions is “Yes,” stay home! Contact your health care provider.

For general COVID-19 questions, dial 211 (or 1-866-811-5695). You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211 or email info@211maine.org. Call a health care provider for questions about your symptoms. More information can be found at www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Thank you for your help.

TO: RSU 63 PARENTS
FROM:  SUSAN SMITH, SUPERINTENDENT/DIRECTOR of CURRICULUM & INSTR.
RE:  POOLED TESTING
DATE:  FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

RSU 63 seeks to maintain a safe environment for students, staff, and the community. To support that goal, we are participating in a COVID-19 Pooled Testing program.  Pooled testing is very important when it comes to keeping students in school.  Pooled testing is optional and free for all RSU 63 employees (including drivers) and students who attend the Eddington, Holden, and Holbrook Schools.  This quick NewsCenter Maine clip explains Pooled Testing.

We started Pooled testing on Tuesday, Sept. 7^th (all our pools were negative for COVID) and will continue every Tuesday. 

We are asking families and staff members to participate in this program to help safeguard the wellbeing of our entire school community.   If you have not already registered/provided consent for your child(ren) and would like them to participate in pooled testing, please follow the link and the steps below. The registration and consent process should take no more than 5 minutes to complete using a computer or a smartphone.  If you need a paper registration/consent form, please contact Shelley Wyman (swyman@rsu63.org or 843-7851ext. 1).

In order to be in the pools this coming Tuesday, September 14^th, your child must be registered no later than Sunday evening (9/12).  However, you may sign your student up at any time throughout the school year. 

To Register a Student:

1. First, click here (https://testcenter.concentricbyginkgo.com/minor-consent). This is the link to register a student.
2. Enter your child’s information and their school’s access code:
   1. Eddington’s code is 2MF8WL
   2. Holden’s code is UZW187
   3. Holbrook’s code is G4A8XL
3. Read and sign the consent form.   

Note: If you need to provide consent for more than one child, please complete the process once for each child.

RSU 63 will be using a rapid antigen test to provide “quick tests” for all individuals in a positive pool.  BinaxNOW rapid testing will be used only for follow-up rapid testing in the event of a positive pool.

Below is information from the Maine DOE regarding COVID testing in schools.  Additional information can be found at https://www.maine.gov/doe/covid-19/toolkit#pooled

What is pooled testing?
Pooling can test 25 people using one test. All students in a class or group (called the pool) swab their own nose and place their swab in a single tube (that’s the pooling step). The samples in that tube are then run as a single sample, using one pool test.  IF the pool tests positive for COVID-19, everyone in that pool is tested using the BinaxNOW rapid test. 

Why pooled testing? Why should my student participate?
​​​​​​​You know the old saying: “knowledge is power.” Tools like pooled testing empower us to make better decisions. Without knowing the specific prevalence of COVID-19 in our school, it’s tough for us to make informed decisions about safeguarding our school community, returning to school, or continuing in-person learning.  Testing empowers us to make these informed decisions and allows students, teachers, and staff to come to school with peace of mind.

UPDATED RSU 63 MASK RULES 
MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

Monday night (August 30th), the RSU 63 Board of Directors held an Emergency Meeting to discuss the RSU 63 2021-2022 Guide for Returning to School. 

The RSU 63 Board decided we will begin school with universal masking indoors.

All adults and students must wear a mask/face covering that covers their nose and mouth while on an RSU 63 bus or in an RSU 63 van (as per Federal CDC order).

All adults, students, and children over 2 must wear a mask/face covering that covers their nose and mouth while in an RSU 63 school (Eddington, Holden, and Holbrook Schools) or in the RSU 63 bus garage.

Adults and students do not need to wear masks when outdoors.  However, CDC recommends that people who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings or during activities that involve sustained close contact with other people.
 

TO: RSU 63 PARENTS, STUDENTS, STAFF, and COMMUNITY MEMBERS
FROM:  SUSAN SMITH, SUPERINTENDENT/DIRECTOR of CURRICULUM & INSTR.
RE:  POOLED TESTING
DATE:  MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

RSU 63 seeks to maintain a safe environment for students, staff, and the community. To support that goal, we will be participating in a COVID-19 Pooled Testing program.  Pooled testing is very important when it comes to keeping students in school.  Pooled testing is optional and free for all RSU 63 employees (including drivers) and students who attend the Eddington, Holden, and Holbrook Schools.  This quick NewsCenter Maine clip explains Pooled Testing.

We recently received word from Concentric by Ginko that we can start Pooled Testing as early as Tuesday, September 7^th.  We are working as quickly as possible to gather consent forms, register students and staff, receive supplies, and create pool groups. 

We are asking families and staff members to participate in this program to help safeguard the wellbeing of our entire school community. To register, please follow the link and the steps below.

Pooled testing will occur in RSU 63 on Tuesdays. The registration and consent process should take no more than 5 minutes to complete using a computer or a smartphone.

To Register a Minor/Student:

1. First, click here (https://testcenter.concentricbyginkgo.com/minor-consent). This is the link to register a student.
2. Enter your child’s information and their school’s access code:
   1. Eddington’s code is 2MF8WL
   2. Holden’s code is UZW187
   3. Holbrook’s code is G4A8XL
3. Read and sign the consent form.   

Note: If you need to provide consent for more than one child, please complete the process once for each child.

For Staff to Register:

1. First, click here (https://testcenter.concentricbyginkgo.com/invite-by-code). This is the code for people over 18.
2. Enter one of the RSU 63 schools’ access code: 
   1. Eddington’s code is 2MF8WL
   2. Holden’s code is UZW187
   3. Holbrook’s code is G4A8XL
3.  Read and sign the consent form.   

Only students and staff with completed on-line consent forms are able to participate in testing.  Pools will be determined based on school and grade level.  If you do not want your family to participate, your student will not be included in the testing program.  However, you may sign your student up at any time throughout the school year. 

RSU 63 will be using a rapid antigen test to provide “quick tests” for any individual in a positive pool.  BinaxNOW rapid testing will be used only for follow-up rapid testing in the event of a positive pool.

Below is information from the Maine DOE regarding COVID testing in schools.  Additional information can be found in this attachment: School Testing FAQ  

What is pooled testing?
Pooling can test 25 people using one test. All students in a class or group (called the pool) swab their own nose and place their swab in a single tube (that’s the pooling step). The samples in that tube are then run as a single sample, using one pool test.  IF the pool tests positive for COVID-19, everyone in that pool is tested using the BinaxNOW rapid test. 

Why pooled testing? Why should my student participate?
You know the old saying: “knowledge is power.” Tools like pooled testing empower us to make better decisions. Without knowing the specific prevalence of COVID-19 in our school, it’s tough for us to make informed decisions about safeguarding our school community, returning to school, or continuing in-person learning.  Testing empowers us to make these informed decisions and allows students, teachers, and staff to come to school with peace of mind.

Online Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals

You can now fill out your application for free and reduced school meals online.

Click here to fill out your free and reduced application now

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Report Cards

RSU 63 uses assessment data to help inform our practices at the district, school, classroom, and individual levels for our students.  Each year the Maine Department of Education issues a report for each district and each school.  These reports summarize state assessments and other data for students in Grades 3-8 and 11.  The report also contains information about teacher qualifications.  The ESSA Dashboard at the Maine Department of Education allows you to review report cards for schools and districts across the state.

https://www.maine.gov/doe/dashboard