March 24th Update

 Dear RSU 63 Parents, Students, and Community Members,

Following the Governor's orders, the Eddington and Holden School buildings are closed.  Mr. Spencer will be working with a bus driver to deliver materials to our Holden students tomorrow (Wednesday, March 25th).  

 The Holbrook School is only available to those who are providing essential services related to food and finance.  We already have wonderful staff members signed up to help with food prep and delivery through April 17th.   

Food deliveries will occur this week on Wednesday, March 25th and Friday, March 27th.

Next week, food deliveries will move to Tuesday & Friday afternoons between 12:00 and 2:00.  

Tuesday, March 31st      Friday, April 3rd       

Tuesday, April 7th           Friday, April 10th

Tuesday, April 14th         Friday, April 17th

We will continue to connect with you remotely. We are all getting better at this every day! 

 Take a deep breath, look around, find a spot to do school work from, and a spot to relax in.  We will “see” each other soon - through Google Hangouts, Facetime, Zoom, etc.

Take care of yourselves and each other. 

Susan Smith

RSU 63 schools will be closed through April 17th and off for the scheduled vacation (April 20th - 24th).

Thank you for your patience while we gathered the most recent, accurate information we can to develop a plan for RSU 63.  I am confident these are the right steps – for now.  I also expect the situation will change.

RSU 63 will be closed at least through Friday, March 27.  We will continually reassess the situation to determine when it is possible to reopen beyond the 27th.

I will continue to communicate with you through phone calls (for the most important, time-sensitive information), emails (for detailed information) and our RSU 63 Eddington, Holden, and Holbrook Schools Facebook page (for sharing other resources and re-posting emails and announcements).  Information can also be found on our website www.rsu63.org.

You can call 2-1-1 to get general information regarding Covid-19, health care information, and crisis support.  You can also email me (ssmith@rsu63.org) or call our RSU 63 Central Office at 207-843-7851 if you have questions about RSU 63’s plan or resources.  The office will be open, but if you need an in-person meeting, I ask that you call first.  

Below is additional important information.  Our goal is to stay connected and work together as a community to support one another through this difficult time.

Food Distribution: We will begin using our buses, routes, drivers, and cooks to deliver food to families in need on Wednesday, March 18th (between 12:00pm and 2:00pm).  We plan to continue this service on Friday, March 20th as well as Monday, Wednesday, and Friday next week.  If you are in need of something to eat (and not already receiving free lunch) please email me (ssmith@rsu63.org).  If you are able to help, please consider making a monetary donation (checks payable to “Holbrook - CHEFS”) or dropping off non-perishable food, personal hygiene products, and/or reusable cloth grocery bags in the lobby area of the RSU 63 Central Office (the back side of Holbrook School).

Important Items Left at School:  For these two weeks, we are asking families to call our schools between 9:00am and 2:00pm if they believe their child(ren) have left essential items in one of our buildings or on a bus.  This includes medication, a warm coat, eye glasses, or other health related items.  It does not include musical instructions, books, school supplies, computers, or other items students can live without for the next two weeks.  If the item is deemed essential, school personnel will retrieve it and bring it to the school’s lobby/entrance area.

Learning/Engagement Opportunities:  Our staff will be providing ideas and resources for optional at-home activities that will help keep your child(ren) engaged.  More information about this will be coming from teachers soon.  These activities will not be mandatory or part of any student’s school program.  They will not be graded or incorporated into any part of your child(ren)’s school record.  However, we do feel it is important for students to have a chance to use their brains and imagination during this extended time away from school.

Help Everyone in Our Community:  We are not only concerned about our students and staff.  Please help us all protect each other, especially our older adults.

1.     Wash your hands frequently

2.     Maintain social distancing (stay 3 feet away from others)

3.     Avoid touching your face

I would like to thank RSU 63’s Pandemic Management Team for their input and on-going support of our schools and community.  We are truly blessed to live in Clifton, Eddington, and Holden. 

Eddie Benjamin – Holden Police Department

Dawna Bickford – RSU 63 School Nurse

George Cummings – RSU 63 Technology Coordinator

Ryan Davis – Holden Fire Dept./Parent    

Jim Ellis- Eddington Fire/Penobscot County Sheriff Dept

Jesse Gauthier – RSU 63 Director of Special Services

Linda Graban – RSU 63 School Board Vice-Chair/Clifton Resident

Chris Greely – Holden Police Department

David McCluskey – Community Care Director/Eddington Resident

Richard Modery – Holbrook School Principal

Jake Morgan – RSU 63 Transportation and Facilities Director

Craig Russell - Eddington Fire/ Parent

Don Spencer – Eddington and Holden Schools’ Principal

Kelly Theriault – RSU 63 School Nutrition Administrator

Chris Watson – Penobscot County Sheriff Dept.

Start where you are.  Use what you have. Do what you can. – Arthur Ashe

Thank you to all of you who have expressed support and asked good questions as we work together to understand the COVID-19 outbreak and react responsibly.

In an effort to proactively slow the spread of COVID-19, RSU 63 Schools will be closed beginning Monday, March 16th.  I anticipate they will remain closed at least until Monday, March 30th.  No classes, clubs, or activities will be held at the Eddington, Holden, and Holbrook Schools.  All three school buildings will be closed.  This closure is subject to change as new information becomes available.

I do not take this action lightly but feel it is in the best interest of the health of our students, staff, and community members. 

I will be meeting with RSU 63’s Pandemic Management Team on Monday.  Further communication and information will be coming as we learn more and monitor the situation. 

I will continue to communicate through School Messenger phone calls, School Messenger emails, our RSU 63: Eddington, Holden, and Holbrook Schools Facebook page, and our website (www.rsu63.org).

During this school closing, teachers, administrators, and office staff will still have access to the buildings.  However, our buildings will be locked and not open to the general public.  Custodial staff will conduct extensive cleaning.  All our business functions will continue.  We will return phone calls and emails as quickly as possible. 

These are stressful times.  I know the uncertainty of COVID-19 makes many things difficult. Thank you for your patience and your help in keeping our community safe.

Grant Awarded! Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries

RSU 63 received a competitive, federal grant for $49,711 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This year (2019-20), the grant will allow us to purchase some new furniture for the Holbrook, Holden, and Eddington libraries and add library instruction at the Eddington and Holden Schools. Next year (2020-21), we will be able to have additional after school programs at the Holden School. Yay Ms. Hardy!

District and School Reports

Each year the Maine Department of Education issues a report for each district.  These reports summarize state assessments and other data for students in Grades 3-8 and 11.  The report also contains information about teacher qualifications.  State law requires those to be made available to the community.  The ESSA Dashboard at the Maine Department of Education allows you to review report cards for schools and districts across the state, including those in RSU 63. 

We are proud to continue to perform above the state average in literacy and math while spending less per pupil than the state average.

ESEA Dashboard