Trenton Timberwolf Pack Letter
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education
– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
An Amazing Community
Friday was a great day for teachers and staff at Trenton Elementary. In the morning, a parent of a kindergartener dropped off donuts for the entire staff with the message, "You Guys Are Rockin It - Thank You!" Later that morning we received two buckets of flowers from Stanley Subaru and The Bud Connection congratulating area educators for all their hard work and efforts for our kids.
Thank You from the bottom of our hearts.
Dear Trenton Families -
We completed our first week of school this past Friday in a manner no one might have expected this time last year. As with any start of school we hit a few bumps at the beginning but worked through them for a successful week of remote school.
We have two weeks to go before our in person start on September 28th. Please review the MDIRSS Family Handbook / Coivid-19 20-21. It has important information about the return to school. If you have any questions feel free to contact me at mzboray@mdirss.org or Nurse Kristel at kristel.springer@mdirss.org.
Food Service News
Food Service Information 9:2020.pdfReturn To In Person Learning
Our current plan is to have our Trenton students start in-person learning on Monday, September 28th, full day and five days a week. Please know, that going back into remote learning after 9/28 or switching to a hybrid schedule is a possibility based upon current data, safety concerns and/or school capacity. That week we will be phasing students in so that students and staff have time to work through the kinks of new protocols. That schedule will be shared the week before we start along with our school schedule for in person learning.
To prepare for in person learning and follow MDOE guidelines, we had to move kindergarten to the library to fit all students safely and not switch our model. We are also working to make sure all classrooms have a supply of fresh air especially when the weather gets colder. There are 3 classrooms where that will take more work which we expect to begin this week.
I am working on a school grounds work day for Saturday, September 19th to put up our tents and prepare our trails for outdoor learning. I will send out details on Wednesday.
School Budget Update
On top of the challenges of preparing for the new school year, our school has been operating on last years budget as the town has not scheduled a town meeting. Please see the linked community budget letter that explains some of work the school board and selectman have done over the summer around this challenge and what it means for our school during these challenging times. As school opens, it is important that we work to set a meeting so there is some budget certainty as we try to meet the needs of educating the children of Trenton during this pandemic.
As the district works to identify and provide safe extracurricular activities. The Trenton school will be unable to move forward during this period of budget uncertainty. At this time the school needs to focus on providing essential programing only.
Click the blue instruction button to get to your child's teacher webpage for student learning.
This button is also on the school webpage for easy access to your child's remote learning.
Preparing for School
To help students prepare to be in school, talk to them about the precautions they will be required to take while at school. Having these conversations now will make their experience the best it can be. During morning announcements this past week, students learned about the 3 W's - Wear your mask, Wash & sanitize your hands often, Watch your distance. I will archive those messages which focused on each of 3 W's.
Practicing using the symptom screener - Pre-Screening Tool - Evaluation of someone feeling unwell in school
Wear your Mask - Helping Kids Learn to Wear Masks - 16 activities to practice mask-wearing
Washing/sanitizing hands regularly
Watch your distance - Practicing physical distancing 6'
Not sharing objects with other students
Maine DOE 6 Requirements
6 Requirements for safely opening schools in the fall
Symptom Screening Before Coming to School - Pre-Screening Tool - Evaluation of someone feeling unwell in school
Physical Distancing and Facilities
Masks / Face Coverings - Students will have mask breaks throughout the day as we utilize the outdoors as much as possible.
Hand Hygiene
PPE
Return to School After Illness
