4.1.2020
Dear Brewer Schools Families,
Governor Mills has announced that beginning at 12:01 a.m. this Thursday, Maine residents will be prohibited from traveling outside their homes for all but “essential personal activities” and also ordered all schools closed for classroom-based instruction until May 1, 2020. This extends our current closure announcement from 4.27.2020 to 5.1.2020 and essentially continues our current operating procedures with homebound learning. Teachers are now providing students with assignments and times to connect, ask questions, and receive help. That will continue.
While it is impossible to predict when or if we will be able to reopen our schools and return to a normal schedule in the near future, we will be adding additional opportunities for our students to participate in virtual school clubs and, should the spring sports season be delayed or canceled, we will also focus on having our student athletes work virtually with those coaches.
I want to re-emphasize that students in good standing will move to the next grade level for the 2020-2021 school year as would normally be the case. We are also considering plans, should it be necessary, to have an alternative way to honor our 2020 graduates in case a traditional ceremony isn’t possible.
We will continue to offer our breakfast/lunch program and encourage anyone who would like to participate to come and pick up meals during our regular weekday schedule.
If you are concerned with how your child is doing emotionally you can contact the NAMI MAINE HELPLINE. Their number is 800-464-5767, press 1 (helpline@namimaine.org). Here is a link to the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) and additional hotline numbers. Their direct number is (207)287-3703.
Also, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at the Brewer School Department as well, at 207- 989-3160. Both the Brewer Community School (207-404-5700) and Brewer High School 207-989-4140 offices are staffed from 9:00 am till 12:30 pm every weekday. You can also use the number 2-1-1 to get general information regarding the Coronavirus outbreak in Maine.
Families who comprise the Brewer School Department are strong, together. We will eventually return to our students coming to school, and we will have learned much that will help us to be even better as a system. In the meantime, we continue to rely on one another as a community.
Sincerely,
Gregg Palmer