1.13.2021
Dear Brewer Schools’ Families & Staff,
Brewer Community School will have two remote learning days to close out this week, and Brewer High School will be open for in-person learning.
An individual associated with Brewer Community School (BCS) tested positive for COVID-19 today, Wednesday, January 13, 2021. As a result BCS will move to remote learning on Thursday, January 14 and Friday, January 15, 2021.
While this recent case does not impact a high number of students, it does put pressure on our staffing in the coming days. So in order to make sure we keep our student to teacher ratios where we need them to be for safety’s sake we will have two remote days. This will actually give more students access to their teachers.
Students and, where it’s age appropriate, parents and guardians should look for an email from teachers that will give instruction on how to log into classes no later than 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 14 which is still a cohort A day and no later than 9:00 a.m. on Friday January 15 which is still a cohort B day. Students who are not able to connect for their classes will be able to make up the work.
As always we are working with the Maine Center for Disease Control (MCDC) to fully enact all safety protocols.
Brewer High School (BHS) is not affected by this case and will be in session. We did learn of a different case affecting BHS, but so few students or staff were connected to it that we have been able to continue with our in-person instruction at the high school.
Close contacts were already notified by phone and/or email at BHS and BCS families are being notified this afternoon. Should anyone need it, this is a link on COVID-19 testing in Maine.
Bag lunches are available for any students out on quarantine. Here is the request form: Lunch Request Form. Families can pick up the lunch by driving up to the front entrance at Brewer Community School between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on the day it is needed. Please submit your form by 9:00 a.m.
As always we continue to ask all families to monitor students for any symptoms. The same is true for Brewer School Department staff. Individuals should call a health care provider if they develop symptoms. It is important to call a healthcare facility before showing up in person if symptoms appear.
People should stay home when they are sick. 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 conditions. The virus mainly spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes and an uninfected person breathes in the virus. Signs and symptoms include the following:
- fever or chills
- cough
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- fatigue
- muscle or body aches
- headache
- new loss of taste or smell
- sore throat
- congestion or runny nose
- nausea or vomiting or diarrhea
- Please keep in mind that many things can cause respiratory illness, so students and staff should be up-to-date on influenza and routine vaccinations.
A negative test result does not get an individual out of quarantine. Maine CDC recommends prevention measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We have incorporated these into our Keys to Safety in the Brewer Schools.
While it is rare for cases to spread inside a school setting due to diligent masking and the observance of other safety practices, we are thoroughly investigating and will communicate with you if there is any new information.
Questions for the school should be directed to Carol Warmuth RN, BCS school nurse or K-5 Principal Allison Kahkonen; 5-8 Principal Jason Richards; or Assistant Principal Sam Pangburn (all at 404-5700). For BHS please call school nurse Cathy Sherman RN, Principal Brent Slowikowski, or Assistant Principal Scott Walker (all at 989-4140); or Superintendent Gregg Palmer (at 989-3160). Email addresses include first initials and last names followed by @breweredu.org
This will be Brewer Community School’s first few remote learning days this year, so please emphasize to your student(s) that they should attend.
We are being guided by the best thinking around safety, which in this instance includes looking at staffing ratios. We will have a few remote days and then work to be open to continue our in-person learning.
Thank you for your help in closely monitoring student health which has helped us to have such an incredible record of being open for that in-person learning this year. We will keep managing our schools taking all safety measures and protocols into consideration with every decision we make.
Sincerely,
Gregg Palmer, Superintendent of School he/him/his