2.22.2021
Dear Brewer Schools’ Families and Staff,
A person associated with the 3rd grade at Brewer Community School (BCS) has tested positive for COVID-19. This information was received late in the day today and as a result it puts a small number of staff and students into quarantine. All affected individuals and families have been notified.
BCS and Brewer High School (BHS) will continue with the regular cohort rotation.
For any family who needs it, this is a link on COVID-19 testing in Maine.
Any student who needs to go remote can have a bag lunch provided by the district. 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. Please submit your form by 9:00 a.m. on the day the lunch is needed.
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.
Questions for the school should be directed to school Principals Allison Kahkonen and Jason Richards, Assistant Principal Sam Pangburn, school nurse Carol Warmuth RN (all at 404-5700) or nurse Cathy Sherman RN (at 989-4140) at BHS or Superintendent Gregg Palmer (at 989-3160). Email addresses include first initials and last names followed by @breweredu.org
We have not seen any evidence or spread of the virus in our schools, but we remain vigilant and ask families to do the same. This certainly serves as a reminder that we are not fully out of the woods yet. While there have been fewer cases reported in Maine recently, we know that the numbers always underrepresent the reality.
We will stay in touch with those affected to see how we can support them and are also grateful that it is a small number.
Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Sincerely,
Gregg Palmer, Superintendent of School
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