2.28.2021
Dear Brewer Schools’ Families and Staff,
This letter is to inform you that an individual associated with Brewer High School’s (BHS) Alpha program tested positive for COVID-19 this weekend. That information was received Saturday, February 27, 2021. As a result this program will go to remote learning the week of Monday, March 1, 2021 and will return to in-person instruction on Monday, March 8, 2021.
All students and staff have been reached if they are considered close contacts and need to quarantine this week. They will also not attend UTC in person if they are part of that programming. Because of the nature of the Alpha program, those students who are not required to quarantine will still be accessing remote learning this week, but if a student is not a close contact then they could still attend UTC in person. Please call if there are any questions.
Alpha students should look for an email or other contact from their teachers that will give instruction on how to log into classes this coming week. Students who are not able to connect for their classes will be able to make up the work.
We have been in contact with the Maine Center for Disease Control (MCDC) and are fully enacting all safety protocols.
Anyone who feels they need it, here is a link on COVID-19 testing in Maine.
Any remote student who needs it can have a bag lunch available. 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.
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 school Principal Brent Slowikowski, Assistant Principal Scott Walker, school nurse Cathy Sherman RN at BHS (all at 989-4140) and Carol Warmuth RN at BCS (at 404-5700), or Superintendent Gregg Palmer (at 989-3160). Email addresses include first initials and last names followed by @breweredu.org
We continue to adhere to all safety protocols and to both look for ways to get our students as much in-person learning time as is possible as well as pay strict attention to the physical safety of our students and staff.
Sincerely,
Gregg Palmer, Superintendent of School
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