12.17.2020
Dear Staff and Brewer Schools’ Families,
This letter is to inform you that an individual associated with Brewer High School (BHS) has recently tested positive for COVID-19.
We will have a remote learning day for cohort B this Friday, December 18, 2020 and will close the high school building. Students should look for an email from teachers that will give instruction on how to log into classes. Students who are not able to connect for their classes will be able to make up the work.
There are two main reasons for this decision. First, we just found out about the case and the late hour doesn’t give us enough time to complete the Maine Center for Disease Control (MCDC) protocols before the end of the day. Second, because we would need to secure more than one substitute teacher, the majority of our staff are able to teach remotely and so more students will actually have access to their regular instruction by having a remote day on Friday.
Nothing in this case has any impact on Brewer Community School (BCS), so they will have their regularly scheduled Friday this Friday, December 18, 2020.
As we identify close contacts they will be notified by phone and/or email with additional information no later than Friday at noon. Should anyone need it, this is a link on COVID-19 testing in Maine.
BHS will 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 on Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. 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 school Principal Brent Slowikowski, Assistant Principal Scott Walker, nurses Cathy Sherman RN at BHS and Carol Warmuth RN at BCS, or Superintendent Gregg Palmer. Email addresses include first initials and last names followed by @breweredu.org
Our recent remote learning days have been very well done by staff and attendance has been good. Please emphasize to your student(s) that they should log in and attend their classes this Friday.
Our students and staff are strong and resilient. Let’s keep the learning going, and we’ll be open for in-person learning again soon.
Sincerely,
Gregg Palmer, Superintendent of School