Dear Staff, Students, and Parents,

I hope this note finds everyone doing well. I know the first week after February break can be challenging, but with Spring just 16 short days away, I'm feeling excited about the future. I am happy to report that our COVID-19 cases continue to decrease (see chart below).

On March 1, Governor Mills announced that the state will recommend that masking be optional in schools effective March 9. The Maine CDC and DOE are planning to release an updated Standard Operating Procedure document with more details about how this will impact other guidance for schools on or about March 9.

Here in Brunswick, the School Board will be considering this change at their March 9 Board meeting.

I recognize many will support a masking change, and I am also keenly aware that some staff, students, and parents will want to continue to wear face coverings in school buildings. No matter the decision, I implore everyone, staff, students, and parents, to support others in their personal choice.

Sincerely,

Please note that the first student day of the 2022-23 school year will be before Labor Day, tentatively on August 29. Work on the Brunswick School Department 2022-23 school calendar is ongoing, and the School Board anticipates formal calendar adoption in April.

Cumulative statistics on all COVID-19 cases during the 2021-22 school year are available on the COVID-19 Dashboard. The data above and on the Dashboard are as accurate as possible but they are constantly evolving.

The Maine DHHS is making more COVID home tests available through Project ACT.  All Maine households are eligible to receive 5 COVID home tests.

You can still register your children for pooled testing. The directions can be found here.

Please remember to notify your school nurse when your student tests positive for COVID. This is important because schools need to monitor those who are COVID-positive and must notify the Maine CDC of positive test results. Also, individuals who test positive must be excluded from pooled testing for 90 days. Otherwise, they will cause their pools to be positive when there is no one in the pool who is actively positive. This causes unnecessary stress and work for those who are in the pools or who are monitoring the pools.

To help streamline the notification process, we have developed school-specific forms to complete when your/your child tests positive for COVID. Links to the forms are on the school webpages. Simply click the REPORT POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST RESULTS on your school’s webpage.

Links to each form can also be found on the district webpage and below:

Brunswick High School has been awarded a Casco Bay Estuary Partnerships Grant. The grant money will be put towards a hand-on learning experience for BHS students which is projected to begin in April 2022 and continue through the 2027 school year.

The Community Grant supports new partnerships and innovative projects that engage communities with Casco Bay and its watershed. The use of the Maquoit Bay outdoor classroom will allow students to conduct a long-term study on the invasive green crab populations and their connection to rising water temperatures, as well as their effects on soft-shell clam numbers, and the negative impact green crabs have has on the local clamming industry. Students will measure water temperatures on Maquoit Bay, trap and collect green crabs, and analyze data related to green crab numbers and their effects on local soft-shell clam populations. Students will also plant clam seeds to help rejuvenate the population.

The BHS science teachers hope to show students a variety of different objectives including seeing the impact of invasive species and climate change on our local watershed, monitor and remove green crab populations that are affecting the bay's soft-shell clam populations, work with community partners and connect students with post high school opportunities and more!

Brunswick School Department is pleased to partner with the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center and 317 Main to offer an inclusive music class for students in grades K-4. The program is free and kicked off on Thursday, March 3rd. The program will run on the 1st Thursday of each month until June 2nd. Click here to register for this program or visit the AOEC website for more information.

Brunswick School Department is proud to sponsor Social Media 101 with Kristi Bush. To attend, or to receive a recording though zoom, please enter your email address here.

Merrymeeting Adult Education is pleased to offer dozens of new and exciting classes this Spring. They are committed to providing learners with high-quality educational experiences that enhance the quality of life for all the citizens of the communities we serve. Visit Merrymeeting Adult Education online or call them at 207-729-7323 to register.