Dear Gould Students and Families,

Unfortunately, I am (again) writing with the news that COVID cases are on the rise in Maine and beyond. Case counts, hospitalizations, and testing positivity rates are at an all-time high. While the Community Transmission Level in Oxford County is still at medium transmission (yellow), the number of people testing positive on campus here at Gould has increased significantly over the last two weeks. Four faculty members are out, and several students are in isolation on campus and at home. The CDC considers Gould to be in “outbreak” status, and there is more information about this status on the Covid page of our website.

The increase in cases on campus is prompting us to return to universal indoor masking, starting today. This safety measure is an effort to limit the potential of viral spread in our community. We hope to minimize exposure for our entire community, especially the seniors who are hoping to graduate in a “normal” way this year and the staff who work to make graduation and other events happen, while also protecting families of students as they return home. 

Our hope is that wearing masks indoors will allow all of our students and staff to enjoy as many end-of-year activities as possible. It increases the chances that students will be able to follow through with their plans to fly internationally to get home, and there are two groups of students traveling to France and Spain in the week following commencement as well. We also believe wearing masks will allow all students to be as healthy as possible as they leave campus to return to their families in less than two weeks.

In light of this masking policy change, we are canceling the formal dinner that was planned for tomorrow evening. We are also considering changing the plan for the Baccalaureate dinner on May 26, currently planned as an indoor meal with over 400 people. We will notify seniors and their families as soon as we can if there is a change of plans.  

However, families and friends are still welcome to come to campus, including the Underclass Awards Ceremony and reception tomorrow night, and the Middle School Celebration on Sunday. All visitors will be required to wear a mask, which we will have available for you at the door if you need one. Faculty and students are looking forward to seeing families on campus at the end of the year activities. 

We are not considering changes to any other events at this time. Many of the scheduled events such as the community cookout and dance with Motor Booty on Saturday night and the Middle School Celebration on Sunday were already planned to be outdoor events to be as safe as possible in light of the pandemic. Masking is not required outdoors and sports are continuing as normal. We’re actually grateful for the timing, it’s a lot easier to be outside in May than in the winter!

Our pooled testing program has ended because the state is no longer offering it, but we have plenty of antigen tests in the Health Center for anyone who would like to take one at any time. We are also still recommending booster shots to anyone who is eligible.

The students and staff received this message during an all-school assembly today and had an opportunity to ask questions. If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to your student’s advisor, myself, or join the monthly coffee chat with school leadership tomorrow morning at 8 am (register for the coffee chat here). 

We’re looking forward to seeing you on campus to celebrate our commencement and other activities together safely.

Warm regards,                  

Joanna Brown, RN, P '23, '25

Health Services Director