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Pesticide Application Notice
Northern Turf Management will be spraying for weeds and other invasive vegetation around the Madawaska Middle/High School (135 7th Ave) and Madawaska Elementary School (353 11th Ave) building perimeters and riprap areas on 7/22 starting at 8AM.
Northern Turf Management will be using the same chemical as previous years that are free of glyphosates. The chemical(s) used are Rely 280 or Cheetah Pro mixed with Sure Power.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Paul Chasse at 207-728-3371 x2409. |
Summer Lunch Program
 In an effort to determine how many Madawaska School Department children would like to receive free school lunches this summer, we are asking residents to complete a short survey using the link below. Thank you for your time! |
School Dismissing Early
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District Parent and Family Engagement
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June COVID19 Vaccination Reminder
We are writing to remind you that in our on-going efforts to keep our students, staff and schools safe and open for in-school instruction, we will continue to partner with St. John Valley Pharmacy to host Pfizer vaccine clinics at our three Valley Unified Middle/High Schools on the following dates and times. See the attached document for details. |
| Attachments:
June COVID19 Vaccination Reminder.pdf
School Reintegration Update for Students, Parents and Families: Month of May 2021
As the end of the school year approaches, we need to acknowledge how far we've come in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our students, staff, and community members in Maine are getting vaccinated at a higher rate than any other US state! There is much to be excited for as we look ahead to the summer months! Here are some updates for the month of May. Take care and be well!  Click here or the image above for this month's updates. |
Outdoor Face Mask Update
The same guidance also indicated that the Maine Department of Education will separately update school-based protocols. This week, the Maine Department of Education updated their school guidance which removes all social distancing requirements for adults. Additionally the DOE is no longer requiring schools to mandate face mask wearing outdoors for staff or students; however, schools can choose to keep outdoor face mask mandates if they so choose. Earlier this morning, we met with school administrators and nurses to discuss this information. In that conversation, we reflected on the fact that since day 1, we have always followed the recommendations of the Maine CDC and the Maine DOE. We also reflected that student and staff behavior at home or in the community does not match what is currently happening at school. Based on this, our team is in consensus that if the Maine CDC and Maine DOE support no social distancing and no mask wearing outdoors, we will as well. Beginning tomorrow, May 20, 2021, students and staff will no longer be required to social distance and wear a face covering when outdoors. This includes, but is not limited to: Outdoor classrooms, outdoor events, recess, and athletic games. All indoor mask requirements remain in place at this time, which includes school buildings, school offices, buses and other school vehicles. It is important to Valley Unified and the member districts that we support the easing of restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic while also maintaining our health, safety and contact-tracing efforts. We also encourage all parents to consider vaccinating their 12 and older children against COVID-19. Parents are encouraged to watch this informational video hosted by the Maine DOE. If you are interested in securing a vaccine for your child, please contact your child’s school nurse and they will help guide you. Thank you for your help in keeping our students safe while we begin the journey back to normal. Respectfully, Benjamin Sirois Superintendent of Schools: Valley Unified Education Service CenterFor more information, please see https://vuescsuper.blogspot.com/2021/05/outdoor-face-mask-guidance-update-51921.html |
Updated COVID 19 Vaccinations
Dear Valley Unified Students, Parents, Families and Staff:  We are writing to inform you about an important opportunity for students ages 12 and older to be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer vaccine. Yes, you read correctly, the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for emergency authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use with children as young as 12 years. In our on-going efforts to keep our students, staff and schools safe and open for in-school instruction, we will continue to partner with St. John Valley Pharmacy to host Pfizer vaccine clinics at our three Valley Unified Middle/High Schools on the following dates and times: May 19 and 20 Clinics (2nd dosage for those vaccinated at school in April, 2021 and 1st dosage for those wanting to start the vaccine series) June 9 and 10 Clinics (2nd dosage for those vaccinated at school in May, 2021 and 1st dosage for those wanting to start the vaccine series) June 30 and July 1 Clinics (2nd dosage for those vaccinated at school in June 9 or 10, 2021 and 1st dosage for those wanting to start the vaccine series) These school-based clinics are entirely voluntary and have been arranged for the convenience of our students and families as well as any Valley Unified staff who have not yet had the opportunity to be vaccinated. With questions or to schedule an appointment to be vaccinated, students' parents can contact the School Nurse at their local Middle/High School. Parental permission is required for 12-17 year old students to participate. Consent forms are available from your School Nurses or by clicking here. School Nurse Contact Information This school year has presented many challenges for our students and their families, for our schools and staff, and for our communities. Over a year has passed since schools across the country, our state, and our Upper St. John Valley region closed for remote learning. We are pleased that our students have been in school for the majority of this school year and hope to build upon this successful foundation for the rest of this year and during 2021-2022. We believe voluntary vaccination against COVID-19 can help us achieve this goal. Stay safe and be well. Respectfully, Benjamin Sirois Superintendent of Schools Valley Unified Education Service Center |
| Attachments:
Updated COVID19 Vaccination Opportunity Letter.pdf
MMHS Parent Survey
 The Maine Department of Education currently requires all school districts to have a plan for in-classroom instruction (green model), hybrid learning (yellow model), and remote learning (red model). The DOE however does not require districts to offer a choice of these models at the same time. As we begin to plan for the upcoming 2021-22 school year, It is important that we gather the following information to assist us as we determine the instructional structures for the coming school year. |
Updated Travel Advisory
 Please see the following updates to travel testing and quarantine requirements: United States Travel As of May 1, 2021, the state of Maine no longer requires proof of a negative test or quarantine for travelers to the state. Following the Maine guidance, Valley Unified Schools will also no longer require a negative test after United States travel to return to school. Per the Maine Travel and Visitor FAQ page, “If one or more states see a spike in cases of high contagious COVID-19 variants, Maine will apply its test or quarantine requirement on travelers to and from that state The Maine CDC will publicly announce any such states when they are identified.” In the event that Maine does identify one or more states that require test or quarantine requirements, Valley Unified will also require the same to return to school. International Travel In line with U.S. CDC guidelines, all people who arrive in Maine within 7 days of entering the U.S. must quarantine for 7 days from arrival in the U.S. AND get a COVID-19 molecular or antigen test 3-5 days after arrival in the U.S. Even if the COVID-19 test is negative, individuals must complete the 7-day quarantine after travel. If the test is positive, individuals must isolate. Individuals arriving from international travel who do not get a COVID-19 test should quarantine for 10 days after arrival in the U.S. |
| Attachments:
Updated Travel Advisory - 5.3.21 - Google Docs.pdf
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