Pittsfield Families,
Good afternoon to you! Here we go with another week of remote learning!
Here are the latest district updates:
Attendance. Reminder to families that the district is required to take attendance during our daily check-in’s with students. Reminder that school attendance impacts student achievement. We have been following up with students who have not been actively engaging and are hopeful of raising our attendance numbers this week. Again, we’ve been down about 10% overall from our attendance numbers prior to remote learning.
Learning Materials. Reminder that we are scheduling materials pick-ups every two weeks. Our next pick-up will be Thursday, April 23. Remember also that all pick-ups are scheduled for PES, regardless of the grade. Materials not picked up on Thursday’s will be mailed to student homes on Friday’s; an exception would be for tech equipment or other large materials, which will be delivered by school bus during daily food delivery runs.
Meals. The district is providing meals to all students upon request. Meals are delivered between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. daily; in addition to lunch, meals include breakfast for the following day with varied menus for each. The district is utilizing meal delivery best practices to minimize the danger of potential danger of exposure to the virus.
Some families are opting to pick up meals at PES daily, which is an option available to all. However, please be advised that our pick-up hours are being reduced to 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon daily.
Families have been requested to leave a cooler or box at your door to minimize contact. Derek Hamilton is coordinating food deliveries; questions and requests should go to Derek vis email (dhamilton@sau51.org). Thanks to our outstanding food service staff!
Our PES and PMHS food pantries for those in need will continue to function during the period of remote learning, offering personal toiletries in addition to food items. Please contact Mike Curtin via email (mcurtin@sau51.org) to arrange for service from our food pantries.
Related Services. Though we have initiated a 4/1 schedule of instruction (instruction to all students on Monday’s through Thursday’s; Friday’s utilized for office time, individual help, small group work, etc.), our related service providers (speech and language and other therapeutic services provided per individual student plans) will continue to provide services on Friday’s due to scheduling requirements.
Remote Learning Term. Currently, our remote learning term is scheduled through Friday, May 1. We have been advised, however, that remote learning is likely to continue through the end of the school year. The Department of Education has advised districts that our governor will likely make the decision on extending remote learning by the end of this week.
Seniors. PMHS seniors received a survey last week regarding our graduation ceremony and other senior events. Seniors who have not yet responded are requested to do so asap so that planning for these important events can continue. So far, seniors are overwhelmingly choosing to delay the graduation ceremony to July or August rather than choose a remote ceremony in June.
School and SAU Offices. Reminder that we ask that our school and SAU offices not be visited; please email individuals with whom you would like contact. We will do our best to respond to email messages within twenty-four hours during the week.
School Board Meeting. During the period of remote learning, the Pittsfield School Board will meet in emergency session. This means that only “emergency” agenda items may be placed on the Board’s agenda and discussed. The public may access the Board meeting via a call-in number posted on the meeting agenda as noted on the district website. Please contact John Freeman (jfreeman@sau51.org) if you need the call-in information.
We wish you the best for a successful week of remote learning in Pittsfield!
Sincerely,
John Freeman, Superintendent of Schools
Derek Hamilton, Dean of Operations