School Union 76 Celebrates their Schools in Unique Video for National Public Schools Week

School Union (SU) 76, which is comprised of The Brooklin School, Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School, Deer Isle-Stonington High School, Sedgwick Elementary School, and the Isle au Haut School recently celebrated National Public Schools Week by creating a video about their schools and the communities that come together to make these schools so special. Check out the video here:

This video was submitted by Christian Elkington, Superintendent of School Union 76 as part of the Maine Schools Sharing Success Campaign. To submit a story or an idea, email it to Rachel at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

Aroostook Teachers Organize Virtual Author Visits for Students

On February 5, 2020, MSAD #42 in Mars Hill hosted two virtual author visits in celebration of both World Read Aloud Day and Aroostook Regional Gifted and Talented Battle of the Books.

Each year, with the help of a list created by Author Kate Messner, teachers and librarians from across the country are invited to contact authors willing to offer free virtual visits with students via Skype. MSAD #42’s District Librarian and Gifted & Talented teacher Natasha Brewer, in conjunction with Aroostook Regional Gifted and Talented (ARGT) teachers, organized two author visits.

Each school year ARGT hosts both middle school and high school Battle of the Books competitions. Students read several books and gather in the spring to test their knowledge and recollection of the information covered in the texts. Using this year’s ARGT Battle of the Books competition as a guide, Brewer was able to schedule visits with two authors who wrote books on this year’s list. All ARGT schools were invited to join Mars Hill’s students for the visits. Taking part in the event were teachers and students from MSAD#24 in Van Buren, MSAD#20 in Fort Fairfield, Easton Jr/Sr High School in Easton, and SAD#32 in Ashland.

Middle school students and teachers spent forty minutes with author Ann Braden who read an excerpt from her debut novel, The Benefits of Being an Octopus, and then answered student’s questions. High school students and teachers spent forty minutes with White Rose author, Kip Wilson. The collaboration of several Aroostook County schools made it possible for over 70 students to meet and learn from highly successful authors, as well as each other. Due to the overwhelming response from the students and teachers, Brewer and ARGT hope to continue providing annual author visits to celebrate the benefits of reading, diverse texts, and connections with others.

This story was submitted by Kay York, Principal at Central Aroostook Junior-Senior High School as part of the Maine Schools Sharing Success Campaign. To submit a story or an idea, email it to Rachel Paling at rachel.paling@maine.gov.

Oakhurst Donates $300,000 for Maine Students!

Today at Westbrook Middle School, Oakhurst Dairy President John Bennett announced that the company will be donating $300,000 over the next three years to feed Maine’s students. The donation will be in partnership with Full Plates, Full Potential to fund the Oakhurst After School meal grant program. An initial $30,000 in grants will go to two school districts and seven nonprofits to get their programming underway. In addition to Bennett’s announcement, remarks were provided by Justin Alfond of Full Plates, Full Potential, Governor Janet Mills, Westbrook Superintendent Peter Lancia, and Westbrook Middle School 8th grader, Jake Mitchell.

The Department of Education’s Child Nutrition Team, including Director Walter Beaseley and Child and Adult Care Food Program Contract Specialist Alyssa Mank work closely with Full Plates, Full Potential to support innovative school nutrition programs that address food insecurity for Maine students, and were praised for their collaborative efforts.

At the end of today’s announcement, students from Westbrook Middle School’s Fuel Up to Play 60 program surrounded Governor Mills for a photo opportunity.

Mattanawcook Junior High School Student Artists Honored at Maine State House

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) hosted a celebration of the Maine Visual and Performing Arts Education Showcase on February 28th in the Maine State House where the selected artwork of student visual artists and musicians from Mattanawcook Junior High School (RSU #67) were recognized.

Starting in February these students’ works will be on exhibit throughout the Maine DOE, where they will remain until June. RSU #67 teachers, administrators, and families were in attendance as artists were formally acknowledged by the DOE, including Deputy Commissioner of Education Daniel Chuhta, and Maine State Board of Education Chairman Wilson Hess, in addition to State Representatives Kathy Javner (House District 141) and Sheldon Hanington (District 142).

In addition to introductions and comments from Maine DOE Visual and Performing Arts Specialist Jason Anderson and Deputy Commissioner Dan Chuhta, the Mattanawcook Junior High School Grade 4 Chorus performed two songs about Maine, before Mattanawcook Junior High School student artists were each presented with a certificate from the Maine DOE and a signed letter from Governor Janet Mills.

Following the ceremony, Department of Education staff took students, educators and their family members on a guided tour of artwork that is hung around the halls of the Department.

Thru the EYES of INNOVATION Conference 2020

Department of Education is providing this information to educators, students and parents as a resource. This is not a Maine DOE sponsored event.

Thru the EYES of INNOVATION Conference 2020

Hosted by Camden Hills Regional High School
25 Keelson Dr, Rockport, ME
Wednesday and Thursday, July 1 & 2, 2020
Website: eyesofinnovation.com

This exciting two-day conference in the cozy seaside town of Rockport, Maine focuses on the intersection of education and innovation. Here, you can mix it up… and, yes, collide…with leading educators, students, entrepreneurs, and industry thought leaders.

The days are jam-packed, too. Participants can choose from more than a dozen fast-paced and lively sessions, a Design Sprint Challenge, roundtable discussions, and a young entrepreneurs panel, with plenty of networking opportunities along the way.

We guarantee a one-of-a-kind experience. So come ‘on. Let the sparks fly!

Visit our website eyesofinnovation.com to register and for up-to-date information. *space is limited to 200 participants*

Follow us on Twitter @SchoolsCamden or Facebook page is Thru the Eyes of Innovation Conference or LinkedIn Five Towns CSD/MSAD #28

G.E.A.R. Parent Network & Maine Parent Federation Peer Support Conference: It Takes A Village

Department of Education is providing this information to educators, students and parents as a resource. This is not a Maine DOE sponsored event.

Peer Support: It Takes A Village

This event is sponsored by G.E.A.R. Parent Network (a program of Crisis and Counseling Centers) & Maine Parent Federation.

Saturday March 14, 2020
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Governor Hill Mansion
136 State St Augusta ME, 04330

Come and learn about parent and youth peer supports and how you can benefit from receiving these free services available in our state! Also learn how parents and youth can become peer mentors themselves.

There will be a special guest speaker, 21 year old Self-Advocate Jake Shumbo. Jake’s
message of “Different Ability” versus “Disability” inspires his audiences to look beyond
labels and how despite your ability you can be the leader of your own destiny.

Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Learn more & register:

For more information about the event including and agenda, contact information and registration information please visit https://crisisandcounseling.org/peersupportconf/.

Update – Teacher Shortage Areas For 2020-2021 School Year

The U.S. DOE annually designates teacher shortage areas for purposes of deferment of loan repayments or reductions of teaching obligation. On February 4, 2020 the Department of Education requested input regarding designated teacher shortage areas for federal reporting. The Department would like to thank all those who submitted information related to teacher shortage and, because of public input, will be proposing the following as K-12 teacher shortage areas for the 2020-2021 school year:

Early Elementary (K-3)
Early Childhood (Pre-K)
Teacher of Students with Disabilities
French
Spanish
Health
Theater
English – Second Language
Mathematics
Middle Level Science
Physical Science
Life Science
Latin
Italian
Visual Arts
Gifted/Talented
CTE (Firefighter/EMT, Automotive Mechanics, Truck, Automotive Body Repair, Diesel Engine Mechanic, Carpentry, Marine Maintenance, Electrician, Computer Info Services, Machine Toll Oper/Shop, Weld Braze Solder, Building Maintenance, Plumbing, Agricultural Prod. Gen, Allied Health, Nursing Asst., Law Enforcement, Forestry Prod & Proc., Food Production Manager, Child Care/Guidance, Business Admin/Manager)

The Maine Department of Education received additional input regarding Specialist and Administrative certificates, not currently covered by this provision, but will be investigating the possibility of inclusion in the shortage report in the future.

Special Education Staff Certification Opens March 1

The Special Education Staff Certification (EF-S-05 Part II) will open for verification and certification on March 1, 2020 and will close on April 15, 2020.

The EF-S-05 Part II must be verified and certified by the Special Education Director in NEO. The report is used to verify the full-time equivalency (FTE) and qualification status of special education teachers, paraprofessionals (educational technicians), and related services personnel who were employed or contracted to provide special education services to students with disabilities ages 3 through 20 as of December 1, 2019.

Instructions for completing the report can be found at: https://www.maine.gov/doe/data-reporting/collection/helpdesk/resources/data-reporting-instructions.

If you have trouble logging into NEO or have other technical issues, contact the help desk at 207-624-6896 or MEDMS.Helpdesk@maine.gov. For questions about the EF-S-05 Part II, contact Brandi Giguere at 207-624-6648 or brandi.a.giguere@maine.gov.

Suicide Prevention Trainings Posted for School Staff this Spring

The Maine Suicide Prevention Program (MSSP) and NAMI Maine are offering a series of training opportunities for the school community over the next two months. If you have not developed or revised your suicide prevention and management protocols for your district, this may be the last chance to train a team from your school district before the deadline of June 2020. These trainings are all funded through the MSSP and offered at no or little costs.

The trainings offered during March and April include:

Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training: Multiple Dates and Locations

This day-long training prepares school personnel for their role as a suicide prevention resource for their school community. Though a non-clinical training, it provides the basic information and resources to identify risk and engage in an intervention to connect a student to appropriate help. Each district is required to maintain a minimum number of Gatekeepers based on the size of their student body. The requirement is at least 2 Gatekeepers, and for districts with more than 1,000 students, an additional person for every 500 students. It is recommended to have a Gatekeeper in each school building.

Advanced Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training for School Personnel: Multiple Dates and Locations

The Suicide Prevention Gatekeepers must renew their training at least every 5 years. Those who were trained in the foundational Gatekeeper Training 5+ years ago are due for renewal. This session offers an opportunity to deepen your knowledge and skills in suicide prevention for school personnel renewing their training.

Suicide Prevention Protocol Development Training: Multiple Dates and Locations

The process of developing a school or district protocol managing suicide prevention, intervention and postvention requires several conversations with personnel across a district. This 5-hour workshop offers an opportunity for a small team from the district to get started on the process. Training includes templates, model forms and added resources to support your efforts.

Non-Suicidal Self Injury management in a school setting: March 10, 2020

Non-suicidal self-injury is the direct, deliberate destruction of body tissue in the absence of suicidal intent. It has been on the rise over the past decade There is significant connection between self-injury and suicide risk that must be understood and addressed. This training will review demographics, risk factors and warning signs of self-injury as well as recommendations for assessment, intervention and management of self-injury in a school setting.

Collaborative Safety Planning in a school setting: March 24, 2020

Best practice recommendations for addressing and managing suicide risk include use of a good assessment tool for determining risk and guiding intervention. A vital next step is the collaborative development and use of a Safety Plan to help an individual to manage themselves during and following periods of crisis. A Safety Plan is a tool and a process for working with a student and family to identify and increase the use of coping skills, social and family support and professional resources. It is an excellent tool for use with anyone at risk for escalating crisis. This session will provide the tools and process for implementing safety planning for supporting students at risk in Maine schools

Suicide Prevention Training of Trainers (to learn to present the required suicide prevention staff training):

All school staff across the district are required to attend a 1-2 hour Suicide Prevention Awareness Session. The TOT session is for school staff who are Gatekeepers and offers them the support and access to the materials to support their delivery of the staff awareness sessions for their school or district. Plan to send at least 2 staff!

The full range of training dates and registration links are available through the suicide prevention Training Calendar at NAMI Maine.

PRIORITY NOTICE: Reminders for School Communities Regarding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus

Reminders for School Communities Regarding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus!

Please note that at this time Maine has no confirmed cases associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Maine Department of Education, in collaboration with, and with guidance from The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), issued information to School Administrative Unit (SAU) leaders last month about the coronavirus outbreak. This is a reminder and update of that information; we will continue to work with Maine CDC and provide updated guidance and information, as it becomes available. Schools and districts should review and keep their School Emergency Operations Plans up to date, including portions of the plan that address infectious diseases.

Information from the CDC:

Students or staff who recently traveled outside the United States who have respiratory symptoms or fever should inform their health care provider about their travel history. Health care providers should notify Maine CDC at 1-800-821-5821 and screen for routine respiratory illnesses such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus.

Maine CDC staff have been working closely with public health officials from the federal government and other states since the 2019 novel coronavirus was first identified in China. Maine CDC continues to offer guidance to the state’s health care community and other agencies, including Maine DOE, as the global situation evolves.

As part of that effort, Maine CDC created and regularly updates a webpage with information about the 2019 novel coronavirus. Visit the webpage at: www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus.

Additionally, this fact sheet (PDF) provides answers to common questions about the 2019 novel coronavirus.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintain that the immediate risk of contracting this novel virus remains low in the United States. The greater risk for Mainers at this time, is seasonal influenza and it is not too late to get the flu shot.

The best preventive measures for all infectious diseases include washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and staying home when you feel sick.

Updating School Emergency Operations Plans:

While Maine has no confirmed cases associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus, we are recommending that all schools review their Emergency Operations Plan with local public safety officials to make sure the team is familiar with the plan, update the plan if needed, and address any other improvements that may be required. Should your plan not have a section that addresses infectious diseases and continuity of operations, please take time to develop that plan with your local public safety partners (school nurse, Emergency Management Association, health services, law enforcement and other first responders).

Below are some helpful links to information on preparing your schools for a possible pandemic:

Should school emergency planning teams need any assistance with the development of their emergency plans, please contact the Maine School Safety and Security Center at DOESchoolandStudentSupports@maine.gov.