J.A. Leonard Middle School

Our first PTA meeting will be by Zoom on Wednesday, September 23, from 6:00 - 7:00 P.M. Please join us! Zoom link: https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/81609517981

There has been some confusion around STEM, which is our fully remote offering. I have emailed the class code to all 6-8th graders to be sure they are in the correct class. Secondly, this class meets online one of the three remote days, and kids will have an assignment for a second remote day. If there was confusion I hope this clarifies it.

Based on the bus arrivals on Tuesday, we have created a dismissal procedure for walkers/riders and buses, with times. We hope this helps with your planning. Please contact the office if you have any questions. We'll be happy to help!

Friday Food Announcement

Tuesday, September 8, is our first day of school in RSU #34. We are so excited to have kids in our buildings again! If your child is IN SCHOOL on MONDAY/TUESDAY, they should be there by 8:30 Tuesday morning. If they ride the bus, they will be dropped off in the lower parking lot, and walk up the stairs. If your child walks or is dropped off, they should come to the upper driveway. Students should arrive between 8:00 and 8:30. Please no earlier. Students should go to the 6th grade or 7th-8th grade tent. The tents will be marked, and there will be school staff there to help direct them. They should look at the random check criteria for that day to see if they should be screened or can go directly to homeroom. We will post class lists in the tents, just inside the doors, and also at each homeroom. If your child is IN SCHOOL on THURSDAY/FRIDAY or FULLY REMOTE, they should log into their homeroom by 8:30 for attendance and instruction.

We need your help...please remember to do daily home screening before sending your child to school.

COVID Advisory Council Application: https://forms.gle/wX1tH3haStRsZnSZ8 We are excited to launch the 2020-2021 school year, and very much look forward to welcoming our students in person and remotely! Our schools and community will break new ground this year, navigating the pandemic together, as will schools and communities around the world. Each school is forming a continued input/feedback team of parents and staff, called the “COVID Advisory Council.” (AES and VRS will have one combined council). The principal will chair the team for each school, which will have these responsibilities: Receive and share input about what is working as intended, and what can be improved on Review emerging research Review public input Report to the Board with issues discussed, and whether consensus exists on any recommendations The membership of each school’s team will be as follows: (Ex Officio: Superintendent of Schools, Director of Curric/Instruction/Assessment, Special Education Director, School Nurse) Chair: Building administrator(s) Teacher representative 4 Parent Representatives If you are interested in being a parent representative, please complete the form below by September 9th. On the form, please indicate if you’re comfortable with the current RSU #34 plan, if you think the plan is too cautious, or if you think the plan is too risky. We will seek to have a representative balance of parent perspectives on the team. The team will be formed, with participants notified, by Friday, September 11, and the first meeting will take place on late afternoon/evening of Monday, September 14. If you have any questions, please call or email your principal.

For those of you who have high school students and can access Infinite Campus—we are having technical difficulties entering scheduling information and are working to resolve the issue.

The 2019-2020 LMS Yearbooks have arrived! Families who purchased yearbooks online at the end of last year are invited to come to LMS on Thursday, September 3rd, during our technology pick-up from 12 noon to 6 PM and pick up your yearbook! If you missed the online order, we have some extra books the we will sellare on first-come, first-serve basis. Contact adam.kirkland@rsu34.org to have your name added to the list. The books are $25 each.

LMS Drive Through Open House: When: Monday August 31 Grade 8: 3pm-4pm Grade 7: 4pm-5pm Grade 6: 5pm-6pm Come see your student's teachers, get all student forms , and up to date information on the start of the year. Computers will be available for pick up Thursday September 3 here at LMS with the return of student forms.

LMS Q and A via Zoom: When: Wednesday September 2 from 5pm-6pm. Hosted by Dr. Nesin and Mr. Barker. Submit your questions using the attached link (one question per form). Questions: https://forms.gle/A7TPnHLfoL6wdjC1A Zoom link: https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/85813179553 FAQ page: https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/e/2PACX-1vQzoMzjORFUVoV0OQ0iZLi3F8wJ4POVmwhYiIzzpXK2chM009kriH8d1rvLUW3GumaGvsE22G2dETc-/pub

As of Wednesday nights board meeting the first day of school is set for Tuesday September 8th. Information will be coming next week about a drive through open house at LMS for families to get more information as well as an LMS Q and A over Zoom.

Class Lists: Grade 6: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ih6SkGtGBi2w6E6wIemzpd5FGktqyTa2B3sFl-tyc9o/edit?usp=sharing Grade 7: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12y6cJNoTSONw7J4ybmR1fKGVbuEOCfj1YIT_I2EkEGg/edit?usp=sharing Grade 8: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D4pTZ9zmC_bVxGrDlL-qdWCj33dVc62ZdTZhoPEhbHk/edit?usp=sharing

Student placements for LMS will be complete and going out this Friday (8/21) by email. If you don't see it by then please contact the school.

LMS FAQ's for 2020-2021 https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQzoMzjORFUVoV0OQ0iZLi3F8wJ4POVmwhYiIzzpXK2chM009kriH8d1rvLUW3GumaGvsE22G2dETc-/pub

We are almost ready to create homeroom and class lists. We need one more piece of information from you, about supportive classmates for your child. Please complete the following (brief) survey by Monday, August 10, at 8:00 A.M. https://forms.gle/PGrQxSrGnukWJXN47

If you haven't yet filled out this form about how you would like your child(ren) to return to school, please complete it by Friday, July 31. https://forms.gle/qzbHRsjgZQuNAkuNA

Dear LMS Families, If you haven't yet filled out this required survey about your preferences for returning to school in the fall, you have a week left. It is due next Friday, July 31. Please fill out one per child in RSU#34. https://forms.gle/qzbHRsjgZQuNAkuNA Thank you!

Dear LMS Families, These are uncertain times, and we know you have questions about what school will look like in September. Please be assured of several things. 1) We all want each child to learn as much as possible, no matter what the situation. 2) We will create a structure—in person and remote—to support your child’s learning. That will mean clear expectations, and a schedule to meet those expectations. 3) There will be direct and live instruction. 4) We want children to have friends on their team with them. . 5) We will share information as we learn it, and are quite sure it is accurate. If you have questions, concerns, or perspectives you’d like to share along the way, I welcome your thoughts. Call me at 827-3900 Ext. 1304, or email gert.nesin@rsu34.org. Together, we will make this year one of support, engagement, and learning. Dr. Gert Nesin Principal

Your input is essential, by July 31! Dear Parents/Guardians of RSU #34 Children, Our district has put together a form through which parents/guardians will inform the schools of their family’s plans and needs for the upcoming start to the school year. Please submit one form per RSU #34 student in order for us to coordinate family plans PreK-12. We estimate this form will take no more than 5 minutes per student to complete. Please submit this form as soon as possible and no later than Friday, July 31st. You can watch the presentation of our planning to the School Board here: https://www.rsu34.org/article/272060?org=rsu-34 RSU #34 anticipates needing to move flexibly between three “lanes” in 2020-2021, depending on things such as community transmission rates of the novel coronavirus and the rates of student and staff illnesses with symptoms similar to COVID-19. These lanes are: fully remote learning, a combination of in-person and remote learning, and in-person learning five days per week. Families that wish to participate remotely all year long may do so. More details and background about the district’s plan can be found here (tinyurl.com/y9o23gmk). Here is the link to the form: https://forms.gle/qzbHRsjgZQuNAkuNA Any questions should be directed to the building principal of your student. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We thank you for your hard work, patience, and community spirit supporting our children throughout the pandemic. Sincerely, RSU #34 Planning Team