The Talbot Sunday Update

• Early Release on Wednesdays - Students Dismissed at 1:10

• Student Conferences-November 21st and 22nd

• Picture Retake Day-November 25th

• No School-Thanksgiving Break-November 27th, 28th and 29th

Congratulations to the following students:

Ms. Libby's Room: Mohamed A./Johnny W. and Martha

Mr. Noah's Room: Suweyda and John

Mr. Fleury's Room: Aurora and Mustaf

Snow Day Plans

In cases of inclement weather, the Portland Public Schools will use up to three traditional "snow days." Our schools will be closed on those days and students will not be expected to go to school in person or learn remotely. No school meals will be provided on snow days. Those days would be made up on June 16, 17, and 18th. This would mean that the last day of school for students would be Wednesday, June 18th, and the last possible day for teachers would be Friday, June 20. (June 19 – Juneteenth – is a holiday)

If there are more than three days of inclement weather requiring school cancellation, we will have remote learning days in lieu of a snow day. On remote learning days, students will stay home and will be expected to complete academic assignments. Remote learning days will not need to be made up at the end of the year.

If an inclement weather remote day is called, the district will make school meals available for families to pick up (see details below).

Remote Learning Expectations

• Elementary (grades PK-5) – Students will be provided with hard copy materials to be completed at home and returned to school the next day.

Attendance Guidance

• Elementary: Attendance will be taken for students who return/complete their packet.
• *Student absences will be excused on any remote learning day.

Food Service Plans for Remote Learning Days

Meals will be available for pick up at nine school locations, typically from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m:

· Lincoln Middle School – Leland Street, back parking lot delivery door

· King Middle School – Front door, drive-up service available

· Lyman Moore Middle School – Front door, drive-up service available

· Peaks Island Elementary School

· Portland High School – Delivery door next to garage on Chestnut Street side

· Presumpscot Elementary School – Front door, drive up service available

· Reiche Community School – Current building entrance on Clark Street side

· Rowe Elementary School - Front door, drive up service available

· Talbot Community School – Front door, drive-up service available

*Families may pick up meals at any location most convenient to them.

Communication

• Final decisions regarding snow days and remote learning days will be communicated by ReachMyTeach and through various media outlets no later than 5 a.m. The information will also be on the district’s homepage banner and on social media.

Dear Families,

It is hard to believe that the middle of November has arrived! We are busy as we prepare for our fall conferences that will be starting soon. You should be hearing from your child’s teacher with some options for conference times through Reach My Teach. As a school, we hope that all of our families will make attending their child’s conference a priority. As educators, we know that family engagement improves school readiness, student achievement, and social skills. We hope to see everyone at our conferences.

During our fall conferences, teachers will share children’s academic and social progress as well as identify learning goals for the coming months.

Successful Conferences-

• A Two Way Conversation

Like all good conversations, parent-teacher conferences are best when both people talk and listen. This is a great time to find out whether your child is meeting school expectations and academic standards.

• Emphasis on Learning

Effective parent teacher conferences focus on how well your child is doing in school and how he or she can do even better.

• Opportunities and challenges

Just like you, teachers want your child to succeed. You will hear positive feedback about your child’s progress and areas for improvement. Be prepared by thinking about your child’s strengths and weaknesses beforehand. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about ways you and the teacher can help your child with some of his or her challenges.

It's really important that we have updated information about your family! If you have not already done so, please complete the annual parent/guardian portal update on Infinite Campus as soon as possible.

Online updates include changes to phone numbers, email addresses, emergency contacts, addresses, media release forms, walking permission slips and much more. To access the portal update, please go to:

https://ic.portlandschools.org/campus/portal/parents/portland.jsp

Avoid keeping children at home unless they are too sick to participate in regular activities. If your child has a compromised immune system or is at high risk for complications from common illnesses, please talk to your school (school nurse if available) about developing a plan with you and your child's health-care provider to keep your child healthy and safe while attending school.

Some of the normal conditions children may experience, but don't usually require them to stay home from school might include:

• a mild cold with runny nose or occasional cough
• a mild upset stomach with no other complications
• a mild rash with no other symptoms
• treated head lice
• mild eye irritation without fever
• pain or eyelid redness
• menstrual cramps and/or other symptoms
• mild anxiety or sadness
• fever has gone away and they are not taking fever reducing medicine

If you are worried that your child may be suffering from anxiety, talk with your teacher, the school nurse, social worker or other school staff and/or the child's health care provider to discuss the challenge and identify what support or intervention might help your child stay in school.

This document is not meant to take the place of CDC/DOE/School Department guidance about illnesses such as Covid-19 and flu.

(Document Attached Below)