Dear D.W. Merritt School Families,
As summer vacation draws to a close, I want to update you on our school re-opening plans. The MSAD #37 School Board voted last night to change the opening day of school to Tuesday, Sept. 8. This will provide an extra week to make sure our schools and staff are prepared, trained and ready to welcome our students back!
The staff and I are excited for students to return to school! Our school and classrooms look great! Each student will be provided their own baskets/boxes full of school supplies, students in grades 3-6 will again have laptops and students in grades K-2 will have newly purchased I-pads. Teachers have lessons ready and lots of new activities planned as well!
Students that are returning to school in person will attend Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday each week. Teachers may assign work to take home on Tuesdays to be done on Wednesdays at home and returned on Thursdays.
Students that will be participating in remote learning will be given the same assignments as students that are attending school in person. These assignments can be picked up on Tuesday, Sept. 8 from the labeled totes that will be on a cart outside the main entrance of the school. Each Monday thereafter, student work needs to be returned to the totes and new work picked up. On Wednesdays, the remote learners will communicate with classroom teachers via the method agreed upon by parents and teachers. Classroom teachers will be contacting remote learners next week to establish the remote methods that will work best for each student. Remote work will be graded and returned to students.
Our custodians will be sanitizing throughout the building each day and deep cleaning on Wednesdays. Hand sanitizer stations have been installed in classrooms, bathrooms, offices and all other staff/student areas. All staff will have sanitizing wipes to help with wiping down doorknobs, light switches and other surfaces as needed. Individual water bottles have been ordered for students as have water bottle re-filling stations. Each student will be supplied with a DWM Eagles face mask or they may wear one from home.
Since only students and staff will be allowed in the building, we have clearly marked the parking lot with a yellow lane that is only for buses and a red lane that leads to the designated pick-up/drop-off area for parents & students. Mrs. Alley, myself or other staff members will be on duty in this designated area each morning and afternoon. The morning drop-off time is 7:30 and the afternoon pick-up time is 2:45. If you need to dismiss your child/children at another time during the day, please call the school and we will bring them out to you. Thank you for your cooperation as we strive to make arrivals and dismissals as streamlined and safe as possible.
The staff and I will be available via e-mail, phone calls, and virtual meetings or in person by appointment. The school number is 483-2229 and our email addresses are our first initial, last name @msad37.org Communication between home and school is going to be key to making this school year a success. We will reach out to you on a regular basis and I welcome and encourage you to do the same.
This is certainly going to be a different school year for all of us. Yet, the commitment to your children and the excitement of helping them learn and grow remains the same. The staff and I are dedicated to working with you so that they can have a school year full of rich academic and social experiences in a safe, caring and productive learning environment. Together, we can do this!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Greene
Principal - D.W. Merritt School
RSU #37 Prof. Development, Title 1 & G/T Coordinator