I hope this cold morning finds you well after the vacation week. The picture here is the surprise I received upon waking this morning. Not a very welcome sight in mid April, for sure!
As we pivot toward the final eight weeks and two days of school (but who is counting) I wanted to update you on a few matters. My administrative team and I stand ready to assist you in any way we can and I urge you to reach out to us for help and support as we end this challenging school year.
Extended Distance Learning Dates
As many of you know, Governor Lamont has extended the period of distance learning through May 20, 2020. I may be wrong (and I hope I am) but my team is planning for school not to resume this school year. I expect we will know for sure in the coming weeks, especially because each state/region is creating its own operational return from shutdown. For the moment we will HOPE to get back to some normalcy next month.
Breakfast/Lunches
Please see the attached menu for our meal program for April 20- May 8, 2019. Once again, these meals are available to ALL children 18 years and under in a household if at least one child attends one of our schools.
Parent Guardian Outreach for SNAP Benefits
During this difficult time, many households may be experiencing hardships due to the loss of a job or income. The Connecticut State Department of Education has asked us to remind all parents/guardians that they may be eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SNAP helps people buy food for themselves and their families. (Additionally, eligibility for SNAP benefits means that a child will be directly certified for free meals, which will carry over for 30 operating days into the next school year.) Please use the link to learn more about this potential benefit.
https://portal.ct.gov/DSS/SNAP/Supplemental-Nutrition-Assistance-Program---SNAP
Local Mask Production
I want to share some very uplifting news with you. In the midst of the Covid 19 school closures, Portland High School junior, Bryce Wiekrykas, recently reached out to me and requested the use of our five 3D printers from the high school and middle school so that he could create reusable masks with filters. In early April, the 3D printers were delivered to Bryce’s home and he sought the assistance of two fellow juniors, Nate Disalvo, and Haley Sroka.
Bryce and his two fellow students have now created more than 2-dozen masks and production continues! These masks have been designed to be able to filter micro particles, which Bryce and Nate believe will be better than cloth masks or using substitutes such as scarves. While these masks will not meet the medical grade qualifications of N95 masks, they will be much more effective than many other homemade alternatives. Bryce, Nate and Haley will distribute masks to community members in Portland who are at the highest risk of exposure in the community.
At a recent Portland Board of Selectmen meeting, Bryce and Nate shared their mask prototype, and their plans to distribute masks locally. They also explained their intent to share their project design with high school students throughout the country. Portland is lucky to have these three globally thinking, locally acting students who want to make a positive difference in their community! (See below.)
Important Dates
Below, I am sharing with you important dates regarding the budget approval process. Due to Executive Order 7I from Governor Lamont, the approval process will not include a town referendum this year, and the decision in Portland will be made by the Board of Selectmen at a meeting on May 27, 2020. There are numerous remote hearings and meetings leading up to that vote and I include those dates and times below. Please use the link on the Portland Town Website to join these remote meetings. https://www.portlandct.org/
- Monday, April 27, 2020 (7:00 PM)- Budget Deliberation with Town Departments including the Board of Education
- Wednesday May 6, 2020 (7:00 PM)- Public Hearing on Proposed Budget
- Tuesday, May 19, 2020 (7:00 PM)- Budget Deliberations
- Wednesday, May 20, 2020 (7:00 PM)- Budget Deliberations
- Wednesday, May 27, 2020 (7:00 PM)- Budget Adoption
Middle School Band
Finally, I am sharing with you an amazing feat accomplished by our middle school band director, Sarah Ketterer. Recently, she tasked her students enrolled in PMS band with practicing and submitting to her one of the pieces meant for our Extravaganza last month. She then acquired some new video editing skills, recorded herself conducting through the piece to help all students have similar recordings of them. They were asked to choose between submitting either a video recording, or an audio recording (with school picture). She and her students did an AMAZING job! Please use this hyperlink: PMS Band Digital Performance
With continued best wishes to all of you,
Philip B. O’Reilly, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools