Dike Newell School

*** SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING MEAL SERVICE IN RSU1 *** On September 1, 2020 the USDA announced that they will be extending the waiver for the Summer Meals Program through December 31, 2020 (as funding allows). After a presentation by the Maine DOE Child Nutrition Director on September 3, 2020, RSU1 has decided to opt into this program. What this means for students of the District is that Breakfast and Lunch will be offered for no charge through 12/31/2020 or until the funds run out. The DOE Child Nutrition Department is working out the details of this, and will be giving districts guidance in the next couple of weeks. As we receive the details, and work out the logistics, we will relay that information to the RSU1 Community. In the meantime, beginning 9/8/2020, all students who eat breakfast or lunch at school, or who request meals to go home will do so at no charge. If you have questions about this Program, please contact: Tim Harkins, Food Service Director RSU1 (207) 443 6601 ex.114 or email: tharkins@rsu1.org Regards, RSU1 Food Service Department 9/4/20

Welcome Back DNS from Bea the Bee! https://www.wevideo.com/view/1818879087

Please click the link below to access the RSU1 Survey to share how your student(s) will be returning to school this fall: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1uqOxrPxZe2a5edtyQw4XJxYZwSu_WSz0gOJdN0Grj92kjA/viewform

Student Materials Pickup - Hello DNS Families! Many of you have emailed asking if your child has anything at school to pick up and when the next library book drop off will be. We are currently gathering all remaining student materials that have not been picked up and organizing them. We expect to have this done 6/9 and will then reach out to those families who need to stop by with dates & times and pick up instructions. We will also collect library books during these times. Thank you for your patience as we wrap up these details before summer break.

End of year PD plans for DNS staff - combination of in-person and remote work - can be found at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TYG4LNhgS3A5zPigpyy2m8oiBpfBM42OfeBMUUO70-U/edit?usp=sharing

Parents and Guardians - this survey was created by the RSU 1 School Board’s Distance Learning Committee in an effort to get feedback on distance learning. Results will be shared with the community. Thank you for sharing your feedback! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/673QQFR

VIRTUAL SPIRIT WEEK! We may not be in school, but we've still got school spirit!! After April Break, please join in our virtual spirit week and have some fun with us. MONDAY 4/27 - National Tell a Story Day - Dress like your favorite book character, and we will try to host a school-wide read-aloud at 11 a.m. TUESDAY 4/28 - National Superhero Day - Dress like your favorite superhero or hometown hero. One of our superpowers is kindness - find three ways to be extra kind to someone today! WEDNESDAY 4/29 - National Denim Day - Wear some denim today! Blue Jeans, a jacket, whatever you want to rock in denim! Then, get outside and take those jeans for a walk! THURSDAY 4/30 - National Poem in Your Pocket Day - Wear as many pockets as you can! Share a favorite poem with your teacher, classmates, family members, or even a pet or stuffy. If you can, try to make up your own poem! FRIDAY 5/1 - Happy May Day!! School spirit - wear some Dike Newell gear if you have it, or celebrate our school bee by wearing black and yellow! If school-wide zoom worked, we will join together at 11 a.m. to sing our school song - if school-wide zoom does not work well, we will share a video for you to watch!

From our nurse, Mrs. Dill... Taking care of our physical and mental health is more important than ever right now. I encourage you and your children to get outside and get your bodies moving! Lucky for us we live in an area that has lots of space for outdoor recreation. If you are looking for a little fresh air and movement head outside and take advantage of the nice weather ahead. The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands has up to date info on how to stay healthy when enjoying local parks and trails. The website also lists State Parks that are currently closed to the public. https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/index.shtml Chewonki Foundation has at home learning resources which include activities to get everyone outside. Today they are doing a webcast with their draft horse and it looks like there will be an animal presentation casted each week. https://chewonki.org/at-home/ At this time KELT lands are still open to the public. Check out the hiking trails on their homepage. https://www.kennebecestuary.org/

Good Afternoon, This call is a reminder that our Chromebook/packet pickup day is tomorrow, Monday, March 30th. There will be two windows, the first from 7:30 to 9:00 in the morning and the second from 5:00-6:30 in the afternoon. In order to pick-up a Chromebook you must be pre registered. The pickups are planned in such a way that you will not need to get out of your car. As you drive through the bus loop at school, staff will identify you, and someone will run a bag out to you that contains the Chromebook and charger, and various documents. We will have a checklist to confirm that you've taken receipt of the devices, and away you go. If you are there to pick up paper packets, we will follow the same procedures. Please remember that your child should use his/her Chromebook in a public space in the home. Drinks and food should not be near the computer, and sticky or food coated fingers should be washed before using the computer. Also please recognize we know that many or most of you are not teachers, and we are not expecting you to be able to replicate school from home. These are resources to help, and the best you can do is the best you can do! We hope that having this device will help you and your child better navigate this new way of learning. Remember, we’re all new to this and no one is expecting perfection. We are all doing the best we can in a trying situation. Please stay well!

Update to our distance learning plan due to the extended closure - please read the letter at https://docs.google.com/document/d/11b-mUqJAf3rjUjAokNuGDNbeL7Qz9a4uRrGmbvxAiN8/edit?usp=sharing

Most school and district events are suspended through April 26th. However, the Meal Closure Plan is still in effect, and there will be board and budget meetings. Stay tuned for details, and thank you for your patience as we work through this time!

Do you need internet access during these times? COVID-19 special offers and discounts are being offered by Comcast - https://corporate.comcast.com/covid-19 AT&T - https://www.att.com/shop/internet/access/#!/ US Cellular - https://www.uscellular.com/covid-19

The RSU Tech Dept has created this site to help families and staff with technology resources and questions. https://bit.ly/2UocDak

If your RSU1 student in grades K-5 needs a Chromebook for their studies during the school closure, complete this form by Sunday night. Pickup will be scheduled for Monday, March 30th https://bit.ly/3b857XY

Dike-Newell School is Closed from Monday 3/16 through Friday 3/27. There is a limited pickup window today, Monday 3/16 from 1-3 p.m. Please only come if you are NOT SICK and if your child needs something from school. Thank you!!

Muffins in the Morning, scheduled for Tuesday, March 24th has been cancelled. We will notify families if we are able to re-schedule this later in the year.

Calendar change: Friday, March 20th will be a student day.

The PTA Valentine's Day Dance has been rescheduled to Friday, February 14th, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., at Fisher-Mitchell School.

Breakfast at DNS!

Tomorrow's PTA cookie exchange and cake auction has been rescheduled to Thursday 12/19 5:30-7 due to the forecast of snow!