Today's harvest at the school garden. Does anyone want some Swiss Chard? This is a variety called bright lights. Contact Karen McCormick if you would like to pick some up! We would love to share! You can make a donation to the garden program!
Karen McCormick can be reached at kmccormick@svrsu.org or at 242-4289.
Please see this important message from the Maine Department of Education and consider completing a Meal benefit Application. It helps our schools and may provide you and your family some benefits as well. You can complete the application online at http://svrsu.schoollunchapp.com or download a paper copy of the application from https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/nutrition/studenteligibility. Thank you!
-----------------------------------------------
Call to Action for Maine Parents: Complete the Meal Benefit at School This Year - Even if School Meals are Free
Maine needs all parents and caregivers to take action this school year––by taking the time to complete the confidential Meal Benefit Application through your local school, even if school meals are already free for all students. Families, schools, communities, and our state can greatly benefit from the data that is gathered from the application, and this application is important for a number of reasons.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, when school meals became complementary, there has been a significant drop in Meal Benefit Application returns––meaning less families are filling out the application.
The family income data provided by the application informs key funding for school resources. This includes school meal reimbursements, funding for Title I programs, funding and resources for after school programs, funding provided to schools from the Maine State Legislature for essential programs and services at school, funding for special education, teacher loan forgiveness, and much, much more!
Federal and state government use the aggregate data from the application to distribute education funding to schools across the county and state of Maine. In other words, if there is no data to inform the needs of the community, it could result in less education funding for your local district and for Maine.
By completing the Meal Benefit Application, you are directly investing in your child’s education and the children and families in your community.
Specific programs that are funded by the data collected from Meal Benefit Application:
Title 1 schools
Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)
Essential Programs and Services (EPS) funding allocated directly to Maine Schools through the Maine Department of Education (State funding)
Before/After School Programs
Summer School Programs
Special academic programming, and grant opportunities initiated by the Maine Department of Education (DOE)
Teacher student loan forgiveness
How can I complete the Meal Benefit Application? The application is available through your local school administrative unit (SAU) school nutrition program and it is completely confidential. Most SAUs have the application available to be completed online. Follow this link (https://www.nlappscloud.com/) to access your SAU’s online application (if your school district is not listed, please contact them directly). A printed version of the application is also required to be available––it will often be part of beginning of year paperwork that comes home with your child.
This past school year has certainly had its challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We are thrilled that, despite these challenges, all Maine children have had the opportunity to access free healthy school meals on a daily basis. We would like to extend our gratitude to Maine parents and caregivers who have participated in their SAUs’ meal programs. We know that with the continued support of Maine’s incredible families, we can ensure the best for our children.
As you may know, Governor Mills ended Maine's State of Civil Emergency on June 30. As of this date, masks are no longer required in schools, and RSU 12 will not require them for students participating in summer programming. Masks continue to be recommended for those who have not been vaccinated. Anyone who chooses to wear a mask may do so. In addition, RSU 12 will continue to encourage social distancing wherever possible. We hope everyone has a safe and healthy summer!
There will be no garden club this week. We will resume on Monday July 12th from 9-10:30. It looks like we will not be needing as much time as we had scheduled for upkeep.
Our meal deliveries will begin on Wednesday, July 7th and then will continue on a Wednesday and Friday schedule until August 13th The delivery format this summer will vary a bit from last summer. On Wednesdays, meals (breakfasts & lunches) will be delivered with the new RSU #12 Food Service Van. It is very recognizable - white with decorative markings. The Wednesday delivery schedule will begin at 8:00 AM and the van will follow Mr. Bronn and Mr. Brann's routes first. After completing those deliveries, the staff will return to school to refill the vehicle and will then deliver meals to Mr. Davis and Mr. Cote's bus routes. Those of you on the second half of this route need to look for your Wednesday delivery a little later in the morning. Friday deliveries will continue to be made using school buses and they'll be leaving the school also at 8:00 AM. One bus will cover Mr. Bronn and Mr. Brann's bus routes and the other bus will cover Mr. Davis and Mr. Cote's routes. THose families on the Davis / Cote bus routes can look for your Friday delivery at little bit earlier than on Wednesday.
Some considerations for the 2021 Summer:
If possible, please either have a family member come out and meet the delivery individual or leave a cooler or a tote out so that meals can be kept away from the heat or animals that might be in the area. There will be perishable materials in these deliveries and we want all food to arrive at homes safely.
Please contact Ashley Burdick (aburdick@svrsu.org) if you have questions or wish to be removed from our delivery list.
Students who go to daycare at the Boys/Girls Club in Chelsea will be receiving their meals at the school and no home deliveries will be made.
Those students who are participating in the Camp Chelsea program will receive their meals on Monday-Thursday through the program but will receive home food deliveries on Fridays.
Students who are participating in either the Title 1 Summer Program or the Special Education ESY Program here at WHES will receive their meals here on the days that they attend (Title 1 meets Monday-Thursday & ESY meets on Tuesday-Thursday). All of those students who have signed up for meal delivery will receive a Friday delivery at home.
Once again we, as a district, are delighted to be able to offer this Summer Meal Program to our families. Lots of hard work and effort will be expended to make sure good food gets out to all of those requesting it. Please let us know if there are issues with our delivery service.
Whitefield School Garden Club is starting tomorrow 6/23 from
9am to -11am . Wear sunscreen and bring a water bottle. All are welcome.
If you have any questions email Karen McCormick at kmccormick@svrsu.org.
School Nutrition Staff Go Above and Beyond at Whitefield Elementary
https://mainedoenews.net/2021/06/18/school-nutrition-staff-go-above-and-beyond-at-whitefield-elementary/
Today is the last day of school and the beginning of summer break. We hope everyone has a wonderful summer!
See you again on August 31st!!
How our kitchen crew celebrates Flag Day! Our students really enjoyed this treat!
FYI for 8th grade parents:
Community members, please understand that in order to comply with covid safety recommendations this is a by invite only event.
The votes are in. The 2021-2022 RSU 12 School Budget was approved yesterday by RSU 12 voters. Thank you for your support!
Remember to vote today! It is voting day today for the RSU 12 School Budget at your local polling station.
This is a reminder that tomorrow is voting day. The RSU 12 School Budget is on the ballot. Please remember to vote at your local polling station.
All RSU 12 schools will dismiss early again tomorrow, Tuesday, June 7, at 11:30am due to the predicted extreme heat and the predicted heat advisory.
All RSU 12 schools will release early today at 11:30am due to the active heat advisory that has been issued by the National Weather Service.
FYI
The last day of school is Wednesday, June 16th. It will be an 11:30am dismissal.
Whitefield school is having issues with one of the phone lines. The phone number 549-7691 is not working at this time. If you need to reach the school please call 207-549-5251.
June breakfast and lunch menus
Whitefield 2021 Yearbooks are IN!! - Students who purchased a yearbook will receive it tomorrow after the Day of Caring. There are some extras available for sale if a student would like one - the cost is $10 - Please see Mrs. Howard in the Learning Commons.
