Welcome Back!

 

August 24, 2021

Dear Great Falls Families,

Our Great Falls staff are working hard for the opening of a fabulous school year. We started our formal staff trainings and preparations to create the best learning environment for our students. We can’t wait to see them on campus next week!

 

Tonight, August 24th, 5:30-6:30 pm: Popsicles with the Principals Night (Incoming K Families Only)

During this event, Mrs. Fortier and Mrs. Etienne will be hanging out on the Great Falls playground ready to greet our Kindergarten families and hand out some yummy frozen treats. This is the perfect time to meet other families and have our new kindergarten students enjoy time together on the playground before the start of the year. We will also have live sing-along music by Tyler Stanley! 

 

School Calendars:

• 2021-2022 Gorham School Calendar

• 2021-2022 K-5 Creative Arts Colored Calendar

• 2021-2022 Great Falls Google Family Calendar

Monday, August 30th, 8:00 am - 3:30 pm: Kindergarten Screening Day 

At the time of your child’s scheduled screening, please enter through the main entrance of Great Falls and head into our cafeteria. Masking will be required for all while inside the building. A staff member will greet you and your child. We will welcome your child to join one of our Kindergarten teachers for their screening. Parents will be asked to remain seated in our cafeteria during the screening process.  Your child will be reunited with you in the cafeteria at the conclusion of the screening. 

Monday, August 30th, 5:30 - 6:30 pm: Grades 1-5 Open House 

We are very excited to conduct an in-person Open House for our grades 1-5 families. Masking will be required for all while inside the building. Families with last names A-M are invited to attend from 5:30-6:00 pm while families with last names N-Z are invited to attend from 6:00-6:30 pm. This is to help minimize the crowding that may happen through the building and allow for additional parking options. Teachers may offer a scavenger hunt type visit to encourage students to visit important spaces and spread out through the building. 

 

Tuesday, August 31st: 1st Day of School for Grades 1-5

 

Thursday, September 2nd: First Day of School for Kindergarten 

 

Friday, September 3rd: No School

 

Monday, September 6th: No School - Labor Day

 

Tuesday, September 7th: School Resumes for K-5

 

COVID Information

The Gorham School Committee voted to require that all students and staff wear face masks in school.  Students and staff do not need to wear a mask outside. School staff will still need to conduct contact tracing for any individual who tests positive for COVID-19 and has been at school or during a school function during their infectious period, but there are new rules for who needs to quarantine:

• Anyone within six feet of a person who tests positive for COVID-19 will be considered a close contact.

• Anyone with direct physical contact with a person who tests positive for COVID-19 will be considered a close contact.

• Vaccinated individuals will not need to quarantine if they are identified as a close contact. They will need to monitor for symptoms, however, and they will need to quarantine if they develop symptoms. 

• In the classroom setting, all classmates of the positive Covid-19 case are considered close contacts.  Unvaccinated individuals who are within three feet of or had direct physical contact with a person who tests positive for COVID-19 will need to quarantine for ten days.  In the classroom setting, unvaccinated individuals who are greater than three feet but within six feet of a person who tests positive for COVID-19 will not need to quarantine from the academic school day.  They WILL need to quarantine from ALL other school-based and community activities.  All identified close contacts will need to monitor for symptoms, however, and they will need to be isolated if they develop symptoms. 

• Beyond the classroom setting (e.g. school bus, lunch, after-school activities), unvaccinated individuals who are within six feet of a person who tests positive for COVID-19 will need to quarantine for ten days.  

• Unvaccinated individuals who are close contacts will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at any time at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org or deanna.etienne@gorhamschools.org. Looking forward to seeing everyone back on campus!

Kindly,

Becky Fortier and Deanna Etienne

Great Falls Administrators

Summer Letter - August

 

August 10, 2021

Dear Great Falls Families,

It is August and our Great Falls staff are working hard on campus for the opening of a fabulous school year. As Heather Perry stated in her parent forum last night, we are planning for a full 5-day return for all students. For your planning purposes, here are some calendars that you may find helpful.

• 2021-2022 Gorham School Calendar

• 2021-2022 K-5 Creative Arts Colored Calendar

• 2021-2022 Great Falls Google Family Calendar

 

Along with our school calendars, I will take some time to detail important upcoming events.

 

Tuesday, August 24th, 5:30-6:30 pm: Popsicles with the Principals Night (Incoming K Families Only)

During this event, Mrs. Fortier and Mrs. Etienne will be hanging out on the Great Falls playground ready to greet our Kindergarten families and hand out some yummy frozen treats. This is the perfect time to meet other families and have our new kindergarten students enjoy time together on the playground before the start of the year.

 

Monday, August 30th, 8:00 am - 3:30 pm: Kindergarten Screening Day 

At the time of your child’s scheduled screening, please enter through the main entrance of Great Falls and head into our cafeteria. Masking will be required for all while inside the building. A staff member will greet you and your child. We will welcome your child to join one of our Kindergarten teachers for their screening. Parents will be asked to remain seated in our cafeteria during the screening process.  Your child will be reunited with you in the cafeteria at the conclusion of the screening. If you were not able to attend an optional school tour this summer and are hoping to visit the school prior to August 30th, please email us directly so we can coordinate a day and time. 

Monday, August 30th, 5:30 - 6:30 pm: Grades 1-5 Open House 

We are very excited to conduct an in-person Open House for our grades 1-5 families. Masking will be required for all while inside the building. Families with last names A-M are invited to attend from 5:30-6:00 pm while families with last names N-Z are invited to attend from 6:00-6:30 pm. This is to help minimize the crowding that may happen through the building and allow for additional parking options. Teachers may offer a scavenger hunt type visit to encourage students to visit important spaces and spread out through the building. 

 

Tuesday, August 31st: 1st Day of School for Grades 1-5

 

Thursday, September 2nd: First Day of School for Kindergarten 

 

Friday, September 3rd: No School

 

Monday, September 6th: No School - Labor Day

 

Tuesday, September 7th: School Resumes for K-5

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at any time at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org or deanna.etienne@gorhamschools.org. If you missed Heather Perry’s Parent Forum, a recording can be found HERE. Looking forward to seeing everyone back on campus!

Kindly,

Becky Fortier and Deanna Etienne

Great Falls Administrators

Kindergarten Summer Update from Mrs. Fortier

 

July 21, 2021

Dear Incoming Kindergarten Families,

At this point, I hope you enjoyed some summer fun with your family and friends. Nothing beats summer in Maine although the rainy weather seems more frequent than I remember. Our family enjoys camping and spending time on the lake but our visits seem too sparse this year. Here’s hoping for a strong finish to July and a beautiful August. 

As I shared during the Kindergarten Registration Parent Night, we are planning to conduct Kindergarten screening in the fall. We thank you for your flexibility and continued patience with us as we continue to be responsive to the guidelines surrounding the current epidemic. Please take note of the following dates and view the 2021-2022 Gorham School Calendar.

Monday, August 30th - Kindergarten Screening

 

Tuesday, August 31st - 1st Day of School for Grades 1-5/ Kindergarten Placement

 

Wednesday, September 1st - Kindergarten Placement Emails Sent to Families

 

Thursday, September 2nd - First Day of School for Kindergarten 

 

Friday, September 3rd - No School

 

Monday, September 6th - No School - Labor Day

 

Tuesday, September 7th - School Resumes for K-5

The Kindergarten screening process will take approximately 30 minutes. At the time of your child’s scheduled screening, please enter through the main entrance of Great Falls and head into our cafeteria. A staff member will greet you and your child. We will welcome your child to join one of our Kindergarten teachers to be screened. Parents will be asked to remain seated in our cafeteria during the screening process.  Your child will be reunited with you in the cafeteria at the conclusion of the screening.

There will be a school bus parked out front for the children to explore. Transportation will be provided for kindergarten on the first day of school on Thursday, September 2nd. The transportation department will be sending out a survey in a couple of weeks. Please make sure to fill out the information so we can confirm your child’s transportation needs to and from school each day. The Gorham Times will list the bus pick-up and drop-off locations and times in their mid-August edition. It will also be posted on our website. 

Our creative and talented Kindergarten teachers will be identifying ways to share information with all of you that will allow your child to have a wonderful start to the school year and answer any questions you may have. Here is the Kindergarten supply list for your shopping pleasure. All supplies will be provided regardless of what students bring to school. The K teachers will also be offering a playground meet and greet during the week of September 7th.

Prior to that, I would like to offer optional summer tours. Please consider signing up for a summer tour HERE. The tours will last approximately 30 minutes and require that all family members wear a mask throughout the building. If the summer tours are popular, I will add more dates and times. 

If you have any questions or concerns not addressed in this communication, please reach out to me at any time at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org. Happy summer!

Kindly,

Becky Fortier

Great Falls Principal

Summer Letter from Mrs. Fortier

 

July 21, 2021

Dear Great Falls Families,

At this point, I hope you enjoyed some summer fun with your family and friends. Nothing beats summer in Maine although the rainy weather seems more frequent than I remember. Our family enjoys camping and spending time on the lake but our visits seem too sparse this year. Here’s hoping for a strong finish to July and a beautiful August. 

We thank you for your flexibility and continued patience with us as we continue to be responsive to the guidelines surrounding the current epidemic. Please take note of the following dates and view the 2021-2022 Gorham School Calendar.

 

Tuesday, August 31st - 1st Day of School for Grades 1-5

 

Thursday, September 2nd - First Day of School for Kindergarten 

 

Friday, September 3rd - No School

 

Monday, September 6th - No School - Labor Day

 

Tuesday, September 7th - School Resumes for K-5

To help with your back-to-school shopping, I am including the grade level supply lists below. Please remember that purchasing any of the items listed is optional. Great Falls will make sure that all students have the supplies they need to fully participate in their on-campus educational programming. 

• Grade 1 Supply List

• Grade 2 Supply List

• Grade 3 Supply List

• Grade 4 Supply List

• Grade 5 Supply List

Heather Perry will be conducting a Parent Forum on Monday, August 9th at 6:30 pm through zoom. During this forum, families will have a chance to ask questions regarding what to expect for our fall reopening plans in Gorham. By the time of the forum, Heather will have sent out her blog post sharing her recommendations for school reopening along with any initial resource materials for families. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me at any time at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org. Happy summer!

Kindly,

Becky Fortier

Great Falls Principal

End of Year Events

 

May 19, 2021

Dear Great Falls Families,

Thank you so much for attending our virtual Parent Step Up Night. I apologize for the technical difficulties with logging into the zoom session. Technology has served us extremely well while teaching and learning through the pandemic but I will be extremely grateful when we can conduct events such as this one in person again. If you were not able to attend, I would be happy to connect with you and answer any questions you may have. Feel free to email me at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org.

Chromebooks and Summer Learning

Students will be keeping their devices through the summer months in order to optionally participate in IXL. The district will be providing a personalized learning platform called IXL throughout the summer to reinforce learning in the areas of reading and mathematics. If interested in hearing more about IXL, please attend the parent information night on Monday, June 7th from 6:00-7:00 pm. Zoom Link: https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/84221565055

Spring Wellness Workshops

Although it is not possible for us to participate in a full field day experience as in the past, we will be offering various wellness workshops to encourage positive socialization and fun. Students will participate in dance and karate workshops on May 25 and 26th. Additionally, on June 3rd and 4th, Ms. Doak’s talented son will be performing mini sing-along concerts. Here is a "Listen To Lincoln" webpage if you are interested in playing some of Lincoln’s music for your children before the big day.

Step-Up Day - Tuesday, June 8th 

On Tuesday, June 8th, our school will be used as a voting site. This means that this day will be a remote teaching and learning day for our students. We will be using this day as the Virtual Step-Up Day for our current on-campus and virtual K-5 students. On the evening of Monday, June 7th, you will receive an email from your child’s new teacher with a welcome and a Zoom or google meet link for the next day’s Virtual Step-Up Day at 9:00 am. This event will be an opportunity for your child to meet their new teacher, new classmates, and learn more about what to expect for the next school year. 

End of Year Celebrations

Teachers in grades 1-4 will be recognizing their students and their accomplishments through various school-based activities during the last week of school. Grade 5 students will participate in an end-of-year walking parade on Monday, June 7th at 5:00 pm while Kindergarten will recognize their achievements through a similar parade on June 9th at 1:30 pm.

Last Day of School and Report Cards - Thursday, June 10th

The last day of school is on Thursday, June 10th. This day is a half-day of school with students being dismissed at noon. The last report card will be shared through email during the afternoon of June 10th. 

As always, please feel free to reach out to me at any time with questions and feedback. I am available through email at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org and by phone at 222-1050. 

Take care and be well,

Becky Fortier

Great Falls Principal

May Update

 

May 6, 2021

Dear Great Falls Families,

In many regards this week has felt like the first week of school. It has been wonderful to see our students collectively back on campus. They adjusted to the new routines and have enjoyed being with their peers. We will continue to make slight adjustments to our procedures to maximize efficiencies and appreciate the patience of our families, students, and staff. As we head into the home stretch, I want to highlight a few important events. 

Parent Drop Off Reminders

Students dropped off by their parents between 8:30-8:50 a.m. are expected to use the parent drop-off circle. Please use caution when students are exiting vehicles. When you are arriving at the Great Falls campus, please enter the parking lot closest to the playground and stay to the right side of the parent drop-off loop. Do not park or get out of your vehicle. As soon as the buses have arrived, we may reroute some vehicles to use the bus loop for drop-off. The same procedures will apply. Although arrival has been complete by 8:50 a.m., there will likely be a line so your patience is greatly appreciated. 

NWEA Testing - May 10-28

Our students will participate in the spring administration of NWEAs in the areas of literacy and math. This assessment will be used to determine academic progress. NWEA is our district’s universal screening tool. It is necessary for us to gather this data point to inform Response to Intervention, Gifted and Talented, and classroom instruction. It is aligned to Maine Standards and allows us to collect longitudinal data and best monitor your child’s progress. The Maine Department of Education has replaced the former MEA assessment for math and literacy with the Northwest Evaluation Association MAP GROWTH assessment (NWEA). 

Tuesday, May 18th - Parent Step Up Night 6-7 pm

We are very excited to offer a virtual Parent Step Up event on Tuesday, May 18th from 6-7 pm. Grade level presentations created by our teachers will be shared ahead of time that will detail the specific academic and social components of each grade level. Interested parents will be asked to join at 6:00 pm by following the Zoom Link: https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/82613631862. Following a quick welcome, parents will be asked to choose a breakout room to attend: Grade 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. If you have multiple children, please select the grade level that you are less familiar with. During the session, the teachers will answer any questions pertaining to that particular grade level. Before the hour is up, I will ask parents to rejoin the larger meeting for a quick wrap-up. 

Spring Wellness Workshops

Although it is not possible for us to participate in a full field day experience as in the past, we will be offering various wellness workshops to encourage positive socialization and fun. Students will participate in dance and karate workshops on May 25 and 26th. Additionally, on June 3rd and 4th, Ms. Doak’s talented son will be performing mini sing-along concerts. Here is a "Listen To Lincoln" webpage if you are interested in playing some of Lincoln’s music for your children before the big day.

Step-Up Day - Tuesday, June 8th 

On Tuesday, June 8th, our school will be used as a voting site. This means that this day will be a remote teaching and learning day for our students. We will be using this day as the Virtual Step-Up Day for our current on-campus and virtual K-5 students. On the evening of Monday, June 7th, you will receive an email from your child’s new teacher with a welcome and a Zoom or google meet link for the next day’s Virtual Step-Up Day. This event will be an opportunity for your child to meet their new teacher, new classmates, and learn more about what to expect for the next school year. The specific times will be shared shortly. 

End of Year Celebrations

Teachers in grades 1-4 will be recognizing their students and their accomplishments through various school-based activities during the last week of school. Grade 5 students will have a student-only special luncheon on Wednesday, June 9th followed by a family walking parade at 5 pm. Kindergarten planning is in the works and we will be communicating specific details in the coming week. 

Last Day of School and Report Cards - Thursday, June 10th

The last day of school is on Thursday, June 10th. This day is a half-day of school with students being dismissed at noon. The last report card will be shared through email during the afternoon of June 10th. 

In closing, I am so appreciative of how wonderful our first week has gone. Our top priority is to maintain the safety and well-being of all members of our school communities. As always, please feel free to reach out to me at any time with questions and feedback. I am available through email at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org and by phone at 222-1050. 

Take care and be well,

Becky Fortier

Great Falls Principal

We are ready for your return!

 

April 28, 2021

Dear Great Falls Families,

Tomorrow we begin 4 days a week learning on-campus. Instead of our A and B student cohorts attending school for two days each week, all current hybrid students will attend in-person learning 4 days per week (Monday - Thursday). Our staff is so excited to see our students and have been working diligently during the last three days to prepare for the big return - we are ready! 

Thursday, April 29th 

Both A and B cohorts will return to campus on Thursday, April 29th. Students will be seated 3 feet apart in the classroom setting and will remain 6 feet apart while eating breakfast, lunch, and snack. Our arrival and dismissal process will remain the same. Although we anticipate that arrival and dismissal may take longer, we will try it as currently established and make adjustments if needed. Thanks for your patience! 

Parent Drop Off

Students dropped off by their parents between 8:30-8:50 a.m. are expected to use the parent drop-off circle. Please use caution when students are exiting vehicles. Students must be wearing face coverings when exiting their vehicles. Grades K-2 bus students will enter through door 4 by the playground and head directly to their classroom. Grades 3-5 students will enter through door 2 in the center of the school and head upstairs and directly to their classroom. Staff will be stationed in the parent drop-off loop to safely assist our students as they exit their vehicles. When you are arriving at the Great Falls campus, please enter the parking lot closest to the playground and stay to the right side of the parent drop-off loop. Do not park. There will likely be a line so your patience is greatly appreciated. We would like 15 cars to unload at the same time, so please move forward in the circle until you are around the corner and pull all the way up to the cone.  After you have dropped off your child you may exit cautiously. If you are waiting to drop off, please remain in your position until you are directed by duty staff to proceed forward to the drop-off zone. 

Breakfast

Beginning on Thursday, April 29th, students that participate in the breakfast program will eat their breakfast in the cafeteria upon their arrival before they head to their classroom.  If your child will be having school breakfast they will enter the building through door #1 if they arrive by bus and door #2 if they are parent drop-off. Please note that breakfast ends promptly at 8:50 a.m. It will be important to account for such in your morning routine if you are transporting your child to school. 

Snack Time

Students will eat snacks either outside using social distancing precautions remaining six feet apart or in the cafeteria at assigned seats. 

Lunch and Recess Time

Students will be staying in their A/B cohorts for lunch in order to eat 6 feet apart while being unmasked. One cohort will eat in the cafeteria while the other cohort will eat in the classroom. They will rotate each week. Both cohorts will partake in recess and be assigned to a rotating area of the playground. Cohort A will eat in the cafeteria on Thursday, April 29th as well as next week. 

New Creative Arts Rotation

The colored creative arts rotation will start with a “green” day on Thursday, April 29th, and proceed throughout the school year. The students will participate in 35-minute creative arts sessions every day they are on campus.

Parent Pick Up

School is dismissed daily at 2:50 p.m.  For safety reasons, cars may not arrive on campus prior to 2:40 pm to begin to line up.  

If your student usually takes the bus, and you are picking up your student just that day, you will have notified the school by 10:30 am and be prepared to show your driver's license upon arrival at the car pick-up line. If you have arranged a JUST FOR TODAY pickup, please follow the directions from Mrs. Murray on which parking lot you should enter.  

Our top priority is to maintain the safety and well-being of all members of our school communities. As always, please feel free to reach out to me at any time with questions and feedback. I am available through email at becky.fortier@gorhamschools.org and by phone at 222-1050. We can’t wait to see our students!

Take care and be well,

Becky Fortier, Great Falls Principal