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Superintendent's Weekly Update 7/30/2020

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Newsletter Highlights Include:Update guidance from DESETwo proposed back to school modelsTown Hall Forum and Zoom LinksStudent ForumHello,This week I hosted both staff and community forums. In these 4 zoom sessions I had over 200 participate, offer feedback, and have the ability to ask questions. I thank all of those that attended, asked questions, and sent me emails. Your voice matters and is being heard. Many of your suggestions and feedback have been discussed with our administrative team and we have modified some of our thinking and planning as a result of it. THANK YOU. I have sent out in different emails and social media platforms some of the changes and new guidance that we have received from DESE this past week. Below are some highlights:Transportation:Masks: All staff and students on the bus, regardless of age, are required to wear masks at all times. Distance: Students should be seated no more than one student per bench, alternating sides for each row, which allows students …
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Superintendent's Weekly Update July 24, 2020

Newsletter HighlightsReturning to school informationCommunity Forum Zoom links and informationInformation on the District’s plans if someone tests positive or is exposed to someone that tests positiveWebpage updatesSummer Learning GrantOne CallHello,I do apologize for the lengthy newsletter this week, but there is a lot of information to communicate with you. I am grateful for all the help and support from everyone on the school and municipal side in helping build a plan to get students back to school safely in September; their collaborative approach has been wonderful. I want to state publicly that I know there are a lot of emotions and questions about coming back to school in September. People want answers and information so they can plan their lives; I fully understand that and I am cognizant of it. I also know that any of the three options that are selected will not be easy for some people to make work; again I am fully aware of that and understand that as a Superintendent, but al…
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Information Sharing

Hello,
Last night I was informed that two DPS staff members have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID. Both staff members have been tested and will quarantine for 14 days. One staff member's testing has come back negative and I am still waiting to hear on the other. Out of an abundance of caution and in order to establish contact tracing I have closed the schools for Thursday and Friday of this week until I can get more information. 
I have been in touch with the School Committee, Municipal Leaders, the Board of Health and people who have been in school these last few days. Our local Board of Health has been very helpful in offering guidance to me during these last few hours. As I get more information I will be sure to share it with you. 
Best,
Paul Vieira Superintendent
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Back to School Survey July 15, 2020

Greetings,
Over the last few weeks we have been working on creating a Blueprint for returning back to school in September. The purpose of this survey is just for us to gather information to continue planning for a safe, smooth, and successful return to school. There are 4 areas that I would like to get feedback on from you; will your student return back to school in September for in-person learning, will your student return to school in a hybrid model, will your student take the bus to school, and pre-school tuition. Please note that your responses are not binding and may change as more information becomes available to us in the next few weeks. Please fill out one survey per student so that we can have accurate information. The link to the survey is attached below.
Thank you for your help with this.
Paul
https://forms.gle/hjSGZQSa4sTM88HD9
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Superintendent's Weekly Update, July 12, 2020

Hello,I would like to share out some important information and dates with you for the upcoming week. I hope everyone had the chance to enjoy the weekend; what was supposed to be a washout turned into a wonderful weekend.With the help of Donna Sousa, we have set up a District Wide Google Calendar. This is on the District’s web page under the parent page tab and then click on the integrated district wide calendar. Principals will populate information and dates here and it will be a live document. I hope this makes it easier for people to see what is going on in the district for events on a weekly basis. Last Wednesday night we held our first Re-Opening Task Force meeting. In addition to administration we had over 15 teachers and 6 community members offer feedback and input into the Blueprint to reopen schools. I am in the process of taking the feedback from that meeting, in addition to some new information that has come out over the last few days from DESE, and updating the Blueprint.On…
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Superintendent's Welcome Email

Dear Douglas Community and Families,

I would like to take this time to welcome myself officially to each of you on what is my first day as your Superintendent. I will reiterate to you what I said to faculty and staff earlier today and that is I could not be more honored and humbled to have this opportunity. I want to echo that the enormity of this responsibility, especially during this pandemic, is not something that I take lightly. As I stated in all my interviews and meetings to date, and it is something that I believe to my core, is that all students can succeed at a high level and it is my responsibility to provide principals and directors with the support and resources necessary for that to occur. This will guide the work that all of us do for your students; I want to see them succeed.

Over the next few weeks, it is my goal to meet with as many school, town, and community representatives in order to gain a deeper understanding of the district and community. This is important to me …
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