Archived Messages
Archived Messages
March 29, 2024
Dear Parents, Guardians and Staff
As I’m sure you are aware, Maine will experience a Total Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8th of 2024. The last time this occurred in Maine was on July 20th of 1963, the next one in our state will be in 2079!
This rare event presents an exciting educational opportunity for our students to witness an Astronomical wonder! The eclipse timeline will begin at approximately 2:18p.m. and end at approximately 4:40p.m. The maximum coverage time for our area will be at approximately 3:30p.m. For information regarding the eclipse, please visit the following site https://astro.umaine.edu/eclipse/
It is important to note that the vast majority of our students will be home during the maximum coverage time for our area and hopefully in the care of a responsible person for safe viewing.
Safe viewing of any portion of a solar eclipse is extremely important. I ask that you please help us send the message that we should never directly look at the sun throughout the timeline of the eclipse without proper eye protection.
To help ensure the safety of our students during the solar eclipse viewing phase, Winslow Schools will provide each student with a pair of certified solar eclipse glasses that meet the viewer safety standards. These glasses will be distributed to students at school the day of the event, and proper instructions on their safe use will be provided. We will be sure to explain to the students that viewing the eclipse (at any phase) should not be done without proper eyewear.
Thank you for your continued support.
Peter Thiboutot
Superintendent Winslow Schools
October 26, 2023
Dear Parents, Guardians and Staff,
This email is to update you of the events that have taken place since my morning message regarding the mass shooting that occurred in Lewiston, Maine on Wednesday evening.
The administrative team has continued to meet throughout the day with our crisis teams and law enforcement personnel in order to design a reentry plan for our students and staff that will be safe and supportive. Please know that the safety of our students and staff continues to be our top priority.
We are prepared to implement one of two plans depending on whether or not the suspect in the mass shootings has been apprehended.
If law enforcement personnel successfully capture and/or we are assured that the suspect is no longer a threat to our region, we will have school on Friday, October 27th with a two hour delay for students only. Staff will report to school at their regular time. This delay will allow our staff to come together with our crisis team members and take some time to process this event and to put in place plans to help meet the varied needs of our students.
In the event the suspect is not apprehended, we will close all schools tomorrow, Friday, October 27th. This decision is based on an abundance of caution and is intended to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and staff.
I will notify the school community via robo email tomorrow morning by 5:15 a.m as to which plan we will put into action.
Thank you to our families and staff for your understanding and cooperation as we navigate this challenging situation. Thank you also to our courageous law enforcement officials for their tireless efforts to keep us all safe.
Peter Thiboutot
September 21, 2023
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
We want to express our gratitude for the fantastic start to the year! Your involvement and support have made a significant difference in creating a positive learning environment for our students.
As we continue on this journey together, we kindly request your additional support by completing the free and reduced lunch form if you haven’t already done so. Click here to access the web site where you can complete the form online.
Superintendent, Winslow Public Schools
**Note: All Maine students continue to receive free lunch at school this year. A detailed explanation about why the Free & Reduced Lunch Form Application is still critical to our schools can be found in the Superintendent's letter below dated November 17, 2022.**
January 9, 2023
Dear Staff, Students and Families,
At the December Winslow School Board meeting, the school board adopted changes to policy ACAAA: Transgender and Gender Expansive Students.
These changes were made to clarify some of the ambiguous language that was in the previous policy. Specifically, it helped to clarify that parents will be, and always have been, a part of the process when discussing a possible plan to support students that identify as transgendered or gender expansive.
As with any change in policy, school districts go through a period of transition and implementation as staff adapt and adhere to any changes.
I bring this to your attention because you may have recently read/heard about an incident that occurred where it appeared that the new language in the revised policy was not fully implemented while a staff member was working with a student. This was reported to administration and steps were immediately taken to correct the concern raised.
Please know that Winslow Public Schools continues to be committed to partnering with parents in making decisions pertaining to the education, safety, and well being of their children.
Thank you,
Peter Thiboutot
Superintendent of Winslow Public Schools
Superintendent of Winslow Public Schools
November 17, 2022
Dear Parent/Caregiver,
I am sending you this letter, along with a shortened version of a form titled “Household Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals”, in the hopes that you will take a few moments to help support our school district by completing and returning the enclosed form. This form was formerly known as the “Free and Reduced” lunch form. Since the state of Maine now provides free meals for all students, regardless of family income, there may be some confusion about why we are still asking families to complete this form. The reality is that information from this form is used for more than just eligibility for certain meal rates. It is also used to determine additional and substantial amounts of funding local school districts receive from the federal government to support the education of Maine students.
The information on the “Household Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals” form is vitally important to help determine the amount of funding we receive from the U.S. Department of Education for Title IA services in our schools here in Winslow. Title IA funding supports literacy and math interventions and reinforcement for students in grades K-6. With this funding, we are able to support a small team of professionals equipped with specific resources, tools, and programs to support students in the areas of reading and math.
Additionally, information from the form is used to determine eligibility for reimbursement to the school district for expenses related to technology access for all students attending Winslow Public Schools. This is called the federal e-rate reimbursement from USAC. This program is designed to ensure that schools and libraries across the U.S. are connected to information and resources through the internet.
I ask that you please take a moment to complete the form as soon as possible and return it using the enclosed self addressed envelope.
I appreciate your ongoing support of Winslow Public Schools and the work we do together as a community to support learning for all students.
Sincerely,
Peter Thiboutot
October 20, 2021 - Economic Status Form
Hello everyone,
At the start of each school year parents and caregivers are asked to complete several forms as part of the registration packet. One of the forms is called the “Economic Status Form”. Completion of this form has always been crucial because the information gathered is used to determine whether your child is eligible for free or reduced priced meals at school. In addition, the information collected on this form is used to determine what federal funds the school will receive in order to support important programs such as our Title I reading and math programs, offering counseling services to students through Title V funds, and providing professional development for our staff through Title II funds. This year, in part due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen a steep decline in the number of Economic Status Forms that have been filled out and returned. Since March 2020, school meals have been free for all students and this may have led some parents to believe that submitting the Economic Status Form is no longer necessary. That is not the case. Even though any family in our district can now participate in school meal programs at no cost, the family income data provided by completing the Economic Status Form informs key funding for academic resources, as noted above. Completing this form is one way you as a parent or caregiver can invest in your student’s education.
To help families who have not yet completed this form get that information to us before the Maine Department of Education’s deadline for submissions, members of our administrative staff will be reaching out to you via phone. With your verbal authorization, we will complete the form with you over the phone by asking 3-4 short questions. Any information obtained will remain confidential and you will not be required to provide your exact income but rather where your family income would fall within different ranges. If you have already completed this form then you should not be receiving a phone call from one of our offices.
We greatly appreciate you taking the time to work with us to get this information gathered and submitted so that we can continue to provide critical academic support for all Winslow students.
Thank you,
Peter Thiboutot
Superintendent of Winslow Public Schools
September 10, 2021 - Message to our School Community
Dear Staff, Students and Families
I would like to begin by thanking all members of the Winslow community for a successful opening of schools with all students returning for in-person learning. This could not have happened without the efforts of our teachers, nurses, administrators, and support staff who are working tirelessly as we resume a full schedule of teaching and learning with the support of our school board. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the parents for their support, patience, and understanding as we continue to navigate the uncharted waters being caused by a global pandemic. I also thank our students who have been simply outstanding as we return schools to full capacity. It is evident, as I walk through our buildings, that students and their teachers are excited to be back.
As we near the end of the week, I wanted to send a message that focused on things other than the scripted message sent to inform the community when we have an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. I know you are as tired of reading these messages as I am of sending them. Please know that the messages are a way of being transparent and informing the community regarding our cases without breaching confidentiality. The scripted message is designed to provide you with the most relevant information you need to know within the first few sentences. It essentially tells you which building the individual identified as being a close contact is associated with. Last year, that was a crucial piece of information many of you wanted to know so we kept the same format. You also need to know that when the message is sent, families of close contacts have already been contacted by the nursing team or administration. If you have not been contacted by the time you get my scripted message, then your student is not deemed a close contact.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 has not bypassed the town of Winslow as we start the year. In fact, no community is immune to this global pandemic. I am certain you have read about other school districts or heard on the news that several schools in Maine have already been forced to begin fully remote learning due to COVID-19 outbreaks. Our board approved a return to school plan that abides by the U.S. CDC guidance. With the increasing case rates, especially among younger people and the unvaccinated, the decision to follow the guidance is essential in our effort to keep everyone safely in school this fall. Information regarding our plan can be found on our district home page under “Health and Safety” (https://winslow.aos92.org/health-safety). In addition, information regarding our pooled testing program (including how to enroll in the program) can also be found using this same link. Similar to last year, this page will be used to notify you of updates or changes.
With regards to pooled testing, we are pleased to report that our program will begin on Tuesday, September 14th. An incredible amount of time and energy has gone into getting this major initiative up and running within the first 9 school days of the year. Thank you to everyone who has signed up to date. Those students will participate in the first round of weekly pooled testing which will be given on Tuesday, September 14th. If you haven't signed up for this first round but now wish to sign up for future testing please do so by any given Friday at noon prior to the weekly Tuesday test administration. Your student only needs to be enrolled once to be a part of the program. You do not need to enroll students weekly. Remember, pooled testing is a strategy to prevent your child from having to quarantine from school-based COVID-19 exposure. If you have any questions, please contact your school nurse.
I look forward to an exciting year ahead of us. We are certain to face many challenges as we continue to learn in a world impacted by a global pandemic. To that end, it is imperative that we continue working together to safely provide in-person learning for all students five days a week.
As always, thank you for your continued support of Winslow Public Schools.
Peter Thiboutot
Superintendent of Winslow Public Schools
June 1, 2021 - Fiscal Year 22 School Budget
Dear Staff and Families,
In a few short days, (Tuesday, June 8, 2021) Winslow residents will be asked to vote on the FY 22 school budget. Voting will take place at the Winslow Town Office and the school budget will be the only item on the ballet.
As you may or may not know, the administrative team, along with staff leadership from each of the buildings, began working on the budget in December of 2020. The development of a school budget is a long, tedious process involving numerous conversations with key stakeholders. As always, the budget is developed with certain priorities in mind as a result of our analysis of student data (both academic and social-emotional).
You can view a brief Google Slides presentation of the FY 22 budget here:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1wUSZs_pbWUXimHcPE54GVASajcR049lrvftM_GJ6PkY/edit?usp=sharing
I thought it would be helpful to offer a few brief words explaining the content on some of the slides.
Slide 3 shows our cost avoidance by consolidating to a two-building campus and closing the old junior high facility.
Slides 5-22 are self explanatory. They highlight accomplishments and focus areas for each of the buildings.
Slide 23 is referred to as the Projected Revenue Worksheet. This slide shows the total request for next year's budget and the sources of revenue that will be applied in support of the budget.
We are pleased to report that the FY 22 school budget will not require any additional local tax dollars over last year.
If you are a resident of Winslow, I ask that you please take the time to vote on the budget on June 8.
Thank you,
Peter Thiboutot
Superintendent of Winslow Schools
May 5, 2021
Dear Staff, Students and Families,
The Saturday edition of the Morning Sentinel had an article depicting how Maine superintendents were urging state officials to move quickly on COVID-19 guidelines in preparation for the opening of schools in the fall.
The article stated that many schools were concerned that they would still be in some form of hybrid mode if the distancing guidelines were not modified. Clearly, a great deal of pressure is being placed on state officials to consider modifications to the guidelines. However, the advice we are still receiving from state officials is to plan for the opening of our schools with the existing distancing guidelines in place.
Having said the above, the goal for Winslow Public Schools is to provide in-person learning five days a week starting in the fall of 2021, regardless of whether or not the current distancing guidelines are modified.
To accomplish this goal, we are drafting a plan that will require additional space and funding. The Winslow Town Council and the Winslow Town Manager are in support of the schools continuing to use the space available at the old junior high school in order to make this work. Funding to keep the old junior high school in operation for another year, along with the hiring of additional staff, will come from the most recent allocation of ESSER 3 funds. With the space and hiring of additional staff, we are confident in our ability to bring all students back while complying with the distancing guidelines if they remain in effect.
The administrative team, along with the teaching staff, are reviewing the various barriers we need to overcome in order to bring all students back to in-person learning. We will be prepared to share a draft proposal publicly at the May 17 School Board meeting. This proposal will include the rationale for taking this course of action, our preliminary plans (which includes a remote learning alternative for eligible students) and the advantages we see for moving forward at this point in time based on the information we have available to us.
As always, I thank you for your patience and support throughout this process. We will keep you informed as we continue to revise our plan.
Thank you,
Peter Thiboutot
Superintendent of Winslow Schools
April 2, 2020
Dear Parents, Guardians, Students and Staff,
I hope this finds you all well. A few days ago, Governor Mills issued a “stay at home” order, offering specific guidance around curtailing non-essential activities, gatherings, and travel. She also ordered schools to refrain from in-person, classroom instruction practices until after May 1st (or until further orders are issued). This of course means that we continue with our current course of action.
Before providing a brief update on our progress, I want to once again send a special thank you to our Food Service staff for their unwavering commitment and dedication to provide meals to our students, and to our bus drivers who have helped distribute the food, and to the many faculty and staff members ( custodians, teachers, educational technicians, administrators, etc. ) who have given countless hours assisting to prepare and distribute over 3000 meals each day that meals are delivered.
I also want to offer a special thank you to our faculty and staff for their incredible efforts to stay connected and planning for a different delivery of learning. Like all families, our faculty and staff are juggling numerous worries and responsibilities and we know it hasn’t been easy for anyone. These are unprecedented times and we have to recognize the stress the uncertainty puts on all of us.
I want to thank the parents, guardians and caregivers for your kind messages and support during this difficult time. Your positive messages have helped the Winslow faculty and staff remain focused and ready to serve your children.
Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank the students for your patience as your teachers retool to provide you with a valuable/meaningful learning opportunity as we progress through these uncharted waters. It will be important for you to check your school website on a daily basis to access information regarding your educational programming.
Update
Meal Delivery
Meal distribution will continue to take place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings through the use of buses. Two breakfasts and two lunches are provided each of these days to anyone under the age of 18. We are working on a plan to continue providing meal delivery during April vacation.
Staff Check in
Staff have reached out to students to check in and offer support. For many, that involved touching base through email, while others contacted families by phone. Staff have worked to identify those in need of computers and/or internet access, and are working to help families with those needs.
Learning Resources
We have provided learning resources for students at all grade levels. Links to online resources are posted on the school websites, along with descriptions of low-tech learning activities that students can try. These resources have also been mailed to families who may not have access to the internet. We have encouraged students to access these resources as they choose.
Moving Forward
Following the decision that schools remain closed for an extended period of time, staff at each school worked to develop more formal instructional plans for learning from home. Teachers and administrators are meeting regularly through remote means to develop a systematic approach to delivering instruction to students.
This work does not come without challenges and rewards. Teachers and administrators are finding ways to use technology to deliver an educational plan that is more tailored to the components of the grade level curriculum. Our special education department is working hard to ensure that a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) will be met for students with individualized learning plans.
While we recognize that each family's circumstances will determine their children's ability to participate, our responsibility, as always, is to support the ongoing learning of all of our students.
Next Steps
By Monday, April 6, each building will post information to their school web site regarding what Distance Learning will look like at their level. It will be important for students and parents to check the site in order to stay on top of the information being presented. If you do not have access to the school website please contact your building principal. Communication will be vital at this time.
Other-To be determined
Discussions regarding grading, course requirements, future school activities, and so much more are taking place on a regular basis. For example, schools are struggling with how to handle grading in a remote learning environment when not all students have reliable access to teachers, online resources, and parents who can help them. As we work through the long list of questions and possible responses, we will keep what is best for students as our guiding principle. Updates will be provided on a regular basis.
Thank you,
Peter Thiboutot
Superintendent of Winslow Schools
Friday, March 27, 2020
Hello everyone,
I wanted to send an email as we wrap up the week to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to the entire Winslow School Community. I cannot tell you the number of times I have caught myself with a smile on my face as I witness the tremendous efforts being given on multiple fronts during this unprecedented time. The reasons for the smile vary but they are all connected to the same theme which is one of giving and caring for one another during a time of crisis.
Allow me to touch upon a few of the moments.
Meal Delivery Program
For the past two weeks, forty staff members comprised of kitchen staff, custodians, maintenance, teachers, educational technicians, bus drivers, administrators, directors, guidance counselors, school nurses, and secretaries have worked to ensure that our students have nutritious meals. Each day, over 600 meals are prepared and delivered to students throughout the Winslow community by utilizing our buses and bus drivers. This past week, we served well over 3000 meals.
Demonstration of Appreciation
Students, parents, guardians, and caregivers have offered sincere thanks through the form of notes, cards and email messages for the food that is being delivered. My favorite story is one that occurred earlier this week. After the bus arrived at the stop and the meals were unloaded, an elementary school student approached the driver, reached in his pocket and pulled out a crumbled one dollar bill. He offered the bill to the driver to help pay for the food he received. The driver thanked him and told him to keep the dollar so that he could help another in need. That one moment captured the essence of care and compassion that is occurring with our staff and students.
Professional Educators
Along with helping to prepare and deliver meals, our teachers, administrators, directors, curriculum coordinator, educational specialist and other staff are working hard to provide meaningful educational opportunities for our students. With limited availability to the schools and their materials, our educators are working on line through a variety of technological platforms. Virtual meetings are being held by staff in all buildings to discuss the components of our educational plan as we move forward. Throughout the development of the plan, care and consideration is being given to the various barriers families may face throughout this difficult time. Barriers such as lack of child care, no accessibility to remote learning, and the mere stress and anxiety caused by simply not knowing if they will be able to find the necessary supplies at the grocery store. In addition, many families are helping elderly family members by delivering food to their homes. It's important to note that our school staff are dealing with the same fears and concerns as they work to prepare and deliver a meaningful educational alternative.
Community Leaders
I am grateful for the support of the Winslow Town Manager, members of the Town Council, Police and Fire Chiefs, Public Works, community members, and the incredible support of the Winslow School Board. All have offered their assistance in some fashion and are ready to help in whatever way possible.
Throughout my life, I have often said, "people will forget dates, places and events but they will never forget how you made them feel." Each day I am reminded of those words as I see the acts of compassion taking place. The Winslow Community has a great tradition of wrapping its arms around those in need. It is clear to me that tradition is alive and well through the various moments I have witnessed.
In closing, I wish you all a restful weekend. Stay safe and thank you for all that you are doing. Together, we will get through this.
Peter Thiboutot
Superintendent of Schools
September 10, 2019
Welcome back to another school year!
The students have arrived with enthusiasm, energy, and excitement for the new school year. Meanwhile, the staff has been working hard to prepare for their arrival.
Prior to the start of school, the Winslow leadership team, which is comprised of teachers, directors, and administrators from each building, met for a day-long leadership retreat at Winslow High School. The purpose of this annual event is to give participants the opportunity to review and discuss relevant information and performance data relating to 2018-19 school goals, identify system and school goals for the 2019-20 school year, and draft 2019-20 work plans that will be shared with respective stakeholder groups in August/September. A common topic across all three buildings at the leadership retreat involved improving student achievement by focusing on using assessment data to inform instruction.
At the elementary level, a major topic discussed was the school’s transition to a schoolwide Title I program. This new program model will allow for greater flexibility in the delivery of services to a variety of students compared with the previous targeted assistance model, which limited the number of students served.
The junior high staff continued their conversations surrounding the changes that will occur in the fall of 2020, when the district completes the transition to a two-school campus. As you know, construction is currently taking place at the high school to accommodate the grade 7 and grade 8 students in the fall of 2020. Next summer, renovations will also be made to the elementary school to accommodate the grade six students who will remain in that building. Discussions such as the one that took place during the leadership retreat will continue to be held with administrators and teachers as we plan for a smooth transition to a two-building campus.
The high school continued work on the goals and activities developed during the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) accreditation process. We are proud to report that the high school has once again earned accreditation status, and the leadership team discussed how to implement the recommendations that resulted from the accreditation process.
Now that school is in session, the building principals have reported that the opening of schools went exceptionally well. In addition, they commented that the open houses were well-attended by parents, guardians, and caregivers.
Thank you for your continued support in educating Winslow’s students. If you are interested in opportunities to become more involved in your child’s education or to support the educational needs of all of our children, please check with your building principal to learn how you can help.
We are off to a great start! Let’s have a fantastic year!
Peter Thiboutot
Superintendent of Schools