Reminder to Valley Unified Parents

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Important Announcement Concerning School Lunch Summer Program

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8th Valley Unified Strategic Plan Progress Report

In 2017, MSAD #27, MSAD #33, and the Madawaska School Department adopted a 

Tri-District Strategic Plan which serves as the key focal point of our ongoing efforts and activities at collaboration, innovation, and rejuvenation of education in our schools across the Valley Unified Education Service Center.

In order to move our strategic plan forward, we continually monitor our progress at implementing the eight priorities included in the plan and report that progress to the citizens of the Upper St. John Valley on a quarterly basis.

To review our 8th Strategic Plan Progress Report, go to bit.ly/2NdaxqM or click on the image below.

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Valley Unified Educators Complete Year-End Professional Development

While the 2019-2020 school year ended on June 5 for students in all Valley Unified Schools, teachers, support staff, and administrators continued their work with eight days of professional development from June 8-June 17.

Opening PD days were devoted to year-end activities, including and especially assessing and identifying students needs after remote learning and in preparation for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year.

Staff also spent considerable time over the eight days engaged in sessions dedicated to the use of technology programs and platforms identified as effective and helpful by students, parents, and teachers in surveys about their remote learning experiences.

Topics covered included: Effective Remote Learning Strategies; Refining Remote Learning (Standard Operating Procedures); Student Learning Management; Zoom Meeting Basics; Google Classroom; Learning Transformed Goal-Setting; and more.

Valley Unified educators did excellent work implementing an extended period of remote learning between March and June, 2020 with very little time to prepare for this major adjustment in teaching and learning.

We don't know exactly what the upcoming school year will bring relative to school-based and remote learning, but we do know we'll be better prepared for what we and our students and families  encounter and need thanks to our eight days of professional development.

The Valley Unified educational community appreciates the support of our school boards/school committees, parents, families, communities, and citizens throughout this period of uncertainty and transition.

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With the 2019-2020 School Year Behind Us, What Lies Ahead?

The 2019-2020 school year ended for students of Valley Unified schools on Friday, June 5.

For the next eight weekdays from June 8 to June 17, Valley Unified educators will be engaged in 2019-2020 year-end activities and Professional Development intended to ensure we are ready for the 2020-2021 school year and whatever circumstances we will encounter as a region relative to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Maine's re-opening plans.

Valley Unified Superintendent of Schools, Benjamin Sirois, has released a note of thanks for the efforts of all during the 2019-2020 Remote Learning period and concerning planning for the 2020-2021 school year.

To read Superintendent Sirois' letter to the staff, students, families, and citizens of Valley Unified communities, go to bit.ly/3eZmbBu or click on the image below.

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Summer Meal Survey

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We Know You're Wondering

As we approach the end of this school year, we know, based on the number of questions we've received, that many young people, parents, staff, family members and other area citizens are wondering if Valley Unified students will be able to return to school for the start of 2020-2021 school year.

Please know, in an effort to a provide a firm answer to this question as soon as possible, we are continuing to monitor guidance from the Governor's Office, the Maine Department of Education, and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention about Return to School Planning.

In the meantime, four teams of Valley Unified staff are meeting regularly to work out the many details of a safe, efficient Reintegration to School Plan.

Each of the four teams is developing options based on the following three potential situations:

• School begins on time and remains open
• School begins on time and closes due to a second wave of COVID-19
• School opening is delayed

More concrete information will be provided to staff, students, parents, and community members as elements and details of our Reintegration to School Plan are finalized based on information from state offices and officials.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during these uncertain times.

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