December Updates and Information for Students, Families and Staff

To review the December, 2021 Valley Unified Education Service Center Update for Students, Families and Staff click here or on the image below.  We wish you all a safe, happy, healthy Holiday Season.

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Upcoming Voluntary School-Based Vaccination Clinics

The Valley Unified Education Service Center will partner with St. John Valley Pharmacy to host and conduct additional voluntary school-based Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination clinics for 5-11 year old elementary school children and for high school students age 16 and older.  

These voluntary clinics will be held on January 13 and 14 and February 3 and 4, 2022.  Only those students whose parents have signed consent forms will be vaccinated.

For details on the dates and times of the clinics in your child's school, go to bit.ly/3q9nlBx or click on the image below.  Have a healthy and happy holiday season.

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First Alternative Schooling Enrollment Report for 2021-2022

Since the start of the 2021-2022 school year until this month, 72 students from the three high schools in the Upper St. John Valley have participated in the Valley Unified Education Service Center Alternative Schooling program.

To review our most current Alternative Schooling Enrollment Report for 2021-2022, go to bit.ly/3EPn5O7 or click on the image below.

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More Voluntary School Based Vaccination Clinics Are Coming

The Valley Education Service Center partnered with Northern Maine Medical Center and St. John Valley Pharmacy to deliver second dosages of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination to 5-11 year olds through voluntary school-based vaccination clinics this week.  First dosages were administered at school-based clinics in November.

Additional voluntary school-based vaccination clinics are being arranged for dates in mid-January (first dosage) and early February, 2022 (2nd dosage).  When details are finalized, dates, times and location will be posted here and on school websites and Facebook pages.

For more information concerning COVID-19 child vaccines, parents and families are encouraged to contact the School Nurse at the elementary school in their community.  Click here for elementary school nurse contact information.

Parents and families interested in having their children vaccinated prior to January, 2022 can arrange to do so through either St. John Valley Pharmacy in Fort Kent or through Northern Maine Medical Center weekly clinics in Fort Kent and Madawaska (Acadia Family Health in Madawaska - Mondays, 4 PM to 6 PM and Fort Kent Family Practice - Wednesdays, 4 PM to 6 PM).

To schedule a child vaccination appointment through Northern Maine Medical Center, go to nmmc.org/covid-resource-center/.  To schedule a child vaccination appointment through St. John Valley Pharmacy, call 834-2880.

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Maine DOE Announces Webinar for Parents Concerning COVID-19 Vaccination for Children

The Maine Department of Education News Room has put out a press release about an upcoming webinar for parents and families on COVID-19 vaccines for school-aged children.  To access information concerning the webinar, go to bit.ly/3Dfixz6 or click on the image below.

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November 2021 School Reintegration Update for Students, Families and Staff

To review the November, 2021 Valley Unified School Reintegration Monthly Update for Students, Families and Staff, click here or on the image below.

We hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving and wish you all the best for a Happy Holiday Season!

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Dates and Times for November & December, 2021 Vaccination Clinics

As indicated in previous posts, the Valley Unified Education Service Center has partnered with Northern Maine Medical Center and St. John Valley Pharmacy to host voluntary school-based Pfizer vaccination clinics for 5-11 year olds at each of our elementary schools this month and in December.  Pfizer and Moderna booster clinics for staff also will be conducted.

For information on the dates, times and locations of these clinics, go to bit.ly/3wCKuPB or click on the image below.

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Valley Unified School Physician, Dr. Hartt, Discusses Vaccination

As the Valley Unified Eduction Service Center prepares to host voluntary school-based Pfizer COVID vaccination clinics this month and in December for students ages 5-11 years whose parents/guardians have provided written consent, we realize that parents and guardians may have questions or concerns about vaccination.

Valley Unified School Physician, Dr. Kristin Hartt, has prepared a video addressing some of the most common questions or concerns parents/guardians ask or express.  To access the video, go to bit.ly/3knCRrd or click on the image below.

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Valley Unified to Hold Voluntary School-Based Pfizer Vaccination Clinics for 5-11 Year Olds

With the recent approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the Pfizer vaccine for use with 5-7 year olds, the Valley Unified Education Service Center will partner with Northern Maine Medical Center and St. John Valley Pharmacy to conduct voluntary school-based Pfizer clinics at its elementary schools in November and December, 2021.

We have prepared preliminary information for parents/guardians regarding this opportunity.  To review the information, go to bit.ly/3kc77VX or click on the image below.

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Information on Pooled Testing and Required Quarantine

A number of questions have been posed to Valley Unified's school nurses, school administrators and school board/school committee members.  In an effort to answer some of the most common questions posed, Superintendent of Schools, Benjamin Sirois has prepared a letter for students, parents/guardians, families and staff members.

Please take a moment to read that Pooled Testing and Required Quarantine letter at bit.ly/3m4Ttpd or by clicking on the image below.

We hope this answers some of the questions of you have.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.

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October 2021 School Reintegration Update

To review the October, 2021 Valley Unified Education Service Center school reintegration update for students, parents, families and staff, go to bit.ly/3lR2RMW or click on the image below.  

As we continue to balance the many demands of maintaining in-school instruction during these challenging times, we appreciate the support, patience, understanding and cooperation of our students, their parents and families, and our staff members.  

Stay healthy and be well!

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General Information for Parents About Our Pooled Testing Program

All Valley Unified schools have set up pooled testing programs as one strategy for helping to ensure we can keep our students in school for instruction and student activities.

The Madawaska School Department and MSAD #33 launched their pooled testing programs on Tuesday, September 14.  MSAD #27 will begin pooled testing on Tuesday, October 5, after Harvest Recess.

For information about our voluntary school pooled testing program and how it can help keep our students in school, go to bit.ly/3tOTAXY or click on the image below.

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September 2021 Valley Unified Update for Students, Parents and Staff

With the 2021-2022 school year underway in all Valley Unified schools, we are resuming our practice of providing monthly updates to students, parents and staff.  To read and review our September, 2021 update, please go to bit.ly/3nqQIQ8 or click on the image below.

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Notice of October, 2021 School-Based Vaccination Clinics

With all Valley Unified schools now in session, the Valley Unified Education Service Center continues to work with St. John Valley Pharmacy to host school-based Pfizer vaccination clinics for students age 12 and older as well as staff.

The next set of voluntary clinics for students and staff who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 is set for October 7 and 8 (first dose) and October 28 and 29 (second dose).

For details on the dates, times and locations of the clinics in your school unit, go to bit.ly/3njazAx or click on the image below.  Deadline to register for the clinics is next Friday, September 17.

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Welcome Back to DLES and MES!

The Valley Unified  Education Service Center welcomes all Dr. Levesque Elementary School and Madawaska Elementary School students and staff back to school today.

We extend all students, parents, and staff our best wishes for a great school year.

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Important Notice to Valley Unified Parents About SARA Alert System

For information concerning contact tracing and symptom monitoring of students identified as close contacts of anyone in school diagnosed as COVID-positive, Valley Unified parents are encouraged to read an important notice about the SARA Alert system at bit.ly/2WNKeQ0 or by clicking on the image below.

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Welcome Back to WMHS and SJVTC!

The Valley Unified Education Service Center welcomes all Wisdom Middle/High School and St. John Valley Technology Center students and staff back to school today!

We extend all students, parents and staff our best wishes for a great school year!

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Welcome Back!

The Valley Unified Education Service Center welcomes all Valley Rivers Middle School/Community High School, Fort Kent Elementary School, and Madawaska Middle/High School students and staff back to school today!  We extend all students, parents and staff our best wishes for a great school year!  

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New Guidelines for At-Home Pre-Screening for School Attendance by Parents

School opens for students tomorrow, August 25, at Valley Rivers Middle School/Community High School in Fort Kent, Madawaska Middle/High School, and Fort Kent Elementary School.  Wisdom Middle/High School and the St. John Valley Technology Center will begin receiving students next Monday, August 30.  The first student day for Dr. Levesque Elementary School and Madawaska Elementary School is Wednesday, September 9.

As we prepare for these opening days, we will have in place many procedures to keep our students, staff, families, and communities safe.  We ask parents to please help us with our goal of maintaining full in-school instruction for the entire 2021-2022 school year by using the updated Pre-Screening Tool for School Attendance by children which you can find at bit.ly/3DdpiCu or by clicking on the image below.  

In advance, thank you for your assistance.  Stay safe and be well.

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Preliminary Information on Pooled Testing

All Valley Unified Middle/High Schools are set to begin receiving students next Wednesday, August 25 and the first day of school for both Dr. Levesque Elementary School and Madawaska Elementary School is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9.

Here at the Valley Unified Education Service Center, we are looking forward to the new school year.  We hope to maintain full in-school instruction for the entire school year and are taking several steps to ensure safe school environments for students, staff, families and our communities.

One of those steps is providing voluntary, free COVID-19 pooled testing programs in each school.  To do this, we will need the help of our students' parents.  For preliminary information about pooled testing, read a letter from our Superintendent of Schools at bit.ly/2W9B5Rd or click on the image below.  

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Valley Unified Administrative Team Planning Retreat

Administrators from across the Upper St. John Valley participated in a day-long retreat on Thursday, August 12 in preparation for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year.  

Building and department administrators from MSAD #27, MSAD #33 and the Madawaska School Department - the three school units that form the Valley Unified Education Service Center - spent the day discussing and sharing thoughts, ideas, and strategies on a variety of topics, including:

• The 2021-2022 Valley Unified Theme - Leadership, Relationships, Trust, Positivity
• The Safe Return to Full In-School Instruction for Students and Staff
• Classroom Observations
• Curriculum Leadership
• Professional Development
• School and Department Goal-Setting
• Opening Teacher Workshop Days
• First Student School Days

The first day of school for students at all three Valley Unified Middle/High Schools and at Fort Kent Elementary School is August 25.  Dr. Levesque Elementary School and Madawaska Elementary School students will start their school year on September 9.

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Valley Unified School-Based Pfizer Vaccination Clinics

With the first day of school set for August 25 for all Valley Unified middle/high schools and Fort Kent Elementary School and for September 9 for Dr. Levesque Elementary School and Madawaska Elementary School, the Valley Unified Education Service Center is working with St. John Valley Pharmacy to host additional school-based Pfizer vaccination clinics for students age 12 and older as well as staff.

The first set of voluntary clinics for students and staff who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19 is set for August 23 and 24 and September 13 and 14.  For details on times, dates, and locations of the vaccination clinic in your school unit, go to bit.ly/3xHZrij or click on the image below.

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Valley Unified Curriculum Leadership Team Meeting

With the start of the 2021-2022 school year just two weeks away, the Valley Unified Curriculum Leadership Team met at the St. John Valley Technology Center in Frenchville on Monday, August 9, 2021 from 9 AM to 2 PM to discuss and develop plans for addressing student support systems, student progress monitoring, curriculum and instruction, and assessment and grading practices.  

Teams from Valley Rivers Middle School/Community High School and Fort Kent Elementary School, Dr. Levesque Elementary School, Wisdom Middle/High School, and the St. John Valley Technology Center, and Madawaska Elementary School and Madawaska Middle/High School spent the day sharing thoughts, ideas and strategies within their school teams and with other school teams.

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School Budget Validation Votes Today for MSAD #27 and MSAD #33

This is a reminder that the school budget validation vote is today for both MSAD #27 and MSAD #33.  If you are a citizen of any of the MSAD #27 or MSAD #33 communities, your support for our school budgets is appreciated.  

Here are the polling times for each community:

• Fort Kent: 12:00pm to 6:00pm at the Fort Kent Town Office
• Wallagrass: 12:00pm to 6:00pm at the Wallagrass Community Center
• New Canada: 2:00pm to 6:00pm at the New Canada Community Center
• St. Francis: 2:00pm to 6:00pm at the St. Francis Community Center
• St. John Plantation: 2:00pm to 6:00pm at the St. John Plt. Community Center
• Frenchville: 10:00am - 6:00pm at the Frenchville Town Office
• St. Agatha: 8:00am - 6:00pm at the St. Agatha Town Office

Please don't forget!  Each vote is essential!  Thank you!

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Final Alternative Schooling Enrollment Report for 2020-2021

During the soon-to-be-completed 2020-2021 school year, a total of 80 students from the three high schools in the Upper St. John Valley participated in the Valley Unified Education Service Center Alternative Schooling Program.

To review our final Alternative Schooling Enrollment Report for 2020-2021, go to bit.ly/2RqpUBJ or click on the image below.

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School-Based Pfizer Vaccination Clinics Continue Next Week

This is a reminder to Valley Unified students (age 12 and older), parents, families and, where applicable, staff that St. John Valley Pharmacy will be conducting voluntary school-based Pfizer vaccination clinics next week on Wednesday, June 9 and Thursday, June 10 and again on Wednesday, June 30 and Thursday, July 1.

For details, go to bit.ly/3pcnZgJ or click on the image below.  Stay safe and be well.

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Reminder: No School Today or Monday

Valley Unified reminds all students, parents and families that there will be no school for students today (Friday, May 28) as this is a staff Professional Development Day or on Monday, May 31, which is Memorial Day.  

Enjoy the long weekend.  You've earned it.

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Over 200 Valley Unified Students Participate in School-Based Pfizer Vaccination Clinics

In our on-going efforts to keep our students, staff and schools safe from COVID-19, Valley Unified's Middle/High Schools, in partnership with St. John Valley Pharmacy, have hosted two school-based Pfizer vaccination clinics.  The first was in April and the second was this week. 

To date, a total of 221 Upper St. John Valley students have participated in the clinics.  MSAD #27 has reached 142 students (83 who have received the first administration and 59 who have received both administrations in the two-shot series); 57 Madawaska School Department pupils have participated in the clinics (47 who have received the first dosage and 10 who received both inoculations); and 22 MSAD #33 students have been vaccinated (15 who received the first administration and 7 who have received both inoculations).

Two additional school-based clinics are scheduled for June 9 and 10 as well as June 30 and July 1.  Students age 12-17 can receive the Pfizer vaccination with parental permission.  Valley Unified's school-based vaccination clinics are entirely voluntary. 

Parents and students interested in learning more about pediatric COVID-19 and vaccinations for children 12 and over, can click here or on the image below to view a YouTube video prepared by the Maine Department of Education.

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A Shout-Out to Valley Unified's Amazing Team of School Nurses

This year Governor Janet Mills and the Maine Department of Education joined the Maine Association of School Nurses (MASN) to celebrate, honor and recognize ALL Maine school nurses as the 2020-2021 “School Nurses of the Year.”

“Generally (in a non-pandemic year) school nurses operate behind the scenes in “stealth mode”, providing care, comfort and pain relief. This year, however, school nurses navigated insurmountable pressure to explain and defend community health measures and to promote health and safety for all school community members. This year, school nurses have been working especially hard to facilitate students' return to in-person learning. This has involved putting all the recommended mitigation measures in place while supporting teaching staff as they worked to meet the educational needs of all students.“                                                                                                                                                       -- Governor Janet Mills

Valley Unified schools have been especially fortunate this year to have in place an outstanding team of School Nurses who have worked together to help ensure our students and staff were able to remain in school for a majority of the school year.  Please take a moment to thank these incredible team members (whose photos appear below) for all they’ve done for our schools, staff, students, families and communities and to congratulate them on being named Maine School Nurse of the Year 2021.

Stephanie Gagnon - Wisdom Middle/High School

Monique Michaud - Valley Rivers Middle School/Community High School in Fort Kent

Rebecca Michaud - Fort Kent Elementary School

Stephanie Nadeau- Dr. Levesque Elementary School/St. John Valley Technology Center

Melyssa Pelletier - Madawaska Elementary School

Lynn Wetmore - Madawaska Middle/High School

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Upcoming School-Based Vaccination Clinics and New Pfizer Approval

Valley Unified staff learned this morning that the Pfizer vaccine has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use with children as young as 12 years of age.  

Also, Valley Unified, in partnership with St. John Valley Pharmacy, will continue to conduct voluntary school-based Pfizer vaccination clinics next week, in early June, and in late June/early July.

For more information about times, dates, and locations of these upcoming school-based clinics for students in grades 7-12 as well as any school staff who have not yet been able to be vaccinated, go to bit.ly/3uFqVV3 or click on the image below.

Stay safe and be well.

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Valley Unified Collaborating with Contractors to Address Local Need for Trained Carpenters

The Valley Unified Education Service Center is collaborating with local building contractors to develop the Upper St. John Valley Carpentry Training Program.

The training program will consist of two six-week hands-on, skills-based training sessions: 1. an apprentice level training block; and 2. a journeyman level training period.

Since March, local contractors, staff of the Valley Unified Community Outreach Office and Continuing Education Program, the director of the St. John Valley Technology Center, and a Community Development Block Grant manager from Northern Maine Development Commission have been meeting to develop the project.

To review preliminary information about this opportunity, go to bit.ly/3xSv9uo or click on the image below.

For additional details:

1. local contractors who want to get involved should contact Curtis Saucier of Home Solutions in Fort Kent at 207-231-0624;

2. area adults interested in participating should contact Valley Unified Continuing Education at either  834-3536 or 728-6314; and

3. high school students interested in taking part should contact Kevin Lavoie, Director of the St. John Valley Technology Center, at 543-6606.

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Updated Travel Guidance for Students and Staff

Effective May 1, 2021, the state of Maine will not require proof of a negative COVID test or a period of quarantine for travelers from other states.  

For updated travel guidance from Valley Unified for students and staff based on this change at the state level, go to bit.ly/3xJlwy8 or click on the image below.

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Reminder - School-Based Pfizer Vaccination Clinics

This is reminder to Valley Unified high school students (age 16 and older), parents, families and, where applicable, staff that St. John Valley Pharmacy will be conducting voluntary school-based Pfizer vaccination clinics, beginning this week, in each of the three Valley Unified high schools. 

For details, go to bit.ly/3sX8oBH or click on the image below.

Stay safe and be well.

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School Reintegration Update for Students, Parents and Families: April, 2021

To review the April, 2021 monthly Valley Unified School Reintegration Update for students, parents and families, click here or on the image below.

Here at Valley Unified, we wish you all a safe, relaxing and restful April Break.  

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Important Announcement About School-Based Voluntary Pfizer Vaccination Clinics

Beginning later this month and in May, St. John Valley Pharmacy will conduct voluntary Pfizer vaccination clinics at the three Valley Unified high schools for students 16 and older as well as any interested staff.  For more information about this important opportunity and an additional option to schedule pharmacy-based vaccination appointments during the upcoming school vacation, go to bit.ly/3x06e7Y or click on the image below.

We wish all Valley Unified students, families and staff a safe, restful, relaxing spring break.  Stay safe and be well.

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A Resource Guide for Staying Healthy and Well During COVID-19

In August, 2020, we shared with Valley Unified staff, students, parents and families a list of Suggested Activities for Staying Healthy and Well During COVID-19.

With the Spring season upon us and Summer not far off, we are re-sharing this resource guide of sample indoor and outdoor physical and fresh air activities for your consideration as opportunities to shake off any cabin-fever you've experienced over the Winter months and/or due to the restrictions we've all experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To review the guide and even add suggested activities you'd like to share with others across the Upper St. John Valley, go to bit.ly/323WpHg or click on the image below.  Stay healthy and be well.

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The Benefits of Expanding Access to Early College

As indicated in previous posts, Valley Unified has begun planning, with Northern Maine Community College (NMCC) and the University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK), to expand access to Early Post-Secondary Education opportunities for high school students in the Upper St. John Valley.

To date, we've provided you some details regarding our proposed partnerships with NMCC and UMFK.  For information on the broad, general principles and benefits of our Early Post-Secondary Education expansion plans, go to bit.ly/2P8YHCz or click on the image below.

Please remember, our plans are in the preliminary stage and that the general principles we've outlined constitute a broad view and vision as well as desired elements.

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Still More Detail On Our Early College Expansion Plans

As indicated in previous posts, Valley Unified is working with the University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK) and Northern Maine Community College (NMCC) to expand access to Early Post-Secondary Education opportunities for high school students in the Upper St. John Valley.

The planning process is in the preliminary stages and lots of work needs to be done. Still, we want to share with you additional details concerning the development of a proposed CTE to Skilled Trades Early Post-Secondary Academy partnership between the St. John Valley Technology Center (SJVTC) and NMCC.

For more information on this proposed partnership, go to bit.ly/3bQrjJc or click on the image below.

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A Little More Detail on Our Plans to Expand Early College Opportunities

Recently, we posted that Valley Unified is planning to pursue expanded Early College opportunities for Upper St. John Valley high school students though the University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK) and Northern Maine Community College (NMCC).  

Though planning is still in the preliminary stages, we do want to share a little more detail on the potential, proposed menu options we are discussing with UMFK.  

For more information on these Early Post-Secondary Menu Options, go to bit.ly/38KtrAj or click on the image below.

Additional information concerning a proposed CTE to Skilled Trades Academy partnership between the St. John Valley Technology Center - the Career and Technical Education arm of Valley Unified - and NMCC will be posted here in the near future.

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Valley Unified Looks to Expand Early College Opportunities

The Valley Unified Education Service Center is planning to pursue expanded Early College opportunities for Upper St. Valley high school students through the University of Maine at Fort Kent and Northern Maine Community College.

For general information about this effort, which is Priority #6 in our tri-district strategic plan, Rightsizing Education in the Upper St. John Valley, 2017-2027, go to bit.ly/38mss9j or click on the image below.

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