December 18, 2020
Dear Students, Families, and Staff,
I hope everyone is doing well as we continue to respond to the ramifications of the pandemic. This week was particularly challenging as a result of the significant storm that impacted our area.
There is a great deal of thought that goes into making the decision whether to have students and staff come to school for in person instruction or to go to distance learning on any given day. Our top priority is to get students and staff to school every day. The obstacle or obstacles to achieving that goal is anything that would jeopardize the health and safety of our students and staff. This week it was a combination of the increasing number of positive cases impacting staffing and the storm that dropped a lot of snow in our area. Every decision we make is done collaboratively by both building and central office administrators and very often involves the Mayor’s office and the Police Department. We understand the impact of our decisions and we will always decide on what is in the best interest of our students and staff.
We are hopeful that with the holiday recess and the extended break approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), that we will be able to maintain a more consistent opportunity for in person learning in the new year. Also, we are working with the Town to plan for the Covid-19 vaccination of Cumberland residents. You will be hearing more about that in the coming weeks.
There are some additional items for your review:
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The updated Covid-19 spreadsheet is attached for your review. As you can see, the number of positive cases and the number of students and staff needing to quarantine continues to rise.
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As a reminder, there are scammers contacting Rhode Island families stating that they are with the Rhode Island Department of Health. Please be on alert. The notice shared last week is attached for your review.
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The Department of Health continues to struggle with completing contact tracing in a timely manner.
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A significant amount of outside work on the high school safety project was completed before the storm. The next phase of the project will move in doors and begin after the first of the year. The final phase which includes landscaping and more paving will take place in the spring.
As always, thank you for your patience and understanding as we work our way through these ongoing challenges.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Mitchell
Superintendent of Schools
COVID-19 Data 2020-21-12.18.20.pdf
09 December EdOC Bulletin Update.pdf
18 de diciembre de 2020
Estimados estudiantes, familias y personal:
Espero que a todos les vaya bien mientras seguimos respondiendo a las ramificaciones de la pandemia. Esta semana fue particularmente desafiante como resultado de la tormenta significativa que afectó nuestra área.
Hay que pensar mucho al tomar la decisión de hacer que los estudiantes y el personal vengan a la escuela para recibir instrucción en persona o que vayan al aprendizaje a distancia en un día determinado. Nuestra principal prioridad es llevar a los estudiantes y al personal a la escuela todos los días. El obstáculo u obstáculos para lograr esa meta es cualquier cosa que ponga en peligro la salud y seguridad de nuestros estudiantes y personal. Esta semana fue una combinación del creciente número de casos positivos que afectaron al personal y la tormenta que dejó caer mucha nieve en nuestra área. Cada decisión que tomamos se hace en colaboración tanto por los administradores del edificio como por los de la oficina central y muy a menudo involucra a la oficina del Alcalde y al Departamento de Policía. Entendemos el impacto de nuestras decisiones y siempre decidiremos qué es lo mejor para nuestros estudiantes y personal.
Esperamos que con el receso de los días festivos y el receso extendido aprobado por el Departamento de Educación de Rhode Island (RIDE), podamos mantener una oportunidad más constante para el aprendizaje en persona en el nuevo año. Además, estamos trabajando con la ciudad para planificar la vacunación contra Covid-19 de los residentes de Cumberland. Escuchará más sobre eso en las próximas semanas.
Hay algunos elementos adicionales para su revisión:
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La hoja de cálculo Covid-19 actualizada se adjunta para su revisión. Como puede ver, la cantidad de casos positivos y la cantidad de estudiantes y personal que necesitan ser puestos en cuarentena continúa aumentando.
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Como recordatorio, hay estafadores que se comunican con familias de Rhode Island y afirman que están en el Departamento de Salud de Rhode Island. Esté alerta. El aviso compartido la semana pasada se adjunta para su revisión.
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El Departamento de Salud continúa luchando para completar el rastreo de contactos de manera oportuna.
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Una cantidad significativa de trabajo externo en el proyecto de seguridad de la escuela secundaria se completó antes de
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Superintendent Robert Mitchell is pleased to announce Cumberland’s 2020 District Education Support Professional of the Year – Alysa Coleman
We congratulate Alysa on this outstanding achievement. As an Administrative Assistant at North Cumberland Middle School, she wears many hats throughout the school day. Alysa is a dedicated, hard-working professional. She is always available to provide assistance to the school’s faculty, staff, students and their families.
Alysa was recognized during the December 10, 2020 Cumberland School Committee meeting.
Mrs. Bethany Coughlin, Principal at North Cumberland Middle School submitted the following nomination:
It is my pleasure to nominate Alysa Coleman as the 2020 Support Professional of the Year. Although only in her third year with us, the impact she has had on school operations has been outstanding. She is organized, thoughtful, hard working, and focused. Qualities that make her great at her job. What takes her to the next level is her ability to intelligently, independently, and effectively problem solve situations and execute solutions that benefit the entire school.
From the beginning, Alysa has approached her position with a “business” mindset, not necessarily doing things the way they have always been done. She has improved upon current systems, as well as developing her own systems so that the school runs efficiently on a daily basis. She chooses to extend her job responsibilities beyond that of typical clerical duties. Over the course of the summer, she assists with scheduling of students, she communicates regularly with families, and she addresses the needs of staff and students at all levels. Her kind, yet business-minded approach, has earned her a great deal of respect from the entire school community. In fact, it was the staff who overwhelmingly named Alysa as their choice for this acknowledgement.
Alysa does not shed her responsibilities when out of the office. She regularly communicates outside of work if she feels the need is urgent. As an example, while handling our first positive student COVID case, she monitored her email over the weekend (without direction or expectation from me) and informed me of a RIDOH voicemail that was left at the school. She contacted me on a Sunday and we were able to address the situation immediately. This is one of many examples I could provide of Alysa taking the initiative to address a situation rather than waiting to be told what to do. A quality that is essential in these trying times.
I would appreciate your consideration in choosing Alysa Coleman as our 2020 District Support Professional of the Year. The fact that she has made such a huge impact on our entire school community in the short time she has been with us demonstrates her talent, work ethic, and dedication to the district as a whole. … Read More...
Dear Ashton, BF Norton, Community, and Cumberland Hill School Families and Staff,
After meeting with the elementary school principals, we are in agreement that due to ongoing staffing issues related to positive COVID-19 cases, in combination with the ongoing recovery from the storm, that all students in grades PreK through five will go to distance learning tomorrow, Friday, December 18, 2020.
Sincerely,
Robert Mitchell
Estimado Ashton, BF Norton, Community, y las familias y el personal de la escuela Cumberland Hill,
Después de reunirnos con los directores de las escuelas primarias, estamos de acuerdo en que debido a los problemas continuos de personal relacionados con los casos positivos de COVID-19, en combinación con la recuperación en curso de la tormenta, todos los estudiantes en los grados de PreK a quinto asistirán mañana al aprendizaje a distancia , Viernes 18 de diciembre de 2020.
Sinceramente,
Robert Mitchell
Superintendente de escuelas… Read More...
December 16, 2020
Due to the impending storm, all Cumberland School Department buildings will be closed tomorrow, December 17, 2020. The snow day will be a distance learning day for all students and staff. All administrative staff will work remotely.
We will provide updates as needed. Please stay safe and warm.
16 de diciembre de 2020
Buenas tardes,
Debido a la tormenta inminente, todos los edificios del Departamento Escolar de Cumberland estarán cerrados mañana, 17 de diciembre de 2020. El día de nieve será un día de aprendizaje a distancia para todos los estudiantes y el personal. Todo el personal administrativo trabajará de forma remota.
Proporcionaremos actualizaciones según sea necesario. Por favor, mantente a salvo y abrigado.… Read More...
Dear Garvin School Families and Staff,
Due to ongoing staffing issues at Garvin Elementary School and the Department of Health’s difficulty in responding to close contacts in a timely manner, Garvin will be moving to distance learning for the week of December 14th. We felt it was important to let parents know as soon as possible to allow time to plan accordingly.
As you know, these are difficult decisions. The health and safety of our students and staff will always be our top priority.
Sincerely,
Robert Mitchell
Superintendent of Schools
Estimadas familias y personal de la escuela Garvin,
Debido a problemas continuos de personal en la Escuela Primaria Garvin y la dificultad del Departamento de Salud para responder a los contactos cercanos de manera oportuna, Garvin pasará al aprendizaje a distancia durante la semana del 14 de diciembre. Sentimos que era importante informar a los padres lo antes posible para darles tiempo para planificar en consecuencia.
Como saben, son decisiones difíciles. La salud y seguridad de nuestros estudiantes y personal siempre será nuestra principal prioridad.
Sinceramente,
Robert Mitchell
Superintendente de escuelas
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December 11, 2020
Dear Students, Staff, and Families,
I hope everyone is doing okay as we do our best to deal with the unrelenting impact of this pandemic. As you know, our country, state, and community continues to experience an increasing number of positive Covid-19 cases. The Cumberland School Department has been significantly impacted with more students and staff testing positive. Hundreds of students and staff have been quarantined by the Rhode Island Department of Health due to close contact with individuals who have tested positive.
The biggest challenge this has presented to the School Department is staffing our schools. Given the number of school personnel impacted by the virus, we are struggling to cover all of our classrooms. For example, the high school alone had 15 staff members in quarantine yesterday. This does not allow us to cover all of the classes our students attend. The same struggle is happening in all of our schools.
As a result of this daily challenge, the school department has decided to move to distance learning. The following schedule will be implemented for students in grades PreK to 12.
Beginning the week of December 14th, all students in grades 6 through 12 will move to DL until the week of January 11th, 2021.
Beginning the week of December 21st, all students in grades PreK through grade 5 will move to DL until the week of January 11th, 2021.
This includes students in special programs.
Please keep in mind that even with the steps taken above, additional closings in the PreK-5 schools may be necessary during the week of December 14th due to staffing and/or COVID issues. The spreadsheet with the most current COVID-19 data for the Cumberland School Department is attached for your review.
We know that this is difficult for students, staff, and families. However, given these circumstances, we feel that this is the responsible approach due to the increasing number of cases. Since the time frame when students will be distance learning includes the holiday recess, elementary students will only lose three days of in-person learning and students in grades 6 through 12 will lose 5 days of in-person learning.
There is one additional issue that I need to bring to your attention. All of the school districts in the state received a bulletin from the Education Operations Center (EDOC) informing us of reported scams associated with contact tracing. The bulletin is attached for your review.
Thank you again for your patience and understanding as we navigate our way through what has been one of the most challenging times we have experienced. However, there is hope and a light at the end of the tunnel. Hang in there everyone. We’ll get through this.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Mitchell
Superintendent of Schools
11 de diciembre de 2020
Estimados estudiantes, personal y familias:
Espero que todos estén bien mientras hacemos todo lo posible para enfrentar el impacto implacable de esta pandemia. Como saben, nuestro país, estado y comunidad continúan experimentando un número creciente de casos positivos de Covid-19. El Departamento Escolar de Cumberland se ha visto significativamente afectado con más estudiantes y personal dando positivo. El Departamento de Salud de Rhode Island ha puesto en cuarentena a cientos de estudiantes y personal debido al contacto cercano con personas que dieron positivo en la prueba.
El mayor desafío que esto ha presentado al Departamento Escolar es dotar de personal a nuestras escuelas. Dada la cantidad de personal escolar afectado por el virus, estamos luchando por cubrir todas nuestras aulas. Por ejemplo, solo la escuela secundaria tenía 15 miembros del personal en cuarentena ayer. Esto no nos permite cubrir todas las clases a las que asisten nuestros estudiantes. La misma lucha está sucediendo en todas nuestras escuelas.
Como resultado de este desafío diario, el departamento escolar ha decidido pasar al aprendizaje a distancia. El siguiente horario se implementará para los estudiantes en los grados PreK a 12.
A partir de la semana del 14 de diciembre, todos los estudiantes de los grados 6 al 12 pasarán a DL hasta la semana del 11 de enero de 2021.
A partir de la semana del 21 de diciembre, todos los estudiantes en los grados de PreK hasta el grado 5 pasarán a DL hasta la semana del 11 de enero de 2021.
Esto incluye a estudiantes en programas especiales.
Tenga en cuenta que incluso con los pasos tomados anteriormente, cierres adicionales en PreK-5 las escuelas pueden ser necesarias durante la semana del 14 de diciembre debido a problemas de personal y / o COVID. Se adjunta para su revisión la hoja de cálculo con los datos COVID-19 más recientes para el Departamento Escolar de Cumberland.
Sabemos que esto es difícil para los estudiantes, el personal y las familias. Sin
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