Dear Staff and Families,
As you may be aware, Governor Mills announced last week that Maine is easing the requirements on the use of face coverings in outdoor public settings, regardless of whether a person is vaccinated. Since this updated guidance is effective immediately, you might be wondering how this guidance affects schools’ outdoor activities.
Beginning today, May 3, the following guidance will be used for Valley Unified Schools:
Organized Outdoor Activities: Organized outdoor activities will no longer require a face mask. This includes, but is not limited to: outdoor classrooms, outdoor mask breaks, or any other organized outdoor activity where students are primarily stationary. Students must be 6 feet apart in any organized outdoor activity.
Unorganized and/or Active Outdoor Activities: Unorganized outdoor activities will still require a face mask. This includes, but is not limited to: student recess where students are running and playing close to one another, student physical education classes where students are constantly exercising, and any activity where students are moving around from one location to another. At any time 6 feet of distancing is not possible, masks must be worn.
Athletic Events: Following the Maine Principals’ Association updated guidance, athletes who are on the field of play during contests or practice will no longer be required to wear face coverings. Athletes and coaches will continue to wear face coverings when not on the field of play, either when seated on the bench or during coaching sessions where students are less than 6 feet apart. Spectators who are stationary and 6 feet apart will no longer be required to wear a face mask, however, when walking from one area to another, or when 6 feet of physical distancing cannot be maintained, face masks must be worn.
It is important to Valley Unified and the member districts that we support the easing of restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic while also maintaining our health, safety and contact-tracing efforts. Thank you for your help in keeping our students safe while we begin the journey back to normal.
Respectfully,
Benjamin Sirois
Superintendent of Schools: Valley Unified Education Service Center
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