January 3, 2021
Happy New Year, Panthers!
I hope that each of you enjoyed a Winter Break full of things that fill your cup, and are ready to return to campus. We are ready to have you back!
Winter Break began with the sobering announcement that Cumberland County moved to the Maine Department of Education “yellow” designation. The designation, which was made due to rising COVID-19 cases, was recently extended through Friday, January 14. It brings with it a handful of edits to our Winter Activity offerings. Despite these edits, we remain committed to fulfilling our Activity requirement in accordance with state guidelines. We are thankful the designation does not impact our ability to continue in-person learning.
Below is an outline of how our Activity requirements will be edited during our time in “yellow.” Coaches and activity leaders will share more details with their groups in the coming day or so.
Middle and Upper School Athletic Activities
- MS athletic activities will continue to meet Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of each week unless otherwise noted by coaches, under PE guidelines.
- Upper School NEPSAC hockey programs are considered school-based programs and will continue normal training schedules under the guidance of their coaching staffs. All in-person opportunities will be run under current DOE PE guidelines. Any chalk talk, video breakdown, or team specific work will take place virtually. Interstate hockey competition has been suspended by the state through January 31. In an effort to afford our students competitive opportunities, both programs will play games against select MPA opponents whenever our counties are designated green. We will continue conversations with NEPSAC peers and expand this schedule – including interstate competitions – whenever permitted.
- Upper School MPA programs are considered school-based programs and will continue normal training schedules under the guidance of their coaching staffs. All in-person opportunities will be run under current DOE PE guidelines. Any chalk talk, video breakdown, or team specific work will take place virtually. Leagues are assembling schedules, and we look forward to resuming interscholastic competitions when these competitions are permitted.
Middle and Upper School Drama and Studio Band
- Students involved in these activities will continue to meet under the current DOE guidance, in the same manner as prior to Winter Break.
Despite the challenges that these Activity edits bring each of us, I know we will thrive in them. I encourage each of you to pour your energy into all that we still have, as opposed to all that we have sacrificed. We have each other. We have a can-do attitude. Your perseverance, empathy, responsibility, and enthusiasm continue to push us through: stay the course!
Be safe, and see you soon,
Kelsy Ross
Athletic Director
