Preparing for the BHS & COVID-19 Protocols
Photo from the 2019 BHS
We are excited to give our community of supporters, partners, and families the news that we will run the 2020 Blueberry Harvest School in-person this summer! We also want to share some important information about the program - as you can imagine, it’s going to be looking a bit different this year.
The Blueberry Harvest School will take place from August 3rd - August 21st.
To keep our students and staff safe during this time, we are implementing multiple layers of prevention across all our programming. This includes pre-program testing for all students (or parents) and staff who have been in Maine for less than 14 days, daily screening, physical distancing, mask wearing for staff and students, classes of no more than 10 students, frequent hand washing and sanitization, and indoor and outdoor classroom spaces. We developed our protocols based on Maine DOE and CDC guidance and consultations with medical providers and the Maine Mobile Health Program.
All staff and students coming from out of state are required to quarantine for 14 days OR until they receive a negative test result once they arrive in Maine. For students, we are accepting a negative test result from the parent. For staff, we have completed testing on July 28 and all results were negative for COVID-19.
Other important aspects of programming:
School - While we will not go on field trips this summer, we are excited to provide indoor and outdoor classroom spaces with the addition of large outdoor event tents for each class. The school will continue to provide hot breakfast and lunch, and students will remain with their class to eat. We will provide transportation to and from the school in buses and will follow strict protocols including only allowing enrolled students on the bus, daily temperature check and screening, mandatory mask wearing, and a row in between every occupied seat.
Camp Services - Our camp services team is prepared to enroll and support our students. The team will provide summer learning kits with lots of great educational supplies personalized to ages & interests for students 0-20. Additionally, our team will provide engaging instructional services such as small group classes and activities during the program.
Resources for Families - This year we will not host any events or gatherings. Our weekly Resource Fair nights will now turn into weekly Drive Through Resource Fairs where workers and families can stay in their vehicle and receive boxes of food and supplies. The Drive Through Resource Fairs will be held at the Maine Seacoast Mission, and we will provide dates and other information soon. In addition to the Drive Through Resource Fairs, our camp services team will also carry out food distribution and bring food and supplies directly to workers and families in the camps.
Even with these significant shifts, all aspects of BHS programming continue to be built around the interests, abilities, and needs of migrant students, with the goal to provide instructional services and educational activities that:
Promote students’ social-emotional growth.
Center students’ languages and cultures.
Prepare and excite students to re-engage with learning in community with peers.
We are committed to working together to keep everyone at the BHS safe and healthy, and we cannot wait to welcome students back to the BHS this summer!
