I hope this message finds you and your family safe and well. The events over the last 48 hours have been almost surreal, considering we live in a state that has long been hailed as the safest in the nation. I know that the stark reality of such a heinous tragedy as the one that occurred this week has upended our sense of peace and security here in our beloved Maine.
Regardless of the status of the search for the suspect in the Lewiston homicides, MSAD #51 schools will resume classes on Monday, October 30, with a regular school schedule. Cumberland Police are prepared to provide additional coverage for our schools on Monday as an additional safety precaution. Athletic practices and other school events will resume on Monday as well, with playoff games being rescheduled over the next week or so. This weekend, though, no school activities or events will take place.
The Leadership Team has met and planned for the return of students on Monday, with emphasis on supporting any students who may be struggling with the weight of these events. I wish to thank you for your patience over the last two days as we navigated these difficult circumstances. As more information becomes available about the victims of the mass casualties in Lewiston, we are becoming aware of families and staff who have been directly impacted by the lives lost. I have reached out to the school district where a student was confirmed to be one of the 18 victims, and my thoughts are with the student's family and community. As we continue to learn more, there will be more of these sorrowful losses that will come to light, and we will need to collectively muster the strength to console those who need it most.
In the meantime, it is time to move forward again. One of the ways to start healing is to resume the routines that help support our students. We look forward to seeing all of our students and staff back in school on Monday.