IMPORTANT UPDATE
June 4, 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians,
One more week and one of the most challenging school years is coming to an end! I commend every parent, teacher, employee, board member, child care provider, volunteer, and community member on their role--big or small--in getting our students through this year. The guidelines seemed to change faster than my New Year’s diet resolution while standing at my favorite local ice cream shop and it was a team effort to pivot and implement quickly. Whether you were a parent who had to adjust to being a part-time teacher, a teacher who suddenly became a sanitation specialist, a school nurse who transformed into a CDC contact tracer, or a community member who supported any one of these individuals through a bout of required quarantine--THANK YOU! My deepest gratitude for your part in keeping our students’ health and wellbeing as the priority.
I am especially pleased that tonight’s graduating seniors are able to gather together and celebrate at Waterhouse Field with their families. They have overcome two years at the end of their high school career that was like no other - built resilience, had to rise to the challenge, and succeeded - congratulations to all of the 2021 BHS Alumni!
COVID VACCINE - SECOND DOSE
Due to Biddeford School Budget Election on Tuesday, June 8th in BHS Tiger Gym, all vaccine second doses will now occur on Wednesday, June 9th (see chart in this Parent Letter). As this day is now an in-person school day for grade 5-12 students, we have coordinated BMS and BHS students to have their second dose while in school, if desired. If parents prefer to accompany their child, they may attend the BHS clinic with them.
If your child missed the original clinic, you may schedule an appointment or attend a walk-in at various other clinics in our area through one of these links: MaineHealth Clinics, Northern Light Health Clinics, CVS, or Walgreens. If you would like more information, have concerns, or are still evaluating if your child (12+) will receive the COVID vaccine, please review this Fact Sheet for Youth Under 18.
DEVICE RETURN
Please review the weekly newsletter(s) for your child(ren)’s school(s) for specific processes surrounding device return as the school year comes to an end. It is important all borrowed devices are returned to ensure we have time to disinfect, repair, and reassign them for use in the fall.
SUMMER PROGRAMMING
Our last day of school for students is Friday, June 11th (full day). The school department runs several programs in the summer, ranging from an academic program for English Language Learners to BLAST! Each individual program will reach out to participants with details. If your student will participate in any summer program (including Jumpstart, ELL, or ESY), please return their device to the school during the week of June 7-11 and a new one will be assigned.
FREE FOOD DISTRIBUTION
We are pleased that we will be able to continue the FREE food distribution for any child 18 or younger through the summer months. There are drive-up options in both Biddeford and Dayton for breakfast and lunch meals, food distribution dates for families, and convenient meal sites at several locations in the Biddeford community (no bus delivery this summer). For a full listing (beyond the drive-up options below), or if there are any changes, visit the Food Distribution webpage, District Mobile app, or District Facebook page.
- June 21-August 20 (Monday through Friday) from 10am-11am at BMS Bus Loop; Free Breakfast and Lunch
- June 14-June 30 (Monday through Friday) from 9:30am-10:15am at Dayton Consolidated; Free Breakfast and Lunch (Call 499-7803 by 9am to pre-order)
- Youth Full Maine Food Distribution - 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month (June 16, July 7, 21 and August 4, 18) from 10am-11am at BMS Bus Loop
Good Shepherd Food Distribution - 3rd Wednesday of each month (June 16, July 21 and August 18) from 11:00am-1:00pm (Times may vary) at BMS Bus Loop
WORK PERMITS
Work permits can still be obtained. If your child is 14 years old (or turning 14 soon) and interested in getting a job this summer, please complete this form, save and email it to Kerrie Edgerton at kedgerton@biddefordschools.me. A parent does not have to sign the form; however, you must type in your full name and clearly state in the email your child’s name, the place they will be working, and that you give permission for them to work there. A copy of your child’s birth certificate will also need to be attached to the email. It can be sent as a photo or scanned from your phone. For additional questions, call 282-8280 ext 5.
PARENT PORTAL
It is very important for parents to stay connected to the school. If you have not yet set up your Infinite Campus Parent Portal or need to make any edits to your information, please do so by clicking on the below links. The instructions are copied below to guide you step-by-step and answer any questions you may have.
I hope you all have a safe and happy summer enjoying time with family and friends. It will be nice to gather with loved ones that many of us have not had the opportunity to visit in the last year. I will resume my bi-weekly communications in August as we approach the return to school and share any current guidelines that are provided by the Maine CDC and DOE.
Stay Well,
Jeremy Ray
Superintendent of Schools
Congratulations BMS Odyssey of the Mind Team!
Following the Biddeford Middle School (BMS) Odyssey of the Mind Team placing first at States in their division and being awarded the Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award for outstanding creativity, the OM Team progressed onto the Virtual World Finals. The talented group of eighth-graders submitted their long-term problems and had less than a week to make improvements from their skit after States. Ultimately, the BMS Team placed 25th in the World out of 76 teams!
Great job to the following eighth-grade students at BMA and the staff who coached them:
- Eva Aranovitch
- Ella Ireland
- Layla Keddy
- Cotton Schlaver
- Jennifer Danis
- Coach: Suzanne Tighe
- OM Coordinator: Victoria Salo
Biddeford Teachers Receive Maine DOE Commendation
The Maine Department of Education formally recognized two Biddeford educators for their outstanding contributions to the field of English Language (EL) Instruction. JFK teacher Erin Behen, BPS teacher Deb Thompson, and BMS instructor Patsy Gendron received an extraordinary commendation from the Department for their commitment to the development of state EL standards and commitment to the profession.
Of Gendron, the Department wrote to Superintendent Ray and the citizens of Biddeford, "In this most challenging and unique of school years, we are pleased to recognize Patricia for her dedication and commitment to increasing her depth of knowledge in order to better serve culturally and linguistically diverse students and the school community at large."
Thompson and Behen received parallel and similarly-worded accolades. For nearly a year, with all of the stains of remote instruction, Erin and Deb "actively participated in the Department’s [work sessions for professionals], which included presentations and guest speakers on these topics and many more: virtual learning for ESOL students, family engagement, assessment, evaluating data, social and emotional learning, advocating for equity, early childhood development, resources and strategies for teaching ESOL students, welcoming newcomers, the Maine Seal of Biliteracy, and the WIDA 2020 ELD Standards Framework."
In the last decade, the number of students attending Biddeford Schools for whom English is a second language has increased 400%. "The City of Biddeford in general--and our schools in particular--benefit tremendously from the diversity of our citizenry," said Director of Operations Chris Indorf. "Biddeford is a welcoming community, and we have the great honor and privilege of serving a more diverse student population than all other schools in York county combined. As the district's coordinator of English Language Programming, I technically supervise Patsy and Deb, and Erin, but they are among our very best teachers, and 'supervision' hardly characterizes our partnership. I am grateful for their leadership at the state level, and their program stewardship right here in Biddeford."
Official Links/Contact Information
Email: supt@biddefordschools.me
Website: www.biddefordschools.me/health
Location: 18 Maplewood Avenue, Biddeford, ME, USA
Phone: 207-391-6868
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biddefordschooldepartment/
Twitter: @BiddefordSchDpt