DISTRICT UPDATE
June 17, 2022
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff,
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff,
What a great end to the school year! At last, a sense of normalcy--buildings open to parents and the public, and lots of year-end celebrations, concerts, athletics, and activities. It felt great to see our gyms, cafeterias, and auditoriums full of the energy and pride that only comes from our school community. (Want a laugh? Take a look at this conclusion to BIS’s Color Derby Day when students selected Principal Nadeau for a special…prize)
Congratulations to our class of 2022 seniors at Biddeford High School. I wish them the best of luck with their bright futures and encourage them to come back and visit often. House Speaker Ryan Fecteau (Biddeford High School Class of 2010) addressed 196 graduates on June 3, 2022, to a packed house of beaming families and a tremendously proud faculty. “You’ve overcome so much to get here today,” Fecteau said in a nod to the pandemic and the challenges of remote instruction. “The community could not be more proud.”
Now that summer is upon us, I want to remind families of the many great summer camps offered locally through our recreation departments, Apex, the Ecology School, and other places. This is truly one of the best seasons in Maine, so get outside and enjoy some family fun. The area has many beautiful beaches, hiking trails, festivals, and other outdoor activities for your enjoyment.
Please read through the remainder of this newsletter as we highlight some fun-filled, end-of-year activities.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Ray
Superintendent of School
FREE MEALS THIS SUMMER
Lady Tigers Advance to Class A State Championships
Left to Right: Back Row - Laura Perreault, Haleigh Wyatt, Chantelle Bouchard, Coach Mike Fecteau, Coach Heather Deane
Left to Right: Middle Row – Lily LeSieur, Cullen Rogers, Tanner Fecteau, Kerri Scott, Eliza Doyon, Hannah Lappin, Jaylah Trottier, Ayla Lagasse, Victoria Barrow, Tabrea Richerson, Michaela Ouellette, Madeline Barrow, Baylor Wilkinson, Coach Andy Donovan
Left to Right: Front Row - Hannah Gosselin, Alexis Libby, Charlotte Donovan, Riley Langevin, Coach Erin Martin
YOUTH FULL MAINE FOOD DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE
Biddeford Historical Society - Essay Competition Winners
History is alive and well in one of New England’s most historic and thriving cities! Biddeford High School students participated in an essay writing competition for the Biddeford Historical Society with the aim of enriching their knowledge of our community. Students were tasked with choosing a physical landmark named after a person in the city. They then researched this person's importance and contributions to the City of Biddeford. The competition challenged students to write a 500-1000 word research-based paper and submit it for review. Subjects from this year's submissions included McArthur Library, Waterhouse Field, Thacher Hotel, and Vines Landing. Helana Gabryszewski was awarded first place and a $150 Amazon gift card, second place Emma Paquet was awarded a $100 Amazon gift card, and third place winner Thea Quint was awarded a $50 Amazon gift card. Winners will publicly present their essays to the Historical Society over the summer.
BHS Places 9th at Odyssey of the Mind World Finals
From intermediate school mathletes to BHS OM-ers, our community is racking up academic bragging rights! BHS sent a remarkable team to the Odyssey of the Mind World competition on May 25-28, held at Iowa State University. Competing against twenty-five teams from around the globe--that’s not a typo…the globe!-- Biddeford’s ninth-place score was their highest to date in the World competition. As part of the event, each team was assigned an international buddy team and Biddeford was paired with Poland. The buddy teams quickly got to know each other and formed instant friendships. “The feel was different this year,” said coach Suzanne Tighe, “there was a sense of comradery, openness, and a willingness to help each other that hasn’t been present in the past.” The team wishes to extend a thank you to all those who helped them in their fundraising efforts and made this trip possible, especially Pratt Whitney, who donated the trucking for the props to arrive safely and on time.
Pillars of Pride - Silent Auction - October 1, 2022
The Biddeford Education Foundation (BEF) is pleased to announce our 5th Annual Pillars of Pride Silent Auction. The event is scheduled for October 1, 2022. More information about the event and ticket sales are forthcoming. Biddeford Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to support the needs of students within our community that fall outside of the regular school budget. Through grant monies and fundraising efforts, the foundation has been able to assist in providing food and clothing to families in need. In addition, the Foundation has focused on supporting our increasing homeless population by helping to identify affordable housing to ensure children have a safe place to sleep each night. The foundation also supports teacher mini-grants allowing educators to think outside the box for innovative learning opportunities that would not otherwise be funded. For more information about BEF, please visit our website.
Pre-K and Kindergarten - Register Early for Fall Screening!
Biddeford - Pre-K/Kindergarten Registration
Dayton - Pre-K/Kindergarten Registration
Free at Home COVID-19 Test Kits
Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has provided the school department with a limited supply of at-home COVID-19 test kits. Test kits will be available to staff and families upon request while supplies last. If you are interested in receiving a kit please contact your child(ren)s school.
Official Links/Contact Information
Email: supt@biddefordschools.me
Website: www.biddefordschools.me
Location: 18 Maplewood Avenue, Biddeford, ME, USA
Phone: 207-282-8280
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biddefordschooldepartment/
Twitter: @BiddefordSchDpt