Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff,

As of this past Wednesday, March 9th, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and the Maine Department of Education updated the Standard Operating Procedure to move toward optional masking for both students and staff. This change is due to the current stability in COVID-19 trends in Maine and could change if a new variant emerges increasing transmission rates. We encourage students and staff who are not quite ready to shed their mask or may themselves be, or have family members who are considered, high-risk to please feel comfortable wearing their mask while at school.

Please review the FAQs (linked here and below) for specifics about the updated changes and how our schools will move forward. Overall, the following procedures will be in place to ensure everyone is safe based on the updated guidance:

• Continued masking will be optional for both students and staff.

• Pooled testing will continue.

• Students and staff should continue to practice layered prevention strategies for reducing transmission, including frequent handwashing, monitoring symptoms and staying home if sick, and using physical distancing when feasible.

• A positive test will require a five (5) day isolation from the date of symptom onset or from the date of the positive test, regardless of vaccination status. If no symptoms are present, the individual may return to school with masking required for days 6-10.

• The school department will continue to monitor any data available to them regarding community and county transmission, pooled testing results, absentee rates, and vaccination rates.

If you have a question not addressed in these FAQs, please submit them to covid@biddefordschools.me.

With spring right around the corner and a few teaser days in the past couple of weeks, we are already starting to plan for the next school year. Pre-K and Kindergarten Screening is now open, budget planning season is upon us, step-up days are being planned, adolescent students are selecting their courses, and the Center of Technology is enrolling students in career and technical educational opportunities. It is a busy time and the next few months will go by quickly. We hope students and their families will enjoy the upcoming concerts and plays, the spring sports season, and the numerous opportunities to get outside. I have included some more information on these items below in my newsletter.

Stay Well,

Jeremy Ray

Superintendent of Schools

Congratulations to the individuals listed below on being nominated for the Portland Sea Dogs Volunteer Appreciation Night sponsored by Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution (SBSI). This event recognizes those who selflessly donate their time and work hard to help others to better their communities. Each nominee will receive two general admission tickets, courtesy of SBSI, for the game on Wednesday, April 20th at 6:00pm.

Congratulations to the Biddeford Teen Center's newest officers, who were recently sworn in by Executive Assistant Kendi Norton and Mayor Alan Casavant!

• Chase Lessard - President

• Rachel Smart - Vice President

• J. Hovasse - Secretary

• Jayden Pagliano - Treasurer

The purpose of the Teen Center Committee is to assist Recreation Department staff by helping to establish center policies and rules. They also provide information to staff on what the members would like to see and do, such as trips, special events, or new equipment. The committee has also been active in fundraising, both for community organizations and on behalf of the Center.