BIDDEFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
August 4, 2021
IMPORTANT NEWS AND NOTES
Good Afternoon Parents & Guardians,
As we turn the calendar into the month of August, I am sure many families are starting to set their sights on the opening of school in September. If you are new to the Biddeford School District or Biddeford Middle School - WELCOME! We are looking forward to welcoming all the students on our first day back - September 1st.
Biddeford Middle School will host an Open House on Monday, August 30th from 4:30-6:30 pm. We are not yet sure of the details for this open house, but please mark your calendars and be prepared to meet your child's new teachers on this day. It is understood that many of you have some questions as it relates to exactly what the opening to school will look like. We are working hard to stay on top of all of the latest recommendations put forth by the CDC as we plan for a safe return to school.
This newsletter will be published every two weeks with the latest News and Notes relating to our school. In our next newsletter (August 18th), our teams at Biddeford Middle School will be sharing a brochure of information with you. These brochures will contain some background to each teacher, a sample schedule for your child, and a list of important school supplies that will help your child get off to a good start to the 2021-2022 School Year.
In addition, the Superintendent’s bi-weekly district newsletter will be sent out on the opposite weeks. The BMS newsletter is an opportunity to celebrate the great things occurring in our building. I encourage parents to read both newsletters and hope you find the information informative. If you have any suggestions for included items or story ideas to increase engagement, feel free to share them with me.
Sincerely,
Mr. Scott Descoteaux
Principal - Biddeford Middle School
Infinite Campus - Student Schedules
Student Team Placements and Schedules may be found on Infinite Campus.
Accessing Infinite Campus:
It is through Infinite Campus where you are able to find all of the details regarding your child’s team, teachers, and specific schedule. 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 links below. Step-by-step instructions are available by clicking here.
PLEASE BE ADVISED - There are still moving parts as it relates to student schedules.
Please understand that changes and / or adjustments might still be made to these schedules prior to the opening to school.
Update Parent Portal
For the safety of our students, this once a year process is necessary in order for the school to have accurate, important student information, such as addresses, phone numbers, emergency contacts, permission forms and medical needs.
To access the Online Registration
- Log into your Campus Parent Portal
- From the gray panel on the left, select "More"
- Then select Online Registration
- Begin Annual Updates
Tools 4 School
When kids are prepared, they have better academic success. We want every child in York County to have the tools they need for success. School supplies are expensive! And filled backpacks help to reduce the financial burden on families who may be struggling to make ends meet.
Backpack pickup will be at Staples in Biddeford (201 Mariner Way) on August 28, 9 am-3 pm, rain or shine. We will have a celebratory event with community partners to help fill the backpacks and share some snacks and other goodies! We are not able to deliver backpacks, so please plan to pick them up on August 28.
Register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/backpacks
Registration closes Friday, August 20.
Transportation
Health & Safety Guidelines
With the prevalence of the delta variant in Maine, Governor Mills announced in a press release last week that the State of Maine will follow the U.S. CDC updated face covering guidance, which recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.
We suspect the Maine DOE’s Health and Safety Guidance, which aligns with the updated recommendations of the U.S. CDC for K-12 schools, may be in effect as we return to school on September 1st but we ask for your patience as guidance is changing weekly. Superintendents and educators across Maine attended a Zoom meeting with Dr. Shah and are awaiting additional information, including FAQs, to make final determinations for each district. We will communicate the final guidance prior to September 1st.
We understand there are many varying views on masking; yet, we must continue to follow the CDC recommendations to ensure a safe return to school five days a week. We encourage parents and guardians to remain positive in their messaging to children and prepare them for the first day back. We appreciate your continued support in keeping our students and families safe by adhering to precautionary safety measures such as wearing masks, practicing good hand hygiene, covering mouth when coughing or sneezing, and staying home when any symptoms are present.
What is Pooled Testing?
Free Meals for ALL Students
BMS Sports Sign-Up - Family ID
Parents will need to create an account within this website, which allows them to upload medical forms, fill out general medical information and select the sport that the student is interested in participating in.
https://www.familyid.com/biddeford-high-school/bms-fall-sports-2021
Meet our New Nurse - Ms. Gloria Fickett
Meet Other New Staff
Kate Truman - Administrative Assistant
“Small wins lead to big impact! I love being in a school environment and being part of the Biddeford community--my hometown where I grew up. It's wonderful to be home!”
Kate was previously the Administrative Assistant to the Associate Head of School at Thornton Academy for seven years. She is a choreographer and “YouTuber” outside of her day job, and loves reading and spending time with her family.
Marc Boissonnault - Special Education Teacher
“I enjoy working with students and helping them build confidence in their ability to make strides, both academically and socially. My mother is a Special Education teacher in the state of Maine with over twenty-five years of experience. Growing up, I was exposed to teaching as a profession and taught the value of education in a student’s life.
Marc previously worked as an Ed Tech III at the T.I.D.E.S. Program at Old Orchard Beach High School. He is currently working on his Masters in Special Education through the SPARC Program at the University of Maine at Farmington. Marc is an avid reader and also enjoys hiking, gardening, and spending time with friends and family.
Kaitlyn Silva - 5th Grade Teacher
“I choose to teach to help students be the best that they can be. I want my students to walk through the door knowing that in my classroom they are safe, accepted, and valued as a person and a student. In my classroom, my students can feel safe to explore, express themselves freely, take risks in their learning, and have many successes in their educational journey.”
Kaitlyn is a graduate from the University of New England with a degree in Elementary Education and minors in Art, Art Therapy, and Special Education. She was also a student intern for 4th and 5th graders with the Remote Learning Academy. Kaitlyn grew up in South Shore, Massachusetts, and fell in love with Maine’s atmosphere from her frequent camping trips as a young kid. She enjoys creating and making art, reading, hanging out with her family and friends playing board games/watching movies, and cuddling with her cat who also loves to relax and watch movies.
Debbie Chapman - 5th Grade Teacher
“To me, teaching is like a roller coaster ride. There are always going to be twists and turns, but it's always worth the ride. The best part of being a teacher is that I get to be there with the learner every step of that ride.”
Debbie has been teaching for 10 years and recently graduated with a Master's in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of Southern Maine. She enjoys reading books and going for walks at the beach with her family and their dog. In the summer, they like to grow a vegetable garden and make jam with fresh-picked berries.
Kirsten Pelletier - 6th Grade Teacher: Science and Humanities
“I chose to work in education for the opportunity to connect with students and build community in our classrooms. I am excited to instill lifelong learning and critical thinking in students’ minds while sharing my passion for science education and its relevance in our everyday lives.”
Kirsten is a graduate of Bates College with a major in Environmental Studies and Education and completed her student teaching in a 7th Grade science classroom in Lewiston. This past year, she started her Master's degree at the University of Southern Maine in Teacher Leadership. During college Kirsten was an athlete, playing softball. As her athletic career came to an end, she became really excited for the opportunity to coach. Outside the classroom and off the field, Kirsten loves spending time outside with my family and friends either kayaking or hiking.
Jordanna Bilyeu - Unified Arts Teacher for STEM
“I love teaching because I get to share my own curiosity and love for learning with all of my students. Science, technology, engineering, and math can be interesting and attainable for anyone with the right kind of hands-on project. I believe STEM is an amazing pathway to a better future, and every student deserves a chance to flourish in a STEM classroom.”
Jordanna has taught 5th grade STEM, worked at a summer camp in Alaska, worked as a naturalist in New Hampshire, and been a middle school science teacher for the last three years in Indiana. She is looking forward to bringing her skills and expertise to Biddeford Middle School to create an exciting STEM program for 5th, 6th, and 7th-grade students. Jordanna enjoys gazing at the ocean, swimming, hiking, biking, kayaking, and anything else exciting outdoors with her fiancé and two dogs. They have a husky named Jack and a bluetick coonhound named Diane. She loves everything nature has to offer and hopes to make a positive impact on wildlife all over the world through teaching, research, and conservation.
Biddeford Middle School
Email: sdescoteaux@biddefordschools.me
Website: https://biddefordme.sites.thrillshare.com/o/bms
Location: 25 Tiger Drive, Biddeford, ME, USA
Phone: (207) 284-6400
Facebook: facebook.com/ourschool