IMPORTANT UPDATE
October 16, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Great News! At noontime, the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Education announced that based on York County’s incidences of COVID-19, the county is moving back to a green designation according to its Health Advisory System rating (red, yellow, green). As this was an additional, interim assessment, government agencies will resume their normal bi-weekly review next Friday. The change in rating does not affect the district’s academic program or schedule.
SCHOOL ATHLETICS, MUSIC, BAND, ART, AND SOME CLUBS MAY NOW RESUME.
We know there are only weeks left in the Fall season but extracurriculars are important to our young people. We have followed the Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Return to School Framework up to this point and previously stated if we returned to ‘green,’ we would resume extracurricular activities. We also understand we may need to pause if York County moves back to yellow designation next Friday. We hope this is good news for our kids in particular, and our community at large.
Many of Biddeford’s traditional Fall activities will resume next week, each adhering to all safety guidelines put in place by the Maine DOE’s Return to School Framework and the Maine Principals’ Association’s School Sports Guidance. These activities include some athletics, music, band, art, and clubs in middle and high school levels. Dayton students in grades 6-12 should reach out to their school of choice to determine their available activities and schedule.
ATHLETICS: The Athletics Department is currently working closely with all coaches, other York County Schools, and the Transportation Department to offer athletic opportunities to our students. Although some State Championships have already come and gone (e.g., golf) some sports can still have drills-and-skills, games, and possibly state Championships. By rule, all recognized competitive high school sports must hold five practices before they are allowed to play competitively so internal practices will begin Monday in preparation for next Friday’s Maine CDC designation.
MUSIC, BAND, ART & CLUBS: Middle and High School Principals are working closely with instructors to convene students for music, band, art, and club offerings as early as next week.
Please note: If we get designated as yellow next week, we will need to push pause on extracurriculars again.
If you missed a past issue or need to refer back to any of my past communications, they can be found on my Smore Newsletter page here. All important COVID-related updates are located on our website at biddefordschools.me/health and questions or concerns can be emailed to closurequestions@biddefordschools.me or by calling 207-391-6868.
Stay Well,
Jeremy Ray
Superintendent of Schools
REMOTE LEARNERS - SCHOOL PICTURES OPPORTUNITY!
Joe McKenney Photography will be taking school photos for remote learners. A photography ordering package will be released at the beginning of next week, sent out to families, and included in the school newsletters. Parents will be able to order online through McKenney Photography.
Wednesday, October 28th at Biddeford High School Tiger Gym
1:00pm - Remote Academy PreK-5 Students
1:30pm - Remote Learners 6-12
Official Links/Contact Information
Email: closurequestions@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