DISTRICT UPDATE

June 17, 2022

DISTRICT UPDATEJune 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

Biddeford High School girls' softball takes their 17-2 record to the State Championships again in 2022. “Team captains Chantelle Bouchard, Hannah Gosselin, and Charlotte Donovan do a great job as leaders and setting good examples for the younger girls,” said longtime coach Mike Fecteau. The girls opened their tournament run by defeating Deering 24-0, South Portland 6-0, and then a 5-4 come-from-behind victory against Kennebunk in the semi-finals scoring three runs in the bottom of the 6th for the win. At the Class A South Championship, the Lady Tigers defeated Windham with a 2-0 victory. When asked about the team's success, Fecteau said “They are hard workers, there is great team unity, they believe in each other and of course a little luck.” Fecteau went on to say that “strong pitching, outstanding defense, and timely hitting is also a factor.” We wish the girls the best of luck on Saturday in their game against Messalonskee to be held at Cony High School in Augusta at 2:00 pm.

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!

If you have a child turning the age of four (4) for Pre-K or five (5) for Kindergarten before October 15, 2022, please pre-register them as soon as possible via the below link. A projection of our enrollment for next year will allow us to plan more effectively and be better prepared for your children when they come to school in September. Tours will be made available in the coming months and additional paperwork may be required. Please note returning student registration will be open in early August.


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.