BIDDEFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

In only a few short weeks, we are set to return to school. We are looking forward to welcoming all the students on our first day back - September 1st. As expected, we are receiving lots of questions from parents regarding the opening to school. Please see the details below for up-to-date information.

Please be sure to look at Infinite Campus to see your child's team and schedule. Remember how important it is for us to have accurate information regarding your child's emergency contact information.

You will notice in this newsletter a series of brochures from each team and grade level. 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.

Biddeford Middle School will host an Open House on Monday, August 30th from 4:30-6:30 pm. The details are listed below (see times per grade) so 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 questions as 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.

Sincerely,

Mr. Scott Descoteaux

Principal - Biddeford Middle School

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.

• BIDDEFORD Parent Portal Login

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

1. Log into your Campus Parent Portal
2. From the gray panel on the left, select "More"
3. Then select Online Registration
4. Begin Annual Updates

Please have a look at each of our teams and grade levels at Biddeford Middle School.

As part of our District’s Reopening Plan, we committed to follow all Maine CDC guidance and apply all updated US and Maine CDC guidance to our plan as the scientific community’s understanding of the virus’s spread and mutation evolves. Our administration and School Board had to consider the CDC and DOE guidance through the lens of the overall public health for the entire school population, the risk of increased 10-day quarantines or an outbreak (3 or more linked cases) which close schools for 28 days, and halting all participation in school activities or sports.

The School Board approved moving forward with the following requirements:

• Universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.

• Masking is not required outdoors. Playgrounds will be fully opened as outdoor play is extremely safe and the risk of transmission is extremely low.

• Masking for all on the bus. Per the US CDC order related to transportation, anyone on public or private school-provided transport must wear a mask.

• Physical distancing is recommended while indoors only and eating (if unvaccinated); however, distancing efforts should not impede full-time, in-person instruction.

• Implement Pooled Testing as an efficient way to curb outbreaks and reduce spread with early COVID-19 detection (see article below for more information).

• Morning COVID screenings will occur at home (not online). Parents should review the signs and symptoms (linked here), keep their child home when sick, and report any symptoms or positive COVID results to the School Nurse.

• Any activity within our school buildings (i.e. after care) will follow the same guidelines.

The above requirements will be revisited as transmission data is reviewed throughout the school year and any substantive changes will be based on recommendations from the Maine DOE and CDC.

We plan to run an open house that will look a bit different than what we offer traditionally. Our date for the open house is set for August 30th (4:30-6:30 PM). This is how it will look:

4:30 - 5:30 PM - 5th Grade Meet and Greet at BMS - (Signs will be posted when you arrive).

5:30 - 6:30 PM - 6th Grade Meet and Greet at BMS - (Signs will be posted when you arrive).

7th Grade & STEM - Virtual Open House (5:30 - 6:30 PM) - Zoom Link will be provided.

Four stations will be set up outside for 5th Grade & 6th Grade families to meet each of the four teams and the teachers. Introductions and verbal explanations will be held outside. Students ONLY will be allowed into the building (masked), led by the teacher to walk through the building and tour the school. Unfortunately, we are not opening the school to the public at this time, so the indoor tour will be for students only.

Our district is participating in Pooled Testing; however no student will be tested without parental consent. We have included an informational video below (aired by NEWS CENTER Maine) and a parental consent form will be forthcoming once our application is approved and protocols developed. Individuals who participate in pooled testing are exempt from quarantine in the classroom, bus, sports or other school-related activities should they be identified as a close contact.

Biddeford Middle School is using a new software program for student-athletes to sign up for participation. Family ID is the software program to access if your child is interested in participating in middle school sports. Biddeford High School has been using this program for a few years, so you might be familiar with the program if you have older children. This will be the first time that we use this program at Biddeford Middle School.

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

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.

Please be aware that anyone on public school-provided transportation, including buses and vans, are required to wear a mask per US CDC Order. As we attempt to return our operations to regular routine, we will need families’ help with transportation; our fleet is stretched beyond capacity. The following requirements will be in place for a secondary drop-off/pick up location if space permits:

1. Families will designate the primary drop-off and pick-up location.

2. Families will request a secondary drop-off location. Pending the availability and needs of the student, a second drop-off location will be considered. At this time we are still working under CDC guidance.

3. Families will provide a set schedule prior to the start of the school year. At this time we will not be able to alter the schedule after it has been requested by the family.

4. The Transportation Department will determine if space is available on each bus. It will be the goal not to place more than two students per seat.

If your child did not ride the bus at the end of the year in June, you MUST call the Transportation Office immediately at 282-0909 as seating is limited. Parents can find bus information within their child’s portal on Infinite Campus under the 2021/2022 School Year tab (please see walking boundaries here for BMS/BHS students).

On August 3, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a 60-day eviction moratorium, officially titled Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions In Communities With Substantial or High Levels of Community Transmission of COVID-19 to Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19. The moratorium went into effect immediately and will remain in effect through October 3, 2021. We hope this will stabilize a return to school for our families who rent and are currently struggling to keep up with rent. What's more, the school department has won a grant that may allow us to provide direct rental and food assistance to families with demonstrable need. FMI please contact a building principal, or Chris Indorf at Central Office.

Stay informed by downloading the school’s mobile app! It will allow parents to choose the school(s) they would like to get notifications from, see the dining menu quickly, access the live feed, sports schedules and scores, important documents, emergency notifications, and more! Simply download the relevant app at the link below:

• Download for Android: https://bit.ly/3fu8z4q

• Download for iPhone: https://apple.co/2QFUBST

“I am very excited to join the STEM Academy and can’t wait to get started with the students and staff at Biddeford Middle School!”

A graduate of the University of Maine, Don previously taught for 28 years as a science/STEM teacher and varsity softball and basketball coach in Bangor and Brewer. He has been a representative and presenter with the National Science Foundation in Washington D.C. and Glasgow, Scotland. Recently, he was honored as a National Varsity Coach of the Year finalist. He recently moved to Old Orchard Beach with his wife Jeannie to be closer to their family and friends. They have two adult children, Sam and Alexis, who live and work in Boston and Manhattan, and a four-year-old Weimaraner, Finley, who keeps them active and on the trails getting exercise.

“My goal is to spread kindness and positivity, show patience, and be a light in someone's day.”

Gloria previously worked as a nurse at Southern Maine Health Care since 2005. She grew up in Biddeford/Saco, is married with two daughters. And loves to spend time with family and friends, do crafts, bike, hike, and kayak.

I chose a career in education because all students have unique strengths that they offer to the classroom community, and as the teacher, it is my pleasure and responsibility to facilitate their growth. I believe that without the right adult figures in the education system, students can get conditioned out of their creativity. Above all else, I want to help students realize their creative potential, and show them that the arts are just as important as anything else.

Just got my Masters of Arts In Teaching from Maine College of Art. I went to school at Maine College of Art and got a BFA in painting and a Master's in teaching. I love football and snowboarding. I do my best to travel the world to see different art and artists.

“Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher. Working with students, seeing them achieve their goals, and being proud of themselves is what makes me love teaching the most. Several of my teachers made such positive impacts in my life and I hope to be able to do the same for my students.”

Paige previously worked for the York School Department as a resource room special education teacher. Prior to York, she taught in Southern California as a self-contained special education teacher. She was born and raised in Southern California and lived there until 2018. Paige traveled to Maine on an east coast road trip and immediately fell in love with the state. She enjoys reading, hockey, coffee, her cat Mikey, and playing and listening to music. Paige played french horn and trumpet in college and hopes to get back to playing it again soon as she misses it terribly.

“I love children, I believe they need to be respected and listened to more. All children have what it takes to succeed, some just need a little more effort from us to help them pull it out.”

Nicholas has an Associate Degree in Education with 20+ years of experience working in childcare and education. He is a husband and father of a 4-year-old girl - “she’s my joy”. Nicholas is a Boston sports fanatic and has been a musician for nearly 30 years.

“I love working with students of all ages. I especially love working with middle schoolers.”

Diane went to the University of Southern Maine. She lives with my husband and two boys and enjoys cooking, gardening, swimming, and watching movies.

Scott Descoteaux, Principal

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