BIS Newsletter

While our students have definitely been enjoying playing in the snow, we are excited at the possibility of an early spring! Our classes have been excitedly participating in our school literacy challenge and celebrated World Read Aloud Day last week with various classroom activities and read alouds.

Last Friday our 3rd and 4th graders had the opportunity to watch the BMS production of Finding Nemo Jr., which was outstanding! We are very proud of the BIS and BMS students who were involved in this production.

Winter break is right around the corner, and we hope everyone has a wonderful and relaxing break with family and friends.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nadeau

Don't forget these events on your calendars!

February

• February 19-23 - No School (Winter Break)
• February 26 - Students return from break

March

• March 4 - NAEP Testing (select 4th graders only)
• March 6 - Early Release (students dismiss at 12:00)
• March 10 - Daylight Savings (clocks change!)
• March 14 - Grade 3 Field Trip to Merrill Auditorium
• March 15 - Fun Friday (Bingo Day!)
• March 27 - UNE Mentor Field Trip (select students only)

In honor of Black History Month, the BIS Civil Rights Team introduced the A, B, C's of Black History. The team compiled a list of 18 famous Black Americans, and students had the opportunity to learn about their contributions to our communities and country. Students have learned about Americans such as Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, and Louis Armstrong! The Civil Rights Team has distributed portraits of these notable Americans around the building and classes will be able to test their knowledge this month with a scavenger hunt.

This month in SEL we are focusing on Compassion. In the last few months, we have been talking about identifying feelings in ourselves, as well as our classmates. We know that empathy helps students perceive and understand what others are feeling. This month we will focus on the critical next step: putting empathy into action by showing compassion. One of the ways empathy makes a difference in the lives of students is by motivating them to use caring words and actions toward others. Students can channel their empathy into compassion to help peers feel less isolated, provide emotional support to peers in difficult circumstances, and strengthen friendships. Students who are bullied can experience fewer difficulties if other students are compassionate and show them support. Increasing students’ ability to show compassion helps create a caring and positive school climate

February has been flying by in PE! Well, not really but the action packed games we’re playing have balls flying by for sure! The throwing unit we’ve been working on is wrapping up, but we sure have had a ball so far! Our hard work developing overhand throwing skills has not disappointed and we’re transitioning now to focus on some practice using underhand as well. The latest and greatest game in our throwing journey is Shoe Shine! Be sure to ask your student about this one!

Now that we have completed all of our lessons in Digital Citizenship, we have started learning about some of the great author’s that we have right here in Maine. Over the next month, we will be reading the 10 books that have been nominated for the Maine Chickadee Book Award. In March, the entire school will be participating in voting for their favorite book.

A significant part of academic success is ensuring our student’s basic needs are met so they can focus on learning. Thanks to grants from Catholic Charities, the Governor’s Office, and the McKinney-Vento office at the Maine Department of Education, a Tri-District Welcome Center has been established, which is a “hub” for services for the most vulnerable and transient in our community. It is not only intended to provide a thoughtful and deliberate welcome and orientation to our school but also be a gathering place and “home base” for families needing additional support and assistance.

The Welcome Center, led by Director and McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison April Szafranski, will principally assist students and families who have experienced housing instability and families new to Maine/new to the United States who need to register children in schools and connect with medical, dental, and other community services. For more information, please click here.

Email: lnadeau@biddefordschools.me
Website: www.biddefordschools.me
Location: 335 Hill Street, Biddeford, ME, USA
Phone: (207) 282-5957
Facebook: www.facebook.com/biddefordintermediate