DISTRICT UPDATE

Historically, March has always been an academic-packed month for schools and this year is no different. From Science projects to English papers, students have over six weeks of continuous learning directly with teachers, which allows for new concepts to be reinforced. We would encourage you to attend Parent-Teacher Conferences on April 5th to hear how your child is progressing academically. In addition, please join us for the myriad of art shows, drama and musicals being performed, and athletic competitions in which our students are involved this coming Spring (information included below).

SCHOOL BUDGET

We are currently drafting the budget for the 2023-2024 school year. We are expecting some challenges as we maintain programming with less funding. As our home valuations rise, it reduces subsidies because we appear to be a wealthier community. Couple that with lower student enrollment, and it creates a perfect storm. As we plan next year’s school budget, a projection of our enrollment will allow us to plan more effectively. Parents can help through early registration of any child who will be entering Pre-K, Kindergarten, or moving into our community this Fall (see below). We also encourage community members to attend upcoming School Committee meetings to learn more and be informed before voting in June. All future meeting dates are linked here: Biddeford / Dayton.

As parents and students (grades 5-11) map out their academic courses, unified arts, and school athletic and organized club selections for next year, we encourage families to spend some time learning about the numerous opportunities available within our public schools. We will continue to have small class sizes, allowing for increased personal attention, fostering cooperative learning, and addressing students’ social-emotional needs. Please reach out to your child’s Guidance Counselor and/or review the options available at your school.

• Biddeford Middle School - Link to website

• Biddeford High School - Link to Course of Studies

• Biddeford Regional Center of Technology - Link to Course Catalog

My Best,

Jeremy Ray

Superintendent of Schools

• March 8: Early Release Day & Biddeford’s School Committee Meeting (5pm) @ BHS Little Theater

• March 9: Center of Technology’s Academic Career Fair (4:30-6:30pm) @ COT

• March 12: Daylight Savings Time: Spring Ahead 1 Hour

• March 13: Heart of Biddeford’s Community Soup-er (Register for Reservation Time) @ Grace Point Church

• March 14: Pi Day

• March 15: Youth Full Maine Food Distribution (10am-12pm) @ Rotary Park

• March 15: Biddeford's District-Wide K-12 Art Show Opening Night (4:30-7pm @ BMS)

• March 22: Biddeford School Committee Meeting (7pm) @ BHS Little Theater
  

• March 23: Center of Technology’s National Technical Honor Society Ceremony (6pm) @ BHS Little Theater

• March 23 & 24: Spring Musical: Beauty & The Beast Jr. (6:30pm) @ BMS Performing Arts Center

• March 24: Dayton Community Club’s Dinner & A Movie Night (5:30pm) @ Dayton Consolidated

• March 31: US Air Force Band (7pm) @ BMS Performing Arts Center

• April 1: Dayton Community Club’s Clynk Bottle Drive (Time TBA) @ DCS

• April 1: Biddeford Ready!’s 2nd Annual School Readiness Fair (11am-2pm) @ JFK

If you have a child turning the age of four (4) for Pre-K or five (5) for Kindergarten before October 15, 2023, please pre-register them as soon as possible via links below to ensure screening is completed prior to Fall. If your child is already enrolled in the school’s Pre-K program, you do not need to re-register for Kindergarten. Tours will be made available in the coming months, and additional paperwork may be required.

Necessary documents to complete the process: Birth Certificate, Immunization Records, Proof of Residency (mortgage statement, property tax bill, lease agreement, or notarized letter from landlord), Health Insurance Card, and additional forms may be needed.

Congratulations to Biddeford Middle School’s Paul Burnell who was recently notified he will be inducted into the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023. Mr. Burnell is a humble Ed Tech III who quietly cares for our middle school students with compassion, active listening, and boundless patience. And, apparently was quite the basketball athlete in his past!

The official induction ceremony will be held on Sunday, August 20th at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. To read Mr. Burnell’s full bio, click here.

As part of Restaurant Week (March 12-19), the Heart of Biddeford is hosting the return of the "Community Soup-er" on Monday, March 13th between 5-7pm at Grace Point Church in Biddeford. Restaurants donate soup, local 5th graders make ceramic bowls, and guests pay a $10 entry fee which entitles them to two soup servings and dessert. Choose from one of three ticket times due to limited space (see below). 100% of the proceeds will support Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center and Bon Appetit.

The United States Air Force Band from Washington, D.C., is heading out on tour to the Northeast and will perform on Friday, March 31st at 7pm at the Biddeford Middle School Performing Arts Center. Free tickets are available via Eventbrite at http://bit.ly/3mblnCa. The concert is open to the public with general admission seating and doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

The U.S. Air Force Band is the premier musical organization of the U.S. Air Force. Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., the United States Air Force Band honors those who have served, inspires American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and connects with the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and the United States of America.

The Week of the Young Child, an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), is April 1-7, 2023. This week is designed to focus public attention on the needs of young children birth through age 8, and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. Celebrations to recognize the Week of the Young Child are planned throughout Maine and the entire country. Learn more at the MaineAEYC website or watch for more information in Principal newsletters.

If you are interested in joining our coalition, please fill out your information here: https://bit.ly/PAMembership. CHCC also encourages parents and guardians to subscribe to their monthly newsletter, included below, for future community updates.