DISTRICT UPDATE

Earlier this year, our school district introduced a new STEM+M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math + Manufacturing) program designed to give middle school students early exposure to the wide range of opportunities within the skilled trades and advanced manufacturing fields. This innovative program responds to a growing national need, as industries across the country face a shortage of skilled workers. By introducing these concepts during the middle school years—when students are naturally curious and beginning to think about their futures—we can help them explore interests and possibilities before making important high school course selections.

STEM+M is a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience that brings real-world applications directly into the classroom. Through a five-year, fully grant-funded model—covering equipment, materials, and implementation—students will have access to professional-grade tools and technology while engaging in meaningful, project-based learning. The program includes a structured curriculum aligned with national standards and is supported with training and resources for educators, ensuring a high-quality experience for all students.

As part of the program, students will explore a variety of career pathways, including engineering and design, automation, materials and processes, and structural science. These experiences are designed to be collaborative and engaging, allowing students to build, design, test, and problem-solve using the same types of tools and thinking found in today’s workforce. Ultimately, STEM+M supports early career exploration while helping students see a future they can build with their own hands and preparing them for a wide range of pathways, including careers in the trades and technical fields. To review the full presentation, click here.

SCHOOL BUDGET

Please mark your calendar to vote for the 2026-2027 School Budget on Tuesday, June 9th. Although it’s a challenging year, we continue to seek innovative ways to meet budget constraints, and with your support, we can continue making a positive difference for students. A formal public hearing of the 2026-2027 School Budget will be held on Monday, May 4th, from 6:30 to 9:30pm at City Hall or via Zoom (Linked here). The proposed budget is available online (Linked here).

CROSSING GUARDS NEEDED

The safety of our students begins and ends with a safe journey to and from school, and our crossing guards play a vital role in that effort each day. We are currently in need of morning and afternoon crossing guards, and we invite parents and community members to consider stepping into this important role. It’s a meaningful way to make a direct impact—providing a friendly, familiar presence while helping ensure every child arrives safely. If you or someone you know may be interested, please contact the Saco Police Department to learn more and apply here.

As we move through the final months of the school year, I encourage families to stay engaged, celebrate these achievements, and continue supporting our students and staff. Thank you for being an essential part of our school community—I look forward to all that we will accomplish together this spring!

Warm regards,

Jeremy Ray

Superintendent of Schools

• April 8: Early Release, Parent Teacher Conferences & School Board (7pm @ Saco City Hall)

• April 16-April 24: No School; Spring Break. Return on April 27.

• April 29: School Board (5pm @ Saco City Hall)

• April 30: SMS All City String Extravaganza (6pm @ TA Gym)

• May 1: PreK-8 Art Show Opening Celebration (5-7pm @ Saco Museum) & SMS Jazz a la Mode (7pm @ TA Cafe)

May 15th at 7pm

May 16th at 2pm

Thornton Academy Garland Auditorium

Tickets: $8 Admission - Online Sales Open April 15th

As part of our ongoing bus safety awareness campaign, April’s focus is on the role motorists play in protecting students at bus stops and along bus routes. We ask all drivers to remain alert, slow down when approaching areas where children may be waiting, and adhere to the law by stopping when a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. Allowing buses the space to safely enter busy intersections also helps our drivers stay on schedule and ensures students arrive at school on time. With spring bringing more activity to our streets, we encourage commuters to leave a few minutes early and drive with extra awareness around school buses. A little patience and attention from every driver helps keep our most precious passengers safe.

If you have a child turning the age of four (4) for Pre-K or five (5) for Kindergarten before October 15, 2026, please pre-register them as soon as possible via this link to ensure screening is completed prior to Fall. Tours will be made available in the coming months, and additional paperwork may be required. Please note returning student registration for current Pre-K-7th grade students will be open in early August. Parents will receive a SnapCode to the email address on file.

Students from the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology delivered an impressive performance at the State SkillsUSA Competition last month, with six students representing the program and earning multiple medals across high-demand fields, including plumbing and heating, CNC programming, IT programming, welding, and architectural drafting. Among the top finishers, Jack Squires and Roberto Tshimayi Ngaba each earned Gold Medals, while Zayne Provencher and Ethan MacWilliam brought home Silver, and Gregory Casivant and Thomas Go earned Bronze—an outstanding reflection of the skill, dedication, and career readiness of our students.

This year, over 100 high school and middle school competitions took place, with 28 BRCOT students competing in 19 events against some of the most talented students from across Maine. BRCOT participants demonstrated technical expertise, problem-solving, and professionalism under pressure. These results highlight the strength of our career and technical education programs and the real-world learning experiences that prepare students for both college and careers in today’s workforce.

We are incredibly proud of these students for representing our schools and community with excellence.

Now is the time to consider enrolling your child in the various programs at the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology (COT). If your child is interested in career and technical education opportunities, the COT is now scheduling program visits and accepting applications for the 2026-2027 School Year. Space is limited, so I encourage you to talk with your child about the options available and have them schedule an appointment with their guidance counselor.

Work on the Saco Primary and Elementary School building project is moving forward on multiple fronts. Underground infrastructure work continues on the Elementary building in the first-grade classroom wing and into the basement, where crews are carefully managing naturally occurring ledge. Foundation footings are being poured this week, with walls scheduled to begin in the coming weeks. The team is also coordinating with environmental specialists ahead of the April 15th bat season start date to ensure all drilling and blasting activity meets the necessary requirements. On the site's eastern edge, planning is underway to connect the Eastern Trail and Route 1 sidewalk corridor, with the state DOT agreeing to incorporate portions of our site work into a larger paving project — a move that should improve quality and efficiency. The project team continues to manage erosion control measures along Mill Brook and is working to address an underground pipe issue near the drainage pond. As always, the team is keeping the project on track and will share updates as key milestones are reached.

As our new school takes shape, we want to hear from YOU! We are asking the community to help us choose the official Bobcat mascot image that will represent our schools for years to come. Please take a moment to review the preliminary candidate images and cast your vote through our survey — every voice matters, and we want this decision to reflect our whole community.

Click Here to Vote

Hundreds of our Pre-K through Grade 5 students and their families came together at CK Burns School for our first-ever combined Math & Literacy Family Night, creating an evening filled with energy, connection, and learning. Students had the opportunity to showcase their academic skills while engaging alongside their families in interactive activities like “fishing for words,” Wordle-style challenges, and hands-on math games. It was inspiring to see so many families learning together, laughing together, and building confidence in both math and literacy in a fun, welcoming environment.

This special event also marked an important step in bringing our elementary community together as we look ahead to our future school structures. Families connected with teachers, explored ways to support learning at home, and enjoyed a variety of activities made possible by the thoughtful planning of our math, literacy, and technology coaches. We are grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a success—especially our Math, Literacy, and Technology Coaches! This event was a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when schools and families partner together. To read the full article, click here.

The All-District Chorus Concert was a wonderful celebration of student talent, bringing together singers from CK Burns School (Grades 4 & 5), Saco Middle School, Thornton Academy Middle School, and Thornton Academy. Students delivered a joyful and impressive performance, showcasing their hard work, collaboration, and love of music. It was a memorable evening that highlighted the strength of our music programs and the power of coming together as one community.

Thursday, April 2nd from 3-6pm

The Saco Scoop, Main Street, Saco

There was a fun and well-earned celebration at Saco PreK recently, as Assistant Superintendent Meg Parkhurst (pictured here with Director J'Aime Walker) treated the team to a homemade breakfast! This special moment was the result of a spirited district-wide lip sync contest at the beginning of the year, where one of the PreK staff members took top honors. It was a wonderful way to bring everyone together, share a few laughs, and show appreciation for the incredible work our early childhood team does each day.

Fairfield School's Family Fun Night was a wonderful success! We appreciate all of our families for coming out to join the fun, support the book fair, and help make the evening so special. Thank you to the PTO, volunteers, student face painters, and everyone who contributed to create such a joyful and connected school community.

Fairfield School officially launched their Best Buddies program, creating meaningful opportunities for connection from the early grades. We’re proud to see this work expanding across our schools, and appreciate our dedicated staff for making it a reality.

Congratulations to Fairfield and Young Schools’ Nancy Marston, who was named among the “20 Outstanding Women of 2026” by Coast 93.1. She is our Literacy Interventionist and was recognized for “paying it forward” by founding Hoops for Hope. The full radio interviews can be found on their website.

Young School officially launched their Best Buddies program, creating meaningful opportunities for connection from the early grades. We’re proud to see this work expanding across our schools, and appreciate our dedicated staff for making it a reality.

Young School recently welcomed the NED Show as part of their April “Be the Yellow” Day, bringing an engaging and inspiring message to students about the power of a positive mindset. Through storytelling, humor, and impressive yo-yo tricks, students learned how to Never give up, Encourage others, and Do their best—the core principles of NED. The presentation reinforced the importance of perseverance, kindness, and confidence, leaving students motivated to carry these messages into their daily learning and interactions. A special thank you to our families who helped “pay it forward” by purchasing yo-yos, making it possible for our students to take part in this meaningful experience.

CK Burns School proudly hosted its first-ever Unified Basketball Round Robin, welcoming teams from Old Orchard Beach and Yarmouth for an afternoon of teamwork, connection, and fun. Now in its third year, the Unified Basketball program remains strong, with 22 students participating, half athletes and half partners, working together to promote inclusion and school spirit. The event was made even more special thanks to the incredible support of the CK Burns PTO, who helped organize the event by paying for the courts at SoFive, providing a balloon arch, and purchasing medals and snacks. It was a great example of how sports can bring communities together and create meaningful experiences for all students.

Join CK Burns School on May 3rd for The Best Buddies Friendship Walk! This is a leading walk in the country for supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (also known as IDD). Join 50,000 participants at 80 Walks across the globe to support the Best Buddies programs in schools, workplaces, and communities. You’ll be making the world more welcoming to people with IDD — one friendship, one job, and one life-changing connection at a time. Please scan the QR code on the flyer or visit the website for more information: https://www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/.

SMS Seventh graders on Team Sebago, Allagash, and Acadia recently attended a 3-day, two-night overnight program at The Ecology School, where they explored ecology, sustainability, and food systems through hands-on learning. Each day included engaging lessons, outdoor activities, and recreation, balanced with family-style meals that incorporated food education, skits, and community-building. The structured schedule ran from an early morning start to evening lessons and reflection, creating a fun, immersive learning experience.

Saco Middle School physical education teacher Ryan Martin is taking on his next incredible challenge—an attempt to set the record for the Most NBA Three-Pointers Made in a 24-Hour Period. The event will begin on Sunday, April 12th at 9:30am in the SMS Gym and continue nonstop through Monday, April 13th at 9:30am, showcasing an extraordinary display of endurance, focus, and determination. Community members are encouraged to stop by, cheer him on, and witness this remarkable feat in the making.

Children and Screens’ Research-at-a-Glance distills the latest research on the effects of video gaming on youth into a clear, visual guide that highlights the most important findings and key takeaways for parents and educators. Download the Two-Page Guide by clicking here.

How do online environments shape children’s health and well-being? Which features have the biggest impact, and how can we make sense of the very different ways individual children experience the same digital world? On this episode of Screen Deep, Dr. Ran Barzilay explains how researchers are beginning to measure and quantify online environmental factors along with adolescent smartphone ownership and health risks. He also provides concrete suggestions for parents, including signs to look for when deciding whether to introduce a smartphone.

Listen to Screen Deep on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, or iHeartRadio. Each 30-to 40-minute episode offers fresh perspectives, cutting-edge research, and practical advice for raising children in the digital age.

Throughout the school year, we will strive to maintain clear and open lines of communication. Our school websites, newsletters, mobile app, and social media will keep you informed about important dates, achievements, menus, and exciting happenings within our school community.

• Newsletters: Superintendent Newsletters will be sent the first Wednesday of each month and Principal Newsletters will be sent the third Wednesday of each month via email. They will also be posted on the website, social media, and mobile app.

• ReachMyTeach: This two-way communication platform makes it easy to connect families through the languages they speak and the devices they use every day. This platform allows families to communicate directly with classroom teachers effortlessly through text, email, or WhatsApp, on-demand video interpreters, and scheduled conferences. There is no need to download an app and families can learn more by clicking here.

• Website & Mobile App: Our website platform syncs directly to a mobile app! The mobile app will feature important news, a live feed for updates, daily menu, and more. Parents also have the option to choose the district and specific schools to stay updated and receive notifications directly to their phone: iPhone Download | Android Download.

• Social Media: We encourage parents and guardians to follow the District's social media page, as well as their child's school Facebook page.

• Emergency Text Alerts: District-related text alerts are sent from the number 98900, and while families are legally allowed to opt out of receiving these messages, doing so means you will no longer receive emergency updates via text—only by email. If you’ve previously opted out and would like to start receiving text alerts again, simply text START to 98900. Please note that it can take up to 48 business hours for the change to take effect.