Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff,
As we wrap up another successful school year, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our students, families, and staff for your continued support and partnership. This year has been full of growth, learning, and meaningful connections, and we are proud of all that our school community has accomplished together.
FREE SUMMER NUTRITION
As we head into summer, I want to highlight an important resource for families: free summer nutrition programs. For many children, school breakfast and lunch are essential meals during the year, and we want to ensure no child goes hungry when school is out. Thanks to the USDA, free meals are available at designated summer sites for all children 18 and under—no registration or ID required. Additionally, Youth Full Maine will continue to support families through free food distributions across the area. We encourage all families to take advantage of these valuable resources (see below for dates/times/locations) to help keep our students nourished and ready for the year ahead.
EMERGENCY TEXT ALERTS
Please note that 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.
EXCITING CHANGES FOR BIDDEFORD’S YOUNGEST LEARNERS THIS FALL
As we prepare for the upcoming school year, I want to share an important update regarding the placement of Biddeford’s youngest students for the 2025-2026 school year. Beginning this fall, all Kindergarten students will attend Biddeford Primary School (BPS). This move marks a significant step in our long-term plan to centralize early learning and provide a cohesive, developmentally appropriate environment for our youngest learners. We are excited about the many benefits this transition will bring to our Kindergarteners and their families.
While our goal has been to bring both Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students under one roof at BPS as John F. Kennedy (JFK) School closes, the BPS building addition will not be completed in time to accommodate both grade levels. As a result, PreK students will temporarily attend Biddeford Intermediate School (BIS).
We understand that this is not ideal, and we share in your eagerness to have all early learners together in one space. Please be assured that our staff is dedicated to providing a smooth and nurturing experience for all students, regardless of their location. We will continue to provide the same high-quality instruction and care that families have come to expect from our PreK program.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work toward the completion of the BPS addition. We are confident that when it’s finished, it will be well worth the wait.
Enjoy Summer,
Jeremy Ray
Superintendent of Schools
Public Vote:
Please mark your calendar to vote for the 2025-2026 School Budget on Tuesday, June 10th (7am-8pm) in Biddeford and Thursday, June 12th (6pm) in Dayton). Although it’s a challenging year, we continue to seek innovative ways to meet the budget constraints, and with your support, we can continue making a positive difference for students. The proposed budgets are available online at these links: Biddeford and Dayton.
Are you eligible to receive $120 for each of your school-aged child(ren)?
New Students Only
If you have a child turning the age of four (4) for Pre-K or five (5) for Kindergarten before October 15, 2025, please pre-register them as soon as possible via this link [Biddeford or Dayton] 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 will be open in early August.
Nearly 500 Biddeford Middle School students participated in a Community Day of Service last week, volunteering at more than a dozen local sites. Students engaged in a wide range of service projects such as placing veterans’ flags, cleaning parks and trails, organizing recreation spaces, stocking shelves, and washing windows. This event is a favorite among students, helping them engage in teamwork, empathy, and giving back while strengthening our community. Click here to read the full story.
Screen Deep Podcast
Parents and caregivers today face what can feel like momentous (and fraught) decisions about how and when to introduce new technology to children. Episode 14 of Screen Deep, Assessing Child Readiness for Tech, is an extended conversation between host Kris Perry and pediatrician Jenny Radesky, MD. Dr. Radesky offers tips for parents navigating these tough choices and advises them on how best to support children’s health and skill-building in the process.
Listen now to this and future episodes of the Screen Deep podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio.
Check out all the upcoming events in Biddeford! The Yodel community calendar compiles activities from across the City of Biddeford to help you find family fun, live music, art events, outdoor adventures, and more! Anyone can download the Yodel app, and any organization can set up a Yodel login to add their event.
Yodel is brought to you by your friends at the City of Biddeford, Biddeford & Saco Chamber of Commerce, Biddeford Schools, and Heart of Biddeford.