BIDDEFORD HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Dear BHS Families,

It’s hard to believe we’re already well into October! Fall has been a busy and exciting time at Biddeford High School, and I continue to be impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of our students and staff. Over 250 student-athletes are representing BHS on the field and court this season, and more than 200 students have joined clubs and activities—an incredible reflection of their school spirit and commitment to being active members of our community.

We’ve also begun our NEASC self-study process as part of our ongoing accreditation work. This is an important opportunity for us to reflect on our strengths, identify areas for growth, and ensure we’re providing the very best educational experience for every student. Your feedback is an essential part of this process, and I encourage all parents and guardians to take a few minutes to complete the survey linked below.

Looking ahead, October and early November will continue to be full of meaningful experiences. Our 10th grade students will participate in Challenge Days, focused on empathy, connection, and leadership. The first quarter ends on October 24th, and we look forward to connecting with families during Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 5th.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in making BHS such a vibrant place to learn and grow.

With appreciation,
Martha Murray
Principal, Biddeford High School

• October 21-22: BHS Challenge Day

• October 24: End of Quarter 1

• November 2: Daylight Savings Time Ends - Clocks Back 1 Hour

• November 4: Election Day - BHS & COT Asynchronous Learning

• November 5: Early Release 12:25pm Dismissal & Parent-Teacher Conferences 3:30-7pm

• November 6: Fall Sports Awards Ceremony @ 6pm, Steve White Gym

• November 7 & 8: BHS Drama in Antigone @ 7pm, Little Theater

• November 11: NO SCHOOL (Veteran's Day)

• November 14: Tiger Pride Day: Career Fair

• November 25: Early Release 12:25pm Dismissal

• November 26-28: NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)

The School Committee voted to provide asynchronous learning for students who attend Biddeford High School (Grades 8-12) and Biddeford Regional Center of Technology on Election Day- Tuesday, November 4th.

• Students will not report to campus and access their asynchronous work through their Google Classrooms with directions provided by their respective teachers.

• Staff will continue to report to work but are asked to carpool, if possible, and park furthest from Tiger Gym, where voters are entering.

We hope this early notification will allow for advance planning.

The Biddeford High School Drama Club proudly invites the community to attend its fall production of Antigone by David Rush, to be performed on Friday, November 7th and Saturday, November 8th at 7:00 PM in the Little Theatre at Biddeford High School. Directed by Ellie Joseph, head of Vocal and Theatre Arts at BHS, this production features a talented cast of student performers committed to bringing this gripping drama to life.

This modern adaptation of Sophocles’ classic tragedy reimagines the timeless conflict between individual conscience and state power. In Antigone, a young woman defies the king’s decree to honor her brother with a proper burial, sparking a powerful examination of duty, justice, and the consequences of standing up for one’s beliefs. David Rush’s version is both accessible and thought-provoking, bringing fresh relevance to this ancient story for today’s audiences.

Admission is by donation at the door, making it easy for all community members to attend and support the arts. All contributions go directly toward funding future productions and strengthening the school’s performing arts program.

Join us for an unforgettable night of theatre, and help support the incredible work of our local students. Let’s pack the house and show our pride in Biddeford’s young performers!

Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about the dangers of drugs are up to 50% less likely to use drugs than those who don’t; yet, only a quarter of teens report having these conversations.

Red Ribbon Week (October 23-31), the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the nation, is your opportunity to get the ongoing conversation started. This year’s theme is Life is a Puzzle, Solve It Drug Free.™ This creative theme symbolizes how every choice fits into the bigger picture. Just like a puzzle coming together, a drug-free lifestyle helps build a stronger, brighter future—one piece at a time. Visit www.redribbon.org to learn more about Red Ribbon Week, enter the Red Ribbon Contest to win an iPad and $1,000 for our school, and get tips for talking to your kids about drugs. The life you save may be that of your own child or a dear friend.

Last month, 15 Biddeford High School students attended the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute’s annual Fall Forum in Bangor, joining nearly 1,000 participants from across the state. The Institute, founded by former U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe, is designed to raise the confidence and aspirations of high school girls by helping them develop the skills needed to lead in their families, careers, and communities. Biddeford High School has been part of the program since 2016, and this year’s “Olympia’s Leaders” include Jaynelle Barrett, Addison Barrs, Avah Bernard, Sasha Bushiri, Faye Collins, Kat De La Torre, Jillian DesRoberts, Brittany Hamilton, Jennae Henry, Story Hill, Olivia Hunter, Annabelle Jacques, Anna Johnson, Em Labbe, Kaydance McKenzie, and Anna Smyth.

Students were accompanied by their BHS school contact, teacher and coach Cassidy Baranowski, along with six Biddeford women mentors who help guide participants through the three-year leadership program. The Fall Forum offered students opportunities for networking, reflection, and hands-on leadership activities, while hearing from inspiring local women. Through this program, our students not only gain valuable leadership skills but also earn college credit toward a 200-level Business Leadership course upon graduation. We are incredibly proud of our students for representing Biddeford so well at this statewide event.

Congratulations to our September Student of the Month, Dawayne Clarke. Pictured is Dawayne accepting his award at the Saco Bay Rotary meeting. Each month teachers at BHS nominate and vote for a student that they feel goes above and beyond and represents the Rotary's principles of Service Above Self.

We are beginning a process of Self-Reflection as part of our NEASC Accreditation process. All students, families, and faculty members will complete surveys to provide us with feedback. Our students and faculty will be completed these in school on October 1st. We hope to learn more about what is working well for you and identify areas for growth and improvement as teachers and as a school. The purpose of this survey is to gather your opinions about how well our school is meeting your needs. The survey is confidential, and we will use your responses to help us improve our school. The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete and please answer all questions as accurately and honestly as possible. Once you begin the survey, you cannot restart. Please complete the entire survey in one session.
Thank you for helping to make BHS the best place it can be for our students, families and faculty. Here is the link to the family survey: https://surveys.neasc.org...
Respectfully,
Martha

• No cell phones during class.

• Enter classroom = put cell phone in provided container.

• It stays there until the block ends (bell to bell).

• If you temporarily leave the room, it still stays in the room.

• You can leave it in your locker or leave it at home.

• This is school board policy.

High School Parking and Center of Technology Transportation

Significant Parking Changes - EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:

• For Students Traveling to/from the Center of Technology: Students should plan for additional travel time due to construction delays throughout the city.

• All student parking must be in the designated lot across from the high school

• ALL parking on the school side of Maplewood Avenue is PROHIBITED

• No parking is permitted in fire lanes or pick-up/drop-off areas

• Allow extra time for walking from the parking area

Enforcement:

• Vehicles parked in prohibited areas will be towed or ticketed

• These restrictions are necessary for school safety and emergency access

• Violations create serious safety hazards for students and staff

Our school is partnering with Tooth Protectors Inc. to offer Preventative Dental Care here at school on December 2 & 3. Services are available for students WITH or WITHOUT dental insurance.

Services are FREE to those with MaineCare, self-pay fees are listed on the permission form, and other dental insurance can be billed. To participate, please print and complete the consent form (linked here) or click on the button below to complete it online.

It is very important for parents to complete the registration process in order to stay connected and informed about your child(ren)’s education. 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 link below. Step-by-step instructions are available by clicking here.

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.

Every student will be assigned a school-owned device for the 2025-2026 school year, with the expectation that students and/or parents will be responsible for returning them in similar condition.

The Device Protection Plan is strongly recommended as students are allowed to take home their devices and may use the same device for several years. Device Protection Plan and cost details here.

For Problems/Issues with Devices:

Students/parents should immediately inform the school, who will contact the Technology Department.

In an effort to continue to build awareness around attendance and our procedures at Biddeford High School, we would like to remind you that any student and family that has a planned absence should be filling out out school planned absence form, having teachers sign the form and returning it to the Main Office. The form is also available in the Main Office at BHS.

Stay informed by downloading the Biddeford Schools mobile app! It will allow parents to choose Biddeford High School and receive notifications from us, access the live feed, 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
  

Elias Fletcher, Assistant Principal

Adam Flynn, Assistant Principal

Dennis Walton, Athletic & Activities Administrator

Email: mmurray@biddefordschools.me
Website: https://biddefordme.sites.thrillshare.com/o/bhs-apc
Location: 20 Maplewood Avenue, Biddeford, ME, USA
Phone: (207) 282-1596
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biddefordhighschooltigers
Twitter: @BHSTigers3