Bulldog Bulletin

The Bulldog Bulletin features school events, updates on student life, and general information about JFDS.

Be sure to check the JFDS website regularly for news, the events calendar, and more. Download the Bangor App as well to help stay connected!

• Friday, June 6th - Eighth Grade Fun Night - Sponsored by the Bulldog Boosters - 6 to 8PM
• Monday June 9th - Field Day (Rain date on June 10th)
• Thursday, June 12th - Eighth Grade Trip to UMaine with WSCS
• Friday, June 13th - Last Student Day
• Sunday, June 15th - BHS Graduation - 4PM at the Cross Insurance Center

• Former JFDS Bulldog Meg Caron was named the Valedictorian of the 2025 graduating class at the University of Maine.
• Click here to find out more about Meg's experiences.
• The JFDS community is very proud of all Meg has accomplished and we can not wait to hear about what she does in the future!

• Each year, our library features the 40 fiction and nonfiction books that are selected for the Maine Student Book Award program. Students may cast their vote for their favorite book as long as they’ve read or listened to three of the titles.
• Some students, though, choose to go a step further and join our Great Maine Book Tournament team, which requires participants to read at least four titles and to have a deep understanding of the book to compete in the GMBT Kahoot against middle schools from across the state.
• This year, our team made it to the second round but missed advancing to the final round by a very small margin, but once again, our students came together and worked as a team to answer some very detailed questions at lightning speed!

• On May 22nd, Mrs. Patterson and Mrs. Cousins took students to the annual state-wide MLTI (Maine Learning Technology Initiative) conference at the University of Maine.
• Students attended various sessions using technology that integrated with multiple subjects. Some sessions attended were 3D home design, how to create their own app, and creating an escape room to use for a presentation to show their understanding of a topic.
• Students also participated in the large group session regarding Internet Safety and spotting situations online.

• Our JFDS garden is off to a great start with students in garden club and study halls pitching in to get seedlings started under our grow lights and transplanted into the soil. All we need now is some sun, and we hope to offer various types of lettuces to top our burgers at Field Day barbeque again this year.
• We are hoping to have our “Back to School Garden” with winter squash, carrots, potatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower happily growing before we leave in June.
• We also have a few teachers who have adopted a raised bed with their students. Mrs. Dupuy, our French teacher, and students, will be growing a ratatouille garden. Mrs. Sinkins (JMG), Mrs. Roberts-Prior (gr. 7&8 science), and Mrs. Domina (ELA) and their students adopting a raised bed as well!

• If you were to visit our library during the school day, you’d most likely find one or two student assistants at the circulation desk, not Mrs. Patterson. Each year, all students are invited to “apply” for a position as a library assistant, requiring them to fill out a short application, and complete two training sessions.
• This year, like most, our library has been so fortunate to have thirty or so volunteers who work one shift a week either during their silent reading or study hall class. Having students at the desk ready to check in and out books, allows Mrs. Patterson the chance to work with classes and individual students and offers students an important service opportunity.
• Mrs. Patterson would like to publicly thank every student who has shown up ready to work, and assist our students and teachers all school year long!

It is time for the Indoor Air Quality Project at both JFDS & WSCS, which will significantly limit access to the buildings over the summer. The workers in the buildings already will be joined by additional crew on June 16th and work through the entire summer to complete the project by the end of August.

What does this mean for parents and students?

• JFDS will be closed for general access over the summer. Staffing within the building will be limited to allow for construction to proceed as quickly as possible.
• Open House will be held after school starts in the Fall.
• Communication and phone calls may be delayed as administrators move around the building finding accessible places to work.

Keep an eye out for a newsletter update in the middle of June that details how to get in touch with people at JFDS over the summer, and answers some common questions that may save you a phone call or email.

The JFDS flamingos need your help!

• As you may know, when students return from April vacation each year, the flamingo flock appears in the Wright Garden to mark the start of Spring.
• Our flamingos are starting to show their age and need re-stocking.
• If you would be interested in donating a flamingo or two (or 10), please drop them off in the main office, or have them sent to Nurse Ireland at JFDS.

Help keep the tradition alive!

Click here to download a copy of the 2025-26 BSD School Calendar.

• Chronic absenteeism occurs when a student misses 10% of the days that they are enrolled in school. In Bangor, for a student attending the entire school year, chronic absenteeism would be 17 days or an average of approximately two days per month. Chronic absenteeism is based on total absences - both excused and unexcused. We look forward to meeting our school goal of 95% attendance by June 2025!

• Please click the link below for more information about chronic absenteeism.

  https://5il.co/32v66

• ConnectSafely helps to educate people about online safety, privacy, security, & digital wellness.
• Click here to find out more information.

Would you like access to the parent portal of PowerSchool? Click on this link to sign up:

https://forms.gle/apRn3BWD2FJEjXWXA

Confirmation of your account will come from techsis@bangorschools.net

Do you have school related questions or need help from someone at the school? Feel free to reach out to the main office at (207) 941-6220.