Biddeford Center of Technology

I hope to write to you once a month to keep you informed of our status and share the many successes we envision for our students. This will include important academic program updates and events. This year we will also highlight a different BRCOT program each month, celebrate our AM and PM students of the quarter and share any updates pertaining to school and post-secondary opportunities.

Maine Governor Janet Mills and Commissioner of Education Pender Makin made a surprise visit to the Center on Tuesday. Her visit is part of an ongoing focus on workforce development and retention in Maine. Governor Mills spent time in several programs offered at our Center meeting and talking with students and faculty to identify what motivates students and address barriers and access to Career and Technical Education pathways. The Commissioner and Governor recognize the importance of our program offerings that not only support economic recovery and sustainability but also provide lifelong skill attainment for our youth to live prosperous and healthy lives. Our students were excited to meet the Governor and demonstrated several of the integrated STEM activities that take place at the Center. Although their visit was brief, they were given the opportunity to learn about our dual enrollment agreements, industry partnership relationships, our community projects, and many of the opportunities we provide for our students.

Speaking of post-secondary opportunities, the FAFSA will become available on October 1. Due to the virus, we will not hold our usual in-person parent assist night to complete financial aid forms. Our Student Service Coordinator Holly Scribner can answer any questions you may have as well as your sending school guidance counselors. We strongly recommend that students (and one parent, if applicable) create their Federal Student Aid account and set up their FSA ID ahead of time.

To create an FSA ID:

• Go to StudentAid.gov, and click on “Create Account.”
• When creating FSA IDs, individuals must be able to receive a text on their mobile phone and/or have access to their email.
• The FSA ID is the user name and password students use to access all Federal Student Aid websites, including FAFSA.gov.
• All students need an FSA ID
• Dependent students will also need one parent to have an FSA ID in order to sign the FAFSA.
• We encourage families to use FAME's FSA ID Information Tracking Sheet to keep track of FSA ID information.

Other helpful FAFSA links:

• Short video on how to Create Your Federal Student Aid Account (FSA ID) video.
• FAFSFA Checklist
• How to file your FAFSA Video: Get ready to file the FAFSA!

POOLED TESTING: Please read below for details. We plan to launch testing the week of October 4 and consents need to be received by the end-of-day today, September 28th. If you submit later, your child will join the pool the following week.

Reminders: We certainly appreciate your continued support and partnership to help our students remain in school five days a week. Please remind your child to bring their masks to school and wear them properly. We empathize that it can be hot and fog up our glasses as well as other potential nuances, but we need to follow the CDC guidelines and Department of Education's operating procedure.

UPCOMING DATES to be AWARE of:

• October 8th- Professional development day for teachers- No School for students.
• October 11th- Indigenous People Holiday - No School
• October 12th- Return to school

Best regards,

Paulette Bonneau

Director

Consents are required to be enrolled in pooled testing (One Form Per Child).

1. Click Here to Complete the Online Consent Form

2. Enter this Access Code specific to Biddeford Regional Center of Technology (COT): B8VTHG

3. Finally, enter your child’s information, and you’re done!

PLEASE NOTE: Pooled Testing consent is SEPARATE from the BinaxNOW Consent parents completed when registering. Parents may also contact the school directly if they require a printed form to be sent home. Thank you for safeguarding our school community.

Sincerely,

Krystal Taschereau, RN

School Nurse

Email: paulette.b@biddefordschools.me
Website: www.biddefordschools.me
Location: 10 Maplewood Avenue, Biddeford, ME, USA
Phone: 207-282-1501
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BiddefordRegionalCenterOfTechnology/?ref=settings