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, March 21st - School Play: "The Epic Quest of the Damsels in Distress" - 6PM
• Tuesday, March 25th - All City Orchestra at BHS - 6:30PM
• Wednesday, March 26th - City of Bangor Seventh Up Field trip - Grade 7
• Thursday, March 27th - BHS Counselors Begin Meeting with Eighth Grade
• Tuesday, April 1st - All City Chorus at BHS - 6:30PM
• Thursday, April 3rd - BHS Counselors Support Choosing Electives with Eighth Grade
• Friday, April 4th - End of the Third Quarter
• Monday, April 20th to Friday, April 25th - No School - Vacation Week!

• Our sixth-grade Earth Science students were hard at work on an exciting hands-on learning experience as they took on the challenge of building a model dam!
• This project, part of their science curriculum, allowed students to apply the scientific method and experiment with natural resources. They put their knowledge to the test by designing and constructing a scale model of a dam in order to block the flow of water.
• The project encouraged teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity, providing our young engineers with a real-world connection to science.

• Students in 6th grade math have been learning about ratios and rates. Students have learned to write ratios to represent the relationship between two quantities and that a rate is a special type of ratio that compares quantities with different units of measures.
• Using what they know about ratios and rates, students are working on converting measurement units, both US customary and metric units, using equivalent rates and dimensional analysis.

• After reading Peak by Roland Smith in Mrs. Hanscom's accelerated ELA class, students wanted to know more about real life challenges connected to climbing Mount Everest. Playing off of a talk show format, they would often have fun with using our comfy classroom chairs during snack, students decided to create podcasts and formed four research teams to explore the dangers of climbing Everest, dealing with trash and human waste, ethical issues involving the role Sherpas play, and the complications that arise from overcrowding on Everest.
• Working with our school librarian, Mrs. Patterson, to enhance our informational literacy skills, students were able to locate multiple strong resources that were reliable and valid to answer the questions they had about their topics, practice note taking, and cite their sources.
• Next, they had to write a script for their podcasts incorporating their research into a format that would sound believable as people having a conversation. Roles were assigned, backdrops, props, sponsors, and music were selected, and rehearsals began. Then it was back to the library with our classroom chairs in tow to record in front of a green screen with Mrs. Patterson.
• Finally, students edited their videos and even created blooper reels. We wrapped up by enjoying a viewing party to share our work with each other. Watching students take ownership of their learning and bring such creativity to meaningful, cooperative work was simply magical!

• Sixth grade ELA students have been reading the novel Peak by Roland Smith.
• Peak is the story of fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello and his attempt to climb Mt. Everest. On his journey Peak learns about himself, the world around him, and discovers what family really is.
• This novel allowed students to not only study themes of family, friendship, and sacrifice, but they’ve also had the chance to learn about Nepal, Tibet, Tibetan Buddist beliefs, and the lives of sherpas. As Peak made his way up Everest, students were able to track his progress and also participate in hands-on activities like the creation of Tibetan Buddist prayer flags

• During the third quarter, grade six social studies students began a unit on Ancient Greece.
• Topics covered included the impact of geography on the development of Greek societies, democracy in Athens vs. Oligarchy in Sparta, daily life in ancient Greece, and the impact of ancient Greek beliefs, arts, and learning Greek culture.
• As a culminating activity, students completed a DBQ that takes them inside the life of Alexander the Great as he conquered others while building his empire and expanding Greece’s impact on the known world.
• Ultimately, students must use document-based evidence to argue whether or not Alexander deserves the title of “great” given the choices he made and the tactics he used to achieve what no one else ever had.
• Students in Mrs. Hanscom’s social studies classes “competed” in eight different popular events from the Panhellenic Games. They learned the basic history of an ancient Olympic event during each round and participated in a corresponding game while developing an understanding of the significance of the Panhellenic Games to ancient Greek culture.

• Sixth grade social studies students are wrapping up their unit on ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. Starting with ancient Sumer, the sixth grade students learned about some of the world’s oldest civilizations and the first empires. They learned about the invention of writing, the first irrigation systems, and the first written law code: Hammurabi’s Code.
• Now, sixth graders are beginning their study of ancient Greece. They will compare and contrast Athenian and Spartan societies, examine Greek art and architecture, and read Greek myths to learn about Greek gods and goddesses.

• Bangor High School staff will be meeting with all eighth grade students next week to begin the transition process.
• The follwing week, on April 3rd, BHS staff will return to work with eighth graders to pick electives for their freshman year.
• Attached you will find two advance copies of informational forms from BHS.

Parents - Here is what you need to know:

• Both softball & baseball are cut sports, while track & field is a non-cut sport.
• Third-quarter grades will be used to determine athletic eligibility for the spring.
• Any student who wants to participate in athletics must have required paperwork turned in before the start of tryouts and must have completed SWAY testing during the 2024-25 school year.
• Required paperwork includes both a physical from 2024-25 and a parent consent form.
• If your child has already participated in a sport, they most likely have their required paperwork turned in.

Dates to Remember:

• Tuesday, April 1st: Sign-ups for Spring Sports in Homerooms
• Friday, April 4th: All paperwork must be turned in
• Monday, April 7th-Wednesday, April 9th: Tryouts for Baseball and Softball start
• Tuesday, April 8th: Track Practices start
• Monday, April 21st-Friday, April 25th: April Break--No Practices
• Week of April 28th: Practices resume and Games/Meets are scheduled

Questions about Spring Sports? Email Mrs. Loring at dloring@bangorschools.net.

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.