BIDDEFORD HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Dear Biddeford High School Students, Staff, and Guardians,

It’s hard to believe how quickly the fall is flying by! It has been a busy and exciting few months at Biddeford High School, and there is so much happening throughout our school community. From classrooms and clubs to athletics and special events, our students and staff continue to make BHS a place where there is always something to celebrate.

One of the highlights of the fall was our Challenge Day, which brought students and staff together for a meaningful day focused on connection, empathy, and building a stronger sense of community. It was wonderful to see students step outside of their comfort zones, connect with one another, and remind us of the importance of making sure everyone feels seen, valued, and included.

Our fall sports season is also wrapping up, and we are incredibly proud of the dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship our student-athletes have demonstrated throughout the season. Whether on the field, court, course, or sidelines, our Tigers have represented BHS with enthusiasm and pride. Thank you to our coaches, families, and supporters who make these opportunities possible for our students.

Beyond athletics, there are countless great things happening throughout BHS every day—from clubs and activities to student leadership, classroom learning, service opportunities, and the many ways our staff are supporting students. These are the moments that make a school community strong, and I am grateful for all of the people who contribute to making BHS such a vibrant place to learn and grow.

Finally, please take a few minutes to carefully review the information in this newsletter about our new drop-off procedures at Biddeford High School. These procedures will begin on Monday, November 2nd, and it is important that students, staff, and guardians understand the changes before that date. Our goal is to make arrival safer, more efficient, and more predictable for everyone, and your cooperation will be an important part of making the transition successful.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for all that you do to support our students and our school. We have a lot to be proud of at BHS, and I’m looking forward to all that the rest of the year will bring!

Warmly,

Martha Murray

Principal, Biddeford High School

• October 23: End of Quarter 1

• October 28: PSATs (optional for 10th, 11th grade)

• October 29: Information Session for Travel Opportunity at 6pm

• November 1: Daylight Savings Time Ends

• November 3: Election Day: Asynchronous Learning

• November 4: Early Release - 12:25pm dismissal

• November 10: Fall Sports Awards- 6:00pm Steve White Gym

• November 11: No School - Veteran's Day

• November 13: Tiger Pride Day - College & Career Fair

• November 24: Early Release - 12:25pm dismissal

• November 25 - 27: No School - Thanksgiving Break

In an effort to create a safer, more efficient drop off in the morning we will be implementing new drop off procedures at BHS for morning drop off. For those dropping off between 8:15am and 8:35am, please be sure to follow the attached procedures. We will have adults guiding you in the morning and this will be similar to what we do at our elementary schools to manage traffic.

The Classes of 2027 and 2028 are excited to team up for a Charleston Wrap fundraiser to support our students! Both classes are raising money to help cover graduation expenses and activities, including the class trip. Every bit of support makes a difference, and maximum participation is encouraged!

Getting involved is easy! Check out the attached flyer for step-by-step instructions on how to register online and start shopping. We encourage everyone to share the fundraiser with friends and family near and far. The more people who participate, the more money we can raise to support our classes!

Let’s work together to reach our goals and make these important milestones and memories possible for our students.

Come learn about this incredible opportunity with the World Language Department. In our informational session on Thursday, October 29th from 6-7pm at BHS Media Center, we'll cover everything from how this opportunity will benefit your child, what's included in the experience, how we'll keep the trip safe and affordable, and much more.

Registration for this session is mandatory to help organize our meeting, and a parent or guardian must attend. Can't make it? Choose "No, but send info" so you don't miss out.

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 3rd.

• 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.

Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about the dangers of drugs are 42% 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 Make A Difference. Be A Hero. Stay Drug Free.™ Visit www.redribbon.org to learn more about Red Ribbon Week, enter the Red Ribbon Contest to win an iPad and $1,000 for your 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.

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

Saturday, November 7th | 9am-2pm | Biddeford High School's Tiger Gym

Join over 40 local crafters and vendors at this excellent opportunity to buy holiday gifts, eat delicious treats, and win prizes, including 100 gallons of #2 heating oil donated by Provencher Fuels! The event benefits the Bridges Program, which supports young adults eligible for extended educational services as they transition from high school to the adult world. Proceeds will fund the exploration of our local community to experience and practice everyday living skills. The students are also providing baked goods and crockpot meals to sell!

It’s hard to believe, but the first quarter will end next week. Please be sure you have an Infinite Campus parent account setup so you can view grades and scoring updates on your child’s progress. If you haven’t yet completed the online registration for your students, please be sure to also do that at this time. BHS parents - the portal is open for you to utilize. If you need information on how to access grades, please refer to this resource.

Also, October 19-23 is Digital Citizenship Week. Some of the most important skills students can learn are critical thinking and problem solving. Common Sense Media offers help and resources to families, not only during Digital Citizenship Week, but all year long. In this month’s update, we would like to highlight the following resources for parents and families:

• Family Webinar: Raise a Critical Thinker for Learning and Life
• Articles: AI Chatbots & Your Child: Age and Stage Guidance and Digital Connections interactive video series for families

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

The Device Protection Plan is strongly recommended for students in Grades 5-12. These students are considered to be in a “one-to-one take-home” device program. They are allowed to keep the device with them and may end up with the same device for several years. Students/parents should immediately inform the student's teacher if they have any concerns about their device, who will then contact the Technology Department. This will keep the teacher and others at the school aware of the situation and the remedy.

MaineHousing’s Eviction Prevention Program recently reopened, providing support for Maine families who have fallen behind on rent and are at risk of eviction. Eligible households may receive assistance with past-due and ongoing rental costs, up to $9,600 in total. Housing stability is closely connected to student attendance and success, so we encourage families in need to explore this important resource at MaineHousing's website.

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.

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.

High School Parking and Center of Technology Transportation:

• 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

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