DISTRICT UPDATE
November 4, 2026
I am excited to share that the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology (BRCOT), alongside state and regional partners and generous community supporters, has helped save The Landing School campus in Arundel from auction. This effort will preserve nearly 50 years of craftsmanship while creating new learning opportunities for high school students across York County. The acquisition of the building and equipment was accomplished without the use of local tax dollars, through Maine Department of Education support for leased space and private donor pledges.
For our students, this means greater access to hands-on learning, career exploration, and pathways to further education and skilled careers here in Maine. With both of York County’s career and technical education centers at capacity, the campus is envisioned to serve approximately 200 students in grades 9–12. The campus will build upon the 50-year legacy of The Landing School while creating opportunities for high school students to explore marine trades and other vocational fields. By preserving its specialized facilities and equipment, the partnership provides a foundation for expanding workforce training without having to recreate these resources from the ground up.
While additional planning will determine the campus's expanded programming and opening timeline, the focus now turns to developing programs and curriculum, preparing facilities and equipment for high school learners, and establishing a capital reserve to sustain the campus for future generations.
Click here to read the full article and/or click here if interested in contributing to the next phase of this project.
November 4: Early Release Day (No Pre-K in Biddeford) & Parent Teacher Conferences
November 7: Holiday Craft Fair from 9am-2pm at BHS Tiger Gym to benefit the Bridges Program
November 9: Veterans Day Concert at 6:30pm at BMS Performing Arts Center
November 10: Dayton’s Veterans Day Celebration at 1pm, PreK-4 Little Screens/Big Conversations Family Night (see RSVP) & BHS Fall Athletic Awards Night at 6pm, BHS Steve White Gym
November 11: No School - Veterans Day Observed
November 17: Dayton School Committee Meeting at 6:30pm, DCS
November 18: Early Release Day (Dayton Only) & Biddeford School Committee at 5pm, BHS Little Theater
November 19, 20, & 21*: BHS Drama Club in Little Shop of Horrors (PG-13) at 7pm, BHS Little Theater (*Special Matinee at 2pm)
November 20: Dayton’s Grand Luncheon
November 24: Early Release Day (No Pre-K)
November 25-27: No School - Thanksgiving Break
Join over 40 local crafters and vendors on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 9 AM - 2 PM at Biddeford High School's Tiger Gym. This is an 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 transition from high school to the adult world. Proceeds will fund the exploration of our local community to experience and practice everyday living skills such as dining out, shopping, and maneuvering out in the community. In fact, the students are also providing baked goods and crockpot meals to sell!
Join us on Monday, November 9th, at 6:30 PM in the BMS Performing Arts Center for a special Veterans Day performance by Biddeford Middle School’s fifth, sixth, and seventh-grade chorus students. The event is free and open to the public, and all are welcome to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!
November 19, 20, and 21* at 7pm
*Additional Matinee Show on Saturday, November 21st at 2pm
Biddeford High School's Little Theater
Little Shop of Horrors is a musical full of outrageous comedy, unforgettable songs, and a very hungry plant! From demanding vocal arrangements and fast-paced musical numbers to larger-than-life characters and moments of genuine emotional vulnerability, this production has challenged the students at Biddeford High School to grow in ways that go far beyond the stage. The show reminds the audience that success can be tempting, ambition can be dangerous, and sometimes the things that help us grow are the challenges we never expected to face.
General Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students. All contributions go directly toward funding future productions and strengthening the school’s performing arts program.
The Biddeford High School Student Council has set a goal to feed 100 families in the Biddeford, Dayton, and Saco communities to make this holiday season a little brighter. Students have organized a class competition to collect the items needed to fill those boxes by November 20th. If you would like to support this effort, please contact a BHS student or staff member or drop items off at Biddeford High School directly. Grocery store gift cards or a donation to the Biddeford Education Foundation are also appreciated so students can shop for the remaining supplies needed. Donations can be made online by clicking here or checks can be made payable to the Biddeford Education Foundation (please note Thanksgiving).
The BHS students have organized items by class:
8th Graders - Canned Green Beans and Cranberry Sauce
Freshmen - Canned Peas and Boxed Stuffing
Sophomores - Canned Corn and Boxed Brownie Mix
Juniors - Canned Sweet Potato or Yams and Canned Chicken or Vegetable Broth
Seniors - Cornbread / Muffin Mix (Jiffy) and Turkey Gravy Mix Packets
Staff/Community - Turkeys can be dropped off on or after November 16th
The Biddeford Education Foundation (BEF) and Aid for Saco Kids (ASK) Foundation will purchase 5lb bags of potatoes for the meal baskets.
Please reach out to the Resiliency Coordinator at your child’s school for more information.
Biddeford and Saco schools are exploring a partnership with GSD, a school network in Spain, to welcome Spanish students for a 4-week cultural exchange from mid-January to February break. Visiting students in grades 8 and 10 would live with local host families and experience daily life in our community. When possible, each exchange student would attend school with their host family’s student at SMS, BMS, or BHS. Hosting is a chance for your family to build a lasting international friendship and share our community with a new friend. Host families will receive a small stipend, and we will work to match each student with a family appropriately. Additional information can be found on their website.
If you’re interested, please complete the short interest form. Filling it out does not commit you to participate. For questions or more information, contact maparkhurst@sacoschools.org.
This school year, Biddeford and Dayton educators are taking part in Books, Talks & Tools, a district-wide professional learning program that brings our staff together to read, learn, and grow, right here in our own schools.
Throughout the year, teachers and staff can choose from book studies, discussions, and hands-on sessions, many led by our own educators. This year’s topics include:
Empowering Students as Questioners: helping students become curious, confident thinkers who ask meaningful questions
The Regulated Classroom: understanding how stress affects learning and building calm, supportive classrooms
Teaching Multilingual Learners: practical ways to build language, honor student identity, and engage families
Writing Differentiation: helping every young writer grow, especially students who are learning English
AI Literacy in Any Class: using artificial intelligence thoughtfully and teaching students to think critically about it
Safeguarding Student & Staff Data: protecting student privacy in a digital world
Using Boddle: a game-based tool that gives students personalized math and reading practice
Every session asks participants to prepare ahead, take part in a live discussion, and reflect afterward on how they’ll use what they learned with students. At the heart of this program is a simple idea: we learn best when we read and talk together.
The same is true at home. Reading with your child is one of the most powerful things you can do to support their learning. It builds vocabulary, strengthens focus, and shows your child that reading matters to you. The conversation afterward matters just as much. You don’t need special training, just curiosity. Try asking:
What was your favorite part, and why?
Did anything surprise you or confuse you?
How would you have handled that situation?
What do you think will happen next?
Does this remind you of anything in your own life?
These questions work with picture books, chapter books, comics, or a news article read together. Even ten minutes a day makes a difference, and older children benefit from a reading partner too. When our educators gather to read and discuss, and families do the same at home, our students see a whole community that values learning. Thank you for being part of it.
Free Food Distribution
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Free Clothing Closet
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As parents, we can utilize their content to help build critical thinking skills in our children. Taking an interest in what our children watch and asking open-ended questions like, “Why is this video appealing to watch?” or “Why do you think this product was mentioned in the video?” turns it into an opportunity for digital literacy and family connection. Check out this extensive resource to learn more about influencers and the role they play in our children’s lives: parenting tip sheet by Children and Screens.
Throughout the school year, we will strive to maintain clear and open lines of communication. Our school websites, newsletters, and mobile app will keep you informed about important dates, achievements, menus, and exciting happenings within our school community.
Click here to learn more about the various ways we communicate with families.