Bulldog Bulletin
March 20, 2026
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!
Here are some upcoming dates to remember :
- Tuesday, March 24th - All City Orchestra at BHS (6:30PM)
- Wednesday, March 25th - 7th Up Field Trip
- Friday, March 27th - Eighth Grade Meeting with BHS for Electives (During the day)
- Tuesday, March 31st - All City Chorus at BHS (6:30PM)
- Friday, April 3rd - End of the Third Quarter
- Week of April 6th - Assistant Principal's Week
- Wednesday, April 8th - Early Release Day (11:30 Dismissal)
- Thursday, April 9th - Report Cards Finalized
- Week of April 20th - April Vacation
James F. Doughty’s own Fletcher Simpson broke a 22-year-old state record at the Tom Manduca Memorial Swim Meet.
Fletcher broke the Maine YMCA State Record in the Men’s 13-14 200 Yard Butterfly, setting a scorching time of 2:04.33.
Fletcher continues to compete for both the YMCA and JFDS as part of our Intramural Swimming Team. Middle School Swim has been going on this month, and culminated yesterday with the annual meet against the Cohen Eagles.
- Seventh grade students in Mrs. Edward’s ELA classes held an Inquiry Symposium on March 10th. They engaged in research in order to gain background knowledge for the historical fiction books we have just started reading.
- Students spent weeks developing inquiry questions and key terms, searching for credible sources, and gathering evidence. They created trifold displays and shared their work with their classmates in symposium-style presentations.
- Their presentations were delivered with impressive clarity and knowledge of their topic—it was certainly an incredible experience to witness, and they have made their ELA teacher extremely proud!
- Mr. Grady Wellman-Webster recently completed an eight-week placement as a student teacher in Physical Education, and his impact was felt throughout the school community.
- During his time here, he built a strong rapport with students, creating an engaging and supportive environment that encouraged participation.
- In addition to his work in the classroom, Mr. Wellman-Webster generously volunteered his skills as a licensed barber, providing nearly 20 free haircuts to students who signed up.
- His dedication, positivity, and willingness to go above and beyond made a lasting impression, and we are grateful for the energy he brought to our school.
On Wednesday, March 25th, seventh grade students from JFDS and WSCS will travel to businesses across Bangor as part of the Seventh Up Field Trip hosted by the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce. Now an annual tradition, this trip allows students and staff to learn about careers in the area, and education and training that goes into each.
You can now order 25-26 Yearbooks in the office with cash or check for $25.00 each. You can also order your yearbook online through Memory Book for an additional service fee of $2.99.
- Go to https://shop.memorybook.com/login or QR Code
- Click to create an account.
- Enter your name, email, and our Class CODE: 232734M
- Create your own password.
After creating your account, you’ll be taken to the products page.
- Select the one for your student.
- Enter the student name, grade, and homeroom teacher.
- You’ll also see an option for a student who may not be able to purchase one; even one extra book can make a big difference!
The 2025-26 School Calendar includes six early release days for professional development. Middle school students will be dismissed at 11:30AM on the following days:
- Wednesday, April 8th
- Wednesday, May 13th
Looking to show off your school pride?
Wights Sporting Goods has an ongoing JFDS school store for hoodies, t-shirts, and more.
Digital Report Cards
Beginning with the second quarter, JFDS will pilot a transition from printed report cards to a fully digital reporting system in PowerSchool. This change will allow families to access grades more quickly and securely, reduce paper use, and provide a more consistent way to monitor student progress throughout the year.
Families have received instructions on how to access the digital portal. If you need assistance accessing the PowerSchool portal, please reach out to techsis@bangorschools.net or call the main office at (207)941-6220.
Families who prefer a printed report card have the option to request a paper copy. To receive a paper copy in the mail, call the main office at (207)941-6220.
Chronic Absenteeism - Did You Know?
- 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.
Please click the link below for more information about chronic absenteeism.