BIDDEFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

We celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week from May 4-8. At Biddeford Middle School, we are very lucky to have a dedicated group of teachers that are attentive to the needs of all of our students. I want to thank our very dedicated staff for the efforts that they put into working with our children every day.

We have completed the Reading and Math aspects of Maine Through Year Assessment. Our 5th-grade students also completed the Science portion of this test last week.

We are excited to get out into our community and participate in the BMS Day of Service this week.

Sincerely,
Mr. Scott Descoteaux
Principal
Biddeford Middle School

• Wednesday, May 20: BMS Alex Pizza Night
• Friday, May 22: 5th Grade BMS Day of Service
• Monday, May 25: Memorial Day (No School) & Band in Parade
• Wednesday, June 3: 7th Grade Step-Up Day to BHS
• Wednesday, June 10: 7th Grade Boat Cruise - Casco Bay
• Friday, June 12: 7th Grade FT to May Field
• Monday, June 15: 6th Grade Field Day (Hunger Games)
• Tuesday, June 16: 5th Grade Field Day
• Wednesday, June 17: 7th Grade Awards Ceremony & Celebration
• Wednesday, June 17: Last Day of School (Early Release)

Thank You to Alex Pizza for hosting BMS Alex Pizza Night. On Wednesday, May 20, Alex Pizza will donate a portion of sales back to our students at BMS. THANK YOU so much for supporting us!

Congratulations to our 5th, 6th & 7th grade chorus students who treated us to a wonderful spring chorus concert on the evening of Thursday, April 10th. We are SUPER proud of you!

Also a congratulations to our 5th, 6th & 7th grade band students who performed on Tuesday, May 5th in their Spring Band Concert.

I am pleased to share some exciting news regarding a new educational opportunity that will be available to our students during the 2026–2027 school year.

Beginning next fall, Biddeford Middle School will offer STEM + M as a Unified Arts (UA) course option for our 7th grade students. We are honored that Biddeford Middle School was selected by the STEM + M initiative and the U.S. Department of Defense as a site to bring this innovative program to our school community.

STEM + M expands upon the traditional STEM model (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) by adding a focus on Manufacturing. The program is designed to provide students with engaging, hands-on learning experiences that connect classroom learning to real-world applications and future career pathways.

The initiative is part of a larger national effort to help students explore interests and opportunities related to:

• Engineering and design
• Technology and innovation
• Manufacturing and skilled trades
• Problem solving and teamwork
• Career pathways connected to high-demand industries

Students participating in STEM + M will have opportunities to engage in project-based learning experiences that encourage creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and innovation.

We are very excited to bring this opportunity to Biddeford Middle School and believe it will provide meaningful experiences for students as they begin to explore their interests and future goals.

Additional information about the course and student enrollment opportunities will be shared with families in the coming months.

If your student is interested in STEM + M and has not already communicated this through the UA Selection Form, please have them communicate this directly to their Tiger Time Teacher.

Step Up Day will look a bit different this year. We are focussing specifically on the students who are transitioning from one school to a new school.

• 7th Graders - Will be participating in "Step Up Day" to grade 8 at BHS on Wednesday, June 3.
• 4th Graders - Will be participating in "Step Up Day" to BMS on Thursday, June 11.

Our 5th & 6th graders who will remain students at BMS will participate in a Tiger Time activity overt the last few weeks to school to begin their transition into the grade they will be in next year.

On Monday, May 11, 2026, 210 middle school students from 13 different schools gathered at the University of New England (UNE) in Biddeford for the 8th Annual Leadership Summit. The Summit is part of an ongoing partnership between the University of New England Education Department and the Biddeford School Department.

This year’s theme, Connecting Leaders, Inspiring Change, focused on helping students build connections with peers from other schools and discover ways to inspire positive change in their schools and communities. Throughout the day, students participated in leadership activities and discussions designed to encourage teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.

Beginning August 1, 2026, all public schools across Maine must adopt and enforce a new “bell-to-bell” cell phone policy in accordance with recently updated state law (LD 2212 - Committee Amendment A; Part GG). This means students in grades K–12 will be required to keep personal devices, including cell phones, smart watches, and other devices with internet or cellular capabilities, stored away for the entire school day–from the first bell to dismissal. The goal of this statewide effort is to reduce distractions, support student mental health, and limit opportunities for cyberbullying during the school day.

Our district has already taken important steps in this direction with our current cell phone policy JICJ; however, this will be more restrictive and include smart watches. Over the past year, high school students have surrendered their phones upon entering their classrooms, with limited use during lunch, while elementary and middle school students have kept devices in lockers or at home. These efforts have provided a strong foundation, and we have seen firsthand how reducing phone access can positively impact focus, engagement, and school culture.

As we align with the new state law, we are in the process of finalizing a consistent, district-wide approach. Clear expectations and consistent consequences will be in place to support the new policy, along with limited exceptions as outlined in the law.

This new law reflects a growing understanding nationwide that minimizing cell phone use during the school day supports stronger learning environments and healthier social interactions for students. We are committed to implementing this transition thoughtfully and will continue to share updates, including the final policy, procedures and expectations, as we prepare for the upcoming school year. Thank you for your partnership as we take this important step together in support of our students’ success.

Stay informed by downloading the Biddeford Schools mobile app! It will allow parents to choose Biddeford Middle 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

As we begin wrapping up this school year and prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, we would like to remind families that all emergency health plans (asthma, allergies, seizures, diabetes, etc.) and school medication orders must be updated annually. Summer break may be a good time to request the updated health plans, medication orders, and updated vaccinations be faxed to our nurse office at 207-282-6040 before the 2026/2027 school year begins.

Thank you, BMS nurse office

This newsletter contains community events previously e-mailed weekly as attachments. The link remains the same and will be updated as new information is received.

Click on the image to view upcoming community events, and be sure to bookmark the link.

The Biddeford-Saco-Dayton Welcome Center will assist families who need additional assistance navigating school registration and accessing community services beginning July 7, 2026. The Welcome Center is located within Biddeford Middle School, 25 Tiger Drive. Telephonic translation is available in more than 100 languages.

Most weeks, the hours of operation are 9 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday. Please contact Tara Rivera, Welcome Center Director: welcome@bdsschools.me or call (207) 391-5229.

Email: sdescoteaux@biddefordschools.me
Website: https://www.biddefordschools.me/o/bms
Location: 25 Tiger Drive, Biddeford, ME, USA
Phone: (207) 284-6400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biddefordmiddleschool