BIDDEFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

I hope this message finds you well as we begin to prepare for the Spring months ahead! The next few weeks of school are very important to all our BMS students. Our Spring Maine Through Year Assessment (MTYA) is at our doorstep. ALL students will be testing in Math and Reading, while our 5th grade students will also be testing in Science.

Our Spring sports are beginning, so be sure to sign up using the link below. I hope everybody has a safe and restful spring vacation, April 16-26!

Sincerely,
Mr. Scott Descoteaux
Principal
Biddeford Middle School

Congratulations to our March Students of the Month:

• April 16 - April 24: Spring Break - No School
• April 27: Back to School
• April 30: Spring Chorus Concert (6:30pm)
• May 3: Best Buddies Friendship Walk (10am)
• May 5: Dental Clinic & Spring Band Concert (6:30pm)
• May 7 & 8: Spring Reading MTYA
• May 12: Jazz a la Mode (6:30pm)
• May 12 & 13: Spring Science MTYA (5th grade only)
• May 13: 7th Grade BMS Day of Service
• May 14: 6th Grade BMS Day of Service
• May 18 & 19: Spring Math MTYA
• May 22: 5th Grade BMS Day of Service
• May 25: Memorial Day (No School) & Band in Parade (10am)

Congratulations to our very own Ms. Colleen Hatt, who was nominated for York County's Teacher of the Year and also recognized as an "Outstanding Woman" in 2026 through Maine Coast 93.1. She was recognized for her efforts as a mentor teacher and BMS Drama director, and for volunteering with Unified Sports, Best Buddies, local shelters, and Girl Scouts. The full radio interview can be found on their website. Congratulations Colleen!

The Spring Maine Through Year Assessment is right around the corner. We will be testing and checking the progress of all of our students in May. 5th Grade students (Only) will be taking the Science MNEA Test.

Spring Maine Through Year Assessment (MTYA):

• MTYA Reading - May 7 & 8
• MTYA Math - May 18 & 19
• MEA Science (Grade 5 Only) - May 12 & 13

We are very proud to inform you that Biddeford Middle School will once again be participating in a Day of Service. As part of this day, we will be transporting students to a variety of locations in our community to do some “light work” in the area of community service. Students will be participating in activities such as raking, weeding flower gardens, picking up litter or trash, painting or other light duties asked at various locations in our community.

We are appreciative of the businesses and organizations locally who have been willing to host our students and provide an opportunity for us to teach this lesson of volunteerism and pride in our community. A bagged lunch will be available to students in the morning, or students can bring a cold lunch from home.

Dates:

• Grade 7: May 13
• Grade 6: May 14
• Grade 5: May 22

More Information to come as we grow nearer to the event.

Biddeford Middle School was well represented by three teams at the Odyssey of the Mind state tournament on Saturday, April 4th, at Edward Little High School. Two of the teams were invited to compete at the 2026 World Finals at Iowa State University in May: Our Problem 5, Division 1 Team and our Problem 2, Division 2 team both placed 2nd. In addition, our Problem 3, Division 2 Team placed 7th!

Way to go!

Tiger Dance, led by Kate Truman, is in their 3rd season of their club at Biddeford Middle School. Tiger Dance is an opportunity to dance each week with their fellow classmates and perform for the community. This club has grown from 30 members to nearly 50 dancers in 2026! This year Tiger Dance performed at halftime for the Unified Basketball Team and performed for their school at the April school meeting. At Tiger Dance we encourage teamwork, confidence, respect and FUN! As we wrap up this season, we thank you for your support and look forward to dancing again next year.

Biddeford’s Marching Arts program is celebrating a historic season, with BlackOut Percussion, Blizzard Winds, and Blaze Color Guard each earning first place at the New England Scholastic Band Association (NESBA) Championships, completing an extraordinary sweep and bringing home gold for our community. Earlier in the season, BlackOut Percussion and Blizzard Winds earned Gold Medals at the Maine Band Directors Winter Finals, while Blaze Color Guard and BlackOut B Percussion (our middle school ensemble) brought home Silver. We are proud of our students’ talent, dedication, and teamwork across all levels. To read the full story, click here.

Hi! I was born and raised in Biddeford until I decided to move to Chicago after I graduated from the University of Southern Maine (USM). I began teaching as a Pre-K teacher at the Mother Goose Nursery School in the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology. When I moved out to Chicago three years ago, I became a full-time substitute teacher in the Chicago Public School System and worked with students from K-12 all throughout the neighborhoods of Chicago. I am now back in my hometown teaching at the same middle school that I attended, working with our amazing group of multilingual students!

Outside of school, I enjoy walking in the woods with my pup, skating/scootering, skiing, vintage technology, Yo-yo, and old movies! I go by "Teacher A" or Aeron with the students.

As part of our ongoing bus safety awareness campaign, April’s focus is on the role motorists play in protecting students at bus stops and along bus routes. We ask all drivers to remain alert, slow down when approaching areas where children may be waiting, and adhere to the law by stopping when a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. Allowing buses the space to safely enter busy intersections also helps our drivers stay on schedule and ensures students arrive at school on time. With spring bringing more activity to our streets, we encourage commuters to leave a few minutes early and drive with extra awareness around school buses. A little patience and attention from every driver helps keep our most precious passengers safe.

Biddeford Middle School uses a software program called "Family ID" for student-athletes to sign up for participation. Parents will need to create an account within this website, which allows them to upload medical forms, fill out general medical information and select the sport that the student is interested in participating in. Click here or the link below to set up an account.

Families can order online by visiting www.treering.com/validate and entering the school code 1014749057183003. If you would prefer to pay by cash or check, please email Ms. Duguay at aduguay@biddefordschools.me for more information.

Don’t wait — order your yearbook today and make sure you don’t miss out on the memories! 🎉

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

Save the Date for the next Dental Clinic through Tooth Protectors on May 5th. Services are FREE to those with MaineCare, self-pay fees are listed on the permission form, and other dental insurance can be billed. If you completed a consent form for the Fall Clinic, you do not need to complete it again for the Spring Clinic. If this is your child's first time participating, please complete the online consent form linked here.

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 United Way of Southern Maine (UWSM) is seeking your feedback to help shape how it supports our community. During these economically challenging times, UWSM wants to ensure it is focusing its efforts where they are most needed. Please complete this quick survey with only three questions (less than one minute) or share your perspective in the full survey (2-3 more minutes). All answers are anonymous.

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