BIDDEFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

The next few weeks of school are very important to all our BMS students. Our Spring Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) is at our doorstep. ALL students will be testing in Math and Reading, while our 5th and 8th-grade students will be testing in Science.

Please join us tonight, March 18th, for our Academic Showcase from 5-6:30pm. I look forward to welcoming our families and celebrating our students at this annual event.

Regards,

Scott Descoteaux

Principal

Congratulations to the February students of the month:

• March 18: BMS Academic Showcase (5-6:30pm)
• March 25: Regular School Day (See Snow Contingency Plan)
• April 3: Best Buddies Social (5-6:30pm; see flyer below)
• April 8: Spring P/T Conferences (12:50-6:50 pm)
• April 16 - April 24: Spring Break - No School
• April 27: Back to School
• April 30: Spring Chorus Concert (6:30pm)

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 Math - Week of May 5
• MTYA Reading - Week of April 28
• MEA Science (Grade 5 Only) - Tuesday, May 12 & Wedneday, May 13.

Congratulations to the talented student musicians of Biddeford Middle School who participated in themselves the prestigious District 1 Honors Instrumental and Music Festivals. Students from all of York County displayed their love of music as they represented our district with talent, maturity, and hard work.

As we welcome longer days in March, we are continuing our monthly focus on bus safety with a few timely reminders for families. Parents can help by ensuring students are ready at the bus stop about 10 minutes before pickup time, with backpacks organized and bags sized appropriately for safe boarding and clear aisles on the bus. Limiting loose items, long straps, and oversized bags helps prevent tripping or items getting caught in doors. Even with more daylight, staying alert, following driver signals, and practicing calm, respectful behavior at the bus stop and on the bus remain essential to keeping every ride safe. To read more about bus safety tips, click below.

Congratulations to 5th Grader Addi Archer and 7th Grader Rylan Vachon-McCrossin for being selected for the Portland Museum of Art Youth Art Month exhibition! Addi was recognized for her papier mâché sculpture titled Sushi, and Rylan was honored for his oil pastel drawing of a tiger's eye. Both students attended the award ceremony with their families on March 14th in Portland. Art teachers Rachel Carswell and Samara Yandell were thrilled to participate in this annual art advocacy event with two of their hardest working art students. This exhibition brings together art teachers and students from around the state. The Youth Art Month exhibition will be on display at the Portland Museum of Art through April 5th.

Read for 15 minutes at home or at school. After you finish, color in ONE shamrock on your challenge sheet. An adult (parent/guardian/teacher) must initial the shamrock to show you completed your reading. Keep going all month long — one shamrock for every 15 minutes you read! Turn in your completed sheet by March 27 and you’ll earn a prize from Ms E!

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

Many parents today feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of monitoring their children’s digital experiences. Parental controls can be a helpful tool for providing a gentler on-ramp to the real safety and privacy risks children face online.

Join a panel of digital parenting experts on Tuesday, March 31 from 12-1:30pm via Zoom to learn some practical steps including which types of parental control apps and settings are most effective, what parents should know about their strengths and limitations, and how to incorporate them into a thoughtful parenting approach that protects child well-being and builds healthy autonomy.

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.

Check out the Tiger Pride apparel store, offering a wide range of clothing and accessories that proudly represent our school spirit. Whether you're looking for stylish t-shirts, cozy hoodies, trendy caps, or a cozy blanket, we've got you covered.

The apparel store is online, and you can pick up items at Brady Screen Print, 464 Main St. Biddeford, when they are ready. To place an order, click the below button. The store closes on March 29th. You will receive an email confirmation when items are ready to be picked up.

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