BIDDEFORD HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

As we turn the page on what has certainly felt like a long Maine winter, there is a renewed sense of energy and optimism in the air. With the arrival of March, we begin to see signs of spring just around the corner—longer days, warmer temperatures, and a fresh opportunity to refocus and finish the school year strong. Parent teacher conference will be on April 8th and the start of the fourth quarter is an important milestone, offering all of our students a chance to reflect on their progress, set goals, and continue striving for success both inside and outside of the classroom.

This time of year is also one of the busiest and most exciting at Biddeford High School. Our school community is alive with performances, events, celebrations, and opportunities for connection. From the upcoming production of Mean Girls: High School Edition, to the energy of Cap & Gown Beat Down Pro Wrestling, and the talent on display at our Marching Arts Home Show, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy. These events highlight the incredible creativity, dedication, and school spirit that define our students and staff.

We also continue our important work around student success, including our focus on attendance, bus safety, and our ongoing NEASC accreditation process, which will bring visitors into our classrooms later this month as part of our commitment to continuous growth and improvement.

I encourage you to take a few moments to read through the newsletter below to learn more about these upcoming events, important updates, and celebrations of student achievement. Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support in making Biddeford High School a place where all students can thrive.

Wishing you all a strong finish to the third quarter and a wonderful transition into the spring season.

Warmly,
Martha

Martha Murray
Principal, Biddeford High School

• March 23-27: Multicultural Week

• March 25: Regular School Day (See Snow Contingency Plan)

• March 27: Tiger Pride Day: Multicultural Fair (students only)

• March 27: End of Quarter 3

• March 30 & 31: NEASC Collaborative Conference Visit

• March 30-April 3: Spring Spirit Week

• April 8: 11th Grade Maine Science Assessment

• April 8: Early Release - 12:25pm dismissal

• April 8: Parent Teacher Conferences

• April 10: Assistant Principal Appreciation Day

• April 16-26: April Break - No School

Sign-ups are now open for our upcoming Craft and Vendor Fair on May 2nd from 9am-3pm, and we invite families and community members to participate! This event is a wonderful opportunity to showcase handmade items, small businesses, and creative talents while bringing our school community together. Whether you’re a crafter, artisan, or local vendor, we encourage you to reserve a space and be part of this fun and festive event.

Spots are limited, so be sure to sign up soon to secure your table!

For more information, email Heather Tremblay at htremblay@biddefordschools.me.

Regular daily attendance and punctuality are essential to your child’s success in high school. Each day builds on the one before it, and when students are present and on time, they are better able to understand lessons, participate in class discussions, keep up with assignments, and develop meaningful connections at school. Consistent attendance also helps students develop strong habits—such as responsibility, time management, and perseverance—that are vital not only for academic achievement but also for future college and career readiness. When students arrive late or miss school, they can quickly fall behind, which may lead to added stress and gaps in learning. By encouraging punctuality and ensuring your child attends school every day, you are giving them the foundation they need to thrive both now and in the years ahead.

Unfortunately, nation-wide and at Biddeford High School, chronic tardiness and absenteeism rates are significantly higher now than they ever were before the pandemic. As a school and community, we need to reinvest in building awareness around the importance of daily attendance and commit to following school procedures to support strong punctuality and attendance. We are enlisting your help as caregivers in the following ways.

• Please review the bell schedule, and help your child get to school before 8:30am.

• Please review the Attendance Works PDF below for tips to support strong attendance.

• If/when your child is struggling with attendance or reaches chronic absenteeism, please reach out for support from our staff and/or complete our School Attendance Self-Assessment.

• Please note that we will be updating our “tardy unexcused” procedures beginning on January 5th, 2026. Similarly, starting on that same date, we will be asking parents to fill out a Google Form for any excused absences. More information to come on this.

• Please review the state law that outlines what constitutes an excused absence. Unless one of those reasons is true for your child, please make every effort to send them to school. We have ample resources here to support them.

Strong collaboration between home and school helps ensure that students maintain consistent attendance, allowing them to stay engaged and on track academically. When families and educators work together, students receive the support and encouragement they need to build positive habits that lead to long-term success. We look forward to working with you to reduce our chronic tardiness and absenteeism rates over the next few months.

Our school is currently engaged in the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Accreditation process, a voluntary peer-review cycle dedicated to continuous improvement and growth. As a key milestone in this journey, we are preparing to host a Collaborative Conference Visit on March 30-31, 2026.

What is the Collaborative Conference?

The Collaborative Conference is a critical step in the five-step public school accreditation protocol. Following a period of extensive internal self-reflection by our staff and stakeholders, a small team of peer educators will visit our school.

The primary goals of this visit are to:

• Validate our findings: The visiting team will review our Self-Reflection report and the evidence we have gathered to support our school's progress.
• Identify priorities: Together, we will determine Priority Areas for Growth that will guide our school's development over the next several years.
• Observe learning in action: Visitors will spend time in classrooms, observing teaching practices and talking with students and staff about their work.

What to Expect During the Visit

During their time on campus, the NEASC team will engage deeply with our entire learning community. They may:

• Visit various classrooms and learning environments.
• Meet with administrators, teachers, and other school personnel.
• Conduct interviews with students and parent/guardian representatives to gain diverse perspectives on our school's impact.

Why This Matters for Your Family

Accreditation ensures that our school meets high research-based standards and maintains the systems necessary for an effective learning organization. This collaborative process allows us to go beyond standardized data and tell the "whole story" of our school—identifying where we are thriving and where we need to strengthen our work for our students.

Following the visit, the NEASC team will provide a report outlining goals for the next two years, which will directly inform our school's growth and improvement plans.

Congratulations to 9th Grader Drew Putnam who was recognized at the March Saco Bay Rotary meeting for being the BHS Student of the Month. Way to go, Drew!

The Biddeford Regional Center of Technology (COT) is now accepting applications for Fall 2026 so apply today! Classes in trades, engineering, CNA, EMT, athletic training, business, computer science, culinary, and hospitality management are available, with many offering dual enrollment for college credit. Visit us online at the COT website or schedule a tour through your high school guidance counselor to learn more. The BRCOT services students from BHS, TA, OOBHS, KHS, and MHS, and spaces fill up fast. Step-by-step directions on how to apply are linked here.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025 Biddeford Athletics Hall of Honor inductees! Our formal induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, in the Biddeford High School Little Theater. Tiger Pride!

• No cell phones during class.

• Enter classroom = put cell phone in provided container.

• It stays there until the block ends (bell to bell).

• If you temporarily leave the room, it still stays in the room.

• You can leave it in your locker or leave it at home.

• This is school board policy.

High School Parking and Center of Technology Transportation:

• For Students Traveling to/from the Center of Technology: Students should plan for additional travel time due to construction delays throughout the city.

• All student parking must be in the designated lot across from the high school

• ALL parking on the school side of Maplewood Avenue is PROHIBITED

• No parking is permitted in fire lanes or pick-up/drop-off areas

• Allow extra time for walking from the parking area

Enforcement:

• Vehicles parked in prohibited areas will be towed or ticketed

• These restrictions are necessary for school safety and emergency access

• Violations create serious safety hazards for students and staff

It is very important for parents to complete the registration process in order to stay connected and informed about your child(ren)’s education. If you have not yet set up your Infinite Campus Parent Portal, or need to make any edits to your information, please do so by clicking on the link below. Step-by-step instructions are available by clicking here.

District-related text alerts are sent from the number 98900, and while families are legally allowed to opt out of receiving these messages, doing so means you will no longer receive emergency updates via text—only by email. If you’ve previously opted out and would like to start receiving text alerts again, simply text START to 98900. Please note that it can take up to 48 business hours for the change to take effect.

In an effort to continue to build awareness around attendance and our procedures at Biddeford High School, we would like to remind you that any student and family that has a planned absence should be filling out out school planned absence form, having teachers sign the form and returning it to the Main Office. The form is also available in the Main Office at BHS.

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

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.

Elias Fletcher, Assistant Principal

Adam Flynn, Assistant Principal

Dennis Walton, Athletic & Activities Administrator

Email: mmurray@biddefordschools.me
Website: https://biddefordme.sites.thrillshare.com/o/bhs-apc
Location: 20 Maplewood Avenue, Biddeford, ME, USA
Phone: (207) 282-1596
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biddefordhighschooltigers
Twitter: @BHSTigers3