On Monday, April 8th, a total eclipse will occur from approximately 3:28 p.m. to 3:35 p.m. Although some schools are altering their schedules to a half-day, our district has opted to remain a full day due to our earlier dismissal times for younger students. Parent pick-up is an option for older students or if parents choose to participate in eclipse-viewing activities with their child(ren).

Dismissal times are:

• Dayton: 2:10 pm
• Pre-K: 2:05 pm
  
• JFK, BPS, BIS: 2:20 pm
• BMS: 2:55 pm
• BHS/COT: 2:40 pm

The eclipse presents a unique educational opportunity for students to learn about astronomy and celestial events. Teachers may incorporate related lessons and activities into the curriculum to enhance the learning experience. We encourage parents to discuss this rare astronomical phenomenon with their children and emphasize the importance of following safety guidelines during outdoor activities.

As many news outlets report, proper eye protection with a special solar filter (not regular sunglasses) is critical to prevent serious eye damage. To assist in ensuring that students practice safe viewing, schools will send home protective eyewear purchased by the district.

Thank you for your support in making this educational experience memorable and safe.

My Best,

Jeremy Ray

Superintendent of Schools

Last Friday, John F. Kennedy School (JFK) hosted its annual Little Inventors Expo. It was clear that students spent a lot of time thinking about problems in their lives and in the community to invent prototypes for inventions that would solve the problem.

Among the inventions being built included:

• a robot who "plays with your baby brother so you don't have to"

• a cat who washes, dries, and folds your laundry

• an arm extender to "grab your cat if he goes over the fence to your neighbor's yard"

• and a pond cleaning system to clean dirty water so "fishies can be happy"

Check Out the Kindergarten Art Walk on Main Street! Each JFK Kindergarten student will have one work of art hanging in shop windows along the 200 block of Main Street (from City Hall to Oak Point Associates). Come take a walk along Biddeford’s Main Street and admire the art on display from April 4-30.

Dayton Consolidated School kicked off Read Across America, as did many other schools across the country in March, but they had a creative “currency” for their Read-A-Thon! Staff set the goals for minutes read while students set the funny “payment” when they succeeded. The school-wide challenge milestones during March included:

• 6,000 minutes read = Staff would wear mustaches

• 18,000 minutes read = Staff would dance a conga line for them at the next assembly

• 30,000 minutes read = Principal Sampietro would dye her hair blue

• 45,000 minutes read = Gym/STEM teacher Jill Keimach would be duct taped to the wall

Well, they rallied and smashed every goal set, as you can see in the fun photos below. Thank you to all the staff, especially Ms. Keimach, for making learning fun and thinking outside the box to motivate and encourage students to focus on their reading.