(Pictured: Biddeford High School (BHS) students try out making homemade pasta as part of the “Passion Classes,” a special day filled with a unique curriculum designed to help students explore new hobbies and interests while fostering meaningful connections with teachers.)
Discovering what excites and motivates students can be a game-changer in education, boosting engagement, academic performance, and overall wellbeing. Last month, Biddeford High School (BHS) hosted “Passion Classes,” a special day filled with a unique curriculum designed to help students explore new hobbies and interests, while fostering meaningful connections with teachers.
The Passion Classes event allowed teachers to step outside of their traditional subjects to share something they are passionate about—whether it’s a life skill, creative hobby, or unique interest. Students were given the opportunity to choose three sessions throughout the day, selecting from a wide range of engaging topics. Some sessions focused on practical life skills, such as making sushi, homemade pasta, or pancakes, while others introduced students to weightlifting techniques or the basics of sourdough baking. Creativity took center stage in sessions on knitting and crocheting, embroidery, and candle-making, while other offerings helped students to develop social-emotional skills through communication workshops, meditation, and even mapmaking. For those looking for something fun and interactive, applicable options included trivia, chess, and even a session on planning the perfect Disney trip.
Biddeford High School (BHS) students enjoy making diamond paintings as part of the “Passion Classes,” a special day filled with a unique curriculum designed to help students explore new hobbies and interests while fostering meaningful connections with teachers.
The Passion Classes event aligns with the growing focus on social-emotional learning (SEL), which encourages students to explore their passions, develop confidence, and build a sense of purpose. Finding one’s passion in high school can lead to greater motivation, more substantial learning outcomes, and even help shape future career choices. Just as importantly, this initiative creates opportunities for students to connect with teachers in new and meaningful ways, discovering shared interests over common hobbies that can strengthen relationships beyond the classroom. Those bonds continue to grow throughout the school year, contributing to a more positive and supportive learning environment.
“Passions fuel curiosity and drive learning in ways traditional instruction sometimes cannot,” Martha Jacques, Biddeford High School Principal, said. “When students have a reason to build skills—whether it’s reading, math, or problem-solving—because they need those skills to go further in something they love, they become more engaged and invested in their learning.”
The Passion Classes event reflects the school’s commitment to connecting with one another and continuously fostering a sense of belonging for students and staff. While strong relationships are forged in the classrooms each day, Biddeford High School works to elevate these efforts with school-wide co-curricular activities to support its core values of Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dependability, and Empathy. These opportunities are called “PRIDE Days”.
This story was submitted by Biddeford High School. To submit a good news story to the Maine Department of Education, please fill out the good news submission form.
Sanford Middle School has a new wave of young journalists who are making their mark with the launch of a new school newspaper. The SMS Times, which launched in early February, is giving students a platform to report on school events, sports, and issues that matter to them.
Inspired by the Sanford High School’s Spartan Times, this newspaper project began when Sanford Middle School Gifted and Talented Coordinator Chambree Kumka introduced the idea to her English Language Arts groups.
“I thought this would be something that would really get them feeling connected to the school,” Kumka explained.
The SMS Times has already made an impact within the school community. Fifth-grader Henry Defrance wrote a popular article about a malfunctioning water fountain that got real-world results.
“It hadn’t been working, but the day after I wrote the article it got fixed,” he said. Henry said he is preparing a follow-up piece for the next issue.
Sports coverage has emerged as a central feature, with fifth-graders Ivy Peters and Tanner Provencher (pictured above) forming a dedicated reporting team.
“I thought it would be fun to write about school sports and stuff,” Ivy expressed. Though her article wasn’t in the debut issue, she said she is excited to see her work in the next edition.
Tanner said she appreciates the opportunity to learn about sports that she doesn’t personally play.
“I like to learn about the experiences,” she noted. Both reporters said they are looking forward to covering spring sports, particularly softball and baseball.
Fellow fifth-grader Luke Levesque, who also contributes to sports coverage, said his favorite part is simply “seeing all the sports.”
These young reporters are learning to conduct interviews, speaking with coaches and players and gathering quotes and perspectives to enrich their articles. Students are gaining valuable experience in writing, editing, and meeting deadlines. They are also learning to research topics independently.
“I want to teach them about making sure they’ve checked their facts,” Kumka noted. “If we do make a mistake, we correct it in the next issue.”
Students receive guidance when needed but are encouraged to develop their own story ideas.
“If they’re stuck on something, I’ll guide them toward something that might be needed,” Kumka said. “But I definitely try to let them choose.”
The SMS Times has received positive feedback from teachers and students alike. The first edition featured a diverse range of content, including Henry’s investigative water fountain report; sports coverage by Luke and Eamon McGuckin-Welsch; a feature on Sanford Middle School Resource Officer Joe Jourdain receiving the Wayne Drown Award; a spotlight on eighth-grader Paityn Ricker’s SnackDash program; a guide to school clubs written by Lia Tullo, Alana Repolt, and Gabe Donovan; a student poll on allied arts classes; historical photos of Sanford; and even a joke section. It also promoted upcoming events like the school’s production of “Beauty and the Beast,” scheduled for May of 2025.
While fifth graders form the core of the reporting staff, Kumka said she hopes to increase involvement among older students in the future. These young journalists are already thinking about future coverage. Some are preparing to report on the school talent show, while others are developing ideas for feature stories about student concerns, such as lunch table seating arrangements.
Kumka currently handles design and production of the newspaper but said she plans to gradually pass these responsibilities to the students, as well.
“Eventually, I’d like for them to be doing pretty much all of it,” she said.
This story was submitted by Sanford Middle School. To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.
Maine Youth Thriving is hosting a series of free, virtual (via Zoom) and in-person professional development sessions throughout the next several months in partnership with the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and Maine’s Office of Child and Family Services.
These sessions will focus on:
Ways in which adverse and positive childhood experiences impact children’s development,
Ideas for supporting a stronger focus on positive experiences and for building resilience for young children, and
Strategies for how educators can address compassion fatigue and build their own resilience.
Are you ready to open doors to boundless possibilities for your students? Consider registering for the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education’s (OSSIE) second annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit, scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Maine Community College.
This Summit invites schools across Maine to join a transformative initiative, designed specifically for students with disabilities who are at the age of transitioning from school to their future. This dynamic gathering goes beyond traditional career fairs to offer meaningful exploration, skill-building, and work-based learning opportunities, tailored to each student’s interests and abilities.
Making a Difference Together
By participating in this summit, you become part of a statewide movement to reshape post-secondary pathways for ALL Maine students with disabilities. Your involvement creates ripple effects of opportunity:
Students discover career paths they may never have considered, building confidence and practical skills for their future.
Educators gain valuable resources, evidence-based practices, and direct connections with industry partners.
Businesses develop tomorrow’s workforce, while fulfilling community engagement goals.
Join the Movement
Help your students find where they belong in Maine’s future workforce. The ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit provides a student-centered environment for youth to explore career pathways at their own pace, connect with potential employers, and envision new possibilities for their lives after school.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of something extraordinary! Together, we can create a more inclusive, opportunity-rich future for Maine’s students with disabilities.
Maine middle and high schools are invited to fill out a school interest form, if they are planning to bring students to the second annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit. (Registrations for individual students will be sent directly to schools that complete the interest form.)
For more information, please contact Maine DOE Transition Specialist Titus O’Rourke at titus.orourke@maine.gov.
April 1 Enrollmentreporting opened on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. The due date for certifying this report is Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
A comparison of April enrollments to October enrollments is used for policy and decision-making. Therefore, it is important for school administrative units (SAUs) to complete this review and certification in the reported timeframe.
Collection of Title I allocation data for private schools with eligible students will be provided for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, based on the 2024-2025 April 1 enrollment collection. Private schools with Title I-eligible students should enter enrollment data of eligible students into State Synergy.
Quarter 3 Reports are open as of Tuesday, April 1, 2025. The due date for validating these reports will be Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Collection of Attendance, Truancy, Behavior, and Bullyingare ongoing reports for the school year. This validation provides an opportunity to update data to this point in the year. The final certification of these reports will be at the end of the school year; updating data to this point will allow for more efficient certification at the end of the school year.
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) will be updating data reporting systems and a few data elements for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). A webinar that outlines these changes is scheduled for Thursday, April 17, 2025.
These changes include the use of a new data integration system called Connect, which will replace State Synergy. This change was outlined in a priority notice sent to superintendents and technology directors on March 28. You may view that priority notice here.
In addition to the system change, a few student data elements will be updated for the 2025-2026 reporting year. This includes:
An updated code for economic disadvantage identification.
Requirements for full-time equivalency (FTE) codes to be populated.
Student ID numbers to be updated to 10 digits.
Resident codes transitioning to GeoCodes.
The Maine Education Data Management System (MEDMS) Support Team has been in contact with the student information systems (SIS) vendors regarding updates to reporting for FY26, so they will have changes ready for the fall collections.
The MEDMS Support Team will host this webinar on April 17 at noon to provide information about these changes and allow school administrative units (SAUs) to ask questions about these updates.
The Maine Association of School Nurses (MASN) has announced that nominations are open for the 2025-2026 Maine School Nurse of the Year award. The application deadline is May 16, 2025.
This award recognizes an outstanding school nurse for their contributions to the school and community they serve. Nominees must demonstrate leadership in six areas of practice: care provision, program management, health education, professional development, community involvement, and research.
The individual selected will receive a $500 cash award and will be recognized at the next professional conference for school nurses in Maine.
To nominate someone for Maine School Nurse of the Year, please put together a nomination packet, including:
The completed nomination form (found on the MASN website, linked below).
Three to five reference letters—with at least one from an administrator.
Curriculum vitae/resume of the nominee.
A written report addressing the six content areas.
You may submit the original and three copies of the nomination packet by May 16, 2025, to Erin Taylor, the Maine School Nurse of the Year Coordinator, at etaylor@capeelizabethschools.org. (You may also email Erin to ask for a physical mailing address. For more information about the criteria and how to start the nomination process, check out the MASN website.
If you know a school nurse who inspires you with their dedication to the school community, please consider nominating them for this prestigious award!
The Teens to Trails Life Happens Outside® Challengeis back for 2025! This week-long challenge encourages Maine middle school communities to spend as much time as possible outdoors between Friday, May 9, at noon and the following Friday, May 16, at noon. The timing for this challenge couldn’t be better, as Maine physical education teachers gear up for National Physical Fitness and Sports Month in May.
Winners of the challenge will be calculated based on total minutes spent outdoors (accumulated by the entire middle school community), divided by the number of students at the school. The goal is to equalize both large and small schools’ chances of winning. Participating schools must select a “Challenge Champion”, who will coordinate the challenge, collect submissions, and report results to Teens to Trails by May 20, 2025, at 5 p.m. Winners will be announced on Friday, May 23. The top three schools will each be awarded $1,000.
Students and staff at Maine middle schools (grades 5-8) may contribute outdoor minutes to this challenge. Schools of all grades are encouraged and welcome to participate; however, only minutes contributed by grade 5-8 students and staff will count toward the actual challenge.
Additional guidelines are as follows:
Activities may include recess, picnics, outdoor lunches, sports practices, camping out, and much more!
Outdoor time can take place before, during, and after school—or at home with friends and family.
During the challenge week, students and staff will track and submit their activity.
Reporting of outdoor hours is done using the honor system.
To participate in the challenge, please register using the Life Happens Outside® Challenge registration form. Once registered, schools will receive additional information and promotional materials for the challenge.
For further questions, please contact Teens to Trails at info@teenstotrails.org, or call 207-725-0800.
Teens to Trails is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit dedicated to connecting teenage students to life-changing outdoor experiences with a vision that all teens have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors together.
The Maine Association of School Libraries (MASL) is celebrating two educators: Maranacook Community High School Principal Michele Laforge, who has been awarded the 2025 MASL Administrator of the Year Award, and Dirigo Elementary School Librarian Cindy Petherbridge, who has been awarded the 2025 MASL Walter J. Taranko School Librarian of the Year Award.
The MASL School Administrator Award honors administrators who, through individual leadership and sustained effort, have made worthy contributions to the operations of effective school library media services within the educational program. The Walter J. Taranko School Librarian Award, named for the former Maine State consultant for school libraries, honors certified school librarians who have made a significant contribution to the profession.
At school-wide assemblies on Thursday, March 27, and Friday, March 28, the awardees were each surprised by an awards presentation. Both awards include a personalized plaque and $500 for their school libraries.
Michele Laforge Maranacook Community High School Principal 2025 MASL Administrator of the Year Award
Michele Laforge was nominated for this award by Maranacook’s Librarian, Liz Guillemette, and Literacy Interventionist, Juliet Tinckham. Guillemette and Tinckham noted in their nomination that Laforge is an avid reader who talks about books to staff and students all the time, supports the Writing Center program in the library, and works tirelessly to nurture a culture of literacy in the school. They also described her as “a champion of libraries and librarians” who “creates opportunities for the library to be utilized and recognized as a hub for reading, information, and community.”
Pictured from left to right: Juliet Tinckham, Michele Laforge, and Liz Guillemette at an all-school assembly on March 27, 2025, where MASL past-President Heather Perkinson surprised Laforge with the award.
Cindy Petherbridge Dirigo Elementary School Librarian 2025 MASL Walter J. Taranko School Librarian of the Year Award
The impressive nomination of Cindy Petherbridge submitted to MASL by Dirigo Principal Dr. Charlie Swan included testimonials from colleagues, parents, and students. Teachers describe Petherbridge as a “ray of sunshine,” whose “unwavering dedication to her students and school” is unmatched. A parent noted that “she knows all the kids by name, is always helpful and kind, and makes every child feel welcome” and “has created a safe, nurturing environment where children can thrive.” Swan described the many programs that the “immensely passionate, creative, and caring” librarian oversees, including book fairs, field trips to the town library, technology instruction, mentoring colleagues, and aligning books with the new reading program. He said she is a “true inspiration for the love of reading” and makes a “difference in the academic and social development of our students.” Swan explained that during the Covid pandemic, Petherbridge even volunteered to teach 4th grade remotely, because she is “always all in on doing what is best for kids in our school.”
The entire student body at the pre-K to grade 5 school, along with parents and staff in attendance, were so thrilled for their librarian that they gave her a standing ovation when MASL past-President Heather Perkinson surprised Petherbridge with the award at the assembly on March 28, 2025.
Pictured from left to right: RSU 56 Superintendent Pamela Doyen, Dirigo Elementary School Librarian Cindy Petherbridge, and Principal Charlie Swan gather for a group picture after the award presentation.
MASL’s mission is to provide connections for creating and advancing effective school library programs through professional development, advocacy, and community-building. For more information about MASL’s awards and how to nominate educators for them, please visit the MASL website and choose the Awards and Scholarships tab.
From March 10-12, 2025, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Maine School Safety Center (MSSC) hosted the first annual Maine School Safety & Transportation Conference at the Samoset Resort in Rockport. This three-day event brought together transportation administrators, district and building administrators, law enforcement, school health teams, and safety experts to explore effective strategies for maintaining safe and supportive learning environments.
The conference began with an evening networking event, fostering connections among participants from across the state. The following morning, a general session led by the MSSC team set the stage for an in-depth exploration of school safety and transportation topics.
MSSC Assistant Director Jeffery Upton welcomed attendees, emphasizing the significance of hosting a conference tailored to Maine’s unique demographics and geography. Upton highlighted the need for comprehensive, localized strategies that address the state’s distinct challenges.
Following Upton, Bridgette Gilbert, the Maine DOE School Emergency Management Coordinator, stressed the value of tabletop exercises—discussion-based activities that simulate emergency scenarios in a low-stress environment. She provided participants with materials and scenarios to bring back to their schools, helping to refine emergency response plans and identify areas for improvement.
Michelle Legare, Maine DOE School Safety and Security Coordinator, highlighted the importance of law enforcement involvement and discussed considerations before, during, and after an incident.
Maine DOE Transportation Training Coordinator Cheryl Brackett then addressed the critical role of transportation safety, noting the impact of natural and human-made disasters on school transportation systems. She underscored the importance of equipping all school staff with emergency preparedness training.
Maine DOE Restorative Practices Coordinator Stacey Barlow also provided a brief presentation to discuss the importance of using restorative practices following emergencies, focusing on building and maintaining relationships among students and staff.
Audience members contributed valuable insights during the general session, such as the benefit of conducting unscheduled fire or lockdown drills to ensure genuine preparedness. Additionally, the complexities of student cell phone use during emergencies and the need for accurate, timely communication with parents were discussed.
Throughout the remainder of the conference, participants engaged in breakout sessions hosted by partners across Maine and the nation on topics like Behavioral Threat Assessment Management (BTAM), exploitation prevention for students, restorative practices, bomb threat assessment, drug identification and trends, FERPA compliance, bus evacuation procedures, dangerous student behavior prevention and intervention law, Security At First Entry (SAFE) Assessment, emotional intelligence, specialized sessions for school nurses, Transportation Director 101, CDL information session, vaping awareness, and wheelchair securement.
Participants also had the opportunity to attend a Drug and Alcohol Supervisor Certification course held by the Maine Motor Transport Association, enabling them to leave the conference certified to identify the physical, behavioral, speech, and performance indicators of probable alcohol misuse and use of controlled substances.
One standout session highlighted a year-long initiative by the transportation team at MSAD 6, Bonny Eagle. That team has partnered with Maine DOE Social Emotional Intelligence Consultant Kellie D. Bailey to train staff and bus drivers in emotional intelligence, mindfulness practices, and understanding brain science to better address challenging youth behavior.
The initiative aims to cultivate self-awareness and self-regulation and to develop an understanding of these concepts to help with student relationships and student behavior.
“Safety on the bus begins with the person behind the wheel. Having drivers who are best equipped to manage their own responses to the multiple environmental, behavioral, and emotional factors that they encounter daily is essential, as we strive to continue to elevate our [team] and our industry as a whole,” said MSAD 6 Assistant Director Mitzii Smith. “We are excited to be blazing a new trail with this work, as we are the only Transportation Department in the State of Maine to have initiated this collaboration.”
Right to left: Sherri Zulick, MSAD 6 Transportation Trainer; Kellie D. Bailey Maine DOE Consultant; Mitzii Smith, MSAD 6 Transportation Assistant Director; Sarah Marean, MSAD 6 Transportation Director
Check out a video clip of MSAD 6 bus drivers talking about the project.
Attendees left the conference equipped with new tools, strategies, and connections to strengthen school safety and transportation practices statewide. The Maine School Safety & Transportation Conference reaffirmed the collective commitment to creating secure and supportive environments for Maine’s students.
Here is a video of transportation directors and bus drivers being interviewed by Nokomis High School students during the conference, using the Maine DOE Mobile Learning Van.
MSSC plans to host a School Safety & Transportation Conference annually in the late winter/spring.
Anyone working with school safety is encouraged to check out MSSC’s eight-week School Safety Specialist Program. Provided at no cost to Maine schools, the courses are available asynchronously through Eastern Maine Community College and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Maine DOE Newsroom 