Mission and Expectations

Mission Statement: At Biddeford High School, our shared vision is that all students will graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in post-secondary education, compete in the global economy, and participate as informed citizens.

In order to achieve this vision, it is our mission to ensure that:

• All students receive an education that is challenging, engaging, equitable, and relevant;
• We are providing a learning environment in which all members of the school community feel safe, valued, and respected;
• We are working in partnership with families and the community to support and promote the healthy development of each individual.

Academic Expectations: Biddeford High School should strive to provide a core of common learning to ensure all students an adequate foundation of education.

Students will write effectively for a variety of purposes and forms, and to a variety of audiences. The students will demonstrate:

• Correct spelling, correct punctuation, understanding of parts of speech, correct use of paragraphs, and citation.
• The written expression of thought with clear beginning and topic sentence.
  
  

Students will speak with clarity to specific purposes and to a variety of audiences. The students will demonstrate:

• The ability to articulate and organize ideas and information.
• Flexibility in listening to and acknowledging new ideas and concepts.
  
  

Students will read a variety of materials for comprehension and for enjoyment, and to meet specific demands of curriculum. The students will demonstrate:

• An understanding of an author’s tone and point of view.
• The ability to synthesize and summarize works.
  
  

Students will use a variety of technological resources to gather information, solve problems, and communicate ideas. The students will demonstrate:

• An awareness of both current and developing technologies.
• The ability to access, understand, and evaluate current information by using technology.
• The ability to choose appropriate and effective strategies for gathering and presenting information.
  
  

Students will use computation to solve problems across the curriculum, and to reflect on, communicate, and apply academic content to everyday life. The students will demonstrate:

• An organized and practical approach to problem solving.
• An ability to solve and/or resolve problems.
• An ability to interpret data and effectively use resources to solve and/or resolve problems,
• verbally and in writing.

Social Expectations: Biddeford High School will encourage students to be responsible, to have confidence in their abilities, and to have respect both for themselves and others. Through class discussions, personal interactions, school initiatives, curricular and co-curricular activities, community events, and the school discipline code, students will demonstrate:

• Familiarity with conflict resolution.
• Acceptance of responsibility for one’s own actions and of consequences for inappropriate choices.
• Respect for family, school, and community values.
• Willingness to contribute to the well being of others within the school community.

 
Civic Expectations: Biddeford High School will prepare students to be contributors to our democratic society and an interdependent world. Through class discussions, personal interactions, school initiatives, curricular and co-curricular activities, community events, and the school discipline code, students will demonstrate:

• Recognition of the need for teamwork, communication, and leadership skills needed to function in diverse and rapidly changing settings.
• Awareness of global issues and recognition of the variety of beliefs, opinions, and needs of others in our own and different cultures and societies.
• Knowledge of the rights, responsibilities, and privileges of citizens in a democratic society.