More than 700 Biddeford High School (BHS) students in grades 8 through 12 stepped outside the classroom and into the community on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, for their annual Community Service Day. Fueled by the values of Tiger PRIDE (Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dependability, and Empathy), students dedicated their April PRIDE day to meaningful engagement and community impact by spending the day working to make their community a better place.
This year’s Tiger PRIDE Day featured some exciting new elements, including the addition of custom T-shirts for all students and staff to wear during the service activities. A T-shirt design contest was held to encourage creative expression, and the winning designs were showcased across the entire school community. Congratulations to BHS Junior Khloe Proulx and BHS Sophomore Carter Cormier for their exceptional designs, which beautifully captured the spirit of the event and our school’s values.
“Adding T-shirts for everyone was a great way to unify the students and staff while showing our commitment to community service,” said Biddeford High School Principal Martha Jacques. “It’s incredible to see our students taking ownership of this day, working hard to help local organizations and individuals in need. They are not just learning about community service—they are embodying the Tiger PRIDE values and helping to build a stronger, more connected community. We are so proud of their efforts and their commitment.”
Throughout the morning, students spread out across the community to take part in service projects, including trash pickup, winter cleanup (leaves, fallen branches, and debris), painting, assisting at local food pantries, and spending time with elementary school students in classrooms. One student reflected on his experience: “I didn’t expect to feel this connected to the people we were helping. It made me realize how even small actions can mean a lot. I’ll never forget the smile of the person I helped today.”
This year, the BHS students assisted the following businesses: the Biddeford Food Pantry, Youth Full Maine, The Behen Fund, Biddeford Community Gardens, My Space Teen Center, Biddeford Parks and Recreation, Biddeford Town Works, JFK, BPS, BIS, Heart of Biddeford, Southridge Rehabilitation and Living Center, St. Andre Health Care, the YMCA, Avesta Senior Housing, The Eastern Trail Alliance, and Biddeford Head Start, in addition to working on beautification projects around the Biddeford High School campus.
Community Service Day 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 aimed at supporting its core values of Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dependability, and Empathy. These opportunities are called “PRIDE Days.”
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