THE NFI NORTH ACADEMIC NEWSLETTER
Bridge Crossing Academy | Beacon House | Sidney Riverbend | Stetson Ranch
Principal’s Message
students bring to each day and the dedication of the staff who support them
This spring was filled with meaningful learning experiences, community engagement opportunities, and celebrations of student success. Students participated in a variety of educational and recreational outings, including trips to see the Portland Sea Dogs and the Maine Mariners Hockey. These experiences provided opportunities to practice social skills, build confidence, and create positive memories outside of the classroom while strengthening connections with peers and staff.
Across our schools, students made important academic gains and continued to work toward individualized goals. Whether mastering a new reading skill, improving attendance, developing emotional regulation strategies, or achieving personal milestones, each success represents hard work and perseverance Our educators remain committed to providing individualized instruction, trauma-responsive support, and opportunities for every student to experience growth and achievement
One of the highlights this season was celebrating our graduating seniors Graduation is a powerful reminder of what is possible when students are surrounded by caring adults who believe in them We are proud of our d t d th d t i ti th have shown in reaching this important milestone As they move on to the them the skills, experiences, and confidence they have developed during
of our partnerships with families, residential staff, clinicians, and ontinue to create environments where students are supported to thrive. ng and preparations for the next school year, I want to extend my sincere commitment to students and to our families and community partners for .
essful school year I wish everyone a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable
BRIDGE CROSSING
Bridge Crossing Academy has been strengthening their social-emotional skills inside and outside the classroom!
As we wrap up another wonderful spring at Bridge Crossing Academy, we're excited to celebrate the growth, resilience, and achievements of our students and staff.
This spring, our students engaged in meaningful learning experiences while also strengthening their socialemotional skills through our school-wide ChooseLove curriculum. Each week, they focused on themes like Courage, Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Compassion in Action, helping to build stronger relationships, improve self-regulation, and develop positive coping strategies.
Our classrooms continued to center on personalized learning, with students making great progress in reading, writing, and math through small group instruction, intervention support, and standards-based activities. Our dedicated staff worked tirelessly to provide engaging lessons that meet each student’s unique needs.
Outside the classroom, students enjoyed a variety of fun and enriching activities aimed at promoting wellness, creativity, and community involvement. They participated in art projects, outdoor play, fitness activities, and teamwork exercises that fostered collaboration and problem-solving. We had three students run with Bridgton Police Department and other surrounding agencies for the Special Olympics Torch Run and we also welcomed Theresa to our team of EdTechs. Theresa brings a hands-on approach to learning with a strong focus on engagement. We are excited to have her!
Looking ahead to summer programming, we are excited to have more experiences and adventures in the community. Exploring all our beautiful state has to offer.
We truly appreciate the commitment of our BCA staff, the support from families and treatment teams, and most of all, the perseverance of our students. Together, we are building a learning community where growth, belonging, and hope flourish.
BEACON HOUSE
Beacon students and staff are looking ahead at all the good things yet to come!
Spring is a time for growth and renewal and even though our school year is coming to an end, here at Beacon House we are looking forward to the good things yet to come
Our students have continued to grow in their academic studies, and renew their minds each day as they learn more about the world we all live in Here at Beacon House our gardens have been tended to Students have helped turn over soil as well as add new soil, plant flowers and vegetables and other plants as well They’ve taken part in a little bit of landscaping in painting their own rocks for the decorative garden in front of the house. We look forward to a summer enjoying the sights and smells of our gardens and for when we can harvest our tasty vegetables.
In school we’ve been busy with our well-rounded curriculum. In Math students work on their own personal goals, from learning and reviewing basic arithmetic, mastering fractions and decimals, to working with prime numbers and factors. In Language Arts we’ve read the novels, Island of the Blue Dolphins and Where the Red Fern Grows, and we are finishing up the year with a unit learning about the Greeks, their mythology and a viewing of a film adaptation of Homer’s epic the Odyssey In Government we are learning about political parties, primary elections and political conventions just in time for our state’s own primary elections, and in Science we are just getting into heredity, genetic traits and have studied the life and work of the father of genetics Gregor Mendel, which fits perfectly with our gardening activities
We have a few field trips planned for this summer as well Here is Martin, one of our BHPs, teaching the students about how to use a box sluice and about panning for gold. He plans to bring them out and show them how to use it for real over the summer. Maybe we’ll strike gold!
And speaking of strikes, in May we had a lot of fun watching a Seadogs Baseball Game and our very own David Flint got to throw out the first pitch!
We’d like to welcome our newest staff member to our team: Chad Doody has joined us as a BHP, he has a degree in psychology and experience working with youth in residential settings Chad says he’s excited about his new endeavor and is willing to learn and grow with NFI North You can find Chad on the trails or out on the water most weekends Chad is an avid hiker and kayaker, and he hopes to share his love for the outdoors with our students; this summer will give him plenty of opportunities for that Chad is looking forward to hiking Mount Katahdin this September as well We are happy to have Chad aboard
SIDNEY RIVERBEND
Sidney Riverbend Students Have Been Hard at Work While Also
Enjoying Some Maine Sports Fun!
As the semester comes to a close, students in English have been developing their skills as literary investigators Through the study of a variety of short stories, they analyzed literary elements and searched for textual "clues" to uncover deeper meanings and solve the mysteries within each story For their culminating project, students selected topics based on their individual interests and delivered presentations to their peers
In Science, students concluded their unit on evolution and classification by creating visual museum exhibits These projects highlighted specific animals and explored their characteristics, adaptations, and relationships within broader classification systems.
The Dystopian Book Club completed Scythe by Neal Shusterman and participated in engaging activities focused on themes such as surveillance, artificial intelligence, immortality, and corruption.
During Media Literacy, students examined news headlines to identify sensationalism, clickbait, and bias. They also learned strategies for preventing and responding to cyberbullying. The unit concluded with discussions about the impact of digital citizenship and how online choices can influence real-life experiences.
In Social Studies, students wrapped up the year by studying and completing questions from the U S Citizenship Test, which is administered as part of the naturalization process for becoming a United States citizen
Students have continued working on individualized math instruction through a variety of resources, including textbooks and the IXL learning platform Recently, we have begun utilizing the IXL Jamboard feature, which allows instructors and students to collaborate in real time while working through lessons together
In Holocaust Studies, students are completing a comprehensive wall timeline that highlights significant events and historical milestones.
In Personal Finance, students have been learning how to calculate the cost of loans using loan calculators, while also comparing the potential earnings from investments and savings accounts.
Summer School will begin soon, and this year’s theme is “The Game of Life.” Students will focus on developing practical life skills while participating in a large-scale interactive version of the classic board game, complete with unique educational twists Throughout the summer, students will take part in community-based field trips to locations such as grocery stores banks the DMV town offices and other local resources to strengthen their real-world knowledge and independence
STETSON RANCH
Stetson Ranch End-of-Year Reflection!
As we close out the 2025–2026 school year, we celebrate a year filled with growth, achievement, and new opportunities. A major highlight was Stetson School being selected to participate in the Compass Pilot Program through Vocational Rehabilitation and Living Innovations. This partnership expanded access to career exploration, job coaching, and apprenticeship experiences, providing students with valuable vocational opportunities and pathways for future success.
This year also marked growth within our educational team. We were pleased to welcome Sylvie and look forward to welcoming Glenda, whose contributions strengthen our dynamic and skilled staff. The dedication, collaboration, and adaptability of our educators, clinicians, and support staff continue to create meaningful opportunities for student learning and growth. Special thanks to Megan for leading Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and to Breanna for coordinating career and vocational experiences that helped students connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities.
We proudly congratulate our two graduating seniors and wish continued success to the students transitioning back to their home school districts. Throughout the year, students challenged themselves through worksite tours, volunteer projects at Finson Road, and hands-on experiences in our garden and greenhouse programs. By embracing new opportunities and healthy risks, they developed confidence, independence, and skills that will benefit them well beyond the classroom.
Finally, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Walter on his retirement after many years of dedicated service to our students and school community. As we reflect on the accomplishments of this year, we are grateful for our students, families, staff, and community partners who make this work possible. Thank you for a successful year, and we wish everyone a safe, restful, and enjoyable summer.
