Bangor School Department -

Local Seafood Takes Center Stage at BHS

Bangor High School welcomed Chef Joe Robbins, a member of the Penobscot tribe and Executive Chef at Hamden’s Marsh Island Kitchen, for a special culinary event that highlights the bounty of Maine's coastal waters and local produce. On January 13, Robbins created and served a delicious meal of seared pollock accompanied by butternut squash puree, local greens, and sage oil.

This initiative is part of a broader effort spearheaded by the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA) to integrate more locally sourced seafood into K-12 cafeterias across the state. MCFA has been collaborating with various school districts, including Bangor, to ensure students have access to nutritious, fresh seafood. The program has already introduced popular items like local pollock filets and the beloved Maine Coast Flounder Fish Cakes, produced by Rockport-based Graffam Brothers Seafood. Bangor students sampled these dishes with enthusiasm last November, alongside other local specialties such as Hurricane Soup’s Maine Coast Monkfish Stew and Sweet Potato Pollock Soup.

The event not only showcases Chef Robbins’ culinary skills but also emphasizes community engagement. The ingredients for the meal — including the squash and greens — are generously donated by the Second Harvest Partnership, highlighting local partnerships that bolster food sustainability in the region.

Students from the nearby Abraham Lincoln Elementary School will be participating in the event by creating posters that celebrate Wabanaki culture, aligning with their upcoming unit on Wabanaki studies this spring. This educational component adds a rich cultural backdrop to the day’s festivities.

Noelle Scott, Nutrition Director of the Bangor School Department, stated, “This event is a fantastic opportunity for our students to not only enjoy fresh, locally sourced seafood but also to connect with the cultural heritage of our community. By collaborating with Chef Robbins and the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, we are fostering a love for healthy eating and a deeper understanding of where our food comes from.”

Locally sourced food has a way of uniting communities around the dinner table, and events like this one highlight the importance of sourcing food sustainably while supporting local fishermen and farmers. As students dive into this flavorful experience, hopefully, they’ll not only enjoy a delicious meal but also gain insights into the rich culinary and cultural traditions of Maine.

Key figures in the event include Noelle Scott, Nutrition Director of the Bangor School Department, and Susan Olcott, Director of Operations at the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association. Amanda Junkins, Regional Local Foods Project Coordinator for the Department of Education’s Child Nutrition program, was also instrumental in the initiative.

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Join Us for a Strategic Planning Listening Session!
Attention Bangor Residents and Parents/Guardians of Bangor Students!

The Bangor School Department is excited to invite you to one of our Strategic Planning Listening Sessions. Your voice matters as we shape the future of education in our community!

Share Your Perspectives: We want to hear your thoughts on how we can enhance the learning environment for our students.
Build a Community of Belonging: Contribute to discussions aimed at fostering an inclusive and supportive school atmosphere for all.

To sign up for one of the sessions, go to https://www.bangorschools.net/page/strategic-planning and complete a survey to sign up.

Your input is vital!

For more information, visit our website or contact us at (207) 262-9125.

Together, we can build a brighter future for Bangor schools! #WeAreBangor

January 7, 2026

Good morning BSD Families and Staff,

Due to the predicted icy weather conditions, the Bangor School Department will be closed today, January 7, 2026. All BSD student activities scheduled for today are cancelled. Thank you and enjoy your day.

The photo is of a project from the BHS Fiber Arts Class. Students made stuffed animals. This little guy is ready for today's weather and is looking forward to that cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows.

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GAME CHANGE - Game Day Alert! 🏀
Join us on January 6, 2026, as the Bangor Boys Basketball team takes on Ellsworth!
Bangor High School
JV - 5 PM
Varsity - 6:30 PM
$3 for students and seniors
$5 for adults
Streaming live on WHOU.live!

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We invite you to listen to the new episode of Beyond the Bell. In this episode, Superintendent Marie Robinson and School Committee member Sara Luciano are joined by Tracy Willette, the Director of Parks and Recreation. Together, they discuss the essential collaboration between Bangor schools and the Parks and Recreation department, highlighting shared infrastructures like Cameron Stadium and school gyms that facilitate community programs.

Click here to listen: https://open.spotify.com/show/3oQj4IMSEMqMuNKb4Qvi0i
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Make sure to SHARE, LIKE, and SUBSCRIBE

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Fifth-grade students from Mary Snow School arrived at Fruit Street to spend time working with our Pre-K, kindergarten, and first-grade students. Together, the students collaborated to create a snowman, sharing ideas and teamwork throughout the activity. Afterward, they enjoyed time reading a story together, building connections and fostering a love of learning across grade levels.
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Mark your calendars and set a reminder to tune in to WABI TV5's special holiday show on December 25 from 5:00 to 6:30 PM. You'll have the chance to see our talented Bangor High School Jazz Ensemble, the Bangor High School Chorus, and the Combined James F. Doughty and William S. Cohen Middle School Chorus light up your screens with their amazing performances! Spread the word and join us for a magical evening!

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On Wednesday, December 17, five geocivics classes at Bangor High School met with representatives from the Bangor Parks and Recreation Department to discuss the city's resources and services. Director Tracy Willette, Supervisor Joe Nelson from Sawyer Arena and BHS athletic field, and Head PGA Professional Rob Jarvis shared their insights on managing resources for a large community. They emphasized the importance of exploring various opportunities and experiences as students consider their potential career paths.

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After an investigation about why we can see our breath in cold weather, students in Mrs. White's class explored a fun cold-weather experiment to see the science in action. When boiling water is tossed into extremely cold air, it breaks into tiny droplets that cool so fast they instantly turn into ice crystals and water vapor, creating a “snowy” cloud in the air.

https://youtube.com/shorts/99UZCvc2fPo

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Bangor Day—December 23, 2025—Wear Red and White!

During the month of December we are collecting healthy non-perishable foods, including canned vegetables and fruit, canned meat and tuna, cereal, pasta, rice, peanut butter, juice, and beverages.

The City of Bangor and the Bangor School Department will collect money donations. For a $10 donation, BSD staff may wear jeans on December 23.
Donations may be given at any Bangor school.

Please make checks payable to Bangor School Department.
Let's show our Bangor spirit, wear our school colors, and help those in need in our community.

Donation of funds will be collected at all eleven Bangor Schools and City Hall.

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The Bangor Authors’ Fair is returning for its fourth year at the Bangor Public Library on December 13th, 2025. It’s the largest event of its kind in Maine, with over 90 authors and six publishers attending.

There will be various panels throughout the day, representing a wide variety of genres. The fair is organized by the Bangor Authors’ Collaborative, founded by Christopher Packard, an author and science teacher at Bangor High.

RamPage decided to ask him some questions so students could learn about the Bangor Authors’ Fair.

Q: Are there any challenges that come with setting up the Bangor Authors’ Fair, and are there any differences from previous years?

A: This year I have a lot of help from other authors. I’ve formed a group. It's always nice to have help but to have that help you have to communicate all the things you know, which is a challenge. It’s a lot of work put together for an event that large, hundreds of hours. If you’re organizing events you’re not writing, time and brainpower being spent on something other than your passion, the reason I started doing the author’s fair.

Read more at bhsrampage.com

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