The fire alarm issue at Harriet Beecher Stowe School has been fully resolved!
The school will be open tomorrow, Friday, September 25, 2026.
Thank you all for your understanding, patience, and continued support!
Kind regards,
Phillip J. Potenziano, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Brunswick School Department
#teambrunswickme #maineschoolsuperintendent #brunswickmaine
The countdown is ON. ⏰ Next week we’re bringing the 🧡🖤 SCHOOL SPIRIT, COMPETITION & CHAOS 🖤🧡 to BHS!
Every day during FLEX = a new chance to rep your class and rack up those points. 👀🏆
📣 MONDAY: PEP RALLY — Gym
🎶 TUESDAY: MUSICAL CHAIRS — Stadium Field
🏃 WEDNESDAY: RELAY — Gym
🧠 THURSDAY: ACADEMIC DAY — No FLEX Activity
💪 FRIDAY: TUG OF WAR — Gym
🔥 AND MAYBE… STAFF vs. STUDENTS?! 👀
Plus, don’t forget to show up in your Homecoming-themed fits all week! Check out the attached themes and COME READY TO COMMIT. 😤
Which class is taking the crown? 👑
Which class has the most spirit? 📣
Who’s getting absolutely humbled in musical chairs? 😂
LET THE HOMECOMING GAMES BEGIN. 🧡🐉🖤
#BHSHomecoming #DragonPride #GoDragons #HomecomingWeek #BHSDragons #mainesuperintendent #teambrunswickme
No School Tomorrow at Harriet Beecher Stowe School (Thursday, Sept. 24)
During a routine maintenance check, our facilities team identified a malfunction with the school's main Fire Alarm Panel. Because student and staff safety is our absolute highest priority, we immediately consulted with the Brunswick Fire Department. Together, we determined that operating the building without a fully functional alarm system presents an unacceptable safety risk. Out of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to close the school for the day.
Current Status and Next Steps:
Repairs: Technicians from the fire repair company have already been on site to inspect the system, and replacement parts have been ordered on an expedited basis.
Timeline: We are working closely with the repair team to restore full system functionality as quickly and safely as possible.
Updates: We will provide a follow-up communication to all families and staff tomorrow afternoon by 5:00 PM regarding the status of repairs and the schedule for Friday, September 25.
We understand that school closures create challenges for families, and we apologize for the inconvenience and short notice. However, maintaining a safe environment for our students and staff remains our non-negotiable standard.
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support as we resolve this issue.
Kind regards,
Phillip J. Potenziano, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Brunswick School Department
Are you team Honeycrisp, or would you have voted differently?
#teambrunswickme #maineschoolsuperintendent #brunswickmaine
We are thrilled to share some wonderful news from Brunswick Junior High School!
Health Education Teacher Liz Hemdal has been officially named the 2026 Middle School Health Education Teacher of the Year by the Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (Maine AHPERD).
This outstanding recognition highlights Liz’s dedication to promoting health literacy, well-being, and positive lifelong habits among our middle school students. Her passion for health education and commitment to fostering a supportive learning environment make a lasting impact on our school community every day.
Liz will be formally celebrated for this remarkable achievement on Sunday evening, November 1, 2026, at the annual Maine AHPERD Awards Banquet, held at the Samoset Resort.
Please join us in congratulating Liz on this well-deserved honor!
Jason Lampert
Facilities & Grounds Director
District
Jason grew up in Winchester Bay, Oregon and attended Reedsport High School. He is married to his wife, Meghan, and they have three kids, Kennedy, Jakob and Leela. They have two dogs, Bolt and Lucy.
What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud
The District's strong commitment to both excellence and equity. That BSD's willingness to reflect honestly on areas for growth while continuing to invest in meaningful improvements. The fact I get to contribute to a community that values collaboration, supports its educators and is helping everyone succeed.
What do you like to do outside of work for fun?
I love going to camp and being out on the lake in the boat.
Favorite line from a movie?
Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light OR Looks like someone has a case of the Mondays!!
If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?
Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton
What is something you learned in the last week?
I learned "Do not break the streak" about snap streaks and how important they are from my kids. LOL
BHS has earned National Banner Recognition for our commitment to building an inclusive school community where students with and without intellectual disabilities learn, lead, and grow together.
This recognition celebrates the incredible work of our students, staff, and entire BHS community to create a school where everyone belongs, everyone is valued, and everyone has a chance to shine. 🌟
Congratulations, Dragons! We are so proud of you! 🐉🧡❤️
#UnifiedChampionSchool #SpecialOlympics #InclusionMatters #BHSDragons #BrunswickHighSchool #EveryoneBelongs #mainesuperintendent #teambrunswickme
Save the Dates!
Here are our Fall Conference dates and times:
Thursday, October 1....Slots from 3:45 to 6:15 pm
Tuesday, October 6.....Slots from 3:45 to 6:15 pm
Thursday, October 8....Slots from 3:45 to 6:15 pm
Your child's teacher will be inviting you to sign up for a 20 minute Fall Conference next week. This is an excellent time to meet with the teacher to talk about your child.
#mainesuperintendent #teambrunswickme#BrunswickSchoolDepartment
Today we’re giving a BIG shoutout to our incredible Brunswick School Department IT Team! 👏
Our IT professionals work behind the scenes—and sometimes very much in the spotlight—to keep our schools connected, our technology working, and our staff and students supported every day. From solving those “my computer isn’t working” moments 😅 to managing systems, networks, devices, security, and so much more, they truly do it all!
We are so grateful for your expertise, patience, problem-solving skills, and dedication to the Brunswick School Department. Thank you for keeping BSD powered up and moving forward! 🧡🖥️
Happy IT Professionals Day to our amazing BSD IT team! We appreciate you Josh, Jill, Janice, Michelle and the rest of our EPIC IT team!🙌
#ITProfessionalsDay #BrunswickSchoolDepartment #TeamBSD #BSD #ThankYouIT #mainesuperintendent #teambrunswickme
Theresa Desjardins
Bus Driver
District
Theresa grew up in Brunswick and attended Brunswick High School. She has three sons, Weston, Jesse and Eric and a cat, Kit Kat.
What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud
It's my home town.
What do you like to do outside of work for fun?
I enjoy nature and spending time with family.
Favorite line from a movie?
“Knowing love, I can allow all things to come and go, to be as supple as the wind and to face all things with great courage. My heart is as open as the sky.”
If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?
God
What is something you learned in the last week?
I found out that two people I hold in high regard live on my street.
BSD Pop Quiz!
Brendan Locke
Director of Instrumental Music/Music Teacher
BJHS
Brendan grew up in State College, PA. He attended State College Area High School, and graduated from The Pennsylvania State University. Brendan is a middle child and has a crazy cat named Albus.
What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud
I'm proud to work in such a unique and supportive community with amazing young musicians. I'm new to Maine and very excited for what Brunswick has to offer!
What do you like to do outside of work for fun?
Outside of work you can find me performing my own music, trail running, or biking!
Favorite line from a movie?
"Inconceivable" - The Princess Bride
If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?
I've always wanted to meet Mister Rogers- he was also a great musician.
What is something you learned in the last week?
I learned that the wingspan of a bald eagle can be more than 7ft (taller than me!)
Thanks to their school supply drive, our students are kicking off the school year equipped and ready to learn with essential supplies—from backpacks, binders, and notebooks to markers, scissors, outdoor chalk, and so much more.
We are so grateful for local partners who invest in our children and help make our community strong! ❤️
#BrunswickPride #CommunityPartners #ThankYou #NorwaySavingsBank #BackToSchool #SupportOurStudents
We hope all of our Dragons, Chickadees, and Bobcats had a fantastic first week of school! 🐉🐥🐾 We’re so happy to have everyone back and can’t wait for all the learning, growing, and memories ahead this year!
Enjoy the long weekend, get some rest, and have a wonderful Labor Day! 🇺🇸☀️
📚 We’ll see everyone back on Tuesday, September 8!
🐉 BHS students: Tuesday is an ORANGE DAY!
Have a great weekend, everyone! 🧡🖤
#GoDragons #FirstWeekDone #WelcomeBack #BrunswickSchools #teambrunswickme #mainesuperintendent
Without 4th and 5th graders on campus, our newest students spent the day exploring the school, getting to know their wonderful new teachers, and building big confidence at their own pace. It was a fantastic day full of huge smiles, warm welcome high-fives, and exciting discoveries. What a great start to the year! 🌟📚
#HBS #ThirdGrade #FirstDayOfSchool
