BIDDEFORD — “March is always a long month in schools,” said Nancy Naimey, principal of St. James School in Biddeford. “So, we thought, “Let’s try to plan a month-long initiative that promotes our S.A.F.E. mission each day.’”

The result? “March Madness” and a schedule of events and activities that celebrate the school’s commitment to S.A.F.E. (Service, Academics, Faith, Excellence) with the students already looking forward to the memorable moments to come. Here is the schedule:

March 1 – Drop Everything and Dance Day

March 2 – Read Across America Day will invite students to wear pajamas and participate in reading events.

March 3 – National Anthem Day will see the children wearing red, white, and blue. The Star-Spangled Banner was declared the national anthem this week in 1931.

March 6 – Thank a Priest Day will find the students making cards and writing letters to the clergy at Good Shepherd Parish, of which St. James School is a part.

March 7 – National Pancake Day will be celebrated with a pancake lunch following a school Mass.

March 8 – On International Women’s Day, the students will learn about famous women in history and dress up like superheroes, pretend or real.

March 9 – Popcorn Lovers Day will offer popcorn treats across the school community.

March 10 – It’s International Day of Awesome and students will leave a note telling someone they’re awesome.

March 13 – For March 13, each student will think of 13 reasons why they love themselves.

March 14 – It’s 3.14 which means National Pi Day and special events throughout the school.

March 15 – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Day will offer wacky noodles and meatballs at lunch.

March 16 – Early St. Patrick’s Day celebration (no school on March 17) and students will be wearing green and searching the school for clovers.

March 20 – St. Joseph Day will educate the students on the saint and feature a scavenger hunt around the school. The St. James Book Fair also begins on this day.

March 21 – On the first day of spring, the students will make a special school bouquet.

March 22 – A schoolwide ice cream social will be held.

March 23 – Each teacher in the school will choose their own special March Madness activity on Teacher’s Choice Day.

March 24 – On the Feast of the Annunciation, the school will say a decade of the Rosary at morning prayer, led by the first graders.

March 24-25 – Students will present their spring musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

March 27 – On National Scribble Day, students will make new creations using just squibbles.

March 28 – Students will write letters to their pen pals living at St. Joseph’s Convent in Biddeford.

March 29 – All students will wear their favorite color on Color Day.

March 30 – On Music and Art Day, the school community will celebrate with both a school concert and an art show.

March 31 – Extra Recess Day

“St. James isn’t just a school, it’s a family,” said Naimey. “This initiative is just another fun and creative way to bring the community together.”