The Bedford Buccaneer
June 15, 2020
IMPORTANT DATES
Tuesday, June 16 - Senior Yearbook pick up at the front of BHS 11:00am - 1:00pm
Tuesday, June 16 - Grades 9, 10 and 11 Parent meeting 6:00pm link
Tuesday, June 16 - The Hate You Give virtual discussion sign up link
Thursday, June 18 - Last day of school for underclassmen
Friday, June 19 - Underclassmen drive through collection of materials for 9, 10, 11th grades
Friday, June 19 -Bedford Food Pantry 1-3:00pm For more details, please click link
Sunday, June 21 - Bedford Mask Store Closes
Friday, June 26 - Bedford Food Pantry 1-3:00pm For more details, please click link
Sunday, July 19 - Graduation at Bedford High School Turf at 10:00am with a rain date of Wednesday, July 22nd
Saturday, November 28 - * NEW DATE* Prom/Reunion, please stay tuned for details
Dear BHS Families,
We are almost there! This has certainly been a challenging time and a unique end to the school year. I am really proud of our students and faculty for overcoming adversity, teaching and learning in a very new way and for navigating courageous conversations remotely. I am also thankful that our faculty and staff have the support of families and the community. That has been a difference maker through all of this.
I know there are many uncertainties surrounding the reopening of school. I do not have those answers. The guidelines for reopening are expected to arrive in the next couple of weeks. The district and building-based teams will work diligently throughout the summer to make sure that we are adhering the guidelines while prioritizing teaching and learning and the health and wellness of our students and faculty. This will not be an easy task. Once finalized and later in the summer, the plans will be communicated by both the district and each of the buildings. The district has comprised a task force with school, community and parent representation. Bedford High School will have a separate task force that tends to the individual needs of reopening the high school. The BHS team is made up of teachers, students, administrators and parents (from School Council).
Please look for a survey from the district in the next week or two. Responses from parents, students, faculty and staff will help us in our reopening planning process. Also, please join Mr. Casey, Mr. Hudder and me for a meeting on Tuesday, June 16 @ 6:00pm where we will share end of the year details. We had student meetings last week. The link to the meeting is in this bulletin. For your convenience, here is a link to the final Monday Memo students just received.
Knowing how taxing the past few months have been, I do hope you have plans to recharge this summer. Summer will look different for sure, but please allow for some family time and down time. As always, please feel free to reach out to Tom, Dan or me with any questions.
Best,
Heather Galante
Principal
Pick-up/drop-off drive-through for students in grades 9, 10, and 11
There will be a meeting for grade 9-11 students and their parents on Tuesday, 6/16 @ 6:00pm. We will review the procedures and answer any questions that you may have. Click here for access to the meeting Tuesday evening.
This Friday, June 19th from 9:00-1:00, we have approval from the Board of Health and the town to hold our pick-up/drop-off drive-through for students in grades 9, 10, and 11. Below are the details and for traffic and efficiency purposes, we have scheduled times alphabetically. iPads will not need to be dropped off as the leases have been renewed for students. If you are not returning to the district and haven't already made arrangements, please include your iPad and accessories along with anything else owed in your bag to return. If you do not owe anything to the school or need to retrieve any items, you should not attend.
Below is a list of student responsibilities for the event. You will enter from Great Road and drive to the front entrance. After we collect and deliver materials to your car (do not get out of your car), you will drive around to the student parking lot. Please drive SLOWLY. After you drive through and pick up a yearbook (if you ordered one), you will exit through either Great Road or past the town buildings. We will have a police presence there for support with traffic.
Collect materials identified on the student obligations list and place in a bag (with a name label in the bag) in the trunk of your vehicle or in the back of your SUV.
Place a piece of paper in your front windshield on your dashboard with your last name in capital letters.
The student and other family member(s) in the car must wear masks for the entire duration of the drop-off/pick-up.
On June 19, in the allotted time slot, students will drive up to the front of Bedford High School in the bus loop with items to turn in to BHS. Place your car in park and do not exit your car.
Unlock your door or pop the trunk. A BHS employee will retrieve the items that are placed in the bag.
Students with last name (A-D) arrive from 9-10
Students with last name (E-K) arrive from 10-11
Students with last name (L-Q) arrive between 11-12
Students with last name (R-Z) arrive between 12-1
A BHS employee will also place a bag in either your trunk or back seat with a bag that contains items from your locker.
The student, when directed to do so, will drive around to the student parking lot and proceed slowly back onto Great Road. Please drive carefully and slowly. A member for the Bedford Police Department will help with traffic.
For students who ordered a yearbook, they will also be available to you. Please email Ms. Santos with any yearbook specific questions.
If a student has not turned in all of the materials on the emailed student obligation list, a bill will be emailed listing the missing items and outstanding balance.
Virtual Conversation
FYI: The Hate U GIve is streaming free on Amazon Prime, Google Play (no subscription needed), Apple TV/iTunes and YouTube (if you have a paid subscription).
Be Well,
Nicole and Jill
T-Shirts
Your 2021 class officers have created a survey to begin the design process for your senior year t-shirts. Please respond to the survey to identify your favorite design and/or make suggestions about other designs or ideas. T-Shirt survey
Election Reminder
We will be holding class officer elections for the 2020-21 school year from now until noon on Wednesday. Visit our ELECTION WEBSITE to learn about the candidates for each position: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
Each candidate was asked to provide a written speech of no more than two paragraphs. Some candidates have provided additional information.
Use this VOTING FORM to cast your votes any time before noon on June 17th. The elected slate of officers will be announced on June 18th, the last day of school.
Best of luck to all,
Mr. Humphrey and Mrs. Blasi
YEARBOOKS ARE IN!
Seniors may pick them up at the front of BHS on 6/16 from 11:00-1:00pm. Please put your name in your windshield again and do not leave your car. Ms. Santos and other volunteers will bring your yearbook to your car and place it in the backseat or trunk. Volunteers will wear masks and gloves. This event has been approved. Please reach out to Ms. Santos at karen_santos@bedfordps.org with any and all yearbook related questions.
GRADUATION
Currently, we are rescheduling graduation to meet the new guidelines issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. In order for us to hold an in-person ceremony, it must be outside, with limited guests and all in attendance must abide by certain safety requirements. The ceremony will now take place on the BHS turf and is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, July 19 @ 10:00am with a rain date of Wednesday, July 22. Complete details will be shared soon. We are thrilled that we can honor having an in-person graduation. Even though it will look a bit different, we will still make it special for the Class of 2020.
PROM
Also, prom has been cancelled. However, the senior class officers with the help of your class advisors, Ms. Flora and Ms. Goetschius, are planning an awesome reunion scheduled for November 28, 2020. Please stay tuned for details.
Please check out a Class of 2020 Tribute Video
with an original song written and performed by Mr. Felker for our seniors. Special thanks to the BHS faculty who submitted videos and to Mrs. Santos for putting this together.
Class of 2020 Post Grad Email Collection
Please use this Google Form to fill out some post graduation contact information. The Class of 2020 would like to be able to keep you informed after graduation. Prom or an event in place of Prom WILL be held for you at a later date. Please fill out this brief form so we can keep you updated. Your school email will no longer work at some point after graduation. Post grad email collection form link .
So proud of all of you!
Ms G & Ms. F
Community Service Update (from Ms. Faulstich)
Community Service status in Aspen will be updated at the end of the year. If you've turned in hours that you haven't seen show up in Aspen yet, they should be there by June 18th.
Senior Google Accounts & Naviance
For seniors, google accounts are typically disabled a week after graduation. Our technology department is able to allow continued access through July 1st. If you would like to preserve or keep any of the documents on your google drive, start transferring those to a new account or download them. After Jul 1, 2020, you will no longer be able to retrieve your documents from your school accounts. Your Naviance will be available and able to be accessed until September.
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*SAVE THE DATES*
BHS Graduation
Sunday, July 19, 2020
Bedford High School Turf
10:00AM
(Rain-date Wednesday, July 22, 2020 )
Senior Prom/Reunion
Saturday, November 28, 2020
(details to follow)
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Bedford Masks are here!
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: The Bedford mask store has reopened! Help support the Class of 2020! Order deadline: 11:59 pm, June 21st. Orders will NOT arrive BEFORE GRADUATION. Orders will SHIP approximately 3 to 4 weeks (15 - 20 business days) from the date the web-store closes (not the date you place your order).
The 2020 Senior Parents Committee is selling customized Bedford masks as a fundraiser. $14.95 price includes shipping and proceeds from each sale will go to the Class of 2020 Fund. The reusable cotton mask (not medical grade) will be Bedford blue with a Bedford “B” logo on it and shipped directly to your home. Please be advised that different masks will be gifted and distributed to seniors at graduation. If family members, friends, or anyone in the Bedford community would like a Bedford mask, buy one here.
https://bedfordmasks2020.itemorder.com/
NOTE: We must sell a minimum number of 72 masks for the vendor to fulfill the order. If 72 orders are not received, all orders will be cancelled and refunded to the card that was submitted for payment.
Please Consider a Donation to the Reunion Party & Class of 2020 Fund
The All Night Graduation (“ANG”) Party has been cancelled and the Class of 2020 is planning a Reunion Party for November 28, 2020. The cost for the party is steep and the class has not been able to fundraise since classes were cancelled. The Class of 2020 is in need of donations to make their reunion possible. Normally, at this time of year, the ANG team would be requesting money donations and donations of food and time. Instead, this year, the 2020 Senior Parents Committee of the BHSPA is focused solely on monetary donations from all BHS families to enable the Class of 2020 to hold their Reunion Party. All donations will go directly to the Class of 2020’s Reunion Party.
Please donate to the Class of 2020 Fund: http://tiny.cc/Classof2020fund
Counseling Corner
TEEN SUMMER EXPOS
Teen Summer Expos has comprehensive and up-to-date information on new virtual teen programs for summer 2020 as well as details on each program's plans for safely running existing in-person programs. There are many meaningful enrichment options to keep teens engaged and connected this summer - and new unique opportunities are constantly being created and added.
To learn more go to Explore Virtual Summer Programs and COVID-19 modifications
As the school year comes to a close students may find that the pandemic is also disrupting their summer plans. Many traditional summer programs and activities—camps, athletics, travel, on-campus courses—are being cancelled, while internships and job opportunities are limited. Fortunately, there are still plenty of ways to have an enriching summer. We often encourage students to “think outside the box” when it comes to summer activities; this year, current circumstances demand creative thinking. This presents a great opportunity for kids to pursue their passions while demonstrating their ability to hustle and be proactive. As students plan for summer activities here is a list that they can pursue from home. These activities fall into three major categories: online programming, virtual volunteering and independent projects.
SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS - Click Here for more information
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POST-SECONDARY PLANNING
College Visits:
We are piloting Virtual College visits! The virtual visits will take place on Zoom. To register, login to your SCOIR account. Watch a video on how to register in SCOIR here.
Monday, June 15th
1:15pm-1:45pm
Syracuse University
Tuesday, June 16th
12:15pm - 12:45pm
Curry College
Tuesday, June 16th
1:00pm - 1:30pm
University of Maine at Farmington
Wednesday, June 17th
12:15pm - 12:45pm
Towson University
Wednesday, June 17th
1:15pm - 1:45pm
Bridgewater State University
Thursday, June 18th
12:30pm - 12:45pm
Brandeis University
University of Lowell’s Junior Preview Day will be held on Wednesday, June 17 at 10 a.m. EST. They’re excited to share what UMass Lowell is all about and to help your students decide if it’s the place for them.
Here’s a preview of what they’ll be able to do:
Participate in live chats with faculty and current students
Discover our programs of study
Chat with admissions representatives and get tips about preparing their applications
Learn more about financial aid options
Virtual College Tours:
It IS possible to tour campuses online and colleges do a really good job at this. Check college websites or official college Youtube channels. Also use these websites: YouVisit, CampusTours, YOUniversity, CollegeWeekLive and CampusReel.
CollegeWeek Live - ongoing
Here is a document to find virtual college tours by state!
Standardized Testing
Fair Test1,200+ Accredited, Four-Year Colleges and Universities with ACT/SAT-Optional Policies
(Fall 2021 Admission)
Within the past two months, more colleges have decided to adopt a test-optional admissions policy whereby undergraduate applicants will not be required to submit standardized test scores such as the ACT or SAT to be admitted. These decisions show that the test-optional movement continues to pick up steam. A comprehensive list of test optional schools is available at fairtest.org.
Standardized Testing Companies
SAT Information and Registration
ACT Information and Registration
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FINANCIAL AID WEBINARS and INFORMATION
Sallie Mae Live Webinar: How to Pay for College
Understanding the Cost of Student Loan Borrowing: This presentation covers financial literacy topics such as the relative cost of a student loan repayment, tools, and tips on managing student loans. It identifies important things students should know about their loan portfolio, identifying their servicers and understanding the cost of their student loan.
Wednesday, June 17: 2pm-3pm EST Register here
Thursday, June 18: 8pm-9pm EST Register here
MEFA, the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, is also providing free "After the College Acceptance" webinars to provide guidance on understanding financial aid letters, making the college decision, and putting together a plan to pay for college. RecordingS are available here. Please see https://www.mefa.org/collegebound2020/ for additional information.
FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE
MEFA, the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, is offering FREE one-on-one appointments with our College Planning Team. High school seniors and their families can request an appointment to review their financial aid offers and talk about different options to pay the college bill. Request an appointment here: https://www.mefa.org/appointment-request/
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Counseling Communications and Resources
Join Us on Twitter: @BedfordCounsel1
BPS Mental Health Resource link is here
Work Permits
We know that many of you are trying to secure summer employment and there are new guidelines in place so that we can help you during this departure. You can download the application. Once you have the employer sign it, you must have a parent sign as well and submit a physical if under 16. Once all of the above is complete, send the completed information and application to Mrs. Powell and she will prepare the work permit. The link to the application is below and you can reach Mrs. Powell at nancy_powell@bedfordps.org . Feel free to reach out to her with any questions.
Link to Youth employment permit application
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/youth-employment-permit-information
Board of Health-Social Distancing
As you know, Bedford is adhering to the social distancing guidelines put forth by the Governor. Our BOH shared the following PSA and informational videos for students and families.
https://www.mass.gov/doc/how-young-people-can-prevent-covid-19-with-social-distancing/download
Bedford Food Bank open at John Glenn Middle School
The town of Bedford will offer a temporary food bank at John Glenn Middle School on Fridays.
1:00-3:00 - open to the public
For all the details, check this link.
We expect the Bedford Food Bank to operate for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis. The food pantry and community dinners will resume when the food bank closes down and it is safe to reopen.
Help with Digital Access
Have Unwanted Textiles Piling Up? Put Them in Our Bin For The Win & Turn Trash to Cash!
You can now recycle your used textiles through drop bins at the back right corner of the high school parking lot! By doing so, help the schools green initiatives earn some CASH! It's also environmentally friendly. 95% of textiles are recyclable and it diverts TONS of textiles from the trash. Unwanted clothes, towels, sheets, shoes, stuffed animals and more. Learn more about what can be donated and what actually happens to the textiles here Thanks for your support!
**Please make sure your items are bagged & tied (not loose), and are put IN the bins, not left outside**
Bedford High School
Phone: 781-275-1700
Absence Line: 781-918-4561
Fax: 781-275-6664