The Bedford Buccaneer
April 26, 2021
IMPORTANT DATES
Thursday, May 6 - I Am Alfonso Jones , Tony Medina, Virtual Author Event at 10:15 am
Friday, May 21 - Last Day of School for Seniors
Friday, Saturday, May 21 and 22 - Les Misérables: School Edition at 7pm (streaming online)
Friday, June 4 - Class of 2021 Graduation 6:30pm BHS Turf
Saturday, June 5 - Class of 2021 Graduation 6:30pm Rain date BHS Turf
Friday, June 18 - Last Day of School for 9th, 10th and 11th grades
2020-2021 District Calendar Revised March 9, 2021
5 Day In-Person Details
We are excited to welcome students back to a 5 day in-person week while also remaining connected to our fully remote students. This will be a transition for our entire school community so we will be practicing flexibility throughout the week. The main office and custodial team has been hard at work this past week finalizing the details. Please read through the “cheat sheet” below.
Also, we know that some of you are entering the building for the first time this year and finding your way may take some time. Adults and students are great resources so do not worry about getting lost and learning the routes and be sure to ask for help.
School hours will be longer and transitioning to the full schedule may be an adjustment for you. Our counseling team is available throughout the week. Also, be sure to get rest and access help if needed during the remote conferencing period of advisory. Remember that masks must be worn, wash your hands often and distance in hallways and during travel times. We are looking forward to having a nearly full building and to welcoming all of you back from vacation.
Mrs. Galante, Mr. Casey and Mr. Hudder
Schedule
Aspen now reflects the schedule in the six-day rotation. Similarly, teachers have revised Google calendar events to reflect the six-day rotation. If you see any discrepancy between the classes as indicated in Aspen and in Google calendar, please contact the teacher for that class.
You can access a matrix view of your schedule in Aspen by clicking on My Info on the top tab and Current Schedule on the left. The new schedule layout looks like this:
You will see that the period name (A-G) has been added to the bottom of each block to help with the transition from the old schedule.
Monday, April 26, is a Day 1, so it starts with A period (as did every Monday thus far this year). For those of you who have a minor during this block, it is an A1.
Lunch
Lunch will take place during 4th block every day. All students need to maintain six-foot distancing while eating lunch, which requires us to run three lunches (as opposed to the typical two) and have four designated spaces for lunches - the front cafeteria, the back cafeteria, the LGI, and room D109.
Every class’s lunch has been thoughtfully scheduled for a specific lunch (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) and a specific location; for safety purposes, students need to eat lunch at their assigned time and location. This spreadsheet is sortable by teacher, classroom, and department, and indicates the lunch time and location for each class. You can also access the information separated by day here:
Days 1 & 4 (D1 period)
Days 2 & 5 (F1 period)
Days 3 & 6 (C2 period)
(You will notice that some classes are assigned to eat in the classroom; those cases have been arranged by teachers and involve classes with few enough students in the room to allow for six-foot distancing.)
Please use that spreadsheet to determine which lunch you have. If you are unsure, please go to your 4th block class; if it turns out that you have 1st lunch, your teacher will direct you to the appropriate location.
If you ordered lunch, our cafeteria staff will deliver your meal to your 4th block class. Therefore, even if you have 1st lunch, you must go to your 4th block class to pick up your meal and bring it to your assigned location.
Advisory
The location and advisors for your advisory are now uploaded in Aspen. Thank you to everyone who completed the Advisor Request Form. The admin team thoughtfully assigned every single student individually to an advisory, doing our best to honor student requests. We went to great lengths to assign everyone to an advisor from among their requests, but it was not always possible to do so when students listed three or fewer requests. Additionally, we had to balance the number of 9-12 graders in each advisory to honor the multi-grade model.
Advisory will take place during the first 25 minutes of ARC every Day 2 and Day 5 during the 3rd block. For safety purposes, students need to remain in their assigned ARC room for the entirety of the period. Students are encouraged to meet with teachers or peers via Zoom during that time but will need to refrain from being in the halls or traveling to meet with teachers or students.
Please help me in congratulating Audrey M, Shahadah M, and Isabella W on their third place overall finish at the 2021 Virtual Women of Science Event and to our other Bedford team who placed third in the Engineering event, Annanta B, Maitri D and Jasmine W. All of the Women demonstrated their knowledge and represented Bedford proudly. The event featured 26 teams competing virtually in four events that tested their scientific skill and knowledge. Events included an engineering mail in a chip, three experimental challenges, the ever popular anything goes science stations, and science trivia
Special thanks to our faculty members who helped score and keep things running all night go out to our host Heather Kurzman, coach and scorer Scott Stief, and scorers Beth Billuoin and Lisa Morrison. It was a great night for all and we cannot thank our sponsors enough Millipore Sigma, ThermoFisher Scientific, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Bedford Public School, and the BEA.
We're looking forward to our nineteenth event next year and hope to be in person!
Kind Regards,
Michael Griffin
Science Program Administrator 6-12
MCAS Update
As you might have heard, the Commissioner has made some adjustments and is going to be recommending the elimination of the MCAS competency determination (CD) for 11th graders in ELA and Math. To reflect that, here is the updated MCAS schedule. Thanks for your continued flexibility and we will continue to keep you posted as more information becomes available.
The Class of 2023 presents to you the Clash of Cans!
A battle between the grades to take place from Monday, April 26th to Friday, May 14th! Plastic bins for each class will be placed in the main BHS lobby. There will be labeled bins for each class.
Faculty and staff members can bring in cans and support any class for the title! Whichever grade can bring in the most canned goods by the end of the battle will win the Clash of Cans belt! Start saving your cans and bring them into BHS to contend for the title!
The cans will be going to the Bedford Community at the end of the drive. The Class of 2023 will distribute the cans within the community. We hope we can continue this tradition with hopes of creating a BHS Food Pantry.
Good luck!
The Class of 2023
COLLEGE EDITION
Does the brand name of the college you attend actually matter? The best research on the question suggests that, for most students, it doesn’t.
“It turns out that what students do at college seems to matter much more than where they go.” ~Denise Pope, Cofounder Challenge Success
Read the entire article HERE: The Right Way to Choose a College
Join our Bedford Challenge Success community on social media
Twitter: @chalsuccessbhs
Instagram: @challengesuccessbhs
Facebook: Challenge Success Bedford High School (this is a closed group)
For more information about the BHS-Challenge Success Parent’s group please contact Cynthia Vitti (cynhere@comcast.net) or Lori Alper (lorialper@gmail.com)
Class of 2021 merchandise
Bedford High School Bedford, MA Products - Graduation Products from Jostens
Class of 2021 Parents/Guardians Facebook Group:
If you are interested in helping to plan events as part of the parent/caregiver community, please reach out to the Parents/Guardians Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bhsclassof2021parents Please answer the questions when signing up; the group is restricted to parents or guardians of the BHS class of 2021. Last year, the parents were able to put together goodie bags, design t-shirts, hang a recognition banner and plan a day of celebration throughout the town.
Yearbook Ordering
The yearbook features ALL students in ALL grade levels. This is how you’ll remember your high school experience! Click here to order. Please email karen_santos@bedfordps.org with any yearbook questions.
Cap and Gown
Please email or see your Senior Advisors.
Class of 2021 Student Advisors
Ms. Arena and Mr. Humphrey
Email: sandra_arena@bedfordps.org
Class of 2021 T-Shirts Order Form
Order your SENIOR class shirt here for $15! To pay with VENMO (@classof2021-humphrey). If paying with cash, exact change is required. Checks can be made payable to the Class of 2021. With the cash or check option, please place in an envelope with your full name on it. Mr. Humphrey will be collecting the payments in room D107, before first class and after last class.
Once payment is made please visit Mr. Humphrey in D107 (Music Hallway) before first class or after last class. Go Bucs! Class of 2021 T-Shirts Order Form
Sponsor a gift bag for a student and fight world hunger at the same time!
This month Bedford Patrons for Music Students (POMS) is delighted to introduce a fundraising opportunity for the BHS musical to support the students, POMS, and Action Against Hunger.
In normal years, POMS sells well wishes in the lobby during the musical, so audience members can give a small token of appreciation to their favorite cast, crew, or pit member. This year, POMS is coordinating gift bag deliveries for each of the 71 student participants — and your donation makes it possible!
Each gift bag will include several custom items chosen especially to commemorate this year's show, and will be delivered to each student on Opening Night, May 21. (Pictures and details to follow after delivery, so we can keep the contents a surprise!) All donors will be listed on a card to accompany each bag, so your student will see your support.
In addition, the students and staff have chosen to support the charity Action Against Hunger. LES MISERABLES reflects the devastating consequences of hunger in early 1800s France, and hunger continues to affect so many families today, including here in Bedford. A portion of every donation will be sent to Action Against Hunger.
Please support our students, POMS, and Action Against Hunger by becoming a sponsor! You can choose from five different giving levels, from $15 to $100, when you donate online at https://www.bedfordpoms.org/les-miserables-bhs-2021/.
Tickets for the streaming performances of LES MISERABLES will be available soon. The filmed production will be shown Friday, May 21, and Saturday, May 22, on a screen near you!
Thank you for your support!
Please join our virtual author event on Thurs. May 6th at 10:15 am
We welcome poet and activist Tony Medina, author of several books of poetry and the Young Adult graphic novel entitled I Am Alfonso Jones. This graphic novel addresses the Black Lives Matter movement with a backdrop to Shakepeare’s Hamlet. Please email christine_magoon@bedfordps.org for more information. This event is graciously supported by the Mass Cultural Council and BHS Bucs Parent Association.
Christy Walker (Magoon)
BHS Librarian & Media Specialist
Pooled Testing Update
As part of our pooled testing program, the week of April 5-9, we tested 80 students and 13 staff members. All the pools at the high school this week were negative. We will be testing every Monday and Tuesday through the end of the school year.
Please notify the nurse if anyone in your household tests positive for Covid-19. When calling the absent line, please state if your student is ill or not ill. You will get a call from the nurse if you do not state a reason.
Nancy Thorsen, BSN, RN
HOSA Advisor
Nurse Office Fax: 781-687-6141
Bedford SEPAC
Please join our upcoming Bedford SEPAC events. The Bedford SEPAC is a group of Bedford Parents and Guardians of Special Education students that come together to advise the school committee and school on special education issues, as well as for networking, support, and education.
Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 7:00 PM
Bedford School Committee Meeting
Annual presentation from SEPAC, check school committee agenda for time and zoom link
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 7:00 PM
Discussion with Marianne Vines, Bedford Director of Special Education
•Discipline in Special Education: What are Functional Behavioral Assessments, Behavior Intervention Plans, Manifestation Determination Meetings
•Update on OG training and staff
•Update on Lane language-based classroom
•MCAS discussion for special education students
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94728259825?pwd=UXJubldvdE1VWUF6SkErQ1IvSUNBQT09
Meeting ID: 947 2825 9825
Passcode: 336773
Special Education School Transition Info Meetings
Discussion/Questions with Bedford Special Education Staff on school transitions
•Davis to Lane - Date TBA
•Lane to JGMS - Date TBA
•JGMS to High School - occurred already Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Bedford SEPAC Contact Info:
•Web: bedfordsepac.com
•Email: bedfordmasepac@gmail.com
•Facebook group: Bedford MA SEPAC
BHS Relay for Life Committee is starting a town wide scavenger hunt using painted rocks by each member of our committee. This project is similar to the kindness rock project. We have over 30 stones that will be scattered around town this Wednesday. Any participants of this scavenger hunt are encouraged to make a small donation to Bedford’s Relay for Life Page. Once that small donation is made, they will receive a clue list for where to find each rock. We would love to get lots of high school students involved as our event has been very small in past years.
For our second fundraiser, we are selling luminaria bags for $10. If you are not familiar with luminaria bags, they are white paper bags that are decorated in memory of/honor of cancer patients. Here is a link for further reading about the luminaria ceremony https://secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=relay_luminaria
Lots of Relay for Life participants love this part of the event because it acts as a tribute to their family/friends who have battled cancer. Each bag will include a few writing utensils and a glow stick. If you could maybe share a brief message through student news, I think it would really benefit our cause.
Thank you!
BHS Relay for Life Committee
Sydney D, Amber H, Madeline O and Ana P
Counseling Corner
The Counseling Department has launched a Post-Secondary website! Check it out here
"NOW WHAT? HELPING FAMILIES MANAGE EMOTIONALLY DURING UNCERTAIN TIMES!” Online webinar presented by nationally renowned author, speaker and therapist Lynn Lyons, LICSW
April 28
7:00 to 8:15 PM - register here: https://bedfordps-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9FkApoH6QpGKIewlsUHGnQ
Parenting Support Sessions, with Rachel Kramer, Ph.D.,
presented by Bedford Health and Human Services and Bedford School Counseling - see the brochure here and the information below.
Parents Diversity Council - Spring Book Discussion
The Bedford Parents Diversity Council is hosting a spring book discussion group - for BHS students, families, and faculty. This will be their last book series of the 2020 - 2021 school year. The PDC provides all of us with an opportunity to continue to dive deeply into American History and look at our history from different lenses. They will be discussing the book: A Different Mirror for Young People: A History of Multicultural America , by Ronald Takaki and adapted by Rebecca Stefoff. Readers will meet over 3 sessions in April and May on: April 28th at 7 PM, May 12th, at 7 PM and May 26th, at 7 PM. (Participants are not required to attend every meeting.) Discounted copies of the book are available to purchase for $14.60, or free through library download. To RSVP and/or purchase a book, email pdcbedford@gmail.com. The Zoom link will be sent after registration.
Town Offerings
FREE Virtual Parent Support Groups
Parents Supporting Parents Flyer
Parents Supporting Parents Commercial
Mental Health and Wellness Helpline - FREE for Bedford Residents
Callers from these participating communities are matched with licensed mental health providers from our extensive database, on average, within 2 weeks of their call to INTERFACE. Each referral best meets the location, insurance, and specialty needs of the caller.
To learn more visit Interface.WilliamJames.edu or our FB page https://www.facebook.com/INTERFACEReferralService
The Bedford Food Bank at Town Center Building
Thursdays, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
We will be distributing bags from 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM at 12 Mudge Way (the Yellow building), rear entrance by the CoA. If you are in need of food before 12/31 call 781-275-7727 or email bedfordfoodbank@bedforma.gov.
Due to the generosity of our many partners, donors, and volunteers, we are able to serve all residents who are in need of food assistance. If you are in need of food, even temporarily, please come to the Drive-Thru Food Band on Thursdays, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm, or call 781-275-7727. No registration is required!
To learn more about this initiative, or how you can help, visit www.bedfordma.gov/BedfordFoodBank
Youth employment permit
We know that many of you are trying to secure employment permits and there are new guidelines in place so that we can help you. Download the application with the link below. Once you have the employer sign it, you must have a parent or guardian sign as well and submit a physical if under 16. Once all of the above is done, send the completed application to our Registrar, Mrs. Powell at nancy_powell@bedfordps.org and she will prepare the work permit and email it back to you.
Link to Youth employment permit application
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/youth-employment-permit-information
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Student Atmosphere Committee fundraiser for Mrs. Pietrangelo at Chipotle. We will be receiving a check for $644.04 (33% of the sales brought in by YOU) - this is AMAZING! The entire amount will go directly to Mrs. Pietrangelo's family. Some people have asked other ways in which they can help; here is the link to the Go Fund Me page
Click here to read more about Mrs. Pietrangelo's story in a recent Bedford Citizen article.
Bedford High School
Bedford High School Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 7:45am - 2:11pm
Wednesday 7:45 am - 12:48 pm
9 Mudge Way, Bedford, MA 01730
Phone: 781-275-1700
Absence Line: 781-918-4561
Fax: 781-275-6664