The Bedford Buccaneer
August 29, 2022
IMPORTANT DATES
Tuesday, August 30th-Arena Day-8:30-11:00am
Tuesday, August 30th-Class of 2026 and New Student Orientation-6:30-8:00pm
Thursday, September 1st-iPad orientation(For class of 2026 and new students)
Tuesday, September 6th-First day of School
Thursday, October 6th-Back to School Night-6:30-8:30pm
Thursday, October 6th-Picture Day
Monday, October 10th-No School
Tuesday, November 8th-No School-Teacher Professional Development
Friday, November 11th-No School
Thursday, November 17th-Picture Retakes
Wednesday, November 23rd-Early Release-11:15am
Thursday-Friday, November 24-25th-No School
Thursday, December 1st-Parent/ Teacher Conferences-4:00-8:00pm
Friday, December 9th-Freshman/Sophomore Semi
Friday, December 23rd-Early Release-11:15am
Monday, December 26th-Monday, January 2nd-Holiday Vacation
Monday, January 16th-No School
Friday, January 27th-Junior/Senior Semi
Monday, February 20th-Friday, February 24th-Winter Vacation
Friday, March 17th-No School-Teacher Professional Development
Monday, April 17th-Friday, April 21st-Spring Vacation
Monday, May 29th-No School
Thursday, June 1- Class of 2023 Graduation
Friday, June 16th-Tentative Last Day of School-If no snow days
9th Grade, New Student & Parent/Caregiver Orientation
9th Grade, New Student & Parent/Caregiver Orientation
We are looking forward to seeing the 9th graders, new students and parents tomorrow night. The administration and student ambassadors have planned an evening that will allow you to:
Connect with a current student or students and ask questions
Meet with other new students in their advisory
Learn more about the culture of Bedford High School
Feel more confident finding your way around BHS
Know what to expect on the first day and first week of school
Both students and parents are invited to the orientation. However, if there is a conflict for a parent or student, please know that a student may attend without a parent and a parent may attend without a student.
While the students are with the ambassadors for the second part of the evening, BHS administrators and current students will remain in the auditorium to answer questions from parents. In order to make the most of our time together, feel free to submit a question or questions through this Google Form. The following administrators will be in attendance:
Heather Galante-Principal
Tom Casey-Assistant Principal
Les Eggleston-Director of Counseling
Keith Mangan-Director of Athletics
Akil Mondesir-METCO Director
The agenda for the evening is below. Last but not least, please have your student take a screenshot of the schedule or bring a print out. They will need to know their advisory teachers and will be able to walk through their schedule during the tour. We are excited to start another school year and get to know all of our new students!
Best,
Mrs. Galante (Principal), Mr. Casey & Mr. Hudder (Assistant Principals)
9th Grade & New Student Orientation-Tuesday, August 30 from 6:30-8:00pm @ BHS
Schedule for 9th Grade & New Student Orientation
Hello BHS Community,
We hope that your summer is going well. We are excited to start another school year. The first day of school is on Tuesday, September 6, which is a Day 1 with advisory inserted into the schedule (see below). Wednesday is a typical Day 2 with a virtual school wide assembly during advisory. Please read through this email as it contains helpful information that will help for a smooth start to the school year.
As you get organized for the start of school, please start reading the Buccaneer Bulletin sent out every Monday by Mrs. Loveless-Patterson. That will replace the Monday Memo for all students. Also, please start reading through your email as additional information, including lunch schedules, will be sent in preparation for our new school year. We are looking forward to seeing all of you on September 6!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Galante (Principal), Mr. Casey & Mr. Hudder (Assistant Principals)
Flex
Flex is now back in A 2,5, where it had been prior to the pandemic. Flex block is a period where all students have the ability to receive extra help, make up tests, see their counselors, or remain in their flex room for a study period. Attendance will be taken. Students need to be in classrooms during flex block as roaming and gathering in common spaces will not be allowed.
All non-seniors have been placed in Flex blocks, which are organized by grade level and school counselor. That is, with the exception of the JROTC and STEP groupings, essentially all students within each Flex block are in the same grade and have the same school counselor. The purpose for this organization is for easy grouping when counselors are working with their students during Flex.
Seniors have Community Service/Counselor assignments in their schedule. As we did pre-pandemic, Seniors will have the privilege of arriving late to school on Flex days. However, seniors may access teachers for extra help or see their counselors during flex if there is a need. There will also be some required assemblies during Flex block for seniors. Advance notice will be given for those assemblies.
For returning students, please note that here is no longer any connection between Flex and Advisory - completely different from advisory.
Advisory
Advisory has its own row below E block as this was the only way we could get it on to the schedule for attendance taking purposes. Please understand: Advisory does not happen at the end of every day; it will still be every Wednesday, 9:29 - 9:56 AM, between 2nd and 3rd blocks, The appearance of Advisory on the matrix as such is solely an effort to work within the constraints of Aspen for a period that is tied to the day of the week and NOT to our six-day cycle.
Please note: All students, including seniors, have been assigned to an advisory and must report to their advisory unlike Flex block.
Schedule Changes
Students can now access their schedules through Aspen. Prior to the opening of school, counselors will be in the office between August 16th and August 25th to meet with students (by appointment ONLY) and assist them in making necessary schedule changes. Start by completing the Schedule Change Request Form and emailing your counselor. This process is intended to give priority to addressing errors or making sure that ALL students have a schedule before we address preferential changes (when a student is modifying their course requests). Students with preferential changes should attend Arena Day. Some changes in requests may need to wait until after August 30th.
What: Arena Day
Date: Tuesday, August 30th
Time: 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Where: BHS Counseling Department
Schedule for First Day of School, September 6
Bus Transportation Information
To all Parents/Guardian,
The 2022-23 Bus Routes have been posted on the Transportation Web Page. The Bedford Public School Bus Transportation Guidelines are also posted, as well as contact information at schools, the Business Office, and at Bedford Charter. Your school principals also share information about school-specific dismissal procedures. The METCO Office has specific information about Boston bus routes.
We hope all of our bus riders have a positive adjustment to Bus Transportation in the 2022-23 year!
Sincerely,
Bedford Public Schools
iPad Insurance
Please click here to purchase iPad insurance for your students iPad.
Please fill out the these 3 mandatory forms:
- Emergency Information Form
- Parent/Guardian & Student Sign off Agreement Form
- iPad Agreement Form
Links found to each form below
Please fill out the Emergency Information Form and return it to the Student/Main office or email to bhsforms@bedfordps.org. Every student needs to have an updated Emergency Information Form which includes permission for the nurse to give Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen.
When calling the absence line please state if your student is ill or not ill.
Absence Line: (781)918-4561
or select #1 from the main menu of (781)275-1700
Nancy Thorsen, BSN, RN
Nurse Office: 781-918-4416
Nurse Office Fax: 781-687-6141
Parent/Guardian & Student Sign off Agreement Form
Interested in our extracurricular theater opportunities
1) Interested in our extracurricular theater opportunities? We are having a meet and greet party after school on Friday, September 9 from 2:30-3 in D105. Snacks will be provided. After the party, we will be cleaning up and organizing our theater materials and need help from students! Please consider staying and helping us organize. There will be posters up around the school with a QR code where you can RSVP, or you can RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfahEQhn7RVmDDdDR7tjpAEuiztR16-2lGm0PCx5wjIOz8vsw/viewform?usp=sf_link
Auditions for our fall play
Auditions for our all-gender a cappella group, The Rolling Tones
Sicily Trip
Welcome back everyone. I hope you had a great summer. As we begin the year, we will be preparing for our trip to Sicily. Please look for information for our first meeting. If you would still like to join the trip, there are a few spots open. There is limited time to sign up since our trip is during February vacation Please see the attached information for the trip below or contact me in room C105 or by email.
See you all soon,
Ms. Arena
Ipad orientation for class of 2026 and new students
iPad Orientations
Bedford High School is a one-to-one school where all students are provided with an iPad for instructional purposes. Orientations for the iPads have been scheduled for both rising freshmen and new students. Please read through the information. The same information is available through a link on the Bedford High School home page.
The student and parent/caregiver(s) must be in attendance at the orientation. There are two available options for the orientation, and student/parent(s) must attend one (and only one) of the sessions:
Wednesday, August 24, at 6pm
Thursday, September 1, at 6pm
Registration required to attend orientation. Register online at https://bit.ly/3v06vbD (there is also a link on the Bedford High School home page).
iPad Orientation will cover:
- The role of iPads in Bedford High School
- BPS Computer Acceptable Use Policy
- Family obligation
- iPad Agreement - Must be signed prior to students receiving their assignment
- iPad assignment and step-by-step setup
If you have any questions regarding the iPad orientation, please reach out to your child’s Assistant Principal. Mr. Hudder (daniel_hudder@bedfordps.org) is assigned to students with last names A-K and Mr. Casey (thomas_casey@bedfordps.org) is assigned to students with last names L-Z.
As a reminder we have Class of 2026 and new student orientation on August 30 from 6:30-8:00pm at Bedford High School
Safety/Drop Off/Parking
We will continue to keep all external doors locked this year. Cars may not be idle or parked directly in front of the main entrance as it needs to be cleared for emergency vehicles and for busses. Please know that you are subject to ticketing by the Bedford Police Department if you park in the restricted lane.
Students with vehicles should park in designated student parking spots and need to have a valid BHS parking sticker by October 1. The Parking Sticker application may be found here.
If you are dropping off your student, please do so at the front of the building in the student lot or at the side near the public library. Do not enter the bus loop at the front of the school as it causes safety issues for students unloading.
INFORMATION OPT OUT
School Lunch Information-Update
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students,
This school year the Bedford School Lunch Program will revert to our pre-pandemic cafeteria process with one big change. All meals at all schools will be free for all students the entire school year. Funding to support school meals was approved during the summer by the state legislature. State funds will supplement the federal USDA funding that reimburses school districts for nutritious meals provided.
The process: All students will pick up a meal at the cafeteria service line (no more online ordering) and proceed to the point of sale register station. Students in grade 3-12 will enter their 4-digit pin number and our staff member will record the free meal. Students in grade K-2 will have a pre-printed card available to them, which our staff member will swipe to record the meal.
Again, there will be no charge to the student for meals.
The State Department of Education is requiring us to verify all daily meal counts and our point of sale registers are used for this purpose. For this reason, each student is required to use their pin number or card in the cafeteria when picking up a meal.
Student pin numbers for those that have them are still active, students without pin numbers will be assigned numbers and all students will receive a reminder email with their pin number before the beginning of school. We suggest students memorize their pin number to ensure our service lines move efficiently. Cards for Davis students will be placed in a holder outside of the cafeteria and students will pick up their card on the way to the service line.
We plan to offer some separate food items for sale in our cafeterias in the near future. These extra items (above and beyond the lunch meal) will require payment from the student account and are separate from the free meals offered through the state.
Please let us know if you have any questions
Sincerely,
Ken Whittier
Food Service Director
Free and reduced lunch application can be found here or printed copies in the main office.
Please click here for the application directions
Please click here for FAQ
BHSPA News
Back to School Teacher/Staff Luncheon
BHS Parents/Guardians! We need your help! There are still lots of opportunities to help with the Back to School Luncheon for Teachers/Staff this Thursday, September 1st. Please take a look at the link below! Thank you!
Counseling Corner
Schedule Change Process for 2022-2023
Prior to the opening of school, counselors will be in the office between August 16th and August 25th to meet with students (by appointment ONLY) and assist them in making necessary schedule changes. Start by completing the Schedule Change Request Form and emailing your counselor. This process is intended to give priority to addressing errors or making sure that ALL students have a schedule before we address preferential changes (when a student is modifying their course requests). Students with preferential changes should attend Arena Day. Some changes in requests may need to wait until after August 30th.
What: Arena Day
Date: Tuesday, August 30th
Time: 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Where: BHS Counseling Department
Preference-based changes that are able to be made by counselors
Changing the level of a course from AP or Honors to CP
Changing which elective courses you are taking - including physical education, social studies, and world languages electives
Dropping courses that are not needed for graduation requirements (so long as you maintain the minimum credit load for the year)
We are unable to make changes based on wanting a different lunch or wanting to be in the same class as someone else.
What if I am absent from Arena day?
If you are missing a graduation requirement you need this year; you are enrolled in a course you have already completed; you are enrolled in a class you are not permitted to take; you are missing a Special Education service; you are under-credit, that can be resolved now! Fill out the Schedule Change Request Form and email your counselor!
Other questions?
Email your school counselor!
Alan Chang alan_chang@bedfordps.org
Brian DeChellis brian_dechellis@bedfordps.org
Janel Halupowski janel_halupowski@bedfordps.org
Anna Septembre hermance_septembre@bedfordps.org
Samantha Thyne samantha_thyne@bedfordps.org
Link to Schedule Change Request Form Link to Level Change Request Form
FREE WEBINAR Families for Depression Awareness is presenting — Preventing Suicides: Supporting the Teens in Your Life — on Thursday, September 15, 2022, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Dr. Kiara Alvarez will share how parents and caring adults can identify warning signs of mental health crisis and suicide, communicate with teens about suicide prevention, and encourage teens to seek help. Register to join us for a live webinar discussion or watch on demand after it airs. After the webinar, complete our online evaluation and we'll send you a free copy of our "Preventing Suicides: Stories of Loss" and Hope brochure. If you are new to the topic of teen depression or in need of a refresher, please watch our Understanding Teen Depression as a foundation for this upcoming webinar.
Meet the COUNSLORS-Janel Halupowski-@ms.halupowski
I’m Ms. Halupowski, students typically call me Ms. H. I’ve worked at BHS since 1998 in the Counseling Department. I encourage you to stop by to say hi and feel free to grab a lifesaver while you're there. I am the advisor for the Student Atmosphere Committee.
I have 2 children: Madi, who attends Isenburg School of Management at UMass Amherst, and Liv who attends the University of Maine Farmington. I also have a cat named Nurko and a dog named Cuddles. Family and friends are very important to me and I enjoy spending time with them. I also love baking and will often bring in baked goods to share. BHS is a great place to work and I look forward to seeing you around the school.
Career Pathways Program at Bedford High School
Bedford High School is partnering with the local business community to expose our students to a variety of career paths. Students become motivated and self-directed when they discover a potential career field of interest. Hands-on exposure and information to careers help students make informed post high school plans.
There are three aspects to our Career Pathways and Planning Program:
Career Speakers: We host two Career Speakers per month. They will be held via ZOOM during the student's Flex Block Period (10:22am-11:30am). Interested students sign up ahead of time. Sessions are approximately 40 minutes in length. Topics our speakers cover include, but are not limited to: a day in the life, the personal journey (what was your path like), necessary education, advice for high school students, what you enjoy most, and then questions.
- Job Shadow Program: Provide students with a half-day immersive experience on a job site, allowing students to observe, interact, and learn from experts in the field. Students can be placed individually or in small groups depending on the business/occupation. Prior to being placed students take a Career Aptitude Test to help them determine a particular area of interest. The Job Shadow Program would happen once a year for our sophomore class in early spring.
- Internships: Would only be offered to seniors who have a demonstrated interest in a particular field. The internships would provide real world experience and responsibility, students must complete an interview with the participating company. Students would be placed based on company approval. Internships can occur during or after the school day. (More information to follow on our Internship Program).
If you would like to participate in our Career Program, please complete the following GOOGLE form or contact Brian DeChellis at 781 275-1700 ext. 4414 or brian_dechellis@bedfordps.org
Google Form Link:
Challenge Success partners with schools, families, and communities to embrace a broad definition of success and to implement research-based strategies that promote student well-being and engagement with learning.
Keep an eye out this Fall for more information on how Bedford High School and Challenge Success plan to work together to transform the student experience.
BEDFORD SEPAC (Special Education Parental Advisory Council)
2022/2023 SEPAC Monthly Meeting dates
Meetings begin at 7 PM
*Location and/or Zoom to be shared 2 weeks prior to meetings on SEPAC Facebook and webpage
Need a student parking sticker?
How do I...
Get dismissed? Please bring a note to the main office in the morning. (or call 781-275-1700) Students will be given a dismissal pass to show the teacher and head right out of class at the dismissal time. This helps us to reduce the number of class disruptions.
Get a locker? Your Advisor will supply you with a lock. You will select a locker, then your Advisor will record your locker number and combination just in case you forget it. It happens!
Get my Aspen ID? If you need your ID or are having trouble logging in please contact tech_support@bedfordps.org
Find my lost items? The lost and found bin can be found in the student office.
Pick up a dropped off item? Please stop by the student office and look for the student drop off area sign. (Parents/Guardians, please label item your dropping with name) Please note; we do not interrupt classes for drop offs. Please stop by between classes to check for your item.
Find out more about grading and courses? You may find this and many other helpful pieces of information in your Program of Studies found here
Know who to contact for help? (please see page 6)
Bedford High School
Bedford High School Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 7:45am - 2:24pm
Wednesday 7:45 am - 12:55 pm
9 Mudge Way, Bedford, MA 01730
Phone: 781-275-1700
Absence Line: 781-918-4561
Fax: 781-275-6664