Superintendent's Newsletter
3rd Quarter {2023-2024}
Happy New Year!
Superintendent's Update
The School Board recently adopted a new policy regarding personal communication devices for use by students during the school day. You can review the policy online at this link. As stated in the policy, while we recognize that mobile phones and other personal communication devices can be very useful tools, they also can be very distracting and harmful when used without boundaries.
The policy, which was developed in collaboration with all of our school administrators, sets clear limitations for use of mobile devices for students during the school day. Elementary aged students may have a personal device strictly for before and/or after-school contact with family members, and the device must be turned off and stored in their book bag at all other times. Likewise, personal devices for middle school students may not be visible or audible during the school day but may be used while on the school bus. High school students may use their personal devices before/after school, between classes, and during lunch; however, personal devices may not be visible or audible during instructional periods unless permitted by their teacher.
One of the greatest concerns with personal devices is the unregulated use of social media. According to a report from the Surgeon General as well as an academic study by MIT, unregulated use of social media poses a risk to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents, with causal increases with depression and anxiety and declining academic performance. Unregulated use can also lead to decreases in physical activities, which negatively impacts sleeping patterns and obesity rates.
Parents, we need your help in educating your children about the proper use of personal devices. Here are some ways you can help:
Develop time limits and monitor home use of personal devices
Show interest and ask questions about your child’s online experiences
Encourage other activities, such as physical exercise
Set and enforce consequences
Lead by example and model responsible use of mobile devices
Thank you for your encouragement and continued support of Bedford County Public Schools. Let’s continue to work together to help our students develop healthy habits!
Dr. Marc Bergin, Superintendent
2024-2025 Bedford County School Calendar
Teacher(s) of the Year 2025
Congratulations to all of you all on a great accomplishment!
Jeanne Willis
Liberty High School
Allison Bair
Staunton River High School
Ashley Ferrell
Huddleston Elementary School
Ava Rupert
Boonsboro Elementary School
Beth Isner
Bedford Elementary School
Chad Smith
Staunton River Middle School
Dollie Chittum
Susie G. Gibson Science & Tech Center
Emily Howard
Liberty Middle School
Hollie Palmisano
New London Academy
Jennifer Stinnette
Montvale Elementary School
Kayla Petty
Big Island Elementary School
Kelli Arrington
Otter River Elementary School
Kristi Alcorn
Stewartsville Elementary School
Maureen "Mo" NcCarney
Megan Joseph
Forest Middle School
Linda Muncher
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
Rachel Patterson
Bedford Primary School
Savannah Thomas
Moneta Elementary
Tiffany Byrd
Forest Elementary School
Attendance Matters
When Should I Keep My Child Home?
Regular school attendance has a direct impact on school performance. There is evidence that poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade. By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school and missing 18 days in a school year negatively affects a student’s academic performance and impacts school accreditation. Each day's absence is a student missing several hours of instruction and making up assignments cannot replace the value of in-class learning time. We understand that children do get sick and need to stay at home but we want to partner with you to minimize your child's time away from their learning opportunities.
Helpful Tips
Ensure that your child comes to school every day unless an absence is necessary. This will help your child succeed.
Make medical and dental appointments in the late afternoon so your child can attend as much of the school day as possible.
If your child must miss school, make sure you get his or her homework assignments and ensure that the work is completed and turned in.
Call the school as soon as you know your child will be absent and tell school staff why your child will be out and for how long.
Get a doctor’s note anytime your student has an appointment during the school day and give the note to the main office at the school or have the doctor’s office fax/email the note to the school..
If your child has a chronic health condition such as asthma, severe allergies, or diabetes, provide the school nurse with the appropriate action plan, medication, and supplies.
Keep an open line of communication with your school nurse and school staff. The more the school knows about your child’s health needs, the better prepared everyone will be to work together to support your child.
Reach out to the nurse at your child’s school with any health questions.
Make sure your child gets a good night's sleep. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most younger children need 10-12 hours per night and adolescents (13-18 years of age) need 8-10 hours per night.
Report Absences
When a student is absent from school for an entire day or for one or more class periods, a parent or guardian must notify the school in a written, faxed, or emailed note within three (3) days of the student returning to school. The written notification must contain the following:
the date the note is written;
the student’s full name;
the reason(s) for the absence(s);
the date(s) of the absence(s); and
the parent’s or guardian’s signature (acceptable by email if address can be verified by school)
For Additional Information
Virginia Department of Health: www.vdh.virginia.gov/backtoschool/
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
The American Academy of Pediatrics: www.aap.org
Are You Getting Notifications from Your Students School?
Annual Student Enrollment Forms
Annually, your student's information needs to be updated in PowerSchool through New/Returning Enrollment Forms. This is the best time and way to capture the contact information you'd like your student's school to have! Please note that whoever's information is listed first will be considered the primary contact when entering in this data. However, should you want to add additional people to receive notifications regarding your students, cancellations, or other information, you can specify this with your school's primary PowerSchool contact. These additional contacts will be added to the list for your student's school.
School Board Appreciation Month
Mr. Johnathan Knight, District 1, is a Veteran who lives in Goodview, VA with his wife and three children, who attend Bedford County Schools. Mr. Knight ran for for the position to do his part to help make Bedford County Schools the best possible environment for education and hear the concerns of the community. Mrs. Dora Purvis, District 5, is a retired educator and runs a non -profit that focuses on providing community events that unite area churches to help address the mental health issues in local communities. Dr. Kurt Hubach, District 6, has been a Bedford resident since 1992 and is the solo physician at the Bedford Direct Primary Care office in the Town of Bedford. His spouse of 40 years, Dr. Anne Hubach, and he raised and educated their five children in Bedford County using the Bedford County Public Schools, homeschooling, and private schools.
Since February is School Board Appreciation Month, we would like to take the opportunity to welcome them to the Board while thanking the other members, Mr. Marcus Hill, Mr. Chris Daniels, Mr. Matthew Holbrook and Mr. Dwayne Nelms for their continued service and dedication to the students and community of Bedford County.
Upcoming Events
- February 5, 2024: Professional Development Day
- School Closed for Students
- February 8, 2024: School Board Meeting (Liberty High School)
- March 8, 2024: End of 3rd 9 Weeks