The Bedford Buccaneer
May 10, 2021
IMPORTANT DATES
Thursday, May 13 - Senior Send off Parent Meeting 6pm Zoom
Tuesday, May 18 & Thursday, May 20 - MCAS Grade 10 ELA
Thursday, May 20 - Senior Movie Night: Revolution Hall, Lexington 7:15-10:30pm.
Friday, May 21 - Last Day of School for Seniors
Friday, May 21 and Saturday, May 22 - Les Misérables: School Edition at 7pm (streaming online)
Saturday, May 22 - Senior Barbecue at Kimball Farms Westford 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Tuesday, May 25 & Thursday, May 27 - MCAS Grade 10 Math
Tuesday, June 1 & Thursday, June 3 - MCAS Grade 9 Science
Wednesday, June 2 - Class of 2021 Graduation Rehearsal 8:30-11:00am
Friday, June 4 - Class of 2021 Graduation 6:30pm BHS Turf
Saturday, June 5 - Class of 2021 Graduation 6:30pm Rain date BHS Turf
Monday, June 7 - Senior Send-Off Celebration 6:30pm-9:30pm
Wednesday, June 16 - Last day of classes for underclassmen
Thursday & Friday, June 17 & 18 - Make-up days for work, assessments, projects, etc.
Friday, June 18 - Last Day of School
2020-2021 District Calendar Revised March 9, 2021
Thank you to the BHSPA and to all who donated to make Educator Appreciation Week so special for Bedford High School. We definitely felt appreciated and well fed. The timing was perfect. Have a wonderful week.
Sincerely,
Heather Galante
Principal
A slight change to the delivery of meals for students went into effect on May 10, 2021.
Meals are placed on tables in the cafeteria lobby for all students to pick up regardless of locations they are assigned for lunches. Students meals will be available at the start of lunch. This means students will go down to the cafeteria at the start of assigned lunch, pick up a meal from the tables, and report to an assigned location.
This change will allow the kitchen to deliver meals separately for three lunches which will keep hot food hot and cold food cold. Thanks so much for your continued support!
Ken Whittier
Food Service Director
BHS presents Les Misérables: School Edition
Streaming on May 21st and 22nd at 7pm. For tickets, visit www.bhschorusandtheater.weebly.com/tickets
We are very excited to show you what we have been working on since January!!! You won't want to miss this infamous musical performed in a way that BHS Theater has never done before!!
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/.
CSF Dollars for Scholars is looking for BHS alums of 2015 to 2020
The deadline for videos is Friday May 14.
AP Exam Update
Attention AP Students and Caregivers: The schedule for this spring's exams is included here, with almost all exams being held in June. All exams will be administered digitally at the student's home, with the exception of World Language (Chinese, Japanese, Spanish) and Music Theory exams. Please see the letter to AP students/caregivers for further details.
There will be a virtual meeting for AP students on Wednesday May 5th during ARC-SI (10:05). This meeting will cover important steps students must take before their exams and allow students to ask questions. Please check in with your student and remind them to attend this meeting. Thank you for your partnership!
Kristen Milano, Ed.M, CAS
School Counselor, AP Coordinator
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
Testing Update
I have some exciting information to share with you. The number of BHS students who have received 1 or 2 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine:
10th graders 74 out of 208 students have received their vaccine which is 35%
11th graders 135 out of 228 students have received their vaccine which is 60%
12th graders 100 out of 185 students have received their vaccine which is 54%
When a student receives their vaccines, it is entered into the Massachusetts immunization information system and our nurse software system reports the number of students who have had their vaccines. Congratulations to parents and BHS students!
Starting the week of May 10th, we will be working with Veritas Genetics. This company provides home saliva testing kits. We will not be doing pooled testing while we transition to this new program.
This will eliminate the need to collect nasal swab samples at school- students will not need to be called out of their classrooms or lunch.
Saliva samples will be pooled at the lab, and if there is a positive pool- the lab will identify the positive case from the original sample. This eliminates the need for “reflex testing” at school and the need to quarantine in a situation where individuals of a positive pool have to have to wait for PCR testing if the rapid antigen tests were negative.
We will be sending more detailed information next week on how to sign up for pooled testing with this new program. We are hopeful that this new process will increase participation in the weekly asymptomatic COVID-19 testing for students.
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
SENIOR UPDATES
Senior Sendoff Event Planning Meeting, May 13
Parents/Guardians of Class of 2021 there will be a planning meeting Thursday, May 13th at 6pm to discuss plans for a senior event organized by parents. Your help is needed! Zoom link will be in the Class of 2021 Facebook Group or request the link from bhsbucsparents@gmail.com.
Class of 2021 Senior Sendoff
Monday, June 7th from 6:30pm-9:30pm
The end of high school for our seniors is fast approaching. This class has endured an unprecedented final TWO years of high school. Given the on-going Covid-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions, the usual Prom and All Night Graduation Celebration cannot take place. A group of dedicated parents, led by the Class of 2021 Parent Committee, are working to reimagine a final celebration for the Class of 2021! bedfordang+2021@gmail.com
More information, including how to get tickets, will be provided at a later date.
For updates follow us on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BedfordANG
Instagram: BedfordAllNightGrad
Twitter: @BedfordANG
There are 3 ways to make a financial donation:
- PayPal - tinyurl.com/SeniorSendOff2021-PayPal
- Venmo - www.venmo.com/BHS-AllNightGrad (@BHS-AllNightGrad)
- Checks can be mailed to: BHS Class of 2021 Senior Send-Off Celebration(Please write Class of 2021 Senior Send-Off in memo line) Checks - made payable to: Bedford High School All Night Graduation Celebration, P.O. Box 175, Bedford, MA 01730
Thank you for considering this request and for your continued support of our seniors!
Class of 2021 Graduation-Student Speaker
In addition to your faculty speaker, your class President, Malcolm Mayanja, will also speak. In the past, an additional student speaker has been selected. The student and faculty speakers help to personalize the commencement ceremony. If you have a story or message to share with your class, please consider submitting and presenting your speech to a panel of faculty members and students.
If you are eligible to graduate, you are eligible to be considered as a speaker at graduation-no further prerequisites
Interested seniors should submit a speech to Mrs. Sweetland in the Main Office by Friday, April 30th. You may email the speech to brenda_sweetland@bedfordps.org
Speeches will be presented to a panel on Tuesday, May 4th during ARC-SI.
The speech should be about 3-5 minutes in length (click here to view the rubric)
Please consider writing, submitting and presenting a speech for consideration.
Coming soon!
Thursday, May 20, 2021
7:15-10:30pm.
Students will watch a movie as a class with food options and glow sticks. There will be a Class of 2021 tribute video shown prior to the feature.
TWO TICKET OPTIONS-
$5 per person for admissions only
$15 per person for admissions, popcorn and a drink
Movie will start at 8:00pm (please arrive no earlier than 7:00pm to secure a great spot )
Additionally you can pre-order food by ordering ahead and selecting a time of pick up on the date of the event via: https://www.craftfoodhalls.com/revolution-hall-lexington
**Food orders will need to be placed no later than May 6th and must be picked-up no later than 8:00pm the night of the event.
Order your tickets at the first link and then add your name and ticket information to the second link (google sheet) below:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bedford-high-school-drive-in-tickets-148382440875
Senior Movie Night May 20, 7:30pm - Google Sheets
If you have questions please contact your Class Officers, Ms. Arena or Charlie Humphrey.
Due to Covid restrictions and safety protocol, this is a BHS student only event.
Great American Senior Barbecue
Saturday, May 22 - 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Seniors, after spending an evening of fun during movie night, join your fellow students at Kimball Farms, 400 Littleton Road, Westford
Tickets are $10- (normally $65)- You can stop by Room D107 and pay with cash or venmo @classof2021-Humphrey
ALL PACKAGES INCLUDE UNLIMITED USE OF THE FOLLOWING:
▪ Two Adventure Style 18-hole Mini Golf Courses
▪ Driving Range & 9-Hole Pitch & Putt Golf Course
▪ New England’s Largest Spin Zone Bumper Cars
▪ 6,000 sq. ft. Bumper Boat Pond
▪ Sand Volleyball
In addition, each guest will receive:
▪ (2) tokens for the Grand Slam Batting Cages
▪ 50% off Soaring Eagle Zip Line Ride (purchase at Batting Cages)
▪ 50% off PRE-ORDERED Arcade Game Cards
▪ 10% off regularly priced merchandise in our Westford Country Store on the day of your event
Includes Unlimited:
▪ Grilled Chicken (Buffalo, Cajun, Teriyaki or BBQ)
▪ Top Sirloin Burgers & Cheeseburgers
▪ Veggie Burgers
▪ ¼ lb. All Beef Hot Dogs
▪ Grilled Marinated Veggie Skewers
▪ Red Bliss Potato Salad
▪ Corn on the Cob & Watermelon
▪ Soft Drinks, water and iced tea within the tent
▪ Kimball's Legendary Ice Cream Buffet
Kimball Farm link- https://kimballfarm.com/location/westford/
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
Congratulations to our Seniors, Tajah M. and James B. were chosen to be recipients of the Kevin J Fitzgerald $2,500 scholarship through the Cambridge Savings Bank. Congratulations to you both on this amazing opportunity!
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
BHSPA Update
Need a mask refresh for 5 day learning?
We have LIMITED QUANTITIES of Bedford Buccaneer masks. It’s the perfect mask for students, teachers, athletes, performers and spectators! Adult and youth sizes (a few left) available.
Spring Promotion:
- Purchase 2 masks for $20
- Purchase 5 masks for $45
- Donate a mask to someone in need in the community - $5.00
- Bulk orders - please email BHSbucsparents@gmail.com.
The masks are stylish, high quality, washable and 3-ply - perfect for the fall and winter seasons. Masks can be purchased in Adult and Youth sizes and come in Bedford blue and black. Click on the link below for the image.
To order, go to https://bhspa.org/order. Masks will be delivered to your home (Bedford, Hanscom or Boston or can be picked up in school by a student) within a week of placing your order at no charge! Bulk sales are available as well for a reduced price. Please email BHSBUcsparents@gmail.com to inquire about bulk sales or if you have questions.
Has your child ever received a bad grade? How did it make her or him feel? Probably not that good but we must remind them that bad grades do not define who they are.
Normalizing failure in academic settings
How I’ve learned to understand my failures as lessons
By Yasmin Teixeira
April 5, 2021
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)
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.
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.
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
For all things Post-Secondary related, please visit the
BHS Counseling Department’s Post-Secondary website.
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Are you looking for a fun way to get community service hours this summer while helping to grow healthy food for hunger relief? Join Gaining Ground's High School Farm Team! We're looking for high school students to join us from mid-June through August—as both team members and team leaders. If you'd like to learn more, email volunteer@gainingground.org. We'd love to have you join us!
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