For all things Postsecondary related, please visit the

BHS Counseling Department’s Post-Secondary website

The Bedford High School Counseling Department is closed for December vacation from 12/24/2022 - 01/02/2023. The office will reopen on January 3rd, 2022. Any transcript request received during that time will be processed when school is back in session.

If you are seeking counseling support for your child during break, please reach out to one of these resources:

• Your child’s pediatrician to ask for a counseling referral

• Connect with the Town of Bedford Youth & Family Services at (781) 275-7727

• Eliot Community Human Services at 781-861-0890

If there is a mental health emergency, please call the 24-Hour Crisis Support Line through Advocates Psychiatric Emergency Services at (800) 640-5432, or call 9-1-1.

Counseling Department Monthly Newsletter: Check your email for the December edition of the Counseling Connection Newsletter available now!

Counseling Department Programming

Wednesday 2/15/2023 - Junior Parent/Caregiver Webinar will again be held via Zoom! We will give an overview of the college process, post-secondary planning resources, and tasks that juniors can do before senior year. The webinar link will be provided when we are closer to the event.

SCHOLARSHIPS - Class of 2023

College scholarship applications are coming up shortly. The Counseling Department is updating a document with local scholarship information that will be available shortly. Stay tuned.

Scholarship Transcript Requests

It is the students’ responsibility to submit transcripts for scholarship applications. We are happy to print and/or email you a copy of your transcript.

If you need an “official transcript” we will give it to you in a sealed official envelope.

You can request your transcript(s) directly with Mrs. Brownrigg, or send her an email at: Julie_Brownrigg@Bedfordps.org

Scholarship Letters of Recommendation

Students should reach out to the staff member who wrote the recommendation, so they can either release the recommendation to the student, or send it in on their behalf.

Scholarship Opening for Military Families

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation awards need-based scholarships to the children of Marines attending accredited colleges, community colleges, and career technical education programs. The scholarship application for the 2023-24 academic year opens on January 1, 2023. For more information on eligibility or to apply, visit mcsf.org/apply. Email Scholarship@mcsf.org with questions, or call 866-496-5462.

Juniors

Attention all students who took the PSAT on October 15th. Students and their parents/caregivers can access student scores online on December 6 (The College Board will send an email on this date). For more information click Getting the Most from the PSAT/NMSQT Score Report

Bedford SEPAC (special education parent advisory council) is a volunteer group of parents/caregivers that work to provide networking and support for Bedford parents/caregivers of children receiving special education services. In conjunction, they work closely with the school administration on special education needs and concerns. All are welcome!

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BEDFORDMASEPAC/

Webpage: Bedfordsepac.com

IMPORTANT

Please report all cases of COVID-19 (both home tests and tests from a healthcare provider) to your child’s school COVID email: bhscovid@bedfordps.org

The cold and flu season is upon us! Please report any positive cases of communicable illness such as flu, strep, RSV and COVID when you call the school to report your child's absence. We are seeing an increase in the number of flu cases reported. Please be sure to keep your child home when they are sick, and test them for COVID with a home test before sending them to school with mild symptoms. Thank you

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

Bedford Public Schools will be following the recommendations of MA DPH and DESE guidelines.

We encourage families to:

• Keep home rapid antigen tests on hand. Pick up a free at-home test kit, available for Bedford residents from one of the following town offices during normal business hours: Health Department, Council on Aging, Town Manager’s Office or the Bedford Free Public Library. Order your free at-home test kit from the Federal Government- https://www.covidtests.gov/

• Continue to screen daily for symptoms before sending your child to school.

• Stay up to date with vaccinations/boosters

• Keep masks on hand to be used as indicated for those returning to school after testing positive for COVID-19.

Students and staff who are sick should stay home.

Anyone who is sick, and has multiple symptoms should stay home and can return when:

• they have tested negative using a home rapid antigen test and have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of a fever reducing medication

• their symptoms are resolving

• or if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis.

Students with MILD symptoms (for example, a single symptom of a runny nose) should test negative with a home rapid antigen test before coming to school.

Per MA DPH it is recommended to test with a home rapid antigen test a second time within 48 hours if the initial COVID-19 test is negative.

Returning to school after testing positive for COVID-19

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will still need to isolate for 5 days at home. Those individuals may return to school after Day 5 wearing a mask through day 10, as long as they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and fever free without the use of fever-reducing medication for 24 hours.

• Day 0 - is the date of the positive test/symptom onset- whichever came first

• Day 5- isolate through this date

• Day 6- return to school if symptoms have significantly improved or resolved AND fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication.

• Day 10- wear a well fitting mask at all times (except when eating or drinking or outside) through day 10.

Always report positive cases of COVID-19 to your child’s primary care provider. Students should get cardiac clearance for sports either in person visit or phone triage by their provider after testing positive for COVID-19.

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.

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

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? We encourage you to try to meet your student after school for the items but in the event that does not work please leave items on the table right inside the vestibule. (Parents/Guardians, please label item your dropping with name) Please note; we do not interrupt classes for drop offs. Students can check for the item dropped off in between classes and at lunch.

Bedford High School Parent/Guardian & Student Sign off Agreement Form here

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

The 2022-23 Bus Routes have been posted on the Transportation Web Page

Know who to contact for help? (please see page 6)