The Bedford Buccaneer
October 12, 2021
IMPORTANT DATES
Thursday, October 14- Free Well Balanced Student Webinar 7:00pm – 8:15pm
Friday, October 15 - School Council Submissions due
Saturday, October 16 - PSAT 7:45 at BHS (Must be registered by 10/1 please see below)
Tuesday, October 19 - Principal's Roundtable (details to come)
Friday, October 22 - Yearbook Senior Portraits due
Wednesday, October 27 - Swim & Dive Team Chipotle Fundraiser 4-8pm
Tuesday, November 2 - Teacher Professional Development – No School
Wednesday, November 10 - *NEW DATE* Picture Retake day, during Flex block
Thursday, November 11 - Veterans Day (No School)
Tuesday, November 16 - AMC 10/12 B Math Exam
Wednesday, November 24 - School closed at 11:08am early dismissal
Thursday - Friday, November 24 -25 - Thanksgiving Break
Friday - Friday, December 24 -31 Vacation
Thursday, June 2, 2022 - Graduation at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell at 6:15pm
BHS announces one open position for School Council
School Council has one opening for a Bedford residing parent/guardian representative. Parents serve a two-year term and meetings are held monthly in the afternoons, generally from 2:30-3:30pm. All interested parents/guardians are encouraged to submit their names and biographies for consideration. If there is more than one person interested, an election will be held 10/20-10/22 via Aspen. Submissions due to BHSbucsparents@gmail.com by Friday, 10/15.
What is School Council?
Parent representation on the School Council is essential as the role of this position is to assist principals by reviewing the school building budget and developing the school improvement plan. Councils may also take on other responsibilities, including policy making, as granted by the local school committee. Councils' school improvement plans are submitted to the local school committee for review and approval.
Military Impact Aid Survey
As we do each October, we are asking for parent/guardian cooperation in filling out a survey form to meet the requirements of Public Law 874. Under the provisions of Public Law 874, Bedford Public Schools must conduct an annual Military Impact Aid Survey.
The Town of Bedford receives a substantial sum of money under this provision, which lowers the cost of education to the taxpayers.
This year the survey is fully electronic with e-signature - HERE IS YOUR LINK!
Parents/Guardians will receive an email with a survey link for each student. It is very important that all surveys are completed and electronically signed for each student, as reimbursement is made for all eligible students on a per pupil basis. We thank you very much for your assistance with this important annual survey.
Sincerely,
Philip Conrad, Superintendent of Schools
Registration is open for Winter Sports
If you are interested in participating in the winter, please have your parent/Caregiver register in Aspen as soon as possible.
You must be registered in Aspen, have a valid physical (within 13 months) and baseline test (within 24 months) in order to try-out. If you need to complete the baseline test, Mr. Mangan will email a link once you are registered.
Physicals can be emailed to keith_mangan@bedfordps.org
Instructions for registration are here
Counseling Corner
For all things Post-Secondary related, please visit the
BHS Counseling Department’s Post-Secondary website.
SENIORS - College Application Deadlines
November 1st is a very popular college application deadline in our office. The transcript request deadline is 10 school days prior to the application deadline, which would be October 15th (this friday).
Please see Ms. Tobe in the counseling office with any questions. If you notice a difference in the deadline specified by the college, versus what SCOIR has listed, let her know ASAP. meredith_tobe@bedfordps.org
Check in with your teachers about your Teacher Letters of Recommendation. If your application due date changes, please let them know ASAP, so they can make sure your rec is complete and ready to send.
MEFA College Financing Webinar - the next live webinar(s) will take place on Wednesday, and Thursday October 20th and 21st, at 6:30 PM. To register click the corresponding topic and date here.
The PSAT/NMSQT is being administered this Saturday, October 16th
What to bring on test day
Two No. 2 pencils with erasers
Valid school- or government-issued photo ID (for home-schooled students). If unavailable, students can use a notarized College Board Student ID Form (.pdf/128 KB).
Epinephrine auto-injectors (e.g., EpiPens) are permitted without the need for accommodations. They must be placed in a clear bag and stored under the student’s desk during testing. For policies on other medications and medical devices, contact Services for Students with Disabilities.
A complete list of prohibited devices is listed in the Official Student Guide.
Scheduling an Appointment with your School Counselor
Our School Counselors are available to students throughout the school day. They can schedule appointments at the following links:
Job Board
Looking for a job? Check out the job board behind Mrs. Tobe’s desk in the Counseling Suite
AP testing, payment and registration Information
Payment for AP Exams is now available via Total Registration. All payments are due no later than October 22nd. After this date there will be a $40 late fee added on to your order.
Please follow the link below to complete your registration and payment:
www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/220112
In order to be fully registered for your exam, you must have a registered account with both College Board (through given access code) and Total Registration. If you have not completed a registration with both websites, your exam will not be ordered. Please take the time to double check both registrations are complete.
If you qualify for a reduced testing fee, your request will need to be approved by me within Total Registration before you can finalize your order. Please allow a few days for this to take place.
Ms. Thyne
AP Test Coordinator
BHS MARCHING BAND FLATBREAD COMPANY BENEFIT
Thursday, October 28th at FLATBREAD COMPANY-BEDFORD from 4-9pm there will be a benefit night for the BHS Marching Band!
For each large flatbread sold, the restaurant will donate $3.50, and $1.75 for each small flatbread. Band Director Mr. Felker will be performing some acoustic music from 5:30-8:30pm.
This fundraiser is good for dine-in or take out. We are hoping to break our fundraising record at the restaurant, so please come out for some good food and good fun.
6 ways to help kids regain a sense of purpose
Link to the Washington Post article.
Free Well Balanced Student Workshop
OCTOBER 14th | 4PM PT
For the entire parent and faculty community
Join fellow Partner Schools and your school community at this free Well-Balanced Student workshop. Click this link to learn more about the presentation and to register. The webinar will last 75 minutes, ending with time for Q&A.
If you would like to learn more about your students classes, we invite you to enjoy the videos produced by our teachers Linked here.
BHSPA Fall Appeal
THANK YOU Bedford Parents/Guardians for your contributions to the Fall Appeal! As Principal Galante mentioned on the Back to School webinar, your donations help the school in so many areas. Here are a few of the ways your donations are put to work!
- Funding of 6 new picnic tables accommodating outdoor lunches, classrooms, meetings, etc. Due to popular demand, we will be adding more this year!
- Ice cream socials for each class to re-connect upon returning to in-person classes in 2021. It was the first time the classes were together as a whole in over a year!
- Teacher/Student grants to fund school projects including technology equipment for BHS NOW and funding grade specific initiatives.
- Preparation and distribution of Student Directories (this year it will include a teacher directory with email addresses!) - coming soon!
- Sponsorship of Teacher/Staff Appreciation events and so much more (check out BHSPA.org for more information)
Donations are accepted all year, using our online DONATION LINK at BHSPA.ORG.
COVID Safety Checks (formerly known as pooled testing)
We are continuing our weekly COVID-19 safety checks (formerly known as pooled testing) every Wednesday before school. It is a PCR test processed at the Broad Institute in Cambridge.
The sample for the test will be a nasal swab, and we will collect two swabs per person- one for the "pool" tube, and one for an individual tube. The tube with multiple samples will be tested, and in the event that there is a positive result, testing will be done on the individual samples. If there is a positive result, the individual’s parent/guardian will be notified directly.
The testers will be staff from our testing vendor (CIC) and school nurses. We are testing students in the main lobby and we will have students who are signed up come before school, from 7:20 am -7:45am.
All students are encouraged to participate. This is an important safety measure to help keep our schools safe and identify any asymptomatic cases of COVID-19, before they spread to others.
The link to sign up is here.
For more information on our COVID-19 testing please see our website here.
Attendance
Thank you to all families for your cooperation with keeping your child home when they are sick. We know that it can be a challenge in the morning when deciding whether or not to keep your child home from school. We ask that all families screen their child daily using the Daily Screening Checklist. The Screening checklist can be found on the Bedford PS website HERE.
If you look at the checklist and are checking off any of the boxes for symptoms (or combination of symptoms where indicated) then you should be keeping your student home and they will need a negative COVID-19 test to be cleared to return to school. A PCR or rapid molecular test is required for anyone who meets the criteria for testing. Test results can be emailed or faxed to 781-687-6141.
When calling to report that your child will be absent on the absentee line please indicate the reason why your child is out, and what their symptoms are. If you are unsure whether or not to send your child, please keep them home, and call or email the school nurse at Nancy_Thorsen@bedfordps.org before sending them to school.
As always, thank you for doing your part in keeping our community healthy and safe!
Nancy Thorsen BSN,RN
781-275-1700 ext. 4416
Absence Line: (781)918-4561
or select #1 from the main menu of (781)275-1700
BEDFORD SEPAC (Special Education Parental Advisory Council)
All parents & guardians of Bedford special education welcome!
Web: bedfordsepac.com
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BEDFORDMASEPAC/
Meet the Bedford Special Education Program Administrators!
Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at 6:30 PM
Bedford High School, Large Group Instruction Room
Masks required
Schools:
Davis - Caitlyn Queenin
Lane - Jane DelGobbo
JGMS - Andrea Edmunds
BHS - Michelle DellaValle
Out of District - Tanya Conti
Free Workshop: Bullying - what parents need to know
Monday, November 8, 2021, at 7 - 9 PM on zoom
Presented by Federation for Children with Special Needs and Bedford SEPAC
What is bullying? Strategies and tools? IEP? School's obligation to address and prevent bullying?
Registration link: https://fcsn-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqcemvqDMrHtIOuwuwx_z_Td0s6-Ovl_5G
2021/2022 SEPAC Monthly Meeting dates
November 18, December 16, January 20 (guest Marianne Vines), February 17, March 24, April 28, May 19 (guest Marianne Vines), June 9
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?
Senior Dates and Deadlines
October 22nd- Senior Portraits-Please contact Mark Lawrence Photography @603-882-0116 to make your appointment.
December 10th- Business Ads- Anyone with 2 business ads gets a free yearbook.
December 10th- Parent Ads. The 2021-2022 forms will be sent to the parents.
January 21- Yearbook orders. The cost is $85.00. You may place your order here
Please make checks out to BHS 2021/2022 yearbook.
After January 21 the cost will be $100.00
Important Information for the Class of 2022
Please help us to have a successful yearbook by getting an early start.
Send all pictures that you would like to be considered for the yearbook to www.hjeshare.com. Enter the school code: Bedford (capital B). Please identify who the students are in the pictures. Please use full names not nicknames when you submit your baby picture. Please only submit one baby picture. If you do not identify your baby picture you run the risk of not being in the yearbook.
The official photographer for the senior portraits is Mark Lawrence Photographers. Their phone number is 603-882-0116. Please contact them for an appointment. If you have any questions in regards to any of the information. Please contact Mrs. Santos. Her email is karen_santos@bedfordps.org
If you decide to take your own pictures. Please be aware of the size. It must be 2.5 X 3 with a DPI of 300. Yearbook staff will contact you if your picture does not follow these guidelines.
If you have any questions in regards to any of the information. Please contact Mrs. Santos. at karen_santos@bedfordps.org
Past due dates:
October 8th- Senior Class Photo
The senior class photo will be taken on the football field. The picture will take place during flex block that day. (10:22-11:32) It will not take the whole time. Seniors please listen for the announcement on that day. Let Mrs Santos know if you have any questions.
October 8th- Individual baby pictures/Elementary photos. Please make sure when you upload your baby picture to include your name, first and last. If there is no name you run the risk of not being in the yearbook. Send to: www.hjeshare.com
Enter the code: Bedford(capital letter “B”)
October 8th- “Senior Thanks” (limit of 175 words) Please note: Text slang and most abbreviations are not acceptable. Drug or alcohol references are not acceptable. Send your “senior thanks” in a word document to: bhs2022yearbook@gmail.com
Graduation is Thursday, June 2, 2022
Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
6:15pm
There are no tickets for the event as there is ample seating for all friends and family members. Mark your calendars. It will be here sooner than you think!
Bus Transportation
Updated bus locations at the end of school: The busses line up, starting at the flagpole across from the softball field and looping all the way around the front of the high school to the front door of the main office.
The pick up order begins with the METCO bus, #33, then the base buses, #21, #23 and #24, respectively, and finally the local Bedford buses, #1-16.
Many health and safety measures will remain in place on school buses. As has been and is currently the case with all types of public transportation, masks will continue to be required on school buses for students and drivers. This is by federal public health order, and is specified in DESE’s guidance, released July 30, 2021. The district also will continue the practice of maximum ventilation and fresh air, and will continue to operate buses with windows partially open. Bus riding at BHS will return to open seating due to vaccination access for this age group.
Late busses run on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday and pick up at the front of the school by the Cafeteria doors. Late busses depart at 4:05pm.
Boston METCO Families can register through the METCO office.
BHS families can find all bus routes and stops posted online.
Athletics
Here is a link to the 2021-2022 fall schedule. GO BUCS!
INFORMATION OPT OUT
If you wish to have your student’s name, address, and/or telephone number withheld from the media, social media or military recruitment, please send a letter to Principal Galante stating your request by October 29, 2021.
Lunch
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)
Get a parking sticker? You will not need a sticker until the end of September. Please fill out the Google Form here and your Assistant Principal will deliver it to your lunch or Advisory. There is no fee for parking at Bedford High School.
Free ADult ESL Classes
Dates: 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/23, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22
Free tuition
Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Classes
Location: Bedford High School
Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
*Register online by sending an email to Carrie Powers, EL Director
Click here for more information!
Looking for a great community service opportunity?
The Bedford Food Pantry is looking for volunteers
You can sign up using the following link:
Questions? Please stop by the Athletic Office or reach out Annie Bernstein at annie_bernstein-2022@bedfordps.org
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