BUCCANEER NEWS Vol. #3 9/15/2025

• Here is a list of the sporting events for this week
• Weekly Staff and Parent Bulletin Requests

This Week:

9/16 (T) Bedford Anti-Hate/Bias Taskforce 7-9pm

9/18 (Th) Healthy School Hours Working Group Initial Meeting 4-6pm

Next Week (So Far):

1) [NEW] Chess Club (Recreation Department Club)

2) [NEW] Yearbook

3) [REMINDER] Save the Dates

4) [REMINDER] Requesting Bulletin Items

5) [REMINDER] JGMS Extra Curricular Activities

6) [REMINDER] Opt Out Directory and/or Media Request 2025-2026 including Technical School Information

7) [REMINDER] Formation of JGMS School Council

8) [REMINDER] Student Drop Off and Pick Up

9) [REMINDER] Dropping Off Items For Your Child

Afterschool Chess Club is for players (grades 6-8) looking for an informal opportunity to play chess with their friends and peers. The program will be supervised by Mrs. Burstein, and equipment will be provided. Beginner chess players are encouraged to attend and instruction will be given by peers on the game. This program is for all levels. Thursdays 2:20-3:20pm, September 18th to November 13th (8 weeks, no class on 10/2) at JGMS in Mrs. Burstein's room, B219. Email Mrs. Burstein who can provide a link to sign up with the recreation department.

Think ahead and order a yearbook for your child! Go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and put in code 4008 for John Glenn middle school. We do order extras and do not always have enough to go around in June so secure yours now! As we get closer to to the end of the year, the price will increase to ensure we meet our ordering quota. Please purchase now and get them when they are at their lowest! Email Ms.Beinert with any questions or if you require financial assistance this year.

1. Thursday, October 9, 2025 6:00pm-8:30pm: Back To School Night

2. Tuesday, October 14, 2025: Picture Day (Staff and Students)

3. Friday, October 17, 2025: Middle School Social 6:00pm-8:00pm

4. Wednesday, October 22, 2025 to Friday, October 24, 2025 - 6th Grade Nature's Classroom Trip

5. Wednesday, November 5, 2025 4:00-7:30 Parent Teacher Conferences

6. Wednesday, November 19, 2025 2:15-4:15 Parent Teacher Conferences

On the rare occasion you are requesting an item be placed in a weekly bulletin, please refrain from email and please use the Google Form listed as

• Weekly Staff and Parent Bulletin Requests

It is listed above so you may access it from these bulletins anytime.

Using the link will ensure your item is considered in a timely manner. I typically check them every Sunday. Any item I have questions about may need to wait so please give 2 weeks notice as

CLUBS

JGMS has a variety of clubs and sports that meet outside of school hours. The list of clubs are listed here

SPORTS

For students who want to compete in sports at JGMS, please sign up here

Sports Opportunities at JGMS: Students have a variety of options. Here is a list of sports that we offer at JGMS throughout the year.

Coaching Staff: JGMS offers four sports in the fall. Please contact the JGMS coach with questions. Please contact your child's coach via email for information regarding games, practices, or changes to schedules. Sports schedules can be found each week at the link at the top of bulletin listed as "This week's sports schedule - Click "view Schedules" on right to find Middle School schedules. Practice/Tryout information for sports are listed below.

GENERAL:

JGMS Athletic Coordinator: Ken Norling

FALL:

JGMS Cross Country: Ken Norling

JGMS Boys Soccer: Pete Simonini

JGMS Girls Soccer: Paul Harrington

JGMS Field Hockey: Indigo FoxTree indigo_foxtree-mcgrath@bedfordps.org

JGMS Football: Joe Curran joseph_curran@bedfordps.org

WINTER:

JGMS Boys Basketball: Vinnie McGrath

JGMS Girls Basketball: Greg Hinz

SPRING:

JGMS Boys Baseball: TBD

JGMS Girls Softball: TBD

JGMS Co-Ed Outdoor Track: Ken Norling

As referenced in our handbook on page 25

As anticipated, the MSPA is requesting directory information—including the student’s name, class assignment (for elementary schools), parent/guardian names, parent/guardian email addresses, and parent/guardian telephone—to be shared in a printed and/or online directory to facilitate connections between families.

If an eligible student and/or parent does not want MSPA Directory Information released, they must notify the Principal, by September 19, 2025 and such information will not be released.

Please indicate if you are opting out of your child's information being released in the MSPA Directory and other media and mass mailings using this Google Form

According to MGL Chapter 71 Section 59 C: "The school council, including the school principal, shall meet regularly and shall assist in the identification of the educational needs of the students attending the school, make recommendations to the principal for the development, implementation and assessment of the curriculum accommodation plan required pursuant to section 38Q.5, shall assist in the review of the annual school budget and in the formulation of a school improvement plan."

According to MGL Chapter 71 Section 59 C: "At each public elementary, secondary and independent vocational school in the commonwealth there shall be a school council consisting of the school principal, who shall co-chair the council; parents of students attending the school who shall be selected by the parents of students attending such school..." If you are a parent of a student and would like to be considered for the School Advisory Council, please reach out the the MSPA at jgmsparents@gmail.com.

According to MGL Chapter 71 Section 59 C: "other persons, not parents or teachers of students at the school, drawn from such groups or entities as municipal government, business and labor organizations, institutions of higher education, human services agencies or other interested groups including those from school age child care programs." If there are suggestions for participation from a group that meets the "other person" criteria, please reach out to jgmsparents@gmail.com.

Although not obligated in a school that does not have 9th to 12 graders, we would like students on our School Advisory Council. If your child is interested, please have them email me directly at jonathan_hartunian@bedfordps.org.

School Council meets via Zoom 2:30-3:30 the third Thursday of each month. The first meeting will be starting October 9.

Please be aware and follow the drop off and pick up routines designed to provide a safe environment for entry and exit of students.

DROP OFF: Please see the drop off routines below

Students who:

• walk/bike to school may enter in the front by the School Administration wing or the parking lot door

• ride the bus to school should enter in the front by the School Administration wing

• ride in a car to school should enter in the back parking lot. Caretakers should follow the traffic pattern laid out below in the morning

PICK UP: Please see the pick up routines below

Student who:

• walk/bike from school may exit any door that is most convenient.

• ride the bus from school may exit may exit any door that is most convenient. These students will walk to Bedford High School to pick up the bus. Dismissal at JGMS is at 2:16 and the dismissal at BHS is at 2:24. Busses will depart from Bedford High School at 2:28.

• ride in a car from school should exit the school by the parking lot. Caretakers should follow the traffic pattern laid out below in the afternoon.

Ms. Cormier and Ms. Danielson are happy to ensure your child has what they need to be successful each day. In order to support their efforts we ask you use our cubby system for all items that are not electronic.

When you enter the main door at JGMS you will see a large wooden cubby where we ask families to leave student belongings. Chromebooks or other electronics have their own process however the process begins at the cubby. There are forms that parents can fill out along with instructions. Below are pictures so you will know what to expect.

You will see we ask parents to email their child that an item has been dropped off. Our priority is that our students get what they need in a timely manner and the process is efficient. To ensure the system works as planned, we will teach the students about this system, we will periodically check the cubby for items that need to be picked up, and also ask that you remind your child to check their email periodically during the day (especially if they know you may drop off their item) and check the cubby on their way to lunch.

Attendance: Please let us know when your child will be absent, late, or dismissed by emailing JGMS_Attendance@bedfordps.org. If for a dismissal, please indicate a time as well. You can also send a note with your child to be dropped off in the main office prior to going to class. If we know of a dismissal ahead of time we will attempt to have your child ready when you arrive.

Religious Holidays: Please follow the directions explained here.

Tech Support: If your child is having technical trouble throughout the school year please send an email to tech_support@bedfordps.org.

Taking the Bus: Please see the guidance on the district’s transportation website. Please review the transportation guidelines with your children as we hope families will choose to ride the bus again.

Sports schedules: Please visit the sports section of the website to access the schedules of the upcoming seasons. You can click on “view schedules” under the calendar on the right. You should look for “middle school” teams when searching for your child’s sport.