The Bedford Buccaneer
August 5, 2024
- Friday, October 10: Student Flu Clinic (registration closed)
- Saturday, October 11: PSAT (Juniors /Sophomores)
- Monday, October 13: No School (Indigenous Peoples Day)
- Thursday, October 16: Assembly, Class of 2029 (Students)
- Tuesday, October 27: School Picture Retakes (Students)
- Tuesday, November 4: No School (Teacher Professional Development Day)
- Tuesday, November 11: No School (Veteran's Day)
- Friday, November 14: Homecoming Dance (Students)
- Friday, November 21, and Saturday, November 22: Fall Play (All Welcome)
- Wednesday, November 26: Community Day & Early Release (Students)
- Thursday, December 4: Teacher/Caregiver Conferences (Parents)
The Lunch Menu can be found here.
The full Bedford High School calendar can be found here.
The Athletic Department schedules can be found here.
The Bedford Public School District calendar can be found here.
Annual Federal Impact Aid Survey
Last week, an email from Bedford Public Schools and Superintendent Chuang via DocuSign was sent to parents. This message included your 2025–2026 Federal Impact Aid Survey form.
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 Federal 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.
Please help us identify all federally connected students whose families are Active Duty Military, live on Hanscom AFB, OR work on federal facilities including Hanscom AFB, Bedford VA, Boston VA, Lincoln Public School on HAFB, Lincoln Labs, Mitre, and more!
The survey is fully electronic with e-signature. Parents/Guardians received a unique survey for each enrolled child. 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. You may request a paper survey copy.
We thank you very much for your assistance with this important annual survey. For all questions regarding this matter, please contact the Business Office at 781-275-7708 for assistance.
For more information, please visit our website: 2025–2026 Annual Federal Impact Aid Survey
PSAT Information & Registration
Registration Closes: Wednesday, October 8 | 11:59 pm
Exam: Saturday, October 11
The "Preliminary SAT(PSAT)/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT)" is a tool for students considering college. The PSAT/NMSQT measures critical reading skills, math problem-solving skills, and writing skills.
Bedford High School recommends that students take the PSAT/NMSQT to receive feedback about strengths and weaknesses, enter the competition for National Merit Scholar scholarships (11th graders only), and help prepare for the SAT.
Bedford High School will be administering the PSAT on Saturday, October 11, 2025.
Students should arrive at the high school no later than 7:45 am with their fully charged school-issued iPad.
Registration
Students at Bedford High School will register and pay for the 2025 PSAT/NMSQT online. This registration will only take a few minutes and can be completed from any computer with internet access.
The cost of the PSAT is $30.
To register, students should use the following link: https://user.totalregistration.net/PSAT/220112
Here are the important dates for the registration process:
Friday, September 12 at 12:00 AM - Registration opens
Wednesday, October 8 at 11:59 PM - Registration closes
Thursday, October 9 - Registrations that have not been paid for will be canceled and exams will not be ordered.
Additional PSAT Information
The PSAT will be administered electronically. There is no paper and pencil option available.
All students must bring their fully charged SCHOOL-ISSUED iPad on the day of the test.
Bedford High School will NOT provide iPads, charging devices, or any other technical support on the day of the test.
If you arrive without your iPad or your iPad shuts down because it is not fully charged, your exam will be canceled.
Make sure you have the BlueBook App downloaded onto your iPad.
Please contact Mr. Brian DeChellis, brian_dechellis@bedfordps.org, if you have questions or require financial assistance.
AP Exam Registration Information
After Friday, October 31, 2025, registrations will include a $40 late fee.
Register to join your class in myAP
Visit https://myap.collegeboard.org/ to register with your class-specific Join Code, if you have not already. After signing into your AP Classroom, select ‘Yes’ if you intend to order/take this exam (updates to this can be made up to November 3, 2025 in your myAP account).
See your teacher for your specific class section Join Code.
Join Codes should not be shared between students as they are specific to each class section.
Pay your exam registration fee.
AFTER you have registered in myAP, payments will be processed with Total Registration.
Please be sure to register for your class-specific section.
Student ID numbers are required in order to complete the steps in Total Registration.
This number can be found in the student’s Aspen account under the “My Info” tab. The required ID number is labeled as “Local Identifier” followed by a number beginning with 5050…. Students will not be able to pay for their exams without this Student ID number.
If you qualify for financial assistance, please mark ‘yes’ when asked during the registration process.
You will receive a confirmation email once your registration is complete.
SELF-STUDY EXAMS
The total cost per Self-Study Exam will be $150.00. Classes not associated with a BHS AP course are available for self-study. There is an additional test administration fee ($45.00) for Self-Study exams to offset the cost of proctors for small group test administration.
Bedford High School does not offer Self-Study Exams coinciding with classes offered as part of the BHS Program of Studies. For these exams, students should plan to enroll in the desired AP class so that it may be reflected on their transcript. If you are interested in taking one of these exams, you are encouraged to reach out to the surrounding school districts to see if they offer testing to out-of-district students; no contact lists can be provided.
Registration Process for Self-Study Exams
complete the Self-Study Exam Google Form BEFORE you will be able to pay for your exam in Total Registration. This form will be shared via email on October 1 and must be completed before October 31, 2025, at which time the form will stop receiving responses and no further Self-Study exams may be requested.
Note that this deadline differs from the late registration timeline to allow for course sections to be created.
This form may only be completed by students, not parents/caregivers, and students will be emailed directly with the next steps of the Self-Study registration process by the AP Coordinator.
Do not proceed to order this exam in Total Registration until you receive your join code from the AP Coordinator.
Please note that self-study exams will not appear on student transcripts or affect a student’s GPA, as the subject has not been formally instructed by a teacher at BHS. Colleges will know a Self-Study exam has been taken if and when the student chooses to send the final AP score directly to the college through the College Board website. BHS does not send any AP Scores to colleges regardless of whether or not a student has self-studied. It is strongly recommended that students have a conversation with their caregivers regarding whether or not self-studying an exam makes sense for the student’s school/life balance. It is also encouraged for students to review the AP Score usage policies to see if potential colleges accept AP credits.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please reach out to the AP Coordinator, Samantha Thyne at samantha_thyne@bedfordps.org.
Seal of Biliteracy Information
Apply by March 1, 2026
The Bedford School District is proud to be offering the State Seal of Biliteracy again this year. Participating in this program indicates to students and their families that their language(s) and culture(s) are valued in Massachusetts. This program affirms that all students and all languages are valid and valuable. Students of all language backgrounds, including English learners, former English learners, heritage speakers/signers of world languages, and students from monolingual English-speaking homes who have acquired world languages at school or in the community, are eligible for the State Seal of Biliteracy and the State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction.
The State Seal of Biliteracy and the State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction recognize all dialects of world languages and do not elevate any one expression of a world language over another. The State Seal of Biliteracy thus supports academic achievement for all, providing representation for all students of all languages and cultures, and recognizing students for the essential, multilingual skills that they possess.
To qualify for the State Seal of Biliteracy and the State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction, students must meet all graduation requirements and the English language and world language criteria described below:
Student Criteria for the State Seal of Biliteracy
- Meet all graduation requirements
- 472 or higher on Grade 10 ELA MCAS*
- A score equivalent to or higher than Intermediate High on an approved world language assessment
Student Criteria for the State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction
- Meet all graduation requirements
- 501 or higher on Grade 10 ELA MCAS
- A score equivalent to or higher than Advanced Low on an approved world language assessment
Upon graduation, students who earn the Seal of Biliteracy will have it affixed on their high school diploma. The students will also be recognized on BHS awards night. To apply for the Seal of Biliteracy, students must complete this form: Seal of Biliteracy application by March 1, 2026. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Adam Bailey, World Languages Program Director, at adam_bailey@bedfordps.org or call (781)275-1700 x4522.
Library Closed
Reminder: The Library is currently closed. Students may only enter if they are with a teacher. No individual passes will be issued for the Library at this time. Thank you.
Athletics This Week
Monday, October 6
Field Hockey (V/JV) vs. Waltham
Golf vs. Concord-Carlisle
Tuesday, October 7
Soccer, boys (V/JV) @ Waltham
Soccer, girls (V/JV) vs. Waltham
Volleyball (V/JV/F) vs. Waltham
Wednesday, October 8
Basketball (Unified) vs. Westford
Field Hockey (V/JV) vs. Weston
Golf @ Cambridge
Soccer, boys (F) @ Westford
Thursday, October 9
Soccer, boys (V/JV) vs. Weston
Soccer, girls (V/JV) @ Weston
Volleyball (V/JV) @ Weston
Friday, October 10
Field Hockey (V) @ Chelmsford
Football (V) @ Lincoln-Sudbury
Saturday, October 11
Football (JV) vs. Lincoln-Sudbury
Soccer, girls (V/JV) vs. Swampscott
Information for the Senior Class and their Families
Senior Portrait:
Pictures must be 2.5 X 3 with a DPI of 300. Submit your photo to https://yearbookshare.com/. Please note for parents who have been through this before it is the same place that HJeShare.com was before) using the school code "Bedford". You MUST select “Upload a PORTRAIT” (do NOT select general photo). Your name will be printed how you spell it upon upload so be careful, please! You should use your full name that is used in Aspen (unless you already sent us notification of a name change).
Deadline: October 25
Senior Siblings:
You can also share a picture of your senior WITH their sibling(s) who ALSO attend BHS. If the sibling does not attend BHS, we do not submit the photo. (If you have a sibling at BHS & a graduate or younger one it is ok if they are in the photo). The picture should be current and not when they were young kids. Please submit the siblings' picture by going to https://yearbookshare.com/, using the school code "Bedford," enter "12" for the grade, enter the senior name first and then the sibling(s) (example: for the first name enter. "Lisa ‘26 & Bart ‘28" and then for the last name enter "Simpson"), then in the box that says “baby or siblings” type in “siblings”.
Deadline: October 25
Family Congratulatory Ads Or Business Ad:
Here is a link to the flyer regarding ads. This is optional. Should you choose to participate, go to YearbookOrderCenter.com and use the school code 13423. Scroll down and click "Start My Ad". This ad is the place where you can include elementary pictures of your graduate if you so choose. Some families include pictures of their graduate through the years. Some families also have a business and choose to do an ad on behalf of the company, which you are welcome to do too.
Deadline: October 25
Yearbook Orders
Order your yearbook online by going to YearbookOrderCenter.com and using the school code 13423 or call 1-866-287-3096.
Deadline: December 31
College Visit Season is Here!
Please check your Naviance account to see which schools are sending representatives to BHS each week from mid-September to mid-November, and register online (Colleges tab --> Research Colleges --> College Visits).
Be mindful of what obligations you are missing to attend. And be sure to check-in with your teacher, showing your registration information, prior to attending the visit in the Counseling Office.
College Visits This Week
See Naviance App | See BHS Calendar for Details
Monday, October 6:
Endicott College (10:30 am)
Colby College (1:30 pm
Tuesday, October 7
University of Connecticut (8:30 am)
Dickinson College (9:15 am)
Quinnipiac University (1:30 pm)
Wednesday, October 8
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (10:15 am)
Roger Williams University (12:15 pm)
Thursday, October 9
Emmanuel College (8:00 am)
Johnson & Wales University (9:15 am)
If there is a mental health emergency, please call: Advocates Psychiatric Emergency Services (available 24 hours) at (800) 640-5432, or Massachusetts Behavioral Health Helpline (available 24 hours) at 833-773-2445 (call or text), or Call 9-1-1.
Bedford Youth & Family Services
Check out the services available to BPS students and their families.Cartwheel
Families can now raise their hand directly for mental health support with Cartwheel – we’re here when you need us. Whether your child is struggling with anxiety, having a hard time with back-to-school transitions, or needs someone to talk to, Cartwheel is here to help.
Guidelines For When A Student Is Sick
Please keep your student home from school if any one of the following occurs:
- Vomiting or diarrhea within 24 hours.
- Temperature of 100 degrees F or higher within the last 24 hours. Students with fevers may return to school after being fever-free for 24 hours, without fever-reducing medication.
- Positive throat culture for strep. Students may return 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has begun.
- Any symptoms of acute illness, such as a persistent cough, runny nose, and body aches.
Respiratory / COVID Guidelines
If Your Student Gets Sick at School, they should come to the health office to see the nurse. If your student calls a parent/guardian to be picked up and the student has not been evaluated in the health office, it will be considered a parent dismissal.
Handwashing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
Reporting Communicable Illnesses: Please report all communicable illnesses to the attendance line or contact the health office directly at 781-918-4416.
Questions? Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Reach out to Nurse Vaughan at: 781-275-1700-4416, or email bhsnurse@bedfordps.org
Donate Now to the BHSPA Fall Appeal
DONATE NOW TO THE FALL APPEAL!
Help us to provide support to our faculty, staff, and students all year long!
We can't do it with you!
The Fall Appeal is our biggest fundraiser of the year!
Donations are accepted all year on our website.
A donation of $25/family is suggested, but any amount is appreciated.
The BHSPA is a parent volunteer organization which raises and distributes funds to support the various initiatives, programs, and events for BHS. All caregivers are members of the BHSPA. We collect no dues, rather, we solely rely on donations and fundraising.
Thank you for supporting BHSPA!