BUCCANEER NEWS Vol. #8 10/19/2026

• Here is the sports schedule for Middle School and the JGMS Athletics Website and Coach Contact Information
• Weekly Staff and Parent Bulletin Requests
• BPS 2026-2027 District Calendar
• JGMS Activities and Clubs
• School Lunch Menu - Click Here

This Week:

10/12 (M) Indigenous People's Day (No School)

10/14 (W) Faculty Meeting

Next Week (So Far):

10/19 (M) Picture Day

10/21 (W) Teacher Day

Save the Dates

• 10/19 (M) Picture Day (Staff and Students)
• 10/21-10/23 (W-F) 6th Grade Nature's Classroom Trip
• 10/27 (T) 7th Grade Field Trip - Boundless Adventure
• 10/30 (F) Middle School Halloween Social 5-7pm
• 11/4 (W) Parent Teacher Conferences 2:30-4:30pm (via Zoom)
• 11/18 (W) Parent Teacher Conferences 4:30-7:30pm (via Zoom)
• 5/25-5/28 (T-F) 8th Grade Washington DC Trip
• 6/15 (T) 7th Grade Field Trip - Kimball Farms Field Trip

This Week:

10/19 (M) Picture Day (Staff and Students)

10/21 (W) 6th Grade Outdoor Classroom Trip

10/22 (Th) 6th Grade Outdoor Classroom Trip

10/23 (F) 6th Grade Outdoor Classroom Trip

Next Week (So Far):

10/27 (T) 7th Grade Field Trip - Boundless Adventure

10/28 (W) Shawhseen Valley Technical High School Field Trip (Grade 8)

10/30 (F) Middle School Halloween Social 5-7pm (all grades)

Save the Dates

• 10/27 (T) 7th Grade Field Trip - Boundless Adventure
• 10/30 (F) Middle School Halloween Social 5-7pm
• 11/4 (W) Parent Teacher Conferences 2:30-4:30pm (via Zoom)
• 11/18 (W) Parent Teacher Conferences 4:30-7:30pm (via Zoom)
• 5/25-5/28 (T-F) 8th Grade Washington DC Trip
• 6/15 (T) 7th Grade Field Trip - Kimball Farms Field Trip

Please see below for the information, including field trips for 8th graders to learn more about Career Technical Education (CTE) programs.

For Bedford Residents:
Shawsheen Valley Technical High School is our area CTE option. Each year, JGMS partners with Shawsheen to provide additional opportunities for students to learn about the high school experience and technical programs at Shawsheen. For Grade 8 students, a visit to Shawsheen will be Wednesday, October 28, 2026. For Grade 7 students, Project Explore typically runs in the winter. Project Explore is a three-week afterschool program to experience some of the programming available at Shawsheen. The program is free and transportation is provided. As the dates are finalized, more information will be shared by JGMS or the grade-level school counselor.

• Shawsheen Valley Technical High School Admissions Website and Contact information: https://www.shawsheentech.org/

• November 1, 2026: Applications will be available on their website.

• November 5, 2026 (6-8pm): Shawsheen Tech Community Open House

• January 14, 2027 (6-8pm): Additional Shawsheen Tech Open House

• February, 1, 2027: Deadline for 9th grade applications

For students in the METCO program:

Grade 8 students who reside in Boston will visit Shawsheen Valley Technical High School to better understand what a technical high school offers. Though students from Boston cannot attend Shawsheen, there are technical high school options throughout the Boston Public Schools and they will visit Madison Park Technical Vocational High School on Thursday, November 12, 2026. The Shawsheen visit will be on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

Madison Park Technical Vocational High School has the most CTE programs in Boston.

• Madison Park Technical Vocational High School Admissions Website and Contact Information: https://madisonpark.bostonpublicschools.org/admissions/

• October 1, 2026: Applications will be available on their website

• February 13, 2027: Deadline for 9th grade applications

• For campus visits, Madison Park will schedule by phone or email

The English High School, Boston Arts Academy, Boston Green Academy, and Edward M. Kennedy Health Career Academy all offer at least one CTE program, as well.

Why Technical School?

The Massachusetts Office of College, Career, and Technical Education shares: "CTE programs prepare students to graduate with skills and credentials that will provide them with advanced employment opportunities if they enter the workforce immediately upon graduation... Signature components of these programs include at least 900 hours of immersive learning time, co-operative education in partnership with local employers, and opportunities to earn high-value industry recognized credentials. The CTE frameworks are developed to guide instruction and support program design that ensure students graduate with the skills and learning experiences that best prepare them in their field."

In addition to offering specialized career training, we know that students who attend technical schools may also choose to attend college. In 2025, over 50% of graduates at Shawsheen and nearly 40% of graduates at Madison Park planned to attend a 2- or 4-year college after graduation.

Questions?

For general questions about CTE or high school options, please be in touch with your JGMS grade-level school counselor. For specific questions about one of the schools listed above or their specific application, please reach out to that school's Admission Office.

Dear Parents,

I wanted to remind everyone that Homework Club will begin the week of October

19th, on Mondays and Thursdays, 2:30-3:30. I am including the sign-up information

for families who feel their student would benefit from some additional structure

and support with completing homework.

Homework Club provides students with a quiet, supportive environment where

they can work on assignments, stay organized, and get help when they are

unsure of what to do. Please keep in mind that Homework Club is not a tutoring

session, and students will not receive one-to-one instruction. Staff will be

available to answer questions and provide general support, but students should

come prepared with the assignments and materials they need to work on.

We also have a collaboration opportunity with a high school student group called

Math Minds for students who would benefit from math-specific support. Families

can sign their students up for Math Minds support if they need additional help

understanding or completing their math homework. Because this time is

specifically dedicated to math, students who attend Math Minds support should

plan to complete their other subject-area homework at another time.

Students are welcome to participate in the option that best meets their needs. I

am sending along the sign-up information for both programs so families can

review the options and decide whether either would be helpful for their student.

Homework club sign up

Math Minds Sign up

Please feel free to reach out to Amanda_raboin@bedfordps.org if you have any

questions about which option may be the best fit.

JGMS has partnered with the Bedford Rec Department to offer clubs that are not represented in the school budget. If you or your child has an idea for a club, it can't hurt to ask me if we can find an advisor. If an advisor can be identified and space secured we can offer the club through recreation for a nominal fee. Please note there is no guarantee that ideas will have a committed advisor or students who sign up, it is worth asking, and I promise to try.

Below are clubs being offered by our librarian Ms. Wilson

Today you will be receiving an email from Bedford Public Schools and Superintendent Chuang via DocuSign. This message will include your 2026-2027 Federal Impact Aid Survey form.

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 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!

Our yearly survey is fully electronic with e-signature. Parents/Guardians will receive 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 bps-impactaidsurvey@bedfordps.org or 781-275-7708 for assistance.

For more information, please visit our website: 2026-2027 Annual Federal Impact Aid Survey

As the school year gets underway, I know many of you are thinking about how to best support your child through the transition. Whether they’re feeling anxious, adjusting to new social dynamics, or simply taking time to settle in, support is available.

Bedford Public Schools partners with Cartwheel, a virtual mental health provider, to make sure families can access care when they need it. Here’s what's available:

• Individual therapy for your child (grades 3+) — appointments available within days, with no waitlist. Psychiatric support available when appropriate.

• Parent and caregiver guidance (Prek-Grade 12) — practical support for navigating challenges at home

• Care Programs designed for specific challenges families often see:

• School Avoidance — for students struggling to attend or stay at school

• Screens & Social Media — for students and families navigating challenges with screens, social media, and digital stress

• Big Behaviors, Big Feelings — for students experiencing intense emotions or behavior challenges at school or home

Appointments are virtual and flexible, including evenings and weekends. Care is available in multiple languages, including Spanish. Care is free with Medicaid, and most private insurance plans are accepted.

If you think your child or family could benefit from support, complete this simple interest form, and someone from Cartwheel will follow up with you.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to your school counselor or student support team.

JGMS offers a variety of clubs and programs outside of school hours. Please click here for a list of clubs and programs. To sign up please email the advisor of the club.

If you do not see a club your child is interested in, please have them send an email to their counselor who will inform school administration. We try to find a willing and able advisor and use our partnership with Bedford Recreation to create clubs that students are hoping for.

Below are some clubs direct advertising

JGMS has a partnership with the Bedford Recreation Department. We are able to create clubs that are not offered through the towns Collective Bargaining Agreement. While the club does charge a nominal fee, they occur at JGMS after school.

As of now there is a Chess Club being offered. I will update families as more clubs are offered.

If your child is hoping to have a club, have them ask me. It may exist or I can see about finding an adult to sponsor it.

As part of ensuring that we are meeting the educational needs of our students, Bedford Public Schools utilizes STAR Renaissance benchmark assessments. Students in grades 6-10 complete Star assessments in Reading and Math 2-3 times per year. Please know that these assessments are just snapshots of a student’s skills, and that we use many data points to inform scheduling and instruction. The results help educators and administrators personalize teaching and learning for all students.

Please see the attached communication regarding signing up for access to Star Reading and Math reports.

Thank you,

Denise Breakall (JGMS English Curriculum Coordinator),

Kelly Williamson (Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning & interim BHS English Program Director)

Patrick Morrissey (Mathematics Program Director 6-12)

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is pleased to share the MCAS Family Portal with you. This online tool lets you see your student's MCAS test results. Preliminary MCAS results from spring 2026 are available. You will also see your student's results from past years (2023–2025), if available. The Family Portal will be updated in September when final results are ready. Go to MCAS Family Portal to create an account. You will need your student's date of birth and your student's registration code which is located on the front of the student demographics page in Aspen. For more information, see the Quick Start Guide and MCAS Family Portal Help Guide. If you have any questions, please contact the main office at your child's school.

Bedford Public Schools is introducing a new voluntary device protection program for school-issued Chromebooks and iPads used by students in Grades 6–12 beginning with the 2026–2027 school year.

For $50 per student, families who enroll receive $0-deductible coverage for damage, theft, loss, and hardware or battery failure. The program is designed to provide families with predictable protection from potentially significant repair or replacement costs while helping ensure students always have access to a working device.

If You Choose Not to Enroll

Participation is voluntary. Families who do not enroll will continue to be financially responsible for damage, loss, or theft of their student’s district-issued device and will be invoiced according to the repair fees referenced below. Beginning this year, outside or individually purchased device insurance plans will not be accepted in place of the district program.

Type of Repair for a Chromebook

https://www.bedfordps.org/district/news/new-bps-device-protection-program

How to Pay

• JGMS Device Protection Payment Link
• Fee Waiver Application

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.