Superintendent Update
May 23, 2025
- May: Asian-American & Pacific Islander Month, Jewish American Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, National Speech-Language-Hearing Month
- May 26: No School - Memorial Day
- May 27: Bedford Dollars for Scholars Awards Ceremony
- May 28: School Committee Meeting
- June 5: Graduation & All Night Graduation Party
- June 11: School Committee Meeting
- June 18: Last Day of School - Early Release
- June 19: District Closed - Juneteenth
The next school committee meeting will be on Wednesday, May 28th during which the focus will be the district's continuing consideration of a potential shift in school start times. The results of the community survey and additional information will be shared. The final meeting will be Wednesday, June 11th, when the committee will consider a potential shift in school start times. As always, meeting agendas, schedules, and supporting documents are available on the School Committee - Meeting Schedule & Supporting Documents.
In honor of National Military Appreciation Month, BHS Sophomore, Will Cefalo, is organizing a toiletry drive to benefit the Veterans Hospital in Bedford. Please read on for a statement from Will about why this drive is important to him: "My name is Will Cefalo, and I’m a sophomore at Bedford High School. Over the past few months, I’ve been organizing a toiletry drive in partnership with our local Veterans Hospital here in Bedford. My passion for helping veterans comes from my deep love of history. Since elementary school, I’ve been fascinated by the stories of wars, global conflicts, and the people who’ve shaped our world. That interest has grown into a strong sense of connection and respect for those who served in the military. Too often, I think society overlooks the sacrifices our veterans made to protect the freedoms we enjoy today. When I learned about the toiletry shortage at the VA, I knew I had to do something. This drive is a small way to give back to the men and women who gave so much for our country. I’m inviting students, parents, teachers, and all members of the Bedford community to join me in this effort. Together, we can show our veterans that their sacrifices have not been forgotten and that we’re thankful, today and always." Please consider donating new, unopened items such as deodorant, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, razors, lotion, and other everyday toiletries. Drop-off will take place on Saturday, May 31st, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the St. Michael Parish Center, 90 Concord Road, Bedford, MA. If you prefer to schedule a pick-up, please call 617-943-1375. Thank you for your generosity and for supporting our local veterans!
In India, Holi was pure childhood magic—a festival that turned ordinary days into bursts of color and joy. Shuchi Sharma, Saritha Athmakur, and Aakashi Ganveer, committee members of the South Asian Association of Bedford, recount their childhood memories. "It began with the excitement of visiting markets for water balloons, color packets, and water guns. pichkaris. Days before Holi, anticipation bubbled as Holika Dahan brought the neighborhood together around a glowing bonfire, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. With shared prayers and offerings, the eve of Holi set the stage for the real celebration to come. Holi was pure excitement - It was the one day we didn’t have to be clean, tidy, or presentable. Schools were closed. No one dared step out for errands, fearing surprise color attacks—imagine carrying groceries and getting ambushed by a water balloon! The day was filled with laughter, music, and color-streaked chaos as we freely roamed the streets with friends, soaking everyone from playful kids to indulgent grandparents. The celebration continued with alfresco cookouts—jalebi, pakoras, roasted coconut—and always ended in long, happy naps. The celebration and excitement spilled into the next day, when the stained fingers and colored ears went to school to tell tall tales of our Holi adventures with our classmates. Though we now live far from home, we still keep the spirit alive with our Bedford community—recreating that same childhood wonder, just in a new place." This year, we invite you to join the greater Bedford community in celebrating Holi on June 1 from 2-4pm (rain date June 8) on E Field Mudge Way. You'll enjoy the color play from our childhood, enjoy listening to live music, dance with your neighbors and enjoy some tasty treats! Tickets can be purchased here.
Gun Violence Among Youth is a Public Health Crisis
The Bedford Safe Campaign is a collaborative gun violence prevention campaign sponsored by the Bedford Police Department, the Bedford Health Department and the Bedford Board of Health who are joining together to protect our children, youth and families from gun violence injury and death in homes.More information is available at www.BedfordMA.gov/BedfordSafe. The final few Superintendent Updates will include information on firearm safety from the campaign.
Gun-related injuries are the leading cause of death for children and teens ages 1-17 for the third year in a row. While gun-related issues can inspire passionate debate, we can all agree that gun-related injuries should not be the leading cause of death among children and teens. The initiative Agree to Agree promotes acknowledgement that even people with different beliefs and backgrounds, as it relates to firearms, can talk to each other and find common ground and then work together to reduce the impact of gun violence on youth. When people agree to disagree, it ends the conversation. So, let’s agree to agree. Together, we can start productive conversations that can save lives.