Superintendent Update

Dear Bedford Public Schools Community,

As this message goes out, our 8th graders are on buses returning from a week of learning in our nation's capital (see some of them at the Lincoln Memorial below), while all of us are rolling full steam ahead to the end of the school year. However, we continue to plan for a strong start to the school, including finalizing our selection of CKLA as our new K-5 literacy curriculum, and putting new fiscal controls in place to ensure that we can wisely track and invest our resources. I also forward to sharing some additional details about the strategic planning process underway prior to the end of the school year. I hope to see many of you at the BHS Graduation next Thursday!

Sincerely,

Cliff Chuang 莊 宏 毅

Superintendent, Bedford Public Schools

• June: Pride Month
• June 6: 6:15 pm - BHS Graduation, Tsongas Center
• June 6-7: Class of 2024 All Night Graduation Celebration
• June 9: 2-4 pm: 3rd Annual Pride Celebration - Bedford Town Common
• June 10: 7:00 pm - School Committee Meeting
• June 17: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!
• June 19: Juneteenth (BPS Offices Closed)

At the May 28th School Committee meeting, members discussed the district's selection of a new literacy program, a proposal to re-introduce a JGMS honor roll, and plans to implement additional fiscal controls for FY25. The last regularly scheduled School Committee meeting will be on Monday, June 10th (since there will be special town meeting on Tuesday, June 11). Full supporting materials can always be found at School Committee - Meeting Schedule & Supporting Documents.

For over three decades, from 1988 to 2023, the BHS All Night Graduation Celebration Committee has held a safe, substance-free overnight party for the graduating class. Throughout the night, the Class of 2024 graduates will enjoy live entertainment, games, trivia, music, prizes, food, and more, at Bedford High School from 10:30 PM - 5:30 AM. Families, friends, and local businesses are encouraged to make a tax-deductible monetary donation or prize donation to support the celebration. Volunteer opportunities are also available! To learn more, read our parent/caregiver letter here.

You can learn more about the All Night Graduation Celebration by visiting our website: All Night Grad Party – BHSPA

Lane School will host its 4th Annual Lane Chalks The Walk (LCTW) from June 10 - June 14, 2024! During the week of LCTW, all students venture outside during their art classes and use sidewalk chalk to create themed drawings. The theme for LCTW 2024 is IMAGINE. Modeled after the global Chalk The Walks (CTW) initiative, LCTW aims to build community through artmaking while spreading joy, optimism, and inspiration. The event coincides with the art program's curricular focus on artistic communities. While LCTW is a school-based, student-only event, we invite families and community members to participate from home! Work solo or get creative with others; Jen Ferrari, visual art teacher at Lane School, would be happy to receive pictures of you and yours embracing artmaking out in the community. Read more about last year's event in The Bedford Citizen to get inspired!

"What journey are you on?” Thank you to Mitali Perkins for engaging us in an inspired conversation about a love of stories, a hero’s journey, practicing humility, and following your purpose. We agree that “we need all kinds of stories for all kinds of kids.”

To read more, please follow this link: ICYMI - May 29, 2024

Thank you to the @pdc_bedford for providing this enrichment opportunity for our JGMS community!

We are happy to share a new series of profiles called Faces of Bedford prepared by volunteers from Bedford Embraces Diversity with technical support from Bedford TV, featuring members of our diverse community, many with connections to the Bedford Public Schools.

In recognition of Pride Month in June, this week we are featuring the episode about Bedford Embraces Diversity Board Member, Marilou Barsam and her wife, Sarah Thompson. Marilou & Sarah have been together for over 30 years and met while playing tennis in Boston. They have a daughter, Lily, who attended Bedford Public Schools and is currently a sophomore at Wheaton College. To learn more, please view the video below.

In an effort to support communication, here are the links the most recent newsletters from each school and our special education department.

• Lt. Eleazer Davis Elementary School - Scribbles - May 28, 2024
• Lt. Job Lane Elementary School - Lane Notes - Week of May 27, 2024
• John Glenn Middle School - Buccaneer News Vol. #37 - May 28, 2024
• Bedford High School - The Bedford Buccaneer - May 28, 2024
• Special Education Director's Update - May 2024
• Assistant Superintendent's Blog - April 2024
• JGMS Student Newspaper: The John Glenn Journal - Spring Edition 2024
• BHS Student Newspaper: The Lookout Student Newspaper - February 2024
• BHS Library Newsletter - Spring 2024