The Bedford Buccaneer
August 26, 2024
Donations Needed!
We’ve "blown" through our tissue supply quickly and would greatly appreciate donations of tissue boxes for the school. You can drop off donations in the student item drop-off area or conveniently order through our Amazon Wish List. Thank you for your support!
DESE Review of English Learner Program
During the week of January 9, 2025, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Bedford Public Schools. The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s ELE program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners; what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff, and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping. In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and they will contribute to the monitoring report. Parents and other individuals may call David Parker, Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson, at 781-338-3466 (chairperson’s number) to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements. Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the (district or charter school) with a report with information about areas in which the (district or charter school) meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the (district or charter school) requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The report will be available to the public at English Learner Education Program Monitoring & Compliance.
Please be reminded that DESE is also conducting a review of the district's special education programs from February 3-, 2025 as previously outlined here.
JGMS/BHS Bus Consolidations
Effective Monday, January 6, 2025
This change impacts riders on JGMS/BHS Buses - #14 (all routes moved) and Bus #5 (Hemlock Ln and Hilltop Road stop only) and has a limited impact on JGMS/BHS Bus #2, #3 #5 and Bus #15. In the afternoon, this will also impact Bus #50 going to Lowell. The modified bus routes are posted on the Bedford Public Schools Transportation Web Page, as well as a chart that shows consolidated information about the changes. If you have any questions, please email BPS TRANSPORTATION.
Author Visit: Janet Singer Applefield - Becoming Janet Finding Myself in the Holocaust
Tuesday, January 21 | Flex | Library
Holocaust survivor, Janet Singer Applefield will be discussing her memoir Becoming Janet Finding Myself in the Holocaust. Copies of the book are available in the Library. All students and staff are invited to attend.
Please sign up if you will be attending.
Athletics This Week
Monday, January 13
Gymnastics (V) @ Woburn
Tuesday, January 14
Basketball, boys (V/JV/F) vs. Waltham
Basketball, girls (JV/V) @ Waltham
Swimming & Dive (V) vs. Boston Latin
Wednesday, January 15
Hockey, girls @ Cambridge Rindge & Latin
Track, boys vs. Notre Dame
Track, girls vs. TBA
Wrestling vs. Cambridge Rindge & Latin
Thursday, January 16
Alpine Skiing Varsity Omega Slalom @ Nashoba Valley Ski Area
Friday, January 17
Basketball, boys (V/JV) @ Weston
Basketball, girls (V/JV) vs. Weston
Hockey, boys vs. Lowell
Swimming and Diving @ Lincoln-Sudbury
Wrestling vs. Leominster
Saturday, January 18
Hockey, girls v Concord-Carlisle
Sunday, January 19
Basketball, boys (V) @ Arlington
Guidelines for When a Student is Sick
- Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours.
- Temp. of 100 degrees F or higher within the last 24 hrs., without fever medication.
- Positive throat culture for strep. Students may return 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has begun.
- Any symptoms of acute illness, such as persistent cough, runny nose with body aches.
Detailed information regarding COVID/Respiratory Illnesses - Respiratory Illness Protocol
REMEMBER: Hand washing is the most effective means of preventing the spread of communicable diseases. Please report all communicable illnesses to the absent line or contact the health office directly.
If there are no medical changes/updates for your student and you prefer NOT to complete an updated emergency information form, please complete the permission form for the school nurse to be able to administer Ibuprofen/Tylenol this school year.
Post Secondary Planning Session for Parents
Thursday, January 23 | 6:30 pm | Auditorium
Hello Parents and Guardians of 11th Grade Students,
I hope this message finds you and your family doing well. I am Tom Denton and am currently the interim Director of Counseling for Bedford High School. I recently retired from the Needham Public Schools where I was the Director of Guidance from 2006 till 2022. I am excited to be working with our counseling staff this school year. Please join myself and the Bedford High School School Counselors in attending the Junior Parent and Guardian event scheduled for January 23rd from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in the Bedford High School auditorium.
For those who are unable to attend in person, the Bedford Channel will be recording the meeting, and it will be available for viewing on YouTube after the event.
During the meeting, Bedford High School Counselors will cover a range of important topics related to post-secondary planning. This will include an introduction to Naviance, how to explore colleges that may be a good fit for your child, standardized testing, and the college application process. We will also discuss financial aid, as well as preparing for your student’s summer and fall activities.
Your child will be learning the same material during in-school meetings, so we encourage you to attend so you can gain a deeper understanding of this crucial stage in the post-secondary planning process.
We look forward to seeing you there and sharing this important information with you!
Warm regards,
Tom Denton, LICSW
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.
If you are seeking counseling support for your child, please reach out to one of these resources:
- Your child’s pediatrician to ask for a counseling referral
- Bedford Youth and Family Services at 781-918-4328
- Eliot Community Human Services at 978-369-1113
Bedford Youth & Family Services
Check out the services available to BPS students and their families.
Register NOW for the CSF of Bedford Dollars for Scholars Trivia Night
Saturday, February 8 | 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm | American Legion
Get your team (and your snacks!) ready and join us for some Trivia Fun, Cash Bar, Door Prizes, and Silent Auction! On Saturday Feb 8, the CSF Dollars for Scholars Trivia event will be held at the Bedford American Legion, brought to you by Sporcle Trivia. Doors open at 6:00 pm, with Trivia kicking off at 6:30 pm. Teams of 6-10 players (maximum of 10 players per team), $300 per team*. The maximum attendance is 15 teams, so RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Prizes will be awarded to the 1st and 2nd place teams. Proceeds go to support scholarships for Bedford/Hanscom graduates who plan to continue their education. Team Captains please register your team HERE, or visit our website: http://www.bedfordma.dollarsforscholars.org
* If you are a group of 1-5 who would like to participate and would enjoy making new friends by being placed on a Trivia team, please contact Tara Goss at tara@goss-family.net.
