November 4 - School Picture Retake Day (additional info will be sent in a separate email later this week)

November 5 - NO SCHOOL - Teacher Professional Development

November 7 - Veteran's Day Assembly for Students (see note to families below from Mr. Ackerman)

November 11 - NO SCHOOL - Veterans' Day

November 27 - Early Dismissal at 11:30 AM (no lunch served)

November 28-29 - NO SCHOOL

December 23 - January 1 - NO SCHOOL - December break

Thank you BEST PTO for the Staff Appreciation Breakfast and snacks last Tuesday . Everything was delicious!

In an effort to better serve our students we are adding a "Daily Grill" offering to the menu beginning November 4, 2024. The following will be listed on the monthly menu at https://bedfordpsmanutrition.org/

Mondays - Cheeseburger

Tuesdays - Golden Chicken Patty on a Roll

Wednesdays - Personal Pan Pizza

Thursdays - Turkey & Cheese Croissant

Fridays - All Beef Hot Dog

These items will be offered in addition to the daily main entree. We will also offer the choices of a Bagel meal and a Salad daily. Students will continue to order their choice with their teacher in the mornings, as they have been doing.

Every year as Halloween draws near, we receive inquiries from students (and even some parents) about whether they can come to school in costume. To start, I personally enjoy Halloween and make it a point to dress up to greet our students as they arrive. For our students, it's perfectly acceptable to wear a portion of their costume. However, we do not allow masks or any accessories that depict blood, gore, or weapons.

It's also essential to acknowledge that some families have diverse cultural or religious beliefs that may not align with Halloween traditions. Therefore, it is important for our staff and students to be considerate of the needs of these students. Our aim is to have an enjoyable day while also being sensitive to the perspectives of others.

Dear Lane Families:

To honor the veterans in our families and communities, and to instill in Lane students the significance of recognizing and appreciating the dedication and sacrifices made by our service members in protecting our country, Lane School is organizing a Veterans Day assembly at 9:15 am on Thursday, November 7th.

We extend a warm invitation to all Lane students' family members who have served or are presently serving in the armed forces to join our special Veterans Day assembly. This is an opportunity for them to be acknowledged and honored for their service and sacrifices. Please let us know. The more guests, the better.

Please contact Karen Lua or Rob Ackerman for more information and to RSVP for guests by Monday, November 4th . Thank you!

A Way to Honor a Veteran ...

At Lane, we have an annual November tradition that involves placing the names of veterans on our main hallway bulletin board. It's always a popular and meaningful display that allows our students to pause and read the names of those who made sacrifices for our country. If you'd like to contribute a name to this display, please fill out the form provided.

On a personal note, I participate in this tradition by posting the names of my uncle and grandfather, both of whom have passed away. Though they are no longer with us, I often imagine how proud they would feel knowing that elementary school students are reading their names. My hope is that you'll join us in this heartfelt tribute.

Support needed for Lane Veterans Day Assembly Breakfast Volunteers

Thursday, November 7th | Lane School
Drop off Items between 7:30AM - 8:00AM
Set up: 8:00AM

Lane Elementary will be organizing a Veterans Day assembly to honor the veterans in our families and communities. The BEST PTO helps the school administration by organizing a small breakfast for those being honored. We would love your help in welcoming our local veterans and treating them to a breakfast before the morning's assembly. Sign up to bring items or help set up here.

The number of sweatshirts in our Lost & Found has far exceeded the number of hangers and hanging space we have. Cool mornings and warmer recess times means a lot of outer clothing is shed while playing and then forgotten. Please remind your child to check the Lost & Found or come by and check it yourself. Thank you!

A message from the Bedford Public School District

Dear Bedford Community,

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 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, work on federal facilities (including Hanscom AFB, Bedford VA, Boston VA, Lincoln Public School on HAFB, Lincoln Labs, Mitre) or are Active Duty Military!

Our yearly survey is fully electronic with e-signature.

Parents/Guardians were emailed 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.

We thank you very much for your assistance with this important annual survey.

Sincerely,

Cliff Chuang 莊 宏 毅

Superintendent, Bedford Public Schools

Lane Families:

As we begin the new school year please remember to keep your children home if they are sick and symptomatic. If they have a fever, they need to remain home until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication per BPS policy. A mask is advised for the first 5 days post Covid.

We are asking for your help to be extra diligent in following our illness guidelines throughout the school year. You can help out by alerting the absence line and the school nurse directly if your child is ever diagnosed with any specific communicable diseases during the school year to include Strep, Flu, RSV, Covid etc.

Please review our illness policy and CDC guidance at the links below. COVID kits are available from your school nurses and the board of health office.

Lorene Simoneau, BSN, RN, NCSN

lorene_simoneau@bedfordps.org

https://www.bedfordps.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif2786/f/uploads/illness_guidelines.pdf

Lane School keeps a supply of snacks for students whose families may be experiencing financial hardship or other extenuating circumstances, and the occasional student that forgets a snack. BEST/PTO assists us with this effort and we also appreciate donations from families. Donations need to be store bought snacks, that are individually wrapped, nut-free, and be able to be stored without refrigeration. Please drop off any donations in the main office. Thank you.

BEST Fall Cookie Dough Fundraiser

Order through November 22nd
Rebecca's Nut Free Cookie Fundraiser is back! BEST PTO is partnering with Rebecca’s Nut-Free (located in Ipswich) to offer you gourmet cookie dough for the fall and holiday season. Students will receive an order form for cookies or orders can be placed directly online here. Students can register online and share the link to their own store page with friends and family! Orders can be placed through November 22nd. Cookie dough can be shipped to your home (shipping charges apply) or shipped for free to the BEST PTO on Wednesday, December 4th. Students will pick up orders at dismissal and the students' families will distribute their orders. Additional details about distribution will be sent out towards the end of November. Please reach out to best.pto.bedford@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Davis and Lane School Directory Cover Contest Voting & Directory Ordering

• Vote for Davis and Lane School Directory Cover Contest | Vote by November 1st
• Order your Davis and Lane School Directory | Orders due November 8th

BEST Volunteer Opportunities - Art and Library at Davis and Lane

Are you looking for an in-school volunteer opportunity? BEST PTO is looking for volunteers at Davis and Lane Schools to help out in the library and art rooms this year. Before volunteering with the Bedford Public Schools, all volunteers will need to complete a CORI Form that can be downloaded by clicking here.

• Davis Library Volunteers
• Davis Art Room Volunteers
• Lane Art Room Volunteers

Update your Membership Toolkit Information

BEST PTO uses Membership Toolkit (MTK) for our organization's communication and directory access. Please update your student(s) details with the Current Teacher's Name, so that your student(s) name appears in the class roster in the directory.

All adults (over 18 years of age) that are volunteering and/or visiting the school for programming must now fill out a CORI, SORI, and sign a confidentiality agreement. To be in full compliance with our HR Department and the State, all CORI/SORI forms MUST BE SUBMITTED in person, with a valid picture ID, ONLY by the person whose name appears on the form. Forms will not be accepted via kid mail, email, or spouse, etc. The district requires parent volunteers (chaperones on field trips, room parents, helpers in the classroom, etc.) to complete this paperwork each school year.
Please come to the office and complete these forms well ahead of needing them, so that you don’t get stuck and then are prohibited from volunteering. Forms are applicable for all 4 schools in the district, so you only need to fill out forms at one school (i.e. if you fill out forms at Davis, you do not need to fill out forms at Lane).

Bedford Education Foundation (BEF)

Happy Fall, Y'all! We hope everyone has been enjoying the start of the school year. The BEF has already started discussing plans for SY24-25, but we REALLY NEED YOUR HELP!! We have been fundraising and grant making very successfully, but our numbers have been declining. We all know how important our work is, but we need more hands to make lighter work and keep things going! Check out the info below and spread the word - there are many ways to lend a hand, and we'd love to hear from you! If you are interested or want to learn more, reach out to Jen Kelly, BEF President at president@bedfordeducation.org.

BEDFORD SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council)
SEPAC is a group of parents & caregivers of children receiving special education support and/or children with disabilities. All parents & caregivers welcome! We meet for support, education, networking and resource sharing.
Email: bedfordmasepac@gmail.com
Web: bedfordmasepac.org
Facebook group: https://www.facebook. com/groups/BEDFORDMASEPAC/

We appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we work with the Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Bedford Police to manage traffic flow in and out of Lane School. As construction progresses along Sweetwater Ave over the next month, adjustments may be necessary. For now, parents should continue to line up on Hayden Lane unless directed otherwise by the police.

Absences and Late Arrivals and Early Dismissals
Please note that ALL absences and late arrivals must be reported to the office, by 9 am on the day of. If it is a planned absence/late arrival, you can let us know ahead of time so you don’t have to remember the day of. You may call the main number, 781-275-7606, and leave a message on the Absence Line at any time of day or night (if your child will be arriving late, the message can be left on the Absence line as well). Your message should include your name and a call back number, your child’s name & teacher, and the reason for the absence or late arrival. Alternatively, you may email the information to Becky Ricci rebecca_ricci@bedfordps.org and Karen Lua karen_lua@bedfordps.org
If we do not have notification from you regarding an absence, you may receive an automated call, email, and text message from School Messenger, asking you to call the office as soon as possible.
Early Dismissals
Please also let the office and your child's teacher know about early dismissals the morning of (or earlier). You may send in a note with your child (which the teacher will send to the office) or you may email or call first thing in the morning. This way the teacher and your child can be prepared for the dismissal time, and not rush to get homework assignments and get their belongings packed up. When you arrive at the office, we will call your child's classroom and have them come to the office to meet you.

Exempt Absences
When a student is absent for medical reasons (doctor’s note required), religious observance (parent call required), court appearance (court documentation required), funeral, or suspensions from school, then that student’s absence is classified as exempt. An exempt absence does NOT count toward the allotted absences of Chapter 76, section 1 of the Massachusetts General Laws. (Please see the Lane Family Handbook for more information)

Bus Policy
Please note that it is district policy to bus Lane students to their home address or to that of a regularly scheduled caregiver. Bus transportation is not to be used for play dates or extra-curricular activities.

Dismissal Changes
At the start of the school year, all students were given a yellow Lane Transportation Plan form for caregivers to fill out and return to the school. If, on a given day, your child’s dismissal is different from what you have indicated on the yellow Lane Transportation Plan sheet you turned in, please notify the main office via:
- a note sent in with your child
- email Becky Ricci rebecca_ricci@bedfordps.org and Karen Lua karen_lua@bedfordps.org (you can also copy your child’s teacher)
OR
a phone call 781-275-7606.

If your child is attending an after school program, a music lesson, etc. after school, in addition to notifying the office, please remind your child in the morning of their dismissal plan in the afternoon. Thank you!