June 2026

As we close out the school year, I find myself reflecting on the many moments, challenges, and celebrations that have shaped our work across Student Services. This was, in many ways, a difficult year. Like many districts, we navigated real budget challenges, important leadership transitions, and complex conversations about how to best support students across our schools.

At the same time, I am ending the year with a deep sense of gratitude and optimism. When we keep students at the center, the work becomes clearer. Across the district, I have seen students make meaningful progress, staff respond with care and creativity, and families continue to partner with us in support of their children. Those moments matter, and they remind us why this work is so important.

Student Services is, at its heart, about helping each student access what they need to learn, grow, connect, and feel a sense of belonging. While the work is not always simple, it is deeply meaningful. I am proud of the progress we have made this year and grateful for the educators, related service providers, counselors, nurses, support staff, administrators, families, and community partners who helped move that work forward.

As we head into the summer, I want to wish all students, staff, and families a restful and restorative break. I also recognize that, for some students, staff, and families, learning and support will continue through summer programming. Even with those important summer commitments, I hope everyone is able to find some time to pause, rest, reflect, and enjoy moments of renewal.

I am encouraged by where we are ending the year: focused on students, committed to growth, and ready to continue building strong, supportive systems for the year ahead.

Pictured here is our Special Education Administrative Team at Bedford’s first annual Game Day. I am incredibly proud of this team and grateful for the work they do throughout the year in support of our students, special education staff, and families.

Their work is often complex and not always visible, but it is deeply important. They collaborate with educators, support teams, problem-solve with care, and help ensure that students receive the services, programming, and support they need to learn and thrive.

This picture captures more than a fun moment from Game Day. It reflects the spirit, commitment, and heart this team brings to their work every day.

As the school year comes to a close, the Bedford Integrated Preschool community has been enjoying a variety of fun and engaging end-of-year festivities. Students have participated in special events such as Water Days, Game Day, and other celebratory activities that provided opportunities for laughter, connection, and memorable experiences as we wrapped up another wonderful year of learning.

Recently, we held our annual Preschool Art Show, where families were invited to view an impressive collection of student artwork showcasing the creativity, growth, and hard work of our young learners. The event celebrated not only the artistic talents of our students, but also the tremendous social, emotional, and academic progress they have made throughout the year.

Families also enjoyed taking photos in our graduation-themed photo booth and recognizing students' accomplishments as many prepare for their next educational adventure. We are incredibly proud of all of our preschoolers and grateful to our dedicated staff and families for their partnership, support, and commitment to making this year such a success.

The 5th graders took a trip to Maine to practice their new ropes course skills at Take Flight. Students challenged themselves based on their own limits and goals. Some zipped up to the top, while others tried lower elements. This experience prepared students for Lane School Challenge Day!

Another annual event is the beach trip. SAIL 1, SAIL 2, STEP and Bridge students went to Lynch Park in Beverly. This trip gave students an opportunity to connect, explore new experiences, and work on generalizing skills within the community. A group of peer models were also included to support connections and social modeling.

This collage highlights several joyful moments from students at John Glenn Middle School, including our first annual Game Day and a recent visit to the Bedford Science Center at Lane School. During the Lane visit, middle school students had the opportunity to serve as role models for younger students while participating in hands-on learning experiences.

These moments reflect the importance of connection, creativity, and collaboration in helping students build confidence, relationships, and a sense of belonging.

What began as an idea during a Best Buddies Leadership meeting in October grew into the largest and most successful event our club has hosted to date. From the beautiful weather to the enthusiastic participation of the athletes, Game Day exceeded all expectations and showcased the very best of our school community.

The mission of the Bedford High School Best Buddies Chapter is to foster meaningful one-to-one friendships, promote inclusion, and create a school community where every student feels seen, valued, and celebrated. Game Day brought that mission to life by creating opportunities for students of all abilities to come together, connect with one another, and share in a day filled with fun, teamwork, and friendship. The event served as a powerful reminder that inclusion is not just about participation, it is about belonging and celebrating the tremendous achievements for all individuals.

Students from participating schools had the opportunity to engage in 12 different activities throughout the day. Each activity was organized and led by members of Bedford High School Best Buddies, who did an outstanding job welcoming participants, teaching the games, encouraging involvement, and ensuring that every athlete felt supported. Their energy, patience, and enthusiasm helped create an environment where students felt comfortable trying new activities and building confidence.

Throughout the day, it was inspiring to see students interacting, cheering one another on, and celebrating each other's successes. The true highlight of Game Day was not the games themselves, but the connections that were formed and strengthened. These moments reflected the heart of what Best Buddies strives to accomplish every day: building a community where differences are embraced, friendships are valued, and every student has the opportunity to shine.

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the many individuals and organizations whose support made this event possible. A special thank you to the Bedford Fire Department for its incredibly generous donation, which helped fund and support the day’s activities. We are also grateful for The Bedford Police Department support and presence leading up to and during the event. We are also grateful to the Rotary Club for donating water and providing the use of a tent. We also extend our appreciation for the generous contribution that will help send our student leadership team to the Best Buddies Leadership Conference in Indiana this summer.

We would also like to thank the staff members, parents, and building administrators who supported, attended, and participated in the event. Your encouragement and commitment to creating inclusive opportunities for students played a vital role in making the day such a success. We are incredibly grateful for your support.

Following the overwhelming success of this year's event, we are excited to make Game Day an annual tradition. As we begin planning for next year, we are looking to form a Game Day Committee to help support the planning and execution of the event. While this year's experience taught us many valuable lessons, it also showed us that additional volunteers and community support will help make future events even better.

If you are interested in joining the Game Day Committee, please contact Best Buddies Advisors:

Cam Shelmire – Cameron_shelmire@bedfordps.org
Louise D'Amato – louise-damato@bedfordps.org

Finally, a huge thank you to Shannon Dillon of Creative Images Boston for capturing the spirit of the day through such wonderful photographs. Your images preserved the smiles, friendships, and special moments that made Game Day such a meaningful celebration of our Best Buddies community.

We look forward to seeing everyone back on the field next year for another memorable day of friendship, inclusion, and fun

We can’t thank everyone enough,

Cam Shelmire, Best Buddies Advisor

Louise D’Amato Best Buddies Advisor

Hello Families!

As we wind down a busy year, I thought it would be helpful to send along a short entry with steps to help manage big feelings. As we all know, summer is an amazing time of year where we try to relax, enjoy warmer weather, longer days and hopefully, some of the treats that come along with this beautiful season. Swimming, ice cream, barbecues…all words I associate with a fabulous summer. Our children enjoy these as well but then sometimes a combination of too much sun, a denied choice, change in schedule or perhaps lack of sleep derails the plan. Kids express frustration in a variety of ways, but it’s those big big feelings that require us to dig deeply, breathe and manage these experiences in a way that allows children to recover and once again thrive. Here are some great tips:

1. Name and Validate Feelings: I cannot stress enough the importance of acknowledging this for a child. When a child is angry, upset or anxious, help them identify exactly how they are feeling by saying things like, “I can see you’re upset.” or “It sounds like you are worried about something.” This simple act of naming validates their experience and teaches that feelings are normal and acceptable. Once kids can label their emotions, they begin to understand themselves better and feel less alone in their experience. Validating their feelings vs stating something like “you’re overreacting” builds trust and emotional security.

2. Teach Coping Strategies and Self Regulation Techniques: The second step is to teach children strategies to help calm their nervous systems when emotions are overwhelming. Teach techniques like breathing (inhale for four counts, hold for four counts and exhale for 4 counts), progressive muscle relaxation, drawing, journaling or moving their body through dancing or stretching. Having a toolkit of strategies gives children agency to feel more in control. Practice these techniques when they are calm so they can access them when bigger feelings arise. Different strategies work for different children, encourage them to explore which strategies resonate most with them.

3. Create a Safe Space and Follow-up for Problem Solving: The third step is to establish a calm space where children can express their emotions without judgement. This might be a comfortable corner with soft cushions, soft lighting or comfort items like stuffed animals or blankets. Once your child has calmed down and is ready, work through what triggered the big feelings and explore solutions together. Ask questions like, “What happened before you felt angry?” or “What might make you feel better next time?” This follow up conversation builds emotional intelligence and helps children develop healthy problem solving skills in the future.

With any set of strategies or sage advice, there is no one size fits all approach. And honestly, there are days where you may try these steps and not see immediate results. These skills, both yours as parents and caregivers and your children’s skills, need time and practice to build. Hang in there during these challenging yet rewarding stages of development and as always, feel free to reach out if you have questions. Both your school counselors and pediatricians are often armed with a wide range of tools and resources.

Have a wonderful summer!

Respectfully submitted,

Paula Francis-Springer, School Counselor and K-5 Counseling Coordinator

By Nicole Shadeed, Director of Counseling 6-12

If you are seeking counseling support for your student when school is not in session, please reach out to one of these resources:

• Your student's pediatrician to ask for a counseling referral
• Town of Bedford Youth & Family Services at (781) 275-7727
• Mass Behavioral Health Hotline at (833) 773-2445
• Cartwheel Care
• Advocates 24-Hour Crisis Support at (800) 640-5432

• Rising Seniors are invited to the Common Application Boot Camp on Wednesday, August 26. The session is offered at either 9am or 12pm that day (and will also run after school on Wednesday, September 9 from 1-2pm). During this 90-minute session, students will be given guided support to fill out the Common Application and complete their application before the school year begins! To register for an August 26 session, please use this link (BPS email required)
• Common Application Practice Account: Parents/caregivers can create their own Common App account to simulate your student's experience. Use this link and select "Parent or other adult" for the account type. This account will show you all of the features and questions of the Common App, but not allow you to submit any applications. You may create an account any time, noting that the Common App rollover for the Class of 2027 will take place on or around August 1.

BHS Scheduling for 2026-27

• Counselors continue to work on student schedules for 2026-27. Course lists will be shared with students who will attend BHS next year and their parents/guardians on June 18. Complete schedules, including teacher assignments, classroom locations, and periods, will be sent in late August.

• Please see Acting Principal Dr. Williamson's "2026-2027 Schedule" email from June 10 for more information.

• Congratulations to the BHS Class of 2026! Our graduates report that next year they will attend college, take a gap year, go straight to work, or are enlisted in the military. Those headed to college will represent Bedford at over 90 different institutions of higher education. Thanks to our Counseling team for their support of these students in their postsecondary planning!
• Students currently in Grade 5 and Grade 8 will transition this fall to JGMS and BHS, respectively. Thanks to the counselors at Lane, JGMS, and BHS for working together to make students feel known and welcome.
• Parents/caregivers of Hanscom Middle School Grade 8 students, who will attend BHS next year, are invited to tour in mid-June with counselor for military-connected students, Brian DeChellis. Another date will also be announced in late-August.
• We wish all of our best to current students who are moving out of the district or will not attend a Bedford public school next year!

The Sober Truth

Thanks to JGMS school adjustment counselor, Renée Anderson, for her partnership with the Town of Bedford and their efforts to bring The Sober Truth presentation to our Grade 8 students. This event was funded by the community opioid relief fund and took place on June 11. Students were deeply engaged and asked the speaker thoughtful and insightful questions.

By: Hilary Nichols, Director of English Learners K-12

As the school year comes to a close, we would like to thank our students, families, teachers, and school communities for an incredible year of growth, learning, and partnership. We are proud of all that our English Learners have accomplished this year and grateful for the support, encouragement, and collaboration that help make their success possible!

Celebrating Student Growth

This year, English Learners across Bedford Public Schools continued to strengthen their English language skills while succeeding in classrooms, athletics, music programs, clubs, and other school communities.

Additionally, ACCESS scores have been released to school districts and will be shared with families as part of end-of-year communications. These results help schools understand your child’s English language development and determine appropriate supports and placement for the upcoming school year.

We are incredibly proud of the effort, perseverance, and growth demonstrated by all of our students throughout the year! If you have any questions about your child’s ACCESS results, please contact your child’s ESL teacher or the ELE Department.

EL Awards Celebrations

Over the past month, schools across the district gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of our English Learners. These events recognized students' growth, hard work, leadership, and contributions to our school communities. We were especially excited to welcome families to these events, both in person and through multilingual livestreams!

BPS Adult ESL Program

Our Adult ESL Program continued to provide meaningful opportunities for community members to learn English, build confidence, and connect with others. One participant recently shared: "I can truly say that the program changes lives." Comments like these remind us why this work matters. We are grateful to the learners, volunteers, and teachers who make the program such a success!

ESL Summer School Program

The ESL Summer School Program will be offered for incoming Grade 1–12 English Learners.

The program focuses on strengthening English language development through reading support, hands-on learning, and engaging academic experiences in a supportive environment. The program is designed to be engaging, supportive, and appropriate for students’ language levels.

Program Details:
Location: Bedford High School
Dates: Weeks of July 6, July 13, and July 20 (Monday–Thursday)
Elementary (Grades 1–5): 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Secondary (Grades 6–12): 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Stay Connected

Please feel free to reach out at any time with questions about programs, services, or opportunities for your English Learner student. We value our partnership with families and appreciate your continued support.

We look forward to continuing to support students as they transition into the next school year.

We wish everyone a safe, relaxing, and well-deserved summer!

With gratitude,
The English Learner Education Department

This summer, I am looking forward to joining students and staff in the My Amazing Summer Challenge, a national summer reading initiative launched by Cartwheel and inspired by Jonathan Haidt’s work on childhood, technology, independence, and mental wellness. Bedford is participating in this challenge thanks to the leadership and collaboration of Betsy Wilson, Audrey Jackson, and Jill Marquis, with support from Lane School, John Glenn Middle School, Lif Bookshop, Bedford Free Public Library, and Cartwheel.

The challenge encourages students to read independently, try something new offline, and reflect on their experience in the fall. I love that this initiative brings together reading, wellness, community partnership, and intentional time away from screens. I will be joining the challenge this summer, and I encourage other adults in our community to join us by reading The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.

This book is important because it raises timely questions about how smartphones, social media, and reduced opportunities for independent play may be affecting children’s mental health, social development, sleep, attention, and sense of connection. Haidt argues that many children have experienced a shift from a “play-based childhood” to a more “phone-based childhood,” and he encourages families, schools, and communities to think carefully about how we can protect time for real-world connection, independence, creativity, responsibility, and rest.

Whether families agree with every recommendation or not, the conversation is an important one. As adults, we are all trying to help children develop healthy relationships with technology while also making room for play, friendships, outdoor time, family routines, and meaningful offline experiences. Summer offers a natural opportunity to begin practicing those habits in small, manageable ways.